From editor@telecom-digest.org Wed Jun 23 14:22:47 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.3) id i5NIMlU24151; Wed, 23 Jun 2004 14:22:47 -0400 (EDT) Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 14:22:47 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200406231822.i5NIMlU24151@massis.lcs.mit.edu> X-Authentication-Warning: massis.lcs.mit.edu: ptownson set sender to editor@telecom-digest.org using -f To: ptownson Approved: patsnewlist Subject: TELECOM Digest V23 #303 TELECOM Digest Wed, 23 Jun 2004 14:23:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 303 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson My Policy on Advertisement Messages (VOIP News) Powell: VOIP Regs 'Grave Mistake' (VOIP News) Packet8 Videophones Will Bring U.S. Military in Iraq Closer (VOIP News) Covad Readies VoIP Launch (VOIP News) VoIP At Supercomm Emerges As 'Next Big Thing' (VOIP News) International VoIP (Nitoy) Re: Who Got the Message? There's a Way to Know (Tony P.) Re: NPA-N00 Numbers (was Strange 202 Number) (Neal McLain) Re: Norvergence Questions (Steven J Sobol) Re: Norvergence Working Here (Norvergence Survivor) Re: Converting Rate Center Name to City Name (Linc Madison) Telephony Card For SOHO CTI? (Fred) Last Laugh! Osama Bin Laden Dies; Goes to Heaven (Lisa Minter) All contents here are copyrighted by Patrick Townson and the individual writers/correspondents. Articles may be used in other journals or newsgroups, provided the writer's name and the Digest are included in the fair use quote. By using -any name or email address- included herein for -any- reason other than responding to an article herein, you agree to pay a hundred dollars to the recipients of the email. =========================== Addresses herein are not to be added to any mailing list, nor to be sold or given away without explicit written consent. Chain letters, viruses, porn, spam, and miscellaneous junk are definitely unwelcome. We must fight spam for the same reason we fight crime: not because we are naive enough to believe that we will ever stamp it out, but because we do not want the kind of world that results when no one stands against crime. Geoffrey Welsh =========================== See the bottom of this issue for subscription and archive details and the name of our lawyer; other stuff of interest. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: VOIP News Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 11:31:43 -0400 Subject: My Policy on Advertisement Messages Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com Just so you know, I don't usually approve messages containing advertisements. However, since I just approved one from DORETEL Communications, Inc., I think I should probably state my policy. And that is this: I may, depending on my mood at the time, accept an ad message if it appears to offer something of genuine value. Now please understand, I don't check these companies out, so someone could certainly fool me, but what I look for is some indication that the company is a reliable business that actually believes in giving customers both value for their money and good customer service, and a message that is VERY relevant to the topic of the group. If that appears to be the case, I may run the announcement ONCE. If if the message appears the least bit flaky, or smells even a little bit like "spam" (and I don't mean the lunch meat), it will not be accepted. As an example, last night I got a message from someone that supposedly had immediate openings in VOIP Development and Testing. What "smelled" to me about it was that the sender was using a yahoo.com address (I know this is a Yahoo Group, but still ...) AND did not include ANY information whatsoever about the company they supposedly represented. There was not one single indication that this came from any sort of "real" VoIP-related company, and for all I knew it could be some outfit trying to harvest personal information (since they asked for updated resumes). So for me it's a pretty thin line and I usually tend to err on the side of NOT running anything that doesn't appear to be fully legitimate. As I say, don't infer from that that I in any way check these companies out, because I do not -- it's still caveat emptor. And also, if I start receiving more than about two or three commercial messages in the same week, I'll probably stop allowing any of them, so you need not fear that this will become an advertisement list. ======================================= [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: The above came to me from Jack Decker, on the VOIP side of things here, but it applies to TELECOM Digest as well. The volume of advertising and out-and-out spam on the net these days -- some 'more legitimate looking' than others makes it almost impossible to check out. PAT] ------------------------------ From: VOIP News Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 11:13:04 -0400 Subject: Powell: VOIP Regs 'Grave Mistake' Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?site=supercomm&doc_id=55022 CHICAGO Supercomm 2004 -- The states that are quickly trying to regulate VOIP services are making a 'grave mistake,' said Michael Powell, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in his keynote speech here at Supercomm. "There are some dozen states taking an aggressive stance with VOIP, and they are making a grave mistake," said Powell, contending that regulatory agencies should show restraint when considering newer packet-based services. "I don't really understand what the problem is," said Powell. "Is the problem that consumers are getting the services for a price less than the regulated price? Is it that they have control over their own services?" Full story at: http://www.lightreading.com/document.asp?site=supercomm&doc_id=55022 How to Distribute VoIP Throughout a Home: http://michigantelephone.mi.org/distribute.html If you live in Michigan, subscribe to the MI-Telecom group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MI-Telecom/ ------------------------------ From: VOIP News Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 11:39:37 -0400 Subject: Packet8 Videophones Will Bring U.S. Military in Iraq Closer Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-23-2004/0002198476&STORY&EDATE= Packet8 Videophones Will Bring U.S. Military in Iraq Closer to Family Members at Home Veterans of Foreign Wars Arranges for Installation of New Consumer Videophone in VFW Family Assistance Centers Across the Country CHICAGO, SUPERCOMM 2004, June 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 8x8, Inc. (Nasdaq: EGHT), the Packet8 broadband voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and videophone communications service provider, announced today that it has finalized arrangements with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) to provide Packet8 Videophones to up to 28 VFW Family Assistance Centers in the U.S. and several locations in Iraq where American military personnel are presently stationed. The third generation "consumer friendly" videophone, introduced yesterday at the annual SUPERCOMM Show, will allow military personnel stationed in Iraq to see and hear their loved ones thousands of miles away by simply dialing a regular phone number and carrying on a face to face conversation. After months of planning and coordination on the part of 8x8 reseller NexGenesis Telemedia Networks, logistics of the arrangement with the VFW and other involved parties were recently solidified to the anticipation and enthusiasm of many individuals. In addition to managing the logistical arrangements, NexGenesis Telemedia Networks has established a charitable foundation to support the deployment of as many videophones as possible, as well as to generate funds for the VFW Military Family Emergency Fund, which provides emergency assistance to military families in need. "The VFW, with its newly-formed national Family Support Center network, is anxious to use the Packet8 Videophone to connect soldiers with their loved ones," said Bud Haney, Director of the VFW Military Assistance Program. "This is one instance where a picture will be worth much more than a thousand words." The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, an organization that, with its Auxiliaries, includes 2.6 million members in approximately 9,000 Posts worldwide, has a rich tradition in enhancing the lives of millions through its community service programs and special projects. Last month, the VFW announced the formation of Family Assistance Centers to expand the network of support services and emergency aid for family members of deployed service personnel. Packet8 Videophones will be installed at up to 28 designated Family Assistance Centers and made available for family and friends in the United States to communicate with military personnel in Iraq on a regular basis. "It gives 8x8 great pleasure to know that our efforts with the Packet8 Videophone will be meaningful to the military families who continue to sacrifice so much for our country, said Bryan Martin, 8x8 Chairman & CEO. "This is what videophone technology is all about, and we're excited that it will now be accessible to the general public." The plug-and-play Packet8 Videophone represents a technology and price breakthrough, transmitting high quality audio and crisp instant-on video communications over the Internet with the ease and convenience of regular telephone service. Previous videophone technology has been limited by bandwidth capabilities of the PSTN (public switched telephone network), which hampered the delivery of crisp real-time video images. Because it is based on SIP, an international Internet protocol standard, the new Packet8 DV326 Videophone achieves a level of technology and performance sophistication previously not possible. The Packet8 DV326 Desktop Videophone is available immediately online at http://www.packet8.net, and will soon be available at retail outlets for a suggested retail price of $299 after rebates. The Packet8 consumer video plan costs subscribers $29.95 per month and includes unlimited phone calls to any number in the United States and Canada, unlimited phone calls to any other Packet8 subscriber, either voice or video, anywhere in the world, and access to the same, low per-minute international rates as Packet8's voice subscribers for voice calls to non-Packet8 phone numbers outside the United States and Canada. Full press release at: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-23-2004/0002198476&STORY&EDATE= [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: The above is the 'advertising message' Jack Decker approved, and it appears okay to me. Anyway, its immediate application, to help the guys in Iraq is a fine service; IMO you cannot do too much for the guys over there. I only wish Dubya had stuck some of us old farts in Iraq as sacrifices instead of the kids, since he was (still is?) so detirmed to cause a war. PAT] ------------------------------ From: VOIP News Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 07:28:50 -0400 Subject: Covad Readies VoIP Launch Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com http://telephonyonline.com/ar/telecom_covad_readies_voip/index.htm By Kevin Fitchard TelephonyOnline.com, Jun 22 2004 CHICAGO -- Less than a month after closing its acquisition of California voice-over-IP carrier GoBeam, Covad Communications is set to launch its nationwide packet telephony service. Covad officials at Supercomm 2004 today said Covad will be in 13 of its large markets by the end of the month and all 100 of Covad's MSAs by the end of the year. "We're pretty much ready to go on the East and West Coasts and Chicago," said Ed Mattix, senior vice president for communications and brand at Covad. "The network readiness is there. We're now in the process of training our 3000 sales channels and hiring some additional sales management staff. Aside from that we're set to launch." Full story at: http://telephonyonline.com/ar/telecom_covad_readies_voip/index.htm ------------------------------ From: VOIP News Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 22:04:31 -0400 Subject: VoIP At Supercomm Emerges As 'Next Big Thing' Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com http://www.telecomweb.com/news/1087936982.htm CHICAGO -- This year's Supercomm event has virtually removed all doubt as to what the "next big thing" in telecom is. Indeed, as discussion topics go, the single most popular issue at Supercomm 2004 is Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Virtually every major player in the U.S. telecom industry is here this week, and all of them appear to have some sort of a hook into VoIP. A clear majority of the nearly 700 exhibitors at this year's show are pitching VoIP-related products and services. Full story at: http://www.telecomweb.com/news/1087936982.htm ------------------------------ From: nitoy69@hotmail.com (Nitoy) Subject: International VoIP Date: 23 Jun 2004 08:00:53 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com I have a question about the implementation of VoIP for international calls. From looking at the rate schedule for companies like Vonage it seems that once they get to the country of origin over the internet calls are connected via the PSTN from a PBX or similar switch and completed (perhaps over DOD trunks?) My question is how do they get away with it, since I can almost guarantee that this is considered bypass in most countries? The International Settlements Policy is a serious matter in developing countries since it is international accounting rates that subsidize most network buildouts to provide basic phone service to the populace. Pat - Thank you again for a resource more valuable than the network it rides! ------------------------------ From: Tony P. Subject: Re: Who Got the Message? There's a Way to Know Organization: ATCC Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 01:54:38 GMT In article , jsw@ivgate.omahug.org says: >> Not true -- in the case of didtheyreadit.com they put a web bug in the >> message that 'phones home'. If you put an entry in your hosts files that >> points didtheyreadit.com to 127.0.0.1 it'll never get back. I tried >> several tests and not one of them managed to say I'd read the test >> messages on my main mail account. > I have been waiting for several weeks now for some moro^H^H^H^Hperson to > send one of those bugged didtheyreadit messages to this account. > The didtheyreadit people don't take into account that there are still a > few of us who still use an admittedly lowtech mailer on a Real > Computer. Yes, there are fewer and fewer everyday who do not use a > peecee with a web-enabled mail reader. They also don't take into account those of us who feel our privacy violated by return receipts on email, and who also have the technical savvy to defeat their start product by putting a one line entry in a hosts table. In article , dold@WhoXGotXth.usenet.us.com says: > Tony P. wrote: >> Not true -- in the case of didtheyreadit.com they put a web bug in the >> message that 'phones home'. If you put an entry in your hosts files that >> points didtheyreadit.com to 127.0.0.1 it'll never get back. I tried >> several tests and not one of them managed to say I'd read the test >> messages on my main mail account. > Man, is that ever a popular IP address! On my system, it is the ip > address of several well known web sites, like double-click, > futuresite.register.com I think I might add didtheyreadit.com to keep > my personal DNS tables up to date ;-) > http://www.gmail.com The google mail service offers this note: > "External images are not displayed. Display External Images?" Which > would obviate this method if it were part of email that didn't have > required graphics. Sometimes I load them, usually not. > Every email that you send is routed through them so they can track the > IP addresses of the recipient, I suppose. "ellen@aol.com you'd just > send it to ellen@aol.com.didtheyreadit.com". > Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley (Lake County) CA USA 38.8-122.5 127.0.0.1 is also known as localhost and local loop back. It's your machines way of checking it's own services. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Jun 2004 22:43:33 -0500 From: Neal McLain Reply-To: nmclain@annsgarden.com Subject: Re: NPA-N00 Numbers (was Strange 202 Number) Gary Novosielski wrote: > Of course, it's possible someone has +1 201 200 0000, which > would be the ultimate first-place winner. Would that make it > the ultimate vanity number, like a license plate of "1" ? Someone does indeed have 201-200-0000; it's a fax number at NJCU. Google lists it as follows: "Dr. Shirley Williams Criminal Justice Department. Office: Professional 223 Phone: 201-200-4096 Fax: 201-200-0000 E-Mail: swilliams@njcu.edu. Office hours..." There was a thread about this on TD back in 1994. In TD 14:101, Dave Levenson (dave@westmark.com) wrote: > According to NJ Bell's automatic intercept service, the > number 201-200-0000 is 'being checked for trouble'. The > number 201-200-0001 has been disconnected. I didn't try any > others in that prefix." . My favorite low number belonged to the Number 1 Cab Company in Traverse City, Michigan (back before 1957, when Traverse City was still manual). Besides being its phone number, "1" was its business name and the unmistakable logo (a big red "1") on the doors of its cabs. Neal McLain ------------------------------ From: Steven J Sobol Subject: Re: Norvergence Questions Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 00:42:43 -0500 Black Ninja wrote: > Which is it? You know a lot, or you don't have much juicy info? I > feel that it may be the latter. Why don't you tell us all just one > (1) thing that we don't already know. I know a lot too, and I can > tell you if it is true or not. Personally, I think you are a full of > sh*t ex-telemarketer. Hey, all. Black Ninja is the jackass who replied to my post in alt.cellular re: Norvergence's cellular services and then alternately waffled and insulted me and a couple other posters when we pointed out the company's problems and solicited comments from him. He eventually stopped posting. Norvergence's problems are well-documented. I'm sure Mr. Ninja will dispute that, but the facts are out there. Surf on over to: http://tinyurl.com/2uckn and then click the Complete Thread link to view the sordid story. I think the proper term is "company shill." JustThe.net Internet & New Media Services, http://JustThe.net/ Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / 888.480.4NET (4638) / sjsobol@JustThe.net PGP Key available from your friendly local key server (0xE3AE35ED) Apple Valley, California Nothing scares me anymore. I have three kids. ------------------------------ From: norvsurvivor@yahoo.com (norVsurvivor) Subject: Re: Norvergence Working Here Date: 23 Jun 2004 10:28:21 -0700 Dan Pearlman wrote in message news:: > We have a Norvergence T1, LD and cell phones here in Miami. Our cell > phones never went down but our LD and T1 did. They got it back up > later that night. Qwest told me directly that they have recinded any > remarks regarding NorV and that they are still partners with NorV and > that it should not be a problem going forward. Let's hope, because > outage = lost revenue. > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Hmmm, now where I have I heard before > about people making statements about Norvergence then wind up later > making disclaimers, etc? At least I have no 'official statements' here > in our archives from Qwest or I suppose they would be demanding I > remove them also. PAT] Dan, Don't you think it would be a good idea to identify yourself as an employee of Norvergence? You are still the Market Vice-president (branch manager) in the Miami office aren't you? While we're at it, please explain how a Qwest problem created T-1 outages (Matix customers) and disruption of service to NorV customer with the SOHO solution (PIC'd lines) at the same time? Maybe NorV just didn't pay their invoice! Sign me, Glad to be gone! ------------------------------ Subject: Re: Converting Rate Center Name to City Name Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 00:14:33 -0700 From: Linc Madison Reply-To: lincmad@suespammers.org Organization: California resident; nospam; no unsolicited e-mail allowed In article , Marcus Jervis wrote: > Can anyone post a method for converting rate center names to full > city names? Is there a master list or a coding scheme? > Example: LSAN DA 14 = Los Angeles (not necessarily a real example. > one I just made up) Master list, yes; coding scheme, not really. In particular, there are rate centers whose names don't correspond exactly to any given city. The other issue is that the rate center name can have two forms, the full name and the truncated name which must be 10 characters or less. In cities like Los Angeles (LSAN) and San Francisco (SNFC) which have multiple rate centers, the truncated name often uses the four-letter abbreviation from the CLLI standards, which are maintained by (and trademarked by) Telcordia. Thus, you have rate centers like LSAN DA 14 (a real rate center, it turns out) and SNFC JUNPR (San Francisco - Juniper). (Since SF has only three rate centers, they get real names instead of just numbers.) It gets even a bit more complicated in billing, because if you place a long distance call to LSAN DA 14, that won't show up on your bill: you will see a call to LOSANGELES CA. Telcordia is the ultimate source for this sort of information. Linc Madison * San Francisco, California * lincmad@suespammers.org * primary e-mail: Telecom at LincMad dot com All U.S. and California anti-spam laws apply, incl. CA BPC 17538.45(c) This text constitutes actual notice as required in BPC 17538.45(f)(3). DO NOT SEND UNSOLICITED E-MAIL TO THIS ADDRESS. You have been warned. ------------------------------ From: Fred Subject: Telephony Card for SOHO CTI? Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 15:09:08 +0200 Organization: Guest of ProXad - France Hello, I just ordered CallerID on an analog line at the office. Instead of hooking a phone with an LCD, I was curious to see if I could install some interface (Digium TDM FXO?) with two plugs, one to connect it to the phone line, the other to a telephone, and have some application running on the PC that displays customer's infos while the phone is ringing. Just some basic CTI :-) Googling a bit, it appears that the market leaders for this kind of device are Intel/Dialogic, Digium, and Eicon. Could someone knowledgeable in the CTI business tell me if there are some solutions available for such basic needs (ie. I don't need to set up a full-fledged PBX)? Thank you, Fred ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Jun 2004 01:10:49 CDT Subject: Last Laugh! Osama bin Laden Dies; Goes to Heaven From: Lisa Minter After his death, Osama bin Laden went to heaven. There he was greeted by George Washington, who proceeded to slap him across his face and yell at him, "How dare you try to destroy the nation I helped conceive!" Patrick Henry appoached and punched Osama in the nose and shouted, "You wanted to end our liberties but you failed." James Madison entered, kicked Osama in the groin and said, "This is why I allowed our government to provide for the common defense!" Thomas Jefferson came in and proceeded to beat Osama many times with a long cane and said, "It was evil men like you that provided me the inspiration to pen the Declaration of Independence!" These beatings and thrashings continued as John Rudolph, James Monroe and 66 other early Americans came in and unleashed their anger on the Muslim terrorist leader. Some of them had a bucket of hot tar and bags of feathers, and started pouring the tar and feathers all over Osama. As Osama lay bleeding and writhing in unbearable pain, God appeared. Bin Laden wept and said to God, This is not what the teachers in our Mosques promised me! God replied, "I told you there would be 72 Virginians waiting for you in heaven. What did you think I said?" ------------------------------ TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. It is circulated anywhere there is email, in addition to various telecom forums on a variety of networks such as Compuserve and America On Line, Yahoo Groups, and other forums. It is also gatewayed to Usenet where it appears as the moderated newsgroup 'comp.dcom.telecom'. TELECOM Digest is a not-for-profit, mostly non-commercial educational service offered to the Internet by Patrick Townson. All the contents of the Digest are compilation-copyrighted. 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If you donate at least fifty dollars per year we will send you our two-CD set of the entire Telecom Archives; this is every word published in this Digest since our beginning in 1981. All opinions expressed herein are deemed to be those of the author. Any organizations listed are for identification purposes only and messages should not be considered any official expression by the organization. End of TELECOM Digest V23 #303 ******************************