From editor@telecom-digest.org Mon Aug 9 14:18:02 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.3) id i79II1K25813; Mon, 9 Aug 2004 14:18:02 -0400 (EDT) Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 14:18:02 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200408091818.i79II1K25813@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 #371 TELECOM Digest Mon, 9 Aug 2004 14:18:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 371 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Telecom Update (Canada) #443, August 9, 2004 (Angus TeleManagement) Next-Generation Wireless Net Eyed For Nantucket (Monty Solomon) File-Sharing Imperils US Secrets / Use of the Software (Monty Solomon) Disney Asks FCC to Control All Digital Music (Monty Solomon) CDT Headline: FCC Approves Content Protection Systems (Monty Solomon) Policy Post 10.13: Email Privacy Called into Question (Solomon) TiVo Cuts Set-Top Prices to Lure More Subscribers (Monty Solomon) Freescale Receives First FCC Certification for Ultra-Wideband (Solomon) NBC Olympics; AT&T Wireless Partner to Create First-Ever U.S. (Solomon) AT&T Wireless Unveils Annual Unlimited Plans For Federal (Monty Solomon) Verizon Warns Consumers: Beware of Online Phishing Scam (Monty Solomon) AOL Instant Messenger Vulnerability (Monty Solomon) Re: POTS' Dirty Little Secret (Richie Kennedy) Re: Number Transportability for VOIP? (Dave Close) FCC Restricts Reports on Telecom Disruptions (bernieS) Re: Any Experience With Verizon NJ Centrex? (SELLCOM Tech support) Re: Old Bell System TTY Guys? (Mike Riddle) Re: Vonage Compared to AT&T CallVantage? (SS) Opinions on ExpressPin? (OneNetNut) Internet Connection (CodeMonkey74) Up and Down, All Around (TELECOM Digest Editor) 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. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 09 Aug 2004 10:42:47 -0400 From: Angus TeleManagement Subject: Telecom Update (Canada) #443, August 9, 2004 ************************************************************ TELECOM UPDATE ************************************************************ published weekly by Angus TeleManagement Group http://www.angustel.ca Number 443: August 9, 2004 Publication of Telecom Update is made possible by generous financial support from: ** ALLSTREAM: www.allstream.com ** BELL CANADA: www.bell.ca ** CISCO SYSTEMS CANADA: www.cisco.com/ca ** CYGCOM INTEGRATED TECHNOLOGIES: www.cygcom.com ** GROUP TELECOM: www.360.net ** JUNIPER NETWORKS: www.juniper.net ** PRIMUS CANADA: www.primustel.ca ** SPRINT CANADA: www.sprint.ca ** TELUS: www.telus.com ************************************************************ IN THIS ISSUE: ** Profits Soar at BCE, Telus ** Hard Times for AT&T, MCI ** Shaw Files CLEC Tariff ** Ontario Suspends New Broadband Funding ** Alliance Seeks Fixed/Mobile Convergence ** Bell-MTS Transfer Complete ** Telus Permits Free Migration from Centrex ** Sympatico Adds Anti-Spyware Service ** O.N.Telcom Changes Name ** Avaya to Buy Conferencing Supplier ** Bell & Call-Net File GT Customer Agreement ** Call-Net Wants Lower Rates on Link to Newfoundland ** CRTC Nixes SaskTel Bid to Deregulate Voice Messaging ** Telecom Suppliers Sponsor Major Conference ============================================================ PROFITS SOAR AT BCE, TELUS: Canada's two largest telecom companies reported sharply higher profits in the second quarter. BCE's net rose 20% to $554 million, while Telus's more than doubled, to $172 million. ** In both cases, the growth was driven by wireless sales: Bell's wireless revenue was up 15% and Telus's rose 20%. HARD TIMES FOR AT&T, MCI: Times are tough at two largest long distance carriers in the United States, and both are rumoured to be seeking a buyer. In recent weeks: ** AT&T has pulled out of the consumer business, had its bonds rated as "junk" by Standard & Poor's, and is reported to be considering a multi-billion dollar asset writedown. ** MCI reported a 15% revenue drop in the second quarter, and an accompanying US$71 million loss compared to an $8 million profit a year ago. SHAW FILES CLEC TARIFF: Shaw has asked the CRTC to approve its Competitive Local Exchange Carrier tariff by September 1, "in order that it may start business at that time." Shaw plans trials of local phone service this fall, and retail service in early 2005. www.crtc.gc.ca/8740/eng/2004/S61.htm#200408009 ONTARIO SUSPENDS NEW BROADBAND FUNDING: The Ontario Government will not fund any new projects under the Connect Ontario: Broadband Regional Access (COBRA) program in the current fiscal year (see Telecom Update #370). Three already- approved projects are going ahead. ALLIANCE SEEKS FIXED/MOBILE CONVERGENCE: Rogers Wireless has joined five other large telecom carriers--Brazil Telecom, BT, Korea Telecom, NTT Com, and Swisscom--in creating the Fixed- Mobile Convergence Alliance, to enable seamless handoffs between fixed and mobile wireless networks. BELL-MTS TRANSFER COMPLETE: Bell Canada now owns 100% of Bell West Inc. Under the deal, completed August 3, Bell paid MTS $645 million for its 40% interest, and MTS paid Bell $75 million to get out of contractual commitments. (See Telecom Update #440) TELUS PERMITS FREE MIGRATION FROM CENTREX: CRTC Telecom Decisions 2004-263 and 2004-264 change existing Telus Centrex contracts. Early termination charges will be waived for customers who replace Centrex with network access services of equal or greater value than the remaining value of the contract. The Commission approved a similar change to Bell Canada's Centrex contracts in Telecom Decision 2004-100 in March. www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Orders/2004/o2004-263.htm www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Orders/2004/o2004-264.htm www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Orders/2004/o2004-100.htm SYMPATICO ADDS ANTI-SPYWARE SERVICE: Bell Sympatico now offers its customers anti-spyware software from Montreal- based Zero-Knowledge Systems. O.N.TELCOM CHANGES NAME: O.N.Telcom, the provincially owned telco in northeast Ontario originally known as Ontario Northland Telephone, is changing its name to Ontera. AVAYA TO BUY CONFERENCING SUPPLIER: Avaya has agreed to buy Spectel, a Dublin-based conferencing supplier with 210 employees and 500 customers, for about US$103 million. BELL & CALL-NET FILE GT CUSTOMER AGREEMENT: Bell Canada has asked the CRTC for September 15 approval of its agreement with Call-Net regarding the Group Telecom customers in Eastern Canada who will be transferred to Call-Net when Bell buys 360/GT's Canadian assets (see Telecom Update #435). www.crtc.gc.ca/8340/eng/2004/bell/040730.zip CALL-NET WANTS LOWER RATES ON LINK TO NEWFOUNDLAND: Call-Net has asked the CRTC to rule that Aliant must provide digital service between Halifax and St. John's to competitors at "essential service" rates (cost plus 15%), or failing that, must reduce the markup currently charged. www.crtc.gc.ca/PartVII/eng/2004/8661/8661_04.htm#200407462 CRTC NIXES SASKTEL BID TO DEREGULATE VOICE MESSAGING: The CRTC has turned down SaskTel's request that the Commission forbear from regulating its voice messaging services. www.crtc.gc.ca/archive/ENG/Decisions/2004/dt2004-54.htm TELECOM SUPPLIERS SPONSOR MAJOR CONFERENCE: The organizers of the coming TeleManagement Live! conference have announced that Allstream, Avaya, Bell Canada, Cisco Systems, Lucent Technologies, OneConnect, Siemens, Telus, and the United Telecom Council have joined the event as key sponsors. ** The Conference and Exposition will be held in Toronto, October 20-21. There's an "Early Bird" $100 discount for early registration, and an ADDITIONAL $100 DISCOUNT for Telemanagement subscribers. See www.telemanagementlive.com. ============================================================ HOW TO SUBMIT ITEMS FOR TELECOM UPDATE E-MAIL: editors@angustel.ca FAX: 905-686-2655 MAIL: TELECOM UPDATE Angus TeleManagement Group 8 Old Kingston Road Ajax, Ontario Canada L1T 2Z7 =========================================================== HOW TO SUBSCRIBE (OR UNSUBSCRIBE) TELECOM UPDATE is provided in electronic form only. There are two formats available: 1. The fully-formatted edition is posted on the World Wide Web on the first business day of the week at www.angustel.ca 2. The e-mail edition is distributed free of charge. To subscribe, send an e-mail message to: join-telecom_update@nova.sparklist.com To stop receiving the e-mail edition, send an e-mail message to: leave-telecom_update@nova.sparklist.com Sending e-mail to these addresses will automatically add or remove the sender's e-mail address from the list. Leave subject line and message area blank. We do not give Telecom Update subscribers' e-mail addresses to any third party. For more information, see www.angustel.ca/update/privacy.html. =========================================================== COPYRIGHT AND CONDITIONS OF USE: All contents copyright 2004 Angus TeleManagement Group Inc. All rights reserved. For further information, including permission to reprint or reproduce, please e-mail rosita@angustel.ca or phone 905-686-5050 ext 500. The information and data included has been obtained from sources which we believe to be reliable, but Angus TeleManagement makes no warranties or representations whatsoever regarding accuracy, completeness, or adequacy. Opinions expressed are based on interpretation of available information, and are subject to change. If expert advice on the subject matter is required, the services of a competent professional should be obtained. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 8 Aug 2004 02:04:55 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Next-Generation Wireless Net Eyed For Nantucket Island start-up aims to cover 800 acres with WiFi devices By Peter J. Howe, Globe Staff | August 4, 2004 As soon as next month, Nantucket could be known as a hotspot for another reason: high-speed wireless Internet access. Plans by island start-up Wi-Blast Inc. would make Nantucket one of New England's first examples of a next-generation approach to WiFi net access. Instead of offering ''wireless fidelity" hotspot service just in coffee shops and hotel lobbies, Wi-Blast will offer subscribers coverage across more than 800 acres by networking WiFi transmitters together. The arrival of widespread WiFi access on the playground of beautiful people and billionaires would mark a watershed in commercial WiFi technology, which Pyramid Research of Cambridge expects to total 16,000 US locations by year's end. Nantucket visitors and residents signing up for the service -- to be marketed as ACKBlast in honor of the island airport's famous three-letter code -- would be able to carry a laptop or handheld computer virtually anywhere in the heart of town, or sit on a boat in the nearby harbor. And they could connect to the Internet at speeds of 1 megabit per second or higher, or a rate that's 20 times faster than standard dial-up. The service would be delivered through transmitting devices made by Tropos Networks Inc. of Sunnyvale, Calif., that are small enough to hang from street lights and telephone poles. http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2004/08/04/next_generation_wireless_net_eyed_for_nantucket/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 8 Aug 2004 10:38:45 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: File-Sharing Imperils US Secrets / Use of the Software By Hiawatha Bray, Globe Staff | August 5, 2004 Sensitive military secrets may be available through the same file-sharing software used by millions to swap illegal music and movie files. Rick Wallace, a computer user in Germany whose wife serves with the US Army there, said he has used the popular file-swapping program LimeWire to download military duty rosters, discussions of tactics, and other secret files. He said the problem is probably caused by military personnel who use LimeWire to download music files, unaware that they are also exposing secret information stored on their computers. A terrorist or enemy combatant with Net access could obtain valuable information about US military operations merely by downloading it, he said. Wallace said that since first finding the sensitive material in May, he has repeatedly contacted officials at the Pentagon, the FBI, and the CIA, but secret materials remain available over the LimeWire network. http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2004/08/05/file_sharing_imperils_us_secrets/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 8 Aug 2004 13:33:57 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Disney Asks FCC to Control All Digital Music posted by Dan Gillmor The EFF has posted this astounding note about the music industry's latest move toward controlling all digital music content. Disney is the stalking horse for the cartel's wishes. "Disney wants the FCC to regulate all devices capable of recording from any audio broadcasting medium or from the Internet. FM radio, XM, Sirius, Streamripper, Total Recorder, you're all in the crosshairs. It's the Hollings Bill all over again." http://weblog.siliconvalley.com/column/dangillmor/archives/010675.shtml http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/001805.php ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 8 Aug 2004 13:40:48 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: CDT Headline: FCC Approves Content Protection Systems The Federal Communications Commission today approved 13 content protection technologies under its new broadcast flag rules for digital television (DTV), including a controversial proposal by TiVo. TiVo's system would allow consumers to view recorded programs from any of 9 devices they register. Under the flag rules, DTV receivers sold after July 2005 will have to include one of the approved technologies to protect programs from indiscriminate redistribution online. Today's approvals were a victory for consumers, but concerns remain about the use of the flag rules to stifle innovative new uses of television in the digital age. August 04, 2004 All Eyes on TiVo: The Broadcast Flag and the Internet [PDF], July 26, 2004: http://www.cdt.org/copyright/20040726tivoflag.pdf CDT's Broadcast Flag Introduction: http://www.cdt.org/copyright/broadcastflag/introduction.shtml Implications of the Broadcast Flag: A Public Interest Primer, March 12, 2004: http://www.cdt.org/copyright/031216broadcastflag.pdf ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 8 Aug 2004 13:42:50 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Policy Post 10.13: Email Privacy Protection Called into Question CDT POLICY POST Volume 10, Number 13, July 30, 2004 A Briefing On Public Policy Issues Affecting Civil Liberties Online from The Center For Democracy and Technology (1) Email Privacy Protection Called into Question by Federal Appeals Court Decision (2) Loophole for Law Enforcement Access to Internet Communications (3) ISPs Can Access Email in Transit Without Violating Wiretap Act (4) Legislative Fixes Being Considered http://www.cdt.org/publications/pp_10.13.shtml . ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 00:38:18 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: TiVo Cuts Set-Top Prices to Lure More Subscribers TiVo cuts set-top prices to lure more subscribers - Aug 9, 2004 12:01 AM (Reuters) NEW YORK, Aug 9 (Reuters) - TiVo Inc.(NASDAQ:TIVO) on Monday cut prices for its digital television recorder to as low as $100, under its $50 million plan to rapidly increase subscribers to its service. The San Jose, California-based company, whose fee-based digital video recorder service lets users pause live TV and customize viewing choices, said it would offer a $100 mail-in rebate on its 40-hour set-top box, which sells for $200. The price drop comes amid growing investor concern about TiVo's growth potential, especially as close partner DirecTV(NYSE:DTV) prepares to offer other digital video recorder (DVR) options to its satellite TV subscribers next year. TiVo's stock fell to a 16-month low on Friday, closing at $4.78 on Nasdaq. The lower set-top box prices, effective Aug. 11, also apply to other TiVo models, including those sold by electronics makers Toshiba Corp.(TOKYO:6502) and Humax Co. Ltd.(KQ:028080) In addition, TiVo said it updated the design of its Series2 models, developed to reduce manufacturing costs, and will sell the boxes in more national retail chains, such as Costco Wholesale Corp.(NASDAQ:COST) and CompUSA stores. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=42977333 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 09:07:36 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Freescale Receives First FCC Certification for Ultra-Wideband Consumer Products Connect with Ultra-Wideband as Early as the Holiday Season AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 9, 2004--Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NYSE:FSL) is the first company to receive Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certification for its Ultra-Wideband (UWB) communications solution. With this certification, Freescale can begin commercial shipments of its XS110 chipset immediately. This enables Freescale's customers to design UWB technology into their consumer electronics applications for unlicensed operation anywhere in the United States. UWB allows consumers to create a home theater environment without cables. It also provides instantaneous, wireless transfer of images from a digital camera to a PC/laptop or television. Employees can connect laptops and projectors without wires and music fans can transmit multiple megabytes of MP3 audio from laptops to MP3 players. Initial consumer applications are expected to include large screen displays (plasma, LCD), digital video recorders and set-top boxes, with mobile applications such as portable hard drives and digital cameras to follow later in 2005. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=42980297 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 09:35:19 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: NBC Olympics and AT&T Wireless Partner to Create First-Ever NBC Olympics and AT&T Wireless Partner to Create First-Ever U.S. Wireless Olympic Games Promotion - Aug 9, 2004 09:01 AM (PR Newswire) Companies unveil most comprehensive wireless program in U.S. Olympic history NEW YORK and REDMOND, Wash., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NBC Olympics and AT&T Wireless (NYSE:AWE), a U.S. Olympic Team sponsor, today announced that they will offer customers the most extensive collection of Olympic Games content ever available on mobile devices in the United States. This comprehensive wireless program will include on-air text message polling, video highlight clips, mobile access to television listings and results, alerts, trivia, an exclusive sweepstakes, and more. A number of elements from the NBC-AT&T Olympics wireless program are available now, including highlights from NBC's coverage of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, NBC promotional clips, weekly Olympic trivia, and a sweepstakes offering the chance to win $25,000 in gold. The features and content of the program will expand this week and throughout the duration of the Games. In addition to its program with NBC, and in response to the growing demand for its wireless data services, AT&T Wireless has introduced two Olympic- themed bundled service offerings which combine some of the company's most popular data services along with voice calling minutes. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=42983621 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 10:54:39 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: AT&T Wireless Unveils Annual Unlimited Plans AT&T Wireless Unveils Annual Unlimited Plans For Federal Government Customers; Yearly Unlimited Data Usage Plans for Select Modems, PDAs, and Smartphones - Aug 9, 2004 10:00 AM (BusinessWire) REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 9, 2004-- Yearly Unlimited Voice and Data Plans for BlackBerry Wireless Handhelds(TM) Budget conscious federal government agencies can now plan with greater certainty for their yearly wireless usage costs with today's introduction of annual, unlimited, wireless service plans from AT&T Wireless. Through these annual service plans, federal departments can now pay a once-a-year, per user fee that gives individuals unlimited wireless data service on select devices. In addition, those selecting BlackBerry Wireless Handhelds can also sign-up for unlimited voice calling plans along with unlimited wireless data service. There are new annual government plans available for the following devices: -- All five models of the popular BlackBerry Wireless Handhelds offered by AT&T Wireless - the 7780, 7280, 7230, 6280 and 6710; -- The EDGE-enabled Sony-Ericsson GC-82 and GC-83 wireless modem cards, providing access to fastest national wireless data network in the United States, or the GPRS-enabled Sierra Wireless AirCard 750 wireless modem card; -- Numerous PDAs and smart phones including the palmOne(TM) Treo 600, palmOne Tungsten W, Audiovox(R) PPC4100 Pocket PC, and Motorola MPx200. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=42985136 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 10:58:21 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Verizon Warns Consumers: Beware of Online 'Phishing' Scam Newest Scam Involves Attempts to Collect Credit Card Numbers and Other Sensitive Information Through Fake Web Site AUGUSTA, Maine, Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon customers should be aware of a new wave of scams that try to pry personal information from consumers, which can lead to identity theft and other crimes. The newest scam involves an authentic-looking e-mail from someone posing as a Verizon representative. The e-mail asks Verizon customers to update their personal billing information -- such as credit-card or social security numbers -- and directs them to a Web site that is designed to look like a Verizon Web site. The phony Web site is actually operated by the scammers. The e-mail falsely warns the consumer that, in order to continue receiving Verizon services, he or she must visit the fake Web site and avoid paying a "processing" fee by updating personal and account information. Verizon does not do business in this fashion, nor does the company charge consumers to update their information. This latest wave of scams directing consumers to phony Web sites -- known as "phishing" -- has targeted a number of other industries and companies over the past year. - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=42986453 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 11:58:21 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: AOL Instant Messenger Vulnerability AOL Instant Messenger aim:goaway URI Handler Buffer Overflow Vulnerability http://idefense.com/application/poi/display?id=121&type=vulnerabilities&flashstatus=false AOL Instant Messenger "Away" Message Buffer Overflow Vulnerability http://secunia.com/advisories/12198/ ------------------------------ From: Richie Kennedy Subject: Re: POTS' Dirty Little Secret Date: Mon, 09 Aug 2004 00:25:27 -0000 Organization: route56.com kamlet@panix.com (Arthur Kamlet) wrote in news:telecom23.370.12@telecom- digest.org: > P Phillips Petroleum Not anymore. Phillips merged with Conoco to become ConocoPhillips. Symbol is COP . Richie Kennedy route56@route56.com www.route56.com "There's always a stage and a beautiful babe to squeeze my lime..." ------------------------------ From: dave@compata.com (Dave Close) Subject: Re: Number Transportability for VOIP? Date: 8 Aug 2004 19:38:06 -0700 Organization: Compata, Costa Mesa, California dan04@comcast.net (Dan) writes: > Will I ever be able to sign up for VOIP and keep my existing POTS > (landline) phone number? > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: You can do that now, Dan, at least > on Vonage and assuming you are in a town of some size, although > Independence, KS is not that large at 8000 people. PAT] But beware: the telcos don't seem to communicate with Vonage, or Vonage has some internal problems dealing with such communications. I transferred a number last week. The number was out of service for about 30 hours until I called Vonage (20 minute hold time, 40 minutes total) to complain. Email sent after about 4 hours out of service may still be in their queue; it hasn't been answered. Dave Close, Compata, Costa Mesa CA +1 714 434 7359 dave@compata.com dhclose@alumni.caltech.edu "Political campaigns are the graveyard of real ideas and the birthplace of empty promises." -- Teresa Heinz Kerry ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 8 Aug 2004 23:46:14 EDT From: bernieS Subject: FCC Restricts Reports on Telecom Disruptions And at the request of the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Communications Commission yesterday agreed to restrict public access to reports of telecommunications disruptions, Congressional Quarterly Homeland Security reported today. DHS argued that information about communications outages could provide -- what else? -- "a roadmap for terrorists." "The commission concluded that the information needs to be not routinely available for public inspection, and the commission is treating all outage reports filed as being presumptively confidential under the Freedom of Information Act," FCC official Kent Nilsson told CQ Homeland Security. ------------------------------ From: SELLCOM Tech support Subject: Re: Any Experience With Verizon NJ Centrex? Organization: www.sellcom.com Reply-To: support@sellcom.com Date: Mon, 09 Aug 2004 05:22:06 GMT chrispchang@yahoo.com (Chris Chang) posted on that vast internet thingie: > I am thinking about using Centrex offered by Verizon NJ instead of > purchasing a phone system. Was wondering if anyone had any opinions > from experience with using this? We intend to get Centrex compatible > display phones so users don't have to deal with switchook/flash button > stuff. I hope that you might consider the TMC ET4000 if you do go that route. I believe that you will find that it is a phone that Verizon recommends because it works so well with their Centrex. http://www.et4000.com if you wish to have a look. Steve at SELLCOM http://www.sellcom.com Discount multihandset cordless phones by Siemens, AT&T, Panasonic, Motorola Vtech 5.8Ghz; TMC ET4000 4line Epic phone, OnHoldPlus, Beamer, Watchguard! Brick wall "non MOV" surge protection. Uniden 2line 5.8GHz cordless If you sit at a desk www.ergochair.biz you owe it to yourself. ------------------------------ From: Mike Riddle Organization: Solitary, Poor, Nasty, Brutish & Short Subject: Re: Old Bell System TTY Guys? Date: Mon, 09 Aug 2004 09:27:28 -0500 jsw@ivgate.omahug.org wrote: >> In my youth one of my telephone company friends sometimes went out to >> a customer site to work on the Teletype. I never saw the site or the >> equipment, but some of the stuff he took with him included a couple >> of vacuum tubes, commercial types 35L6 and 50Y6. I've always >> wondered what the equipment was and what the tubes had to do with it. >> Anybody know? > Not to show my age, but the 35L6 was a beam power tube that was used > for (other than the obvious audio output) such things as relay/sole- > noid drivers and servo controllers. I don't remember them in any > teletype gear (I'm not *that* old) Of course you are!!!! > but I do remember them in 60's vintage card sorters. They were > popular because the heaters of three of them could be wired in > series across the standard 120v AC line, saving the need for a > filament/heater transformer. Some of the later model TTYs actually had electronics! It depended on what signalling method was in use (20 ma, 60 ma, or some kind of modem/modulator, in military use often "low-level" where the internals were sometimes low current or voltage-switched). I don't remember which tube types we used, but I do remember the occasional tube in DC power supplies, etc. Mike Riddle Former AF 36370/30672/G3016 To reply replace "nospam" with "mriddle" in address line. ------------------------------ From: sridhara@yahoo.com (SS) Subject: Re: Vonage Compared to AT&T CallVantage? Date: 9 Aug 2004 07:29:14 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com I have Callvantege. There is a lot of stutter and clicks in local calls but international calls are surprisingly crystal clear! I have no experience with Vonage. SS Chip G wrote in message news:: > I recently received solicitation from AT&T to join their CallVantage > program which appears to be similar to the Vonage offering. I am > trying to decide which (if either to try). If you have experience with > both of these and could provide commentary, I would truly appreciate > your insights. > Thank you, > Chip > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: First of all, I do hand out Vonage > e-coupons for a month of free service. I don't come anywhere close > to earning a living from it, so I hope that does not cloud what I > say here. But regards Vonage customer service, I have never caught > them lying to me or trying to stall me or prod me for personal infor- > mation. With AT&T on the other hand, with their audacious voicemail > hell system (you never ever get the same rep twice), I have had them > lie to me, pry for personal information, insist I did not know what > I was talking about, tell me I did not know who my local phone company > was or how much I had to pay, etc. They in most cases refuse to > discuss their service unless you tell them your local phone number > first (an unlimited, blanket plan should be an unlimited blanket > plan; what difference does it make *who* my local carrier is), and > they are just like SBC in the sense that one rep makes you promises > on something then the next rep denies ever hearing of such a plan. > Do as you wish, but for what little phone service I need these days, > Vonage works just fine. PAT] ------------------------------ From: onenetnut@hotmail.com (OneNetNut) Subject: Opinions on ExpressPin? Date: 9 Aug 2004 07:44:37 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Hello world ... Wondering if anyone has any experience (good or bad) with ExpressPin either for calling cards or other telecom solutions? Heard good things about their calling card solutions but not much on the conferencing, long distance, or T1 services. (Looks like they are a VAR for someone.) The URL for their cards is http://pointme.to/expresspin I think the URL for their other stuff is http://pointme.to (One of my I.T. guys is looking at them for conferencing so I'm just doing research.) ------------------------------ From: codemonkey74@yahoo.com (CodeMonkey74) Subject: Internet Connection Date: 9 Aug 2004 09:19:19 -0700 Organization: http://groups.google.com Just thought I'd drop by and say thanks to all the people who tried to help me with my internet problems. AAARGH!!!! I almost missed turning in my HUGE psych paper, and Kenna was suffering from nickjr.com withdrawals ;). I finally just gave up and switched (in case you were wondering, it's Comcast 19.99 for 6 months, 75 bucks cash back and a free modem http://specials.comcastoffers.com). The guy I talked to said the online place was the only way to get the free modem. Anyway, it's fast!!!! I downloaded a coloring book for Kenna in like 2 secs. Thanks again, time to study. KM ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2004 13:39:55 EDT From: TELECOM Digest Editor Subject: Up and Down, All Around You may have noticed there was no issue of the Digest on Sunday. No matter, it would have been a little thin anyway, as weekends often are here, with spam so high and the real meat lower on weekends. But my real complaint is one I ask for yor comments on: the frequency with which the network (internal LAN) blows up, quits running, has to be rebooted. The configuration is this: in from the cable line into the cable modem which is 192.168.100.1 . From the cable modem into the Motorola TA box for Vonage (192.168.102.1), out of the Motorola into a Netgear Wireless router (192.168.0.1 [from the inside], 192.168.102.101 [when it looks at the Motorola TA]) and out of the router via wires to the various computers (192.168.0 [.2 through .5], one of which is the 'wireless' device (192.168.0.3 most of the time). So in other words, there are *two* firewalls sitting next to each other, the Motorola TA box then the Netgear router right behind it. About once per day, the whole thing crashes. Computers cannot reach the net and cannot see each other. Normally a reboot solves the problem but the reboot has to be done a very specific way: 1) *everything* turned completely off 2) cable modem and both firewalls unplugged, shut down 3) then the process reverses, with a) cable modem allowed to reset, plugged back in, restarted b) Motorola TA plugged back in, allowed to reset to cable modem c) Netgear router plugged in, allowed to reset to Motorola d) various computers turned on, they find one another and the net If I do not do it in that order, or if I 'rush the process' by restarting the Motorola before the modem has correctly initialized or the Netgear before the Motorola is happy, or the computers before the Netgear --> Motorola --> cable modem have each initialized and are waiting, then it just won't work and has to be done over. Or like yesterday, over and over and over and over and over, fifteen minutes or so each reboot. My question: is that 'normal', that a network looks/acts like a house made out of playing cards, forever falling apart and requiring massive amounts of time, in a precise way, to get restarted? Shouldn't it stay together a little better than it does or have to be deliberatly tampered with to make it fall down? My comment: given my partial paralysis, my inability to function like more than a half-human being due to the brain aneurysm in 1999-2000 (which I bitterly refer to as my diseased brain), and how hard it is for me to get up and down out of my chair, crawl under my work area looking at cables (some marked, some unmarked), should't there be a *better way* for things to be handled? Yesterday, Sunday, after about a dozen false starts at getting things booted (fifteen/twenty minutes per attempt) I finally decided to look at the cable connections behind and under my desk, laid down on the floor under my desk **and could not get back up or out** until two friends found me there and pulled me out. Meanwhile of course spam kept flooding in to all my accounts causing Outlook Express to get 'wedged' as it tried to pull the mail (both huge in size and volume) out of my accounts. Another computer has a local issue where it won't access the CD Rom; the Bios has to be adjusted. In short, 15-16 hours of total hell yesterday; one of the by-products of my brain disease is growing tired and impatient very easily. All logic failed me; I was reduced to chanting and cursing God for every- thing. Is that the way 'computers' are for everyone, or am I missing something? 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End of TELECOM Digest V23 #371 ******************************