From editor@telecom-digest.org Mon Aug 23 23:20:42 2004 Received: (from ptownson@localhost) by massis.lcs.mit.edu (8.11.6p3/8.11.6) id i7O3KgX16158; Mon, 23 Aug 2004 23:20:42 -0400 (EDT) Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 23:20:42 -0400 (EDT) From: editor@telecom-digest.org Message-Id: <200408240320.i7O3KgX16158@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 #397 TELECOM Digest Mon, 23 Aug 2004 23:20:00 EDT Volume 23 : Issue 397 Inside This Issue: Editor: Patrick A. Townson Re: Hunt Group / Trunk Group (Tim@Backhome.org) Re: Microsoft Pays Dear For Insults (John Beaman) Re: Internet Patent Claims Stir Concern (Paul Vader) Blackberry Timesheet Software Suggestion (Tee Khuu) Re: Verizon Cable TV (Tony P.) Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind (Tony P.) Re: SS7 via Cable/Air? Factor Deciding This Medium? (Scott Dorsey) Re: Microsoft Pays Dear For Insults Through Ignorance (Jack Decker) Re: Choosing AT&T Wireless Worst Mistake (Steven J Sobol) VoicePulse Rated Best VoIP Phone Service Provider in PC (Decker-VOIP) Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind (Paul Vader) Last Laugh! Inventors of Voice Over IP [joke] (Paul Timmins) 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: Tim@Backhome.org Subject: Re: Hunt Group / Trunk Group Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 05:16:20 -0700 Organization: Cox Communications A hunt group can be a group of POTS lines or a group of trunk lines (trunks usually serve a customer's PBX ). Hunting means the terminating switch will land an inbound call, presumably dialed to the "main number," on the first idle number in the group. There are two types of hunting, series completion and circle. Series completion is one pass through the group then it's all over. It they are all busy the caller will get a line-busy signal. Series completion is all that was available with the old switches. Circle hunting generally will go back and forth through the entire group up to 20 times looking for an idle line before giving up. In old step-by-step equipment hunting groups had to be dedicated to special switch groups and were consecutive numbers in increasing magnitude; i.e., 7501, 7502, and so forth. 7500 was at the top of the group. With crossbar switches hunting could be within any 1,000 number group. With electronic switching it can be anywhere within the common office code group (10s of thousands of numbers). Trunk lines may, or may not, be assigned dialable numbers. If not, they will be tied to the primary number, which is dialable. zombie wrote: > Hi Folks, > I am new to the world of telecom products and protocols. Would like to > know the difference between a trunk group and a hunt group. Are there > any good articles on the internet that discuss the following > topics. Any books regarding these topics ... > Would appreciate any good pointers. > Zombie ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 08:38:03 -0500 From: John Beaman Subject: Re: Microsoft Pays Dear For Insults > Johnny needs to know that Columbia exports medicines with a higher > value now, and that the percentage of drug adicts in the populations > of industrialized countries is almost a constant, no matter what -- or > where -- the U.S. proposes to eliminate the problem. Johnny needs to > know that there are as many dialects of Spanish as there are countries > speaking it, and to consult with natives in all of them before > advertising a car labelled "Nova" (which loosely translates to "no > balls") in those places. Actually, va is the spanish verb for "to go", so the literal translation is "does not go". ------------------------------ From: pv+usenet@pobox.com (Paul Vader) Subject: Re: Internet Patent Claims Stir Concern Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 15:18:32 -0000 Organization: Inline Software Creations Steven J Sobol writes: > See, what I wonder is this: Trademark law says that if you don't > defend your trademark vigorously you lose the legal protection of the > trademark registration. Does a similar rule apply with patents? I'm Not really. But since you only have until the patent sunsets to make any claims, you've got to get the ball rolling eventually. There's no such thing as dilution of patent. > sorry, but this would have been a groundbreaking technology in '92, > and I would *think* that they'd have been pursuing licensing fees back > then if they seriously had the patents. I'm fairly certain that streaming protocols existed well before 1992, and I think it's bloody obvious to use one for the things the 'patent' claims as novel. It's evil to patent an established technique within a restricted sphere (and criminally incompetent to GRANT a patent), only because someone hasn't thought to apply standard tools of the trade in that sphere yet. Patents should be for NEW things. * -- * PV something like badgers--something like lizards--and something like corkscrews. ------------------------------ From: teekhuu@gmail.com (Tee Khuu) Subject: Blackberry Timesheet Software Suggestion? Date: 23 Aug 2004 15:37:01 -0700 Hi, I'd like to know if anyone can recommend a timesheet or expense tracking web-based software for BlackBerrys. We need the application to be web-based, so we don't have to deal with software on our PC's, and our data to be hosted by an ASP because we don't want to deal with maintaining a server. Thanks for the help! ------------------------------ From: Tony P. Subject: Re: Verizon Cable TV? Organization: ATCC Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 23:03:56 GMT In article , dannyb@panix.com says: > In hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com (Lisa > Hancock) writes: >> Verizon is stringing new wires in our neighborhood and we've heard >> rumors (unconfirmed) that they're planning to introduce Cable TV and >> other services. > Verizon has been doing a couple of in house tests using hi capacity > DSL circuitry to provide switched video [a], which they hope to market > as an alternative to cable systems. I was thinking about that very same thing the other day. What would prevent me other than the agreement not to re-sell the cable signal I pay for to streaming say, x number of channels of CATV via 802.11g. There are a number of hacks for Linksys devices that let you offer VoIP for several different subscribers, and video can be compressed down to what, 6Mbps so at 54Mbps you'd be able to offer 9 switched channels. ------------------------------ From: Tony P. Subject: Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind Organization: ATCC Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 23:24:31 GMT In article , support@sellcom.com says: > I hope this subject is not too much of a stretch for this forum but it > seems consistent with certain types of threads here. > I just went from a "poor Microsoft why are they persecuting it" to a > "Microsoft is really really dangerous and something needs to be done" > in only a few short hours. What caused this great change of heart > you might ask? The answer is "XP". I held out for as long as I could > without buying it, but ... > I had a simple motherboard problem so I simply removed the hard disk > on that machine and moved it to one of the little used computers. > Then, not only do I have the effort etc of the reconfig, I have this > garbage where I have to call Microsoft and explain to them why I am > requesting an activation code for software that I BOUGHT AND PAID FOR! > What if the phones had been down ... etc ... > Then I am advised that someone had been using that "little used" > computer and had extremely important work on it. > So I take the other computer, fix it, and then put the hard disk back > in that computer. Sooo ... then we have the same Microsoft garbage > that I only have "three days to activate". I figure it is best to > set up networking first so I click no to the reactivate now planning > to do it later but install some Windows update that it had there. > The next reboot it would not let me log on unless I activated, minutes > later not "three days". Of course I called the phone number and > wasted more of my time. But this is software I PAID FOR! > If this kind of thing doesn't scare you, you are not paying attention. > I admit that I was not paying attention before enjoying all the free > updates and cool software etc and etc ... > The next time I read of some patriot trying to bust the Microsoft > monopoly I will have a whole new attitude. > Steve Winter > (The opinions expressed here are not necessarily the opinions of any > company express or implied, but they SHOULD BE!) > http://www.sellcom.com > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: I have been told by people who know how > to generate Microsoft 'product keys' that if you have a good, working > product key it will work on other copies of the same product; that the > product key is not peculiar to the individual disk. I am told that a > product key is based on some mathematical formula (like a credit card > 'check digit'); that I could install XP and later when you decided to > install your copy of XP you could use my product key number. I know > that when I installed my copy of Win 98 on a different laptop it > worked just fine. > Now when I recently attempted to install Win 98 on an old IBM Think > Pad which had Win 95 on it out of the (original) box. I ran into a > crude awakening. I could not just format the hard drive and install > Win 98. I was missing some drivers needed by IBM Think Pad, so I had > to first run the Win 95 restore disk to get those missing drivers > and then I discovered that Win 95 would not lay down unless it had > FAT-16 on the hard drive. I started from scratch, formatted the hard > drive with FAT-16, ran the restore CD, *then* installed Win 98 on > top of that. It *still* did not work right, and my friend said the > problem is "you cannot do all that with it in the docking station, > do it without the laptop attached to anything. Only use the docking > station when you have everything else finished and installed." When > I removed it from the docking station, and started from scratch once > again, it actually worked. **Then** I started working on the > networking side of it. It finally, more or less, came around to > working right as of Friday, about three months after I first made an > appeal here to get a new laptop to replace the one that had bit the > dust. > Someone also sent me a second IBM Think Pad, and I 'celebrated' my > victory over Microsoft yesterday by installing a WiFi card in it > to go with my wireless router. Today for the first time in three > months I am not feeling so depressed with myself. PAT] Not only are there numerous product key files and generators on the net, but also activation code crackers too. I've been running Windows 2000 for a few years now and have no current intention of moving to XP for the specific reason that I hate the activation crap on MS products. ------------------------------ From: kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) Subject: Re: SS7 via Cable/Air? Factor Deciding This Medium? Date: 23 Aug 2004 13:40:03 -0400 Organization: Former users of Netcom shell (1989-2000) qazmlp wrote: > What exactly is the medium of transferring SS7 messages? It's bits. Is this via > Fiber optic cables? Is it possible to transfer SS7 messages via air? Sure, you can send bits over fibre optic cables, twisted pair, radio or satellite links. Bits is bits. > Also, I would like to know about what exactly is the factor that > mainly decides about the mode of communication like whether via cable > or air etc. Is it the frequency of the messages? It has to do with what's in place where you want to go and how much you want to pay. If you want to go to a place with no landline cables, you go over a microwave or satellite link. --scott "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2004 23:15:39 -0400 From: Jack Decker Subject: Re: Choosing AT&T Wireless Worst Mistake Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 14:38:16 -0500 TELECOM Digest Editor opened his mouth and instructed John Levine : >> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: My two Nokia phones are actually >> model 5165 Type NSW-1NX. The batteries, the headsets, the chargers, >> etc are all interchangable between my two phones. PAT] > I used to have one of those. It's TDMA 800 and AMPS. Physically all > the phones are the same, but they all have custom software for the > provider who sold it. I gather it's possible but difficult to load in > new software for a different carrier. A carrier who has sold the 5100 series in the past should have no trouble. Verizon was happy to flash my 6185 (from Alltel) with their firmware; they never sold the 6185 directly, but a few of their resellers did, so they had firmware for it. Joseph wrote: > In your original article you spoke of "6100" series phones not Nokia > 5165. At any rate 5165 is a TDMA/IS-136 handset and not GSM at any > rate at all. > [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Because, in the advertising and > instructional material I have from the era when these phones were > sold and used, Nokia referred to them as the '5100/6100 series of > phones.' PAT] The 5100 and 6100 series actually had more common features than differences. And all of the accessories for the 51xx phones also worked with the 61xx phones. 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: Jack Decker Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 15:34:58 -0400 Subject: VoicePulse Rated Best VoIP Phone Service Provider in PC Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-23-2004/0002237079&EDATE= Company Outperforms Vonage and AT&T CallVantage JAMESBURG, N.J., Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- VoicePulse Inc. has been rated the best VoIP phone service provider in PC Magazine's September 2004 issue. The review compares VoicePulse with competition including Vonage's DigitalVoice and AT&T's CallVantage. The review, resulting from weeks of thorough evaluation in the Ziff-Davis test labs, concluded: "We were extremely impressed with the breadth of features offered by VoicePulse and its easy to navigate Web interface." This latest achievement comes on the heels of another award for VoicePulse when, in May 2004, PC World Magazine gave its PC World BEST BUY rating to the company's service. The PC Magazine review, VoIP: Finally Worth a Look, can be found at http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1630778,00.asp. VoicePulse allows consumers to use their existing cable or DSL Internet connection for phone service. The service includes traditional features such as Caller ID, Call Waiting, Call Forward and Voicemail as well as a host of advanced features such as Distinctive Ring, Call Filters, Telemarketer Block and Anonymous Call Block. Consumers need only a high-speed Internet connection and an ordinary touch-tone telephone to use the service. VoicePulse uses Voice-over-IP technology to deliver broadband phone service. VoicePulse's services include: * Unlimited local, regional and US long distance calling for $24.99 per month * Unlimited local, regional and 200 US long distance minutes for $14.99 per month * Advanced features including Voicemail, Telemarketer Blocking, Do Not Disturb, Anonymous Call Rejection, Distinctive Ring * Voicemail with optional e-mail delivery of messages as sound attachments * Choose your own area code * Low international calling rates About VoicePulse VoicePulse is a New Jersey based communications company that uses its VoIP network to deliver advanced features and high-quality phone service to residential and small-business consumers. The company leads the industry in delivering innovative features and excellent customer service. For more information about VoicePulse, please visit http://www.voicepulse.com. VoicePulse is a trademark of VoicePulse Inc. For more information, please contact: Rima Vaghasiya 732-339-5100 rima@voicepulse.com SOURCE VoicePulse Inc. Web Site: http://www.voicepulse.com http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1630778,00.asp 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: pv+usenet@pobox.com (Paul Vader) Subject: Re: Microsoft Changed My Mind Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 20:58:24 -0000 Organization: Inline Software Creations According to pv+usenet@pobox.com (Paul Vader), TELECOM Digest Editor opened his mouth and taught the people saying: > specifically asked for Windows 2000. Also, regards the size of FAT, he > told me to do something (I forget what) so that when running Linux it > would also mount the Windows hard drive and allow me to *read but not > execute* the files there -- such as text files, letters I had written, > etc (on Windows). I had to restrict the FAT size on Windows in order Well, you can't execute windows binaries in l inux unless you have WINE working. Last time I checked, WINE was not set up on the knoppix CD. > to accomodate Linux. I also asked him if it was possible to create a > Knoppix.rc type file so I did not have to manually fill in all my > details each time; then load all that on the hard drive and run it > instead of Win 2000. He said it just would not work; that Knoppix had > to be run from the CD each time. PAT] There is a way of storing your Knoppix settings on your PC so that the enviornment will be built the way you like every time you boot from the CD, but I've never used it, since the only time I use the CD is when I specifically want a generic environment. If I wanted to tweak, I'd do a hard disk install like you did with dead rat. Knoppix has a bare-bones but very functional hard disk installer written by fabianx. * * PV something like badgers--something like lizards--and something like corkscrews. ------------------------------ Organization: Timmins Technologies, LLC From: Paul Timmins Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2004 19:58:16 -0700 Subject: Last Laugh! Inventors of Voice Over IP [joke] Reply-To: VoIPnews@yahoogroups.com Wow, here it was, invented by three people. http://www.att.com/reinvent/ (I guess the authors of RFC 2543, "SIP: Session Initiation Protocol", (M. Handley of ACIRI, H. Schulzrinne of Columbia University, E. Schooler of Cal Tech, and J. Rosenberg of Bell Labs [and amusingly not listed as an inventor on Ma Bell's website] must be really upset.) Paul Timmins Timmins Technologies, LLC ------------------------------ TELECOM Digest is an electronic journal devoted mostly but not exclusively to telecommunications topics. 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