Received: from delta.eecs.nwu.edu by mintaka.lcs.mit.edu id aa01026; 3 Mar 90 21:07 EST Received: from mailinglists.eecs.nwu.edu by delta.eecs.nwu.edu id aa19898; 3 Mar 90 19:28 CST Received: from mailinglists.eecs.nwu.edu by delta.eecs.nwu.edu id ab18768; 3 Mar 90 18:24 CST Date: Sat, 3 Mar 90 17:28:42 CST From: TELECOM Moderator [To]: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest Special: 900 Phone Service BCC: Message-ID: <9003031728.ab01451@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> TELECOM Digest Sat, 3 Mar 90 17:28:00 CST Special: 900 Phone Service Today's Topics: Moderator: Patrick Townson AT&T MultiQuest(tm) Interactive Dial-It(R) 900 Service (Lenny Tropiano) For The Rest of Us: Your Very Own 900 Number (TELECOM Moderator) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 3 Mar 90 3:49:37 EST From: Lenny Tropiano Subject: AT&T MultiQuest(tm) Interactive like Dial-It(R) 900 Service (*LONG*) Here's a some of the information found in a big write-up I received today from AT&T about their 900 services. The company I work for wanted to see about getting one for a pay-for online data service they're work on. ============================================================================== AT&T MultiQuest Interactive is a new telecommunications service that offers a powerful new way to market expertise, knowledge or data nationwide -- entirely by phone. Preferred method of access for MultiQuest Interactive is AT&T's ACCUNET(R) T1.5 line. Unlike other caller-paid services, AT&T MultiQuest Interactive allows two-way conversations with your customer -- or your automated system. Some, but not all, conditions of the sponsor: - MultiQuest Interactive service is NOT listed in the directory - MultiQuest Interactive will be offered nationwide - All intrastate calls, if not blocked, will be billed and taxed at interstate rates. - The minimum services period is 30 days. - Sponsors are required to include the cost of the call in their advertising. - If the total number of sponsor's busies and ring/no answer calls exceeds 25% of all calls for 3 consecutive billing periods, AT&T may disconnect/refuse to furnish MultiQuest Interactive to that sponsor - Currently there are not advanced enhancement features, therefore, a 900 number can only terminate at one customer premise - MultiQuest Interactive will NOT be accessible via AT&T WATS or AT&T MEGACOM(R) Service - Time of day discounts will NOT apply. - Cancellation charges will apply as specified in the general regulations of FCC Tariff No. 1 - There is a 30 day minimum notice of an intent to disconnect the service. This requirement does not extend to deletion or charge of some channels. AT&T MultiQuest Interactive is: - Inbound (as is 800 service) - Interactive (as is a regular phone call) - Caller-paid (when used with premium billing) - Flat-rated (ie. not distance or time of day sensitive) AT&T MultiQuest Interactive uses 900 numbering: 900 NXX-Xxxx, where each NXX-X represents a specific call price. AT&T MultiQuest Interactive is designed for high-volume applications, but not for mass calling. The service requires one access line for each call in progress, unlike other 900 services (which allows for the termination of thousands of simultaneous calls). The pricing structure of the service are such that a fairly high call volume is required for the sponsor to make money -- the point of this service. AT&T MultiQuest Interactive number can accept calls from the 50 states only. Only directly-dialed calls can be accepted: no operator-handled, calling-card, hotel/motel, collect, coin, etc. calls are allowed. Future enhancements will address these restrictions. Subscribers to AT&T MultiQuest Interactive will receive, also free of charge, call data reports. There are 2 types: the Executive summary, which shows the number of calls generated from each area code, the call detail, which gives the date/time/duration of the call, and the 10-digit number of the calling party (from equal access areas). Both call attempts and completions will be shown. PRICING: Non-recurring - Service Establishment, per arrangement $1200.00 - For changing/adding a 900 number $ 175.00 Recurring - Monthly charge (up to 960 access lines) $1000.00 - Monthly charge-each additional 900 number $ 125.00 Premium Billing - 10% billing service charge - Transport fees $0.30 initial minute or fraction thereof $0.25 each additional minute or fraction thereof - Refund charges (not associated with AT&T trouble) (It must be noted that under premium biling the sponsor becomes responsible for the billing service charge, as well as a charge for refunds made by the company to callers for non-AT&T caused reasons. Note: AT&T considers repeat request for refunds from the same caller to be toll fraud, and will deal with it accordingly) Sponsors who use premium billing have two choices: - charge the caller only for the initial minute (flat fee) with the sponsor picking up the additional minute charges (at the basic tariffed rate) OR - charge the caller for both the initial and additional minutes, both at a premium The sponsor agrees to the following in regards to advertisement: - the price the caller will incur on a per minute basis - the time frame the offering is in effect - statement regarding the type of service with the caller will interact (eg. computer, voice messaging service, live attendant) - whether the sponsor uses an electronic scrambling system - each time the number to call is displayed the prices will displayed for the same duration as the number to call - in TV and Radio advertising, a voice-over message MUST announce the price and advise callers under the age of 18 to check for parental consent - geographic parameters must be noted ============================================================================== PREMIUM BILLING ** NXX-X matrix: The available AT&T MultiQuest Interactive NXX-X's, along with the price that the CALLER will pay, are as follows: Initial Additional Minute Minute NXX-X --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0.00 0.00 344-0 0.50 0.00 370-0, 773-0, 786-0 0.75 0.00 370-1, 773-1, 786-1 0.95 0.00 786-2 1.00 0.00 773-2 1.25 0.00 370-3, 773-3, 786-3 2.00 0.00 370-4, 773-4, 773-9, 786-4 2.50 0.00 420-1, 740-1 3.00 0.00 820-2, 860-2 4.00 0.00 820-9 5.00 0.00 420-4, 740-4 10.00 0.00 420-8 25.00 0.00 820-4 50.00 0.00 820-5, 860-5 0.50 0.50 420-2, 740-2, 786-6 0.75 0.50 370-5, 370-8, 773-5, 786-5 0.75 0.75 420-5, 740-5, 786-8, 820-1 1.00 0.50 370-6, 420-6, 740-6, 773-6, 820-6, 860-6 1.00 1.00 370-2 1.25 0.75 370-7, 420-7, 740-7, 773-7, 860-7 1.50 0.75 773-8, 820-7, 820-8, 860-8 2.00 1.00 370-9, 420-9, 860-0, 860-1, 860-4, 860-9 2.00 2.00 420-3, 740-3, 786-7 2.50 2.50 420-0, 740-0, 820-0 3.00 3.00 820-3, 860-3 4.00 4.00 740-9 5.00 5.00 786-9 10.00 10.00 740-8 ============================================================================== Pricing Examples (3% Federal and other taxes not shown) (Both examples are using a 3 minute call length) Example 1 - NXX-X: 740-7 (eg. 900-740-7111) Cost: $1.25 initial minute .75 additional minutes Cost to caller: $1.25 for 1st minute $1.50 for 2 additional minutes ----- Total: $2.75 Sponsor pays: $0.30 for 1st minute $0.50 for 2 additional minutes ----- Total: $0.80 Plus: 10% of $2.75 for billing/uncollectibles = $0.28 Total revenue to AT&T: $1.08 ($0.80 + 0.28) Total revenue to Sponsor: $1.67 ($2.75 - 1.08) Example 2 - NXX-X: 786-3 (eg. 900-786-3111) Cost: $1.25 initial minute .00 additional minutes Cost to caller: $1.25 for 1st minute $0.00 for 2 additional minutes ----- Total: $1.25 Sponsor pays: $0.30 for 1st minute $0.50 for 2 additional minutes ----- Total: $0.80 Plus: 10% of $1.25 for billing/uncollectibles = $0.13 Total revenue to AT&T: $0.93 ($0.80 + 0.13) Total revenue to Sponsor: $0.32 ($1.25 - 0.93) ============================================================================== MultiQuest Call Counter (Other services) Briefly two of these Multiquest Services are: Call Count Arrangement allows a sponsor an opportunity to sample public opinion. Callers register an opinion by dialing a 900 telephone number associated with their choice and hear a brief recorded message telling them that their voice has been received. COSTS: Non-Refundable service establishment charge, per arrangement, per program day: $25.00 500 calls per day MINIMUM call requirement. (Sponsor charged $0.25 per call times difference between calls received and 500 calls) Charge to caller: $0.50 per call MultiQuest Broadcaster allows callers the opportunity to dial simultaneously a 900 telephone number in order to listen to live or taped information. This arrangement is for listening purposes only. A caller cannot conduct two-way conversation or interactive with what is going on. The sponsor is responsible for providing AT&T with the prerecorded message. COSTS: Non-Refundable service establishment charge, per arrangement, $250.00 2000 calls/call minutes per day averaged on a weekly basis (Sunday through Saturday). The sponsor is charged $0.25 for each call/call minute under the minimum. Available options to charge for the first minute and additional minutes are the same as the Interactive MultiQuest (see chart above) ============================================================================== CALL COUNTER AND BROADCASTER ** NXX matrix: 900 NXX USE BILL PHRASE --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 200 IA/CC 900 Service 210 CC 900 Service 220 CC 900 Service 250 IA Adult Message 260 IA/CC Premium 300 IA/CC Premium 350 IA Adult Message 400 IA Premium 407 IA 900 Service 410 IA Premium 480 IA/CC Premium 490 IA/CC Premium 500 IA/CC Premium 520 IA/CC Premium 555 Dir Assist 900 Service 590 IA 900 Service 600 CC Premium 650 IA Premium 660 IA Premium 680 IA/CC 900 Service 720 CC 900 Service 730 IA/CC 900 Service 850 IA Premium 903 IA Premium 909 IA Premium 976 IA Premium IA = Information Arrangement CC = Call Count -- | Lenny Tropiano ICUS Software Systems lenny@icus.ICUS.COM | | {ames,pacbell,decuac,sbcs,hombre,rayssd}!icus!lenny attmail!icus!lenny | +------ ICUS Software Systems -- PO Box 1; Islip Terrace, NY 11752 ------+ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 3 Mar 90 17:03:41 CST From: TELECOM Moderator Subject: For The Rest of Us: Your Very Own 900 Number If anyone is interested in obtaining a 900 number, for whatever purpose, here is the way it was explained to me by International Telesphere, a company in Oak Brook, IL which specializes in various long-distance services and 900 type programs: There is a one time only charge, payable to International Telesphere of $1000. This is payable by certified check or money order. This is money paid up-front, before further conversations or activities take place. You will then allow about six weeks for the wiring to be done. A wire pair (or more, if you order more than one 900 number), is brought to your premises from the nearest central office of International Telesphere. Here in the Chicago area, that would be from 233 Wacker Drive to wherever you are located. There is a one time set up charge, plus a monthly charge to the local telco for providing this wire. In the Chicago area, what is termed a VM (voice metered) line would run between $15-25, depending on distance. The one time wiring charge would be about $125 here. International Telesphere pays the installation cost of the wire and the first month's rental from the advancement you gave them. When the wire has been brought to your premises, you attach some instrument of choice (or answering machine, whatever) to the line. The line is good for incoming calls only, of course. You tell International Telesphere what you want to charge for incoming calls. You can charge by the minute, with a higher rate for the first minute, or you can charge a flat rate for the entire call. You can tell them if the call is to be cut off after a certain period of time such as a minute or two, or if it is to be allowed to continue until the caller disconnects. The sales rep there told me typically people charge $1.95 for the first minute and $1 per minute thereafter; but really, its whatever you think people will pay. They relay this information to the local telco, which does the billing and collecting, and the number assigned to the phone usually has a direct relationship to the rate being charged, as in the examples given by AT&T in the earlier message this date. International Telesphere then charges you as follows: 30 cents per call, and 13 cents per minute, meaning at least 43 cents per call. Anything over that (whatever you are charging) is your profit. They also charge for the monthly wire rental from the local telco. Commissions are paid by International Telesphere once a month. From the gross collections from the telco, they charge you the 30 + 13 cents (or more, depending) per call, and the monthly wire rental. There is no other charge. Your first check, which will arrive about 75 days after the line is turned on, will have deductions for the cost of the wire installation and a month or two of rent, depending on the billing cycle, etc. From that point on, checks will arrive every thirty days, always less the 43 or more cents per call passed and the monthly wire charge. If you can charge $2-3 per caller and keep the line loaded, that is, bare minimum of a couple hundred calls per day or so, then you have a nice tidy little profit for yourself. Obviously, you have to pay for the advertising of the line. As one witty person with 900 experience recently told me, "Sex messages or religion will generally bring the best results. A program either of religious meditations or 'hot adult conversation' will usually bring nice profits... " If you order two or more 900 lines, International Telesphere can fix it so the calls to a busy line hunt to the second or third line. What you do with the lines on your end regards termination equipment is your business. The company also offers far more elaborate 900 service at a higher cost. For example, you can buy lines and terminate them in very elaborate equipment provided by independent vendors: such things as common/conference 'talk lines'; you can terminate in mass-calling announcement service type machines; and various other things. If you choose to do something like this, you change the outgoing message from your own phone using a special code number provided. With something like this, the stakes are higher to begin with, but the profit margin is huge, if you are successful. But for a beginner, or novice, with just a small amount of money to invest, the single or two-line 900 number, brought to your home or office can be a profitable 'turn-key' operation if properly advertised and maintained. I'm not posting this message to promote International Telesphere as such, and in fact, I think their long-distance 'alternate operator service' is a bit sleazy... So you can look them up in the northwest suburban Chicago phone (708) directory if you want to call them. But since so many people are getting rich from telecommunications these days, why shouldn't you? Patrick Townson ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest Special: 900 Phone Service ****************************** 25 Mar 90 14:29 EST Received: from mailinglists.eecs.nwu.edu by delta.eecs.nwu.edu id aa30472; 25 Mar 90 12:52 CST Received: from mailinglists.eecs.nwu.edu by delta.eecs.nwu.edu id aa28215; 25 Mar 90 11:45 CST Date: Sun, 25 Mar 90 11:12:10 CST From: TELECOM Moderator [To]: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Subject: TELECOM Digest Special: 900 Phone Service BCC: Message-ID: <9003251112.ab25755@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> TELECOM Digest Sun, 25 Mar 90 11:05:00 CST Special: 900 Phone Service Inside This Issue: Moderator: Patrick A. Townson 900 Phone Service Comparisons [Jeff DeSantis] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Jeff DeSantis Subject: 900 Phone Service Date: 19 Mar 90 18:58:55 GMT Organization: NEC Information Systems, Acton, MA Network World February 19, 1990 had the following tables in its feature on 900 services. THE INFORMATION IN THESE CHARTS WAS COPIED FROM THE FEBRUARY 19, 1990 EDITION OF NETWORK WORLD. =========================== BASIC 900 SERVICE OFFERINGS Allnet Communication Services, Inc. Birmingham, Mich. (313) 354-7000 PRODUCT: Market Reach (Network Pricing Option) SERVICE TYPE: Passive and interactive information, polling COVERAGE: Mich.,Wis.,Ill.,Ohio,and Ind. INSTALLATION FEES: Order fee, $1,000; installation, $0 MONTHLY FEES: $750 for first number, $175 for each additional number CALL INCREMENTS: 6 sec subject to 60 sec minimum TRANSPORT RATES (per minute of usage): To dedicated lines: usage fee for first minute, $.32; additional minute, $.25; to business lines: usage fee for first minute $.39; additional minute $.32; $.12 per call surcharge VOLUME DISCOUNTS: Basic: 5%-20% based on volume END-USER RATES: Flexible (sponsor determines end-user pricing) END-USER RATE CAPS: None BILLING CHARGES: Included in cost BAD DEBT HANDLING (6): Minimum 7% SETTLEMENT: 60 days AT&T Basking Ridge, N.J. (800) 222-0400 PRODUCT: MultiQuest SERVICE TYPE: Passive and interactive information COVERAGE: 50 states INSTALLATION FEES: Order fee, $0; installation, $1,200 for first number, $175 for each additional number MONTHLY FEES: $1,000 for first number, $125 per additional number, $50 per additional routing arrangement CALL INCREMENTS: 1 min, subject to 1 min minimum TRANSPORT RATES (per minute of usage): First minute, $.30; additional minutes $.25 VOLUME DISCOUNTS: Basic: $0-$100,000 0%; $100,000-$200,000 5%; $200,000+ 10%; term plan, Revenue Volume Pricing Plan END-USER RATES: Fixed (exchange determined) END-USER RATE CAPS: $50 per call or $10 per minute (on $10 initial minute) BILLING CHARGES: 10% of total call cost BAD DEBT HANDLING (6): None SETTLEMENT: 60 days PRODUCT: MultiQuest Hi-Cap SERVICE TYPE: Passive and interactive information COVERAGE: 50 states INSTALLATION FEES: Order fee, $0; installation $1,200 for first number MONTHLY FEES: $1,000 for first number CALL INCREMENTS: 1 min, subject to 1-min minimum TRANSPORT RATES (per minute of usage): First minute $.30; additional minutes, $.25, $.06 per call surcharge $.035 per call surcharge for each ineffective call attempt VOLUME DISCOUNTS: Basic, $0-$100,000 0%; $100,000-$200,000 5%; $200,000+ 10%; term plan, Revenue Volume Pricing Plan END-USER RATES: Fixed (exchange determined) END-USER RATE CAPS: $5 per call or $2 per minute BILLING CHARGES: 10% of total call cost BAD DEBT HANDLING (6): None SETTLEMENT: 60 days PRODUCT: MultiQuest Broad-caster SERVICE TYPE: Passive COVERAGE: Basic service, 50 states plus more than 80 foreign countries; premium service, 50 states only INSTALLATION FEES: Order fee, $0; installation $250 per channel MONTHLY FEES: None, subject to 1000-call minimum average monthly (7) CALL INCREMENTS: 1 min, subject to 1-min minimum TRANSPORT RATES (per minute of usage): First minute $.45; additional minutes $.35 VOLUME DISCOUNTS: Basic, $50,000-100,000 10%; $100,000-200,000 20%; $200,000+ 23% (8) END-USER RATES: Fixed (exchange determined) END-USER RATE CAPS: $25 per call BILLING CHARGES: 13% of total call cost minus transport costs BAD DEBT HANDLING (6): None SETTLEMENT: 60 days PRODUCT: MultiQuest Call Counter SERVICE TYPE: Polling COVERAGE: Basic service: 50 states plus more than 80 foreign countries; premium service: 50 states only INSTALLATION FEES: Order fee, $0; installation, $0 MONTHLY FEES: $0 CALL INCREMENTS: 1 min per call TRANSPORT RATES (per minute of usage): $.50 per call VOLUME DISCOUNTS: Term plan, Revenue Volume Pricing; promotional compensation scale (2) END-USER RATES: Fixed (exchange determined) END-USER RATE CAPS: $10 per call BILLING CHARGES: 13% of total call cost minus transport costs BAD DEBT HANDLING (6): None SETTLEMENT: 60 days MCI Communications Corp. Washington, D.C. (202) 872-1600 PRODUCT: MCI 900 SERVICE TYPE: Passive and interactive information, polling COVERAGE: 48 contiguous states plus Hawaii (4) INSTALLATION FEES: Order fee, $0; installation fee, $0 MONTHLY FEES: $0 CALL INCREMENTS: 6 sec subject to 60-sec minimum TRANSPORT RATES (per minute of usage): all minutes, $.40 VOLUME DISCOUNTS: 0-250,000 min 0%; 250,000-500,000 min, 8%; 500,000+ min 15% END-USER RATES: Flexible (sponsor determines end-user pricing) END-USER RATE CAPS: $10 per call or $2 per minute BILLING CHARGES: included in cost BAD DEBT HANDLING (6): 4% surcharge SETTLEMENT: 60 days Sprint Gateways Shawnee Mission, Kan. (800) 735-5900 PRODUCT: Network 900 SERVICE TYPE: Passive and interactive information, polling COVERAGE: 50 states (4) INSTALLATION FEES: Order fee $1,500 per account; installation, $0 MONTHLY FEES: $1,000 for first line, $100 for each additional line; program storage fee includes first 10 min of storage per month; additional storage is $.025 per minute per port CALL INCREMENTS: 1 min, subject to 1-min minimum TRANSPORT RATES (per minute of usage): First minute $.35; additional minutes $.28 VOLUME DISCOUNTS: None END-USER RATES: Flexible (sponsor determines end-user pricing) END-USER RATE CAPS: $10 per call; $3 per call for children's programming BILLING CHARGES: included in cost BAD DEBT HANDLING (6): 7% of total retail price (1) SETTLEMENT: 60 days PRODUCT: Data 900 SERVICE TYPE: Passive and interactive, polling COVERAGE: 50 states (4) INSTALLATION FEES: Order fee $1,500 per account; installation $0; program fee $250 MONTHLY FEES: $1,000 for first line; $100 for each additional line; program storage fees include first 10 min of storage per month; additional storage is $.025 per minute per port CALL INCREMENTS: 1 min, subject to 1-min minimum TRANSPORT RATES (per minute of usage): First minut $.35; additional minutes $.20 VOLUME DISCOUNTS: Built into tapered usage schedule; applied to minutes of use within each level END-USER RATES: Flexible (sponsor determines end-user pricing) END-USER RATE CAPS: $10 per call; $3 per call for children's programming BILLING CHARGES: included in cost BAD DEBT HANDLING (6): 7% of total call cost (1) SETTLEMENT: 60 days Telesphere Communications, Inc. Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. (708) 954-7700 PRODUCT: National 900 SERVICE TYPE: Passive and interactive information, polling COVERAGE: 38 states, excluding Idaho,Maine,Mont.,N.D.,S.D.,Vt.,parts of Mich., Neb.,Nev. (4) (5) INSTALLATION FEES: Order fee, $1,000 per account; installation $250 perline (3), $1,000 per 24 lines MONTHLY FEES: 1-11 lines (DS0) $125 per line (3); 12-24 lines (DS1), $1,350 per 24 lines CALL INCREMENTS: 6 sec subject to 6-sec minimum TRANSPORT RATES (per minute of usage): 0-1,000,000 min, $.33; 1,000,000-2,000,000 min $.31; 2,000,000-4,000,000 min $.30; 4,000,000+ min $.29; $.12 per call surcharge VOLUME DISCOUNTS: Individual-case basis per account, retroactive to first minute END-USER RATES: Flexible (sponsor determines end-user pricing) END-USER RATE CAPS: None BILLING CHARGES: Included in cost BAD DEBT HANDLING (6): 20% first month held, rate adjusted based on history SETTLEMENT: 60 days FOOTNOTES 1. Sprint Gateways will cover all uncollectibles and unbillables. It will also cover chargebacks not in excess of $20 per phone number on each monthly end-user bill. 2. AT&T provides a promotional compensation for users with daily calls exceeding 2,000. This can provide savings of between $.02 and $.05 per call. 3. Telesphere also offers coordinated access service for space brokers (services bureaus). The monthly charge for this service is $20 per line or port. 4. Carrier can accept calls from this coverage area but may be hindered from end-user billing for those calls due to lack of equal access facilities. In such instances the carrier may either absorb all costs for the calls or may block calls. Sprint usually absorbs costs; MCI and Telesphere block calls. 5. While Telesphere's geographic coverage is only 38 states, Telesphere says this represents more than 95% of the nation's population. However, the coverage area is still subject to limitations as noted in footnote 4. 6. Subject to later adjustments as carriers receive billings from local exchange carriers. 7. Call minimum conversion rate is $.25 per call. 8. Volume discount plan will be effective Feb.22 The information in this chart was provided by the service providers listed. Questions about chart listings should be directed to the individual providers or to TeleChoice at (203)645-0471 SOURCE: TELECHOICE, INC., MANCHESTER,CONN. ====================================== BASIC 900 SERVICES WITH BUREAU OPTIONS Allnet Communication Services, Inc. Birmingham, Mich. (313) 354-7000 PRODUCT: Market Reach (Enhanced Pricing Option) SERVICE TYPE: Passive and interactive information,polling COVERAGE: Mich.,Wis.,Ill.,Ohio and Ind. INSTALLATION FEES: Order fee, $1,500; installation $0; program fee, $0 for standard programs; individual case basis for customized applications MONTHLY FEES: $500 for first number; $100 for each additional number CALL INCREMENTS: 6 sec subject to 60-sec minimum TRANSPORT RATES (per minute of usage): First minute: 0-50,000 min. $.42; 50,000-150,000 min. $.41; 150,000-250,000 min. $.40; 250,000-500,000 min. $.38; 500,000+ min. $.36; additional minutes: 0-50,000 min. $.34; 50,000-150,000 min. $.33; 150,000-250,000 min. $.32; 250,000-500,000 min. $.30; 500,000+ min. $.28; VOLUME DISCOUNTS: Basic, 5% to 20% based on volume END-USER RATES: Flexible (sponsor determines end-user pricing) END-USER RATE CAPS: None BILLING CHARGES: Included in cost BAD DEBT HANDLING (5): Minimum 7% SETTLEMENT: 60 days Sprint Gateways Shawnee Mission, Kan. (800) 735-5900 PRODUCT: Voice 900 SERVICE TYPE: Passive and interactive information,polling COVERAGE: 50 states (3) INSTALLATION FEES: Order fee, $1,500 per account; installation, $0; program fee, $250 MONTHLY FEES: $1,000 for first line, $100 for each additional line; program storage fees include first 10 min of storage per month; additional storage is $.025 per min per port CALL INCREMENTS: 1 min subject to 1-min minimum TRANSPORT RATES (per minute of usage): First minute: 0-50,000 min $.48; 50,000-250,000 min $.45; 250,000-500,000 min $.42; 500,000+ min $.40; additional minutes: 0-50,000 min $.38; 50,000-250,000 min $.35; 250,000-500,000 min $.32; 500,000+ min $.30; VOLUME DISCOUNTS: Built into tapered usage schedule; applied to minutes of use within each level. END-USER RATES: Flexible (sponsor determines end-user pricing) END-USER RATE CAPS: $10 per call; $3 per call for children's programming BILLING CHARGES: Included in cost BAD DEBT HANDLING (5): 7% of total retail price (1) SETTLEMENT: 60 days Telesphere Communications, Inc. Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. (708) 954-7700 PRODUCT: Dynamic 900 SERVICE TYPE: Passive and interactive information,polling COVERAGE: 38 states excluding Idaho, Maine, Mont., N.D., S.D., Vt., parts of Mich., Neb., and Nev. (3) (4) INSTALLATION FEES: Order fee, $2,000; installation, $0 MONTHLY FEES: $2,000 minimum usage per account CALL INCREMENTS: 6 sec subject to 6-sec minimum TRANSPORT RATES (per minute of usage): 0-100,000 min $.46; 100,000-150,000 min $.455; 150,000-200,000 min $.45; 200,000-250,000 min $.43; 250,000-300,000 min $.425; 300,000-350,000 min $.42; 350,000-400,000 min $.415; 400,000-500,000 min $.41; 500,000- 1,000,000 min $.40; 1,000,000 min+ $.38; $.12 per call surcharge VOLUME DISCOUNTS: Individual case basis per account, retroactive to first minute END-USER RATES: Flexible (sponsor determines end-user pricing) END-USER RATE CAPS: None BILLING CHARGES: Included in cost BAD DEBT HANDLING (5): 20% first month held; rate adjusted based on history SETTLEMENT: 60 days PRODUCT: Data-Cap 900 SERVICE TYPE: Passive and interactive information,polling COVERAGE: 38 states excluding Idaho, Maine, Mont., N.D., S.D., Vt., parts of Mich., Neb., and Nev. (3) (4) INSTALLATION FEES: Order fee, $3,750; installation $250 per line (2), $1,000 per 24 lines MONTHLY FEES: Account, 1,250 min minimum; lines: 1-11 lines (DS0), $125 per line (2); 12-24 lines (DS1), $1,350 per 24 lines CALL INCREMENTS: 1 min, subject to 1-min minimum TRANSPORT RATES (per minute of usage): $.75 per min; $.12 per call surcharge VOLUME DISCOUNTS: Individual case basis per account, retroactive to first minute END-USER RATES: Flexible (sponsor determines end-user pricing) END-USER RATE CAPS: None BILLING CHARGES: Included in cost BAD DEBT HANDLING (5): 20% first month held; rate adjusted based on history SETTLEMENT: 60 days FOOTNOTES 1. Sprint Gateways will cover all uncollectibles and unbillables. It will also cover chargebacks not in excess of $20 per phone number on each monthly end-user bill. 2. Telesphere also offers coordinated access service for space brokers (services bureaus). The monthly charge for this service is $20 per line or port. 3. Carrier can accept calls from this coverage area but may be hindered from end-user billing for those calls due to lack of equal access facilities. In such instances the carrier may either absorb all costs for the calls or may block calls. Sprint usually absorbs costs; MCI and Telesphere block calls. 4. While Telesphere's geographic coverage is only 38 states, Telesphere says this represents more than 95% of the nation's population. However, the coverage area is still subject to limitations as noted in footnote 3. 5. Subject to later adjustments as carriers receive billings from local exchange carriers. The information in this chart was provided by the service providers listed. Questions about chart listings should be directed to the individual providers or to TeleChoice at (203) 645-0471 SOURCE: TELECHOICE, INC., MANCHESTER, CONN. ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest Special: 900 Phone Service ******************************