@harvard.harvard.edu (John R. Levine) (05/03/89)
There has been some mention here of AT&T's "USA Direct" service, which provides direct-dial, usually toll-free, numbers in foreign countries that connect you to an English-speaking AT&T operator in the U.S. who completes your call. MCI has something similar. You can use your calling card or else call collect. I found a little booklet in a hotel room over the weekend that has a surprisingly long list of numbers that work the other way. Here they are. Before you call them, consider that if you call Korea Direct's number, you will in all likelihood get an operator who speaks only Korean, and who can only complete calls to Korea. Australia 800-682-2878 Korea 800-822-8256 Netherlands 800-432-0031 Singapore 800-822-6588 United Kingdom 800-445-5667 France 800-537-2623 West Germany 800-292-0049 Italy 800-543-7662 Panama 800-872-6106 Hong Kong 800-992-2323 Japan 800-543-0051 Regards, John Levine, johnl@ima.isc.com
covert@covert.enet.dec.com (John R. Covert 05-Sep-1989 2128) (09/06/89)
[This message, and the one that follows, were forwarded to the Digest by John Covert, who received them from the parties named at NPR. PT] From: John Keator, National Public Radio Date: 5 Sept 89 To: Telecom Digest Re: Country Direct Numbers In researching the availability of the reverse of USA Direct numbers for an upcoming international conference we are co-hosting I received the following list from AT&T. Most of these numbers are for collect calls only as many do not have calling cards. Denmark has the additional restriction of only being available from 3PM to 10 PM, (the time zone is not indicated,); apparently they feel the service only warrants one shift. ALL NUMBERS ARE 800- Australia 682-2878 Austria 624-0043 Belgium N/A Denmark 762-0045 Finland 232-0358 France 537-2623 FR Germany 292-0049 Hong Kong 992-2323 Italy 543-7662 Japan 543-0051 Korea 882-8256 Netherlands 432-0031 New Zealand 248-0064 Norway 292-0047 Sweden 345-0046 Switzerland N/A UK 445-5667 I'm sure there are others, but these are the countries I requested. There is apparently no single book with all numbers included. Now, I wonder what rate is charged for these calls? John Keator NPR Washington 202 822 2800 [Note from John Covert: I called Italy and Germany, both of which accept collect calls only (no credit cards) and charge as follows: Italy: 4721 L ($3.34)/min 6p-7a otherwise 6000 L ($4.25)/min Germany: DM 24 ($12.13) first minute, DM 3.22 ($1.63) ea addl minute]
Bill Huttig <wah@zach.fit.edu> (06/29/91)
I found a booklet from AT&T called "The AT&T STudent Consumer Guide"
published in 1989. On pages 15-16 there is a list of the 800 for
several countries.
AT&T COuntry Direct SErvices offer internation calling convenience
from the U.S. These services are offered through the cooperation
of AT&T and the overseas telephone companies and allow calls to be
made directly to a foreign operator, thereby eliminating any language
barriers. Calls may be billed collect (reverse caharges) and in most
cases, to the calling card issued in the overseas country.
Calls can be made from all US States execpt Alaska. (why?)
Country Dial for Access (Numbers are
listed with 1 800 in front)
Australia Direct 682-2878
Austria Direct 624-0043
Brazil Directo 344-1055
Danmark Direkte 762-0045
Deutschland Direkt 292-0049
Finland Direct 232-0358
France Direct 537-2623
HK Direct 992-2323
Italy Direct * 543-7662
Japan Direct 543-0051
Korea Direct * 822-8256
Nederland Direct 432-0031
Norge Direkte 292-0047
NZ Direct 248-0064
Panama Direct * 872-6106
Singapore Direct * 822-6588
Sweden Direct 345-0046
Thailand Direct 342-0066
UK Direct * 445-5667
* AT&T oountry Direct calls to these countries cannot be made from
Hawaii. (why?)
[Moderator's Note: I think the thing with Alaska and Hawaii may have
been (may still be?) that AT&T has no presence in those states. Tariff
considerations come into play with the telcos operating in those
states. PAT]