Dave Leibold <Dave.Leibold@f135.n82.z89.onebdos.UUCP> (06/23/91)
Bell Canada has been phasing in its version of automated collect/third number billing in Ontario. This is called Automated Billing Service (ABS) in Bell-speak. The service started up in the 519 area code in the spring, and will work its way throughout Ontario this year. I made a few tries of the service before heading off south: 1) I called my old Toronto number, which would have been just disconnected at that time and sent off to an intercept. dial 0 416 NXX.XXXX ..... get the card <boing> Shortly after that, a canned voice comes on and describes how to proceed with the call: 0 to get the operator, 11 to do the call collect, enter the card number for card billing, or just the area code and phone number for a third number billing (apparently distinguishing between 10 digit phone numbers and 14 digit card numbers). dial '11' for auto-collect .... the service asked for my name... ...then proceeded to call the number; I heard the call go through and ring the intercept and was able to speak with the intercept operator; the system didn't attempt to ask the intercept whether or not to accept charges. Then the intercept gave a referral number -- in a completely different prefix than the one I had requested. So. ... time to report the intercept screwup to Bell Canada's Toronto office as it would not be nice for strangers in another Ontario town to be fielding my calls ... 2) I dialed 0 416 NXX.XXXX for Bell Canada Toronto office, which would accept collect calls related to Bell Canada service (Bell staff in the area I was in told me to do this) ... boing, call processing spiel, .... then '11' for collect, ringing the Bell Toronto Office ... ...then the voice path is shut off and a canned voice tells me to wait ... presumably the other end has answered and the ABS started to ask the other end if the charges are to be accepted. They apparently are, and the business goes on from there with the voice path restored and that. The features which come most to mind are 1) the voice path stays open until the call supervises, or so it would seem here; 2) the system apparently does not require the other end to use a touch tone response ... a "yes" or "no" voice response is to be used. That's the (belated) story of what gadgets are starting to show up in Ontario. I wonder how the system is working out so far ... being out of the north for so long tends to make one feel out of the picture a bit. dleibold@attmail.com Dave Leibold - via IMEx node 89:681/1 Dave.Leibold@f135.n82.z89.onebdos.UUCP