"Scott D. Green" <GREEN@wilma.wharton.upenn.edu> (05/28/91)
Some of you may have heard of Bell of PA's plan to eliminate the dialing of 1+xxx-xxxx for calls within the 215 area. This will become mandatory by Jan. 1, 1992 (I think), and is currently optional. Anyway, WRT no longer knowing whether our call will be local or toll, Bell has responded! Announced today (5-28) on "Bell of PA's Inside Line" is the Toll Information Line. By dialling 800-734-5910, one may learn whether one exchange is local or toll to another exchange within 215. [Sorry, I don't know if this number is available outside of 215.] Very simply, the system prompts the caller for the originating exchange (it does *not* assume [or does not ANI] the exchange you happen to be calling from at the time) and the destination exchange. It then reports "local" or "toll," (no rate information, though) and, if "toll," explains that the info is only valid for POTS, and if you subscribe to any extended calling plans, etc. to check your phone book. It also allows you to continue tapping in originating and destination exchanges, explains that your switchable pulse-tone phone needs to be in the tone position, and if your phone is rotary only to call "0."