[comp.dcom.telecom] MCI "Personal 800" Service

jackp@uunet.uu.net (Jack Powers) (02/15/91)

Well, after ordering it twice, I finally got my MCI Personal 800
number.  With this service you call the regular 800 number (in my
case, 800/484-xxxx) and wait for two short tones... then enter four
more digits.  Needless to say, if you are at a rotary dial phone, you
may be out of luck, but I didn't wait on the line to see if an
operator responded in the absence of tones.  I DID use it to call
myself from my second line, and it worked faster than I expected ...
about as fast as any MCI call.
 
The rate is $0.25/minute, which is $15/hour ... not bad (plus
$5/month), It may be higher than regular DDD rates ... so calling back
might be a good idea if the conversation might get long and it happens
at night or on a weekend.
 
MCI could probably change your four-digit "private security code"
quickly, but it's probably smart to be careful to whom you give the
numbers.
 

Jack Powers    jackp@well.sf.ca.us