DREUBEN@eagle.wesleyan.edu (Douglas Scott Reuben) (01/10/91)
Hi-
I've heard numerous reasons as to why New Jersey Bell has the 10NJB
system for calling to New York City from North Jersey, and I'm not
sure any/all are correct, but here goes:
1. NY Tel and NJ Bell "historically" had a high degree of
interconnectivity between New York City and northern New Jersey, and
could not have AT&T take over all calls between these two areas for
technical reasons back in 1984. Callers on older exchanges in NY City
(mainly XBars that can't do "Equal Access" 10xxx dialing, although
many have been modified to do this) are automatically handled by NY
Tel to Northen Jersey, and are itemized as NY Tel toll calls. NY Tel's
"Hello" Magazine mentioned that the situation between NY Tel and NJ
Bell was analogous to having older equipment which couldn't be quickly
converted, which is why there is this special "transport corridor" (as
they called it) between NY and NJ. (How does this account for the
Trenton and PA 10NJB/10BPA(?) connection, though?)
2. NY Tel and NJ Bell got a special waiver from (his Lordship) Judge
Green, who allowed each other to handle calls between the two regions.
(Again, did he do the same thing for the South Jersey/PA system as well?)
3. NJ Bell and NY Tel have always provided service between these two
areas, so AT&T shouldn't get to serve it now. This is a bit like the
"historical" argument (#1), yet under this rationale NJ Bell and NY
Tel get to keep the service in perpetuity.
I tend myself to think #2 is correct, although #1 may have been
another reason back around 1984/1985.
In any event, the system as it is now allows callers calling between
NY City and sections of the North Jersey Counties (how many are there?
three?) to use the facilities of NY Tel or NJ Bell to make calls
across the state line at (usually) lower rates than AT&T. Calling Card
calls will also cost less, as NY Tel charges something like 40 cents
per call + toll, while AT&T starts off at 80 cents. (Note this does
not apply to Reach Out America Card Option customers during the plan's
hours, as there is NO surcharge for inter-state calls.)
NJ Bell even forces you to use 10NJB from some payphones. At Newark
International Airport, about ten miles from NYC, if you dial
0-212-xxx-xxxx, which is, of course, out of state, you will NOT be
routed over AT&T. Instead, you can hear the payphone outpulse "10NJB"
and then the number, sort of like a COCOT would, but it is a real
Western Electric/NJ Bell payphone. It will only do this for calls to
NYC which would be applicable under 10NJB. You can, of course, dial
10288+0-212-xxx-xxxx to get to NYC via AT&T, which ROA-Card Option
callers may want to do DURING the plan's hours.
NJB advertises "10-NJB" as a cost-saving feature quite often on local
radio, and has special business plans to NYC as well. Also, any caller
in North Jersey who is on a local calling card call can "sequence
call" (press the "#"/octothorpe to make a new call(s)) to NYC, even
though this is in another state. However, if you try sequence calling
to an area outside of NYC, you will get the message "You may ONLY dial
another <pause> New Jersey Bell <pause> handled call, now." (Hmmm ...
looks like NJBel gave up on its pathetic calling card system and is
using AT&T's now ... at least in North Jersey. )
NY Tel is much less aggressive in marketing its 10NYT service,
although it works the same way. They do mail out letters to business
customers about special deals to North Jersey, but overall don't seem
to care about this as much as NJ Bell does. You can also make
"sequence"/# calls on NY Tel's pathetic Calling Card/automated
operator system to North Jersey.
One interesting note: You can use 10NYT to call Directory Assistance
in 201. How are you billed for this? At NY Tel's rates? Or the
standard 60 cents that AT&T charges? I wonder if this counts in a
person's DA charge allowance, which in NYC is a big whole *three*
requests! :(
Guess that's it for now...
Please mail me any corrections/questions to alert me of them faster,
NEWS has been slow here lately.
-Doug
dreuben@eagle.wesleyan.edu // dreuben@wesleyan.bitnet
P.S. Mike Jensen- I've been trying to mail you a reply that I typed up
to your question about GTE Mobilnet and the different
types of roaming that are available to you. All my
attempts bounced. Do you have another address that I
may try? Thanks...