erik@naggum.uu.no (Erik Naggum) (12/04/90)
New in Norway! You can now find out whether the car you're looking at buying has any economic liabilities tied to it, such as fines, is mortgaged, and other relevant things, by phoning the central registry for motor vehicles. Previously, you had to call a person, or write, to get this information, which cost the registry a lot of money. It was, as far as I know, still a free service. However, you could spend hours on the phone waiting to get through to the limited number of personell devoted to this task. What's new is that you call a special number (086-21777 to those who understand Norwegian :-), and using your DTMF dialer (phone), get the information you need. Registration numbers in Norway consist of two letters and five digits (four for motor cycles). The letters are encoded as the positional number they have in in the alphabet, 1 through 29 (we have three "national characters"), preceded by an asterisk. E.g. BL 56789, is encoded as "*02*1256789". The procedure is simple: You dial the number. A pleasant electronic voice tells you to type in the registration number, followed by #, or press # for assistance. The number is read back to you and you are asked to confirm with # or enter the correct number, followed by #. The system searches for information, and reports it (very fast) You can repeat the information by dialling 9, ask for a new number by dialling 1, and terminate the session by dialling *. Of course, I tried 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and #, but all give "wrong choice", but the fourth attempt just throws you out, as if you had dialled * (darn, cost me three tries to find that all were like this). The system has type-ahead features, and does syntax checking on the registration number. You can get the information you need in a matter of twenty seconds if you dial fast or have an autodialer. According to a representative of the Norwegian Telecom, automated telephone services like this (available for bank account information and a few other services like the above) produces enormous amounts of traffic, and since the interaction lasts for only a few seconds, while the minimum charging time is three minutes (at NOK 1.03 -= $.17), the Telecom revenue is huge for even small capacity systems. Patrick, do you think more information on what goes on in Norway, telecommunicationally speaking, would be interesting? The whole country is less populated than Minnesota and 44% larger, but we still have quite interesting telecommunications facilities, and a very technologically advanced state-owned (monopoly) telephone company. There are several readers of Telecom DIGEST in Norway, who may also have the time and knowledge to contribute. [Erik Naggum] Naggum Software, Oslo, Norway [Moderator's Note: Certainly, Erik. I'm sure many people would be interested in hearing specific details of telecom service there. Please send along more articles. PAT]