gast@cs.ucla.edu (David Gast) (10/26/90)
It seems that another disadvantage to Centrex is that a bug is easier to place on a Centrex system than on a PBX system. Since calls local to the premises typically don't leave the premises with a PBX system, a bug would have to placed on the premises. With a Centrex system, all calls are routed through the CO and so a bug can be conveniently placed at the CO. This bug would be able to monitor all calls including those internal to the premises. Given the cozy relationship between law enforcement and the telcos, this problem is something to think about. David
ehopper@ehpcb.wlk.com (Ed Hopper) (10/29/90)
Here's another Centrex problem I ran into once. Downtown Phoenix, Arizona was heavily Centrexed at one time. Phoenix Main CO had a ton of Centrexes working in it including major banks and other firms. My customer was in another business. One day, the TCM tried to make a toll call and got fast busy intercept. She dialed 0 to be connected to the Centrex console. She asked to be patched to the WATS line. The operator (i.e., the company employee at the console, not the telco operator) asked her for her departmental accounting code. "What do you mean by that?" she asked. "Well, " the operator replied, "Every XYZ Bank department has an accounting code." Somehow, in all of the mass of translation changes that occured each day in Phoenix Main, someone screwed up and put a Company X extension in the Centrex of Company Y.