CAPEK%YKTVMT.BITNET@cunyvm.cuny.edu (Peter G. Capek) (10/26/90)
Adam Gaffin quotes an MCI spokesman as explaining how their home 800 service works: "you just have to put an 800 in front of your home number.", and goes on to explain how eliminating the area code which makes the number unique is compensated for by a four-digit security code. a) Does this mean that customers of this service now have, in effect, a 14-digit phone number (800-762-xxxx Security: 4321), with a pause required in dialing, and explanation for most callers? b) Aren't 800-exchanges assigned to inter-exchange carriers in a static fashion? It is hard to see how MCI can make good their claim for more than a small fraction of potential customers: I believe AT&T has the lion's share of the assigned "exchanges", and many haven't been assigned. Peter G. Capek [Moderator's Note: As previous messages have pointed out, someone at MCI was out in left field in making the statements they did, assuming of course that Mr. Gaffin was quoting them correctly. PAT]