hansm@cs.kun.nl (Hans Mulder) (10/03/90)
In an article that has expired before I found the time to type this in, somebody asked about the equivalents of 800/900/976 numbers in other countries. In the Netherlands PTT Telecom has managed to confuse everybody by creating a single new area code (06) containing the equivalents of both 800 and 900 numbers. The Consumers' Association has demanded that the toll numbers be changed into 07 numbers, but since all 07X area codes are already in use, this is not possible. Instead PTT Telecom have inserted a sticker into our phone bill. The text translates to: Green 06 numbers are free. Remember, for non-free 06-numbers: Don't hesitate to call, but be aware of the cost. In case you're wondering: "green" numbers are defined as free 06-numbers. PTT Telecom also produced a flyer "what everybody should know about 06 numbers". It contains a useful table: if it begins it costs 06-0... free 06-11 15 to 30 c/min equivalent of 911 06-320... 50 c/min. 06-321... 3 to 40 c/min 06-399... 3 to 40 c/min 06-4... free 06-5... peak: 105 c/min mobile telephones weekend: 62 c/min 06-8... 3 to 40 c/min 06-9... 50 c/min. All prices are approximate. For one thing, the real price is 1 message unit (15 c) per X seconds. Plus, they reserve the right to change the tariff without prior notice. There is no 06-[3589] blocking for residential customers. They do provide 06-blocking for PBXs. This also blocks 06-11. Next time I'll tell you about the night when PTT Telecom intended to demonstrate that 06 was also usable as the choke exchange and found out the hard way that it was not. All typos are mine, Hans Mulder hansm@cs.kun.nl
d-lemson@uiuc.edu (David Lemson) (10/03/90)
>PTT Telecom also produced a flyer "what everybody should know about 06 >numbers". It contains a useful table: >06-5... peak: 105 c/min mobile telephones > weekend: 62 c/min Does this mean that the caller of a mobile phone has to pay a special surcharge as well as the owner of the mobile phone? That seems like a raw deal, because business owners who have mobile phones cannot advertise that you can call them out on the road as a "free call"! David Lemson d-lemson@uiuc.edu
phons@erato.cs.kun.nl (Phons Bloemen) (10/04/90)
hansm@cs.kun.nl (Hans Mulder) writes: >There is no 06-[3589] blocking for residential customers. They do >provide 06-blocking for PBXs. This also blocks 06-11. Yes, PTT provides 06 blocking (but they charge 35 guilders for it, maybe to cover the 'lost revenues' for the exploitaints of chatlines etcetera But the tariff policy at least does not allow the famous 900 sleaze where the Americans are so proud of :=), but is still possible to get a HUGE phone bill if you are addicted to chat lines and 'babbelboxen'). But it is easy to do it yourself: In various electronics magazines, 'intelligent 06 and 09 (international dialing code from NL) filters' are presented, which can block out the expensive services, and pass the free ones. Totally self-configurable! I don't think the PTT block also blocks emergency 06-11 but maybe you have some more info on this. Hans Phons Bloemen +31 80 236769 phons@cs.kun.nl Sophiaweg 244 6523 NJ Nijmegen NL Uni.of Nijmegen,Dept of Computer Science
cmylod@oracle.nl (Colum Mylod) (10/05/90)
Minor corrections and a bit extra to the article <12935@accuvax.nwu.edu> hansm@cs.kun.nl (Hans Mulder) now follows. Stay on the line! >if it begins it costs >06-0... free >06-11 15 to 30 c/min equivalent of 911 >06-320... 50 c/min. 06-340... same 06-350... same >06-321... 3 to 40 c/min >06-399... 3 to 40 c/min >06-4... free >06-5... peak: 105 c/min mobile telephones > weekend: 62 c/min >06-8... 3 to 40 c/min >06-9... 50 c/min. Generally, dial-a-sex type calls are 06-3 ... while "respectable" if costly calls such as weather reports are 06-9 ... The confusing bit is that the number length varies from short (0611) to medium (060402) to very very long (see below!). >There is no 06-[3589] blocking for residential customers. They do >provide 06-blocking for PBXs. This also blocks 06-11. According to the 'phone book I have, residental blocking IS available, cost is a once-off f35 (~US$18). PBX blocking cuts off any 06 numbers, but PTT-blocking just cuts 06-320, 06-340, 06-350 and 06-9. Bad idea to cut 06-11 even if it costs. How many countries charge for calls to their emergency numbers? I envision someone in a panic at a payphone while some car victim is bleeding and the caller madly searching for coins so that an emergency call can be made. One aspect of the 06 service is that all mobiles are grouped under 06-5... numbers. This includes carphones, pagers, cellular. A number I came across for a high-pressure cleaning firm must count as the world's most-clicks call for pulse-dialers. Don't call it unless you want to do business. It is given in a guide as "06520000000", which makes 93 clicks total! Yes, that's seven zeros on the end. Colum Mylod cmylod@oracle.nl The Netherlands Above is IMHO