DREUBEN@eagle.wesleyan.edu (DOUGLAS SCOTT REUBEN)) (10/03/90)
Hi all-
After getting into an e-mail conversation with Ken Selling here at
Wesleyan, a few questions arose about the how calling card numbers are
assigned and verified. I'll state what I have have come to *think*
occurs, and please DO correct me where I am wrong:
1. Normal assignment: I ask my local Bell Co. for a calling card. They
generate a PIN for my number, and mail it to me. IF I have AT&T as my
primary ("1+") then AT&T will mail me one as well, or if not, they
will mail me one when I ask for one. They will take the PIN from the
BOC "database" and use that as my AT&T PIN. The only reason I would
want an AT&T Card which is the same as my BOC card is for AT&T Card
Caller phones, GTE Airphone (or other AT&T Card specific devices) and
if I have the Reach Out America and the ROA Card Call Option (used to
be "Call Home" option, but it has been recently expanded, at least in
some areas, to cover all ROA applicable calls after 10PM.). If I
didn't get the AT&T Card then I was told that I couldn't use the ROA
Card program, although the BOC and AT&T cards are identical.
2. Special assignment: I want a card that does not have my telephone
number as the "base" number, ie, a fictitious number such as
"761-009-1123". If I call my Bell Company, they make one up, and
assign it a PIN. This then goes into the database.
However, does AT&T (or can AT&T) issue me a card that is the same as
this? IE, does it work the same way as "normal assingment"? Or must
AT&T give me a different card number?
3. Call AT&T first: What if I call AT&T first? How does it work if I
ask for a normal card number? (IE, a regular calling card?). What
about a "special" number? Does AT&T simply call my local BOC and
arrange it with them? Or can AT&T assign me a PIN, and then the number
is picked up by my local BOC and they issue me a card? (Or at least
honor the number)?
I guess what I am really getting at is how the database works. The
reason I am asking is because it seems that the BOCS can handle the
"special" Universal Card number for BOC-handled (intRA-LATA) calls,
while Sprint, MCI, and the AOS companies can't (The BOC that I tried
it in is SNET, but from what I've heard, it works in "real" BOCs as
well.)
I would think that there is only one database (?), which the BOCs
"run" and which all the Long Distance Companies access. (For Bell-type
calling card calls, not Sprint FON Card, et. al.) Yet why will an AOS
"gladly" take my regular calling card, but be unable to take a
Universal, or perhaps even a "special" card? Is a special card
generated by AT&T considered to be "proprietary" and thus "off-limits"
to AOSs? IE, does AT&T say "This is NOT a BOC generated card - WE
generated it, for OUR customers only. We allow the BOCs to use it for
intra-LATA calls, but you AOS outfits can't touch it!" (Sorry for the
dramatics! :-) ). This is the only way I can see it working with a
single database system, so is this right? Somewhat close? Or totally
off?
On a side note, is there a central computer which manages the entire
database, or is it a decentralized system where each BOCs (or each
TSPS, or some subunit) maintains a copy of the database which it uses
for calls from Calling Card calls from within that area, and which
communicate with each other for updates, cancellations, etc.?
I have comments about another aspect of Calling Cards:
A while back I posted a (rather long, confusing, etc.) message about
differences in AT&T Calling Card systems from region to region.
One system, which I described as a "new" system, (which checks to see
if a sequence-call number is valid by itself, not letting the network
do it), usually sounds like "Thank you for using" <slight pause>
"AT&T". I compared this to the older sounding "Thank you" or the
intermediate "Thank you for using AT&T" (no pause, all in one breath).
Recently, I've noticed that SNET *seems* to be using the same AT&T
system. When I place a local calling card call, after I enter my card
number I hear: "Thank you for using" <same pause as above> "your local
telephone company". (Did SNET forget to change that generic to
"SNET"?? :-) ) Also, if you press the "#" sign for a sequence call,
but the number is invalid or cannot be handled by SNET, you will hear
"You may only dial another" <pause> "local telephone company" <pause>
"call, now." Compare this to the AT&T message (you guessed it!): "You
may only dial another" <pause> "AT&T handled" <pause> "call, now".
So what's going on here? Are they indeed using the same calling card
system, which can differentiate between SNET and AT&T calls? Or do
they just have the same equipment, ie, AT&T has the system and SNET
bought one, but it is not the same physical device which handles both?
(I've also noticed this on Staten Island, NY, on the north end...).
Guess that's it for calling card questions...
Doug
dreuben@eagle.wesleyan
dreuben@wesleyan.bitnet