konstan@elmer-fudd.berkeley.edu (Joe Konstan) (09/21/90)
Repeatedly in the Digest there are people bemoaning the loss of 1+ dialing for non-local intra-NPA calls. I happen to prqefer 1+ solely for "ten digits follow" and seven digit calling otherwise (with all intra-NPA calls being seven digits allowed) because I tend to program dialers (including the one on my Casio watch) that will move around. Recently, I had an idea that would solve most of the problems: 1. As for dialing patterns, 1+ indicates 10 digits, seven digits indicates within NPA, ten digits can include local calls within NPA (with 1+NPA removed). 2. 099+[10xxx]+[1+NPA]+nxx-xxxx gives automatic rate readback. Minimum suggested level is voice indicating cost for first n minutes and per additional m minutes. Additional features could be provided (especially by long distance carriers) to indicate costs at different hours, under different calling plans, etc. Pay phones would indicate (where appropriate) the coin cost and the default cost (including service charge) for a credit card call. 3. 098+nxx-xxxx is a toll restrictor. It places the call only if it is "local" as defined by the local phone company (free, single message unit, whatever is currently desired by the 1+7D crowd) and returns a non-local number recording otherwise. The big advantages are that nobody has to dial extra digits if they choose not to, and people who want to be protected from toll calls can be. 900 numbers could also be handled through this (easy solution). Operators would not be bogged down with rate questions. The biggest problem is convincing the carriers (and the PUCs) to go for it (and I see all the telcos opposing it since they all have business they stand to lose if people were aware of the cheapest way to place each call. Joe Konstan