john@zygot.ati.com (John Higdon) (09/05/90)
A number of e-mail correspondents have raised the question of how much
information is recorded via SMDR. Does it just record the phone number
dialed into the local exchange, or does it record calling card
numbers, F(O)ON card numbers and the like as well?
The answer is: it depends, even within the same system. In the case of
my simple Panasonic KX-T1232, if the caller is using an electronic
phone (which actually sends digits to the switch via keyscan rather
than DTMF), the entire session will appear on the SMDR printout. Since
it is not tying up a DTMF register, the electronic phone's keyscan
will be active for the entire call.
On a single line phone, however, once the original number is dialed,
the delay between those digits and the subsequent ones that include
the actual call billing info is usually great enough to give the DTMF
register time to drop off the line. At that point, the system is deaf
to DTMF on that line and those digits will not be recorded.
On a "real" PBX, such as the ITT 3100, the entire number to be dialed
on the exchange is recorded by the switch which then selects the route
and redials the call. From that time on, the SMDR is deaf to DTMF
entered by the caller. In other words, only the call as presented to
the local exchange appears on the SMDR.
Has my SMDR scooped up people's private call billing info? Yes. Do I
use it for nefarious purposes? No. That's not why I have SMDR.
John Higdon | P. O. Box 7648 | +1 408 723 1395
john@zygot.ati.com | San Jose, CA 95150 | M o o !
[Moderator's Note: See my comments above. I'd like to think that most
telecom professionals are ethical people who do not abuse information
provided to them in the performance of their duties. If we have to
start worrying about *that*, then every telco operator, every hotel
operator, every billing clerk in the business office, etc becomes
someone to suspect. Where does it stop? PAT]