Sameer Siddiqui <ssid@mtuxo.att.com> (05/31/90)
Hi folks, I am interested in learning more about the Caller-ID service offered by the RBOCs esp. NJ Bell. Some of the questions I have are: - Is it a propriatary service/product? - Is it available or going to be available nationwide? - Is it part of ISDN service? - Do you need the decoder/display box or can you get a PC to do the work? etc etc etc. Any source of information would be welcome. Thank you all. Sameer Siddiqui
bakerj@ncar.ucar.edu (Jon Baker) (06/02/90)
In article <8448@accuvax.nwu.edu>, ssid@mtuxo.att.com (Sameer Siddiqui) writes: > - Is it a propriatary service/product? Do you mean is only AT&T allowed to manufacture equipment that offers it, or is only <XYZ>Bell allowed to offer it? No. Anyone can manufacture equipment that provides CID, and any telco can offer it. > - Is it available or going to be available nationwide? The capability to offer it will be available nationwide (i.e. nationwide deployment of SS7). It may not be available in some areas due to regulatory or judicial intervention. Certainly some backwater areas will be slower to acquire the technology ... > - Is it part of ISDN service? No. > - Do you need the decoder/display box or can you get a PC to do the work? With the proper interfacing equipment, you could get a PC to do it. Redcom in Rochester, N.Y., markets an interface that connects to lines, trunks, T1, etc., and reports activity on such devices through an RS-232. This device does detect FSK tones, so could be used to detect and report Caller ID.
tiprvt@bellcore.bellcore.com (06/07/90)
Caller ID, or whatever the local telephone company calls it, is not specifically a part of ISDN, although ISDN has the same functionality it works differently. Caller ID is accomplished by transmitting the calling number in FSK format between the first and second rings. If you pick up on the first ring, the calling number often is lost and will not display. My "box" is about 5 by 3 by 1/2 inches, flat, with a LCD display and cost in the low $60 range. It stores about 60 calls, I think, and dates and time stamps the calls. There are three buttons on the display, scroll forward, scroll back, and delete number. I don't know of any reason you could not use a modem and pc to display the numbers, perhaps associating them with real names. I've heard units with RS-232 output are available. The specification for this service has been published by Bellcore for vendors to use. I've never seen the documents, but they probably have a lot of technical information. I find Caller ID to be useful, but until it is more widely deployed, it will have limitations. For interoffice or interstate use, Signalling System 7 is required to pass the number outside the call path. Another problem is political, the Pennsylvania courts have found this the same as wire taps (I don't agree) and there are strong opinions on both sides of the issue as to whose privacy is invaded. Roger V. Thompson, P.E. (tiprvt@rigel.cc.bellcore.com) (201) 758-2875 (Office) (201) 747-7213 (Home) ARS AD5T 1184 Ocean Ave. D-1, Sea Bright, NJ ) 07760