richr@etl.army.mil (Richard Rosenthal) (02/28/90)
I live in Fairfax County, Virginia just outside D.C. Our cable TV
operator (Media General) now offers the following:
Introducing instant pay-per-view ordering!
No need to talk with an operator ... all you need
is you home touch-tone phone and the channel number
of the event you want to see.
Easy as 1-2-3!
- Select the feature you wish to view
- Call 103-800 (special 6 digit number!)
Enter the feature's Channel #
- Relax and enjoy the show!
I dialed (touched) the 6 digit phone number and with no ring I was
connected to a recording that said to enter the channel number of the
show I wanted to watch. Well, I didn't want to order a show so I hung
up.
Question: What is the story with 6 digit phone numbers? How do
they work? I would like to know more.
I guess that they work something like the way equal access to long
distance works. I know that I dial 102-221 (usually written 10-222-1)
to dial direct with MCI. Any relation here?
Thanks for the info.
/s/ Rich Rosenthal
richr@ai.etl.army.mil
[Moderator's Note: It appears your local cable company has convinced
your local telco they should be allowed to use an 'equal access' 10xxx
code as though they were a telco. Although it sounds like a clever
idea, I can't help but object in principle to this mis-use of the
numbering scheme. I wonder if Bellcore or anyone else in authority is
even aware of it, or gave permission for it. PT]