72067.316@compuserve.com (James Van Houten, Exec VP) (02/22/90)
I would like to share some experiences that I have had with Caller*ID. I live in Maryland and am served by C&P Telephone Company (Bell Atlantic). I am serviced by a 5ESS switch and use a San-Bar Model 30F Display Unit. The feature is of great value to me as I use it for personal and Business purposes. I do not answer my phone with the number the caller is calling from and in fact do not read there number back to them. I have found that people are angered and confused if you know their number before they give it to you. I have also had problems with wrong numbers. These calls have been reduced substantially. Now for a little technical info. I have found on a 5ESS switch if a caller hangs up before the end of the first ring the display will not show the number in which the call originated, but there is a way to do this: First you call a local number like weather or time, dial a prayer, etc then flash (provided you have three way calling). When your phone rings back it will display the number of the caller who hung up on you. This is a very neat feature for one being plagued by a high-tech prankster and I must admit it stops them in their tracks. From what I have learned people served by 1ESS or 1AESS do not have this luxury but I may be wrong. If you are on a 1 or 1AESS please try it and let me know. Another advantage to Caller*ID: If you have repeat call and have several numbers in queue the Caller*ID display will give you the number that is about to ring when you pick up your phone. This is great. When I am calling clients and get a busy I just hit *66 and put them in queue. All in all Caller*ID is a plus. I am not for getting rid of Caller*ID and I do not even know if the Block Caller*ID feature is even warranted. After all if you want to call someone with Caller*ID then just dial 950-1022 and punch in your MCI pin number and off you go. At least in the DC Metro area the call comes up OUT OF AREA. I have one question. Is Caller*ID suppose to work with LATA to LATA calls? My mother in law lives in Bell of Pennsylvania and from time to time her number displays on my box. I thought that it was real strange that it does not do it all the time. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :James Van Houten HAM: KA3TTU@N4QQ : :P.O. Box 502 CI$: 72067,316 : :Temple Hills, MD 20757 72067.316@compuserve.com : :(301) 248-3300 : ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::