Miguel_Cruz@ub.cc.umich.edu (09/27/89)
I called the Michigan Bell operator the other day to have a busy number verified... I dialed 0+764-1817, after the bong, I dialed 0. An operator came on. "This number's been busy -- " -click- less than two seconds later, "Sir, there's talking on the line," came back from the operator. What happened to Verify operators? Time was, you got to listen to the operator call another operator, you could chat while the second operator was off for 30 seconds or so doing who knows what. This whole transaction, from dialing to hanging up, took less than 30 seconds. Miguel_Cruz@ub.cc.umich.edu
edg@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Edward Greenberg) (09/29/89)
On Long Island, New York, the verification operator went away in about 1980. In the early 70's, one verified by calling the operator and asking for "verification on 555-2368." The operator would call the number and, if s/he got a busy, call the verification operator for you and ask for "verification on 555-2368." The verification operator would answer "busy talking" or "out of service, I'll report it." We soon learned that we could reach the verification operator by dialing the affected prefix and 9901 (or, "official 1"). Then WE could tell the verification operator to do her thing. In about 1973 or '74, we could no longer reach a verification operator on official-1, but rather, 234-9901 would bring one up capable of verifying anywhere in 516. In about 1980, as I said above, the operators started verifying (and doing emergency cut-in's) themselves. -edg P.S. Does anybody else remember using verification as an early form of call waiting? Ed Greenberg uunet!apple!netcom!edg [Moderator's Note: Yes, we used to ask for verification which would cause a click on the other person's line, as a way of letting them know someone wanted them. Abuse of it is why they now charge for verifying if the line does in fact test busy and not out of order. When we then got through, the other party would always ask, "was that you trying to get me?", and I would always reply, "did the operator cut in and tell you to can the sh-- and give someone else a chance to get through on the line?" :) PT]