deej@bellcore.bellcore.com (David Lewis) (08/31/89)
It seems to me that there is a very simple, straightforward, non-technical solution to the question of calling number delivery, privacy, blocking, and so on. Currently, telcos offer a service to customers who do not want their phone number to be public knowledge. It's called "Unpublished Number", and they charge something like $3 a month for it -- not because it costs them $3 a month to provide it, but because they estimate that the value of this service to customers is on the order of $3 a month. If it were too much more expensive, few customers would want it; if it were too much cheaper, too many customers would subscribe to it, thereby reducing the utility of having directories. It seems to me that Calling Number Delivery Blocking is "simply" -- in user terms -- an extension of unpublished numbers. It is a service which prevents others from knowing your phone number. What I can't figure is why no telco has figured out to offer two service packages: "Privacy Level A" -- your number is unpublished -- and "Privacy Level B" -- your number is unpublished, and you have the capability to block delivery of your calling number. You charge $3 for Privacy Level A; figure out what the economic value to consumers is for Privacy Level B and set the rate appropriately. The same logic of pricing applies -- you don't want it to be too cheap, or everyone will have it and thereby reduce the public value of CND; you don't want it too expensive, or no one will subscribe. Maybe $6 a month. So if people don't care who knows their phone number, fine. No charge. If people want their number unpublished, but don't care if people they call receive it, they pay $3. If people really want the ability to keep their number from everyone, they pay more. Yeah, yeah, you still have to get it through the PUCs. But the analogy with unpublished numbers, I suspect, would carry a fair amount of weight. [This idea may be reproduced freely, but if anyone makes money off of it, I wanna know about it... :-)] -- David G Lewis ...!bellcore!nvuxr!deej "If this is paradise, I wish I had a lawnmower."