john@apple.com (John Higdon) (08/01/89)
All of this commentary concerning Sprint's ultra-cautious handling of
its accounts and security measures and redlining, etc., has reminded me
of the first days of the FO(O)NCARD service. As soon as the 800 877
8000 number was working in southern California it didn't take some
people long to find out that the cheapest long distance rates were
currently being provided by Sprint.
This is how it worked: Dial 800 887 8000. Dial 0 plus the telephone
number. When you hear the tone dial 14 digits. Oh, any digits, even all
1s if you like. "Beep-beep" and the call goes through. This "service"
lasted for many, many weeks. The more enlightened users of this
arrangement only used pay phones, realizing that the number of the
calling phone was being transmitted to Sprint, but for a while it was
indeed the cheapest long distance anywhere.
That's progress. From having the biggest hole in all of telephony to
turning off legitimate subscribers because too many (or not enough)
calls are being made. Are they learning on our nickel?
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John Higdon | P. O. Box 7648 | +1 408 723 1395
john@zygot.uucp | San Jose, CA 95150 | M o o !