jjc@unix.cis.pittsburgh.edu (Jeffrey James Bryan Carpenter) (07/29/89)
Hi, I've seen people talk about the operator calling "inward" and have an idea what this is, but what is the technical description of what it is? Thanks, droopy ------------ Jeffrey J. B. Carpenter Computing and Information Services (Computer Center), Systems and Networks University of Pittsburgh JJC@VMS.CIS.PITTSBURGH.EDU 600 Epsilon Drive jjc@unix.cis.pittsburgh.edu Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania 15238 JJC@PITTVMS.BITNET (412) 624-6424, FAX (412) 624-6436 jjc@cisunx.UUCP [Moderator's Note: 'Inward' is simply the operators' positions in a given location. Operators in other cities, or 'Inward', can be dialed by another operator, but not by a subscriber. Typically, 'Inward' has a three digit number of the form 121. For example, to reach Miami, Florida Inward, your operator would dial 305-121. Your telephone is blocked from dialling codes of this sort, or 141, which is Directory Assistance, or 131 and 181, which are operators performing miscellaneous functions. Why would an operator in one place call an operator in another city? The most common reason is to seek assistance in getting through to a number in the distant community which appears to be out of order, or unreachable for some reason. The operator in one town may wish to have the verifying operator in another town check on these conditions. Another reason would be to seek assistance in coin collection on a collect call to a payphone. The distant operator cannot control the collection or return of coins, so she would call the local operator there, get the connection to the payphone and have the operator on that end supervise the collection. PT]