edg@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Edward Greenberg) (07/28/89)
Since the beginning of this week, I've been hearing radio ads from AT&T introducing a new feature of AT&T Long Distance. Specifically, when you dial 0+ (or 102880+) you'll get the Bong and then a little chime followed by the words "Ay, Tee and Tee". This will let you know that you've indeed reached mom (or what's left of her.) Having dealt with AOS's and now with Pac Bell allowing the premises owner the choice of LD carrier, I think it's a good idea. Part of the ad suggests that when you connect to AT&T they'll play the Hallelujah Chorus. A good giggle. -e -- Ed Greenberg uunet!apple!netcom!edg
wales@cs.ucla.edu (Rich Wales) (07/29/89)
In article <telecom-v09i0260m01@vector.dallas.tx.us> Edward Greenberg <claris!apple!netcom!edg@ames.arc.nasa.gov> writes: Since the beginning of this week, I've been hearing radio ads from AT&T introducing a new feature of AT&T Long Distance. Specifically, when you dial 0+ (or 102880+) you'll get the Bong and then a little chime followed by the words "Ay, Tee and Tee". This will let you know that you've indeed reached mom (or what's left of her.) Yes, I've heard the same commercial -- and felt it was very confusing. At first, I thought they were saying that the "Bong", all by itself, was AT&T's new unique identifier (!). What they should have done, I think, is that the "new sound" (the Bong, a multi-toned chime, and the voice saying "AT&T") should have been done at least *twice* -- with a bit of silence at the beginning and the end, and a few wise words from the announcer in between (to make sure people didn't think the "new sound" had to be repeated twice to be genuine). Actually, they could just take their current ad, and stick the follow- ing on the end: "*BONG* *chime* AT&T" -- the right choice. :-} I wonder, though: If, as has been reported here previously, some less- than-scrupulous AOS's have been falsely claiming to be AT&T (with hotel customers and the like), what is there to prevent such folks from using AT&T's "new sound"? -- Rich Wales // UCLA Computer Science Department // +1 (213) 825-5683 3531 Boelter Hall // Los Angeles, California 90024-1596 // USA wales@CS.UCLA.EDU ...!(uunet,ucbvax,rutgers)!cs.ucla.edu!wales "What's a knockout like you doing in a computer-generated gin joint like this?"