telecom@eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Moderator) (04/19/89)
Tuesday, April 18 was opening day for the transpacific fiber optic cable developed by AT&T,and installed by a consortium of communications companies including AT&T, MCI and Sprint. This new cable, which presently terminates in Tokyo, can handle 40,000 calls at once. In addition to connecting with land-based cables in the United States, a portion of the cable has been assigned to handle connections between Tokyo and the capitals of Western Europe. A transatlantic fiber optic cable was installed between the states and Europe late last year. Future plans for international fiber optic cables include connections to Australia and the Carribean in 1991. It is certainly true that the rapid pace of technological advancements in telecommunications is causing some exciting changes in the way we communicate around the globe. As one who remembers well the time when you made a *reservation* to place an overseas call to London, and you were called back by the international operator at White Plains, NY when a circuit was free, I am amazed by the speed with which calls are placed now. And there was a time when calls to Africa were first routed to London, and then on the British Telecom cables to Cairo *when they chose to extend calls from the United States* -- typically three or four days per week during the early morning hours. Calls to Antarctica are still handled in a round-about way; via the overseas operator in Oakland, CA to Australia, then via a radio link from that country to the South Pole; but given the speed with which AT&T is covering the globe with fiber optic, the land at the southernmost tip of our planet may someday be direct-dialable. ========================================= And then there was MultiQuest. AT&T bills it as 'a powerful new way for you to make valuable information available to your customers...' Multiquest, according to AT&T, is the first national, interactive 900 service for businesses. According to an AT&T spokesperson, "Customers nationwide can obtain information, services or advice from you more easily than they ever could before." And at more expense to the customer, I might add. AT&T notes, "..unlike 800 service, where you pay the bill, your customers pay for calls to 900 numbers....you select the price, and AT&T will handle billing and collection from your customers." AT&T is promoting MultiQuest as a way to market your services, run a promotion and reach customers 'cost-effectively' (you bet!). For more information about MultiQuest, installation pricing and procedures, call 1-800-222-0400. If anyone gets specifics on this regards pricing and how it is installed, etc, please write it up for publication here. Patrick Townson