telecom@eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Moderator) (03/30/89)
Confession, they say, is good for the soul. It is also good for your financial bottom line, if you market the concept of using the phone to make confession to the world, while other callers pay to listen to you 'spill your guts', as the introduction to the outbound version of "I Confess" describes the messages being played out. Patrick Kane, president of Telephone Entertainment, Inc. conceived the idea of using the phone to make confessions while profiting from those folks who want to hear the lurid thoughts of others. He set up his service in New York City and allowed -- indeed, encouraged -- anyone and everyone to call in at no charge. A soothing woman's voice, described in some of his advertising as 'Priestess' urges, "I want to hear about what you have done; about your secret thoughts, and the things that have been done to you..." And the caller is then given a minute to let it all hang out, no names required or desired. The profit for Kane comes in playing back the confessions to callers to his 800/900 incoming lines. He uses both types of lines. The 900 number is local to the New York City 212/718/914 metro area, where the going rate is $1.50 for the first minute, and 50 cents for each additional confession, or minute of listening time. From outside the New York City area, confessions can be monitored in many cities by dialing 1-800-999-6666. On the 800 lines, callers must use a touch tone phone to enter their VISA/MC number, and they are billed 99 cents per confession/minute. Kane's advertising has been cute, regardless of what you might think about the nature of his business venture otherwise. Maybe its just that New York Telephone has no sense of humor. A recent full-page ad in the papers described the service in some detail, but inadvertently or otherwise gave the impression that New York Telephone was sponsoring the activity. The advertisement showed a man kneeling in a pay phone booth, with the caption, "I Confess". The name of Kane's company, Telephone Entertainment Company, was not shown anywhere in the message, but the picture clearly showed a payphone with a 'New York Telephone' insignia on it. Incensed phone company officials cut his outgoing phone lines off the same day, and they are still muttering about suing Kane. A statement issued by New York Telephone last week said, "Anyone reading this ad would think that New York Telephone sanctions and provides this activity. We do not sponsor such activities or provide a service for our customers to make confessions. We will do everything possible to protect our customers from advertising which even suggests that we offer such services or activities." "The people making those confessions are sick. The confessions are mostly unbelievable. They are lewd and crude. You cannot advertise such a service and claim that it is an activity of the New York Telephone Company." Mr. Kane is meeting with phone company officials to negotiate the restoration of his outgoing phone lines. For whatever reason, the telco did not cut service to his incoming lines, and the nice lady is still cooing and telling the fellows she is there to listen to them....but until his outgoing service is restored, there is no one to eavesdrop on the confessions, which are simply building up in the reserve of messages waiting for playback to the curiosity seekers. Kane said he would revise his ads to eliminate references to New York Telephone in the future, or payphone booths and the resulting implication. But he said in an interview, "Frankly, I am not too impressed with their complaint. I find their behavior questionable at best." "Anyway," said Kane, "what are they griping about? My deal with them was they *get a forty percent cut of the revenue*; why are they acting so hypocritical?" Very good question, Mr. Kane. Very good question. Theodore Vail would turn over in his grave if he saw what had become of Ma Bell's children in the past few years since the old lady was sent to her reward and final rest. I must confess though, some of the confessions I heard did give me a good belly laugh. Some were ridiculous, and some were tragically believable and real. You don't use Caller ID on the incoming line, do you? Patrick Townson
rpw3@ames.arc.nasa.gov (Rob Warnock) (03/31/89)
In article <telecom-v09i0116m01@vector.UUCP> telecom@eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Moderator) writes: +--------------- | Confession, they say, is good for the soul. It's also good for your financial | bottom line, if you market the concept of using the phone to make confession | to the world, while other callers pay to listen to you 'spill your guts', | as the introduction to the outbound version of "I Confess" describes... +--------------- Shades of John Brunner's novel "Shockwave Rider"! But Brunner's "Hearing Aid" service ("the ten 9's") was *free*, and no one else but the operator on the other end would *ever* know what you had said. (*sigh*) That was fiction; "Confess" is ugly reality... Rob Warnock Systems Architecture Consultant UUCP: {amdcad,fortune,sun}!redwood!rpw3 DDD: (415)572-2607 USPS: 627 26th Ave, San Mateo, CA 94403
stox@att.uucp (03/31/89)
{{{ quote edited to pass inews -chip }}}
telecom@eecs.nwu.edu (TELECOM Moderator):
> [...] using the phone to make confessions while profiting from those
> folks who want to hear the lurid thoughts of others.
Yow !!! Shades of THX1138. A great George Lucas flick, if
you haven't seen it.
Ken Stox
ihlpb!stox