infpve@utrcu1 (Peter van Eijk) (03/30/89)
Who can give me information on telephone numbers around the world that offer a sort of `chat' service? Here in the Netherlands we have a so-called `Babbel Box' also called `party-line' (i think its different from what the Americans call a party line), dialled through e.g. 06-32033010 (?). This number is extra priced, 50cts a minute (approx 0.25$). When you call it you enter a conversation with approximately 10 other people who did the same. There are a number of numbers like this, operated 24 hours a day (the conversation gets a little special after midnight....). I believe that in the US this would be something like a 1-900 number. I'm interested in the names, telephone numbers and charges around the world. It is out of curiosity, we have a toy computerized version of it and i would like to document my presentation of it. Side remarks: These pay numbers account for 5% of total telephone charges here, i read in a news paper. Not surprising since there have been stories of people getting addicted to it.. -- Peter van Eijk University of Twente Dept Informatica / IPS P.O. Box 217; 7500 AE Enschede The Netherlands +31-53-893789 mcvax!utrcu1!infpve My organisation is so paranoid that I don't even know if these opinions are mine.