julian@seas.ucla.edu (julian macassey) (03/12/89)
There has been some discussion about 0800 numbers from
the UK and also 800 numbers from the US to the UK. But wait!
There's more!
Reading the Economist magazine of Feb 25 (I am not a
slow reader, just behind) There are a couple of interesting ads:
Our buddies AT&T have an ad touting AT&T International
800 service. It is the usual obtuse AT&T add that can only be
understood by people who understand telcospeak. At the bottom of
the page in 6 point type is the most interesting part of the ad:
"AT&T International 800 Service now available from 27 countries.
Call for details." Don't you would think that naming the
countries might have made the ad more effective? Anyhow as the ad
says: "-all with a simple toll-free call to the U.S." If you are
in the U.S. and really want to know what the 27 countries are,
you can call (800) 222-0400 ext 355 6 am to Midnight Central
Standard time.
Also in the same edition of the Economist was an even
more interesting ad. This one was placed by the BBC (The Beeb).
It was an ad for a video tape subscription service called "BBC
Video World". THe ad says "Ring the FREE orderline." The ad then
lists the following: In UK 0800 44 41 41, In Australia 0014 800
125 777, In USA 1 800 247 8979, In Hong Kong 008 2248, In Japan
00 31 44 40 09.
Being an obedient boy, I did what I was told: "Ring the
FREE orderline." I called the USA 800 number and after a couple
of clicks got that old strident brr-brr Brit ringing cadence. I
was answered by "Lillian" who told me that the center was in the
UK, handled all the toll free calls from all over the world and
was staffed 24 hours per day.
Life has been confusing enough in the past calling what
you thought was the local airline at the airport and talking to
the reservations center in Atlanta. Now we will have to start
guessing what country the 800 number will be routed to.
Yours
--
Julian Macassey, n6are julian@bongo ucla-an!denwa!bongo!julian
n6are@wb6ymh (Packet Radio) n6are.ampr [44.16.0.81] voice (213) 653-4495