CERACC%RITVAX.BITNET@CORNELLC.ccs.cornell.edu (12/22/88)
Greetings and Merry Xmas!
I have several questions that I would like to ask you and receive your
suggestions/answers by E-Mail. Upon request, I will summarize the responses
for you in this digest.
Background:
A business in providing telephone services for the hearing- and speech-impaired
callers using a TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf - device using
5-bit BAUDOT code and at 45.5 WPM -- almost 110 baud) and translate into
voice for hearing person and vice versa. If you don't understand this,
think of this way: a deaf person calls into the Center on their TDD and
tells the Operator that s/he wants to call a hearing person somewhere.
The Operator makes the connection and acts as an translator/interpreter
between them. A hearing person calls the Center by voice and asks the Operator
to call a deaf person on the TDD and then relay their conversation back
and forth.
The volume of the calls are expected to be in the order of 1-5K a month
with possible increase monthly. The cost of a long distance calls will
be charged to the customer plus a subscription package to use the Center.
A customer will be assigned an account number so the call cost and other
factors can be tracked.
So, here are several questions about this:
1) A PBX system would be necessary in order to track call activity and
costs for each customer? Or, is there such a key system that can do it?
a) If a PBX is recommended, then which system?
Possible system are: AT&T, Northern Telecom, Siemens,
NEC, etc.
2) Since intra-state calls will not be made because there is a service
provided by the state, the Center will focus solely on inter-state calls.
Thus, 800 service would be needed to attract callers out of the state as
well as callers from remote locations within the state.
a) What kind of 800 service should I look for? ~
Possible 800 service are: AT&T, MCI, Sprint, etc.
3) Is there a call accounting system that can be tied to the PBX system
that can track and bill customers? I heard of one by Moscom.
4) What about the front end system that announces the caller and asks you
to press certain numbers for certain things? (I forget what this is called
but I'm sure some of you know what I mean.) Since I want this to identify
whether the person calling is voice or TDD, when a hearing person hears
the system asking them to press 1 (or whatever) then the system will route
to a certain people. If the call is by TDD, then there will be no response
to the questions, so it will be assumed a TDD and routes to the appropriate
operator. If all the operators are busy, can it go to a holding section
until an operator is busy? If so, what system is that and who makes it?
5) Since Center would be in business to make inter-state calls, WATS service
may be economic (if it is!). Would it be possible to charge the cost back
to customers directly? Or the customers must use their telephone credit
card to bill it?
6) This is enough to get started but I must ask this one least of all.
What is the price range based on what I've asked? A ballpark figure would
be nice.
Thank you to all in advance for your assistance. I really need your help
and your comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Merry Christmas!
Curtis Reid
CERACC@RITVAX.Bitnet
CERACC%RITVAX.Bitnet@cunyvm.cuny.eduron@ron.rutgers.edu (Ron Natalie) (12/28/88)
I thinkyou've got your units confused. There is no popular use of 45.5 WPM Baudot and even if they were it wouldn't be anywhere near 110 baud. What exists is the WE standard 65 WPM which is 45.5 Baud. -Ron