MYERSTON@KL.SRI.COM (HECTOR MYERSTON) (12/08/88)
There is an outfit called DialOne aka International Networks aka Cezar Industries aka Gateway America aka Gateway USA currently located in San Luis Obispo, California. Their product is a telephone "dial bridge". You call in to them, they "anchor" your call, give you local dial-tone and let you complete single or multiple calls. The advantages: Using only one "First Minute" as far as the LD carrier is concerned all other are "Each Additional" thus saving some amount; avoiding any "per-call" charges as in Hotels etc. Anyway... most of the applications flopped. One that did not is an operation in upstate NY which allowed Canadians to make a cheap calls (the service is near the border) and, for a small charge, have access to "US only" 800 services. There is no reason why one could not use the same service from the UK or wherever if billing arrangements can be worked out. Another service they where pursuing is completing International Calls with the US as mid-point. For example calling Taiwan from Beijing is near impossible. Beijing-USA-Taiwan is easier. I have no connection nor any further information on this outfit. My last contact was when I really pissed-off their local rep. He was trying to push the international bridging based on savings (marginal) I was trying to make him see that service was more important to us. Oh well.. -------