"hugh_davies.WGC1RX"@Xerox.COM (12/05/88)
Advertisements in US publications (I'm particularly thinking of 'Byte') often quote an '800' number to call for information, and no other number. These numbers apparently cannot be dialled from outside the continental United States (ignore the routing info in the address - I'm in the UK). Is there any way of 'getting at' these numbers? I'm quite happy to pay for the calls. Perhaps via an operator? The only alternative is snail mail. Bleagh. Thanks, Hugh. [Moderator's Note: There are a few -- very few -- 800 numbers which in fact are outside the USA and can be reached by us. One example is British Telecom which is located in London but has an 800 number for callers from the United States. And in reverse, there are a couple firms in the USA with `0898' type numbers (I believe 0898 is the UK version of 800) for callers from Hugh's country. But the general rule is 800 numbers are internal to the United States or internal to Canada but not both. They can cover a city, a state, an area code, a large part of the nation, or the entire nation. *Never* outside the USA/Canada however. I suggest the only option available to Hugh is to ascertain the area code where the firm is located, then dial 1-A/C 555-1212 and ask for the regular telephone number. Then dial it and pay for the call. Himself. But ask the company if they will reimburse him for the call if his purchase is over a certain amount. Many firms will do this. Patrick Townson] ==================================== Hugh Davies, (Huge@wgc1rx.xerox.com) Senior Software Engineer, Rank Xerox, England. ==================================== "Test pilots aren't supposed to say they're frightened; But I was real impressed" - X15 pilot.