Patrick_A_Townson@cup.portal.com (09/15/88)
While some people think it means Certainly Obnoxious Coin Operated Telephone, the *real* meaning is <C>ustomer <O>wned <C>oin <O>perated <T>elephone. The correct usage in plural would be COCOTs -- not COCOTS as is often seen. Bear in mind that all of these instruments can be programmed right from the touchtone pad on the front if you know what to enter, and most can be programmed remotely by the touchtone pad *on your home phone* if you know the number of the COCOT and what to do when it answers the line. They can be programmed, for example to give local calls of unlimited duration for a nickle, and long distance calls for a dime....or give all their services away free...or whatever. Patrick Townson