[comp.dcom.telecom] Terminating "short" numbers. Was:

exptools%ihnp4%cbosgd%mtune@mtunx.att.COM (05/01/88)

>In article <1154@csuna.UUCP> abcscnge@csuna.UUCP (Scott "The Pseudo Hacker" Neugroschl) writes:
>>The answer to this is the same as the answer to how they distinguish a
>>one digit number starting with 0 :-) or, for those areas which still
>>do not require any prefix (Maryland a few years ago, maybe still) and
>>may need to deal with the new exchanges.  They time out.  If you reach
>>one of the possible ends of a number (after 1 or 7 digits) and don't
>>dial another digit within N seconds, it assumes you are done and goes
>>ahead.

Well, in the numbering plan, there is one other way to dial OPERATOR, or
any other short number that is not terminated by filling max digits;
the # key.  The # key is usually called the "STOP" key, by the way.

This is useful, because one can cut right through to the local operator
(0-#) or your designated LD operator (0-0-#) or your carrier of choice
operator (1-0-X-Y-Z-0-#) without waiting for the timer to trigger.

Have Fun!

-- 
-David B. (Ben) Burch
 Analysts International Corp.
 Chicago Branch (ihnp4!aicchi!dbb)

"Argue for your limitations, and they are yours." - R. Bach