cball@inmet.UUCP (11/15/85)
I have a problem with telephone accounting. This should not be
an uncommon problem, but I have been unable to discover anyone who offers an
acceptable solution. The problem is described in detail below, please
send mail if you have any information, experience, or advice on this issue.
Thanks in advance,
Charles Ball
Intermetrics, Inc. {belcore,ima,ihnp4}!inmet!cball
733 Concord Ave. cball@DDNT.ARPA
(617)661-1840
The problem:
We have dial-out modems attached to a port selector. These
modems are accessed by computer as well as by terminals. Access to
these modems is neither restricted nor monitored. We also have several
800 numbers that are used for remote dial-in. This setup is necessary
for our business(Intermetrics is a software house), but the monthly
telephone charges are substantial and need to be allocated directly
to the projects that incur them.
The solution:
We plan to install a system that verifies a user, allows that
user to specify a group(charge account), asks for a telephone number,
makes the call, and monitors the call length. In addition, dial-ins
should be called back on the less expensive, dial-out lines.
Relevant information should be logged and easily accessible for
later processing. We have access to a database that identifies
connection charges based on the area code and three digit prefix of
the two telephone numbers. It will be a simple matter to toss this data
in with the rest of our computer accounting data.
The hitch:
No one seems to make this system. If anyone has knowledge to
the contrary, please let me know. I would prefer to buy a system than roll
my own.
Some port selector companies output the number called on a
statistics port, but none I've talked to allow for specification of a
charge account, or per user password mechanisms.
PBX companies assume that the originating extension is significant.
This is reasonable in an office environment, but our extensions are
really modems on a port selector. Some PBX's provide charge account
specifications, but none would provide a password mechanism. This
would(perhaps) be tolerable if the PBX is reasonably priced. However,
the most connections this system needs to handle would be thirty and
most PBX's I've found with these features are cost effective
at 300+ extensions.