telecom@ucbvax.ARPA (06/12/85)
From: Jon Solomon (the Moderator) <Telecom-Request@BBNCCA> TELECOM Digest Tue, 11 Jun 85 17:07:48 EDT Volume 4 : Issue 199 Today's Topics: Electronic Vaults' UPTA 96 Cellular phones and confidentiality Re: Cellular phones and confidentiality ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 11 Jun 1985 00:47:45 PDT Subject: Electronic Vaults' UPTA 96 From: Eliot Moore <SWG.ELMO@USC-ISIB.ARPA> To: telecom@BBNCCV.ARPA Communications Week of June 10 fields an article concerning a "Hayes-compatible" half-duplex (buffered for pseudo-full-duplex, i presume) 9600bps error-correcting async dialup modem, available as an internal card for the ibmpc at $795 or standalone for $895. This type of product at this price is long overdue, much as Microcom's error-correcting 212's were. Given the inevitability of V.32 modems on the market in 1985, is anyone going to buy these things? Regards, Elmo ------- ------------------------------ From: "Bob Parnass, AJ9S" <parnass%ihu1h.uucp@BRL.ARPA> Subject: Cellular phones and confidentiality Date: 9 Jun 85 03:20:35 GMT To: info-hams@simtel20.ARPA x George Chao, a cellular phone user, provided this article, published in the May 1985 'Ameritech Connection' by Ameri- tech Mobile Communications, Inc. for its Chicago/Gary area cellular telephone users: Confidentiality Could Be A Three-Way Street "One of the differences between cellular service and conventional mobile telephones is that cellular is 'private-like.' Each side of every cellular conversa- tion is assigned its own private radio channel by our computerized system, so there is no operator to go through and there are no party lines to share." "However, in the last six months, sophisticated elec- tronic scanners able to monitor cellular radio frequen- cies have become available, and Ameritech Mobile cau- tions you about conversations of a highly confidential nature held over your mobile telephone." "Scanners are only able to lock onto one channel at a time and can not simulate our computerized network. In fact, they can ONLY detect one side of the cellular conversation and ONLY for a brief period of time. That's because our computer routinely switches your call from one channel to another to keep the transmis- sion quality of your conversation at a high level as you drive through the cellular service area." "While scanners are expensive and not routinely used by the general public, be careful in discussing proprietary or very personal issues when using your mobile telephone. Remember the airwaves are public property." -- =============================================================================== Bob Parnass, Bell Telephone Laboratories - ihnp4!ihu1h!parnass - (312)979-5414 ------------------------------ Date: 11 Jun 1985 09:52-PDT Subject: Re: Cellular phones and confidentiality From: the tty of Geoffrey S. Goodfellow <Geoff@SRI-CSL.ARPA> To: parnass%ihu1h.uucp@BRL Cc: info-hams@SIMTEL20, telecom@BBNCCA well, it's good to see that yet another regional arm of The Telephone Company is still very well versed in NewsSpeak! People have been able to hear both sides of the conversation by monitoring the land-to-mobile frequency, do to the talk-back that exists. It doesn't take "sophisticated electronic(!)" scanners or any high technological acts of chicanery as i'm sure the readership of both info-hams and telecom are aware. What with the stories emanating out of chicago and other areas with people tuning into cellular phone conversations thru the varactors on their VCRs or TV sets. "ONLY for a brief period of time" (my ass). People have been know to hold very long stationary conversations in which you're not a candidate for hand off, although i have experienced hand off when stationary myself. In summary, the "American Connection" is full of it. If you take Personal Communications, keep your eyes peeled for an upcoming articled, "Cellular Swiss Cheese", of which I'm co-authoring on the subject. I'd be happy to send a copy to Info-Hams and/or Telecom if enough interest warrants. g ------------------------------ End of TELECOM Digest ******************************