Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!iuvax!cica!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!wuarchive!texbell!vector!telecom-gateway
From: zygot!john@apple.com (John Higdon)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Automatic Collect Calls
Message-ID: 
Date: 17 Aug 89 01:52:32 GMT
Organization: Green Hills and Cows
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Approved: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us
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X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 305, message 5 of 12

Got a chance to play with one of those automatic collect-call machines.
I was surprised to discover that it is all done within the COCOT
itself, and the machine allows you to hear all the action with a muted
mouthpiece.

When you dial "0+NXX+NXX-XXXX", the synthesized voice says to push 1
for a collect call and 3 for any other operator assisted call. After
pushing 1, the voice prompt you for your name. The unit then dials the
call (direct) and when it thinks the other end has answered it asks the
called party, "Will you accept a collect call from [your recorded
name]? If yes, press 1, otherwise press 0 now." It will repeat one time
if there is no response and then disconnect.

This raises some interesting questions. Where is the billing
information stored for charging the called party? In the phone? By some
special arrangement with whatever carrier they use for the call? What
if the called party refuses the call? Does the COCOT owner pay for the
one-minute refusal?

It was a lot of fun playing with that phone. You would be surprised how
many hotel and motel operators will refuse a call from Donald Duck.
--
        John Higdon         |   P. O. Box 7648   |   +1 408 723 1395
      john@zygot.uucp       | San Jose, CA 95150 |       M o o !