Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!rutgers!netsys!vector!telecom-gateway From: Miguel_Cruz@ub.cc.umich.edu Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Criticism of Call Forwarding Message-ID:Date: 27 Sep 89 09:41:02 GMT Sender: news@vector.Dallas.TX.US Lines: 28 Approved: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@vector.dallas.tx.us X-TELECOM-Digest: volume 9, issue 414, message 5 of 10 Two things about call forwarding: A) Why on earth does it do that thing where the first time you try forwarding, it actually places the call to the number, and if it's busy or no answer, you have to do the whole forwarding sequence again? Is there a single person on the planet for whom that's helpful or convenient? B) How difficult would it be to modify the system so that when one placed a call to a forwarded number, they would first hear a short tone signifying that the call was being bumped? Unlike A), that would actually be informative and helpful. Miguel_Cruz@ub.cc.umich.edu [Moderator's Note: Regards (A), if you actually reach the party to whom you are forwarding, you are assured of dialing correctly. If you get a busy or no answer, it might be because you dialed a wrong number. By doing it a second time, telco is assured that your instructions match your intentions. Without this repeat-dialing verification, you might accidentally have forwarded to the wrong place. Regards (B), many people do not want you to know they are not at home/office, etc. They'd prefer that you assume they are wherever you dialed them at. And for residences, do you want to let a burglar know you are not home, due a 'forwarding tone' which tells him there is no one there to receive a call (or unauthorized visit)? At present, if you listen *closely* when dialing a centrex number with call forwarding on no answer, after the third ring you will hear a slightly out of synch ring the fourth time. PT]