Date: 7 Oct 2000 06:15:10 -0400 Message-ID: <20001007101510.3995.qmail@xuxa.iecc.com> From: owner-telecom-digest@telecom-digest.org (Telecom Digest) To: telecom-digest@telecom-digest.org Subject: Telecom Digest V2000 #79 Reply-To: editor@telecom-digest.org Sender: owner-telecom-digest@telecom-digest.org Errors-To: owner-telecom-digest@telecom-digest.org Precedence: bulk X-UIDL: ca9be10c112359c1d5c21ddc18428a93 Status: RO X-Status: Telecom Digest Saturday, October 7 2000 Volume 2000 : Number 079 In this issue: Re: Telephone Glitch on West Wing Re: Newhalem, Washington state Re: Telephone Glitch on West Wing CFP ACM MobiCom 2001 FTC in court against Integretal and porn sites.. deception... Marc... Court Blocks Web Sex Scammers Verizon's First Integrated Offer Will Stimulate Voice and Web Access Anytime, Anywhere Canadians Like Sharing Data For Cash ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 6 Oct 2000 09:49:18 -0400 From: davidesan@my-deja.com Subject: Re: Telephone Glitch on West Wing I realized that this was a product placement and that Verizon had paid good money to have its logo in place on the phone booth in this show. (I also realize that Martin Sheen is not president.) I simply wanted to point out that there was a continuity glitch in the show. Its like seeing a jet plane in the sky during a movie set in the 1890s, the Volkswagen that appears in Ben Hur, or even (IIRC) that Shakespeare referenced a pocket watch in ancient Rome in "Julius Caesar". Many years ago we noted that the phones in one of the Die Hard movies, which were supposed to be in Washington DC were labeled with the PacBell label, which was also wrong. Some shows celebrate their continuity glitches -- take a look at the Nash Bridges web site. - -- David Esan InformationView Solutions david.esan@informationview.com Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy. - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 6 Oct 2000 14:23:35 -0400 From: El Jefe Subject: Re: Newhalem, Washington state On 5 Oct 2000, Leonard Erickson wrote: > Carl Moore writes: > > > In 206 area before 360 existed, I notice 397 prefix with place name > > of NEWHALEM. > > I suspect that the town was absorbed by a larger one nearby. Here are > the currently active 397 exchanges in Washington: Presently, phone service in Newhalem is provided by part of the Seattle City Light PBX, with 206-286 numbers. That town is not served by any regular phone company such as Verizon or Qwest (formerly GTE and US West). I'm not sure if or when a 397 prefix was ever used there. In January 1995, right before 360 split away from 206, 206-397 was in Everett (now 425-397). - -Jeff - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 6 Oct 2000 17:27:11 -0400 From: Dave Stern Subject: Re: Telephone Glitch on West Wing davidesan@my-deja.com wrote: > > I realized that this was a product placement and that Verizon had paid > good money to have its logo in place on the phone booth in this show. > (I also realize that Martin Sheen is not president.) > > I simply wanted to point out that there was a continuity glitch in the > show. Its like seeing a jet plane in the sky during a movie set in the > 1890s, the Volkswagen that appears in Ben Hur, or even (IIRC) that > Shakespeare referenced a pocket watch in ancient Rome in "Julius > Caesar". Many years ago we noted that the phones in one of the Die Actually a clock striking. Act II Scene I. - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 6 Oct 2000 17:29:47 -0400 From: dawn@eecs.wsu.edu Subject: CFP ACM MobiCom 2001 Enclosed below please find a Preliminary Announcement and Call for Papers for the 7th Annual International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking (MobiCom) to be held in Rome, Italy from July 16-21, 2001. As you might already know, MobiCom has an established reputation as the pre-eminent conference in this area owing to the exceptionally high quality of papers, excellent tutorials and workshops, and stimulating panels conducted by mobile computing illuminati of various stripes. For complete information about the upcoming conference, please visit: http://www.research.ibm.com/mobicom2001/ We apologize if you received multiple copies of this Call for Papers. Please feel free to distribute it to those who might be interested. Very truly yours, ACM SIGMOBILE MobiCom 2001 Organizing Committee *********************************************************************** Preliminary Announcement and Call for Papers *** ACM MobiCom 2001 *** The Seventh Annual International Conference on Mobile Computing and Networking July 16-21, Rome, Italy Sponsored by ACM SIGMOBILE http://www.research.ibm.com/mobicom2001/ http://www.acm.org/sigmobile/ Submission Deadline: January 12, 2001 *********************************************************************** PAPERS: Technical papers (maximum 15 pages) describing original, previously unpublished, completed research, not currently under review by another conference or journal, are solicited on the following topics: * Applications and computing services supporting mobile users * Architectures, protocols, and algorithms to cope with mobility, limited bandwidth, or intermittent connectivity * Database and data management issues in mobile computing * Performance of mobile/wireless networks and systems * Security and privacy of mobile/wireless systems * Interaction between different layers of mobile/wireless systems * Integration and interworking of wired and wireless networks * Adaptive applications and systems for mobile environments * Distributed-system aspects of mobile systems * Operating system support for mobility * Location-dependent applications * Wireless multimedia systems * Power management * Mobile agents * Pervasive computing * Wireless sensor networks * Wireless/mobile service management and delivery All papers will be refereed by the program committee. Accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings. Papers of particular merit will be proposed for publication in the ACM/Baltzer Wireless Networks (WINET) and Mobile Networks and Applications (MONET) journals. CHALLENGES SESSION, PANELS, RESEARCH DEMOS, TUTORIALS: Short papers (maximum of 8 pages) that challenge the mobile computing community with new technologies or visionary applications are solicited. Such papers should provide stimulating ideas or visions that may open up exciting avenues of mobile computing research. Proposals are solicited for panels that examine innovative, controversial, or otherwise provocative issues of interest. Proposals for tutorials are solicited. Tutorial topics that encompass the systems aspects of mobile computing and/or practical experiences in building/deploying such systems are of particular interest. Informal proposals for research demos are solicited. Proposals should include: the focus area in mobility, the technologies involved, specific equipment used, demo layout, space required, etc. Please refer to the conference website for submission and other details. IMPORTANT DATES: * Technical Paper Submissions due: January 12, 2001 - Please refer to the website for submission instructions * Notification of acceptance: May 1, 2001 * Camera-ready version due: May 15, 2001 * Challenges Session Papers, Panel Proposals, Tutorial Proposals Submissions due: January 12, 2001 - Please refer to the website for submission instructions FOR MORE INFORMATION: Send email to mobicom2001@winlab.rutgers.edu with any questions or comments about the conference or for more information. ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: * General Chair: * Tutorials Co-Chairs: Christopher Rose Ravi Jain Rutgers University, WINLAB Telcordia Technologies * General Vice Chair: Chiara Petrioli Politecnico di Milano Sergio Palazzo Universita` di Catania * Panels Chair: * Program Co-Chairs: Ramesh Rao Univ. of California, San Diego Mahmoud Naghshineh IBM T.J. Watson Research Center * Local Arrangement Chair: Michele Zorzi Marco Listanti Universita` di Ferrara Universita` di Roma "La Sapienza" * Finance Chair: * Exhibits Chair: David B. Johnson Marco Ajmone Marsan Rice University Politecnico di Torino * Publicity Co-Chairs: * Research Demos Chair: Stefano Basagni Nigel Davies Univ. of Texas at Dallas Lancaster University Krishna Sivalingam * Steering Committee Chair: Washington State University Imrich Chlamtac Univ. of Texas at Dallas * ACM Program Director: Lisette Burgos (ACM) *********************************************************************** Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy. - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 6 Oct 2000 21:38:00 -0400 From: dannyb@panix.com (danny burstein) Subject: FTC in court against Integretal and porn sites.. deception... http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2000/10/verity.htm We're all familiar with the porn web site trick where they get your computer to "dial" out (using your modem and phone line) to their high cost international phone number. The US's Federal Trade Commission has previously filed various fraud actions against these companies, and in most (but certainly not all..) cases, the local telco or the long distance carrier has accepted a charge-off. On 05-Oct-2000 the FTC filed another series of actions, this time against "Verity International, Ltd" [1], its officers, AND, most tellingly, against the IXC involved, "Integretal". [1] NOTE: Verity International, Ltd. is in no way affiliated with Verity, Inc., of Sunnyvale, California. (from the FTC page) (It's not entirely clear to me from the complaint description whether the call is routed through Integretal through the use of a 101-XXXX code or whether they acted as a billing agent.. see below) A key cause of action is the interception of these calls before they reached their (supposed) destination. Although the calls were dialed using a Madagascar phone prefix, they were offloaded in England. Which would have led to a typical rate of $0.10 or so/minute rather than the $3.99... To quote a bit from the complaint: (first, the part I don't quite understand about Integretal's role): 15. When a consumer uses the Verity dialing program to access a vendor's web site, a system known as Automatic Number Identification ("ANI") is used to capture the telephone number from which the call is being placed, and to identify the line subscriber associated with that number. Defendants send the line subscriber the bill for the call, regardless of whether the line subscriber actually placed the call and accessed the web site, or authorized anyone else to place the call and access the web site. And now, the 'diversion" cause of action: COUNT THREE 29. In numerous instances, defendants directly or through an intermediary cause charges for long distance calls to Madagascar, at a rate of $3.99 per minute, to appear on billing statements of line subscribers whose computer modems and telephone lines were purportedly used to access Internet web sites. 30. In truth and in fact, the calls that the line subscribers' modem dials when using the defendants' international dialing program do not terminate in Madagascar, but instead terminate in other foreign countries that have comparatively much lower long distance rates for calls from the United States. 31. Therefore, the defendants' practice of causing charges for long distance calls to Madagascar to appear on the billing statements of line subscribers whose computer modems were purportedly used to access Internet web sites, as set forth in paragraph 29 above, is deceptive, in violation of SectionJ5 of the FTC Act, 15JU.S.C. $J45. - -- _____________________________________________________ Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key dannyb@panix.com [to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded] - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 6 Oct 2000 22:13:09 -0400 From: goodwood Subject: Marc... I've been lurking and reading your posts for the past 2 years... I live in Baton Rouge and was an old phreak in the 80's... not that old.. haha.. anyways, I have nothing to do with that stuff anymore.. I have another problem.. Have you ever heard of Sprint PCS being unable to connect calls to other cellular companies? If someone with Sprint PCS dials my cell 225-268-xxxx in BR from outside of Baton Rouge, it gives them an unable to connect... If they are in Baton Rouge.. it works... Where is the problem at? As far as Louisiana goes.. I am amazed at the phone quality problems here. I grew up in California and everything went ESS there before I started messing with phone systems. I had an Apple ][ and was doing all sorts of nasty stuff.. When I moved to Texas 4 years ago, i suddenly started to hear pops and chrips when I was calling long distance... It brought back a lot of memories. Louisiana was even worse, until the last year or so.. I would go to Cut Off and dial out to my computer to do a remote order and my machine would trunk the line and send it to a reorder..... haha... It was frustating sometimes... I hung a tandem up in Baton Rouge or I think I did a year or two ago... I couldn't dial out for an hour... anyways... it's getting better.. Brian - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 6 Oct 2000 23:31:02 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Court Blocks Web Sex Scammers Court Blocks Web Sex Scammers WASHINGTON -- A U.S. court has pulled the plug on two British citizens who allegedly cashed in improperly on remote dialing to sexually explicit "adult" websites, U.S. officials said on Thursday. http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,39298,00.html - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 7 Oct 2000 01:33:56 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Verizon's First Integrated Offer Will Stimulate Voice and Web Access Anytime, Anywhere http://newscenter.verizon.com/proactive/newsroom/release.vtml?id=43388 Verizon's First Integrated Offer Will Stimulate Voice and Web Access Anytime, Anywhere Phone Customers Get Free Web Access from Both Home and Wireless Phones With Wireless Digital Single RateSM Purchase October 2, 2000 Media contact: Jim Smith, 212-395-7746 Brenda Boyd Raney, 908-306-4834 NEW YORK -- With its first integrated consumer service offer, Verizon has linked the two hottest technologies - digital wireless service and the Internet -- in a promotional package designed to let its local residential customers in 21 states and the District of Columbia experience the "anything, anytime, anywhere" nature of modern communications. Between now and November 30, residential customers of many Verizon local telephone companies who purchase any Verizon digital calling plan worth $29.95 per month, or renew an existing plan from Verizon Wireless will receive free home Internet service and free Mobile Web access through Memorial Day. "This is the first time a major telecommunications company has placed in the hands of the consumer the passkey to true universal communication - access to people and information, messages and connections, from any resource, whether at home or on the road," said Jody Bilney, president of Verizon's consumer group. "The way this offer augments our feature-rich home service makes it, truly, 'a great new offer from a great new company." "This package is an invitation for telephone customers to join a growing community of people who use Verizon Wireless products, especially Mobile Web, to simplify their lives," said Debra Carroll, vice -president marketing for Verizon Wireless. "It is an opportunity for customers to personalize the technology revolution by exploring the new services and learning how the technology can work for them. Simply put, it is an opportunity to 'join in'." "Verizon can bring the benefits of these tools to far more people with this kind of bundle," Bilney said. "For example, if a parent on the way to a soccer match one Saturday morning can't find the other team's soccer field, they can get directions using their Mobile Web to access an Internet map. If they get a business inspiration while watching the game, they can fire off an e-mail message. When they get home, they can check the other teams' scores on a local league Web site and print out the standings for the players. Everything comes together with services like these." The offer will be made via TV, radio, print, point of purchase and Internet advertising as well as targeted direct mail and bill inserts to most customers of former Bell Atlantic and GTE telephone companies in the targeted markets. Areas where dial-up home access to Verizon Online Internet service is not yet available or where digital wireless Internet service is still being implemented are excluded, but may be eligible for other promotion features. Customers of Verizon Select Services, the company's Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (CLEC) also are not eligible. To participate in the program, Verizon customers must purchase any of Verizon Wireless' digital rate plans at a minimum of $29.95 monthly access. If they choose to purchase a national Single Rate plan, they also need to have or purchase a tri-mode (digital and Internet capable) phone. As part of the promotion, the regular $6.95 Mobile Web access fee will be waived through May 31, 2001, and Verizon Online dial up home Internet access fees of $19.95 per month (which includes a $2.00 Global Service Provider charge) also will be waived through May 31, 2001. Mobile Web access air time will be charged against the calling plan's monthly allowance and will be billed at per minute rates applicable to each plan, once air time allowances have been exhausted and will include 100 message alerts per month. Additional alerts are 10 cents. Nationwide Single Rate wireless calling plans offer coast-to-coast coverage with no roaming or long distance charges. Plans include call management features like Caller ID, voice messaging, Call Waiting, Three-Way Calling, Call Forwarding (where available) message waiting indicator and no answer/busy transfer. Depending upon the plan, monthly access fees range between $35 and $200 for 150 to 2,000 minutes of airtime per month. Per minute charges after the call allowance is exhausted vary depending upon the plan. There is a $25 activation fee and a one or two-year contract. Mobile Web links the user to a wide range of Web-based services including e-mail, news, finance, sports, information services, specialty web sites, any text-only web site and a personal organizer featuring contacts, a calendar and to-do lists. The Verizon Online home Internet services vary slightly by area, but include 150 hours of free Internet access per month, 24-hour live help desk service, an online help center, personalized start pages and e-mail services and other features. This program's offer of free Internet access service without requiring detailed personal information or inserting intrusive advertising during Internet sessions is expected to be popular with customers. The offer also demonstrates the way Verizon's industry-leading wireless and wireline networks complement each other in support of customers. The offer is available at more than 200 Verizon Wireless retail outlets, at nearly 1,700 Verizon Wireless sales agencies, and toll-free over the phone from Verizon Wireless sales representatives. Orders also can also be placed at 83 Verizon Phone Marts or over the Internet at www.verizon.com/freeweboffer. [This offer will be available in all or parts of the following states: California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia.] - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ Date: 7 Oct 2000 01:38:21 -0400 From: Monty Solomon Subject: Canadians Like Sharing Data For Cash http://www.cluebot.com/article.pl?sid=00/10/06/1737248&mode=nested Canadians Like Sharing Data For Cash posted by cosmo on Friday October 06, @12:31PM from the canooks-for-cash dept. Canada's privacy commissioner recently released a study showing that "almost half of Canadians are perfectly comfortable with retailers compiling personal data...if there's a reward paid to the consumer." Canucks seem to sense what some Americans just haven't figured out yet: Sticks and stones may break our bones, but a little corporate marketing won't hurt us. Privacy activists, apparently worried that they'll be left without a cause if the so-called problem isn't understood properly, have been posting like mad to a CBC chat board on the issue. - -- The Telecom Digest is currently robomoderated. Please mail messages to editor@telecom-digest.org. ------------------------------ End of Telecom Digest V2000 #79 *******************************