StopTelstra - Timed local data calls OFF , campaign to continue
Kimberley Heitman
********************** STOPTELSTRA CAMPAIGN UPDATE ************************
The STOPTELSTRA Campaign announces that residential users and charities will
not be facing timed local calls under this government. Senator Alston has
made it clear that only business users may be charged timed rates for
local calls, and information from Telstra indicates that this will be
offered as a premium service guaranteeing faster and better connections.
The new guidelines state as follows :
________________________________________________________________
| |
| * Certain local calls are to be charged for on an untimed basis.|
|_________________________________________________________________|
^#1867 Standard zones
(1) For the purposes of this Part, if
(a) immediately before 1 July 1991, Telecom supplied, or
offered to supply, to persons within a particular
area within Australia, a carriage service that was,
immediately before that date, a standard telephone
service (within the meaning of the Telecommunications
Act 1991); and
(b) under the terms and conditions on which Telecom supplied,
or would supply, that service to persons in that area,
the charges for calls of a particular kind between points
within that area made using the service were, or would be,
worked out on an untimed basis;
that area is a _standard zone_.
Note: _Untimed basis_ is defined by subsection (2).
(2) For the purposes of this section, charges for calls of
a particular kind are worked out on an untimed basis if,
and only if, the charges for the calls of that kind are
worked out by reference to the number of such calls made
during a particular period, regardless of how long
each call lasted.
...
^#1871 Eligible local calls
(1) For the purposes of the application of this Part to a
carriage service provider who supplies a standard
telephone service to an eligible customer in a
particular standard zone, being an eligible customer
who is a residential/charity customer, an _eligible
local call_ is a call that:
(a) is made using that service; and
(b) is made between points in the applicable zone in
relation to the provider and in relation to the
customer; and
(c) is not an exempt call (as defined by subsection (3)); and
(d) is of a kind that, immediately before 20 September 1996, a
general carrier offered to supply, or supplied, on an
untimed basis between points in that standard zone.
...
_residential/charity_ customer means:
(a) a residential customer; or
(b) a customer that is:
(i) a charitable body or organisation; or
(ii) a welfare body or organisation.
^#1872 Requirement to provide an untimed local call option
If a carriage service provider supplies a standard telephone
service to an eligible customer, the provider must give the
customer an untimed local call option.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
In administering the StopTelstra campaign , EFA has been persuaded that
there is a continuing need to monitor Telstra (and in due course other
carriers) and the impact on the Internet of telco policies. Therefore,
while the existing StopTelstra campaign was focussed on ensuring
continuing untimed local data calls for home and charity users, a
continuing "watching brief" will be maintained by EFA , especially
regarding :
* any attempts to make Internet access beyond the reach of low-income
users and organisations.
* Telstra's competition with small ISPs and its Internet policies
generally.
* Business tariffs and options such as ISDN and cable services.
* Any backtracking on the policy of exempting home and charity users.
* Other telco issues as may emerge on the list.
The StopTelstra committee will henceforth be chaired by Jase Przychodzen
(mnem...@pobox.com , http://hal9000.net.au/~decker ) and will report to
the EFA Board on developments with telco policy and access issues.
The Stoptelstra lists will remain active , but those persons who were
interested in the campaign solely in relation to the timed local data
calls issue may wish to unsubscribe now by sending email to
stoptelst...@efa.org.au with the word "unsubscribe" in the body
of the message.
To all supporters of the campaign to date , thank you very much. There is
no doubt that the numbers and interest of the many hundreds of Net users
was crucial in the government making this decision to reject the Telstra
proposal.
If you would like to close your involvement in the campaign on a positive
note , Senator Alston's email address at mini...@dca.gov.au would be a
good place to send a message of congratulation for coming to the correct
decision.
However , many people involved in the campaign have indicated that they
would be interested in continuing with a broader campaign agenda, and I'd
invite people who wish to be involved in such a campaign to contact Jase
or myself to join the StopTelstra Committee to plan future action and
objectives. It is quite probable that other issues will prove to be just
as pressing and requiring of a co-ordinated campaign by Net users.
For example , Telstra has previously indicated a desire to charge hobby
BBSs and small ISPs as business users , and the rates and tariffs charged
may impact on the ability of smaller operators to continue and low-income
users to access such services.
The issue of Telstra's service to ISPs and the proposed class action
submission to Austel are possibly better co-ordinated through the State
and Territory Internet Associations, although EFA is committed to supporting
those ISPs who have problems with obtaining Telstra services as promised.
For the time being , thanks again for your support. The EFA web site at
http://www.efa.org.au will continue to highlight telco issues as they
arise , and the proposed class action by State-based Internet
Associations against Telstra will have EFA support.
Regards ,
Kimberley Heitman,
Chairperson , EFA
21 October 1996
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Kimberley James Heitman
http://www.multiline.com.au/~kheit/
Internet khei...@it.com.au Fidonet 3:690/254.14
Telephone +619 458 2790 Facsimile +619 356 1247
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Gregory Bond
In article <54f0c5$d...@belgarion.it.com.au>
khei...@belgarion.it.com.au (Kimberley Heitman) writes:
The STOPTELSTRA Campaign announces that residential users and charities will
not be facing timed local calls under this government. Senator Alston has
made it clear that only business users may be charged timed rates for
local calls, and information from Telstra indicates that this will be
offered as a premium service guaranteeing faster and better connections.
Well, that's hardly news. This has been the case for at least 5 years.
It's called "ISDN".
--
Gregory Bond <g...@bby.com.au> Burdett Buckeridge & Young Ltd Melbourne Australia
``Efforts to maintain the "purity" of a language only succeed in establishing an
elite class of people who know the shibboleths. Ordinary folks know better,
even if they don't know what "shibboleth" means.'' - Larry Wall
Ken Taylor
In article <54f0c5$d...@belgarion.it.com.au>, khei...@belgarion.it.com.au
(Kimberley Heitman) wrote:
> The STOPTELSTRA Campaign announces that residential users and charities will
> not be facing timed local calls under this government. Senator Alston has
> made it clear that only business users may be charged timed rates for
> local calls, and information from Telstra indicates that this will be
> offered as a premium service guaranteeing faster and better connections.
Hmm, I'm still not certain that this guarantees that the Internet will
remain as cheap as it currently is.
As an ISP, we rely somewhat on local calls being untimed. If we started
having to pay for our calls, we would be forced to pass that expense on to
our customers.
This would impact particularly on calls from people in outlying areas which
are currently forwarded onto our main number from a POP in a local call
zone for them - my understanding is that we would pay timed charges for
those call forwards which would make that service uneconomical.
Ken Taylor
Highway1
--
+------------------------------+-------------------------------+ _ .
| Ken Taylor :-) | "What's the point in being | _r| Ll\
| Highway 1 / Onramp BBS | cool if you can't wear | | |_|__\
| Perth, Western Australia | sombreros ?" - Hobbes | ->\ |_|_ /
| k...@highway1.com.au | | ~~ `_'
+------------------------------+-------------------------------+ v
Ernie Elu
Gregory Bond (g...@bby.com.au) wrote:
: In article <54f0c5$d...@belgarion.it.com.au>
: khei...@belgarion.it.com.au (Kimberley Heitman) writes:
: The STOPTELSTRA Campaign announces that residential users and charities will
: not be facing timed local calls under this government. Senator Alston has
: made it clear that only business users may be charged timed rates for
: local calls, and information from Telstra indicates that this will be
: offered as a premium service guaranteeing faster and better connections.
: Well, that's hardly news. This has been the case for at least 5 years.
: It's called "ISDN".
Quite true, and Telstra's high ISDN price is probably the single largest
contributor to Australia's outrageously high cost of Internet access.
I smell a scam brewing worthy of media investigation.
A modem just uses sound to get it's information across the phone line just
like the human voice. Thus there should be no operational cost difference
between a modem call and a voice call. In fact most ISP lines would get more
calls than a normal voice telephone thus more revenue to Telstra anyway.
Between 20-40 calls would come in per day per line at a local call fee from
my investigations. The "Premium Service" sales pitch does not wash with me
as the existing local call service works just fine.
The only reason I can see for time billing local calls is greed. It seems
like Telstra is trying make the public think there is something different
about the modem lines than a voice line. If the local call fee is not enough
to expand and maintain PSTN network, then whoever set the fee should be
sacked and replaced with someone who can get it right based on hisorical data.
I presume from the enormous profit Telstra made this year that they have
got it right and local calls are already extremely profitable.
Keep in mind that Telstra is much larger than many of the U.S. phone
companies, thus they should have economies of scale on their side.
Optus will be in the local call market soon, that should be fun.
Then after July next year who knows what other players.
About time Four Corners had a look at this one.
- Ernie.
David Clayton
er...@spooky.eis.net.au (Ernie Elu) contributed the following:
>Gregory Bond (g...@bby.com.au) wrote:
>: In article <54f0c5$d...@belgarion.it.com.au>
>: khei...@belgarion.it.com.au (Kimberley Heitman) writes:
>: The STOPTELSTRA Campaign announces that residential users and charities will
>: not be facing timed local calls under this government. Senator Alston has
>: made it clear that only business users may be charged timed rates for
>: local calls, and information from Telstra indicates that this will be
>: offered as a premium service guaranteeing faster and better connections.
>: Well, that's hardly news. This has been the case for at least 5 years.
>: It's called "ISDN".
>Quite true, and Telstra's high ISDN price is probably the single largest
>contributor to Australia's outrageously high cost of Internet access.
>I smell a scam brewing worthy of media investigation.
>A modem just uses sound to get it's information across the phone line just
>like the human voice. Thus there should be no operational cost difference
>between a modem call and a voice call. In fact most ISP lines would get more
>calls than a normal voice telephone thus more revenue to Telstra anyway.
>Between 20-40 calls would come in per day per line at a local call fee from
>my investigations. The "Premium Service" sales pitch does not wash with me
>as the existing local call service works just fine.
>The only reason I can see for time billing local calls is greed. It seems
>like Telstra is trying make the public think there is something different
>about the modem lines than a voice line. If the local call fee is not enough
>to expand and maintain PSTN network, then whoever set the fee should be
>sacked and replaced with someone who can get it right based on hisorical data.
Your last paragraph hit the nail on the head, "historical data" which
no longer applies. The number of long held local calls is increasing
rapidly, in the past there were only a small amount of connections
that would exploit this tariff designed for voice use, (25c flat rate
local calls), and therefore tie up resources for very little return.
Now with the "Internet Explosion", this sort of thing is on the
increase and, as far as I can see, will become a significant
imposition on the network.
>I presume from the enormous profit Telstra made this year that they have
>got it right and local calls are already extremely profitable.
Yes, they made a large profit, a lot of it came from local calls that,
for a lot of people, cost for more than they should. I for one find it
strange that I can talk to someone over 100KM away for one minute at a
lesser cost than the same duration local call.
If we face facts, the people that make short local calls are
subsidising those that make long local calls.
>Keep in mind that Telstra is much larger than many of the U.S. phone
>companies, thus they should have economies of scale on their side.
I think that you might find that a U.S. phone company with similar,
size, revenue etc. with Telstra has to service an area that is only a
small fraction the size of Australia, and therefore will have
significantly smaller operating costs.
>Optus will be in the local call market soon, that should be fun.
Yes, and AFAIK they will pay Telstra a timed interconnect fee on the
calls, so long held calls from an Optus number to a Telstra number
will cost them dearly, (but they will recover the same from Telstra to
Optus calls - so maybe they will chase the ISP market to get this
revenue?).
>Then after July next year who knows what other players.
I can't think of anyone who will be in a position to spend the money
on another set of network infrastructure, (unless someone can use part
of an existing infrastructure - power lines maybe?, or a very cheap,
and restricted in coverage area, mobile service?).
>About time Four Corners had a look at this one.
It might be interesting.
>- Ernie.
Regards, David.
-------------------------------------------------
David Clayton, e-mail: dcs...@acslink.aone.net.au
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
"Virtual Reality - Give it a rest, Actual Reality has me stressed enough as it is."
Stewart Smith
David Clayton wrote:
[snip]
> Your last paragraph hit the nail on the head, "historical data" which
> no longer applies. The number of long held local calls is increasing
> rapidly, in the past there were only a small amount of connections
> that would exploit this tariff designed for voice use, (25c flat rate
> local calls), and therefore tie up resources for very little return.
> Now with the "Internet Explosion", this sort of thing is on the
> increase and, as far as I can see, will become a significant
> imposition on the network.
Good point, and I am wondering what this latest promotion is all about ?
It is claimed that Telephone Directory books are "eating" our trees, so
it is proposed that we will now be able to dial a "13" number to get the
information we need ! I can't help think this is a new vamp of directory
assistance - for which , I am sure, there will be a charge somewhat more
than a local call. However, this is not the point that worries me - what
will happen to the demands on the present system if _every one_ uses
this service each time they would have consulted the written word ??????
(or number as the case may be). Surely this is a slap in the face for
internet users, as it would appear that it is OK for 'phone users to tie
up the system, but not net users !
BTW: Has anyone ever tried to dial a number and _not_ had a dial tone
???
Craig Macbride
Stewart Smith <stoo...@zip.com.au> writes:
>It is claimed that Telephone Directory books are "eating" our trees, so
>it is proposed that we will now be able to dial a "13" number to get the
>information we need ! I can't help think this is a new vamp of directory
>assistance - for which , I am sure, there will be a charge somewhat more
>than a local call.
So? Use the web page instead. It's already easier to do that than phone
directory assistance or look up the physical white pages, so what's the
problem?
--
Craig Macbride <cr...@rmit.edu.au> URL: http://www.bf.rmit.edu.au/~craigm
"You see, its like I've always said. You can get more with
a kind word and a 2x4 than you can with just a kind word."
- Marcus, Babylon 5, "Ceremonies of Light and Dark"
Holland
Remember:
There is very little relationship between cost of service
and charges for phones.
They arbitrarily charge for services in order to pay for captial,
especially the redundant cable networks that few want (yet).
b...@dot.net.au
I was also in the Newcastle Earthquake: It is my understanding that
the telephone system did not go down. It just could not cope with
everyone pricking up their telephone handsets at the same time. If you
waiting a couple of minutes you would eventually get a dial tone, I
guess that some sort of queueing system was in place.
ma...@hna.com.au (Matt McLeod) wrote:
>On Wed, 23 Oct 1996 17:42:58 +1100, Stewart Smith <stoo...@zip.com.au> wrote:
>>BTW: Has anyone ever tried to dial a number and _not_ had a dial tone
>>???
>Right after the Newcastle earthquake a few years ago.
>Of course, since there *had* just been a natural disaster in the general
>vicinity, this was not unexpected...
>Perhaps the concern is more about calls not being able to be connected
>because the destination exchange is swamped? This used to happen when
>calling country areas with lots of grannies on Mother's Day.
>--
>Matt McLeod "Bill spent his whole time trying to be
>System Administrator argumentative and not trying to come up
>Hunter Network Association with solutions." [Ed Roberts on Bill Gates]
> ---==O Check out KDE at http://suburbia.net/~octavian/kde/ O==---
Kevin Lentin
David Clayton (dcs...@acslink.aone.net.au) wrote:
>
> Yes, they made a large profit, a lot of it came from local calls that,
> for a lot of people, cost for more than they should. I for one find it
> strange that I can talk to someone over 100KM away for one minute at a
> lesser cost than the same duration local call.
But Telstra probably get some money out of that too since the ISP's and the
backbone send a lot of $'s Telstra's way so you can talk to that person
100km away (assuming I understood your paragraph correctly).
> If we face facts, the people that make short local calls are
> subsidising those that make long local calls.
Subsidies like that are common in Australian Communications. It costs 45c
to send a letter to your neighbour or to the most isolated outback station.
It costs 40c for a local call at a payphone whether it's outside a telstra
service depot or 1000km away in the middle of the scrub. It costs 25c to
call your neighbour whether you live in the exchange or at the base of
Ayres Rock.
--
[======================================================================]
[ Kevin Lentin Email: K.Le...@cs.monash.edu.au ]
[ finger kev...@fangorn.cs.monash.edu.au for PGP public key block. ]
[ KeyId: 06808EED FingerPrint: 6024308DE1F84314 811B511DBA6FD596 ]
[======================================================================]
Matt McLeod
David Gerard
On 24 Oct 1996 07:02:08 GMT, Matt McLeod (ma...@hna.com.au) wrote:
:Perhaps the concern is more about calls not being able to be connected
:because the destination exchange is swamped? This used to happen when
:calling country areas with lots of grannies on Mother's Day.
Many country exchanges can't receive lotsa calls. Mt Helena just outside
Perth (09-573 xxxx) is an example. Can be areal bastard to get through
to in the evening - waiting ages for a destination exchange line to be free.
--
Rev Dr David Gerard KoX SP4.04 kOh; VUT SRC Internet person; net.cop.from.hell
ge...@cougar.vut.edu.au f...@suburbia.net http://dingo.vut.edu.au/~src/
July 5th 1998 7am. Flying saucers, end of the world. US$30 is your trip ticket.
Please email ALL followups or I'll probably never see them -- *BAD* newsfeed.
Let me see now...
dcs...@acslink.aone.net.au (David Clayton) wrote:
<taken by the snip>
>Yes, and AFAIK they will pay Telstra a timed interconnect fee on the
>calls, so long held calls from an Optus number to a Telstra number
>will cost them dearly, (but they will recover the same from Telstra to
>Optus calls - so maybe they will chase the ISP market to get this
>revenue?).
>>Then after July next year who knows what other players.
>I can't think of anyone who will be in a position to spend the money
>on another set of network infrastructure, (unless someone can use part
>of an existing infrastructure - power lines maybe?, or a very cheap,
>and restricted in coverage area, mobile service?).
I may be mistaken but from what I have been told Optus can only handle
your local calls, if it is possible to be connected to their cable
T.V. network.
Cameron..
Let me see now...
kev...@fangorn.cs.monash.edu.au (Kevin Lentin) wrote:
<SNIPPED AWAY>
>> If we face facts, the people that make short local calls are
>> subsidising those that make long local calls.
>Subsidies like that are common in Australian Communications. It costs 45c
>to send a letter to your neighbour or to the most isolated outback station.
>It costs 40c for a local call at a payphone whether it's outside a telstra
>service depot or 1000km away in the middle of the scrub. It costs 25c to
>call your neighbour whether you live in the exchange or at the base of
>Ayres Rock.
In regards to the above. This will only last while Australia Post and
Telstra are owned by the government, as a public asset. So we should
all try and stop it getting sold.
Telstra's plan for timed local calls could be a ploy by the government
to make it look attractive to a foreign investor.
Cameron
Rob Watkin
David Gerard wrote:
> Many country exchanges can't receive lotsa calls. Mt Helena just outside
> Perth (09-573 xxxx) is an example. Can be areal bastard to get through
> to in the evening - waiting ages for a destination exchange line to be free.
Telstra should be using their large profits to enhance the service to
rural subscribers and not using these obsolete exchanges as an excuse
for timed local calls.
ISP's generate a lot of local call business for Telstra. Telstra is
*rewarding* them by distorting the market and increasing the
attractiveness of cable - a market most ISP's will not be in a position
to enter.
--
Rob Watkin Hightide Internet Pty Limited
http://www.hightide.net.au
Tel: +61 - 2 - 9904 0860
mailto:r...@hightide.net.au Fax: +61 - 2 - 9904 0730
Dean Hollister
day...@nectar.com.au (Let me see now...) writes:
>I may be mistaken but from what I have been told Optus can only handle
>your local calls, if it is possible to be connected to their cable
>T.V. network.
You can route your local calls thru Optus:
To dial say Perth (09) 333 3333, you would dial:
1456 09 333 3333
1456 - Tel$$$$$$tra override code
09 - Area code
333 3333 - Local call number
It _does_ work, as I was using it for a few months, before the 15% local
call saver plan was introduced by Tel$$$$$$tra.
What I liked about it was that your call details, _date/time_,
_duration_, _number_ were itemised. I wish Tel$$$$$$$tra would offer it
as a free service. Considering they list all other calls, and all
Carriers list your mobile calls.
Regards,
d.
--
+-------------------------------------------------------+
| Dean Hollister, | de...@iinet.net.au |
| Perth, Western Australia. | de...@odyssey.apana.org.au |
+-------------------------------------------------------+
Matt McLeod
On Sat, 26 Oct 1996 19:28:04 +1000, Rob Watkin <r...@hightide.net.au> wrote:
>David Gerard wrote:
>
>> Many country exchanges can't receive lotsa calls. Mt Helena just outside
>> Perth (09-573 xxxx) is an example. Can be areal bastard to get through
>> to in the evening - waiting ages for a destination exchange line to be free.
>
>Telstra should be using their large profits to enhance the service to
>rural subscribers and not using these obsolete exchanges as an excuse
>for timed local calls.
That wouldn't be an appropriate action for a profit-centered business. As
that's what Telstra is, I wouldn't be holding my breath if I were you.
>ISP's generate a lot of local call business for Telstra. Telstra is
>*rewarding* them by distorting the market and increasing the
>attractiveness of cable - a market most ISP's will not be in a position
>to enter.
I'll be interested to see what Optus does with local calls. If they've got
any sense, they'll target ISPs and BBSes as customers - the two groups
generate a lot of local calls, so they'd make a fortune on the interconnect
fees, even if they don't sign up a single residential customer.
Michael Ellis
About local timed calls:
You can argue till you are blue in the face about whether it is
economical for Telstra to allow modem calls to be untimed, or for hours
etc. etc., but you can zoom out and see the big picture:
$1 billion profit a year (or whatever).
So do they need more money? Do they need to change things?
Kevin Lentin
Let me see now... (day...@nectar.com.au) wrote:
>
> In regards to the above. This will only last while Australia Post and
> Telstra are owned by the government, as a public asset. So we should
> all try and stop it getting sold.
The federal government still has the ability to regulate the industry (cf
Optus, digitals, etc). In fact, they added more regulation to Telstra when
Optus came in. Telstra is not allowed to subsidise half of its business
using the other. Telstra public phone booths were losing money at 30c but
Telstra were happy with that since the rest of their markets pay for it
many times over. They were forced to bump up to 40c so public phones could
stand on their own two foot (so to speak). The reason for all this is
otherwise Telstra could cut their throats on STD calls to push Optus out of
the market and make up the money elsewhere.
I'm not sure if your statement about a partly privatised Telstra is an
emotional one or one based on fact (eg different effect of laws, etc).
Michael Ellis
Dean Hollister (de...@opera.iinet.net.au) wrote:
: 1456 09 333 3333
: Regards,
Dean I'd like to try this (I'm in Melbourne) ... are you sure that any
length of call is still 25 cents? Like (03) to anywhere (03) is 25cents
for any period of time?
I tie up my phone line with a modem for hours at a time, i dont want to
be charged $$$$ for (03) to (03) local calls if I put them thru Optus.
thanx for your help
Stewart Smith
Kevin Lentin wrote:
> Michael Ellis (s960...@westgate.vut.edu.au) wrote:
[snip]
> I am led to believe that Optus local calls using 1456 are 25c. I'm not sure
> if they have the same community rates as Telstra. (see page 28 of the Melb
> A-K for example regarding community calls).
I have been using Optus to call Penrith in NSW from North Sydney area
for quite some time now. Penrith is a community rate call on both, so I
guess Telstra follows the same charging patterns as Telstra.
Cheers
Kevin Lentin
Michael Ellis (s960...@westgate.vut.edu.au) wrote:
>
> Dean I'd like to try this (I'm in Melbourne) ... are you sure that any
> length of call is still 25 cents? Like (03) to anywhere (03) is 25cents
> for any period of time?
>
> I tie up my phone line with a modem for hours at a time, i dont want to
> be charged $$$$ for (03) to (03) local calls if I put them thru Optus.
Bear in mind that not all (03) to (03) phone calls are 25c with Telstra.
There are community calls at 25c/3min (4.5min off peak) and recently all
the 052, 054, 057, 059 style numbers became (03) 52xx xxxx, etc. If you're
in the (03) 9xxx area you can't just dial 52xx and get those numbers, you
actually have to put the (03) call in front but it's just as much an STD
call as 052 used to be.
I am led to believe that Optus local calls using 1456 are 25c. I'm not sure
if they have the same community rates as Telstra. (see page 28 of the Melb
A-K for example regarding community calls).
--
Michael Ellis
Distribution: world
Kevin Lentin (kev...@fangorn.cs.monash.edu.au) wrote:
: Michael Ellis (s960...@westgate.vut.edu.au) wrote:
: >
: > Dean I'd like to try this (I'm in Melbourne) ... are you sure that any
: > length of call is still 25 cents? Like (03) to anywhere (03) is 25cents
: > for any period of time?
: >
: > I tie up my phone line with a modem for hours at a time, i dont want to
: > be charged $$$$ for (03) to (03) local calls if I put them thru Optus.
Sorry, I should clarify:
Are (03) 93xx xxxx to (03) 93xx xxxx 25c untimed calls?
BeMike
Jason King
On Wed, 30 Oct 1996, Michael Ellis wrote:
[discussion on the Optus 1456 code for local calls (it only seems a
month ago that this was discussed - how can it be back with us AGAIN so
soon? Don't people read the OLD messages?) cut]
> Dean I'd like to try this (I'm in Melbourne) ... are you sure that any
> length of call is still 25 cents? Like (03) to anywhere (03) is 25cents
> for any period of time?
>
> I tie up my phone line with a modem for hours at a time, i dont want to
> be charged $$$$ for (03) to (03) local calls if I put them thru Optus.
I've tried it, it works in Melbourne, and I've had varying length calls,
all at 25c.
Cheers,
Jason.
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_/ The School of Law & Legal Studies : La Trobe University _/
_/ The School of Politics : Melbourne Australia _/
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Kevin Lentin
Michael Ellis (s960...@westgate.vut.edu.au) wrote:
>
> Sorry, I should clarify:
>
> Are (03) 93xx xxxx to (03) 93xx xxxx 25c untimed calls?
Craigieburn, Sydenham and Pt Cook, yes. All the 93 numbers fall in those
areas which are in the ring around melbourne. In addition, some 052, 053
and 054 numbers are untimed from 93xx numbers as well and the rest of the
05x numbers (now 03 5x) are all community calls for 93xx numbers. ie no STD
calls from 93xx to 05x.
If you were closer to the city then all 05x numbers would be community
calls, no locals.
[ 93xx == 9303, 9305, 9308, 9333, 9307, 93604, 9361 to 9363, 9390, 9394 and
9495. Any other 93 prefixes are considered part of Melbourne and hence
don't enjoy the Local call rates described above. Page 28 of the white
pages is a very informative page ]
Michael Ellis
Distribution:
Jason King (leg...@LUSTA.LATROBE.EDU.AU) wrote:
: On Wed, 30 Oct 1996, Michael Ellis wrote:
: [discussion on the Optus 1456 code for local calls (it only seems a
: month ago that this was discussed - how can it be back with us AGAIN so
: soon? Don't people read the OLD messages?) cut]
<snip reply>
Perhaps some people were not around one month ago to read this ... like me!