From: roberts@frais.enet.dec.com (Nigel Roberts)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: American Phone on British Phone system
Date: 7 Sep 92 16:36:10 GMT
Organization: IC Software AG (on contract at DEC)
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 693, Message 1 of 9

In article <telecom12.679.6@eecs.nwu.edu>, jean@hrcce.att.com (Nancy J
Airey) writes:

> Some time ago I picked up a phone connector at an electronics gadget
> store that is supposed to "convert" an American "modular" phone to a
> British modular plug.  The American end is the "typical" one I'm used
> to seeing.  The "British" end is somewhat larger but has a similar
> type of "push in" connection.  (Love the technical terms!)

That's actually a pretty accurate description. I have a similar
adaptor for American plug to TAE (new German) sockets.

> I am planning on giving a "nice" phone to some friends over there for
> Christmas.

Depends why you want to do this. If it's simply that your friends
would appreciate a nice phone, then the optimum way to do this would
be to order a phone by telephone from a supplier somewhere in the
U.K., pay by credit card and have them deliver it. That way, you and
your friends will get no hassles over the lack of BABT approval (it's
against the law to connect any phone which does not have BABT
approval, even if it has FCC approval).

On the other hand, you may simply want to send them a fun phone which
is not available in the U.K. In that case don't forget that they will
have to pay duty (5%??) and then Value Added Tax (17.5%) to Customs
and Excise, unless you simply smuggle it in with on a visit.  (You are
limited to bring in not more than approximatly $50 worth of goods).

> Now I know that I could not select any phone that has features
> requiring electrical connections and expect a direct connection, but
> what is the likelihood that making a connection for the other end is

Actually, most phones which need electrical power run off low voltage
DC (e.g. 9v or 12v). It's usually no hassle to get a replacement power
supply with 240v AC input (instead of 110v AC) for between $5-$10.

> going be a hassle?  Are modular wall outlets common?

The are almost universal nowadays -- they started to be introduced
over ten years ago.

> For any British folks reading this -- what would be a "nice" feature
> set on a phone for you to get as a gift? I haven't been in a lot of
> private homes, and am not sure if things like programmable speed
> calling, speakerphone etc. are appealing -- or would the cutesy phones
> (Mickey Mouse, Kermit the Frog) be more appreciated?

Most ordinary people (i.e. non-DIGEST readers) in the U.K. aren't too
worried about such things. I know what *I'd* like for Xmas -- that'd
be a standard Bell System 2500 set.

One thing to bear in mind is that if your friends use Mercury long-
distance service, you will need to make sure the phone you give them
has at least one memory button which can store mixed pulse and tone
numbers up to 16 digits long. Many phones sold in the U.K. are sold as
"Mercury compatible" phones and have an extra blue memory button for
this purpose.

> Is this going to work on touchtone -- or will it have to be set to
> dial-pulse?

Depends on the area code. I think that over half of the country has
been converted to digital exchanges which understand either TouchTone
(a trademark of BT in the UK) or pulse (There are no extra charges for
TT).  The rest can only understand loop disconnect (pulse) dialing.

Hope the above helps.


Nigel Roberts	   | roberts@frais.enet.dec.com      | Tel. +44 206 396610 
European Engineer  | P O Box 49,Manningtree,CO11 2SZ |  &   +49 6103 383 489 
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