Date: Tue, 6 Oct 92 17:03:11 CST
From: Jack Decker <Jack@myamiga.mixcom.com>
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Distinctive Ringing Availability on #1ESS
Organization: TELECOM Digest
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 766, Message 6 of 16

Here in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan (906 area code, 632/635 exchanges)
our local Michigan Bell ("Ameritech Pages Plus") telephone directory
mentions, in the "Optional Services" section, the availability of
Multi-Ring Service (this is the same service known as "distinctive
ringing" or "RingMaster" in other parts of the country).  Anyway, a
lady up here wanted to order it and was told that it is not yet
available in this area (apparently the "Optional Service" page is a
generic one that goes into all Michigan Bell directories, even when
some or all of the mentioned services aren't offered in the area
covered by the directory).

In doing some further checking, I found out that Sault Ste. Marie is
served by a 1ESS switch (I know that the same switch has been in use
since at least 1979, and probably at least a couple of years prior to
that).  A Michigan Bell official (at their executive offices) tells me
that it is not possible to offer Multi-Ring service on a 1ESS switch;
that you have to be on a digital ESS for such service to be available.
They also say that they are planning on converting the Sault to
digital by the third quarter of 1994, although this date might be
moved up a bit.

My question is, is the claim that Multi-Ring cannot be offered on a
1ESS true or false?  And, if it is false, is it possible that the cost
of the upgrade might be prohibitive, to the point where Michigan Bell
would be justified in not purchasing it when the expected remaining
useful life of the switch is only two years or less?  Or is it a
capability that could be added easily and inexpensively, and they are
just choosing not to do it?

Any informed comments on this would be much appreciated.  As it is,
the lady is now going to have to order a second line just to be able
to receive the very occasional unattended FAX transmission (please
note that a device that answers the phone and then determines how to
route the call would not be suitable here, since if the shared line
solution were used it would probably be placed on a business line, and
many customers would not appreciate the added delay, nor being charged
for incompleted calls when she isn't there to answer the phone).

I guess I should ask one other question, regarding the interaction
between Multi-Ring and Call Waiting.  Is it usually possble to order
these features so that only calls to the primary number will activate
call waiting (put the call waiting beep on the line), while calls to
the second number go directly to a busy signal if the line is busy?  I
guess another way to say that would be, is it possible to have call
waiting only for calls to the primary number?  It would not be so good
if calls to the FAX number caused the call waiting to beep, since you
would probably not want to interrupt a voice conversation to take a
FAX call.


Jack Decker   jack@myamiga.mixcom.com    FidoNet 1:154/8


[Moderator's Note: The way it is set up here, Distinctive Ringing
brings with it Distinctive Call-Waiting tones. The tones sound similar
but you can tell the difference in the cadence just as you can with
the ringing line. I do not know about splitting off call-waiting on
the one side only, but here we can have Call Forwarding handle both
lines or just the main line, with the Distinctive Ringing line ringing
through even if the main line is being forwarded.  PAT]