From: davidc@montagar.com (David L. Cathey)
Newsgroups: tx.general,austin.general
Subject: Re: Caller-ID modem (was Re: repost from comp.dcom.telecom
Date: 31 Dec 92 11:17:12 CDT
Distribution: tx
Organization: Montagar Software Concepts, Plano TX

In article <1992Dec30.152503.14511@novell.com>, bboerner@novell.com (Brendan B. Boerner) writes:
> I'm infering from this that the information for a Caller-ID machine is
> already present on the line when a call comes in and that what SWB is
> proposing is NOT any new technology, just a new box to plug in to
> retrieve this info.  Is this correct?

	No.  Once CLID is established on your line, I think it
sends some coded signal to your phone between rings (you telecom
guys out there?).  SWB will sell a box to decode those signals,
and there are others out that that are ready to sell them, as
well.  Anyone can make one, just like you can use any phone, or
get one from SWB.

	My opinion:  Business is the one that really wants CLID
so they can build better marketing databases, improve mailing
lists with proper demographics.  Sure some places get some of 
this with an 800 number, but few companies are in a good position
to take advantage of this, or the information is non-specific
(Call Sears 800, and are you interested in Craftsman tools or
lingerie?).

	The new Texas law only stops the computer automated
calls, not computer-dialed/human-answered calls.  They may
or may not block calls, since what they are doing is not
illegal (irritating, yes, but not illegal).  Blocking
anonymous calls probably wont stop that.  So I don't
see CLID or blocking stopping telemarketing, either.  Also
CLID doesn't work outside of the area, so would be useless
for out-of-bounds originators (is Ft. Worth outside of the
CLID range of Dallas?  GTE Plano outside of range for Dallas
SWB?)

	I keep hearing everyone say that "It will prevent prank
calls!".  I don't think so.  It will prevent them from making crank
calls from home, but there are too many pay phones and other publicly
accessible phones to make that a big deal. CLID only identifies the
phone, not the person on the handset, and there are thousands of
handsets out there.  CLID is just too easy to beat to be effective
against prank calls.  I think that business is trying to get the focus
off what they are going to do to you, and make this the pancea to
solve prank calls.

	Is there *anyone* out there that has had to deal with some
unknown guy prank/obscene/harrassing calls, went to the police, and
they found the guy at home making the calls?  One friend of mine
recently mailed me about this, and said they never caught the
guy.  If the police can't catch a guy with a phone trace, do
you really believe that CLID will provide some magic bullet?

	Basically, CLID does not provide me with any real benefit
for stopping prank calls, or preventing telemarketing people.
It does allow my name, address, and phone number to be put
onto more specific mailing/phone lists to be provided to
other marketing agencies.  Great, I could concieveably get MORE
calls, from places that think they have a higher probablility
of doing business with me.

	Damn... Where'd that soapbox come from?

> Thanks,
> Brendan
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
David L. Cathey		                |INET: davidc@montagar.com
Montagar Software Concepts              |UUCP: ...!montagar!davidc
P. O. Box 260772, Plano TX  75026-0772  |Fone: (214)-618-2117
Newsgroups: tx.motorcycles