i/s Back Issues

Volume 14

No. 1  September/October 1998

On the Phone Front: Caller ID and a Switch Upgrade

Valerie Hartt and Louise Keohane

Caller Identification (Caller ID) lets you screen calls by showing the caller's number in a display window. For some time, people at MIT with ISDN 7506 phones have been able to see the numbers of on-campus callers. In August, after installation of special lines to Bell Atlantic, caller ID for outside numbers was also activated.

Block That Call
You can prevent your MIT number from being displayed at the receiving end of a campus call. To do this, first dial 65, then at the second dial tone enter the five-digit MIT extension. Instead of your number, the message "Private Number" will be shown. When you call off campus, the 5ESS switch automatically blocks your number from being displayed.

Talking Caller ID
IS can assist people with physical or visual impairments who need voice-announced caller ID. The recommended unit, Caller ID System 9500CW, announces callers by name or number through a built-in speaker.

This unit also stores up to 64 call records, providing you with the name or number of the last 64 callers, along with the date and time of their calls. A review key lets you obtain log information of missed calls, from most recent to oldest or oldest to most recent. This information is retained even during power outages.

Adaptive Product Information
For more information and pricing on talking Caller ID or other adaptive telephone products, contact the Telecommunications Customer Services Center at x3-3690 or <telex@mit.edu>.

5ESS Switch Upgrade

Software for the 5ESS telephone switch was recently upgraded for increased reliability and performance. Key features of the upgrade include

  Year 2000 compliance

  Improved connection time for E911 calls

  Increased reliability in resolving conflicts in numbers dialed (e.g., the number dialed is an area code as well as an exchange)

  Increased flexibility and reliability of software maintenance tools to decrease downtime

  Simplified software installation procedures for ISDN phone lines

  Enhancements to the Automated Call Distribution software used by the IS Help Desk

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