Blue Boxes

[lost-and-found]

I've been reading up on the telephone system in the U.S. lately, and came upon the topic of Blue Boxes. I find the whole "use tones to control the switchboards" fascinating. Have any of you had any experience with blue boxes? Also, I read the famous esquire article, all about Capt'n Crunch, etc, and they keep referring to the telephone system as "Ma Bell"; why????


note to mods - I know the use of blue boxes is illegal, but please don't delete this thread because I'm not asking for anything illegal like instructions to build a blue box, etc, unless you really feel that this toppic breaks the forum rules

[fritz the cat]

"Ma Bell" goes back to the days when there was only one phone company. All services came from the one company, local calls, long distance calls, phone rentals (you rented the phones in your house, you could not buy or own your own phone), wires in your house, everything. The company was set up as regional companys around the country. People got to calling it Mother Bell, then Ma Bell.

Oh geeze does that make you feel old or what? I thought everyone knew why it was ma bell

[lost-and-found]

surreal: you're as young as you feel

[alondra]

long time since I felt anything young opps
I prefered the old days just one company, not so many darn phone cos. all conning you.

[Knothead]

Originally posted by alondra
I prefered the old days just one company, not so many darn phone cos. all conning you.

That's okay, Alondra, I just con 'em right back!

Rule 1: Never accept any telemarketing deal. If they're calling you with some phone service deal, by virtue of the fact they're calling YOU, it will be a bogus deal.

Rule #2: Call the phone co. you've selected (and "Ma Bell" is actually a good place to start, as they are feeling the pinch of all these fly-by-nighters....) at a time when YOU'VE got a little "extra" time.

What happens is, the Representative wants, very much to sign you up, and you'd be AMAZED at the kind of deals you can negotiate! It DOES NOT HAVE TO BE one of their pre-packaged deals!!

I currently have a local/long distance deal where long distance is billed at the same rate as local calls. Two cents a minute!SCHWEET!!