There are eight basic IN service, which can be configured in an unlimited number of ways.
A new concept called Universal Personal Telecommunications is being implemented as part of the move toward Personal Communications Services. UPT is supported by the IN.
The Calling Card is nothing other than a code with which the subscriber can place calls from any DTMF telephone and be billed as if he were home. Businesses use this feature for travelling personnel, and find that it costs less than using hotel phones or coin phones or public phones that read credit cards. Employees can place personal calls from the office without making the boss unhappy.
This service, also called "800" in North America because it uses that city code, is a potent marketing tool for any kind of business. The cost of the call (except possibly for a nominal amount paid by the calling party) is paid by the called party, usually on a bulk basis. A single number is used in the whole network. Powerful routing features are available to direct the traffic to as many customer lines as necessary.
This feature has the same numbering and routing features as the Green number, but is billed to the calling party. For example, a business can connect its customers to the repair center nearest them during the day and route to a central location off hours.
These services make it possible for independent service providers to offer and sell information in a cost-effective manner. Calling parties pay for both the call and for the service, and the Administration passes a part of the revenue to the service provider according to its contract. Services can be provided by voice or by computer, such as financial information services reached by modem or ISDN.
These services are successful wherever offered because, compared to payment by credit card, the telephone Administration is generally more efficient in bill collecting (lower costs to the service provider) and has an account with almost every consumer.
Callers can participate in programs, typically sponsored by radio or TV programs, which involve calling in to a certain number. For example, randomly selected callers may win a prize.
The calling party knows beforehand the cost of the call, which may be subsidized by the Mass Calling subscriber according to agreements with the Administration.
This allows callers to participate in public polls and market-research surveys, often linked to television shows. By dialing the appropriate number, the caller registers his preference with the Televoting subscriber. The use of this feature is limited only by the imagination of the mass media producers.
Televoting subscribers can have the voting statistics forwarded in real time from the SMS to display on television, or receive them in the form of reports to evaluate later.
Typically, Televoting generates a large amount of call traffic within a relatively short, predefined time window. The conversation time is limited to the length of the "Thank you for calling ..." message. A key element is the presence of overload controls to handle this revenue-generating traffic without disturbing other revenue-generating traffic.
Large corporations with several business locations, including small offices where PABX equipment is not justified, can have a single company network handled by the SCP. For example, a chain of grocery stores may have two lines in each of 50 stores plus several lines in each of a dozen shipment centers and a PABX only at headquarters. In addition, employees have to be able to call various suppliers. The PVN can make this look like one single company office and handle all the security and billing details so that unauthorized calls are not made.
This is an IN number offered to single subscribers, that is, not associated with any telephone line. The subscriber uses the "Follow Me" (call forwarding) feature to define where he/she can be reached in any given moment, including a mobile terminal. Thus the subscriber can always be reached at the same number.
Universal Personal Telecommunications
This service, still being defined in ETSI, can be thought of as a variation of Personal Number service with the addition of:
Italtel Societa' Italiana Telecomunicazioni Spa
Claudio Chiarenza, BUCT BPM
Comments to author:Claudio.Chiarenza@settimo.italtel.it
Contact for Information: Claudio Chiarenza - BUCT BPM
All contents copyright (C) 1995.Italtel S.p.a. All rights reserved. Revised: August 30, 1995