Two Baby Bells' software glitches create overcharges

Article Abstract:

Two regional Bell companies - Ameritech Corp and Bell Atlantic's Chesapeake & Potomac - admit that problems with computer software in billing systems caused overcharging of some customers. Ameritech says that customers using intrastate calling cards that allow multiple calls without redialing credit card numbers were charged excessively. Calls were billed at higher rates, like operator- handled calls. The company has not yet determined how many customers are over-billed but says everyone will be reimbursed. Hundreds of thousand of dollars could be at issue. The Chesapeake & Potomac phone company, which serves Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, experienced a separate computer-related problem. A C&P spokesman says that 462,202 calls were billed at six times the proper rate. The problem involves only callers who use certain AT&T billing plans. Customers can either delete extra charges or get a credit on their next bill.

Telephone companies, Telephone Company, Ameritech Corp.

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Pacific Telesis drops plan to test videotex gateway

Article Abstract:

Pacific Telesis Group (Pac Tel) will not market a videotex gateway after research proved there was an insufficient customer base and not enough information providers for the connector. The gateway test would also have required a substantial investment with no indication that it would ever turn a profit. The gateway that was to be market tested in San Francisco beginning in early 1990 would have linked customers via personal computers equipped with modems to a wide range of information providers. Instead, Pac Tel will concentrate on audiotex, which allows customers to get information by pushing buttons on a touch-tone phone. Pac Tel is the first of the Bell regional holding companies to cancel plans for the videotex gateway. Analysts predict the others will quickly follow suit, due to technological and other problems.

Communication services, not elsewhere classified, Internet service providers, Marketing, Gateways (Network hardware), Videotex systems, Computer Services, Videotex, Gateway Device

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Regional phone systems on both coasts are disrupted by glitches in software

Article Abstract:

Two Bell telephone networks - one operated by Bell Atlantic Corp's Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone subsidiary and another operated by Pacific Telesis Group's Pacific Bell company - have suffered service disruptions caused by software glitches. The problems, which occurred in Jun 1991, lasted most of a day for the East Coast telephone company and about two hours for the Pacific Bell network. Bell Atlantic says that about 6.3 million of Chesapeake & Potomac's 7.1 million phone lines were affected. About three million phone lines on the West Coast were disrupted. The problems are said to resemble the glitch that shut down AT&T's long-distance network about a year an a half earlier. The problems involve Signal System 7, which is a system that both local and long-distance companies use to switch telephone calls.

Holding companies, not elsewhere classified, Evaluation, AT&T Inc., Bell Atlantic Corp., Reliability (Trustworthiness), Telephone systems, Bugs (Software), Reliability, Telephone System, Program Errors, Out-of-band signaling, Signaling System 7 (Computer network protocol)

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