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Received: from CMU-CS-IUS2.ARPA by CMU-CS-A.ARPA; 5 Aug 85 12:21:59 EDT
Date:  5 Aug 1985 12:15-EDT 
From: Jon.Webb@CMU-CS-IUS2.ARPA
To: Harry.Bovik@a
Subject: long distance phone service
Message-Id: <492106541/webb@CMU-CS-IUS2>

Here are the replies I got to my message asking for information about
long distance phone service:

>Date: 18 Jun 1985 08:07-EST
From: Fil.Alleva@CMU-CS-SPEECH2.ARPA
Subject: Re: long distance phone service
To: Jon.Webb@CMU-CS-IUS2         
CC: Bovik@a

SBS Skyline is only the price winner. Voice quality is choppy. You
feel like you're using a half duplex walky-talky system with an over
anxious chimpanzie on the xmit/recv button. Allnet is more expensive
than ATT to Philadelphia (where I make most calls). I use/like Sprint.

>Date: 18 Jun 1985 09:30-EDT 
From: Jerry.Agin@CMU-RI-FAS.ARPA
To: Jon.Webb@CMU-CS-IUS2
Subject: Re: long distance phone service

I and my family have used Sprint for about two years.  It is cheaper than
AT&T.  (Our long distance bills average $20-$30 per month.)  I have never
had a problem with the quality of the line.  It can be used while traveling.
We will be using Sprint direct-dial when it starts in our area next month.

>Date: 18 Jun 85 09:49:01 EDT
From: Craig.Everhart@CMU-CS-A
Subject: Re: long distance phone service
To: Jon.Webb@CMU-CS-IUS2

On CMUA, in RdMail format, you may be interested in TEMP:TELECO.MSG[A700CE10].
SBS Skyline runs almost strictly via geosynchronous satellites, so there's
a 1.2-second round trip transmission delay, which is noticeable in
conversations.

		Craig


>Date: 18 Jun 85 10:46:27 EDT
From: Richard.Wallstein@CMU-CS-A
Subject: Re: long distance phone service
To: Jon.Webb@CMU-CS-IUS2

Jon, skyline sucks; I tried them for about two weeks and their lines are noisy
and mostly half duplex; allnet also has half duplex lines to some locations
(all locations that are not big cities, even a small city right next to a big
city has half duplex lines, e.g. Bethesda MD); ustel is the service I had in Chicago and when they began to service Pgh the one one I switched to here.  They
seem to have full duplex lines to everywhere, low noise ont he lines, and a
travel card so that you can use them from anywhere in the country in addition
to your home area code.

Richard