Long-distance Calls Research Articles

INFO-U FAXBACK: DELIVERING CONSUMER INFORMATION WITH FAX-ON-DEMAND TECHNOLOGY

Consumers applaud the Minnesota Extension Service, INFO-U FAXBACK system that delivers consumer horticulture publications 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Consumers call the fax-on-demand system and, following voice instructions, use the phone key pad to enter their fax number and select a publication or a catalog of over 300 yard care and gardening titles. Documents selected are transmitted immediately to the fax number entered. Delivery cost runs $0.18 per document in the metro toll-free calling area, and $1.64 for long-distance calls. Compared to $2.75 for printing, postage, and handling per fact sheet sent by mail, the system saved $7000 in 1995 transmitting 2722 publications. Investment in system hardware and software runs $6000 to $8000. Documents can be stored as DOS text, which eliminates artwork and formatting, or scanned as graphic files that require 40 times more hard drive storage space. A document requires a one-time investment in staff time of 10–60 minutes to reformat for the fax-on-demand protocol.

Phrase structure of wild chimpanzee pant hoots: Patterns of production and interpopulation variability.

Recordings and behavioral observations of wild chimpanzees were made over a 2-year period in the Kibale National Park, Uganda (Kanyawara and Ngogo communities) to investigate patterns of acoustic variability in long-distance calls. The phrase structures of pant hoots, the species-typical loud call given predominantly by adult males, were analyzed. Analysis revealed that the build-up phrase was frequently absent from the pant hoots of Kibale chimpanzees. By contrast, analysis of published data on Gombe and Mahale chimpanzees (Tanzania) indicated that these animals typically included the build-up in their calls. These results were interpreted as evidence for phrase-level differences between populations in the acoustic morphology of this compound call. Data on age and sex differences in the context of production of pant hoots were analyzed, and their relevance to the possibility that aspects of pant hoot acoustic morphology are learned is discussed. Adult males initiated pant hoots more than subadult males, and adult males joined other pant hooting individuals with pant hoots more than subadult males did. It is suggested that younger males may pant hoot with specific adult males preferentially and that this may affect the development of their pant hoot acoustic morphologies. A peculiar pant hoot variant previously reported from Gombe, the whimper hoot, is described from Kibale. The production of this call by low-ranking individuals suggests that there are social constraints on pant hooting in the chimpanzee community. Ideas concerning the effect of social relationships on interpopulation variability in vocal signals are briefly discussed. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Effects of presubscription and other attributes on long-distance carrier choice

This article describes how Japanese residential customers choose among long-distance carriers. Based upon a 1993 survey, the model indicates that the time required to register customers, whether extra digits are required to use a carrier, and whether a carrier can provide both local and long-distance calls, as well as the carrier's brand identity are significant service attributes that affect competitive outcomes. The effects of these services differences are quantified. Simulations are used to illustrate the competitive impacts of reducing service differences among carriers.

Internetworking with the Power Globe remailer

The use of the Internet by power engineers has been growing rapidly. The most common use is person-to-person electronic mail (E-mail), which is beginning to replace long-distance phone calls in many instances. Power engineers in academia have long been using E-mail to communicate with each other on research and educational matters. With utilities, vendors, and consultants joining the Internet in increasing numbers, the power industry is making more use of E-mail for business communications. In addition to person-to-person E-mail, it is possible to send one-to-many broadcast E-mail messages over the Internet. Electronic mailing lists are one way of broadcasting messages. An Internet remailer is an E-mail address to which messages may be sent for the purpose of broadcasting to all people whose E-mail addresses are in the remailer's list. This article describes a remailer that has been serving power engineers for the past few years, explains the functions of the list, and provides thoughts on its future based on the experience gained so far. The goal is to inform the power engineering community at large, especially those in the power industry, of its existence and to invite power engineers to add their names to the Power Globe mailing list.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The Origins of Microwave Telephony—Waves of Change

The Origins of Microwave Telephony—Waves of Change PHILIP L. CANTELON No issue regarding the potential value of technology has captured the attention of policymakers, politicians, and the public as much as the “information superhighway.” In 1994, amid much fanfare, Vice President A1 Gore unveiled a plan that would free the telecommuni­ cations industry from most major federal regulations, thereby com­ pleting a process begun with the breakup of the Bell System and the American Telephone and Telegraph Company’s (AT&T) monopoly on long-distance service in 1984. But federal policy has not always been so supportive of technological change. Fifty years ago, telecom­ munications operated over one-lane gravel roads, and responsible government agencies were slow to have them widened, much less paved. It is arguable that the structure of no major industry has been more changed over the past decades than long-distance telecommunica­ tions. From a business characterized by a giant monopoly, mechanical switching, and copper-wire lines, telecommunications has become an industry driven by competition and computerized “intelligent net­ works” routing millions of calls through fiberoptic cables. Rare is the mechanical rotary telephone. Today, technology has made possible advanced data phones which can pay bills, screen and answer calls, collect messages, and send faxes. Tomorrow, futurists promise, Americans will be able to merge telephone, computer, and cable tech­ nologies and zip over the information superhighway to choose mov­ ies, watch hundreds of cable channels, and access dozens of databases. The changes in telecommunications have come, for the most part, through three forces: technological advances, market demand, and Dr. Cantelon is president of History Associates Incorporated, a historical services company based in Rockville, Md., and president of the Society for History in the Federal Government. This article grew out of a study of MCI Communications Corpo­ ration. Another version appeared in his History of MCI: 1968-1988, the Early Years (Dallas, 1993) and is used with MCI’s permission. He thanks David K. Johnson, J. Samuel Walker, and James N. Wallace for their assistance and constructive comments.© 1995 by the Society for the History of Technology. All rights reserved. 0040-165X/95/3603-0002501.00 560 The Origins ofMicrowave Telephony 561 government regulation. Ironically, the same agency that retarded the development of advanced telecommunications technology after World War II fostered its growth twenty-five years later. A series of decisions issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) between 1967 and 1973 to permit competition in telecommunications were as critical to the changes that did take place as the commission’s earlier decision to block wide commercial development of microwave communication technology in 1944. This competition both created and stimulated the demand for new technologies, products, and ser­ vices, thereby nurturing the emergence of additional equipment manufacturers in the United States, Europe, and Japan who were able to meet and often surpass the old technologies developed by AT&T and the Bell System. Although World War II witnessed great technological strides, there were differing opinions on how some of those advances might be transferred to civilian applications. Microwave telecommunications systems fell into that uncertain category. In 1944, when the end of the war was in sight, several electronic contractors, including IBM, General Electric, and Raytheon, sought to develop peacetime applica­ tions of microwave technology. Raytheon, for example, proposed building a nationwide microwave network to carry long-distance calls, facsimile transmissions, and airplane navigation signals. The system, Raytheon argued, would be far cheaper to build and maintain than the old wire technology, largely unchanged since the early years of the 20th century. The FCC, however, balked, as did all the existing landline tele­ phone companies. The investment in copper-wire technology was enormous. Microwave systems, one argument went, would make the existing technology obsolete overnight, perhaps forcing AT&T, the most widely held and largest corporation in the world, to write down its equipment base and jeopardize the investment of its shareholders, many of whom were said to be widows and orphans. Therefore, the FCC blocked commercial development by other companies and turned to AT&T to implement the new technology at its own pace and thereby insure industry stability. The delay would last nearly a quarter of a century. The First Wave: April 18, 1945 The banquet...

Building a world-class alliance: The Universal Card-TSYS case

Executive Overview Given that about half of all strategic alliances fail,1 the alliance of AT&T Universal Card Services (UCS) and Total System Services, Inc., (TSYS) has clearly beaten the odds. UCS markets and services the innovative AT&T Universal card, a combined long-distance calling card and general-purpose credit card. TSYS, as a strategic supplier, issues the credit cards, handles card transactions billing, and maintains customer records. The alliance has complemented the traditional strengths of AT&T's quality service and TSYS's quality product.2 It has further complemented each company's financial performance, leadership, and strategic intent. Within three years, this world-class alliance has resulted in UCS issuing over 19 million cards to 12.5 million account holders. The recent contractual extension of this alliance to the year 2000 provides exciting opportunities for both companies to “delight” their stockholders, employees, and customers. Were these two firms just lucky' Or are there some lessons for other companies' We believe the latter—you be the judge.

Vox alouattinae: A preliminary survey of the acoustic characteristics of long-distance calls of howling monkeys

This survey of the acoustic characteristics of howling monkey loud calls, covering six of the seven members of the genus Alouattaand presenting audiospectrograms of roars from two species for the first time, suggests that the genus consists of at least two groups: a monotypic palliatagroup, including all subspecies, and a non-palliatagroup, including belzebul, caraya, fusca, pigra,and seniculus.The non-palliatagroup vocalizes continuously for sustained periods of time;their loud calls exhibit a wide bandwidth relative to the calls of the palliatagroup, with emphasized frequencies generally in the range 300- 2000 Hz. The palliatagroup does not vocalize continuously, their vocal bouts being significantly shorter than those of the non-palliataforms. The emphasized frequencies are normally restricted to 300- 1000 Hz, with little acoustic energy in higher frequencies. This bipartite classification places pigrawithin the non-palliatagroup father than with parapatric palliata,which may have important phylogenetic implications. Further, the classification suggests two modes of employing the highly derived howler vocal tract to produce loud calls within the portion of the ambient noise spectrum favorable to long- distance transmission of sound. Finally, I discuss the constraints placed by environmental acoustics on strategies for long- distance communication, hypothesized modes of vocal production, and the use of acoustic studies for phylogenetic reconstruction. Each discussion suggests projects, some already under way, that could elucidate the determinants of variations in communicative patterns within specific social and physical environments.

Surprise calls: A proposed new service for residential customers

Abstract Surprise Calls is a proposed service in which subscribers would give the telephone company a list of people, with their numbers, with whom they would like to have long-distance calls at unexpected times. The telephone system would set up these calls semi-randomly, infrequently, and during off-peak hours, at prices substantially discounted in comparison with ordinary calls. Surprise Calls would hence make profitable use of the network in non-busy times, while providing a service attractive to many customers. This paper estimates costs and revenues based on reasonable assumptions, and shows how a field trial could reduce uncertainties about the prospects for the service and provide estimates useful for its detailed design.

Telecommunications

Many hotel managers find telecommunications to be a little understood technology. Call-accounting equipment allows hotels to resell long-distance calls and to account for local calls. Hotel switchboards should include such features as least-cost routing and automatic call rating (pricing). Several variables can be modified to affect call placement, distribution, and pricing to improve profitability, particularly variables relating to whether the hotel uses analog or digital "trunks" (cables used to connect to the phone-service provider). Yesterday's call-accounting systems need to be reviewed and updated to current standards and to determine whether their features are optimal, particularly in view of the impending change in the pattern of North American area codes, beginning January 1, 1995, that will mean reprogramming all switchboards.

Toll fraud on french PBX systems

In France it is estimated that PBX trunk fraud (toll fraud) costs companies over $220 million a year. Criminal phreakers figure out how to access PBXs owned by businesses and then sell long-distance calling capacities provided by these systems to the public. In European markets where PSTN to PSTN connections are illegal it has not to date been such an issue. However, for a number of reasons this is likely to change. Jean-Bernard Condat reports.

Contexts and social correlates of long-distance calling by male chimpanzees

Abstract. Chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes, live in unstable social groups, whose members associate in temporary parties of varying size and composition. Male chimpanzees utter a long-distance vocalization, the pant-hoot, that has been hypothesized to maintain spatial contact between conspecifics within and between parties. To test this hypothesis, the contexts in which calls by males were produced and the effects several social factors had on pant-hoot production were examined. Males travelled significantly more often before and after hooting than expected by chance. In addition, high-ranking males gave more pant-hoots than lower-ranking individuals, and variation in party size did not affect call production. These data are consistent with the proposed spacing function of pant-hooting, and do not support the suggestion that hooting is a simple manifestation of the high arousal levels caused by social or feeding excitement. Additional observations revealed that subjects called more frequently when alliance partners were nearby, compared with when they were absent. Males also called more when their close associates were nearby relative to situations when those associates either accompanied them or were absent. In contrast, the presence of preferred grooming partners and oestrous females within earshot did not affect the production of pant-hoots by males. These results suggest that males may pant-hoot to particular audiences within their social group, specifically to maintain contact with and to recruit allies and associates. Investigation of how chimpanzees respond to pant-hoots will be necessary to confirm this hypothesis.

Making the Connection:

In recent years, reference librarians have properly accorded online and CD-ROM services much attention. But the first, simplest, and often most effective telecommunications tool available to reference librarians is the familiar telephone. Unfortunately, many reference librarians do not fully utilize the great potential of the telephone as an information-gathering tool either because they lack long-distance calling capability or are reluctant to use it. Reference librarians lacking the long-distance connection are urged to work toward making it available. Examples of how the telephone can be used to expand the reference librarian's reach are provided.

Condition-Dependent Sex Ornaments and Field Tests of Sexual-Selection Theory

Condition-Dependent Sex Ornaments and Field Tests of Sexual-Selection Theory

Performance analysis of interconnected metropolitan area circuit-switched telecommunications networks

A circuit-switched telecommunications network is considered that consists of two metropolitan area networks (MANs) interconnectd by a multiaccess communications channel, such as a satellite or multiaccess multichannel terrestrial trunk. The blocking probability performance of this network is computed, using a finite-source-traffic model, by setting up a Markov chain model and applying results based on the reversibility of this chain to compute the underlying state probabilities. Local and long-distance blocking probabilities are calculated. each in terms of its two components: circuit-blocking and destination-busy probabilities. Both dedicated and shared circuit allocation policies are used in allocating the circuits of a MAN between its local and long-distance calls. Explicit performance equations are presented. Illustrative results and performance curves are given, indicating the various underlying system performance characteristics and tradeoffs. >

The Communicative Repertoire of Captive Bonobos (Pan Paniscus), Compared To That of Chimpanzees

AbstractTen bonobos (Pan paniscus), housed in three separate subgroups at the San Diego Zoological Garden, were observed for 288 hours over a four-month period. The colony included one adult male, two adult females, two adolescent males, four juveniles, and one infant. Data on 5,135 sequences of social behavior were collected either as spoken accounts or as video recordings. In addition, high-quality sound recordings were obtained for spectrographic analysis. The data were subjected to a quantitative analysis of probabilities of association between 44 communicative behavior patterns and 40 different context types. The paper treats each communicative behavior pattern separately, providing a) its frequency, b) the most common inter-individual directions of performance, c) characteristic contexts, d) a description, e) a commentary on its possible functions, and 1) a comparison with the behavior of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). The study shows that, while the behavioral repertoires of the two Pan species are fundamentally similar, interesting differences exist in their vocal repertoires, sexual behavior, and agonistic behavior. The bonobo's voice has a higher pitch, and many of its vocalizations are structurally different from homologous chimpanzee vocalizations. The greatest difference concerns the long-distance hooting calls of the two species. The bonobo's sexual behavior is much more elaborate than the chimpanzee's, including ventro-ventral copulation, and "GG-rubbing" between adult females. Sexual forms of contact seem to serve many of the reassurance and reconciliation functions fulfilled by nongenital contact forms in the chimpanzee. Finally, the bonobo's agonistic behavior is less elaborate and appears more controlled than the chimpanzee's.

The study of vocal communication of wild mandrills in Cameroon in relation to their social structure

The vocal repertoire of the mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx), a forest living baboon, is described, and their vocal communication analyzed quantitatively. Although the vocal repertoire of mandrills corresponds well to that of savanna living baboons,Papio, some characteristics differed, such as the development of long-distance calls and differentiation of vocalizations between age-sex classes. Vocal communication within a group was closely related to changes in the spatial distribution of group members, and the two most common vocalizations, crowing and 2PG, appear to function as contact calls. Based on the wide dispersion of food trees, a group of mandrills divided into several feeding groups (subgroups). The two types of contact call were given in different and in some senses complementary contexts, and helped to facilitate and maintain group integration. According to their acoustic structure, these calls are long distance calls. Influenced by the high-level of attenuation of vocalization on the forest floor, the mandrill has developed them as contact calls, instead of using the contact “grunt,” which is common to the savanna living baboons. Comparing the patterns of vocal exchanges of mandrills with those of gelada and hamadryas baboons which have a multi-levelled society, the social structure of the mandrill is discussed. From the analysis of the spatial distribution of vocal emission, a number of clusters of vocalizations were obtained. These clusters correspond to subgroups. The frequent female-female and female-male vocal exchange between subgroups of mandrills suggest that the relationships between subgroups are less closed than between the one-male units of gelada and hamadryas baboons. Furthermore some of these clusters include more than two vocalizing adult males, while in other clusters there are no vocalizing adult males. Thus, the social structure of mandrills is suggested to be multi-male rather than a multilevelled type. The absence of contact calls specific for short distance and the functional replacement of the grunting of all group members by persistent emission of a loud call (2PG) by usually just one adult male suggests that the social structure of mandrills is not exactly equivalent to that of the multimale troop of savanna living baboons. Usually the use of 2PG is monopolized by one adult male travelling in the rear part of the group. Such monopolization of 2PG emission and the pattern of 2PG-2PG or 2PG-roar exchanges by adult males in some cases indicate the existence of strong dominance relationships among adult males, and especially the existence of a leader male within a multi-male group of mandrills.

Ultrasound production by genital stridulation in Syntonarcha iriastis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae): long-distance signalling by male moths?

Males of the pyralid moth, Syntonarcha iriastis Meyrick, perch on vegetation at the tops of trees and bushes and produce ultrasound while their wings are spread and while sclerites at the end of the abdomen are spread to expose the genitalia. Exposing the genitalia appears to engage the sound-producing mechanism; the male genitalia and eighth abdominal sternite of this species are greatly modified and include a file and scraper and possible resonating areas. Sounds produced are consistent between individuals and comprise pulses which are narrow in frequency range, the first pulse being at about 42 kHz and two following pulses at about 57 kHz. The signal is detectable with an ultrasound ‘bat’ detector from 20 m. Two tettigoniid species (Orthoptera) at the same site produced ultrasonic calls of similar frequencies at the same times as the moth; differences in time-amplitude patterns could be used by orienting moths to recognize conspecifics. Signalling by male S. iriastis is compared with that of other pyralid species in which females are attracted to signalling males. The behaviour of S. iriastis males differs from that of other pyralids in that they do not signal in groups or from a resource attractive to females, and do not possess glands known to produce a ‘calling’ pheromone. It is suggested, because of these differences, that sound production in this species does not function at close range, as argued for the wax moth Achroia grisella (Fabricius), but instead as a long-distance calling signal.

The Non-Song Vocal Repertoire of the White-Crowned Sparrow

We investigated the non-song vocal repertoire of the White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) during the breeding season of 1981. Nine distinct vocalizations were recorded from males. Females used five of these; no calls were recorded exclusively from females. This limited sexual dimorphism in repertoire suggests that both vocal and non-vocal cues may be used in sex recognition. Most calls occurred in a variety of situations and appeared to convey only generalized behavioral messages. The structure of those calls whose information content seemed clear conformed to the predictions of models of selection pressures determining the physical forms of both longand short-distance animal vocalizations. Several authors have proposed explanations for the size, information content, and structure of display repertoires of social vertebrates. Smith (1969a) and Moynihan (1970) independently concluded that most species possess relatively small repertoires, usually around 4045 displays. Smith argued that this limit imposes generality on the information carried by displays, with the result that most are used in a variety of behavioral situations. Vocalizations comprise a major portion of avian display repertoires (Wilson 1975). According to Smith's (1969a) prediction, most of these calls should be used in a variety of situations. A number of studies support this prediction. The Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) uses eight calls, three of which are common and used in many contexts (Smith 1969b). Ficken et al. (1978) found that many of the 13 vocalizations of the Black-capped Chickadee (Parus atricapillus) are used in a variety of contexts. Most of the 13 non-song vocalizations of the Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus) are used in a variety of situations (Lein 1980). Both Ficken et al. (1978) and Lein (1980) found considerable sexual dimorphism in vocal repertoires of the monomorphic passerines they studied. Lein hypothesized that sexually-dimorphic vocalizations may assist in sex recognition in species which are monomorphic in appearance. Several workers have proposed that the physical structure of vocalizations is not arbitrary. Calls that carry messages to be conveyed long distances are thought to be subject to selection pressures imposed by physical laws of sound transmission (Marler 1959). The information content of some long-distance calls is most efficiently used if the call is localizable. Such calls should have a wide frequency range with many changes in frequency or repeated interruptions of the sound. Other long-distance calls carry information which is best used if the call is not localizable (e.g., alarm calls). These calls should have a narrow and intermediate frequency and should lack sudden changes in frequency (Marler 1959). In contrast, calls that convey information which is valuable only over short distances should be influenced by a relationship between motivation of the sender and structure of the call (Morton 1977). These motivation-structural rules (M.-S. rules) state that aggressive calls should be harsh, abrupt, and of low frequency. Calls least indicative of hostility should be pure tone-like, and of higher frequency (Morton 1977). To test the generality of these ideas, we conducted a message-meaning analysis of the vocal repertoire of a monomorphic emberizine, the White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys). These birds were chosen for the study because a color-banded population was locally available. The specific questions asked were: (1) How large is the vocal repertoire? (2) Are most calls used in a variety of behavioral contexts? (3) Does the repertoire show sexual dimorphism? (4) Are the structures of longand short-distance vocalizations consistent with those predicted? This lexicon of non-song vocalizations also complements the extensive literature on singing behavior in Whitecrowned Sparrows (reviews in Baptista 1977, Baptista and King 1980).

Impact of deregulation on point-to-point demand in the USA

The authors describe a methodology designed to evaluate the impact of deregulation on point-to-point demand in the USA. They briefly review the rationale for regulation and the likely impacts of deregulation. After summarizing previous approaches to the demand for long-distance calls, they present preliminary results of a new study of the demand for toll messages. They conclude that the approach provides a first step towards determining the impact of new (competitive) services on existing point-to-point suppliers.

A comparison of intergroup behavior inCebus albifrons andC. apella

Comparative studies of free-ranging groups ofCebus albifrons andCebus apella in eastern Colombia showed strong differences in the manner in which groups of each species interacted.Cebus albifrons troops were large and multi-male; they showed strongly aggressive tendencies towards neighboring groups of the same species and they defended a territory with little overlap of neighbors, both by means of long-distance spacing calls and by fighting. In contrast,Cebus apella troops were small, sometimes containing only one adult male; they exhibited pacific interactions and curiosity towards neighboring groups of the same species and did not defend a territory, allowing extensive overlapping with their neighbors. Such social differences in closely related species which are found in identical habitats call into question purely ecological interpretations for such differences.