CLASS Features
by Colonel Walter E. Kurtz (75 clicks from the bridge)
Centel in Las Vegas has Caller ID, along with several other features recently added to its custom calling features. The local system has a privacy feature which can be permanently added to a phone line by the phone company (and it can't be deactivated without calling the phone company, which may be a problem if you try to call someone with Caller ID Block Rejection activated), or on a one call basis by dialing *67. The permanent add-on is only available for residential lines, and every customer gets the one time feature. The following features (and codes) are what is currently on my phone (although some of them are only available in two central offices and for residential only at present).
*57 Call Trace: This is a special number to call to trace problem calls. It will trace the last call. There is a charge for the call and the number is only given to the police.
*60 Call Screening: This will reject up to twelve numbers. Up to twelve numbers are stored and the feature can be activated or deactivated at any time without reentering the numbers. You can add or delete numbers. Only local numbers can be entered. You can store the last number dialed even if it has Caller ID Block. No long-distance, cellular, or trunks (as used by hotels or larger PBX). The calling party hears a recorded "The number you have dialed is not accepting calls from you at this time," followed by a disconnect. Your phone doesn't ring. You can store the last number which called you, even if you don't know what it was. This includes Caller ID blocked calls.
*61 Distinctive Ringing: This will cause your phone to ring with three short quick rings, instead of one long ring. The distinctive ring usually doesn't activate electronic key systems. The feature has a twelve number (local only) capacity. You can store the last number which called you, even if you don't know what it was. This includes Caller ID blocked calls.
*63 Preferred Call Forwarding: This will Call Forward only up to twelve phone numbers (local only). The rest of the world will ring your phone as normal. The feature has a twelve number (local only) capacity. You can store the last number which called you, even if you don't know what it was. This includes Caller ID blocked calls.
*66 Auto Redial: This will call the last number you called, whether it was busy, answered, or unanswered. It will continue to redial busy numbers for up to 30 minutes or until canceled by calling *86. It works by checking the line every few seconds until it senses that it is free. Your phone will ring, and when you answer, the other party's phone will ring. It's not fast enough to call back to those annoying mass-dialing junk callers. This feature will work with any local call including Caller ID blocked calls, but not cellular or trunk lines.
*67 Caller ID Block (One Call): his will display a PRIVATE message on Caller ID displays. Caller ID blocked calls can be stored in the Call Screening, Distinctive Ringing, Preferred Call Forwarding, and Selective Call Acceptance lists, but the numbers are not given out when the numbers are listed. Only the total number of private numbers is listed, and they must be deleted as a group.
*68 Selective Call Acceptance: This is the opposite of Call Screening. Up to twelve local numbers can be stored and they will be the only calls which will ring your phone. All other numbers, including long-distance, cellular, and trunk lines will be rejected with the same message as Call Screening. This can be used to avoid creditors and still talk to that special someone. Combine it with Caller ID or Selective Call Forwarding to play hooky from work.
*69 Return Call: This will give you the last local number called, and you can redial it by dialing 1. It will give you the last number even if you do not have a Caller ID box. (Great to use if you don't have a box by every phone.) If it was a Caller ID blocked call, a recorded voice will announce, "The last number that called your line cannot be given out. If you want to call this number enter 1, otherwise hang up now." If the last call was a cellular number or not a local call, the recorded voice will advise you, "We're sorry. The last number that called your line is not known. Please hang up now." This can be used with Caller ID Block to call back the last person who called you if their call was blocked. Just dial: *67, *69, 1
*70 Cancel Call Waiting (One Call): This will deactivate Call Waiting for the duration of one call. A good way to send faxes or use a computer without getting dumped. Include it in Hayes compatible dialing strings as: ATDT*70W5551212 The W will make the modem wait for the dial tone and is easier than a bunch of commas.
*72 Call Forwarding: Makes all calls forward to another number. If used with Caller ID, the calling party's number will show up on the number which you've forwarded your calls to.
Example: You forward your phone to 555-1234. 555-3825 calls you. The Caller ID box at 555-1234 will display 555-3825, not your number.
Numbers can be forwarded to any 7- or 10-digit number. 411, 611, 911, 118 (time) won't work. If you forward to a long-distance number, you will be billed for the calls.
*73 Cancel Call Forwarding: Deactivates Call Forwarding.
*74 Speed Call (8 Numbers): Stores memory dial calls. You can call someone by dialing one digit. Calls faster if you follow the number with a # sign.
*75 Speed Call (30 Numbers): Similar to above but holds 30 numbers. These only work for phone numbers, and can't be used as numbers for bank-by-phone, alternate long-distance, or other services. You'll have to use a phone-based memory system. The problem with all memory phones is that it causes the brain to not remember phone numbers. Remember this next time you try calling someone with an unpublished phone number from a payphone by dialing: 7#
*80 Caller ID Block Rejection: This feature is a lot of fun. If anyone has Caller ID Block activated, they hear a recorded message which advises them, "The party you dialed does not accept blocked calls. Please hang up and call back with your caller identification unblocked." If they have permanently added Caller ID Block to their line, they will have to call the phone company to have it removed, or call from another phone (neighbor's, payphone, cellular phone, etc.).
*81 Cancel Caller ID Block Rejection: This accepts Caller ID blocked calls.
Most phone companies use the same numbers for regular (non-Centrex) lines.
Another phone type is Centrex. his is only available for business lines, but you can get one line service. Probably the neatest feature is call transfer. If you call me, I can put you on hold (with a switch hook, just like Three-Way Calling), call another party, and then hang up. If I wait until they answer, you will hear the third-party's voice. Otherwise you will hear the ringing signal.
My phone is now free and you are connected directly to the third-party as if you called them yourself. I can call anyone, local, long-distance, or cellular. If the party I called has Caller ID, the display will show my number, not yours. There are other features like No-Answer Call Forward and Busy Call Forward, but some of the stuff listed above is not available.
If you want to avoid your number being displayed on Caller ID boxes, 800 ANI, 911, etc., use a cellular phone. If you use the Call Forwarding feature in your cellular phone, you can avoid airtime charges in some cellular systems.
The Caller ID boxes display UNKNOWN same as for long-distance calls. 800 ANI and 911 systems receive the phone number of the cellular switch, not your number.
Example: If your cellular is 555-7626, the 800 ANI display shows 555-1000. The cellular company computer tracks all calls placed on your phone, so don't try this with anything of a sensitive nature.
Remember, cellular phones are radios, so even though it's illegal to monitor conversations (another brilliant piece of legislation from Congress), Bell Atlantic Cellular in Washington, D.C. offers scrambling from the car to the cellular switch.