Ever used one of those services that provide dial-in conference calling or long distance service by dialing a 'special' number? The fees paid by the end-user in these cases is paid to a third party who is not the phone company ... that third party is the one who has the bulk-usage arrangement with the phone company (for time, usage and trunks) and is the one who then 'antes up' to pay the actual 'phone company' with the end user (the customer) paying "them who antes up" ... Better it had been termed: "Pre-paid toll-free services". The 'toll-free' part refers to fact that the phone company doesn't bill the caller via the usual means ... RF Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: "Josh Koffman" To: Sent: Monday, November 25, 2002 10:19 PM Subject: Re: [OT]: US telephone prefix locator > Does this strike anyone else as funny? :) > > Josh > -- > A common mistake that people make when trying to design something > completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete > fools. > -Douglas Adams > > Jim wrote: > > there are only 13 "Non-geographic NPA's in service" as of 11/22/2002 > > > 880 Paid Toll-Free Service > > 881 Paid Toll-Free Service > > 882 Paid Toll-Free Service > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different > ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details. > > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different ways. See http://www.piclist.com/#archives for details.