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PLEASE WAIT - WE ARE CONNECTING YOU! ******************************************************** This year sees the 100th anniversary of the Strowger telephone exchange. It was in 1889 that Kansas City undertaker Almon Strowger patented the idea for auto switching. He was spurred on to invent the system after discovering the telephone operator was married to his business rival - and was connecting potential customers to him! ******************************************************* British Telecom is asking customers to be patient - and to LISTEN for the changes which are taking place as a result of its annual multi-million pound investment program me. Many people dislike change. Others may feel changes are of questionable value. A lot of money is being spent - but on what? That old familiar sight, the red telephone bo x, is disappearing from view. Some people see this as a change for the worse - yet the new tough, easy-clean booths, with clear telephone keypads make life a touch easier for thousands who would not or could not previously use a public telephone. A few people even dislike having a push-button, digital 'phone in their home, instead of the old 'dial' variety - yet without the switch the vast potential of telecommunications technology could not have been unleashed. Questions are often raised about the high numbers of bright yellow vans spotted arou nd the country, and the traffic problems they sometimes cause. But B.T. engineers oft en have to park at inconvenient points temporarily, simply to carry out installation and repair work. British Telecom is working hard to improve service to its customers, and to offer th e best possible value for money. Most people will have heard about the network 'going digital', and ultimately this will revolutionise the way we communicate. However, until all the cables and equipment are in place to link up the entire country, the customer down the road may not fully appreciate the changes which are taking place. Once the actual telephone exchange where your line is connected 'goes digital', it can open up a whole new range of communications possibilities. Under an optional package of Star Services, calls can be forwarded to another number anywhere in the country under automatic call diversion - invaluable, for example, for the one-man business which needs to stay in touch 24 hours a day. A big advantage is that callers need only ring one number - wherever you happen to be. All you need is an approved multi-frequency 'phone which plugs into the usual socket. Another option is a three-way calling conference facility, where business meetings can be held down the telephone line. It can also be used for family conferences. Think of the savings on telephone bills! Other developments will be useful to the non-business user. Itemised billing is being progressively introduced, and another facility will enable you to ring a number and check immediately what a call has cost. The all talking, singing, dancing exchange is just around the corner, with everything geared towards helping the customer get the best possible use out of the phone. The average digital exchange is capable of transmitting around 250 'messages', from helping you find out what a call has cost to sending a polite message to remind you to replace your handset. If polite requests fail, it resorts to a howler - a screech which will alert you even if you do happen to be at the bottom of the garden! The inside of the exchange has been transformed, too. The old conventional switching equipment has been replaced by rows of blue and grey cabinets housing printed circuit boards. One floor of equipment replaces what used to take up two floors, and the technology is getting more compact all the time. The new equipment is cleaner, virtually maintenance free, and much quieter. If a fault occurs, the card controlling that particular line is replaced with another, and the problem card is sent away for repair. The size of the mainframe computer has also reduced, and the battery back-up units are clean and maintenance free. It all heralds another world, but although the character may have changed, the new equipment is making everyone's life easier. Some people may not want the complete new range of features offered by a fully digital system, but most will approve the changes which give them fast, clear communication, with fewer breakdowns and less maintenance needed. That is where BT is heading. As the old saying goes, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Hence, until every connection end to end of a telephone call is fully digital, you may not notice any difference in the clarity of the line. Once it IS all digital, calls will be connected in split seconds, and the line will be sharp and clear. In the meantime, if you see a BT engineer up a telephone pole or down a manhole please remember he is trying to bring you the best possible service, wherever you may live!