- Busy line interrupt
Busy line interrupt is a function on
land line telephones that allows a caller to interrupt a phone conversation of another caller, [ [http://www.icc.illinois.gov/downloads/public/edocket/115077.pdf INWARD ASSISTANCE OPERATOR SERVICES] ] especially one who does not havecall waiting .Much like
long distance calling before the late 90s, busy line interrupt is a service provided, for instance, to allow people to contact a family member in the event of an emergency if the receiving party's line is busy and the news cannot wait.The service is not free. It is usually about $3 per use [ [http://www.coxbusiness.com/products/voice/basicpricing/clevelandpricing.html Cox Cleveland Pricing] ] and is charged whether or not the calling party can reach the person on the other end (as the phone just might be off the hook for privacy reasons or the line might be connected to the
internet ). For this reason, it is usually only used in cases of emergencies as noted above.In the early 1990's, reports were surfacing that "
phone phreak ers" were having success in manipulating the line interruption function with signaling tones and equipment that emulated the telephone operator's. It was claimed to be possible to eavesdrop on any engaged telephone line by number.References
External links
* [http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7133515/description.html US Patent 7133515 - Subscriber control of busy line interrupt and line treatment codes]
* [http://www.cox.com/support/gainesvilleocala/telephone/operator-dirassist.asp Operator Services & Directory Assistance]
* [http://www.qwest.com/wholesale/pcat/opservixc.html Operator Services - Interexchange Carriers - V5.0]
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