Caller ID

[AlabasterLyn]

Once again I own up to not being at all technical, but I do wonder just why so many areas are not being upgraded to enable Caller ID? You can get it all over the country if you have a BT phone, so why not with cable? There had to be a time when BT themselves upgraded all their exchanges to enable Caller ID, so why are cable companies loathe to spend money on something that people want? It's bad enough that we don't have a Call Waiting system that works very well. I had mine taken off as, unlike with BT, there is no way someone phoning you can tell if you are already on the phone as there is no automated voice system telling them you are on another call. If VM don't keep up with current technology surely people are going to start wondering why they bother staying with them

Lyn

[Felim_Doyle]

Originally Posted by AlabasterLyn

Once again I own up to not being at all technical, but I do wonder just why so many areas are not being upgraded to enable Caller ID? You can get it all over the country if you have a BT phone, so why not with cable? There had to be a time when BT themselves upgraded all their exchanges to enable Caller ID, so why are cable companies loathe to spend money on something that people want? It's bad enough that we don't have a Call Waiting system that works very well. I had mine taken off as, unlike with BT, there is no way someone phoning you can tell if you are already on the phone as there is no automated voice system telling them you are on another call. If VM don't keep up with current technology surely people are going to start wondering why they bother staying with them

Lyn

It's a very long and complicated story. Basically, as far as I know, since upgrading to an all digital network BT exclusively use System X and System Y exchanges which support all of the Caller Id., Call Waiting etc. facilities to a common standard. VM/NTL/C&W inherited a mish-mash of equipment from their predecessors much of which can support some or all of these same facilities but not necessarily to the same standard as is used across the BT network. That is why, for example, the star (*) codes for enabling/disabling certain features are different across exchanges and networks. However, in this day and age of software based telephony, I don't understand why this cannot be easily reprogrammed.

Strangely, if you forward a call from VM to a BT or mobile number, the Caller Id., including international numbers if I remember correctly, is forwarded and displayed on the BT or mobile phone (if Caller Id. is enabled). BT on the other had, do not handle inbound or outbound international Caller Id. particularly well causing inbound not to be displayed and outbound to be displayed when the number has been withheld.

With regard to Call Waiting, I believe that VM/NTL/C&W have always said that it does not work with the voicemail facility (although it does on BT).

If anyone can correct or expand on what I have said, please do.

Félim

[Arch Stanton]

Lyn, VM are faced with the conumdrum of investing in an aging network or a Next Generation Network. The Cli upgrade has been looked at many times and the costs are huge.

Without giving too much away, work has begun on a NGN. I'm sure there will be news in the press sometime soon.

---------- Post added at 21:41 ---------- Previous post was at 21:37 ----------

Félim - the other issue to take account of is billing systems. Not only are there upgrades to different switch types and transmission equipment types there were various billing systems to be upgraded. These software guys can cost an arm and a leg.

[AlabasterLyn]

Well as it's now April and allegedly Caller ID will be enabled here this month, in my dreams only perhaps I am going to phone VM again and see if I get the same response as last time.

Just got off the phone to them and it seems the lady I spoke to last month was indeed wrong and there is no date for the national roll out of Caller ID and definately no date for it in my area. I don't understand why they give you information that they aren't confident is correct.

Lyn

[pxr5]

In Lincoln here and I've just rang VM. They said no problem with CLID and it will go active tomorrow. £1.70 though and I'll wait and see if it works or not.

Now someone is going to tell me I need a special phone that's compatible with VM. At the moment I've got a BT phone, but the lady at VM said it will be OK, but I'm not holding my breath.

[dave_dph]

Originally Posted by pxr5

In Lincoln here and I've just rang VM. They said no problem with CLID and it will go active tomorrow. £1.70 though and I'll wait and see if it works or not.

Now someone is going to tell me I need a special phone that's compatible with VM. At the moment I've got a BT phone, but the lady at VM said it will be OK, but I'm not holding my breath.

It depends how old the BT phone is and also the switch type installed at your franchise. I think all of the latest BT phones are dual compatible, i.e. Caller ID will work with System X and also Bellcore Caller ID on the DMS switch.

As you appear to be ex-NTL I cannot tell you which switch type you have in Lincoln; there is information available VM's website which tells you the switch type for all ex-TW areas.

[Felim_Doyle]

Originally Posted by dave_dph

It depends how old the BT phone is and also the switch type installed at your franchise. I think all of the latest BT phones are dual compatible, i.e. Caller ID will work with System X and also Bellcore Caller ID on the DMS switch.

As you appear to be ex-NTL I cannot tell you which switch type you have in Lincoln; there is information available VM's website which tells you the switch type for all ex-TW areas.

Can you post the link to this information please? Maybe we can coerce VM into updating it to include ex-NTL franchises areas.

Félim

[AlabasterLyn]

It would help if the Customer Service staff at VM were all on the same page when it came to giving out information. I really got my hopes up about having Caller ID this month, only to find out the lady I spoke to gave me false information

Lyn

[Arch Stanton]

Originally Posted by dave_dph

It depends how old the BT phone is and also the switch type installed at your franchise. I think all of the latest BT phones are dual compatible, i.e. Caller ID will work with System X and also Bellcore Caller ID on the DMS switch.

As you appear to be ex-NTL I cannot tell you which switch type you have in Lincoln; there is information available VM's website which tells you the switch type for all ex-TW areas.

If only it were as simple as what switch type was in any particular region.

Type of Transmission Equipment and what Billing System has also to be factored in.

BTW, the Lincoln Switch is a System X.

[pxr5]

Well tried last night and still no Caller id. My phone is a BT Equinox (about a year old). Guess I'll have to give them a ring later today and check compatibility with this 'System X' and my phone. Geez this is hard work.

[dave_dph]

Originally Posted by pxr5

Well tried last night and still no Caller id. My phone is a BT Equinox (about a year old). Guess I'll have to give them a ring later today and check compatibility with this 'System X' and my phone. Geez this is hard work.

Dial *#234# which will tell you whether the service is active on your line. You will get one of three responses:

1. Callers identities will be displayed (service is active on line and switched on)

2. Callers identities will not be displayed (service is active on line but is switched off)

3. Sorry the service requested is not available. (service hasn't been activated on the switch)

If you receive the second message then just hang up and then from a new dial tone key *234#, this will switch the service on.

---------- Post added at 22:32 ---------- Previous post was at 22:27 ----------

Originally Posted by Felim_Doyle

Can you post the link to this information please? Maybe we can coerce VM into updating it to include ex-NTL franchises areas.

Félim

Have a look here:

http://help2.virginmedia.com/help/ge...age=help_phone

That link shows the userguides for each of the old TW franchise areas. I think there is some wording on the front cover that states the switch type installed for that particular franchise.

Originally Posted by Derek S

Just to let you know we can now add on caller ID in the Celtic region (Scotland, Wales, Belfast)

As per other regions it is £1.00 a month

Or free with BT.

[nffc]

Originally Posted by dave_dph

Dial *#234# which will tell you whether the service is active on your line. You will get one of three responses:

1. Callers identities will be displayed (service is active on line and switched on)

2. Callers identities will not be displayed (service is active on line but is switched off)

3. Sorry the service requested is not available. (service hasn't been activated on the switch)

If you receive the second message then just hang up and then from a new dial tone key *234#, this will switch the service on.

I get the 3rd

[dave_dph]

Originally Posted by nffc

I get the 3rd

Have you asked Customer Services whether it is available and for it to be activated on your line? You will get the third response even if the service is available but hasn't been activated by CS.

[pxr5]

Originally Posted by dave_dph

Dial *#234# which will tell you whether the service is active on your line. You will get one of three responses:

1. Callers identities will be displayed (service is active on line and switched on)

2. Callers identities will not be displayed (service is active on line but is switched off)

3. Sorry the service requested is not available. (service hasn't been activated on the switch)

If you receive the second message then just hang up and then from a new dial tone key *234#, this will switch the service on.

I already knew about the *234# and #234# thanks. I rang VM last night again and they said it had been left on pending for some reason and it would be done by this morning. Anyway I tried *234# straight after the call and it worked - woooohooooo.