Surprise calls: A proposed new service for residential customers

John M Clegg

Telecommunications Policy, vol. 19, issue 1, 61-68

Abstract: Surprise Calls is a proposed service in which subscribers would give the telephone company a list of people, with their numbers, with whom they would like to have long-distance calls at unexpected times. The telephone system would set up these calls semi-randomly, infrequently, and during off-peak hours, at prices substantially discounted in comparison with ordinary calls. Surprise Calls would hence make profitable use of the network in non-busy times, while providing a service attractive to many customers. This paper estimates costs and revenues based on reasonable assumptions, and shows how a field trial could reduce uncertainties about the prospects for the service and provide estimates useful for its detailed design.

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