I have a customer who has an XTS-600. They are requesting that we block calls to 411 and 1-XXX-555-1212 information numbers due to the excessive cost. We are currently using three COSs as the system is currently configured.

COS1 is obviously unrestricted.

COS2 only allows local and toll-free calls. Any calls that begin with a 1 other than toll-free area codes are blocked.

COS3 prohibits all calls except 911.

They still want the attendants to be able to dial these information calls when justified. My thoughts are to leave the attendants as COS1 with no restrictions, but I'd need to shift all of the other COS1 stations to what would be a fourth COS that doesn't exist. This is because the COS1 stations need to be unrestricted for everything except the information calls.

Any ideas?

If you made the COS for your lines COS 1:

You could let the attendants in COS 1 and for Users that need to follow the COS 2(currently) that your using if your using Table A set them to COS 7 for Canned restriction(combine COS 5&COS 7) which will allow them to dial the toll Free and 911 and 10 digit dialing(as per Manual). Then Use Table A for ( current COS 2) allowing anything to dial out except 411. Then you could leave COS 3 (Table B) the same.

Let me know if I confused you because I'm pretty sure I confused myself!!! But I think this would work!

You did confuse me! I'm also concerned that their 'canned' toll-free allowance doesn't include the newer toll-free area codes.

Not sure about that Ed. In the latest programming manual I have from FP3 (June 2007) it lists 1-800, 1-866, 1-877, 1-888.

Isn't there Special tables in FP 3 or higher to?

I would restrict the numbers requested for all phones and give the attendants an account code that is unrestricted. They would use it when they need to make directory assistance calls.

Good call Derrick! It wouldn't be a pain for them they would only have to use the account code when they needed to dial 411.
I Over thought it!!

I think I'm just going to block them in LCR. The attendants can dial these calls by direct-selecting a trunk instead when needed. Thanks for the suggestions though.

Would you believe I thought to tell you that also??

And would you believe that the customer has now come back and changed his request? They have 20 guest rooms at this country club and they want to allow them to dial information calls and bill them through their CAS.

This guy is striking my last nerve.

Like anybody who stays in a hotel room ever even uses the phone anyway. Everybody uses cell phones, right?

Ha!!