sokhapkin Premium join:2003-05-08 Somerset, NJ
2 edits | [General] Test your phone carrier.
Some phone services recently employ "early media" (or call progress audio) method to minimize phone bill - IVR is played WITHOUT answering the call, as call progress audio. DTMF from the caller works during call progress stage. But not all local phone carriers handle early media right. Doesn't matter who is your phone carrier, VoIP, land line or cell carriers could have a bug.
We at callwithus.com decided to provide a free test to check how your phone carrier handles call progress audio.
Call 1-213-550-4027, on IVR prompt "Enter your complete PIN number" enter 1234567890. You'll get "zero balance" message and the call will be disconnected. 1-213-550-4027 ANSWERS the call before playing IVR.
Now call 1-419-301-6832. The number plays the same IVR, but DOES NOT ANSWER the call, early media method is being used. If you get the same result like with 1213 number - your phone provider is OK. But you could get the following problems:
1) - You hear only long rings, nothing else. Your phone provider emits false rings and blocks real call progress audio. 2) - You hear funny sounds. Your phone provider sends false rings to the caller, but mixes ring tones with call progress audio. 3) - You hear IVR, but "Enter your complete PIN number" prompt repeats again and again. Your phone provider doesn't support DTMF tones during early media stage.
Please post your test results to this thread if your phone carrier doesn't pass "early media" test, please specify who is your phone carrier and which problem you got when call 1-419-301-6832.
T-mobile prepaid (area code 1848) passes the test OK.
-- »www.callwithus.com | |
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  Good Ol Dan
join:2000-05-15 Rochelle Park, NJ | Re: [General] Test your phone carrier. VoIPo works fine...
Dan | |
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 |  sokhapkin Premium join:2003-05-08 Somerset, NJ | Re: [General] Test your phone carrier. Please post NEGATIVE results only. -- »www.callwithus.com | |
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  sdfasltty
@bahnhof.se | I tried it with callcentric and voip.ms, each using its own ata, and got the repeating request for a pin.
Then I tried it using the landline, calling onesuite's calling card number, and got the same result. | |
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 |  sokhapkin Premium join:2003-05-08 Somerset, NJ
1 edit | Re: [General] Test your phone carrier. I just wanted to provide an example that not all phone carriers are bad We have negative examples already, let's see for more... -- »www.callwithus.com | |
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  DoNotParticipate
@verizon.net
| Guys - please! Stop this very well formatted social engineering SCAM. At the very best - you're going to conduct so called "reverse engineering" which is strictly forbidden by most T&Cs.
Just as a side notice - yes, early media is allowed to be transmitted prior to answer supervision signal from called to calling party, but any opposite side (from calling to called party) signal transmittal and conduction is a VIOLATION of protocols and billing terms.
Anyway, please do NOT participate in this test as it's targeted to collecting the information which may [later on] be used in denial of service attacks or defrauding [of those who allow bi-directional signal conduct without the answer supervision signal ] service. | |
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 |   sdfasltty
@chello.nl | Re: [General] Test your phone carrier. Can you spell it out how the scam works a little more clearly? | |
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 |  |  sokhapkin Premium join:2003-05-08 Somerset, NJ
1 edit | Re: [General] Test your phone carrier. Yup, I wonder too - how this test could be considered as a scam? Let me know a potential reason, and I will halt the test immediately.
DoNotParticipate's domain name says a lot...
-- »www.callwithus.com | |
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 |  |  garys_2k
join:2004-05-07 Farmington, MI
·Future Nine Corpor..
·Vonage
| I suspect that the issue is that some information can be conveyed prior to the start of billing. If there's a way to make calls via the PSTN that don't ever start the billing process then that could be expanded to connecting the actual call without the CLEC even being aware that a connection was started.
Maybe I'm wrong (the above is a guess) but I can see how a RBOC or CLEC would be pretty touchy about how call progress data could be used to spoof PSTN calls. | |
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 |  |  |  emoci
join:2007-05-29 York, ON
| Re: [General] Test your phone carrier. said by garys_2k :I suspect that the issue is that some information can be conveyed prior to the start of billing. If there's a way to make calls via the PSTN that don't ever start the billing process then that could be expanded to connecting the actual call without the CLEC even being aware that a connection was started. Maybe I'm wrong (the above is a guess) but I can see how a RBOC or CLEC would be pretty touchy about how call progress data could be used to spoof PSTN calls. From what I understand...only DTMF can pass through in response to Early Media...not actual audio...so there is no risk of the CLEC being phased out that way...
However this would be ideal in a situation where: -You call an access number -Enter your Pin and the Number you'd like to be called back -Hang up -A callback arrives
I kinda like the sound of Dynamic Call Back
Keep in mind that both CWU and Future-Nine can already read out your acct. balance to you as you call the callback number without actually picking up the call ... | |
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  no_one
@qwest.net | Well isn't lowering a phone bill sort of questionable? Was this really meant for that or for another purpose. | |
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 |  |   Do You Like Mine
@comcast.net
| Re: [General] Test your phone carrier. said by sokhapkin :I like your domain name too What about mine?  | |
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 |  |  |  sokhapkin Premium join:2003-05-08 Somerset, NJ | Re: [General] Test your phone carrier. I like your domain too Why you're anonymous? Do you have something to hide? -- »www.callwithus.com | |
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  OVUser
@shawnetworks.com
| said by sokhapkin :3) - You hear IVR, but "Enter your complete PIN number" prompt repeats again and again. Your phone provider doesn't support DTMF tones during early media stage. OptimumVoice produced error number 3. | |
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 dJON
join:2009-06-10 11712 1 edit | #3 on VOIPo Same with PhonePower | |
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 MartyT
join:2004-09-03 Georgetown, SC | #2 with Future Nine.
Ok with Vitelity. | |
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 |  sokhapkin Premium join:2003-05-08 Somerset, NJ
| Re: [General] Test your phone carrier. said by MartyT :#2 with Future Nine. Wow... Nitzan, remove "r" option from dialcommand_param! Let callers hear real call progress audio! -- »www.callwithus.com | |
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 |  |  nitzan Premium,VIP join:2008-02-27 | Re: [General] Test your phone carrier. "r" is not on there.. | |
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 |  |  |  |  garys_2k
join:2004-05-07 Farmington, MI | Re: [General] Test your phone carrier. I googled that when I saw the command, it looks like one of the optional flags that asterisk2billing uses for how it handles ringback. | |
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 MartyT
join:2004-09-03 Georgetown, SC | I've noticed the same annoying call progress tones on Future Nine that I experienced during the test. Never knew what to make of them. Now I'd like to know how to get rid of them.
Anything I can do on my ATA? It is a PAP2T-NA. | |
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 userofdsl
join:2000-07-31 Brighton, MA | After I dial, my Boston-area Verizon land line plays the word "bye," then a busy tone. | |
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  lolwhat We Are Toast Premium join:2001-06-11 USSA | #3 with ATT cell phone. | |
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