DJSkyler.com

So when I moved I was able to keep my original phone number in my new apartment. I don’t know how convenient that is though, as it allows me to get the same calls from the same telemarketers.

In order to move the phone number, I was required to have a forty-five minute phone session with an AT&T representative. In addition to giving audio permissions for moving the service, the Rep took the opportunity to “streamline” my service. He pointed out that I was on a number of outdated plans, and I needed to take advantage of the new money-saving “bundles” they now offered. That sounded fine to me, as my high-speed DSL internet service already inflated the bill.

So the “bundle” I signed up for into included two “calling features,” extra things on your phone line. I needed to choose the two features I wanted. Some of these features were dependent on your having “call waiting.” I hate “call waiting.” It interupts a call you are already involved in. You have to leave the first call to tell the second call that you are already on the phone! Why would I want to take the time to do that when there’s already an awesome feature that does that quickly and efficiently? It’s named “busy signal.”

So anyway, out of the available calling features, the only one that remotely interested me was priority ringing. When someone from your “top ten” calls, the phone will ring a special ring to alert you that a TopTenster is calling! I also chose “three-way calling,” though I doubt I will ever use it.

So today it occurs to me that I’ve been at my new place for nearly two months now, and I never did use my new priority ringing! So I browsed my phone list and came up with fifteen important numbers. But I know I only get ten, so I had to do some editing. Then I visited ATT.com and found a page that offered the simple instructions on how to activate priority ringing.

I put in first number and heard the recorded voice tell me “We’re sorry, but that number does not work with this service.” I input another number and once again “We’re sorry, but that number does not work with this service.” Back at the instructions I found some fine print.

Here’s the deal, priority ringing does not work with long distance numbers, it does not work with any cell phone numbers, and it mostly works only for numbers that are located in your immediate vicinity. Yeah, if your grandma calls from Miami, I guess that’s not a priority. If the next door neighbor calls, DAMN, I gotta get to that call! It’s priority!

With caller I.D. technology, why would any number not work with the service? Tiny cell phones can play different ringtones for every number that comes in. Why can’t the giant matrix of the phone company work with ten phone numbers? It shouldn’t matter where the number originates from, it’s still a unique number. You’re saying you can only work with your own numbers from your own system? Aren’t you the same people pushing for a tiered internet? This is a preview. From my original fifteen priority numbers, your system accepted four of them.

By the way, thanks to the “bundle” my monthly phone bill is now $20 higher.