[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Wait a minute ... either an 800 call is
> a 'free call' to the caller or it is a chargeable call to the
> caller. One or the other.
It's free to the caller (that being the person at the physical phone).
If it costs me 35 cents, then it should be
> referred to as a 'premium charge' call rather than a 'toll free' call > shouldn't it?
The recipient pays, as always. The phone owner gets 30 cents.
How does the recipient of the call know that the call
> is originating from a COCOT style phone instead of a 'regular' line?
All payphone owners, not just COCOT phones, get the 30 cents. The recipient gets some information when the call is set up. It's possible to disallow receipt of those calls, too.
How does that fact (COCOT instead of regular) make any difference
> where what the carriage costs telco? Or is that 35 cents only to
> appease the COCOT owner? PAT]
The 30 cents goes to the phone owner.
Seth