[telecom] Walmart changing phone system after abuse

For decades, many businesses have had public address systems integrated with their telephone network. An extension could dial a special code and then be connected to the P.A. This was often used, among other functions, to page managers. (This capability existed long before Divesture, and apparently a rare example of where Bell allowed an interface between its equipment and privately owned customer equipment).

A modern adaption is supermarket managers carrying cordless telephone sets allowing them to receive or make calls while on the store floor, including P.A. announcements.

Recently, an unknown person used a Walmart store telephone to access the P.A. system to broadcast offensive comments throughout the store. Police and store officials are investigating.

Walmart announced its changing its system to restrict access.

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Reply to
hancock4
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The fact it is a felony in N.J. is downright scary.

Reply to
Sam Spade

I seem to recall that there were Bell tariffs providing specifically for terminals to attach the customer's paing system. Wes Leatherock snipped-for-privacy@aol.com snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com

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Reply to
Wesrock

Presumably the change is something modern like requiring a PIN to be entered.

Reply to
Barry Margolin

Bell allowed such things "routinely". As long as they (Bell) supplied the "interface", at a tariffed (and more-or-less exorbitant) rate.

Classical examples include the infamous "DAA" for connecting customer- owned modems (which 'rented' for nearly the price of a Bell-supplied modem), the similar devices for answering machines (the subject of the watershed 'Carterphone' lawsuit), taped-announcement playback systems (single or multi-line), auto-dial alarm notification devices, radio station call-in lines, etc., etc.

Reply to
Robert Bonomi

You don't understand the Walmart way of doing things. Modifying the store's telephone system to require a PIN would probably cost more money than programming the PA out of "public accessible" stations.

This is the company where upper middle managers from headquarters share a motel room when on business trips.

Reply to
Sam Spade

PINs can be learned, just like extension numbers.

I used to work at a company that had this, and the abuse came in the form of inappropriate names: "Jack Mehoff, paging Jack Mehoff. Please call..." etc.

The fix was all calls to the paging number went through a person.

Reply to
SVU

That ignores the fact that a number of employees employees _need_ access to the PA from phones that are 'public accessible' -- on the sales floor.

The software for doing the authorization code is very probably already in place in the PBX. Its the _same_ functionality as is used to require a code for an outside line, or for long-distance/toll dialing.

Reply to
Robert Bonomi

By the name of Moe the Bartender, perhaps?

Reply to
Barry Margolin

So, if people are able to get to store telephones without any store staff noticing them, what is to prevent them from stuffing their pockets with store merchandise and walking out with it?

There is no substitute for having actual staff on the floor watching the customer. "Changing the system to restrict access" doesn't really solve the problem. You need to have real people walking the floor, watching the customers and maybe even answering their questions.

--scott

Reply to
Scott Dorsey

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