10XXX
by The Prophet
One of the most misunderstood and unused features of the post-breakup telconet is the "tenex" code (also known as 10XXX code). Since there are very few 10XXX codes that work in all areas of the country, I have included only a very brief list of common 10XXX codes to get you started.
10XXX codes were instituted after the AT&T breakup in every RBOC in the vicinity of 1984-1985, and are continuing to be instituted in the non-RBOC (independent) areas of the country. In every area that has "equal access" long distance service, 10XXX codes are available. Your telco will tell you if you have equal access, but they will not give you a list of 10XXX codes for your area - you have to get those from your long distance carrier or by scanning.
A 10XXX code is useful because it permits you to use a long distance carrier other than the one that is primarily assigned to your account. For example, if Deathstar Ltd. is your primary long distance carrier, and you prefer to use Pizzacomm, you could dial Pizzacomm's carrier access (10XXX) code in order to use Pizzacomm for the long distance call. This is useful if Pizzacomm has a lower rate to where you're calling, for example, or if you need to circumvent Deathstar for some reason.
This is also useful if you need to access a number in the 700 area code for a service (such as a conference calling service) available only through Pizzacomm and not Deathstar. Calls placed through 10XXX codes are billed by your RBOC; however, if you use an obscure carrier (such as a carrier which usually deals only with COCOTs), sometimes you will not be billed for the call (the long distance carrier has to pay your RBOC to bill the call for them). Also, it can occasionally take a year or more for the call to be billed - it's usually several months. Of course, there are many other uses for it.
For example, some PBXes will block calls to: 1-NPA-NNX-XXXX
But will not block calls to: 10XXX-NPA-NNX-XXXX
Also, it's useful to use the AT&T 10XXX when Red Boxing in some areas, to circumvent the RBOC and go over the AT&T network (which can be boxed when the RBOC cannot be), and in some very small telcos, it's possible to dial a 10XXX-NPA-NNX-XXXX on a payphone and not be billed for the call.
The format for using a 10XXX is as follows:
Example #1: To use AT&T to place a call to the 2600 Voice BBS:
Example #2: To place a call to Vancouver using Sprint (Sprint has its own network into Canada so it is beneficial to use Sprint to bypass AT&T and other carriers which use AT&T lines during network difficulties and outages):
Brief List of 10XXX Codes
These work in almost all equal access areas:
- 10288 - AT&T
- 10732 - AT&T Private Test Network
- 10222 - MCI Telecommunications
- 10333 - Sprint
- 10444 - Allnet Communication Services
- 10488 - MetroMedia Operator Services