Friday, May 09, 2008
December 2002 issue - Vol.3, No.3, 24 pages

   We Mean Business. Illinois Business.
 
 

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Telecommunications changes call for informed consumers

  Rapid technological advances in the telecommunications field have done more than make our heads spin. They've created a distinct overlap.
  "We're getting to the point where the computer and phone are merging together with cell phones, video phones and wireless, growing a new breed of service experts," said Gary Hursey of Hursey Telecom in O'Fallon. "At some point in the near future, your phone, television and computer will all be connected."
  Hursey said his company has found that customers do not wish to call four different people to assist with their service [continue]

A business leader at a recent Macworld Expo, left, listens as Aric Fedida, of Tel Aviv, demonstrates free long-distance calling via the Internet. Fedida works for VocalTec Inc., which creates software products for 'voice chat' capability on the Internet.

Area code solutions include new ways to assign numerical series
By LISA VAZZI SCIRANKO

   Phone number exhaustion in several Illinois area codes has been a topic on the minds of many businesses, consumers and legislators statewide.
  As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, participated in a hearing on area code exhaustion and possible solutions.
  "No one looks forward to an area code split," Shimkus said. "We all face the stress and challenge of remembering new numbers and changing stationery, but running out of numbers means our region is growing technologically - and in numbers - which are good signs. Every effort is being made to delay any area code splits, but somewhere down the line we will probably have to face such a challenge."
  Frank Colaco, senior area code relief planner with the North American Numbering Plan Administration, said there are seven separate area code relief projects in Illinois. The area codes include 217, 618, 312, 630, 708, 773 and 815, all of which are in various states of exhaustion, he said.
  NANPA is the administrator that works with the telecommunications industry in [continue]

State, local interests address transportation needs
By KERRY L. SMITH

   COLLINSVILLE -- Business, labor and community interests from Southwestern Illinois met in November as a united effort to support increased federal transportation funding for Illinois.
  At a briefing for area businesses, workers and elected officials listened to transportation expert Carla Berroyer describe federal transportation funding formulas and the [continue]

 
Look inside our print edition for more Illinois Telecommunications articles!