David le Page
Lately, cellular phone users have discovered that the identities of not only cell users, but also Telkom users, are popping up automatically when they receive calls.
This development follows the introduction by Telkom earlier this year of its Identicall system – where a special plug-in unit can be rented for a nominal fee to supply caller identification to normal phone users.
On launching the service, Telkom entered into negotiations with MTN and Vodacom over the exchanging of caller identification information between the country’s three networks, and an agreement with Vodacom came into effect on Friday June 4.
According to Mish Mogale of MTN corporate affairs, the company signed a similar agreement with Telkom and this was implemented last week.
The caller ID feature can be blocked by Telkom users, if they choose, by dialing *31* before dialing a fixed or cellular user.
Hopefully, the giggling brats who put the phone down on you regularly don’t know that.
Cellular users, of course, have the same option. Vodacom corporate affairs group executive Joan Joffe says Vodacom has wanted to offer this service to its customers ever since cellular caller ID came online four years ago, but that Telkom has only recently decided to make the relevant information available to other networks.
ENDS
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