The microtel tariff-telephone is an apparatus conceived and designed
to offer public telephone like service in commercial centers,
shops, restaurants or other establishments serving the general
public.
It consists of a telephone with a display , which is connected
to a small control box. the cost of the call is calculated automatically
and appears on the display. once the phone call is over, the cost
of the call is registered at the control box so that the proprietor
may view the charge to collect for the call or return the appropiate
change to the caller.
The control box permits activation of the telephone and programming
of the different modes of operation as well as calculating and
displaying cost of calls and the change that would be returned
to the caller.
Control
Box
Modes
of operation:
Prepaid: Caller pays a sum that is keyed in at
control box. The caller then proceeds to make call or
calls up to the cut-off amount entered at the control
box. Caller will see cost of call and any change due on
the small screen on phone. This information is also registered
at the control box so that the propietor may return any
money due the caller.
Post pay: Cost of call is displayed at the phone
and control box, allowing the proprietor to collect for
the phone call.
Proprietor mode: In this mode the telephone functions
like any normal phone without any restrictions. however,
the cost of calls will be calculated and will appear on
the telephone’s screen.
Updating tariffs:
Periodically or at fixed intervals, the telephone will automatically
communicate with the telephone company’s control center in
order to update tariffs and other functions of the phone service.
The function of communicating with the telephone company’s
control center is accomplished through a microcomputer and proprietary
software that permits telephone billing and any updating of system
via modem.
Advantages of MICROTEL’S tariff telephone:
For the user:
There is
no need to have coins or prepaid cards in order to make a call.
caller pays the exact cost of the call to the proprietor.
For the propietor:
Provides
another source of income as well as another way to attract customers.
For
the telephone company:
Ease of
collection. the proprietor recieves a normal monthly bill. the phone
company avoids any handling of coins or the use of prepaid phone
cards.
Can offer the public this service at
a fraction of the cost of conventional public telephone service.
Cost of maintenance is drastically
reduced due to the proprietor controlling the use of the phone.
there is very little chance of abuse or vandalism.
This system can be installed on existing
phone lines.
Low consuption of energy. this system
is energized directly through the phone line, without the need for
an additional energy source.
Prepaid: Caller pays a sum that is keyed in at
control box. The caller then proceeds to make call or
calls up to the cut-off amount entered at the control
box. Caller will see cost of call and any change due on
the small screen on phone. This information is also registered
at the control box so that the propietor may return any
money due the caller.