Ring! Ring! Ring!
So when the pamphlet came in the mail from Illinois Bell offering a new feature called automatic callback, I could barely contain myself. It’s the most recent addition to Illinois Bell’s Custom Calling Services. Some of the more harmless of these services include call waiting (though some would argue), three-way calling, and call forwarding. Now they offer a feature that can automatically return the last call transmitted to your phone; all you have to do is press a three digit code: *69.
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Automatic callback is not as foolproof as the controversial Caller ID, which presents a digital display of the actual phone number from which the call originates, but some might argue it is less intrusive. It’s also widely available, and at only $3.50 per month it’s much less expensive.
It wasn’t long before I was hit head-on with the pitfalls of automatic callback.
It also fails to work if you receive a call from a car phone or a non-Illinois Bell phone. Already I was starting to feel ripped off.
Once while I was in the shower, I got a message from a friend. I called her back using the code. “Hi Elise, it’s Rose. What’s up?”
“Oh yeah, of course. Gee, it didn’t sound like you Dave. How are ya?”
