Calling Cards and Dialup: Option 3

Option 3: The system's networking configuration has a preconfigured profile for calling cards

Advantages of this method:

If the programmers of the operating system you use have preconfigured a calling card setup that matches the card you use, much of the difficulty has been removed for you.

You can use their profile to simplify the connection process without needing either to struggle with finding the correct string of numbers to give the modem or to split the phone line and answer the prompts yourself.

Disadvantages of this method:

Not all operating systems provide this option; of those that do, not all calling cards are provided, and of the calling cards that are provided, the sequence programmed in may not be current enough to match the calling card system.

Windows users have more preconfiguration options than Macintosh users.

Windows instructions:

• Windows XP
• Windows 2000
• Windows 98
• Windows 95

Mac instructions:

• Mac OS X
• Older Mac systems

Windows XP details:

Go to Control Panel -> Phone and Modem Options. This brings up the Phone and Modem Options window.

Choose Edit Location. In the Edit Location window, there are three tabs: General, Area Code, and Calling Card. (General shows up first.)

When you click the Calling Card tab, you can use a preconfiguration from the list, edit one, or define your own new configuration.

Windows 2000 details:

Go to Control Panel -> Phone and Modem Options. This brings up the Phone and Modem Options window. If you need to create a new location, click the New button and create one. Then choose Edit.

In the Edit Location window, there are three tabs: General, Area Code, and Calling Card. (General shows up first.)

When you click the Calling Card tab, you can use a preconfiguration from the list, edit one, or define your own new configuration.

Windows 9x users:

Note that your system may not exactly match the prompts given here, because dialup networking patches were included with several sets of system patches for the Windows 9x platforms. Consequently, Windows 9x users may see different windows or follow different sequences than those listed here.

Windows 98 details:

After you've set up your initial dialup configuration, start it as though you were going to connect from your usual location. This brings up the Connect To window.

On the Dialing from line, you'll see something like "default" or "home" or wherever you usually connect from.

Click the Change button to bring up the Dialing Properties window. Create a new location and name it for your calling card.

Then change the information in the "When dialing from here" area of the Dialing Properties window.

When you place a check mark by the "For long distance calls, use this calling card" option, the Calling Card button becomes available.

Clicking the Calling Card button produces the Change Calling Card window.

You can either choose one off the list or create a new one based on your own specifications. (You have several options for your own specifications in the Long Distance Calls and International Calls buttons, which bring up an interface like this.)

Windows 95 details:

After you've set up your initial dialup configuration, start it as though you were going to connect from your usual location. This brings up the Connect To window.

On the Dialing from line, you'll see something like "default" or "home" or wherever you usually connect from.

Click the Change button to bring up the Dialing Properties window. Create a new location and name it for your calling card. Then change the information in the "How I dial from this location" area of the Dialing Properties window.

When you place a check mark by the Dial using Calling Card option, the Change button becomes available.

Clicking the Change button produces the Change Calling Card window. You can either choose one off the list or create a new one based on your own specifications or in data you copy from another card. (The contents of the Advanced window are editable only when you define your own card.)

Macintosh OS X systems:

There is no pre-configured calling card option for Macintosh OS X; follow option 1 or option 2 to use a calling card.

For users of systems between 10.0 and 10.1.1: These versions have what is effectively an anti-calling card configuration. Due to a flaw in the modem scripts, the modem will send only the first 20 characters of any string typed in to the dialing text box. This isn't enough to complete the 800 number, a PIN number, and the target phone number.

This bug does not affect users of Mac OS X versions 10.1.2 or later.

Mac OS X 10.0 to 10.0.1 users do have two options:

1. Use option 1 instead, dialing the responses to the calling card prompts manually.
   
   
2. Bring modem scripts in from a previous Macintosh version. (Since Mac OS X includes a Classic mode, you can copy the ones used by the Classic mode operating system into the OS X system.)

Macintosh (pre-OS X) systems:

Pre-OS X Macintoshes include a utility called DialAssist. While it doesn't contain preconfigurations for certain calling cards, it does provide locations for you to enter your calling card number and/or credit card number for use in dialing.

In the main DialAssist window, you can change the suffix to the "My Calling Card" option.

In the default suffix list, there is a credit card option and a calling card option, and the list can be added to or edited.

Choosing to edit the calling card gives a window where you can rename the option (for example, AT&T Calling Card or MCI Calling Card if you have or use more than one).

The numbers are presented as bullets rather than numbers for security purposes, like typing in a password; make sure you type accurately when entering them.

Beyond that, Mac users will need to follow option 1 or option 2 to finish navigating the prompts provided by their calling card.