🚀 go-pugleaf

    >The system essentially converts a line that once allowed only a single
    >conversation or computer connection to carry two voice signals and 
    >five computer signals simultaneously.
	
Sounds amazingly like ISDN (except for the limit of 5 data calls, since
the ISDN D channel has no such limit, as far as I know.)
	
They also seem to imply that you don't need more pairs.  ISDN needs 2
pairs instead of 1.  I wonder if Victoria really only needs 1 pair?
	
    >No decisions have been made on how much the new service will cost or how it
    >will be marketed. John Lucas, a Pacific Bell spokesman, said that if a new
    >digital standard emerges, Victoria can be modified to be compatible.
	
Sounds like Pacific Bell has never heard of ISDN.  For Pete's sake, ISDN
is an international standard!  It's been implemented on 5ESS, goes on
trial in Illinois this year, and our soon-to-be-upgraded-to-5ESS is
expected to have ISDN installed and working in 1987.
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Is this one of those situations where the media strips out all technical
information from press releases so the general public can understand it?
	
		Mark
	
[Sounds like Pacific Bell is up to its usual tricks, trying to lock us into
 their system, and accordingly, their tariffs. -elmo]