In a message dated 98-03-23 12:06:39 EST, you write:

> I tried dialing 0+number on my defunct cell phone and was routed to customer
>  service at my previous wireless carrier. They would not route me to an
>  operator to place the call. I don't want to test it, but I imagine 911
calls
>  will not be rerouted and will work as they are supposed to.

There were some areas where I couldn't get an operator to make a personal call
travelling cross country using my defunct cell phone. I think around St. Louis
was one area. But I did make calls from Kansas, Wyoming, and Colorado using my
cell phone without a contract. And a 911 call in Wyoming. And even when I
couldn't reach an operator I got a dial tone, so I assume the 911 thing would
work.

I may have dialed 1-0-ATT-0 first to get an operator in some places rather
than just 0. That is the prefix in my area (NYC) to get an ATT operator from a
non-ATT phone. And I think it worked on the road as well. Maybe that will
work.

Incidenally I just looked at my bill from the Summer when I was travelling and
a 9-minute call from Kansas to NJ on my defunct cell phone cost $18. Ouch! But
it is still useful for 911 emergencies.

OK. And, to fess up completely. Total calls from my defunct cell phone on my
three week trip this summer (9 calls mostly to the East coast from the west
and mid west) cost $77. The longest call was 9 minutes. And I'm not great at
math, but it seems better than paying for a contract, and then putting the
roaming charges, and toll call charges on top of that. But I've been wrong
before...

Jeff
83.5 Westy