Automatic ticketing of long-distance telephone connections

To operate long-distance service on an automatic basis, calls must be charged automatically. The time and zone or multiple metering system has its disadvantages. The minimum amount of information which an automatic ticketing system must give in order to satisfy both subscriber and administration is: (1) called subscriber's town and number, (2) calling subscriber's number, (3) charge for call or charge per unit time, (4) date, (5) time of day when call is made, (6) duration of call. The paper describes the system introduced at Malines, Belgium, with photographs and drawings of the equipment.