ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 8, 1997 TAG: 9702100028
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
Global toll-free phoning could make big waves
WASHINGTON - Many of the world's largest telephone carriers this spring will launch a new system of global toll-free numbers that could transform the way Americans travel and conduct business around the world.
The new telephone numbers - which sport an ``800'' prefix like the three-decade-old version in the United States and Canada but contain an extra eighth digit - are intended to provide toll-free calling between countries rather than within a country. Because of their potential for cutting phone costs and facilitating a unified global marketing approach, experts predict the numbers will have a profound effect on business.
More than 15,000 U.S. companies have applied for the numbers, even though they have not been widely publicized by the long-distance carriers taking applications - AT&T, MCI, Sprint, WorldCom and USA Global Link - nor by the International Telecommunications Union in Geneva, which is administering the system.
Callers will be able to use the numbers in the United States, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and 11 European countries. Japan and Singapore are expected to sign this spring.
-Los Angeles Times
American prepares layoff notices
DALLAS - Hunkering down in case its pilots strike, American Airlines is building a war chest and preparing layoff notices for flight attendants and other employees.
American stepped up preparations for a walkout in advance of negotiations Monday with its pilots' union in Washington, under the auspices of the National Mediation Board.
If the bargaining is unsuccessful, the pilots can legally go on strike at 12:01 a.m. EST Feb. 15, the end of a 30-day cooling off period. If they walk off the job, American plans to ground the airline.
American's parent company, AMR Corp., has borrowed $1billion from an existing credit line and pledged its fleet of planes as collateral for another $1billion in credit, to be used to pay bills if the airline no longer can collect fares. It would take about a three-month strike to go through the money.
-Associated Press
Bankruptcies
Five bankruptcies with business affiliations have been filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for Western Virginia at Roanoke. Three of them are personal bankruptcies that the court listed as businesses because they have commercial connections and could be of interest to business creditors and customers.
*BBI Inc., operator of a convenience store on Brambleton Avenue in Roanoke, filed for reorganization and protection from creditors, estimating assets at less than $50,000 and liabilities at more than $100,000.
*Holly Patricia Ratliff of Blacksburg filed for a wage-earner plan for repayment of debts, listing assets of $914,586 and liabilities of $583,561. She is an owner of Holly Court Mobile Home Park, H&L Cleaning Service and H&L Electronic Medical Claims Services.
*Randy Dean Taylor of Big Rock, who has an interest in Sinbad Enterprises of Grundy, filed for liquidation with assets of $3,701 and liabilities of $152,201.
*Arthur Wayne King of Wirtz, a partner in Chil-King Electric and Air Conditioning Services, filed for a wage-earner plan with assets of $50,117 and liabilities of $30,052.
*Charles E. Weaver and Catherine L. Weaver of Roanoke, as The Kline Group and Asta Corp., filed for liquidation with assets of $69,865 and liabilities of $558,522.
-Staff report
LENGTH: Medium: 71 linesby CNB