*************************************** GREEK INN BBS 312-774-2035 *************************************** SECRETS OF THE LITTLE BLUE BOX BY RON ROSENBAUM. A STORY SO INCREDIBLE IT MAY EVEN MAKE YOU FEEL SORRY FOR THE PHONE COMPANY. FROM OCTOBER 1971 ESQUIRE MAGAZINE. THE BLUE BOX IS INTRODUCED: IT'S QUALIT IES ARE REMARKED. I AM IN THE EXPENSIVELY FURNISHED LIVING ROOM OF AL GILBERTSON*, THE CREATOR OF THE "BLUE BOX." GILBERTSON IS HOLDING ONE OF HIS SHINY BLACK-AND-SILVER "BLUE BOXES" COMFORTABLY IN THE PALM OF HIS HA ND, POINTING OUT THE THIRTEEN LITTLE RED PUSH BUTTONS STICKING UP FROM THE CONSO LE. HE IS DANCING HIS FINGERS OVER THE BUTTONS, TAPPING OUT DISCORDANT BEPING E LECTRONIC JUNGLES. HE IS TRYING TO EXP LAIN TO ME HOW HIS LITTLE BOUE BOX DOES NOTHING LESS THAN PLACE THE ENTIRE TELEP HONE SYSTEM OF THE WORLD, SATELLITES, CA BLES AND ALL, ATH THE SERVICE OF THE BLU E-BOX OPERATOR, FREE OF CHARGE. "THAT'S WHAT IT DOES. ESSENTIALLY IT GIVES YOU THE POWER OF A SUPER OPERA TOR. YOU SEIZE A TANDEM WITH THIS TOP B UTTON," HE PRESSES THE TOP BUTTON WITH H IS INDEX FINGER AND THE BLUE BOX EMITS A HIGH-PITCHED CHEEP, "AND LIKE THAT"-CHE EP GOES THE BLUE BOX AGAIN-"YOU CONTROL THE PHONE COMPANY'S LONG DISTANCE SWITCH ING SYSTEMS FROM YOUR CUTE LITTLE PRINCE SS PHONE OR ANY OLD PAY PHONE. AND YOU' VE GOT ANONYMITY. AN OPERATOR HAS TO OP ERATE FROM A DEFINITE LOCATION: THE PHO NE COMPANY KNOWS WHERE SHE IS AND WHAT S HE'S DOING. BUT WITH YOUR BEEPER BOX, O NCE YOU HOP ONTO A TRUNK, SAY FROM A HOL IDAY INN 800 (TOLL-FREE) NUMBER, THEY DO N'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, OR WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM, THEY DON'T KNOWHOW YOU SLIP PED INTO THEIR LINES AND POPPED UP IN TH AT 800 NUMBER. THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW ANY THING ILLEGAL IS GOING ON. AND YOU CAN OBSCURE YOUR ORIGINS THROUGH AS MANY LEV ELS AS YOU LIKE. YOU CAN CALL NEXT DOOR BY WAY OF WHITE PLAINS, THEN OVER TO LI VERPOOL BY CABLE AND THEN BACK HERE BY S ATELLITE. YOU CAN CALL YOURSELF FROM ON E PAY PHONE ALL THE WAY AROUND THE WORLD TO A PAY PHONE NEXT TO YOU. AND YOU GE T YOUR DIME BACK TOO. "AND THEY CAN'T TRACE THE CALLS? THEY CAN'T CHARGE YOU?" "NOT IF YOU DO IT THE RIGHT WAY. BUT YOU'LL FIND THAT THE FREE-CALL THIN G ISN'T REALLY AS EXCITING AT FIRST AS TH E FEELING OF POWER YOU GET FROM HAVING O NE OF THESE BABIES IN YOUR HAND. I'VE W ATCHED PEOPLE WHEN THEY FIRST GET HOLD O F ONE OF THESE THINGS AND START USING IT , AND DISCOVER THEY CAN MAKE CONNECTIONS , SET UP CRISSCROSS AND ZIGZAG SWITCHING PATTERNS BACK AND FORTH ACCROSS THE WOR LD. THEY HARDLY TALK TO THE PEOPLE THEY FINALLY REACH. THEY SAY HELLO AND START THINKING OF WHAT KIND OF CALL TO MAKE N EXT. THEY GO A LITTLE CRAZY." HE LIIKS DOWN AT THE NEAT LITTLE PACKAGE IN HIS PALM. HIS FINGERS ARE STILL DANCING, T APPING OUT BEEPER PATTERNS. "I THINK IT'S SOMETHING TO DO WITH HOW SMALL MY DODELS ARE. THERE ARE LOT S OF BLUE BOXES AROUND, BUT MINE ARE THE SMALLEST AND MOST SOPHISTICATED ELECTRO NICALLY. I WISH I COULD SHOW YOU THE PR OTOTYPE WE MADE FOR OUR BIG SYNDICATE OR DER." HE SIGHS. "WE HAD THIS ORDER FOR A THOUSAND BEEPER BOXES FROM A SYNDICAT E FRONT MAN IN LAS VEGAS. THEY USE THEM TO PLACE BETS COAST TO COAST, KEEP LINE S OPEN FOR HOURS, ALL OF WHICH CAN GET E XPENSIVE IF YOU HAVE TO PAY. THE DEAL W AS A THOUSAND BLUE BOXES FOR $300 APIECE . BEFORE THEN WE RETAILED THEM FOR $150 0 APIECE, BUT $300,000 IN ONE LUMP WAS H ARD TO TURN DOWN. WE HAD A MANUFACTURIN G DEAL WORKED OUT IN THE PHILIPPINES. E VERYTHING WAS READY TO GO. ANYWAY, THE MODEL I HAD READY FOR LIMITED MASS PRODU CTION WAS SMALL ENOGH TO FIT INSIDE A FL IP-TOP MARLBORO BOX. IT HAD FLUSH-TOUCH PANELS FOR A KEYBOARD, RATHER THAN THES E UNSIGHTLY BUTTONS STICKING OUT. LOOKE D JUST LIKE A TINY PORTABLE RADIO. IN F ACT I HAD DESIGNED IT WITH A TINY TRANSI STOR RECEIVER TO GET ONE AM CHANNEL, SO IN CASE THE LAW BECAME SUSPICIOUS THE OW NER COULD SWITCH ON THE RADIO PART, STAR T SNAPPING HIS FINGERS AND NO ONE COULD TELL ANYTHING ILLEGAL WAS GOING ON. I T HOUGHT OF EVERYTHING FOR THIS MODEL-I HA D IT LINED WITH A BAND OF THERMITE WHICH COULD BE IGNITED BY RADIO SIGNAL FROM A TINY BUTTON TRANSMITTER ON YOUR BELT, S O IT COULD BE BURNED TO ASHES INSTANTLY IN CASE OF A BUST. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE MACHINE. YOU SHOULD HA VE SEEN THE FACE ON THESE SYNDICATE GUYS WHEN THEY CAME BACK AFTER TRYING IT OUT . THEY'D HOLD IT IN THEIR PALM LIKE THE Y NEVER WANTED TO LET IT GO, AND THEY'D SAY, 'I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.' YOU PROBABLY WON'T BELIEVE IT UNTIL YOU TRY IT." THE BLUE BOX IS TESTED: CERTAIN CONNECT IONS ARE MADE ABOUT ELEVEN O'CLOCK TWO NEIGHT LATER F RASER LUCEY HAS A BLUE BOX IN THE PALM OF HIS LEFT HAND AND A PHONE IN THE PALM OF HIS RIGHT. HIS IS STANDING INSIDE A PHONE BOOTH NEXT TO AN ISOLATED SHUT-DO WN MOTEL OFF HIGHWAY 1. I AM STANDING O UTSIDE THE PHONE BOOTH. FRASER LIKES TO SHOW OFF HIS BLUE BOX FOR PEOPLE. UNTIL A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN PACIFIC TELEPHONE MADE A FEW ARREST S IN HIS CITY, FRASER LUCEY LIKED TO BRI NG HIS BLUE BOX ** TO PARTIES. IT NEVER FAILED: A FEW CHEEPS FROM HIS DEVICE AN D FRASER BECAME THE CENTER OF ATTENTION AT THE VERY HIPPEST OF GATHERINGS, PLAYI NG PHONE TRICKS AND DOING REQUEST NUMBER S FOR HOURS. HE BEGAN TO TAKE ORDERS FO R HIS MANUFACTURER IN MEXICO. HE BECAME A DEALER. FRASER IS CUTIOUS NOW ABOUT WHERE HE SHOWS OFF HIS BLUE BOX. BUT HE NEVE R GETS TIRED OF PLAYING WITH IT. "IT'S LIKE THE FIRST TIME EVERY TIME," HE TELL S ME. FRASER PUTS A DIME IN THE SLOR. H E LISTENS FOR A TONE AND HOLDS THE RECE IVER UP TO MY EAR. I HEAR THE TONE. FRASER BEINGS DESCRIBING, WITH A C ERTAIN PRACTICED AIR, WHAT HE DOES WHIL E HE DOES IT. "I'M DIALING AN 800 NUMBER NOW. A NY 800 NUMBER WILL DO. IT'S TOLL FREE. TONIGHT I THINK I'LL USE THE ------ (H E NAMES A WELL KNOW RENT-A-CAR COMPANY) 800 NUMBER. LISTEN IT'S RINGING. HERE,Y OU HEAR IT? NOW WATCH." HE PLACES THE BLUE BOX OVER THE MO UTHPIECE OF THE PHONE SO THAT THE ONE S ILVER AND TWELVE BLACK PUSH BUTTONS ARE FACING UP TOWARD ME. HE PRESSES THE SIL VER BUTTON - THE ONE AT THE TOP - AND I HEAR THAT HIGH-PITCHED BEEP. "THATS 2600 CYCLES PER SECOND TO B E EXACT," SAYS LUCEY. "NOW, QUICK, LIS TEN." HE SHOVES THE EARPIECE AT ME. THE RINGING HAS VANISHED. THE LINE GIVES A SLIGHT HICCOUGH, THERE IS A SHARP BUZZ , AND THEN NOTHING BUT SOFT WHITE NOISE. "WE'RE HOME FREE NOW," LUCEY TELLS ME, TAKING BACK THE PHONE AND APPLYING THE BOUE BOX TO ITS MOUTHPIECE ONCE AGA IN. "WE'RE UP ON A TANDEM, INTO A LONG-L INES TRUNK. ONCE YOU'RE UP ON A TAFDEM, YOU CAN SEND YOURSELF ANYWHERE YOU WNAT TO GO." HE DECIDES TO CHECK YOU LONDON FIRST. HE CHOOSES A CERTAIN PAY PHONE L OCATED IN WATERLOO STATION. THIS PARTIC ULAR PAY PHONE IS POPULAR WITH THE PHONE -PHREAKS NETWORK BECAOUS THERE ARE USUAL LY PEOPLE WALKING BY AT ALL HOURS WHO WI LL PICK IT UP AND TALK FOR A WHILE. HE PRESSES THE LOWER LEFT-HAND COR NER BUTTON WHICH IS MARKED "KP" ON THE FACE OF THE BOX. "THAT'S KEY PULSE. IT TELLS THE T ANDEM WERE READY TO GIVE IT INSTRUCTION S. FIRST I'LL PUNCH OUT KP 182 START, W HICH WILL SLIDE US INTO THE OVERSEAS SEN DER IN WHITE PLAINS." I HEAR NEAT CLUNK -CHEEP. "I THINK WE'LL HEAD OVER TO ENG LAND BY SATELLITE. CABLE IS ACTUALLY FA STER AND THE CONNECTION IS SOMEWHAT BETT ER, BUT I LIKE GOING BY SATELLITE. SO I JUST PUNCH OUT KP ZERO 44. THE ZERO IS SUPPOSED TO GUARANTEE A SATELLITE CONNE CTION AND 44 IS THE COUNTRY CODE FOR ENG LAND. OKAY . . . WE'RE THERE. IN LIVER POOL ACTUALLY. NOW ALL I HAVE TO DO IS PUNCH OUT THE LONDON AREA CODE WHICH IS 1, AND DIAL UP THE PAY PHONE. HERE, LIS TEN, I'VE GOT A RING NOW." I HEAR THE SOFT QUICK PURR-PURR OF A LONDON RING. THEN SOMEONE PICKS UP THE PHONE. "HELLO," SAYS THE LONDON VOI CE. "HELLO, WHO'S THIS?" FRASER ASKS. "HELLO. THERE'S ACTUALLY NOBODY H ERE. I JUST PICKED THIS UP WHILE I WAS PASSING BY. THIS IS A PUBLIC PHONE. T HERE'S NO ONE HERE TO ANSWER ACTUALLY." "HELLO. DON'T HANG UP. I'M CALLI NG FROM THE UNITED STATES." "OH. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE C ALL? THIS IS A PUBLIC PHONE YOU KNOW." "OH. YOU KNOW. TO CHECK OUT, UH, T O FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN LONDON. HOW IS IT THERE?" "IT'S FIVE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING. IT'S RAINING NOW." "OH. WHO ARE YOU?" THE LONDON PASSERBY TURNS OUT TO B E AN R.A.F. ENLISTEE ON HIS WAY BACK TO THE BASE IN LINCOLNSHIRE, WITH A TERRIB LE HANGOVER AFTER A THIRTY-SIX-HOUR PASS . HE AND FRASER TALK ABOUT THE RAIN. T HEY AGREE THAT IT'S NICER WHEN IT'S NOT RAINING. THEY SAY GOOD-BYE AND FRASER H ANGS UP. HIS DIME RETURNS WITH A NICE C LINK. "ISN'T THAT FAR OUT," HE SAYS GRIN NING AT ME. "LONDON. LIKE THAT." FRASER SQUEEZES THE LITTLE BLUE BOX AFFECTIONATELY IN HIS PALM. "I TOLD YA THIS THING IS FOR REAL. LISTEN, IF Y OU DON'T MIND I'M GONNA TRY THIS GIRL I KNOW IN PARIS. I USUALLY GIVE HER A CAL L AROUND THIS TIME. IT FREAKS HER OUT. THIS TIME I'LL USE THE ----- (A DIFFERE NT RENT-A-CAR COMPANY) 800 NUMBER AND WE 'LL GO BY OVERSEAS CABLE 133; 33 IS THE COUNTRY CODE FOR FRANCE, THE 1 SENDS YOU BY CABLE. OKAY, HERE WE GO. . . . OH D AMN. BUSY. WHO COULD SHE BE TALKING TO AT THIS TIME?" A STATE POLICE CAR CRUISES SLOWLY BY THE MOTEL. THE CAR DOES NOT STOP, B UT FRASER GETS NERRVOUS. WE HOP BACK IN TO HIS CAR AND DRIVE TEN MILES IN THE OP POSITE DIRECTION UNTIL WE REACH A TEXACO STATION LICKED UP FOR THE NIGHT. WE PU LL UP TO A PHONE BOOTH BY THE TIRE PUMP. FRASER DASHES INSIDE AND TRIES THE PAR IS NUMBER. IT IS BUSY AGAIN. "I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHO SHE COULD BE TALKING TO. THE CIRCUITS MAY BE BUS Y. IT'S TOO BAD I HAVEN'T LEARNED HOW T O TAP INTO LINES OVERSEAS WITH THIS THIN G YET." FRASER BEGINS TO PHREAK AROUND, AS THE PHONE PHREAKS SAY. HE DIALS A LEAD ING NATIONWIDE CHARGE CARD'S 800 NUMBER AND PUNCHES OUT THE TONES THAT BRING HIM THE TIME RECORDING IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA . HE BEEPS UP THE WEATHER RECORDING IN ROME, IN ITALIAN OF COURSE. HE CALLS A FRIEND IN BOSTON AND TALKS ABOUT A CERTA IN OVER THE COUNTER STOCK THEY ARE INTO HEAVILY. HE FINDS THE PARIS NUMBER BUS Y AGAIN. HE CALLS UP "DIAL A DISC" IN L ONDON, AND WE LISTEN TO "DOUBLE BARRELL" BY DAVID AND ANAIL COLLINS, THE NUMBER ONE HIT OF THE WEEK IN LONDON. HE CALLS UP A DEALER OF ANOTHER SORT AND TALKS I N CODE. HE CALLS UP JOE ENGRESSIA, THE ORIGINAL BLIND PHONE-PHREAK GENIUS, AND PAYS HIS RESPECTS. THERE ARE OTHER CALL S. FINALLY FRASER GETS THROUGH TO HIS Y OUNG LADY IN PARIS. THEY BOTH AGREE THE CIRCUITS MUST HAVE BEEN BUSY, AND CRITI CIZE THE PARIS TELEPHONE SYSTEM. AT TWO -THIRTY IN THE MORNING FRASER HANGS UP, POCKETS HIS DIME, AND DRIVES OFF, STEERI NG WITH ONE HAND, HOLDING WHAT HE CALLS HIS "LOVELY LITTLE BLUE BOX" IN THE OTHE R. YOU CAN CALL LONG DISTANCE FOR LESS THA N YOU THINK "YOU SEE, A FEW YEARS AGO THE PHON E COMPANY MADE ONE BIG MISTAKE," GILBER TSON EXPLAINS TWO DAYS LATER IN HIS APAR TMENT. "THEY WERE CARELESS ENOUGHT TO L ET SOME TECHNICAL JOURNAL PUBLISH THE AC TUAL FREQUENCIES USED TO CREATE ALL THEI R MULTI-FREQUENCY TONES. JUST A THEORET ICAL ARTICLE SOME BELL TELEPHONE LABORAT ORIES ENGINEER WAS DOING ABOUT SWITCHING THEORY, AND HE LISTED THE TONES IN PASS ING. AT ----- (A WELL KNOWN TECHNICAL S CHOOL) I HAD BEEN FOOLING AROUND WITH PH ONES FOR SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE I CAME ACR OSS A COPY OF THE JOURNAL IN THE ENGINEE RING LIBRARY. I RAN BACK TO THE LAB AND IT TOOK MAYBE TWELVE HOURS FROM THE TIM E I SAW THAT ARTICLE TO PUT TOGETHER THE FIRST WORKING BLUE BOX.