• Service Profile Identifier (SPID) Simplification

  The SPID is a numeric string, supplied by the ISDN service provider, that uniquely identifies ISDN service capabilities. Currently, end users enter the SPID into their telephone, computer, terminal, or other ISDN device. Once the SPID is configured, the terminals initialize by sending the SPID to the network. The terminal is expected to store the SPID in protected, non-volatile memory so the user only needs to enter it once.

  As part of the National ISDN Enhancements process, new procedures and capabilities will be deployed in 1996 and 1997 that will simplify or eliminate terminal initialization from the end user perspective:

  • The Generic SPID Format defines how the SPID value will be assigned for new National ISDN lines. It will be comprised of 14 digits, including a 10 digit telephone number, a 2 digit Sharing Terminal Identifier, and a 2 digit Terminal Identifier (TID). The most frequently used SPID value will be NPANXXXXXX0101 based on the configurations being installed today.

    The generic SPID Format will enable individuals and small businesses to obtain more complete SPID information from the CPE instruction manuals. In addition, large business customers, independent installers, and CPE suppliers with a presence in multiple territories will no longer require different SPID procedures for each location.

  • Non-Initializing Terminals. A non-initializing terminal is a terminal that has not successfully initialized or that is designed to operate without initialization. A non-initializing terminal has access to a subset of features available to an initialized terminal. Additional capabilities such as Conference, Transfer, and Message Waiting Indicator enhancements allow fixed feature identifier values to be assigned to the Default TSP.

  • Automated SPID Selection automates the terminal initialization procedures by having the switch send the SPID to the terminal, rather than have it entered by the user. The terminal initiates the Automated SPID Selection procedure by sending an initialization request to the SPCS with the universal SPID. The SPCS determines which service profile(s) is associated with the terminal's interface and sends the corresponding SPID(s) to the terminal. (The SPCS will send the SPID coded in the Service Profile Identification information element in an INFOrmation message.)

  Visit the SPID Simplification NIC web site for further details of the National ISDN SPID format initiatives, including ISDN service provider implementation dates.

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