agreement with long distance carriers that would improve telephone service to the US.

And Cable & Wireless has also indicated that new initiatives from its end could substantially improve some overseas calling.

The moves may alleviate long-running frustrations experienced by visiting US business people, who have complained of the inconvenience of calling home from hotel rooms, even though they have telephone credit cards.

Telco general manager Mr. Ernest Pacheco conceded: "The facility does not exist. We have no arrangement with AT&T which would enable the use of their automatic service.

"It is something that we definitely need to look into.'' A statement from Cable & Wireless said: "We would agree that the current situation can be inconvenient to some visitors.

"Cable & Wireless, however, is very conscious of the need to ensure that Bermuda remains `user friendly' for the international businessman.

"Consequently, the use of the AT&T calling cards from local hotel rooms is under review. In fact, we are attempting to work with the Island's hotels on a number of initiatives which, if adopted, will make all calling from hotel rooms more convenient.'' Telco distributes an almost identical AT&T card locally that allows Bermudians to have the same service when they travel abroad. One advantage is that long distance charges are billed directly to one's home telephone number.

One US executive who traveled extensively to Bermuda on business before accepting an insurance industry posting here last year, said he used to experience the headaches first hand.

He said: "Having to call an operator to use your AT&T Card is an issue that people are always perplexed about. The whole point of the card is that you get to dial direct from anywhere.

"That is a general issue for Bermuda in catering to business people. Why pay three times the going rate, when you got a card that is supposed to provide easier and less expensive access.

"When you are sitting there and need to make ten phone calls and you have to call the operator ten times, that is frustrating. You can't dial direct.

"You have to call an operator, and give them your AT&T card number, who then connects with an AT&T operator to see if your card is good and then they connect you.

"The other thing is that if you are in the US, you can press a button on the phone that prevents you from having to go through the procedure for your next long distance call. You just press the pound key on the telephone and dial your next party direct.

"Here you don't have that available. You have to start the process all over again, calling the operator for every call. Business people often have to make several long distance calls in one sitting and it is common for visiting businessmen to complain about that frustration.'' Hoteliers are aware of the issue, as well. They have been the targets of unjustifiable abuse from their guests, who often assume it is the hotel that is blocking the direct access.

One explained: "We provide the New York Times Fax for some travellers. But it tells you that you can dial toll free numbers direct from Bermuda, using your AT&T Card.

"Our guests try to use that number and they can't do it. They then complain to the hotel and ask why is the hotel blocking it. But it is not the hotel.

It is a big beef with business people.

"When you look at the New York Times fax, where it says Bermuda, it has a tiny asterisk that notes that you can only do it from certain phones. The only phones are on the docks (Number One Shed) and at the airport. But visitors have no way of knowing that.'' Mr. Pacheco stated that special telephones were installed at the Airport and the cruise ship terminals for the tourists, so that they can reach an overseas operator in the US directly. But he said they still would be required to contact an operator for each individual call.