We're waiting with anticipation to see how the telecommunications sector plays the game of competition in the Bermuda market. The tattle is in the street about the proposed takeover by The Bermuda Telephone Co. Ltd. (BTC) of Logic Communications, the key chunk of Millennium International Ltd.

The deal seems stuck in limbo, with none of the sides willing to talk, even though they've reportedly told their employees about the plan. Why all the secretiveness? It's not as if there are lots of competitors with that kind of cash around to steal the deal away. Quantum Communications, which is set to take away a good part of BTC's Hamilton market, could have made a move in the same direction, but the company is too busy getting started to make an acquisition right now.

Secondly, both companies are publicly listed on the Bermuda Stock Exchange.

Shareholders in BTC and Millennium should be concerned that they're not being informed about the proposed deal. It's after all their money BTC is spending to try and get itself on the right track.

Millennium's Logic Communications Ltd. is in the business of providing computer consulting, service and systems support on the Island. It is also an Internet service provider. Buying the company would be a good move for BTC.

Not only would it expand the range of services the company can offer, BTC would also be purchasing a culture that it badly needs.

If any papers have been signed that's a significant event in both companies lives that should be reported to the Bermuda Stock Exchange. If not, someone sign the dotted line and get the merger over with. Please.

*** How can we progress to new or improved technology when we can't even use the existing technology properly? I am always amused to hear companies espouse their "new philosophy'' of service to the customer and yet they can't even pick up their own phones. Nothing can turn a customer off when they don't get a response, or there's poor telephone skills at the other end. So to get these companies to shape up I intend to start an occasional "Telephone hall of infamy''.

The first two on the block are Belco and The Bank of Bermuda. On February 6 I telephoned the electric company's main line and sat for 20 rings without an answer. I telephoned again and the phone was picked up after eight rings. When asked about the delay, the receptionist at the other end said she was the only one available to answer the lines. If the company finds it too expensive to put in a second receptionist, it should buy an electronic answering service so callers can choose options.

On February 9 I phoned The Bank of Bermuda, which picked up after six rings. I wanted to get through to their card services department. The receptionist told me all the lines were busy and I should phone back again. That's bad service.

Solution: take a message or put me through to an electronic message system for that particular department. In November I tried telephoning the bank from New York to talk to card services and had to telephone three times before getting through. The first time there was no answer. "Nobody home in Bermuda,'' I joked. The second time the receptionist or someone else cut me off. The third time I got through and was a little teed off I had wasted money on long distance calls. The person who answered at card services said the company was having problems with its telephone system. I don't want excuses I want service.

Just for fun I telephoned BTC yesterday. The company answered after one ring.

And again. And again.

*** Sign of the The New York Times: "America Online to Raise Fee For Unlimited Use to $21.95''. People are complaining because of a $2 increase for unlimited access.

*** Sun Microsystems Inc. has an appliance called Persona (also known as "the goober'' for its shape) which hooks up to your computer and telephone line.

The Persona collects voice, and electronic mail and faxes. The appliance is the size of a toaster and will cost about $1,000 in the US by the end of this year.

*** Some people would also like the FEELit Mouse by Immersion Corp. This mouse allows computer users to physically feel web pages as they browse, according to the company's press release. You can feel "textures, surfaces, springs, liquids, friction, magnets...almost anything is possible,'' the company states, claiming users will be able to feel the texture of fabrics or the "surface contours of the latest sports car''.

I can imagine a few porno addicts running out for the mouse now. But wait, it's not expected to be for sale until the end of this year for about $140 in the US.