Comments on: Who’s Frank Main?

By: Alice Main

Alice Main — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 21:25:05 +0000

I just happened on this (while googling my husband) and thought it was funny. His name is Frank Main.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:03:56 +0000

I’ve been wondering about this Frank Main that appears on our phone bill. However, it hasn’t been on recent bills, I assumed the poor fellow died! Mendozaline gave a good explanation of what it is about. He must work for the phone company. Frnk Main only appears on our office phone bill (not our home phone) and we do not have Caller ID at home or at our office.

By: Dave T

Dave T — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 23:48:26 +0000

Kind of bizarre if you ask me. Then again I don’t have a land line any longer, only my mobile (yes I am odd, I say mobile instead of cell, as they are no longer actually cellular phones, they are digital communication devices) and if I get a call and don’t have the number programmed, I just don’t answer. If important, can leave a message and I will call you back. If not, then well, I did not need to talk to Frank, Billy, Bob or Shirley…..
Just my take.

By: htwaits

htwaits — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:01:54 +0000

The plot thickens. Our youngest lived in Fremont when he got his current cell phone account. I converted Frnk Main to Frank Main because that’s how our OOMA pronounces it.

Now why do two cell phones purchased in Palo Alto identify themselves as Los Altos, and San Mateo?

By: D. Devil's Advocate

D. Devil's Advocate — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 17:52:39 +0000

mendozaline, sounds like it’s just a software glitch, and maybe nobody’s ever said anything to the right person about it, so nobody knows to fix it. Most people are probably like LC, wondering “WHi’s Frank Main?”

By: CohnZohn

CohnZohn — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 15:10:44 +0000

mendozaline, thanks for the info. this is very interesting, but how in the world do you know this?

By: htwaits

htwaits — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 08:06:03 +0000

We have an OOMA Internet phone and no AT&T service at all. My wife’s cell phone calls are ID-ed as San Mateo. When I call home, I’m Los Altos. Our cell phone accounts were both setup in Palo Alto. One son’s cell phone calls are Frank Main. None of our kids or grandchildren are identified by name.

We do get some calls that are correctly ID-ed. Maybe most of us are doing something wrong.

I’m assuming that’s not the first time Matt has called you. If this is the first time he has been ID-ed as Frank Main, that’s interesting. Maybe Matt has a new cell phone account.

I hope you told him to terminate the lockout.

By: mendozaline

mendozaline — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 07:13:43 +0000

Frnk Main is the name of a telephone system switch. It stands for Fremont-Newark Main switch. I suspect that both Val and Matt have either some kind of caller ID blocking, or are both using some kind of VIOP (voice over internet) service. The caller ID that pops up on your phone is the name of the telephone switch. Whatever the reason for Frank Main, it is a crummy result and the engineer who designed it is a flop.

By: Albert Park

Albert Park — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 06:15:15 +0000

Do you know anyone in Frankfurt am Main in Germany? Just asking….

By: Stan

Stan — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 01:53:06 +0000

I have that caller ID that shows up on the phone AND TV. Never noticed a F.Main. I think its peculiar to your ATT? somebody figures thats a good way to get you to answer…and ATT obliges. More money for them.