AT&T; to End Key Part of 900 Service

AT&T; Corp. is bailing out of a major part of the pay-for-service telephone business, dealing a major setback to psychics, sex chat lines and other companies that use 900 numbers.

AT&T; stopped providing billing services for new 900 customers as of Jan. 1 and will discontinue billing for all such numbers on Dec. 31. The decision was primarily a financial one, AT&T; spokeswoman Jean Hurt said.

The tawdry reputation of some 900 services and concerns about AT&T;’s image may have played a part, Hurt said.