X3T9.2/93-083R0


          To:       X3T9.2 Members
          Date:     4-23-93
          Subject:  Ramblings about email and email services
          From:     Dal Allan

Recently, several of those on the reflector have noticed that my email is
originating from a new address, and have been curious about my practise of
still preferring MCI Mail as my receipt address. In response to requests to
explain earlier this week in Florida, here is the background.

Problem:   Sometimes there have been complaints about reflector members not
getting all the email traffic (me included). Often they are from those of us
who did not have direct access to Internet. The problem is any email that
originates on MCI Mail, Compuserve or other commercial services goes from
the reflector to all the Internet addresses but gets bounced on receipt by
the MCI Mail, Compuserve and other commercial services.

You can go          MCI-Compuserve
                    Compuserve-MCI
                    MCI-Internet
                    Compuserve-Internet

but you cannot go   MCI-Internet-Compuserve

or even             MCI-Internet-MCI

Internet:  By signing up with a local Internet provider not only have I
gotten a lower rate on my outgoing email but have solved the problem of
having to deal with reflectors. No more bounces, no more missed mail.

Using a local provider can mean an Internet address which is a long string
full of intermediate addresses. I was offered the option of applying for a
native Internet address (which is aliased to a long string of intermediate
addresses). You too can look like a real company node for only $35!

I played around with a couple of service providers and ran into various
problems of one kind or another before settling on the one I use now.

     Jim McBride                         415-949-4295
     jmcbride@jsm.com                    415-949-1823Fx

Most Internet providers are Unix capable with some knowledge of DOS, whereas
Jim is a DOS user with knowledge of Internet. This can be a plus, it
certainly is for me.

The service is a UUCP (Unix-Unix Copy) connection which provides email. In
the near future, a usenet service will be added to the email capability.
Basically, you run the UUPC software Jim provides and call to to upload and
download mail. Composing and reading mail is off-line which holds down the
toll charges. Modem speeds can be up to 14,400 baud (right now I am at 2400
and planning to upgrade).

If you really want to get into all the things that UUCP can do, you should
buy the complete Shareware UUPC documentation that underpins Jim's shell
(I'm still waiting to receive my package so I cannot offer an opinion on all
the goodies that will be unveiled in it).

The user interface is either interactive or command line. I use the latter
for convenience and love it, but users are split 50/50 on it, so a menu/tile
front end is under development and will be offered soon.

Jim has been running on a 'fee+connect time' basis but is switching over to
a single monthly use fee of $5.95. Users outside area code 415 have to add
the toll call on top of this but as everything is batched delivery, the
calls are short (based on the speed of your modem and length of your email).

MCI Mail:  Now, why do I keep using MCI Mail for incoming?

MCI Mail can be accessed from anywhere in the world, whereas my Internet
access is local.

It is possible to set up a 'poll and forward' routine on a daily cycle so
that email to dal@endl.com will be forwarded to 250-1752@mcimail.com but
this is prone to failure as there is no backup if something happens to the
machine in the office. Worse, it requires me to remember to set it up, and
that is by far the biggest weakness.

Since my laptop is not one of the 'road warrior' models, it does not have
the memory needed to hold my Internet access programs. In effect, when away
from the office, I cannot access endl.com.

Bottom line, keeping MCI Mail as the receipt address is easy (and cheap).

For anybody who needs access to email but not Internet, MCI Mail is far and
away the cheapest alternative I know of on the market. You can call them at
800-444-6245 to sign up for $35/year and they send you a demo diskette. To
communicate you need a computer (PC or Mac), a modem, and a communications
software package.

MCI Mail does not charge for email you receive, only for email you transmit.

The number you call to pick up email is toll free, so in the U.S. you do not
even use your nickel to dial on, and there are no connection charges by the
minute. The overseas arrangements vary by country, and range from free to a
toll call in that country.

Summary:  Everybody who wants to be active in standards and know what is
going on should be on email. We have reflectors for: SCSI, ATA, SFF, Fibre
Channel, 1394/SBP, HIPPI, IPI and probably others I have forgotten about
(there are subsets of special interest on many of the reflectors).

Please, do not call or email me with requests for further information
because everything I know about email is recorded above.

I encourage others with more experience to add to the information above.

Check email alternative out for yourself and you may find you prefer a
different solution.

>From here on, you're on your own.....