Category : Tutorials + Patches
Archive   : TM910719.ZIP
Filename : TM910719.4

From Telecomputing Magazine

Connect-USA Announces Low Cost BBS Service

Connect-USA Communications Incorporated, of Albuquerque, New Mexico today
announced that it is building a nationwide data communications network with
emphasis on serving the growing community of Bulletin Board System callers.

The network, based on X.25 fast packet switching technology, became
operational on July 15, 1991.

The network will begin operations in Los Angeles, San Jose, Seattle,
Chicago, Milwaukee, the Washington DC and northern Virginia area, Atlanta,
Tampa, Miami, Dallas, Houston and Albuquerque.

The network will offer the "Connect-USA Leisure Time Account" in the above
cities beginning in May. This service will permit callers to use the
network to make "dialout" calls from any of the initial twelve cities to
any of the other same cities. The network customer is charged thirty
dollars ($30) for up to thirty hours of network usage per month. Hours used
over the initial thirty hours are billed at $3.00 per hour. Callers may use
the network at any time, day or night.

Connect-USA will support baud rates up to 14.4KBPS through the use of
V.32bis/MNP and Compucom DIS modems. Lower BPS rates are also supported.

According to Dean Kerl, vice president of operations, "The network will
fill a void in dial up communications by being the first to support the
fast spreading V.32bis standard."

"Other services, including the Starlink service of our sister company,
Galaxy Telecomm Corporation, are typically restricted to 2400BPS. With
modem prices dropping, our Leisure Time service will allow new modem
purchasers to use their high-speed modems economically." Kerl Said.

"For those callers who do not need the high speed of V.32bis, we will also
support the Compucom Speedmodem which uses a proprietary 9600 BPS
'standard'. A user will typically dial one of our access numbers that
corresponds with his modem type. After entering his unique Network User
Identification and password, he indicates the area code and telephone
number he wishes to call. The network checks to see if a call can be placed
to that number, and if so, completes the call with the same type of modem
the user called the network with. It's a truly effortless process, unlike
other services which require the use of complicated codes and network
commands."

"We feel that this service will be well received by experienced modem users
as well as those who are just entering this exciting field of computer
communications" Kerl continued. "The learning curve is remarkably short. A
caller will be communicating in a matter of minutes instead of the hours
previously required."

The service is currently operational via the Compuserve Data Network in the
cities of Albuquerque, Boston, Honolulu, Ft. Lauderdale and Milwaukee. The
company plans to continue services to these cities through it's existing
facilities.

Plans have been made to extend the service to additional major cities later
in the year.

In addition to being able to dial remote computer systems through the
dialout facility, callers may reach several major Bulletin Board Systems
and Information providers who have signed on with Connect-USA, becoming
directly connected to the network. Some of these major systems are: Exec-PC
(Milwaukee, WI), Rusty 'N Edie's BBS (Youngstown, OH), Dragon Net BBS
(Galveston, TX), Micro Mall (Tacoma, WA), Galaxy (Albuquerque, NM), Isles
Of Shae (Ft. Lauderdale, FL), Channel 1 (Boston, MA), Atlanta Chatline
(Atlanta, GA), Chicago Syslink (Chicago, IL), The Burbs (Los Angeles, CA),
Cloud Nine (Houston, TX), Prostar (Seattle, WA) and Meganet (Tampa, FL).

Callers residing in cities not yet equipped with Connect-USA facilities may
utilize the service via Compuserve's dial up access numbers in over 800
cities. Callers are charged $3.00 per connect hour when using Compuserve's
access numbers.

For more information about Connect-USA and it's different calling plans,
please contact: Connect-USA Communications, Inc., 2625 Pennsylvania NE
Suite 225, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 505-881-6988 (voice), 505-881-2756
(FAX), 505-881-6964 (BBS).

Copyright 1991, Telecomputing Magazine -- All rights reserved.