Telecom/1996-04-telecom-walnutcreek.iso/email/system.survey

Internet Message Format | 1991-08-18 | 14KB

From [e-mail] Sun Aug 18 13:24:36 1991
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Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Path: newcomb
From: Donald R Newcomb <[e-mail]>
Subject: Survey of E-mail systems.
Message-Id: <[e-mail]>
Summary: Choose the one you like best
Keywords:  Usenet, E-mail, email, networks
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Fri, 16 Aug 1991 20:33:43 GMT
Lines: 243
Apparently-To: uunet!comp-dcom-telecom
Resent-Date:  Sun, 18 Aug 91 12:27:55 CDT
Resent-From: [e-mail]
Resent-To: [e-mail]
Status: RO

I have updated my earlier posting comparing various e-mail services
for personal use. I want to thank everyone who responded and supplied
corrections to my posting. To put some persons' concerns to rest,
my only relationship with any vendor of computer services is as
a customer. In this study, I based my comparisons on the grades of
service which would give the lowest cost for the least use.

I have struggled with finding a good format to present my findings.
I found that some people did not relate well to the matrix I used
in my first posting. Others did not agree with the basis I was using
to make my comparison. Sort of like, "Why compare the price of the
basic sedan when everyone is going to order A/C and automatic
anyway." To alleviate these concerns I have included a brief
discussion based on my understanding of each system's features and
pricing. My information may be incorrect. Some providers are hard to
"pin down" on prices and features. I encourage you to check with
providers yourself before purchasing a service. If glaring errors
remain in my listing, I would appreciate your corrections. I have
tried to provide a phone number or e-mail address to contact each
service for information.

Three types of charges are detailed:
 A. Setup: A one time charge to get your account established.
 B. Annual minimum: What you will be charged even if you don't use
    the system.
 C. Hourly access: What it costs (often a range of costs) to occupy
    a port even if you don't send or receive mail. This is a problem
    area for my analysis. Some systems bundle access via PSN or 800
    number into this figure, some don't.

Other charges for e-mail are assumed to be a function of the number
of characters or messages sent or received. Charges of this type are
indicated by a "$" in the matrix. A problem arises in that "$" does
not indicate "how much." So, while both Omnet and ATT Mail indicate
a "$" to send to Telemail, for Omnet this is about $.06 while for
ATT Mail it is $.40-.85 .

The features are:
 A. Can send mail to various networks & systems:
    1. Intermail: Internet, SPAN, UUCP, BITNET and all the systems
       connected by Internet.
    2. Telemail: Sprint Mail, NASA Mail, Omnet etc.
    3. MCI Mail
    4. Compuserve
    5. GEnie: General Electric's E-Mail
    6. TELEX: Unrestricted World-wide Telex
    6a. Personal Telex #. User has a personal Telex number for
        receiving Telex vs. common Telex number using a code in
        the message to route the message.
    7. Telegram: World-wide delivery.
    8. Paper Mail: Delivery by USPS.
    9. Dialcom: Tymnet E-mail
    10. FAX:
 B. X.400 addressing: Utilizes and receives X.400 addressed messages.
 C. Packet network connections.
 D. Telnet: Access to and from Internet Telnet.
 E. Usenet: Has at least a basic Usenet News
 F. Binary File Transfer. Has a way to transfer binary files.
 G. File Store: User has at least 360K characters of storage.
 H. 800#: Access from toll-free 800 number for lower 48 states.
 I. Receipt: Sender can request an automatic receipt when a message
    is read.
 J. Auto-forward: User can set mailbox to automatically forward
    incoming mail to _any_ possible destination. (The acid test
    is to forward incoming e-mail to a FAX)

The systems compared, so far, are:
    1. Omnet (a source of Telemail)
    2. MCI Mail
    3. ATT Mail
    4. ESL (Western Union EasyLink)
        5. GEnie (Star*Services) (not same as Quickcom)
    6. Pinet (American Institute of Physics)
     7. World (Software Tool & Die, world.std.com)
    8. Portal (Portal Communications)
    9. Netcom (Online Communication Services)
    10. Compuserve
    11. Fidonet


                     Features-Read Down                 Costs ($US)
           |---------------------------------------|------------------
           |I|T|M|C|G|T|P|T|P|D|X|F|P|T|U|B|F|8|R|A| S  | A  | H |
           |n|e|C|o|E|e|e|e|a|i|.|A|a|e|s|i|i|0|e|u| e  | n  | o |
           |t|l|I|m|n|l|r|l|p|a|4|X|c|l|e|n|l|0|c|t| t  | n  | u |
           |e|e| |p|i|e|s|e|e|l|0| |k|n|n|a|e|#|e|o| u  | u  | r |
           |r|m|M|s|e|x|o|g|r|c|0| |e|e|e|r| | |i| | p  | a  |   |
           |n|a|a|e| | |n|a| |o| | |t|t|t|y|S| |p|F|    | l  |   |
           |e|i|i|r| | |a|m|M|m| | | | | | |t| |t|o|    |    |   |
           |t|l|l|v| | |l| |a| | | |N| | |X|o| | |r|    |    |   |
           | | | |e| | | | |i| | | |e| | |f|r| | |w|    |    |   |
           | | | | | | |#| |l| | | |t| | |e|e| | |d|    |    |   |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Omnet     |$ $ $ $ ? $ Y N $ $ Y $ S N N $ $ $ Y N 75   180  4-16@
 MCI Mail  |$ $ $ $ N $ Y N $ $ Y $ S N N ? $ Y ? N  0    35   0
 ATT Mail  |$ $ $ $ ? $ Y N $ ? Y $ A N N $ $ Y Y Y  0    30   0
 ESL       |D $ $ $ ? $ Y $ $ $ Y $ ? N N N $ ? $ N  0   300*  ?
 Genie     |N N N N Y N N N N N N N P N N ? ? $ ? N  0    60   0-18@
 Pinet     |Y Y Y Y ? $ D N $ $ N $ S Y Y Y Y Y N N 15    0    10-19@
 World     |Y Y Y Y ? D D N D D N D C Y Y Y Y N N Y  0    60   2
 Portal    |Y Y Y Y ? D D N D D N D S N N Y Y ? N Y 15   168   0
 Netcom    |Y Y Y Y ? D D N D D N D N Y Y Y ? N N Y  0   180   0
 Compuserve|$ $ $ $ ? $ ? N $ ? ? $ M N N Y Y $ ? N 40    30   1-12?
 Fidonet   |Y Y Y Y ? D D N D D N D N N N ? ? N N ? 0?    0?   0?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Key:
    Y=Available feature at no extra cost.
    N=Not available.
    $=Available, an extra charge for usage applies.
    D=Feature available with subscription to DASnet.*
    S=Sprint (Telenet) Packet Network
    C=Compuserve Packet Network
    T=Tymnet Packet Network
    P=Private Packet Network
    A=ACUNET Packet Network
    M=Multiple Packet Networks
    ?=Unsure
    *=Minimum sum of usage charges
    @=Includes domestic PSN charges

Note:(*) DASnet is a service that provides systems and individuals
     with a gateways to a variety of incompatible e-mail systems.
     Despite frequent mention of DASnet, this is not an endorsement
     of their service. They can help you get mail to and from many
     networks, but the addressing is often complex (not realy their
     fault). Delivery is not always instantaneous. Six hour delivery
     is not uncommon. Direct DASnet connections are available for
     electronic mail systems and networks. Legal considerations may
     restrict the means of connection.  A monthly charge of $4.75 plus
     usage charges apply to DASnet services for individuals. For
     information contact, ([e-mail]).

More details:

Omnet: There are various ways to obtain GTE Telemail (a.k.a.
    Sprintmail) the one I am most familiar with is Omnet.
    Omnet is popular with oceanographers and meteorologists
    and probably costs more then some other Telemail providers.
    I once could have had a Telemail account for $25.00 setup +
    $15.00 a year + usage, but that opportunity passed. A
    few years ago, connections between Telemail and Internet
    were "iffy" at best; now things are more reliable. Telemail
    has long been tied closely with Telenet. I don't even know
    if it is possible to dial directly into a Telemail host.
    Well developed connections to FAX, Telex etc.
    (/id=service/o=omnet/admd=telemail/c=usa/@sprint.com)

MCI Mail: Provides access to most networks. Private inbound Telex
    number. High use option (Preferred Pricing) available at
    $10.00/month for 40 "domestic electronic messages." No
    charge to access or retrieve mail. Basic communications are
    charged for message origination or forwarding plus a small
    annual fee ($35). Normal access via 800 number or Telenet.
    Seems set to compete with ATT Mail and vice versa.
    ([e-mail] or 800-444-6245)

ATT Mail: Provides access to most networks. Private inbound Telex
    number. Auto-forward supported (even to Telex or FAX).
    Various extra-cost options, but basic communications are
    charged for message origination or forwarding plus a small
    annual fee ($30). No charge to access or retrieve mail. One
    nice extra is message pick-up via 800 number with synthesized
    voice ($.50 per minute). Normal access is 800 number or
    ACUNET packet network. For someone who wants to receive a
    lot but send very little looks quite attractive. No Usenet.
    The gotcha is that ATT's $100+ software is required or you
    get charged an extra $.45+ to create each message online.
    You must have their software to send or receive binary files.
    This charge is not on their price list and is only mentioned
    obliquely in the brochures. It makes me wonder about other
    hidden charges.  In fairness to ATT, I should say that they
    seem to specialize in linking in-house corporate mail systems
    to outside networks. In this application the expense of their
    software would be reasonable.(800-624-5672)

ESL: EasyLink was Western Union's attempt at e-mail. It has recently
    been purchased by ATT but is still separate from ATT Mail. ESL
    can be best described as "virtual Telex." For companies that
    send a lot of Telex, ESL may be a good choice. Charges are
    based on the infamous "Telex minute" (about 400 char) and are
        lower than most other Telex connections. No "account maintenance"
    fee but a monthly minimum applies. There are no connections to
    Internet (except via DASnet). (800-624-5672)

GEnie: I'm not sure GEnie should be described as an e-mail system as
    it does not seem to provide connections to any other system.
    GEnie Star*Services are economical and have many interesting
    features but e-mail is strictly local. (800-638-9636)

Pinet: Pinet is a service of the American Institute of Physics. It is
    primarily intended for use by members of affiliated societies
    (AGU, APS, AAS etc). It is included because I have personal
    experience as a user. Basicly a Gould  UTX/32 host with a
    restrictive mail shell. Normal access via 800 dial-in. Telenet
    access has been recently added and may replace the 800 number.
    Well connected to Telnet but users can't FTP. Access to Telex,
    paper mail, FAX etc. provided by system connection to DASnet.
    Abbreviated Usenet. ([e-mail])

World: Software Tool & Die, Brookline MA. Sun 4 host. Well connected
    to Nearnet and SURAnet for Telnet and FTP but not rest of
    Internet (yet). They pride themselves on having an absurdly
    large number of news feeds (2500+). User has regular shell
    with only restriction being a rather "soft" file space quota
    of about 500 K bytes. Quota can be raised for small charge.
    Sign up for $20/mo and you get 20 hours with $1/hour above
    20. Normal access is via dial-up or Telnet. Compuserve PSN
    access is available for $6.00 per hour surcharge.
    ([e-mail])

Portal: Well known as UUCP & Usenet server. Also provides personal
    accounts. Access via Telenet $2.50-$15.00 per hour surcharge.
    Storage charge of $.04/K/month above 100 K bytes. Not well
    connected for FTP & Telnet. Cupertino, CA. ([e-mail])

Netcom: This was a big surprise. Online Communications Services seems
    (if I am reading their brochure correctly) to provide unlimited
    access to Intermail, Telnet, FTP, archives and more for a flat
    $15.00 per month. Well connected to Internet. 9600 baud
    dial-ups. No packet net or 800 number access. San Jose, CA.
    ([e-mail])

Compuserve: Well known to Joe Public. Provides 1001 services in
    addition to e-mail. Seems to provide FAX, Telex, Intermail,
    commercial mail connections etc. Brochures high on gloss; low
    in facts and prices. (800-457-6245)

Fidonet: Fidonet is a world-wide, store-and-forward network for PCs.
    In theory, it connects BBS users from South Africa to
    Greenland and on all continents. A hierarchal addressing
    system organizes the net into geographic zones and nets
    organized around a local hub. A one-way message may take
    2-3 days to arrive at its destination. FidoNet is gated to
    Internet via the fidonet.org domain. It is possible for a
    FidoNet node to set up a DASnet link for other services, but
    this may not be via Internet or UUCP. No set cost schedule.
    FidoNet nodes in my area are all cost free. No single P.O.C.
    Node list available via FTP on asuvax.eas.asu.edu in
    /stjhmc/nodelist.txt . Also via BITFTP on BITNET.

Donald Newcomb
[e-mail]   (just a customer)