As of early 1994, SoftArc has sold systems which total over 800,000 FirstClass mailboxes and some 50,000 conferences in dozens of countries around the world.
The following are some of the places FirstClass is being used, and why.
Business
FirstClass is used by many businesses as an integrated remote access customer support system and local office e-mail system. Clients may call in and leave mail, which provides immediate notification to the recipient, who can then access the server over the network to read the mail. Conferences on product information, areas for questions and answers and background technical information significantly reduce the load on support personnel. SoftArc's own system is used this way.
Other companies find the network conferencing features of FirstClass combined with remote access provide an excellent set of groupware tools for their various departments. With electronic conferencing, people can develop ideas without needing to meet face to face. And by calling in by modem from home, they can often work on a project away from the bustle of the office. Since FirstClass supports TV100 terminal access as well as graphical connections with Macintoshes and Windows machines, users can connect remotely from any computer—including miniature pocket organizers and PDAs.
Businesses which process electronic information find FirstClass an excellent way to exchange files with clients and transport them within the organization. Service Bureaus use FirstClass to allow customers to send in electronic print jobs without couriers. The integrated FirstClass mail system can notify managers immediately when a job has arrived without needing to be logged in to the server. Since FirstClass supports background file transfers, clients can fill in annotated comments and job specifications while files are being uploaded.
Organizations choose FirstClass because of the interface's simplicity of use. And because the FirstClass client software is freely distributable, many pre-configure diskettes for their employees or clients, who only have to click on the "login" button once they've inserted the diskette into their machines. FirstClass takes the mystery out of e-mail or telecommunications for novices.
E-mail, conferencing and remote access in a single package puts the necessary tools for group interworking at the fingertips of everyone in an organization—regardless of where they connect from.
Businesses using FirstClass that have authorized us to give out their names include:
Aldus, Cisco Systems, K-Mart, Eastman Kodak, Agfa, Adobe Systems, General Electric, MicroBoutique, Oracle Corporation, Space Telescope Science, TransAlta Utilities, Schlumberger, Trident Data Systems-Lockheed Missiles & Space, The Bartering Company Ltd., Linotype-Hell, Pacific Gas & Electric, Booz Allen & Hamilton, Betz Paperchem, Motorola, Manhattan Graphics, Harley-Davidson
Education
FirstClass is used by school boards around the world. Many use it to link teachers together from school to school with e-mail and private conferencing, but many more use it to facilitate communication among students locally and globally. FirstClass ties in perfectly with global e-mail services like the Unix Internet, allowing teachers to communicate with colleagues around the world and students to develop pen-pals in remote areas.
Some educational sites use FirstClass for curriculum discussions among teachers and distribution of learning materials. Because FirstClass servers can gateway together by network or modem to exchange both private mail and conference items, it's an ideal system for school boards spanning large geographic areas.
A large number of universities use FirstClass for conferencing among students and faculty access to a variety of local university network resources.
Extensive security features built into FirstClass can permit students to access only limited portions of given FirstClass systems without having to worry about sensitive information posted elsewhere on the same server.
Large educational installations using FirstClass that have authorized us to give out their names include:
University of Maine, University of Texas, University of Lancaster, Emory University, University of Arizona, Syracuse University, University of California, University of Portland, San Francisco State University, UK Open University London
Public Services & Government
FirstClass is used by government and public services. The U.S. Fire Department uses FirstClass as an e-mail and information service. Staff access their system by network or remotely from Macs installed in some fire trucks.
FirstClass can be used to organize and store documents and to air ideas and proposals to large groups of people without the need to meet constantly. Since many government departments contain a hybrid of Macintosh and PC machines, the interworking and support for both Macs and PCs provided by FirstClass either over the network or via remote access is especially important.
FirstClass can also be used to provide information services to the general public and the mass media via telecom connections or the FirstClass fax gateway, which provides for broadcast fax transmission. This is an excellent way to disseminate information on government programs, policies and assistance while keeping the cost of running such a service low.
User Groups
FirstClass is lauded by computer user groups because its graphical interface preserves the look and feel of the popular Macintosh and Windows graphical interfaces even when accessed over telephone lines. Many use it to run online services for their members, because the software provides an excellent means for distributing information, providing access to large file selections (including CD-ROMs), and facilitating realtime discussions between members. Users without a copy of the FirstClass client graphical interface, or who find that one isn't available, may access their group's FirstClass server through the optional command line user interface to FirstClass. All the user needs is a conventional VT100 type terminal program.
In Canada, the MAGIC user group operates a large, busy system in Toronto. It provides its members with several gigabytes of files and many special interest conferences, plus it carries many Usenet news conferences. Anyone in the world may access this FirstClass system for free with the FirstClass client or another terminal program by dialing 416-288-1767.
In the U.S., one of the more popular public FirstClass systems is OneNet Los Altos in the heart of Silicon Valley. This fine system boasts large file areas, a knowledgeable user base and is where the global "OneNet" affiliation of public FirstClass BBSes began. Now hundreds of public systems around the world carry OneNet conferences. The main OneNet system may be accessed at 415-948-1349.
BMUG, the world's largest Macintosh User Group, also operates a large FirstClass system in Berkeley, California.
Public BBSes
FirstClass is one of the most popular programs among individuals who set up public information services, or bulletin boards, as a hobby.
Hundreds of FirstClass systems are used in this way all over the world. Many of them belong to the OneNet network of FirstClass systems, and are run on computers in people's basements. Enthusiasts often purchase the software and hardware they require and rent several phone lines out of their own pockets without charging the users of their systems.
Those using FirstClass as a BBS usually disregard its built-in network access features and take advantage of economical multi-modem support from one server and low maintenance requirements. The conferencing aspects of FirstClass, gateways to other systems and services, remote administration and powerful security features are used every day by the BBS administrator. Finally, admins—who often can't babysit their systems 24 hours a day—appreciate the robust FirstClass server architecture.
Around The World
As of this posting, FirstClass is running in over 25 countries around the world including such exotic locations as Chile, Australia, Japan, Turkey and Malaysia.
