The Online World Part 37

The Interest Groups List of Lists is a directory of conferences available by ftp from ftp.nisc.sri.com (192.33.33.53). Log in to this host as user "anonymous." Do a 'cd' (change directory) to the "netinfo" directory, then enter the command "GET interest-groups."

The list is more than 500 KB characters long.

You can also get it by email from [email protected] .

Write the following command in the TEXT of the message:

Send netinfo/interest-groups

You can telnet several bulletin boards through Internet. Here is a sample:

Name Login as Description ---- ---------- ----------- CONRAD.APPSTATE.EDU info World news collected by monitoring short wave broadcasts from BBS and other global sources.

ISCA.ICAEN.UIOWA.EDU ISCABBS A large amount of public domain programs ATL.CALSTATE.EDU LEWISNTS Electronic newspapers and the Art World.

TOLSUN.OULU.FI BOX Finnish service. English available as an option.

"Internet Services Frequently Asked Questions and Answers" can be retrieved by email from [email protected] . Write

send usenet/news.answers/internet-services/faq

in the body of your message.

Internet -------- is a term used on something many call "WorldNet" or "The Matrix."

It includes the networks in INTERNET, and a long list of networks that can send electronic mail to each other (though they may not be based on the TCP/IP protocol).

The Internet includes INTERNET, BITNET, DECnet, Usenet, UUCP, PeaceNet, IGC, EARN, Uninett, FidoNet, CompuServe, Alternex (Brazil), ATT Mail, FredsNaetet (Sweden), AppleLink, GeoNet (hosts in Germany, England, U.S.A.), GreenNet, MCI Mail, MetaNet, Nicarao (Nicaragua), OTC PeaceNet/EcoNet, Pegasus (Australia), BIX, Portal, PsychNet, Telemail, TWICS (j.a.pan), Web (Canada), The WELL, CARINET, DASnet, Janet (England) "Answers to Commonly Asked New Internet User' Questions" is available by email from [email protected] . Send email with the following command in the message's SUBJECT heading:

RFC 1206

One important feature of the Internet is that no one is in charge.

The Internet is essentially a voluntary a.s.sociation.

Another thing is that there are rarely any additional charges for sending and receiving electronic mail (even when sending to other networks), retrieving files, or reading Usenet Newsgroups..

Intermail --------- See Commercial Mail Relay Service.

Istel ----- A privately owned vendor of packet data services, who has operator- owned nodes in Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, j.a.pan, Holland, Spain, Sweden, England. Contact: AT&T Istel. Tel.: 0527- 64295 (in England).

Kompa.s.s Online and Kompa.s.s Europe -------------------------------- These databases are available through many services, including Affaersdata in Sweden and Dialog. Contact: (voice) +47 22 64 05 75.

InfoPro Technologies -------------------- Previously Maxwell Online. InfoPro's services include BRS Online and Orbit Online. BRS owns BRS Online, BRS Colleague, BRS After Dark, and BRS Morning Search, which focus on medical information.

Orbit focuses on patent and patent-related searches.

Orbit carries an annual membership fee of US$50 (1992), and hourly fees that differ according to database.

Contact: InfoPro Technologies, 8000 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, U.S.A. Tel.: +1-703-442-0900.

Maxwell Online -------------- See InfoPro Technologies.

MCI Mail -------- MCI Mail, Box 1001, 1900 M St. NW, Washington, DC 20036, U.S.A.

Mead Data Central ----------------- operates the Nexis and Lexis services. Contact: Mead Data Central International, International House, 1, St. Katharine's Way, London E1 9UN, England.

TELNET lexis.meaddata.com or 192.73.216.20 or 192.73.216.21 .

Terminal type = vt100a. Note: If characters do not echo back, set your terminal to "local" echo.

MetaNet ------- Contact: Metasystems Design Group, 2000 North 15th Street, Suite 103, Arlington, VA 22201, U.S.A. Tel.: +1-703-243-6622.

MIX --- A Scandinavian bulletin board network exchanging conferences. For information, call Mike's BBS in Norway at the following numbers: +47-22-416588, +47-22-410403 and +47-22-337320.

Minitel ------- French videotex service, which is being marketed all over the world. It is based on a special graphics display format (Teletel), has over 13,000 services, and appears like a large French online hypermarche with more than seven million users (1992).

Access to the French Minitel network is available via the Infonet international packet data network on a host-paid and chargeable account basis.

Mnematics --------- Mnematics, 722 Main Street Sparkill, NY 10976-0019, U.S.A. Tel.: +1- 914-359-4546.

NEC PC-VAN ---------- j.a.pan's largest online service measured both in number of users and geographical presence. Your communications system must be able to display j.a.panese characters to use the service.

Netnews ------- See Usenet.

NewsNet ------- The world's leading vendor of full-text business and professional newsletters online. Offers access to over 700 newsletters and news services within 30 industry cla.s.sification groups (1993). Includes the major international news wires.

You can read individual newsletter issues, and search back issues or individual newsletters or publications within an industry cla.s.sification. NewsNet's clipping service is called NewsFlash.

Enter PRICES at the main command prompt for an alphabetic listing of all available services.

Contact: NewsNet, 945 Haverford Rd., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, U.S.A.

NIFTY-Serve ----------- is j.a.pan's number 2 online service. It had 250,000 subscribers in January 1992. Access is possible via a gateway from CompuServe.

Your communications system must be able to display j.a.panese characters to use the service.

Nifty-Serve is jointly operated by Fujitsu and Nissho Iwai Trading in a licensing agreement with CompuServe.

NWI --- Networking and World Information, Inc. One time subscription fee: US$20 (US$5 is given to charity. US$15 is returned to the user as free time). Non-prime time access costs US$10.70/hour at 300 to 2400 bps. Otherwise, the rate is US$23.50. The service is available through PDN and outdial services. (1992) Contact: NWI, 333 East River Drive, Commerce Center One, East Hartford, CT 06108, U.S.A. Tel.: +1-203-289-6585.

CompuServe users can access NWI's PARTIc.i.p.aTE conferences through a gateway.

OCLC ---- is a nonprofit computer library service and research organization whose computer network and products link more than 15,000 libraries in 47 countries and territories. It serves all types of libraries, including public, academic, special, corporate, law, and medical libraries. Contact: OCLC, 6565 Fratz Rd., Dublin, OH, U.S.A. Tel.: +1-614-764-6000.

Orbit ----- is owned by InfoPro Technologies (formerly Maxwell Online and Pergamon Orbit Infoline Inc.). It offers more than 100 science, technical and patent research, and company information databases.

Contact in North America: InfoPro Technologies, 8000 West Park Drive, McClean, VA 22102, U.S.A. Tel.: +1-703-442-0900.

In Europe: ORBIT Search Service, Achilles House, Western Avenue, London W3 0UA, England. Tel.: +44 1 992 3456, Fax. +44 1 993 7335.

Telnet orbit.com (US$6/hr in 1992).

Pergamon Financial Data Services -------------------------------- See Orbit.

Polarnet -------- is a Scandinavian distributed conferencing system available through many boards, including Mike's BBS (see above).

Prestel ------- is owned by British Telecom. It is a videotex service based on a special graphics display format. The service is also available as "TTY Teletype." NUA address: 02341 10020020.

Prodigy ------- is a North American videotex service owned by IBM and Sears. You must have a special communications program to use the service, which claimed 2.5 million subscribers in early 1992. (a.n.a.lysts estimated only 850,000 paying users).

Rates: US$12.50 per family per month for up to six family members and up to 30 email messages. Annual subscription: US$ 119.95. The packet sent new users contains a communication program and a Hayes-compatible 2400 bps modem. Price: US$ 180.

(early 1992) Contact: Prodigy Services Co., 445 Hamilton Ave., White Plains, NY 10601, U.S.A. Tel.: +1-914-962-0310. Email (through Internet): [email protected] .

RelayNet -------- Also called PcRelay-Net. An international network for exchange of email and conferences between more than 8,500 bulletin boards. The Relaynet International Message Exchange (RIME) consists of some 1,000 systems (1992).

Relcom ------ means 'Russian Electronic Communications.' This company provides email, other network services, a gateway to Internet, and access to Usenet.

In early 1992, RELCOM had regional nodes in 25 cities of the xUSSR connecting over 1,000 organizations or 30,000 users. RELCOM has a gateway to IASNET.

Saltrod Horror Show ------------------- Odd de Presno's BBS system. Tel.: +47 370 31378.

The Sierra Network ------------------ is one of the best things out there for online games. The service claimed more than 20,000 subscribers in 1993. Contact: The Sierra Network, P.O. Box 485, Coa.r.s.egold, CA 93614, U.S.A.

SIGnet ------ Global BBS network with over 2500 nodes around the world (1993).