patth@dasys1.UUCP (Patt Haring) (02/16/88)
Accessing TWICS (in Japan) from the USA: called 1-800-336-0149
and ask the TYMNET customer service rep for the TYMNET access
number for 3/12/2400 baud (depending on your modem);
From New York City - dial in to the TYMNET 1200 baud access
number at 212-943-4700
and you'll get one or two lines of garbage characters; hit a
carriage return and at the identifier: prompt type A
then at the login: prompt type TOKYO
hit a carriage return and again at the
login: prompt type TWICS
hit a carriage return once or twice and at the
username: prompt type SIGNUP GUEST or NEW
and read all the information; for a FREE account please
apply for special group membership with the INTL code name.
::: WHO we are :::
TWICS started as an idea in 1983 and began operating an
experimental electronic bulletin board system in September
1984. In September 1985 we went multi-user and in April 1986
we implemented the present full-featured system.
TWICS BeeLINE is the only globally-oriented English language
based electronic communications service in Japan.
TWICS incorporated (kabushiki kaisha) on October 1, 1986, and
is presently a wholly-owned commercial service company of the
International Education Center, a non-profit Japanese educa-
tional organization involved in various language training,
adult education, and cross-cultural activities. The multi-
cultural and experienced personnel of TWICS are anxious to
serve you and your communication needs.
::: WHAT we offer you :::
The people using TWICS BeeLINE are the most important aspect
of the system. The BeeLINE itself is just a "place" for you
to meet and communicate, a set of electronic facilities to
give you a variety of ways to do this, as well as a few
other services.
As a BeeLINE member, you will have the following...
* a personal electronic mailbox for private one-to-one
messaging and inter-network electronic mail access...
In addition to full use of our VAX/VMS MAIL facility,
featuring real-time new mail notification and a
convenient folder-based internal filing system, we
offer you a *FREE* subscription to the DASnet (R)
inter-network electronic mail forwarding service,
which gives you email access to an estimated 3 million
electronic mailboxes on dozens of other systems,
including academic and research networks and the many
host computer services they link to; including
commercial email services and the gateway services
available through them, such as access to other systems
not directly linked by DASnet, international telex and
fax gateways; and including computer conferencing systems
and the ability to set up parallel conferences between them.
* a computer conferencing system for group communication...
We offer you PARTICIPATE (R), a powerful and full-featured
facility used for personal messaging and public and private
group communications by many other academic, business, and
commercial networks. PARTI is the major activity on TWICS
BeeLINE, and the place where members meet in order to
exchange ideas and information and to make friends. There
are already hundreds of conferences on different topics
waiting for you, or you can start your own, either as a
public one open to other members or as a private one open
only for those you choose to invite.
* other messaging tools...
We offer you two real-time facilities which let you interact
with others who are online at the same time, and we offer
you our original POSTCARD service, which lets people who
are not members send short messages to your mailbox.
* file transfer communications...
We offer you a personal file storage area and related file-
handling utilities, including ways to exchange files with
other TWICS BeeLINE members, and XMODEM and Kermit for
error-free binary file transfer. We also support several
member-operated download libraries containing public domain
software and information files.
* global access
We offer you direct dial-up modem access at a variety of
speeds (now 300-2400bps) as well as access through low-
cost packet networks for people who live outside the
greater Kanto area. People from nearly a dozen countries
outside Japan access TWICS BeeLINE regularly through
international packet networks.
::: HOW you can benefit :::
* You can benefit by having the opportunity to "meet" and
"talk" with other interesting and intelligent people
according to your convenience, your schedule, and your
mood.
* You can benefit from the fewer restrictions on time and
space in this medium of communication when you use it to
communicate with others in your professional, personal or
social life.
* You can benefit through the interactive information
exchange among members, as you find quick answers in
response to your questions, and as you share your knowledge
with them.
* You can benefit professionally by using the facilities for
business communication and private networks, or by
offering your professional services to others through the
network.
::: TWICS Philosophy :::
The people are the system.
::: TWICS -- The Community :::
For many of our members, TWICS is more than just an electronic
messaging service. It is also a community, a unique virtual
community where you can exchange ideas and information with
people living in Japan and other countries, in various languages,
where you can learn and grow by doing so, and where you can
make friends with people you might otherwise have no chance to
meet.
The general atmosphere in the TWICS community is informal, and
since many of our members live in the greater Kanto Plain area,
online relationships often lead to face-to-face meetings. Our
members range in age from late teens to late sixties, from students
to people already retired, from corporate office workers to musicians
to professionals and scholars, and includes people from Japan, and a
growing number from other parts of Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Africa,
and North and South America.
We believe in global networking, and we do it daily!
Japan is an island nation, full of communities in villages,
towns, and cities squeezed in between the mountains and the sea,
with ports of various sizes and shapes through which
communication flows between communities. So, our own online
community is organized in the same terms, an island community
"BEEJIMA" (Bee Island), with our village ("MURA"), a port
("MINATO"), and our very own volcanic mountain ("YAMA"). In the
village, there is a village office ("YAKUBA"), a community
meeting place ("YORIAI"), a high-tech corner ("AKIHABARA") named
after the famous electronics district in Tokyo, a health center
("EMEDICA"), a place to hang around and read things ("HON YA"),
a school ("GAKKOU"), and a market ("ICHIBA"). The port has
holding areas and leads to other parts of Japan ("NIPPON") and
the world ("SEKAI"). The mountain has a hot springs ("ONSEN")
recreational area, and a lively outdoor bath ("IN THE OFURO")
which has become the social center of our island.
Makoto Ezure of TWICS drew you a map (based on an original sketch
by Kiyoshi Yoneda) of our little island community:
^ ^ ^
"BEEJIMA" ************** ^^ ^^ ^
^^ ** & & & & **____________o o___
** & & & & & * | ^^
** & & & * ^ MINATO | ^
** & YAMA & & ** |
^^ * & & & *** ^^ | ^^
* & & & ****************
* }}}} & & & & :::::: yakuba ::::: ** ^
* {{{{ ofuro & :::: yoriai ::::::::::: *
* }}}} ^^^^^ & :: akihabara :: hon ya :: *
* ONSEN ^^^^^^ & :::::::::::::::::::::::::: * ^^
* ^^^^^^^ & ::::: M U R A :::::: *
* ^^ yabu ^ & :::::::::::::::::::::::: **
** ^^^^^^^ & ::: emedica ::: gakkou :: * ^ ^
^^ ** ^^^^ & ::::::::: ichiba ::::: **
^^ ** & :::::::::::::::: ** ^^
** & ::::::::: **
^ ***** ***** :::::: **** ^^
******** *** *
^^ ^ ****** ^^ ^ ^
^^ ^ ^^ ^ ^^
We invite *YOU* to join our community today!
::: TWICS -- Professional Services :::
Do you need... * YOUR NEEDS *
* to EXCHANGE ideas and information quickly and conveniently
with colleagues or customers who operate in different
locations and time zones?
* to have ACCESS to, and be accessible from, various
electronic mail and messaging services without having to
subscribe to them all?
* to TRANSFER files between computers in different places
without having to be in both at once?
* to ENHANCE your organization's existing internal and
external communications in order to improve your competitive
power, your decision-making capabilities, or your overall
effectiveness?
* to EVALUATE electronic mail or computer conferencing before
you invest in your own internal system?
::: TWICS -- Professional Services :::
TWICS offers you... * OUR TOOLS *
* an ELECTRONIC MAIL facility which gives you access to
international telex and to nearly 3 million electronic
mailboxes
* a powerful ADVANCED COMPUTER CONFERENCING facility for
organizing PRIVATE NETWORKS and other custom configurations
appropriate to your needs
* private FILE STORAGE space and FILE TRANSFER utilities
* access to an ACTIVE PUBLIC NETWORK where you can meet new
people and make new connections
* CONSULTING to help you organize your own communications
network, either on our system, utilizing a combination with
others, or installing your own
* GLOBAL ACCESS through direct modems as well as two packet
networks
::: TWICS -- Professional Services :::
Use TWICS to... * APPLICATIONS *
* COMMUNICATE with someone on a major American commercial
email services, someone at a university on an academic
email inter-network, someone on a regional computer
conferencing system, someone on a European business network,
r your local representatives in a PRIVATE
NETWORK and link them to your parent organization through
INTER-NETWORK EMAIL AND PARALLEL CONFERENCING.
* TRANSFER FILES between your computer at home and your
computer at work, and between you and your colleagues or
customers.
* Offer your clients 24-HOUR ACCESS to you and your services.
::: TWICS -- Professional Services :::
You benefit because... * YOUR BENEFITS *
* You SAVE MONEY that would otherwise be spent on travel,
long-distance phone calls, wasted time playing "telephone
tag", and the expensive subscriptions and communications
charges necessary for wide international access.
* You SAVE TIME AND ENERGY that would otherwise be spent on
travelling, waiting, listening to things you could read or
scan more quickly, learning the peculiarities of various
messaging systems and organizing all your incoming mail.
* You have more opportunities to meet with the people you need
to meet with, because you and then can do it according to
your own schedules -- YOU HAVE ASYNCHRONICITY.
* You ENHANCE YOUR COMMUNICATIONS using a powerful and
sophisticated system without having to bother setting one
up and operating it yourself.
And it is all AVAILABLE NOW on TWICS!!
::: TWICS and DASnet (R) :::::(inter-system email service):::
How to use DASnet on TWICS...
Just use the regular VAX/VMS MAIL utility to send messages
to username DASNET, the DASnet gateway mailbox. Enter the
inter-net address, and an optional subject comment, at the
subject prompt. e.g.,
MAIL> SEND
To: DASNET
Subj: [SYSTEM]Username ! (subject)
-or-
Subj: Username@System ! (subject)
...and then enter your message...
It is just as easy as that!
Benefits of DASnet on TWICS...
* You have WIDE TWO-WAY ACCESS to an estimated 3 million
electronic mailboxes on a variety of systems on various
countries, all from one "home" system -- TWICS.
* You SAVE MONEY on subscription fees, usage fees, and
international telecommunications charges you would otherwise
incur for such wide access, since you only have to subscribe
to one service.
* You SAVE TIME AND ENERGY you would otherwise spend learning
other systems and checking other mailboxes. You can also
have DASnet check your previously established mailboxes for
you and forward any new mail to you on your "home" system.
* You have FLEXIBLE INTER-SYSTEM NETWORKING that allows you
to organize your communications according to whom you need
to exchange ideas and information with, rather than who is
available on a single central system. Use a combination of
telex, email, mailing lists, and conferences to connect
your people. And it is available... NOW.
With DASnet on TWICS, you have email access to...
AT&T Mail (certification pending), DASnet (R) Network, DCMETA,
Dialcom (SM), EIES, EasyLink (R), Envoy 100 (TM), GeoMail,
MCI Mail (R), NWI (R), PeaceNet/EcoNet, Portal Communications,
(TM), The Source (R), Telemail (R), ATI Telemail (R), TWICS,
UNISON (R), UUCP, The WELL, domains such as ".COM" and ".EDU",
international telex and fax gateways!
:::DASnet costs:::
DASnet charges are billed to TWICS in US$, and then re-billed
at current exchange rates plus 10%. The basic charge for
messages between TWICS and the DASnet hub is $0.40 per message
plus $0.45 per 1000 characters, and the charges between the
hub and other systems range from $0.20 for a domain address to
more for value-added services such as MCI paper mail, telex, and
fax tranmission to the U.S. and Europe.
Communicate with the world... through TWICS and DASnet!
::: TWICS and NIS Tymnet :::::: (a value-added service) :::
How to access TWICS via NIS Tymnet...
* Set your terminal software to:
8 bits / NO Parity / 1 stop bit
NOTE: If you are calling in from outside Japan, this may
result in strange screen output _until_ you get
connected to NIS Tymnet in Japan. Don't worry.
* Call the nearest local access point. (below)
nodes 300 bps 1200 bps 1200/2400 bps
===== ============ ============ ============
-Hokkaido-
Sapporo 011-281-4343 011-281-4421 011-281-4448
-Touhoku-
Akita 0188-65-5735 0188-65-5733 0188-54-7315
Morioka 0196-54-8513 ----> 0196-54-7315
Sendai 022-231-5741 022-231-5355 022-231-5472
Niigata 0252-41-5409 0252-41-5410 0252-41-6763
-Kanto-
Mito 0292-24-1675 0292-24-4213 0292-24-4214
Tsuchiura 0298-24-5082 0298-24-4534 0298-24-4536
Urawa ? ----> 0488-33-9341
Chiba 0472-27-0671 ----> 0472-27-0601
Tokyo 03-555-9525 03-555-9526 03-555-9696
Atsugi 0462-21-5331 0462-21-0404 0462-21-2158
Yokohama 045-453-7757 045-453-7637 045-453-7742
nodes 300 bps 1200 bps 1200/2400 bps
===== ============ ============ ============
-Chubu-
Shizuoka 0542-84-3393 0542-84-3398 0542-84-3403
Hamamatsu 0534-56-7355 0534-56-7231 0534-56-7231
Nagoya 052-204-2275 052-204-1466 052-204-2274
-Hokuriku-
Takayama 0764-41-7578 0764-41-7769 0764-41-8049
Kanazawa 0762-24-2351 0762-24-2341 0762-24-2343
Fukui 0776-34-3308 0776-35-8840 0776-35-7899
-Kansai-
Kyoto 075-431-6205 075-431-6203 075-431-6204
Osaka 06-271-9028 06-271-9029 06-271-6876
Kobe 078-242-1097 078-242-1115 078-242-1009
nodes 300 bps 1200 bps 1200/2400 bps
===== ============ ============ ============
-SetoUchi-
Okayama 0862-32-6760 0862-31-4993 0862-31-4969
Hiroshima 082-241-6857 082-243-9270 082-243-9388
-Shikoku-
? ?
Kumamoto 096-355-5233 096-354-3065 096-354-3034
Kagoshima 0992-22-8598 0992-22-8954 0992-22-9154
-Okinawa-
Naha 0988-61-4002 0988-61-3414 0988-61-3489
* When your modem gets connected, you will either see a
prompt scrolling slowly by, or else you will see some
random characters.
Type 'A'
NOTE: This procedure to set the terminal type may vary
if you are calling in from outside Japan or from
a non-Tymnet packet network.
* Then, at the prompt enter 'TWICS'.
Please login: TWICS
NOTE: You may have to use an additional step to get to
NIS Tymnet if you are calling in from outside Japan,
and this will require that you have an international
access account with your local packet network. Once
NIS Tymnet is registered among other international
packet networks, our address should be 4406 000524.
* After the Tymnet message tells you that you are connected
to the host, you have to wake up our terminal port.
hit your <RETURN> key once or twice
And you should see our system banner message...
Connected to TWICS(Tokyo)
Benefits of NIS Tymnet access...
* SAVE MONEY, if you live outside the Kanto area. Compare
your direct dial-up rates to the NIS Tymnet access charge!
* RELIABLE CONNECTIONS, since you are calling a local number
and using an error-checking packet network for the rest of
the distance.
* Enjoy the BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: access to a global network
while living where you are most comfortable.
::: TWICS surcharges for (domestic) NIS Tymnet access :::
Access to TWICS(Tokyo) via Tymnet Japan (NIS-net) is on a
Value-Added surcharge basis. It is _not_ included in the
hourly or unlimited usage rates. The access surcharges
are (time zone JST):
8am-8pm (day) 8pm-8am (nite)
============== ==============
30 yen/minute 10 yen/minute
-or- -or-
1800 yen/hour 600 yen/hour
These rates are based on what we estimate to be the costs of
providing this channel of access. We reserve the right to
modify these surcharges as our costs change.
For technical support or for more information,
please contact:
** Network Information Service **
<Tokyo head office> <Tokyo center> <Osaka office>
Nihon Jissho Bldg. Tokyo Daiya Bldg.,#3 Osaka Kokusai Bldg.
Kudan-Kita 1-13-5 Shinkawa 1-28-25 Azuchi-cho 2-30
Chiyoda-ku Chuo-ku Higashi-ku
Tokyo 102 JAPAN Tokyo 104 JAPAN Osaka 541 JAPAN
tel: 03-262-8711 tel: 03-551-6111 tel: 06-266-3971
fax: 03-262-8757 fax: 03-551-6355 fax: 06-263-0188
Mr. Gen Sasa (NIS Tymnet for domestic access)
Mr. Keiji Tanaka (NIS Tymnet for international access)
NIS Tymnet -- local access, global access!
::: How much does TWICS COST? :::
TWICS is a membership subscription service.
There is a one-time sign-up fee of 5000 yen, which includes a
full month of unlimited connect time usage in order to get used
to the system.
The basic annual subscription is 10,000 yen, which includes the
first hour of connect time usage each month.
Connect time usage beyond the first hour is either 1000 yen per
hour, or 5000 yen per month for unlimited connect time.
:: A Special Offer :::
If you pay for unlimited connect time usage for one year in
advance (12 months x 5000 yen = 60,000 yen), then the basic
10,000 yen subscription fee is waived!
So... (all prices in Japanese yen)
Sign-up (and first month)...................... 5,000 /once
Basic Subscription............................ 10,000 /year
-plus-
Usage (beyond 1st hour monthly)............... 1,000 /hour
-or-
............... 5,000 /month
Very Special Offer............................ 60,000 /year
(subscription _and_ unlimited connect usage)
NOTE: Connect usage does not include value-added services or
telecommunications charges for access through telephone
lines or the DDX-P or NIS Tymnet packet networks.
A comparison...
w/ usage type YEARLY MONTHLY HOURLY
------------- ----------- ----------- ------------
sign-up 5,000 5,000 5,000
subscription --- 10,000 10,000
usage 60,000/yr 5,000/mo 1,000/hr
======= ====== ====== ======
TOTAL (x 12 months) 65,000 75,000 15,000+
TOTAL now 65,000 15,000 15,000
NOTE: Basic usage does _not_ include value-added services or
telecommunication charges for access through telephone
lines or the DDX-P or NIS Tymnet packet networks.
* H O W T O P A Y *
.............................................
- By bank money transfer (GINKOU FURIKOMI) -
Sumitomo Bank -- Kanda-eki-mae Branch
Futsuu-Yokin account # 1004419
(TO-U-I-K-KU-SU in kana)
.............................................
- o r -
.............................................
- By postal money transfer (YUUBIN FURIKAE) -
Tokyo 9-75227 (TWICS)
.............................................
Please make sure to _INDICATE_YOUR_NAME_ during the transfer.
******************
If you live outside Japan,
then you may be eligible for a special subscription.
Please apply as a member of special group INTL.
-----------------/ *FREE* subscription
BUT - be sure to identify yourself when you *JOIN* as
a member of special group INTL.
*BE SURE* to indicate INTL as the special group when you JOIN!
TWICS BeeLINE offers you the power and facilities
you expect of an international network, but...
at reasonable rates.
Seriously... The people ARE the system.
for more information, contact Jeffrey Shapard at this
mail path: jefu@ DCTWCS.DAS.NET or
hoptoad!sun!daslink!dasnet!dctwcs!jefu
--
Patt Haring {sun!hoptoad,cmcl2!phri}!dasys1!patth
Big Electric Cat Public Access Unix (212) 879-9031 - System Operator
Three aspects of wisdom: intelligence, justice & kindness.