wnp@relay.eu.net> (04/10/90)
I just tried the NUA supplied by the Moderator in response to the above question, and it does NOT connect you to the West German BTX system (which is a Videotex type service like French MiniTel), but rather to the West German TELEBOX, which is an EasyLink or MCI-Mail type commercial E-Mail service. Same supplier (German PTT), but different service. Sorry. In TELECOM Digest V10 #241, Peter J. Dotzauer <pjd@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state. edu> asks if it is possible to access the West German BTX system from the US, ideally without transatlantic calling, and refers to US access for MiniTel. I know that the Austrian and Westgerman BTX systems are interconnected, and that the French MiniTel system is soon to join them in this interconnection. Presumably at that time it should be possible to access West German (as well as Austrian, Swiss, and Luxemburg) BTX through MiniTel's New York access node. I suspect that the Telenet connection mentioned by the Moderator would be problematic because, to my knowledge, both the German and Austrian BTX systems insist on billing to a telephone account under the respective PTT, and presumably, US users would not have a West German telephone number. This problem does not exist with the interconnection mentioned above, since billing is taken care of via the user's home system, i.e. MiniTel, if you have an account with them. Wolf N. Paul, Int. Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) Schloss Laxenburg, Schlossplatz 1, A - 2361 Laxenburg, Austria, Europe PHONE: +43-2236-71521-465 FAX: +43-2236-71313 UUCP: uunet!iiasa.at!wnp INTERNET: wnp%iiasa.at@uunet.uu.net BITNET: tuvie!iiasa!wnp@awiuni01.BITNET