Phil_CW_Sih@cup.portal.com (11/02/87)
Portal Communications Company
19720 Auburn Drive
Cupertino, CA 95014
Phil Sih 408/973-9111 (voice)
408/725-0561 (data)
phil_sih@cup.portal.com
sun!portal!cup.portal.com!phil_sih
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PORTAL ANNOUNCES TELENET PC PURSUIT DIRECT ACCESS
Cupertino Calif., Monday October 26, 1987 -- Portal
Communications Company today announced that customers using
Telenet's PC Pursuit service can now connect directly to the
Portal System(TM), the new, lowest cost online communications
service available. Users can now enjoy unlimited off peak access
and use of Portal from any of the over 18,000 telephone exchanges
reached by the Telenet public data network.
In normal use, PC Pursuit allows users to use the Telenet network
to connect to remote computers and bulletin boards by first
connecting to a local Telenet dialup access center and then
dialing out from the Telenet network using a remote dialer in the
destination city. It is used as a substitute for making a long
distance phone call and is attractive because it costs only $25
per month for unlimited use during the off-peak hours on weekdays
(6:00pm-7:00am) and all day on weekends.
Because of the popularity of the service, it is often difficult
to get a remote dialer and hence impossible to connect to systems
in many target cities. If no dialers are available, uses must
wait, often for a long time. For the tens of thousands of PC
Pursuit users, this new feature solves the problem of trying to
get a remote dialer to connect to Portal. Now, users can connect
to Portal through the direct access facility by entering
``CONNECT PORTAL,USERID,PASSWORD'' at the Telenet ``@'' sign
prompt. The USERID and PASSWORD are supplied by Telenet with
each PC Pursuit account.
Advantages to this approach include no waiting for a dialer,
access to 2400 bps service (vs just 1200 or 300 using a dialer),
much better throughput and delay characteristics, and one low
monthly rate.
The cost to use Portal is a flat $10 per month for unlimited
access. Detailed information about the Portal System is
available online by connecting through Telenet with PC Pursuit or
by calling one of the direct access numbers. Information about
Telenet PC Pursuit service is available by calling 800/TELENET
(800/835-3638).
Portal Communications provides online communications service for
companies, organizations, and individuals. The Portal System(TM)
is an all-purpose online communications network which includes
electronic mail , on-line conferences, matching, a type of
introduction service, and computer meetings, a form of real-time
computer party line. Typical applications include customer
support, user group communications, electronic bulletin boards,
advertising, and information distribution. Portal provides
connections to many other networks including Usenet, an
international conferencing network, and to UUCP, ARPA, BITNET and
other mail networks. Portal may be reached by modem for
information or online signup at 408/725-0561 (300/1200 bps),
408/725-0569 (2400 bps), or through the Telenet public data
network (connect portal). Telephone inquires should be directed
to 408/973-9111.
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