time@ox.com (Tim Endres) (07/06/90)
ICE Engineering is now in the final stages of beta testing a new application
for the Macintosh which provides full UUCP/Mail/News services. A more complete
description of the product is included below. We are now looking for several
qualified distributors for this product.
We need distributors for mail order, direct sales, and VAR type distribution,
as well as European, and other international distribution.
The qualified distributor must be able to show a proven track record, or
posess a unique position that is well aligned with the product's market.
ICE Engineering intends to provide a complete product package, as well as
support, although special arrangements can be made for each distributor.
If your company has an interest in distributing this product, please
contact ICE Engineering at (313) 449 8288, or at:
8840 Main St.
Whitmore Lake, MI 48189
PS: If there is a more appropriate place for this posting, please reply.
----------------------- Product Description ---------------------
UMail is the current development name of a product from ICE Engineering.
UMail implements the uucp communications protocol using Apple's new
Communications Toolbox. UMail also provides a complete environment for
reading electronic mail and news received via uucp, as well as for
generating, forwarding, or replying to mail, and for posting news
articles, or article followups. UMail also provides a builtin terminal
emulator, which provides vt100 emulation, among others, and file transfer
capability, including MacBinary XMODEM, among others. Finally, UMail
provides a complete Macintosh front end to these services, as well as
the administrative tasks that are normally prohibitive in most uucp
implementations.
Features:
o UUCP
. Full implementation of uucp protocols including both dial out
and dial in capability.
. Implmented using Apple's new Communications Toolbox.
. Provides uuxqt, the command file processing task for uucp.
. Allows the copy of files Mac-to-Mac using uucp.
. Full implementation of cron, allowing calls to be scheduled
any time day or night.
. Includes hooks to allow UMail to be used only for the transport,
thus, allowing other programs to be used for delivery and viewing.
. Allows connections using any CTB connection tool, including MacTCP.
. Provides background operation, allowing you to keep using your Mac
for other programs under MultiFinder, or to read news and mail, all
while the communications downloads/uploads your news and mail.
. Handles most of the new uucp "standards", such as long host names,
as well as HoneyDanber.
. Provides a complete logging facility, as well as administrative
tools for managing the spool files.
. Supports Telebit modems providing uucp transfers at 1300 cps, even
while running in the background.
o Mail
. Full implementation of unix electronic mail delivery mechanism.
. Provides notification of incoming mail via the Apple Menu.
. Provides full Macintosh style mail reader.
. Provides priting with special header formating.
. Provides reply and forward capability.
. Provides automatic mail signature.
o News
. Full implementation of unix electronic mail delivery mechanism.
. Provides notification of incoming mail via the Apple Menu.
. Provides full Macintosh style mail reader.
. Provides priting with special header formating.
. Provides followup, reply and forward capability.
. Provides automatic article signature.
. Many unique features found in no other news reader.
. Capable of handling unbatched, batched, and compressed & batched
news delivery, cutting down on communications time.
o Administration
. All uucp/mail/news administration implemented using Mac interface.
. Host definitions specified with dialogs, buttons, and popup menus.
. Allows the definition of multiple uucp servers, allowing you to
receive news from machines other than your mail server.
. All spool, mail, and news directories are user specified, allowing
the use of an AppleShare server for mail in networked environments.
. Provides automatic administration tasks, such as cleaning up files,
checking disk space, printing usage reports, etc.
o Terminal Emulation
. Implemented on Apple's CTB, making it extensible.
. Currently supporting vt100 and tty emulations.
. Compatible with all future CTB emulators developed.
o File Transfer
. Implemented on Apple's CTB, making it extensible.
. Currently supporting Text, XMODEM Binary, XMODEM Text, and XMODEM
MacBinary transfers.
. Supports Telebit XMODEM spoofing, allowing transfers at 1500 cps!
. Compatible with all future CTB transfer tools developed.
o Background operation (ala Cron)
. You may establish a list of tasks to be performed at specific
dates and times, much like UNIX Cron.
. Allows you to perform all mail and news transport and delivery
while you sleep.
. All background tasks are specified using simple Macintosh
dialog boxes.
o Custom scripting for special communications needs (ala L.sys)
. UMail provides a custom dialing/login script capacity to allow
you to define even the most difficult dialing or login
procedures (a must for certain uucp servers, and strange modems).
. Allows UMail to connect to services via network connections
(i.e. MacTCP), or other unique connections.
. All custom scripting specified with a simple Macintosh interface.
. Virtually 100% compatible with L.sys scripts, allowing very easy
porting of dialing scripts from UNIX systems.
. Additional facilities provided to allow aborting on special strings
(i.e. BUSY or NO CARRIER), as well as specific timeouts for each
step, as well as a timeout for the entire script.
Sytstem Requirements:
o Minimum
Macintosh Plus with 1 Megabyte RAM
Hard disk
Modem capable of communicating with uucp server
A uucp host to connect with
o Ideal
Macintosh IIcx with 4 Megabytes RAM
80 Meg Hard disk
Telebit Trailblazer or T2500 modem
A uucp host to connect with
Availability:
Release 1.0 of UMail is shceduled to be shipping in September of 1990.
This release date is also tied to the release of certain CTB software
from Apple.