Path: bloom-beacon.mit.edu!spool.mu.edu!howland.reston.ans.net!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!george.inhouse.compuserve.com!news.inhouse.compuserve.com!compuserve.com!news From: Paul Oakes <70006.401@CompuServe.COM> Newsgroups: alt.online-service.compuserve Subject: CompuServe FAQ updated 22SEP94 Date: 23 Sep 1994 17:25:34 GMT Organization: via CompuServe Information Service Lines: 328 Message-ID: <35v32e$asl$1@mhadg.production.compuserve.com> This document is an attempt to respond to many of the questions raised in alt.online-services.compuserve. This FAQ will be posted weekly. If there's a topic I've missed that you'd like to see included please drop a note to me via the address listed at the end of this article. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Table of Contents 0.0 Changes from previous FAQ 1.0 What is CompuServe? 2.0 Accessing CompuServe 3.0 Exchanging Mail with CompuServe members 3.1 CompuServe Information Service Subscribers 3.2 Private CompuServe Mail Clients 3.3 LAN Mail Hub Clients 3.4 Unaccessible Addresses 3.5 CompuServe Member Directory 4.0 How to get help from CompuServe 4.1 For CompuServe Information Service Subscribers 4.2 From the internet 4.3 By telephone 5.0 CompuServe and the Internet 5.1 World Wide Web 5.2 Coming attractions 6.0 Comments ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 0.0 Changes from previous FAQ This FAQ was updated on 22SEP. Information concerning the upgrade of the Usenet Newsreader software was added. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1.0 What is CompuServe? For more than 20 years, CompuServe, Inc., has been the international leader in affordable online information, software and communications services for the public. More than 2 million personal computer users in 120 countries use their modems to tap into nearly 2,000 databases. You may logon to professional reference databases, "chat" online with other members, advice for your newest software. You can breeze through detailed financial updates, contact clients through an expansive electronic mail network and finalize travel reservations--all from your terminal, 24 hours a day. In addition the the CompuServe Information Service, CompuServe Incorporated provides electronic mail, frame relay, wide and local area networking services and software to major corporations and government agencies worldwide. CompuServe is an H&R Block company. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.0 Accessing CompuServe If you have access to the Internet you can connect to CompuServe by opening a connection to CompuServe.com. The following settings are important: The escape sequence should be turned OFF. Terminal emulation should be VT100. You should open a BINARY connection. Pressing your [ENTER] key should transmit both a carriage return -and- a linefeed. There is no communication surcharge for using the telnet gateway. Extended service charges and surcharges will, of course, still be in effect when you enter those areas. Please do -not- ask Customer Service for the numeric IP address. They have been instructed not to release this information. If for some reason you choose not to telnet into the service, CompuServe offers free local access phone numbers in most major metropolitan areas in the US and Canada. If there is not yet a local CompuServe node in your area, there may be a local network access number available for an affordable fee, rather than paying long-distances telephone charges. Tymnet and Sprintnet, the networks most commonly used by CompuServe to provide local telephone numbers in areas it does not have nodes, are offered at a charge of $11.70 per hour during prime time (8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time) to "rent" the line. This charge plummets to $1.70 per hour from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. Monday through Friday and all day weekends. Phone numbers are listed on CompuServe in the GO PHONES area. They can also be searched by calling 1-800-346-3247 (modem) and entering PHONES at the Host Name: prompt. Set your communication software to E-7-1. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.0 Exchanging Mail with CompuServe members CompuServe's electronic mail gateway to the Internet allows CompuServe subscribers to exchange mail with over 15 million Internet users, as well as other online services. The three types of CompuServe Mail addresses that can be reached from the Internet are as follows: 3.1 CompuServe Information Service Subscribers CompuServe members have an address (a.k.a. User ID) of the form "xxxxx,yyyy", such as "74906,1610". To send mail to such an address from the Internet, change the comma to a period and attach "@CompuServe.com". For instance: 74906.1610@CompuServe.com 3.2 Private CompuServe Mail Clients Members of organizations with a private CompuServe Mail area have an address of the form "organization:name", such as "ABC:J.SMITH". To send mail to such an address from the Internet, send it to "name@organization.CompuServe.com". For instance: J.SMITH@ABC.CompuServe.com A few organizations also include a department in the form "organization: department:name", such as "ABC:ACCTG:JOHN". To send mail to such an address, send to "name@department.organization.CompuServe.com". For instance: JOHN@ACCTG.ABC.CompuServe.com 3.3 LAN Mail Hub Clients Members of organizations whose LAN mail system is connected to the CompuServe Mail Hub can be reached as well. If they are connecting via Novell NetWare MHS, they have an address of the form "name@workgroup", such as "JSMITH@ABC". To send mail to such an address from the Internet, send it to "name@workgroup.MHS.CompuServe.com". For instance: JSMITH@ABC.MHS.CompuServe.com If they are connecting via Lotus Development Corp.'s cc:Mail, they have an address of the form "user name at post_office", such as "JSMITH at ABC". To send mail to such an address from the Internet, replace the "at" with the "@" and send it to "name@post_office.CCMAIL.CompuServe.com". For instance: JSMITH@ABC.CCMAIL.CompuServe.com 3.4 Unaccessible Addresses Please note that a number of special destinations available to users of CompuServe Mail are NOT accessible from the Internet, including: Facsimile Delivery (e.g. FAX:) Postal Delivery (e.g. POSTAL:) Telex Delivery (e.g. TLX:) MCI Mail Delivery (e.g. MCIMAIL:) Interconnected Public Service (e.g. X400:) 3.5 CompuServe Member Directory Finally, please realize that only CompuServe Mail users have access to the member directory. Since there is no mechanism for you to obtain addresses directly from CompuServe Incorporated, you should obtain this information from the individuals with whom you wish to correspond. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 4.0 How to get help from CompuServe 4.1 For CompuServe Information Service Subscribers Customer Service is available via GO FEEDBACK or by sending electronic mail to 70006,101. 4.2 From the internet Address electronic mail to CompuServe Customer Service at 70006.101@CompuServe.com. 4.3 By telephone Customer Service may be contacted by phone at the following numbers. United States..................800-848-8990 Outside U.S. including Canada..614-529-1340 Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 to 24:00 (Eastern) Saturday and Sunday 12:00 to 22:00 (Eastern) United Kingdom freephone.......0800-289458 United Kingdom.................(44)(272)760680 Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 to 21:00 Saturdays 10:00 to 17:00 Europe.........................(49)(89)(66)550222 Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 - 20:00 (CET) Germany........................0130-86-4643 Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 - 20:00 (CET) Paris, France..................3663-8131 Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 to 19:30 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 5.0 CompuServe and the Internet As of this writing CompuServe offers an electronic mail gateway to/from Internet, telnet access -to- the Information Service, and access to Usenet Newsgroups. Access to Usenet Newsgroups was released to the general membership on 15AUG94. GO CIS:USENET to access them from your CompuServe account. Usenet Newsgroups is priced as an extended service. The rates for members on the standard billing plan are: 300-2400 bps US$ 4.80 per hour billed in one minute increments. 9600-14,400 bps 9.60 Members on the alternative billing plan are charged: 300 bps US$ 6.00 per hour 1200-2400 bps 12.80 9600-14,400 bps 22.80 These prices do not include communications network charges. Efforts have been made to ensure that the material posted by CompuServe Members follows accepted practices e.g. sigs are limited to 4 lines, crossposting is extremely limited and the news reader software discourages the posting of messages that consist mainly of quoted material. Information regarding netiquette will be presented to users when they first access the product. Newsgroups are accessible through all current versions of the CompuServe Information Manager as well as through the ASCII interface. All newsgroups that are part of the "big 7" are available. Some controversial groups such as alt.sex. groups are not included on the menus of newsgroups and cannot be located by searching. If you know the full name of the group though it is possible to subscribe. Local and regional groups may not be available. If there are groups you'd like to have that aren't available drop a note to CompuServe via GO FEEDBACK. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Improvements have been made in the CIM and ASCII newsreader interfaces. You will find the new Version 1.1 CIM newsreader sporting these enhancements: * Highlighting of the most recently read newsgroup and thread is maintained, allowing you to easily read newsgroups and articles in a sequential manner. * Articles are not marked as read until you exit the newsgroup. This enhancement gives you the convenience of traversing previously read articles without having to hold the article.* Entire threads may be marked for downloading. This feature allows you to reduce online time. Simply mark the threads that interest you, and retrieve them for offline reading. * The retrieve option now presents buttons allowing you to indicate whether you want the retrieved text to be quoted or not, eliminating the need and confusion of a separate dialog box. In addition, Version 1.1 of the ASCII newsreader: * Reminds you to ensure receipt of Internet mail is turned on when you post or e-mail an article * Appends signatures you create to e-mail as well as USENET postings * Provides you with the ability to add comments to forwarded mail * Allows you to indicate whether you want articles marked as read immediately or after you exit the newsgroup ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 5.1 World Wide Web A World Wide Web page offering information about CompuServe Inc., The CompuServe Information Service and other offerings is currently under construction. If you'd like to view this work in progress the URL to the CompuServe home page is ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 5.2 Coming attractions Outbound FTP and telnet (from CompuServe -to- Internet) are under development and should be released by the end of 1994. gopher should be available sometime in the first half of 1995. Work is underway to add TCP/IP support to the CompuServe Information Manager and CompuServe Navigator programs. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 6.0 Comments For information about CompuServe Inc or the CompuServe Information Service please contact Customer Service at 70006.101@compuserve.com Comments regarding this FAQ should be directed to me, Paul Oakes, at poakes@csi.compuserve.com This FAQ may be redistributed in it's entirety with author credits intact. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ .