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Date: 11-13-94 (22:42)              Number: 2307 of 2335 (Refer# NONE)
  To: ALL
From: REY BARRY
Subj: What Internet will cost us
Read: (N/A)                         Status: PUBLIC MESSAGE
Conf: HOPPER + CCUG (2)          Read Type: GENERAL HAS REPLIES

This is a brief but specific report on the monthly costs of commercial
Internet available in Charlottesville.  There are others which may
also be competitive.

The starting place was the list of Internet services called INICPRVD,
a 3,000 line file breaking out the services by area code.  The file
showed 22 offering 800 number capability.  This was supplemented by
the list Jon gave us on Hopper the other day.

Only services offering Tymnet connections in Charlottesville or 800
service are listed below.  While some telco long distance packages are
competitive at night rates, as a general rule having to pay LD rates
will cost more than the lower cost services listed here.

Costs below show Internet connection charges for 2 hours, 20 hours and
an additional 10 hours a month. Where day and night differentials
exist, they are shown, as are start-up fees.

Typically an 800 service will charge by the minute.  Prices ranged
from 8 cents a minute to more than 13 cents a minute for essentially
identical services.

DELPHI The best deal for bare essentials Internet ONLY, and ONLY when
       used at off-hours. 10/4 plan.  $10 + $3 a month for 4 hours of
       basic Internet. $4 an hour for each additional hour.  Or, 20/20
       plan, 20 hours of very limited basic Internet for $20 + $3 a
       month. Hours over 20 are $1.80 per hour. Tymnet access service
       is free from 6 pm to 6 am and $9 per hour from 6 am to 6 pm.
       ALSO, if you have no credit card, Delphi charges $3.50 per
       month to bill you. Delphi also offers a great many other
       on-line services at additional charges.  No start-up fee. 9600
       baud is the Tymnet speed in Charlottesville.
       Info or sign-up by modem:  800-695-4002
        "  "     "    "  voice: 800-695-4005

          2 (or as much as 4) hours of night Delphi Internet = $ 13.00
                           20 hours of night Delphi Internet =   23.00
                                            Another 10 hours =   18.00
                              2 hours of day Delphi Internet =   31.00
                             20 hours of day Delphi Internet =  203.00
                                            Another 10 hours =  108.00

CRCNET (known as CRIS until last week)  $10 per month includes 2 hours
       of full Internet service.  Mosaic coming this month.  $5 per
       hour for hours beyond 2. This includes BBS-Direct at no charge.
       BBS-Direct is on-line access to 30 of the top Bulletin Boards
       in the country.  No start-up fee. Speed 14400.  The best deal
       for full Internet or if you can get by on very little Internet
       connect time.
       Info or sign-up by voice: 800-745-2747
        "   "     "    "  Hopper: telnet 199.3.12.13

                                  2 hours of CRCNET Internet = $ 10.00
                                 20 hours of CRCNET Internet =  100.00
                                            Another 10 hours =   50.00

PING   Prometheus Information Network Group.  $5.40 per hour, no
       minimum.  Set-up charge of $30.  Speed 28800 by Thanksgiving on
       200 modems. Currently 14400.
       Info or sign-up by voice: 800-746-4835

                                    2 hours of PING Internet = $ 10.40
                                   20 Hours of PING Internet =  108.00
                                            Another 10 hours =   54.00

NETCOM  MUST use Windows on the 800 lines. $20 per month, $25 start-up
        fee.  $4.80 per hour. 14400 baud.
        Info or sign-up by voice: 800-353-6600

                                  2 hours of NetCom Internet = $ 29.60
                                 20 hours of NetCom Internet =  116.00
                                            Another 10 hours =   48.00

RABBIT $18 per month.  800 service is $4.97 7 pm to 7 am and $6.24
        from 7 am to 7 pm.  $40 set-up.  3 month minimum contract
        required.
        Info or sign-up by voice:  800-456-0094 (US & Canada)

                           Night 2 hours of RABBIT Internet = $ 27.94
                          Night 20 hours of RABBIT Internet =  117.40
                                           Another 10 hours =   49.70
                             Day 2 hours of RABBIT Internet =   30.48
                            Day 20 hours of RABBIT Internet =  142.80
                                           Another 10 hours =   62.40

MSEN   $20 per month, $2 per hour connect, $8 per hour for the 800
       access. $20 start up fee.
                                    2 hours of MSEN Internet = $ 40.00
                                   20 hours of MSEN Internet =  220.00
                                            Another 10 hours =  100.00

The following are in the MSEN cost category:
COLORADO
INFOPATH
INS
WLN
ACM
CERF

Those not listed above include PSI and ClarkNet.  PSI does not offer
800 or Tymnet service.  ClarkNet does not offer an 800 number to
contact them for information and the routing suggested for such calls
fails to connect.  Not promising.

The remainder of those listed in the INICPRVD file either did not
offer 800 service after all, offered only in-state 800 service not in
VA, or did not respond to e-mail sent to their listed address and are
presumed to be out of business.       rbarry

