From jim.mcnelly@granite.mn.org Wed Mar 2 11:11:46 1994 Date: Tue, 1 Mar 94 23:37:00 +0600 From: Jim Mcnelly To: LONDON@SUNSITE.UNC.EDU Subject: info Subject: info This message was originally addressed to Leo Elliott [76440.1416@COMPUSERVE.COM] and a carbon copy was sent to you. ---------------------------------------- --------- ReSourceNet PO Box 7444 Saint Cloud, MN 56302 612-253-6255 (voice and fax) News Release Contact: Jim McNelly The McNelly Group FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ReSourceNet(tm) : A Business On-ramp to the Data SuperHighway Saint Cloud, MN., February 1, 1994 -- ReSourceNet opens its electronic doors to businesses and professionals who are interested in easy access to the "Data SuperHighway". Founded by Jim McNelly, an environmental information consultant with the McNelly Group and Christine Blount, a computer communications professional with Granite Cities Information Services, this electronic network utilizes new "gateway" software that enables users to use their personal computer for electronic E-mail, conferencing, discussion groups, data bases, newsletters, and magazines in a manner previously available only to individuals with expensive and complex Internet accounts. ReSourceNet is more than an affordable means where professionals can access information resources and E-mail to millions individuals around the world. ReSourceNet is in itself an electronic newsstand carrying electronic copies of magazines, newsletters, and publications, with an emphasis on "environmental businesses". It also provides a "Browser's Digest" which contains condensed excerpts and highlights of various conferences, magazines, and "UseNet" discussion groups in the specialized areas of waste management, regulatory compliance, rural economic development, environmental entrepreneuring, and sustainable agriculture. This Browser's Digest service is provided by the ReSourceNet team of staff and volunteers who spend hours each day "cruising the networks" and "clipping" the hundreds of conferences and periodicals which are available in the ReSourceNet directory. Directions and instructions are provided if subscribers are interested in responding to the discussions, ordering publications, or seek further information. ReSourceNet also carries numerous special interest "lists" which subscribers can join with a "click of the keyboard", bypassing complex subscription and address commands. A chief advantage of ReSourceNet is that it provides the user software that translates common word processing skills into a powerful telecommunications tool that reaches the complex world of the information SuperHighway without the user having to learn new programming language or communications terminology. ReSourceNet has entered into a licensing agreement with Mark Herring, author of "1stReader" communications and off-line reader software. This software is customized for ReSourceNet subscribers and comes with an initial installation service which makes ReSourceNet a "plug and play" communications package that is easily usable for anyone with common office computer skills. Competing networks that provide E-mail access such as Compuserve, America On Line, Delphi, and others require the user to stay on line. This ties up the computer and telephone, while committing the user to complete the communication before logging off. These services also have hourly access charges or costs determined by the amount of data transferred. ReSourceNet has only one monthly fee for basic information access and retrieval, and is provided in a compressed information file called a "QWK" packet. These QWK packets can be sent to users via telephone or direct to an Internet address in a matter of minutes. Businesses and Public agencies can gain inexpensive E-mail and file attachment services when multiple regional offices use ReSourceNet as their central E-mail hub. QWK packets, which have been the standard for local amateur Bulletin Board users for years, are now configured on ReSourceNet to interact with Internet messages and UseNet conferences. UseNet conferences include thousands of discussion groups on virtually unlimited topics available on the Internet. This software breakthrough enables ReSourceNet subscribers with Mac, Amiga, or IBM compatible computers to read their mail and conferences off-line at their leisure without tying up their computers and telephones, or incurring hourly charges. 1stReader software for DOS is further capable of auto-dialing ReSourceNet on its own during the night when long distance phone rates are low. Its compressed mail sending feature keeps calling time down to two minutes or less for typical users. In the past, only large corporations and major institutions such as universities could afford Internet and International E-mail access to MCI mail, ATT mail, and other vast data banks of information and communications services. Breakthroughs in software provided by Granite Cities Information Services coupled with 1stReader and QWK packets have suddenly made the Data SuperHighway and its full E-mail capabilities available to small to medium sized business at a basic subscription rate of only $20 per month. Internet is a public domain network, and ReSourceNet does not charge extra for, or re-sell, Internet's free public information. Limited Internet access is provided free with a ReSourceNet subscription. Users pay for the use of ReSourceNet's customized hardware and software gateway that provides user-friendly graphics and QWK interactive software. ReSourceNet subscribers also receive access to other networks such as Intelec and I-Link for general interest topics and PgNet for CAD/CAM discussions. ReSourceNet itself has unique conferences, files, services, products, magazines, and newsletters available on no other network, with special features designed for the public official and professional in the resource management field. Copyrights are protected in the ReSourceNet system and no software piracy is allowed. Many of the newsletters and magazines offered on-line are fully protected and are available only on a fee or subscription basis, often at substantial discounts over hard copy prices. Many newsletters offer free trial copies for browsers. There is an on-line Visa and Master Charge credit card door enabling convenient ordering for services, products, and subscriptions right on-line. Subscribers can order a variety of discounted computer books and software in the Midwest Computer on-line catalog. There are also trade and classified sectors for vendor advertising, offering full color graphics and E-mail customer "reader response" features. Vendors using ReSourceNet can now reach buyers within hours, rather than days or weeks. For businesses and public agencies, ReSourceNet can provide custom private conferences, special interest areas, and information searches. On-line professionals can interact with clients to answer questions in the environmental service or resource management areas, including hazardous and solid waste management, air and water quality, soil testing, regulatory compliance, and how communities can capitalize on the resource management industry to promote economic development and sustainable agriculture. There are information resources and networks available through ReSourceNet to assist businesses and professionals from sole proprietorships up to large corporations. The data line for calling ReSourceNet via modem is 612-654-8372 2400 baud, or HST for USRobotics modems. High speed modems (14,400 baud) can call 612-656-0678. ReSourceNet also offers fully configured discount superstore-priced computer systems and hardware components on-line through Midwest Computers. Christine Blount offers technical support through the voice information line at 612-259-5732 for hardware, software, 1stReader, and subscriber assistance. ReSourceNet provides: 1. Registered 1stReader (DOS only) communications and E-mail editing software only $25 2. High performance modems, costing over $500 last year for under $140 3. Internet E-mail addresses 4. 2,800 UseNet conferences, where professionals meet to discuss a variety of issues 5. Custom private conferences for low cost business telecommunication 6. Internet listserver facilities, for discussions of topics not addressed in the UseNet conferences 7. Over one gigabyte of on-line files, with access to thousands of gigabytes more* 8. Electronic newsletters and magazines* 9. Catalogues of discount computer books, hardware and software for on-line ordering* 10. Telecomputing services such as Teltech for on-for information searching* 11. On-line computer users' groups for expert free advice on hardware and software 12. Selected conferences for CAD/CAM, environment, general information, weather, and news 13. Seminar and training services for any size organization* 14. Browsers Digest summaries for rapid overviews of news, conference clippings, and features 15. 1stReader software free with one year paid subscription ($240) *additional charges may apply ----------------------------------------------------------------------- CUT HERE ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim~ McNelly Granite Information Service 612-654-8372-HST 656-0678 v.32bis jim.mcnelly@granite.mn.org --- * February 28th - It can not be explained cc: Michael Million [MM24681@UAFSYSB.UARK.EDU] Byron Belitsos [71055.3435@COMPUSERVE.COM] Peg Seremjian [SEREMJIA@CS.UWP.EDU] Frank Shields [FRANKE@CRUZIO.SANTA-CRUZ.CA.US] ENV-LINK+@ANDREW.CMU.EDU Scott Foerster [FOERSTER@ACCESS.DIGEX.NET] Dan Massey [massey@world.std.com] Lawrence London [LONDON@SUNSITE.UNC.EDU] Dick Prince [rfprince@netcom.com] Tom Richard [TLR2@CORNELL.EDU] Lee Fox [LFOX01@MAIL.MORE.NET] Tom Alexander [TALEXAN@CSOS.ORST.EDU] Paula Schenone [P.SCHENONE1@GENIE.GEIS.COM] Phil Calabrese [CALABRES@COD.NOSC.MIL]