During the past few months the question "What is the Internet?" is starting to be replaced by a new question, "How do I get access?" This article will provide readers with some information about choices, options, and the costs of connecting to the Internet as well as some ideas on how all of this can benefit individuals, companies, and even trade associations. As with many new technologies, late breaking developments are happening all the time. A brief introduction to the Internet should bring everyone up-to-date. Connecting to the Internet
Tim Rhodus and James HoskinsDepartment of Horticulture and Crop Science, The Ohio State University
The Internet has been around for about 30 years. In the mid-1960's the Defense Department had computer scientists find a way to connect their computer system resources around the country in such a way that if any one part of the system were destroyed in a nuclear attack rerouting would assure that the entire system would continue to function. These same scientists then began to develop methods to transfer essential data between geographically dispersed computing sites. For example, they began to communicate using electronic mail and send computer programs they were working on back and forth to one another. By the early 1970's, more universities began to tap into this system, until finally the association with the Defense Department gave way to the Internet becoming a National Science Foundation administered and university-based computing resource (Waldrop, 1994). By the late 1980's, the Internet was an established world-wide university-based system. The network became popular with a more diverse group of people outside of the computer science disciplines. Today, the Internet has boomed in popularity and opportunities for commercial and business exploitation of this resource have caught on to the point that today anyone with interest, a personal computer with a modem, and about $30/month can tap into the Internet.
This sketch of historical origins doesn't entirely explain what the Internet is. The familiar hardware and software analogy is helpful to describe it. On the hardware end, the Internet is a collection of thousands of individual computer systems, public and private, and the system of microwave, fiber optic, and telecommunication links that weave them together into a structured world-wide computing organization. In terms of the comparison to software, the Internet is two things. First, the sophisticated computer codes which run and coordinate the system and make readily available the vast information resources contained on these computer systems. Second, and most fundamentally, the Internet is the information that people from all walks of life communicate to one another via the system, or place and store on the system for others to find and use.
This may still sound kind of vague. There are some specific tools people use to communicate on the Internet. These range from electronic mail to powerful search tools that let users locate an incredible variety and amount of information of value to them. This information can be in the form of text, pictures or photographs, movies, video, and sound. Internet users can access fact sheets, updates, and bulletins from the Cooperative Extension Service, view the most current weather satellite photos, e-mail colleagues around the world, see thousands of images and descriptions of landscape plants, use programs that assist in plant disease diagnosis, check on the status of a package shipped with UPS, or hold a video teleconference on the computer screen. Internet users can enter words or word combinations as search terms into a database which then scans and return on-screen entire articles wherever the search words have appeared in thousands of newspapers, magazines, or journals. This same database finds in about 10 seconds Consumer Reports ratings of thousands of consumer products, for example, the specific size and make of an automobile or truck tire we might be interested in buying.
In the past year, the most significant development on the Internet has been the opening up of the Internet to private individuals and business. While much of the traffic is still devoted to academic and educational pursuits, there is a strong commercial presence now on the Internet. Thousands of businesses are advertising, as well as selling their products and services. Although still in infancy, future opportunities for businesses are apparent and indicate the way commerce will be impacted by increased computerization in coming years. Work is progressing to secure the environment so that, for example, credit card and other banking transactions may be freely transmitted. Already an Internet service called CommerceNet exists as an enclave where companies vigorously advertise their goods and services. CommerceNet provides high levels of data encryption and security so that financial data, bids, and contracts may be transferred.
Beyond selling products, the Internet has attracted the attention of the major computer-oriented companies in the world. The world's largest software company, Microsoft has joined the corporate stampede to the Internet with the acquisition of an established company in this area who formerly provided network access for companies interested in having an Internet presence. Microsoft has also announced that the next version of their Windows® software will provide users quick access to the Internet. By November, 1995, Microsoft expects to start offering its network services as a vehicle for businesses to sell goods and services (Lewis, 1995). With a current base of 60 million Windows® users and many of them expected to upgrade to Windows 95®, there is likely to be a tremendous surge in Internet commercial activity (Doler, 1994).
Other big corporate players have entered the Internet arena too. AT&T has just announced Internet- based video conferencing. The competition to provide enhanced data transmission services to consumers is strong. Telecommunications companies are responding to this customer demand for data transmission, and companies such as Ameritech and Motorola have started tests in Illinois to link home computers to high-speed digital lines. Cable TV companies are also exploring commercial opportunities. Their lines can move between 50-500 times as much information a second as a standard telephone line. Cable TV links to the Internet are being test marketed in Philadelphia (Butterfield and Schwartz, 1995).
Choosing the Right Type of Service
For most readers, Internet connection using a dial-in service provider will be the cheapest and most logical type of access. Dial-in service means you make computer modem contact over a phone line to a service provider who functions as a switchboard operator who then relays on to make your Internet connection for you. Only very large businesses should consider the option of devoting a dedicated phone line to establishing an Internet connection. The advantage of the direct line approach is that connections are faster, data transfer more reliable, and many users may connect at one time. The drawback, however, is significantly increased cost for service.
Whether a business uses a dial-in access provider over a regular phone line or purchases a dedicated phone line (a T1 connection) has no implication or impact, other than speed of access, on the range of information options available. The full array of Internet features is available using a modem. There are, however, two main types of dial-in service companies; Online Services and Commercial Access Providers. America Online, Compuserve, and Prodigy are the principal Online Services in the U.S. Before these companies began to provide their customers access to the Internet they were self-contained information providers. The only Internet-based service provided was a gateway to Internet e-mail. Now they all offer connectivity to the Internet and almost the entire range of Internet options. Prodigy has started to give its users access to the popular World Wide Web.
There are about two hundred Commercial Access Providers in the United States. Commercial Access Providers furnish access at lower cost than the major online providers. They accomplish this by offering a locally based service that uses a simple menu system (called a shell) and by relying on the Internet to furnish all services. Because Internet information resources expand on an almost daily basis the perception of a gap in quality between the two types of providers has essentially been eliminated. With a local commercial provider you might not be able to get up-to-the-second stock quotations (and might forfeit the opportunity to "chat" with Hollywood movie stars); however, 40 hours of monthly usage will not cost the almost $400 it would through Online provider Compuserve.
Some Important Terminology
The information in the tables which follow provides descriptions of service and contact resources for the major national Online Service Providers and the major Commercial Assess Providers within each telephone area code region in Ohio. Some of the terms in the tables require definition. A SLIP/PPP connection is the technical term for the technology which permits computers to be temporarily connected to the Internet via a phone line. SLIP stands for Serial Line Internet Protocol service and PPP is defined as Point-to-Point Protocol. PPP is the more technologically advanced interface. If a provider does not offer SLIP or PPP connections shop elsewhere for service. A UUCP feed is a more rudimentary Internet connection used to transfer files from machine to machine. Some Internet service companies offer inexpensive UUCP feeds, which consist of e-mail and news, for as little as $15 a month. ISDN service is a high speed network connection that can be offered as a dial-up assess option via digital modems. Another vital piece of terminology to know about is called TCP/IP. This stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol and is the software a new user will have to configure when starting up service. Service access companies will furnish this software but will provide varying levels of help in configuring it.
The cover story in the January, 1995 issue of PC World provided a useful listing of questions to ask a potential commercial access provider (Abernathy, 1995). First, ask about dial-in access times. Because the service provider is essentially running a telephone switchboard there will be peak access times when user demand surpasses available connections. Ask tough questions about "busy signals" and phone the provider's modem number to check if you get busy signals. Next, ask if the provider supports modem speeds up to 28.8 kbps. These high speed modems are the current state-of-the-art and an up to date provider will support them. Finally, ask about the quality of the provider's connection to the Internet. The article states that at a minimum your service should have a T1 line, and a T3 line is best.
What Are The Benefits?As with any new idea, product, or service, the early adopters stand to gain the most but also assume the greatest risk. The idea of electronic communication in the form of a FAX message is universally accepted as an acceptable (preferred) form of communication. This form of communication has many advantages over conventional telephone conversations or business letters. For some, the e-mail message has become the daily standard for personal communication. Its primary strengths lie in the areas of speed, ease of reply, privacy, and ability to retrieve messages from any location. With e-mail, you can eliminate the problems associated with telephone-tag, non-human interaction associated with voice mail, and the significant expenses associated with FAXing or mailing letters. For any given company or trade association which does a considerable amount of mailing, these savings can easily justify the monthly expenses of being connected to the network.
Moving beyond e-mail, one quickly comes to realize that the Internet is a great resource for gaining information and becoming educated on a great many topics as well as providing information and educating others about your business or profession. By developing a PPA-sponsored information resource center on the Internet, answers to commonly asked questions can be posted for everyone to see, royalty-free clipart and other graphical images can be accessed, and in-depth as well as focused news articles can be read on such topics as: new perennials, cultivation, overwintering, cold hardiness, nutrition, marketing, and management.
For those of you interested in learning more about the major online services and commercial access providers for selected cities in Ohio, the information in Tables 1 and 2 will be helpful. For additional information on commercial access providers outside Ohio contact Dr. Tim Rhodus at The Ohio State University, Department of Horticulture and Crop Science - phone: (614) 292-3871, FAX: (614) 292-3871, e-mail: Rhodus.1@OSU.EDU
References
Joe Abernathy. "Internet." PC World, January, 1995.
John Butterfield and Bruce Schwartz. "Spinning Out a Bigger Web." USA Today, January 12, 1995, p. 4D.
Kathleen Doler. "Microsoft Confirms Delay of Windows Release." Investor's Business Daily, July 25, 1994, p. A3.
Peter H. Lewis. "Microsoft's Next Move is On-Line." The New York Times, 1/13/95, Section D; p.1.
M. Mitchell Waldrop. "Culture Shock on the Networks." Science. Vol. 265, 12 August 1994, p. 879.
Table 1. National Online Service Providers
ProviderArea Covered Setup Fee Terms Sales Information America Online Nationwide $0 $9.95/mo., $2.95/hr. after 5 hrs. 800-827-6364 CompuServe Nationwide $0 $8.95/mo., $9.60/hr. 800-848-8199 Prodigy Information Services Nationwide $0 $9.95/mo., 2.95/hr. or $.05/min after 5 hrs. 800-PRODIGY
Commercial Access Providers
Delphi Internet ServicesNationwide $0 $20/mo. for 20 hrs.,additional time $1.80/hr. 800-695-4005 Netcom Nationwide Shell, $17.50/mo., SLIP/PPP, $19.50 - $200/mo., UUCP, $50 $90/mo., T1, $1,000/ mo. Based in San Jose, CA., 800 501-8649
Table 2. Commercial Access Providers for Selected Cities in Ohio
ProviderArea Covered Setup Fee Terms Sales Information
Cleveland, Northeast Ohio - 216 Area Code
APK Public Access216 Area Code SLIP/PPP $95 Shell, $15/mo. (20 hrs.); $35/mo. flat rate; SLIP/PPP, $2/hr; Other, call. 216-481-9428 OARNet Statewide; Nationwide 800 Service. Dedicated line, $1,000; Shared line, $150. Full Service. Dedicated line, $295 mo.; Shared line, $40 mo/min., $4/hr. (7am-7pm), other, $2/hr.; 800 Service, $12/hr. (7am-7pm), $10/hr. other. OARnet's service focus is primarily businesses, 614-728-8100 Exchange Network Services 216 Area Code Shell $30; Other $40 Shell, $30/mo., 30 hrs. free, $1 thereafter; Other, call. Michael Krause, 216 261-4593
Columbus, Central Ohio - 614 Area Code
Infinet Systems614 Area Code Shell: $15 mo., (flat rate); SLIP/PPP, $25 mo., (flat rate). 614-268-9941 614-268-3668 (fax) Central Ohio Internet Link (COIL) 614 Area Code Deluxe SLIP/PPP, $30/mo.; Standard SLIP/PPP, $20/mo.; both feature unlimited access. 614-242-3800 OARNet Statewide; Nationwide 800 Service. Dedicated line, $1,000; Shared line, $150. Full Service. Dedicated line, $295 mo.; Shared line, $40 mo./min., $4/hr. (7am-7pm), other, $2/hr.; 800 Service, $12/hr. (7am-7pm), $10/hr. other. OARnet's service focus is primarily businesses, 614 728-8100
Table 2. Commercial Access Providers for Selected Cities in Ohio (continued)
ProviderArea Covered Setup Fee Terms Sales Information
Cincinnati and Dayton - 513 Area Code
EriNet Online Communication 513 Area Code Shell, $29.99/mo.; SLIP/PPP, $69.99/mo.; Basic e-mail, $10/mo. Luke Gain, 513- 436-1700 Freelance Systems Programming 513 Area Code Shell, SLIP, $1/hr. (2 hr. minimum) Tom, 513-254 7246 IgLou Internet Services Louisville/Cin.;
513, 812, 606, 502 Area CodesShell, $6.95 - 19.95 /mo.,; SLIP, PPP, $11.95 - $29.95 /mo., Other, call. 800-436-IGLOU OARNet Statewide; Nationwide 800 Service. Dedicated line, $1,000; Shared line, $150. Full Service. Dedicated line, $295 mo.; Shared line, $40 mo/min., $4/hr. (7am-7pm), other, $2/hr.; 800 Service, $12/hr. (7am-7pm), $10/hr. other. OARnet's service focus is primarily businesses, 614 728-8100 Internet Access Online Communi-
cations Service513 Area Code Email/News, $15 /mo.; Shell, $25/mo.; LAN, $35 - $45/mo.; Other, call. 513-887-8877
Toledo, Northwest Ohio - 419 Area Code
OARNetStatewide; Nationwide 800 Service. Dedicated line, $1,000; Shared line, $150. Full Service. Dedicated line, $295 mo.; Shared line, $40 mo/min., $4/hr. (7am-7pm), other, $2/hr.; 800 Service, $12/hr. (7am-7pm), $10/hr. other. OARnet's service focus is primarily businesses, 614 728-8100
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