From: Gary Welles 

Jame Clay wrote:

>    Since that's already in place, including being connected as part of the
> internet;  I'm not sure what your point is...

A network having a gateway to the Internet, as Fidonet does, does
not make it part of the Internet.  I assume Fidonet users can
exchange messages without those messages traversing the Internet,
or at least not as Internet mail (SMTP).

Consider X.400 as a more expensive alternative.  MCI Mail has
been decommissioned, but the other carriers remain and the X.400
details are valid:

     X.400 - The Better Internet
     http://www.oppenheimer-software.com/x400.html

Also, I'd expect e-mail with mobile devices like phones and
pagers are private message systems with Internet gateways.

-- Gary



--- Internet Rex 2.29