-=> Quoting Paul Edwards to John Tserkezis <=-

Hello Paul,

 RS>> Yes, but the practical reality is that nodes normally do have
 RS>> an extra line, and so there is that real cost for that. In
 RS>> this particular case its the same cost as his ISP, $10/month.
 
 JT> Ok, I see, with internet (mail) you don't really *need* another line, but
 JT> with fido, it sorta makes things easier, so that's how people do it most
 JT> of the time...

 PE> You (in practicality) need a line if you are planning on allowing
 PE> others to dial you.

 You could do it on the cheap and tell them to call during the night, but
this causes problems with those who insist on calling during the day.

 PE>  The points don't need an extra line, and would
 PE> have to pay an ISP if it weren't for free BBS's. 

 True, but my point to Rod was that just because the user is getting fido
mail, it doesn't mean they have to become a node, they could stay as a point
or even as a bbs user.
 In that case, internet mail will always cost more than fido.

 PE> I am planning on making a change, in that points would be nodes in
 PE> their own right.  Their phone numbers wouldn't be published, same as
 PE> "private" fido nodes.  BFN.  Paul. 

 Sorta like the way normal email addresses work now, you have your own mailbox,
but people actually have to contact your host on behalf of you to contact you.
 Do you propose on using another type of "nodelist" or the current internet
practice of "if you don't tell anyone, they won't know" type system..

 What about access software, will you be devising a whole new protocol, or
use existing protocols, or is this still in the "thinking about it" stage?

John Tserkezis, Sydney, Oz. Fidonet: 3:712/610  Internet: jt{at}suburbia.com.au

... Hardware: The part you kick.
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