-=> Quoting John Melchiori to Sue Matthews <=-
 SM>Our BBS is similar... 6 incoming lines, 8 CDs online at all times with 
anoth
 SM>couple dozen available thru Rom Door, reliable FIDO mail, 80+ registered 
gam
 SM>doors that are HEAVILY played, EMAIL capacity, and sysops who will 
actually
 SM>help folks with questions. We ask a whopping $18/year.
8 lines here, but the rest of the system sounds very similar to ours...
 
 SM>The subscriptions don't begin to even cover the phone bills.
Same here, although we ask $5 a month or $20 for 6 months.  A whole $40 per
year. 
 JM> We also started as a small system (3 lines) and this year (april)
 JM> added a live internet line and started providing ISP services. We have
 JM> been doing well in a market (Orlando, Fl) that is saturated (100+) with
 JM> bbs systems most of which are hobby 1 or 2 lines.
Our present goal is to start providing some sort of internet services.  How 
o
you handle yours (types of software, lines, services the callers can access,
etc) ?
 JM> How did we set ourselves apart? We joined with other bbses around the
 JM> world thru the internet and set up a co-op that provides free 90
 JM> minutes per day in each co-op system. Lets our callers see regional
 JM> systems and join in chats/games, etc on other systems.
I'd be very interested in learning how you do this.  I'd assume that you'd
first have to be ON the internet?
 JM> This is a major selling point here (along with internet) but it has
 JM> increased regular bbs subscriptions to well above the break even
 JM> point. You MUST find a hook to set you apart from the crowd. It is a
 JM> tough business now with the internet and unless you find that hook
 JM> (content) you will NOT succeed. Files, messages and even games are not
 JM> enough these days.
That's exactly right.  I don't see the death of the regular BBS coming 
nytime
soon, but I DO see this as a "make or break" time.  
 JM> Hope we system operators can keep this thread going so we can assist
 JM> each other.
I'll contribute whatever I can.  Glad to see something like this being
discussed.  Hopefully it'll help us to stay in "business".
Thanks...
                                James
                 The Chatterbox Lounge and Hotel BBS
                   skyrocker@chatbox.usa.storm.net
... Back up my hard disk? I can't find the reverse switch!
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