In a message to All, Murray Lesser wrote re: It's not quite over

ML>     I have been a subscriber to IBM Internet Connection Services
ML> (ibm.net) since Warp 3 was a pup.  As you may remember, IBM sold this
ML> operation to AT&T last year for a mess of pottage and several other
ML> considerations.  This morning, I downloaded an e-mail from ibm.net
ML> discussing the changeover from my ibm.net account to an equivalent AT&T
ML> account, which would take place starting Oct 1, this year.  (Forwarding
ML> service will be available until Oct 1, 2000.)
ML> 
ML>     It seems that ibm.net has classified me as a "consumer" customer
ML> (which, in truth, I am), not as a "business" customer.  If I do nothing
ML> about it, I will be transferred to AT&T's WorldNet services.  The
ML> problem is that if I transfer to WorldNet, I can no longer have the
ML> worldwide "roaming" capabilities I have enjoyed to date.  Worse, I can
ML> not continue to use my IBM OS/2 dialer.  (Apparently, WorldNet supplies
ML> dialers only for Windows and the Mac.)  According an excerpt from the
ML> text of the message I received:
ML> 
ML>      The AT&T WorldNet(r) Service does not offer an OS/2 dialer. If you
ML>      are an OS/2 customer, please click here
ML>      http://www.ibm.net/whatsnew/att_choose.html to remain a customer of
ML>      AT&T Business Internet Services and to continue to use your OS/2
ML>      dialer.  [Note:  I have no idea as to whether or not Injoy can
ML>      access WorldNet, nor do I care very much.]
ML> 
ML>     It appears that the newly constituted AT&T Business Internet
ML> Services will provide "the technology" (and services available) of the
ML> former IBM Internet Connection Services (prices not quoted).  I gather
ML> that I must point my browser to the page mentioned before Oct 1, or I
ML> will be swept automatically into WorldNet, which I will be unable to
ML> access :-(.  (I will post further reports after I get home and can
ML> attach to the Internet without paying the $0.10/minute surcharge for
ML> 800-number access to ibm.net that I use when traveling in the US.  It is
ML> usually cheaper for me to pay the 30-40 cents surcharge to pick up my
ML> morning Fido and other e-mail than it is to pay the hotel the usual
ML> $0.75-1.00 "local call" charge, even if I am in a locality that has
ML> ibm.net access--assuming I don't fool around with Web sites!)
ML> 
ML>     Comments from other users of ibm.net would be appreciated.

You can get a run-down on the AT&T Business Internet Services 
plans at http://www.ibm.net/whatsnew/att_planinfo.html

If I've comprehended The Announcement and the plan descriptions 
properly, if you choose to go wth AT&T Business Services to
continue to use the ibm.net OS/2 dialer (hey, it really is a nice
dialer, IMHO), etc.  you will probably get the "Comprehensive"
plan (assuming you weren't using one of the ibm.net limited plans
before).  This plan appears to be essentially the same as what
ibm.net had been offering; ie US$19.95/month, 6 email id's, no
web space, US$9.00 surcharge for "global roaming" (it's not clear
but I assume this only applies outside your base area, eg outside
North and South America for USA customers, outside Europe/Africa
for European customoers, etc.  just like ibm.net has been for the
last year or so).  Some good changes are 150hrs/month instead of
the current 100hrs/month with ibm.net and 6MB email storage email
ID vs 3MB under the present plan.


 * KWQ/2 1.2i * Internet: John.Thompson@ibm.net


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