Online Services
These services are supported by users. Users pay an access fee to use the service. You can pay either a one-time access fee, a fee per minute/houryou are on-line, or some require you to pay a monthly access fee. Anyhow,the charge usually includes an instruction manual, as well as some on-linecredit.
Sometimes the cost for connect time will vary depending on the speed of themodem you are using. For example, you will be charged less for a 1200-band modem than you would for a 9600-band modem. They might also charge moreor less depending on the time you are calling. You might be required to pay a fee for special access to some of the files, doors, or conferences.However it is worked, the charges are most easily billed to your credit card.
Choosing A Service
When you are choosing an on-line service, you will need to do a little research. You should make a note of the things you are looking for in anon-line information service. When you have decided what you are lookingfor, you will need to “shop” around and look at several of the services andfind one that best fits your needs.
Many on-line services offer starter kits for new users. The starter kits offer a variety of things to you. It will include registration information,tutorials, users guide and several other useful items available.
If you can’t decide on a service, then just sign up for one that sounds interesting to you. Try it for a few weeks/months and see if it is whatyou want. If it isn’t, then quit that one and try another one. It won’ttake long until you find the one that suits you best. If a service onlycharges you when you log onto it, then it won’t hurt you to use it whenyou want to, and don’t if you don’t want to use it.
Keeping Costs Down
You probably have noticed that the major disadvantage of on-line services isthe cost. You can run up quite a bill if you aren’t careful. Rates veryfrom $2.50 per hour all the way up to as much as a hundred dollars or moreif you are accessing a special database. The best way to keep the cost downis to limit access time, and don’t waste time while on-line.
You will want to look over the user’s manual for a few hours before you usethe OIS (On-line Information Service). This will give you an understandingof the system and how it works, and will save you some money by savingtime on-line. You should find out if you can skip the menu screens so youdon’t waste time searching for things.
You can also save on costs by taking advantage of the OIS’s billing information. You might be able to access the OIS cheaper after 11 PM, oron weekends. You might find it cheaper to operate at a slower modem speed.
Page 1When chatting only, you should have the modem speed at 300-band; it willnot seem any different, but you will be able to notice the difference in price.
If you are going to access a database, you need to set your modem at its fastest rate. Sending information at a fast speed will save a lot of money.You should also use the highest speed when up and downloading files. Moston-line services will give you a better rate when you operate faster.
Tips and Techniques
A lot of the services have a variety of commands that are similar. This makes it easier to explore additional services. Each OIS will have itsown unique functions, but most will generally operate the service and followthe commands. Most of the OISes use either BTNA, SprintNet, or other packetswitching networks to route calls from users around the country. You canget local access numbers by calling the customer service number.
Before you sign up, call the support line and ask them whether or not thereis a demo account that you can log onto so that you can get information andtry the service out. You should also find out if there are activities foryou on-line that do not cost anything, such as on-line help, checking and billing information, and filling out questionnaires.
When you log on for the first time, you should make it a quick visit. Youshould log on and look at some of the menus, and get a feel for the service.Make sure that you capture a command list so that you can read them lateroff-line. After you do that you should log off. It will do you some goodto print out a list of the commands and post them near your computer for future access.
Most of the OISes are set up in pages. A page is a menu or a screen. Findwhere the page identifier appears on the menu. This may be a number or a header. This will allow you to jump from anywhere in the service to anyother place. Areas that are frequently used will have special commands, such as: GO MAIL will take you to the mail menu. You can press T and youwill be taken to the main menu.
Log-off commands will vary from one to the other. Most of the time it willeither be BYE, EXIT, or QUIT. But, if you enter these commands at a submenu,you might just be taken back to the previous menu. You will need to testit out and find out what works.
If you remember one thing I say, it should be this: NEVER TELL ANYONE WHATYOUR PASSWORD IS! This is a no-no. Remember this: No authorized representative will EVER ask you for your password. If someone does, thentell them that if they needed to know it, then they already would know it.If someone gets your password, they might log on and spend a lot of yourmoney, and you WILL have to pay for it. One way to make sure that you don’t give it to the wrong person is to make sure that anytime you typethe password it shouldn’t appear on the screen. Most services will justshow something like “********************” as you are typing in yourpassword. As you type, the screen will show a new asterisk. If you giveout your password, then change it immediately.
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