PUBLIC INTERNET NEWS ----------------------------------- Vol. 1 Issue #6 January 1, 1999 ______________________________________________ Offering news and tips concerning the Public Internet Industry. Each month we will bring you the latest information on what's hot and what's not when it comes to offering Internet Access to the public. Please feel free to contact us with any information or feedback you may wish to contribute (yes, we will be publishing contributing articles). We look forward to hearing from you! _______________________________________________ INTERNET CONNECTIVITY - Which Connection to Choose? --------------------------------------------------------------------- Decisions, decisions. This decision was a no-brainer about a year ago. Its no where near as tough as it going to be next year! We're talking about getting your Internet Vending Machine (IVM) connected to the Internet. There are now more choices than ever for plugging in to the Net. The first and most popular choice is a straight Analog Dial-Up Connection. This is the default connection for most locations as it widely available and inexpensive compared to other solutions. Even the smallest towns and most remote areas offer at least a 33.6K dial up service. There are disadvantages to using this service. For one, the popularity of dial-up causes problems like busy signals and dropped connections. These are especially problematic during the high traffic hours after 4 PM. Second, analog connections take sometimes as long as 45 seconds to connect. This can be frustrating to a busy individual who has paid for time on the machine. They want their information yesterday. To improve upon these problems, a digital connection like ISDN could be used. ISDN offers 2 communication channels at 64K, for a combined speed of 128K. This will speed up access considerably, as well as improve the quality and duration of the connection. Whats not so hot about ISDN ? Mainly cost and availability. While prices on the service continue to fall, it still comes at a significant premium to Analog. Many smaller towns and rural areas don't have access to digital service, so it's not even an option. Other areas have ISDN service available but very few, if any, ISPs that support digital connections. Research carefully before going digital. Now for the fun stuff. Cable and ADSL. Mark my words, this is going to be the battle of 1999. Cable modems have already made their mark. Yours truly has been using one for a year and a half, and can attest to its incredible combination of price and performance. For about $35 a month, it provides high speed internet access (10Mbps) and doesn't tie up a phone line. Most services time out after 24 hours of idle time, but otherwise remain connected. Problems with Cable? Availability and Commercial Applications. Cable modems require two-way capable lines which are still not widely available. Also, most locations that offer Cable modems are for residential use only. Check with your local cable company to resolve these issues in your area. ADSL, as defined in the ADSL Forum (http://www.adsl.com): "Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. ADSL is a modem technology that transforms ordinary phone lines (also known as "twisted copper pairs") into high-speed digital lines for ultra-fast Internet access. ADSL also enables access to corporate networks for telecommuters, as well as exciting new interactive multimedia applications such as multiplayer gaming, video on demand and video catalogs..." "..ADSL provides speeds up to 8 Mbps downstream (to the user) and up to 1 Mbps upstream, depending upon line length and loop and line conditions..." The biggest benefit of ADSL is that it "piggy-backs" over existing phone lines, and remains connected 24/7! There is no doubt that this will become THE choice for IVMs everywhere. While not widely available right now, look for massive growth in the next year. If you can find ADSL, hook up an IVM and cash in on it! Hope you find this information useful. Please feel free to email me your questions and comments. May 1999 be an exceptional year of opportunity for all! Best of luck to you. --------------------------------------------------------------------- IVM Manual is now available for sale at the Web Site. http://www.cyber-cite.com/manual.htm This guide offers all of the information necessary to start your own Internet Vending Business. Everything from placement contracts to bulk mailing samples is included in this package. How many businesses can you start for $59? This price gets you started on the ground floor of a revolutionary new communications product. Why not get started today? Automated Credit Card Processing is here!!! The entire manual can be emailed to you within minutes of entering your order. Start your very own Internet Vending Business with a click of a button! --------------------------------------------------------------------- Next Month's Issue - Remote Access Options