Getting to Other Networks

Inter-connectivity has been and always will be one of the biggest goals in computer networking. The ultimate desire is to make it so one person can contact anyone else no matter where they are. A number of ``gateways'' between networks have been set up. They include:

@rm{AppleLink}

Quantum Services sells access to AppleLink, which is similar to QuantumLink for Commodore computers and PCLink for IBM PCs and compatibles. It also provides email access through the address user@applelink.apple.com.

@rm{ATTMail}

AT&T sells a commercial email service called ATTMail. Its users can be reached by writing to user@attmail.com.

@rm{BIX}

Users on BIX (the Byte Information eXchange) can be reached through the DAS gateway at user@dcibix.das.net.

@rm{CompuServe (CI$)}

To reach a user on the commercial service CompuServe, you must address the mail as xxxxx.xxx@compuserve.com, with xxxxx.xxx being their CompuServe user ID. Normally CompuServe ids are represented as being separated by a comma (like 71999,141); since most mailers don't react well to having commas in addresses, it was changed to a period. For the above address, mail would be sent to 71999.141@compuserve.com.

@rm{EasyNet}

Digital sells a service called EasyNet; users that subscribe to it can be reached with the addresses user@host.enet.dec.com or user%host.enet@decwrl.dec.com.

@rm{FidoNet}

The FidoNet computer network can be reached by using a special addressing method. If John Smith is on the node 1:2/3.4 on FidoNet, his or her email address would be john.smith@p4.f3.n2.z1.fidonet.org (notice how the numbers fall in place?).

@rm{MCI Mail}

MCI also sells email accounts (similar to ATTMail). Users can be reached with user@mcimail.com.

@rm{PeaceNet}

Users on the PeaceNet network can be reached by writing to user@igc.org.

This table is far from complete. In addition to sites not being listed, some services are not (nor do they plan to be) accessible from the ``outside'' (like Prodigy); others, like GEnie, are actively investigating the possibility of creating a gateway into their system. For the latest information, consult a list called the Inter-Network Mail Guide. It's available from a number of FTP sites, including UUNET; see section Anonymous FTP, for more information on getting a copy of it using anonymous FTP.