Speed Up, It's A Short On-Ramp

Speed Up, It's A Short On-Ramp!
March 1994

Look over your shoulder and check your sideview mirror, you're merging onto the information superhighway. The pace is frenetic, and the faster you can make sense of the data that’s headed your way, the more competitive you can be.

If you don't already have a modem installed in your computer, read this article, and then go buy one today! For about $10 a month on-line communication services offer access to tens of thousands of software programs and messages that, if used creatively, can offer your business a big boost.

I've been a member of America Online for about a week now. On the advice of two other Howard County business owners, I joined the system to keep track of business trends and watch my family's mutual funds. I expected a basic set of offerings: message service, stock listings, and online games. What I also found were serious business help forums and top-notch software programs for just a few dollars (some were free!). In less than 15 minutes, I was sending messages to business acquaintances and long-distance family members. It's great to have an electronic mail system that extends around the world.

I created an online mutual fund and stock portfolio that I download to an Excel spreadsheet each evening. The on-line portfolio automatically updates and tracks the gains (or losses) each item accrues since its purchase date. I even gathered the numeric data to help us choose a new mutual fund for our IRA contribution!

New members to America Online earn an initial 300 free minutes of access. Each month brings an additional 300 minutes of service. Additional time is billed at about $5 per hour.

You may have heard of CompuServe Information Service, the nation's most popular online service. CompuServe also includes the previously mentioned features as well as more business software. Many of the nation's largest computer companies have help forums on CompuServe, too.

For example, I use the Novell forums to access the most current upgrades to NetWare, the local area networking operating system. WordPerfect and Microsoft also keep their updated files available on the CompuServe download system.

You will find an application for CompuServe membership and a coupon for free on-line time inserted into many computer software packages and magazines.

If you're interested in contacting your elected political representatives, you'll find that most congresspeople have accounts on CompuServe. I toured our state capital last month with the distinguished Business Monthly publisher. Of the three Howard County delegates that we met, two have CompuServe accounts. They actually prefer to receive comments from their constituents via electronic mail!

I also suggest that you use an excellent Columbia-based electronic system. Atlantis On Line Information Service is locally owned and operated and is a member of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce. Local business experts offer help lines and discounts to Atlantis members.

I use Atlantis as my primary electronic mail system to keep in touch with other computer users and customers. Try it, you'll be surprised at how easy it is!

Now, let's talk about modems and communicating on line. If you need to purchase a new modem, consider a 14,400 baud v.32bis fax/modem. The 14,400 baud refers to the raw speed at which the modem can send and receive data: roughly 14,400 electrical signals per second. The real secret is v.32bis, which refers to the degree to which the data can be compressed and signal errors corrected.

Most 14,400 fax/modems send and receive at effective speeds of up to 115,200 baud. Because the computer data can be significantly compressed by the modem before it's sent, it appears that the modem is actually sending at a rate much higher than it's stated capability. And since your time is money, the faster you can send your message, the less it costs!

I suggest that you purchase a fax/modem so that you can send and receive faxes as well as communicate on the information superhighway using only one piece of computer hardware.

One last thought. Access to the Internet is provided by all three of the services that I mentioned: America Online, CompuServe, and Atlantis. The Internet is a network of over 20,000 computer systems: corporations, universities, and government services. Most of these systems are open for public use. I'll talk more about the Internet in a future article, look for it.

Good luck, and I'm waiting to receive your comments via electronic mail!

David Stephen Murphy is President and CEO of Damar Group, Ltd. which presents computer training classes, publishes computer learning guides, and helps organizations do business on the Internet. The website is http://dgl.com, and Mr. Murphy may be reached at dave@dgl.com or 410.567.5366.

updated November 2, 1996
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