NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #31/NN_1992_31.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/9752

Text File | 1993-01-03 | 8.4 KB | 228 lines

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From: [e-mail] (Rich Winkel)
Subject: Glasnet Brochure (autopost)
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"GlasNet (TM)" - A new Soviet Computer Network for Information
Interchange.

A new computer network called "GlasNet (TM)" has been installed
in Moscow by The International Foundation (Washington, Munich,
Sofia) and The Institute for Global Communications (San
Francisco).  GlasNet (TM) is the first non-profit,
non-governmental telecommunications network to be established in
the Soviet Union.

The purpose of GlasNet (TM) is to offer easy and inexpensive
information exchange between diverse groups within the USSR,
including scientists, educators, cultural groups, journalists,
environmentalists, computer enthusiasts, and so  forth.  It will
also enable these Soviet groups to correspond electronically
with their counterparts in the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
GlasNet (TM) is intended to serve the communication needs of pro
bono groups in the USSR who could not otherwise afford modern
communication services.  Charges to non-commercial GlasNet (TM)
users in the USSR will be entirely in roubles, and kept as low as
possible while maintaining good system services.

GlasNet (TM) is a member of the Association for Progressive
Communications (APC), a global network-of-networks with host
computers in Australia (Pegasus), Brazil (AlterNex), Canada
(Web), Great Britain (GreenNet), Nicaragua (Nicarao), Sweden
(FredsNaetet), and the USA (PeaceNet,EcoNet).  The first GlasNet
(TM) host computer is a 386 computer running UNIX; it uses the
standard APC electronic mail, conferencing, and networking
software. The user interface of this software is identical to
that which has been used by Sovam Teleport for the last two
years.  The initial GlasNet (TM) hardware configuration will
support 5,000 user accounts; of these 7 to 30 can be on line
simultaneously, depending on the number of available telephone
lines.  GlasNet (TM) was installed in Moscow in March of 1991 and
has been operating officially since May 30, 1991.

GlasNet (TM) is negotiating with organizations in Dnepropetrovsk,
Kiev, Saint Petersburg, and Zelenograd to set up GlasNet (TM)
associate host computer systems in these cities.

Collaboration among scientists, business people, and other
specialists in the USA has been facilitated in recent years
through the use of computer-based electronic mail and
conferencing capabilities, allowing people in different parts of
the country to work on joint projects, access data banks and
information in computers all across the country, and
electronically publish new work.  These powerful capabilties are
now becoming available to the general public, the non-profit
community in particular, through such services as PeaceNet and
EcoNet.

It is the goal of GlasNet (TM) to provide  similar
performance-enhancing services to the fast-emerging independent
sector in the USSR, offering Soviet users easy access to friends,
colleagues, and potential associates in the USSR and abroad.

The initial services available to GlasNet (TM) users will
include:

Electronic Mail

GlasNet (TM) subscribers will be able to exchange messages with
users on GlasNet (TM), other users within APC, or with users
belonging to many other networks through APC "gateways."

Networks accessible through APC gateways include: Applelink,
ARPANET, AT&T LandMail, AT&T MAIL, Bitnet, BIX, BOLNET, CARINET,
CGNET, CIGnet, COMLINK, COMPUSERVE, CONNECT, CSNet, DASNET,
DELPHI, DIALCOM, EasyLink, ECUANEX, EIES, ENVOY 100, FIDONET,
GALAXY, GeoNet, GTE, HandsNet, HURACAN, IMC, INET, Internet,
JANET, MCI MAIL, MicroLink, NASA, NWI, PANDORA, PINET, Portal,
PsychNet, ScienceNet, SOURCE, TCN, Telecom Gold, Telemail, THE
META NETWORK, TWICS, Tymnet/Ontyme, UNDP;UNDRO;UNINET, UNISON,
UUCP Mail Net, WELL, WORKNET, OMNET, Usenet

Electronic mail (Email) overcomes the cost and problems of
telephone use. An electronic mail message is composed at the
user's convenience, then quickly sent by the GlasNet (TM)
computer to its destination in the addressee's host computer
mailbox, which may be in Moscow or halfway around the world.
When the person to whom it is sent logs in to his or her local
network host computer, the message is waiting.  Transmission is
immediate, and there is no need for both parties to be present
simultaneously.  Costs are less than long distance telephone
calls or those of air parcel services.

FAX And Telex Service

GlasNet (TM) will provide its users with the ability to send
messages to FAX machines, and to send or receive messages from
Telex machines.

Electronic Conferencing

An electronic conference is a written conversation with other
users; a conference is created to discuss a particular topic or
to facilitate communication between people working on a joint
project.  GlasNet (TM) users will be able to start their own
conferences on topics of interest, or will be able to participate
in on-going conferences on other APC networks.

GlasNet has office space in and works closely with the Bank of
Ideas of the USSR at their offices on Ulitsa Yaroslavskaya.

The Russian staff of GlasNet (TM) opposed the the August 19 - 23
coup and courageously kept GlasNet (TM) operating during it.
GlasNet (TM) was used to keep GlasNet (TM) users informed about
the fight against the coup, and to pass information about it back
to the West.

GlasMail

In November 1991 GlasNet (TM) began offering a new service -
GlasMail (TM).  This allows communication between people who have
no Email or other equipment; people in the USA can send letters,
telegrams, or FAXes quickly and reliably to anyone in the USSR.
Delivery is 3 days or less from from receipt of a message in the
USA to its delivery in the USSR.

For further information on GlasNet (TM) or GlasMail (TM), please
contact:

Anatoly Voronov, Executive Director
Email: [e-mail]

Alexander Zaytsev, Technical Director
Email: [e-mail]

Anatoly Yeroshin, User Support Director
Email: [e-mail]

GlasNet (TM)

Ulitsa Yaroslavskaya 8
Korpus 3 Room 111
129164 Moscow

217-6173, 217-6182 (voice)

217-6170, 217-6171, 217-6172, 217-6174, 217-6180, 217-6181,
217-6183 (data)

In the USA:

David Caulkins
GlasNet USA
437 Mundel Way
Los Altos, CA 94022
[phone] voice
[phone] fax

Email:
[e-mail]  (from Internet in the USA)
dcaulkins          (from PeaceNet/EcoNet in the USA)

People in the USA who wish to access GlasNet (TM) and do not have
an account on one of the APC-connected gateway networks listed
above should get an account on one of the IGC networks: PeaceNet
or EcoNet.  For information about these networks, contact:

IGC
18 de Boom
San Francisco, CA 94107
[phone]
[phone] fax
Email: [e-mail]

--------------------------------------------------------------

It is possible to sponsor a GlasNet (TM) account for colleagues
in the USSR by making dollar payments to IGC in the USA; accounts
sponsored in this way are effectively free to users in the USSR.
Contact IGC for more information about this.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Modems suitable for use with GlasNet (TM) should have the
following characteristics:

1) MNP protocol, levels 2 - 5
2) Hayes-compatible AT command set
3) Can be used at 1200 or 2400 bps

Modems of this kind are available at electronics and computer
stores in the USA, either retail or mail-order.  Prices are about
$90.00 for an internal modem (plugs into a slot in a PC), or
$140.00 for an external modem (in a separate box, and usable with
a PC, Macintosh, or any other computer with a serial port.   If
cost is a major consideration, it is possible to use a 1200 bps
modem with the AT command set, and emulate the MNP protocol in
software using a communications package like MTE.  Copies of this
software can be obtained from the US or Moscow offices of GlasNet
(TM).

Communications software packages recommended for use with GlasNet
(TM) are:

For IBM PC computers and equivalent clones using the DOS
operating system:

  Procomm

  For use with non-MNP modems - MTE or MTEZ

For Macintosh computers:

  Red Ryder, Microphone, or White Knight

Other communications software packages have a high probablility
of working with GlasNet (TM).