January 8, 1991

      Omicron Software, Inc. is pleased to announce the release of
a new communications product for software developers and trade
associations.

                         THE INTERCOM !

      Being software developers ourselves, we know how important it
is to provide both quality technical support and pre/post marketing
support for our products and services.  This is sometimes a difficult
task. People use your products every day.  Unfortunately, they don't
always use them between 9 and 5.  Have you ever had a problem with a
piece of software at 2:00am?  I know I have.  O.K., who do you call
at 2:00am?  Have you ever called tech support for a product and been
told "all the technicians are busy now, we'll have someone call you
back".  Well, they call back, but inevitable they call while you are
out to lunch, and then you have to go through that all over again.

      Having experienced these types of problems with supporting our
own products, we decided that we needed to expand our support
services. Hiring more technicians was out of the question.  We
couldn't justify the expense.  Instead, we installed an electronic
bulletin board system. We had an extra computer to run it on and we
had an extra modem.  All we needed was a phone line and some BBS
software.  After trying several brands of BBS software, we settled on
PCBoard by Clark Development Company because of it's tremendous power,
flexibility and excellent support.

      Now came the problem of how to get people to use it.
Surprisingly, most of our customers, even the computer professionals
were uncomfortable with communications and communications products
like ProComm, or Qmodem, etc.  Then, when they finally do figure out
how to connect to the BBS, they spend large amounts of time fumbling
around trying to figure out how the fool thing works.  No matter how
easy it really is.

      We concluded that if we were going to be successful with this
BBS strategy, we were going to have make it much easier for the user
to access our BBS.  We needed to find away that ANYBODY with a PC
and a modem could connect with our BBS, get and send messages, upload
and download files, and not have to learn a complicated comm program
to do it.

      THE INTERCOM to the rescue!  The INTERCOM is a front end to the
BBS, written in Clipper 5.01 using the Telepathy library for
communications. We gave every one of our customers a copy of the
Intercom, and NOW they use our BBS.  The user has a familiar point
and shoot menu system that he readily understands.  He can write
messages to technical support or other users on the BBS with the built
in editor.  He can get messages from the BBS and read & respond to
them off line, thus saving him long distance charges.  The user can
upload and download files to/from the BBS by just typing in the name
of the file.  File transfers are quick and reliable with the Zmodem
protocol.  The average time a user spends online, is 1 to 2 minutes
(not including file transfers), so they don't mind the expense.
Our users get clear concise written responses to their queries.
They interact with other users of the products and many times
have their questions answered by them.  It's wonderful when one user
helps out another.  Everybody is happy, and we didn't have to do a
thing.

                    THE INTERCOM - FEATURES

Compose/edit messages off-line - read/respond to messages off-line
fully automated log-on - fully automated send/receive of messages
and files - no user interaction required while on-line - full multi-
level security - full featured terminal program included for other
comm needs - Zmodem error correcting transfer protocol - ascii file
viewer - archive important messages on-line context sensitive help -
unlimited distribution license to users of your BBS

If you want to turn your tech support nightmares into sweet dreams,
give us a call today to discuss your needs and to get a free
demonstration version of THE INTERCOM!

Contact:  John H. Stolte, Sr.
          Omicron Software, Inc.
          2301 Genito Road
          Powhatan, VA 23139
          804-598-2500 (voice)
          804-598-3943 (fax)
          804-598-2871 (BBS)   Download INTERCOM.ZIP from the new uploads
                               area, or ask us to mail you a copy.
                               This version can only be used on the OMICRON
                               BBS.

=====================================================================
                          NOTES ABOUT THE INTERCOM
=====================================================================

This version will only work on the Omicron BBS.  Each version is
customized for the BBS it will run on, therefore it will not run
reliably on your BBS or any other except the Omicron BBS.
Our BBS number is 804-598-2871 2400-N-8-1 24 hours.

      Before you can actually use the INTERCOM, you must call our
BBS manually using your favorite communications program, or you can
use the terminal program included with the INTERCOM, by selecting
INTERACTIVE on the Utility Menu.  The reason you must do this is
that you have to be registered on our BBS for the INTERCOM to work
properly.  If you haave already done this, disregard.

(NOTE:  Because of the size of the INTERCOM.ZIP, I have removed
 TERMINAL.EXE from the zip and placed it in a seperate file.  As
 Terminal.exe is NOT REQUIRED for operaton of the INTERCOM, I thought
 it would be easier for downloading if I made it optional.  You can use
 your favorite comm program in it's place.  If you really want
 Terminal.EXE, fell free to download TERMINAL.ZIP )

Because there are so very many different ways a SYSOP
might have his registration process set up, it would be very
difficult to have the INTERCOM handle this.  This type of
processing would be available as a custom modification if you
required it.  Of course, this would be billed separately.

      Once you have filled out the initial sign-on questions and
reached the main board, type OPEN 5 to access the registration
door.  Upon completing the questions there, your security level
will be upgraded to 10 or higher depending on the answers to the
questions.

      Once you have completed this, feel free to look around, but
the real fun starts when you log off and then run the INTERCOM. 

Start up the INTERCOM by typing INTERCOM <enter> and then fill in
the blanks for your name, password, comport etc (there is help for
each field available by pressing F1) the go to the MAIN MENU and
select the MESSAGES Menu. Now, COMPOSE a message to SYSOP or JOHN
STOLTE, put it in CONF 1 (Main Board) and mark it PRIVATE.  Just
drop me note to let me know you have been by trying out the INTERCOM.
Then select "DIAL BBS to get/send messages" on the messages menu,
select which option you would like for mail reading.  If you don't
understand the options, hit F1 for help.

When you dial in the first time with the INTERCOM, you will get a
large message download because you have never read any of the
messages.  Future calls will only fetch messages since the last
time on.  Unless you have previously registered on our BBS at least
24 hours prior to trying the INTERCOM, your functionality will be
limited to the main board.  The reason for this is that every night
at 3:30am (est) our BBS runs it's nightly "Event".  Part of the
processing that takes place then is that the USER file for the
INTERCOM is updated with all new members who registered today. 
Therefore your name will not appear in the users file until then.
Anytime after 3:30am (est) subsequent to your registration, select
the "Files Menu" option, then "Download a File".  Select USERLIST.
This will cause the INTERCOM to automatically download the user
files and update your system accordingly.  You should now have
access to all the conferences that you would have if you dialed in
manually.  I know this can be a bit annoying, but it is necessary
to preserve the security of our system.  If you were previously
registered here, don't worry aboiut this, it's already taken care of.

      Each time you dial the BBS (from the Messages Menu) you will
be prompted with 4 options for message scanning.  ALL - will
retrieve all public messages plus all private messages to you in
all conferences you are registered in.  ALL SELECTED - will
retrieve all public messages plus all private message to you in all
conferences you are registered in AND have SELECTED while on-line
interactively.  ALL YOURS -will retrieve only messages addressed to
you, public or private in ALL conferences you are registered in. 
ALL YOURS SELECTED  - will retrieve only messages addressed to you,
public or private in ALL conferences you are registered in AND have
SELECTED while on-line interactively. 

      The same prompts will be presented to you each time you upload
or download a file.  You never miss your mail, as it is retrieved
each and every time you dial the BBS.  In addition, if there are
pending out-going messages, they will be sent each time you dial.

      While there is not YET a user manual for the INTERCOM, there
is on-line context sensitive help throughout the system.  If there
is anything you don't understand, drop me note on the INTERCOM and
I'll be happy to clarify it for you.

      There are a few things I should point out.  First, at start
up, the INTERCOM searches your DOS path for PKUNZIP.EXE (it can't
tell which version, but expects ver 1.10 or later).  If PKUNZIP.EXE
is found, the INTERCOM will download your messages in .ZIP file
compressed format and extract and parse the messages into the
message reader upon successful completion of the automatic
transfer.  Should the INTERCOM not find PKUNZIP, it will download
an ascii file which will then be parsed into the message reader. 
Of course, having PKUNZIP available will make your message file
transfer go more quickly and save you money.  If you don't have
PKUNZIP, you can download it from our BBS or most other BBSs as
PKZ110.EXE.

      Second, while reading messages, note that the F8 key saves
messages to an archive.  You may download many messages but only
really want to keep a few, and you don't want them interfering with
your day to day reading, so when you find a message you want to
keep, press F8 to archive it.  When you are finished reading your
messages, you can select PURGE from the utility menu, which will
dispose of either all deleted messages or all those message that
have been read and/or deleted.  The option is up to you.  PURGE
will also remove any messages that you have DELETED from the
Archive, but not those that have been read. When you select READ
MESSAGES from the menu, you are presented with a list-box browse of
the messages currently in the reader.  From here you can select a
message to read and hit ENTER to read it, or press the TAB key to
toggle back and forth between the current INCOMING messages and the
ARCHIVE messages.

If the message header is highlited in the browse window, that means it
is addressed to you.  If you type a "Y" it will set a filter to show
you only those messages addressed to you.  Pressing "Y" again,
deactivates the filter.

Once in the message reader, you can move through
the messages by pressing the F5, F6, & F7 keys. (also alt-p, alt-n,
and alt-u will accomplish the same tasks).  F5 goes to the PREVIOUS
message, F6 to the NEXT message and F7 goes to the next message
that you have not yet read skipping all read messages in between.

      On the FILES Menu, there is an option for an "ASCII FILE
VIEWER".  This option will allow you to view any ascii file with a
.TXT extension which resides in the same directory as the INTERCOM
(assumably \intercom ).  This is great for viewing the any ascii file
or to look at a message you may have save to disk with the F3 output
option from the message reader.  The files MUST have a .TXT extension
to be viewed in this utility.

      The utility menu has an option for "INTERACTIVE".  This is a
pretty full featured communications program written entirely in
Clipper 5.01.  It has many of the features of commercial grade comm
programs.  Ok, Ok, it isn't ProComm or Qmodem, but it's free!
Some versions of the software downloaded from BBSs, may not have
Terminal.exe in it to save download time, but it should be available
as Terminal.zip on that board.  If not, it is available on our BBS.

      Now for the sales pitch!  The Intercom was developed as means
to provide an easy method of access to a BBS for a group of people,
like a software developers customer base for tech support, or a
trade associations membership.  It WAS NOT intended to be a
hobbyist BBS users utility. However, there is no reason whatsoever
why a BBS operator couldn't use the INTERCOM for HIS users.  As
previously mentioned, the INTERCOM is specific to the BBS it is
running on and will not work reliably on other BBSs that it wasn't
coded for.  This is INTENTIONAL !!!

The INTERCOM is currently being used by a few software
development houses to support their users and is being used by the
United States Council On International Banking. The USCIB is a
trade association of bankers involved in International money
transfers etc.  I believe there are 400-500 member banks, each with
multiple people who will use the INTERCOM.  The USCIBs purpose in
using the INTERCOM is to SAVE MONEY and to disseminate information
to their members in a timely fashion.  Of course it also provides
a forum for members to interact with each other and the USCIB to
exchange information, ideas and help solve each others problems. 
It's also a great social interaction.  The USCIB expects to save
about $50,000.00 a year on printing, postage and mail distribution
costs.  That paid for the INTERCOM many times over.  Our software
developers have realized savings for tech support as well.  In
addition, it's good for customer satisfaction and general
marketing.  When a customer is provided a direct line to his
developers, he knows that they care.

      The price for the INTERCOM is a one time license fee of
$2,500.00.  This amount includes customization to the program to
make sure it is compatible with your BBS.  That means that it will
be modified so that it does what it is supposed to do when
accessing your BBS.  As you may know, PCBoard is very configurable
and a system operator can change the way the BBS reacts to users. 
Each and every PCBoard can be different.  Special needs or custom
modifications can be made at additional expense.  Upon purchasing
a license for the INTERCOM, you will be granted the right to
distribute as many copies of the INTERCOM as you like to people or
organizations to access YOUR BBS.  It doesn't matter if you have 30
or 30,000 users, the $2,500 is one time licensing fee with no
royalties attached.  We don't even mind if you charge your users
for the use of the Intercom.  If you have 100 users, and you charge
them each $25.00 for use of the INTERCOM, you have recouped your
cost.

      As of this date, the INTERCOM is in production and working at
4 sites but is officially still in beta test.  While it appears to
be solid and has been running for 4 months, I haven't given it the
final stamp of approval.  I expect to being doing that within the
next couple of weeks.

      Once again, I thank you for your interest in the INTERCOM. 
You suggestions and questions are welcome and appreciated.

      Feel free to contact me at 804-598-2500 (voice) 804-598-3943
(fax) or on our BBS at 804-598-2871

      Please also note our new address:  
      Omicron Software, Inc.
      2301 Genito Road
      Powhatan, VA  23139

Sincerely,

John H. Stolte, Sr.

p.s. If you download INTERCOM.ZIP, please feel free to uploaded it
to other BBSs.  There is a file inside the zip called FILE_ID.DIZ
which contains the description I would like to have appear for the
file.  Thanks!

