                Announcing PostLink(tm) from the creators of PCRelay!



          Summary:

               PostLink is a new BBS networking program from the creators
               of PCRelay.

               It is a complete rewrite, merges the PCRelay HUB and NODE
               software into one integrated program, and is not compatible
               with PCRelay.

               It contains many new or enhanced features, including greatly
               enhanced file requests, the ability to route messages to
               more than one site ("multicasting"), much greater
               flexibility in configuration, integrated communications
               including built-in communications protocols, full support
               for multiple compression programs and external
               communications protocols, including bi-directional protocols
               such as HS/Link, and greater support for LANS and
               multitasking BBSs.

               PostLink continues to support the UTI specification, and has
               been designed to be able to support more BBS's internally,
               although at this time the only BBS that is supported
               internally is PCBoard.

               PostLink is scheduled to be available in early August 1992.

               For More Information contact Kip Compton on his BBS at (617)
               494-1366, or Bonnie Anthony on her BBS at (301) 229-5623/5342
               or voice (301) 229-7244.


          More Detailed Information:

               PostLink is the next generation of networking software for
               BBS's.  It picks up where PCRelay leaves off, greatly
               enhancing many of the features that have made PCRelay one of
               the most popular networking options for sysops everywhere.

               PostLink was redesigned and rewritten from scratch in
               standard C++.  It has been designed with larger capacities
               and greater portability  in mind.  As a result of this, it
               is not compatible with PCRelay.

               Unlike PCRelay, PostLink was designed from the ground up
               with large networks and a multitasking/LAN environment in
               mind. However, thanks to its extremely flexible
               configuration system, it can efficiently run small networks
               just as well, while providing room to grow.

               While PCRelay was designed to be able to handle a network of
               1,000 to 1,500 sites, PostLink was designed to be able to
               handle networks of 10,000 sites or more.  Where PCRelay only
               supports 511 conferences, PostLink 1.0 will support around
               16,000 conferences, and is designed to be able to support up
               to 4,294,967,296 conferences, which should be able to
               support networks well into the future.

               PostLink has been specifically designed to be able to
               perform well on multi-node BBS's.  PostLink locks resources
               for writing on a conference by conference basis, and allows
               simultaneous reading of conference files for maximum
               efficiency in a multitasking or LAN environment.  PostLink
               is even smart enough to go work on another conference and
               come back to the original conference if a particular
               conference's files are busy at the moment!  This means that
               less online time is spent waiting for someone who is on
               another "node" of the BBS to finish getting their mail, and
               it makes it feasible to have much larger hub systems.

               PostLink integrates the NODE and HUB versions of PCRelay
               into one package.  This means that mail can be imported
               directly onto the BBS when mail is uploaded into the hub. 
               Separate EXPORT and IMPORT programs are also provided in
               case it is desirable to control when mail is exported and
               imported.

               In addition to integrating the NODE and HUB portions of the
               software, PostLink adds a built-in communications module
               which can learn how to log onto your hub.  Thus, it is no
               longer necessary to use a "script" file with another
               communications program; you can now simply "teach" (by
               logging on and entering the PostLink door) PostLink how to
               get to the door on the board you call, and from then on
               PostLink can handle all the communications itself!  PostLink
               also retains the flexibility of being able to use an
               external communications program, allowing even unusual
               communications situations to work.  (i.e. diskette copying,
               etc)

               PostLink adds _extensive_ error detection and logging,
               including leaving the SysOp of the BBS messages when there
               are non-fatal errors.  In addition, if a user enters a
               message that is not exported or that is misrouted, PostLink
               sends back a detailed message explaining what happened, and
               often suggesting what to do about it.

               PostLink now allows both the compression and communication
               protocol options to be configured by the SysOp, allowing new
               protocols and compression programs to be implemented as soon
               as they are released.PostLink fully supports bidirectional
               protocols such as HS/Link.  In addition, PostLink has a
               number of built-in protocols, including ZModem.  Postlink
               can be configured to use just about any compression program,
               including none.  Using no compression can be desirable in
               situations where the modems being use have good compression
               already.

               PostLink utilizes the UTI 2.x specification to get mail onto
               and off of BBS's, so any BBS that has a UTI 2.x driver (such
               as RBBS, Wildcat!, GAP, etc) can use PostLink.  In addition,
               PostLink has built-in support for PCBoard 14.5, including
               updating mail waiting flags and the call waiting screen
               statistics, if desired. PostLink has been designed to make
               it as easy as possible to add built-in support for other BBS
               programs, so you should definitely expect built-in support
               for other BBSs in the future!

               PostLink attaches "audit records" to every message and file
               as it passes through the network, allowing for detailed
               debugging and performance information.  Now you can find out
               why a message took 3 days to get somewhere -- the audit
               information will show you all of the systems that the
               message went through, and what time it arrived on each of
               those systems!  These audit records are utilized in the
               Return Receipt mail option to show you not only that your
               message has arrived at its destination, but how it got there
               and why it got to the destination system when it did.

               PostLink provides advanced mail functions such as automatic
               encryption of all routed mail, full reference number
               support, multicast routing, and automatic routing. 
               Multicast routing is the ability to route a message to
               several different systems. The message will only show up on
               the systems you specify. Automatic Routing is a unique
               PostLink feature which supersedes the PCRelay private
               mailbox system. Automatic routing will automatically route
               private replies back to the BBS where the message the reply
               refers to was written.  This means that it is no longer to
               setup and maintain a private mailbox system. Automatic
               routing is both more efficient and more secure than the
               PCRelay private mailbox system.  Automatic Routing is more
               efficient than the PCRelay private mailbox system because
               the message is routed once by the site sending it -- it is
               no longer necessary for the hub software to look through
               long lists of  user names at each step of the way to find
               out where to send the message.  Automatic routing is more
               secure than the PCRelay private mailbox scheme because
               sysops can no longer add users to their PRIVATE.NET files in
               order to "snoop" on their private mail.  Since the messages
               are routed and encrypted, only the origin and destination
               sites can see the message.

               It's not only the message facilities that have been improved
               in PostLink, however.  The file request system has been
               greatly enhanced, now allowing as many directories to be
               requestable as you like, with ability to associate passwords
               and/or site numbers with file directories or even individual
               files to control not just what files can be requested from
               your system, but who can request them.

               For More Information contact Kip Compton on his BBS at (617)
               494-1366, or Bonnie Anthony on her BBS at (301) 229-5623 or
               (301) 229-5342 or voice (301) 229-7244.


               Pricing is as follows:

               Upgrades  [good through December 15, 1992]
                    PCRelay Hub Purchased after June 1, 1992     *FREE*
                    PCRelay Node Purchased after June 15,1992    *FREE*
                    PCRelay HUB  -> PostLink                     $10
                    PCRelay NODE -> PostLink                     $20

               (NOTE: all upgrades will be provided by Bonnie Anthony, as
               she is in charge of support and distribution for PCRelay)

               New Software
                    PostLink                                     $50
                    (acts as HUB and NODE, includes 1 year support)

               Support/PostLink Upgrades
                    PostLink (1 year)                            $15

               NOTE:     The $15/year fee includes BBS and telephone
                         support and free upgrades via BBS.  1 year of
                         support is included in the upgrade or new software
                         purchase price, including free upgrades.

                    ** PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. **
          PostLink(tm) by Kip Compton
          Copyright (C) 1992 by Kip Compton, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

          This information is provided without warranty of any kind and is
          subject to change without notice.
