#002, November 23, 1995

		Cruzio Newsletter - Number 2, November 23, 1995

Table of Contents

1. About this newsletter
2. 28.8 lines busy! Getting more lines.
3. New, low rate for combo accounts 
4. Extra POP mailboxes available from Cruzio December 1
5. Domain name service available from Cruzio December 1
6. Help available: Web and computer consultants
7. Cruzio Gift certificates for that hard-to-please friend
8. System downtime -- Sunday mornings before 8am
9. ISP joke


1. About this Newsletter

Cruzio doesn't like to waste bandwidth with extra email, but
we sometimes have events and announcements that users need
to know about. This seems like the most efficient way to let
people know what's happening. Hope it's helpful. Please email
support@cruzio.com with any comments or questions.

2. 28.8 lines busy! Getting more lines.

The 28.8 hunt group has become very overloaded at times, and we 
want to explain what's behind those busy signals and what we are
doing to improve the situation.

Unfortunately, our building has run out of phone lines. In order
to add more lines (we have about 130 already) we have had to
order cables brought through the roof of the building, a 
major project. The project has been ongoing for two and a half
months, and should be finished November 30.

We are having 600 lines cabled in,so the frustrations with connections
to Cruzio will be fixed for quite some time. It's hard to avoid busy
signals in peak times completely, but we strive to keep them at a minimum.
We appreciate users letting us know when they are getting more
than 3-4 minutes of busy signals.

In the meantime, when the 28.8 lines are busy, try dialing in
at 14.4 kbps. The 14.4 number is 459-6200.

Please note that it helps other Cruzio users during these frustrating
times if you "close" or "disconnect" when you are not actively using
your connection for more than a few minutes.


3. New, low rate for combo accounts 

We think our "combo" accounts have been underused, so we are
lowering the fee from $81.00 per quarter to $75.00 per
quarter. That's just $25 per month for an account that 
combines a BBS account with a PPP account.

A clearer definition: The BBS account is text-based and has a full
set of Internet software pre-installed and configured on our system.
It can be accessed from just about any computer, using any
operating system. 

A PPP, or graphical, account has the advantage of flexibility
 -- you can install the software you like -- and software that
uses the point-and-click and graphical capability of your system.
The PPP is our most popular type of access account.

Combining the two accounts allows you extra access to the Internet
without extra fuss.

This rate change means that anyone currently paying $81 a quarter
for a combo account will be getting a credit for the difference
... Happy Holidays!

Note: To find out more about getting  a "combo" account, just send email to
office@cruzio.com.


4. Extra POP mailboxes available from Cruzio December 1

In response to popular demand, Cruzio will be offering extra
mailboxes to PPP users starting December first. This will
help people who share a Cruzio Internet account but would rather
not share email. The charge is $5 per month per extra mailbox,
charged quarterly. There is a $10 one-time setup fee.

Note: To find out more about getting  an extra mailbox, just send
email to office@cruzio.com.


5. Custom domain name service available from Cruzio December 1

For those customers who would like to be "yourname@yourdomain.com"
rather than "yourname@cruzio.com", Domain Name service will be
available from Cruzio as of December first. 

When you have a custom domain name, you can have a "virtual" domain
on the Net. Your web page can have the URL of "www.yourdomain.com"
and your email can go to "yourname@yourdomain.com". 

Custom domain names require a one-time payment to Cruzio of $50.00,
and a payment of $100.00 to the InterNIC to cover 2 years of
registration fees. Fees to the InterNIC are $50.00 per year after
that. There's no ongoing fee to Cruzio.

Note: To find out more about getting  a custom domain, just send
email to office@cruzio.com.


6. Help available: Web and computer consultants

If you are looking for someone to help with a Web page, or for
someone to come to your house to help straighten out your computer,
check the Consultant's page.  The address, in Netscape, Mosaic, Lynx,
or any other web browser, is 

	http://www.cruzio.com/consultants

If you would like to be added to this listing, please fill out
the form at the bottom of that page. We will perform a quick
test of your information and put you on.

Note that Cruzio is providing the information as a service to
our users, and others in the community, who often ask us for
consultant information. We don't endorse or guarantee the
work of the consultants on the page.


7. Cruzio gift certificates for that hard-to-please friend

Cruzio is offering gift certificates for those who'd like to
give connections or Internet time to their friends or family.
This is in response to popular demand -- lots of grandmothers
have been asking. Again, contact office@cruzio.com for more info.


8. System downtime -- Sunday mornings before 8am

Just a reminder that Cruzio has a weekly downtime to do system
maintenance, early Sunday mornings. We are normally down from
about 4 am to 6 am, but sometimes take up to 8 am to finish our work.


9. ISP joke

We made up a joke in our office that perhaps some customers
will enjoy.

	Q: How many Internet Service Providers does it take to
		screw in a lightbulb?

	A: It's light over here, the problem must be on your end!

Thanks, and Happy Thanksgiving,

--The Cruzio Family: Chris, Peggy, Deana, John, Judy, JJ, Jake
			and of course Annika, the Cruzio Baby