From telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Wed Nov 21 20:57:18 1990 Received: from hub.eecs.nwu.edu by gaak.LCS.MIT.EDU via TCP with SMTP id AA12400; Wed, 21 Nov 90 20:57:11 EST Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 19:56:59 CST From: TELECOM Moderator To: ptownson@gaak.LCS.MIT.EDU Subject: [JAJZ801: Genie Star*Services (tm?) summary] Message-Id: <9011211957.aa09010@delta.eecs.nwu.edu> Status: RO ----- Forwarded message # 1: Received: from nuacc.acns.nwu.edu by delta.eecs.nwu.edu id aa11109; 21 Nov 90 12:35 CST Received: from CALSTATE.BITNET by nuacc.acns.nwu.edu; Wed, 21 Nov 90 12:33 CDT Received: by CCS.CSUSCC.CALSTATE.EDU from Mail by CSUMailer (1.4); Wed, 21 Nov 90 10:31:55 PST Date: Wed, 21 Nov 90 10:31:53 PST From: JAJZ801@calstate.bitnet Subject: Genie Star*Services (tm?) summary To: TELECOM@eecs.nwu.edu Message-id: X-Envelope-to: TELECOM@EECS.NWU.edu A recent inquiry to the digest request information on the new Genie Star*Services (which arose from the discussion of Prodigy). The following is an announcement which I obtained from a local BBS. I don't know the original source but it *appears* to have come from Genie itself (captured or downloaded ?).It rather long so you may want to add it to the archives and annouce it rather than distributing it as part of the digest. Also a commercialization problem ?? ======================== slice and dice here ========================== On October 1, GEnie will introduce GEnie Star*Services. For $4.95 a month, you are entitled to unlimited non-prime time use of the following services: GEnie Star*Services: * News, Weather, Sports Top Stories * Travel Information & Reservations * Closing Stock Quotations * Electronic Encyclopedia * GE Mail (TM) electronic mail * Leisure and Professional Bulletin Boards * Classic GEnie single player games * Shopping Services * Subscription to GEnie's LiveWire Magazine GEnie Star*Services are available from 6 PM to 8 AM local time on weeknights, all day Saturday and Sunday and on GEnie weekday holidays. GEnie Star*Services accessed during prime time hours are charged at the prime time rates, but during non-prime time they can be accessed with no standard connect time rates! So for $4.95 a month, during non prime time, you can send and receive all the email you want, get unlimited closing stock quotes, use our online encyclopedia, shop GEnie Mall, get information about your favorite hobby, and more! There are NO standard connect charges when accessing GEnie Star*Services during non prime time. All other GEnie services will be charged at normal connect rates. Telecommunications surcharges, if applicable, still apply. To make it less expensive to use other GEnie services, GEnie will lower its non prime time 2400 baud rate to $6 per hour, versus the current $10 per hour on October 1st. That's a 40% reduction! So all GEnie users with 2400 baud modems (now may be the time to get one if you don't have one yet) will enjoy the faster speed at a greatly reduced rate. So GEnie's rates on October 1 will be: PRIME NON-PRIME STAR*SERVICE FEE USA $18.00 $6.00 $4.95 Canada C$25.00 C$8.00 $5.95 Star*Services are not available at this time in any other country. Considering $4.95 is less than the current cost of a month's subscription to the encyclopedia, we think you'll find the over 100 services offered to be an exceptional value. Now more than ever, GEnie is the place to stay online longer for less. GEnie Star*Services begin on October 1st. If you agree to join the plan, you will be charged $4.95 on the 1st, and you will be given unlimited access to all those great services. If you decide not to join, you can access GEnie until September 30 at standard GEnie connect rates. After October 1, you must join to continue to access GEnie. GEnie will bill you automatically each month for $4.95. You may cancel at any time. If you cancel, you must re-signup to access GEnie. We are so sure you'll find GEnie Star*Services to your liking, we are offering a money back guarantee. If you are not completely satisfied with the service you may cancel during the first month and we will refund your initial $4.95 subscription fee. October 1st will mark a new era on GEnie. Join us in ushering in an exciting new age in information services! GEnie SERVICE ANNOUNCES FLAT MONTHLY RATE OF $4.95 INCLUDING UNLIMITED, NON-PRIME TIME ACCESS TO OVER 100 PRODUCTS/SERVICES ROCKVILLE, MD, Aug. 29, 1990 -- The GEnie[SM] service, one of the leading online information services, has announced the introduction, effective Oct. 1, 1990, of a flat subscription rate of just $4.95 (U.S.) per month including unlimited, non-prime time access to more than 100 products and services. This new monthly rate will make it possible for GEnie service subscribers -- and members of their families -- to access a wide variety of popular products and services on the GEnie service without the concern of running up costly fees each month as a result of hourly access rates. In making the announcement, Bill Louden, general manager of the GEnie service, said, "Our market research told us that the number one thing our subscribers wanted in an online information service was a flat monthly rate for accessing a wide variety of products and services. "As a result, we will be launching, effective Oct. 1, 1990, our GEnie Star*Services with a subscription rate of only $4.95 per month," said Louden. "Our new pricing structure on GEnie is similar to the concept of Cable TV where viewers pay a monthly rate for unlimited access to basic services, and an additional cost for value added services," he explained. "With this new flat monthly rate for non-prime time access to over 100 of the GEnie service features, the online costs of many GEnie service subscribers could be reduced," added Louden. NEW NON-PRIME HOURLY RATE The rate for U.S. access to those GEnie service products/services not covered under the flat monthly rate -- such as all personal computing bulletin boards, all software libraries, financial services, value added services, chat lines and Real Time Conferences, Computer Assisted Learning Center (CALC), and multi-player games -- has been set at just $6 per hour during non-prime time for all three access speeds (300, 1200 and 2400 baud). This is a $4 per hour reduction in the current 2400 baud non-prime time rate. The prime time rate remains at $18 per hour for all three access speeds. Since more than 60 percent of the 209,000 subscribers on the GEnie service have 2400 baud modems, this lower non-prime time rate of only $6/hour for 2400 baud access also will result in faster, more cost-effective software downloads on the GEnie service, which has more than 85,000 files available for downloading. CANADIAN RATES To access the GEnie Star*Services in Canada, the monthly subscription rate is $5.95 (Canadian), with a non-prime time rate of $8 (Canadian) per hour for all three access speeds. Prime time rate is $25.00 (Canadian) per hour for all three access speeds. SIGN-UP FEE ELIMINATED The $29.95 sign-up fee for the GEnie service also has been eliminated for all new subscribers effective immediately. As a result, there is no real cost to subscribe to the GEnie service, except for the first month subscription rate of $4.95 (U.S.). MONEY BACK GUARANTEE After trying the GEnie Star*Services for the first month, if a subscriber does not like it, he/she can cancel his/her membership and the GEnie service will refund the $4.95 subscription fee to them. (This offer applies only to first time new subscribers to the GEnie service, once per household.) BENEFITS OF MONTHLY RATE "We feel this new monthly rate for non-prime access to GEnie will be eagerly accepted by many of our subscribers as they will no longer have to watch the clock when they are using the GEnie Star*Services," said Louden. "The GEnie service will now provide its U.S. and Canadian subscribers with the most extensive and cost-effective package of online services available today for a flat monthly rate," remarked Louden. "GEnie's original motto of 'Stay Online Longer for Less' is even more appropriate now with the introduction of this flat monthly rate," he remarked. First operational in 1985, the GEnie service is one of the fastest growing online information services with more than 209,000 individual subscribers. Available throughout the U.S. and Canada, the GEnie service also can be accessed in Japan, West Germany, Austria and Switzerland. For further information in the U.S. and Canada on the GEnie service, offered by GE Information Services, please call 1-800-638-9636. GE Information Services, a division of General Electric Company, U.S.A, is headquartered in Rockville, Md. NOTE: GEnie is a service mark of General Electric Company, U.S.A. GEnie STAR*SERVICES Product List As of 10/1/90, subject to change GEnie Info: Top Banners... news of what's happening now on GEnie Info... about GEnie Tips... how to get more out of GEnie Rates... current connect rates Phones... up-to-date telephone access list to the network Policy... GEnie policies Index... complete list of GEnie services, searchable New... what's new on GEnie Contest... information on current and upcoming contests Press Releases... GEnie and GE press releases Aladdin Bulletin Board... for users of the free GEnie PC Aladdin program GEnie Users Bulletin Board... for all users of GEnie Admin: Set... terminal settings Manual... online GEnie manual Bill... check your bill Password... change your password Electronic Mail: Read Mail Send Mail Search GE Mail Directory... to find the email address of another member GEmail Command Mode... advanced mail functions like REPLY and FORWARD News: US News.. top stories from the wire services World News... top stories Weather... from our news wires Sports... top stories from the world of sports Bowen "A Networker's Journal"... weekly column on telecomputing Computing Across America... travelling on a high tech bicycle Gutman "Computers & Technology"... personal computing column Money Matters: Personal Loan Calculator... amortize loans Closing Stock Quotes... database of stock prices Dr. Job... weekly column for job seekers Charles Schwab Investors Bulletin Board... discussions for all investors Home Office/Small Business Bulletin Board... work at home discussions Real Estate Bulletin Board... for realtors and home buyers/sellers Education: Groliers Encyclopedia... research tool for students, updated quarterly Education Bulletin Board... for teachers, students, and parents Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Bulletin Board... engineering school Entertainment/Games: Black Dragon... descend through the dungeon and slay the black dragon Castle Quest... dungeon adventure Original Adventure... classic text adventure game Adventure 550... advanced version of adventure Dor Sageth... dungeon adventure Banner Maker... create your own text banners (for printout) Show Biz Quiz... test your knowledge Rainbo... online reviews of books, movies Cineman... movie reviews Hollywood Hotline... news from tinseltown Soap Opera Summaries... keep up with the soaps Show Biz Bulletin Board... discussions on TV and movies Music Bulletin Board... talk about records TeleJoke Bulletin Board... the latest humor Hobbies & Leisure Bulletin Boards: Hobby... all hobbies from model railroading to stamp collecting Sports... sports talk Pets... for pet lovers Radio & Electronics... people who like to solder Aviation... for pilots, professional and amateur MIDI/WorldMusic... electronic music talk Writers... for writers, poets, and hopefuls Spaceport... the latest news from outer space Science Fiction... fantasy, science fiction, comic books, movies, and TV Genealogy... trace your ancestors Scuba... underwater fun Photography... for professionals and amateur shutterbugs Military... for soldiers, ex-soldiers, and interested parties Human Interest Bulletin Boards: Public Forum... current events around the world, plus non-profit news Japan Bulletin Board... Japan and Japanese culture Deutschland Bulletin Board... news from Germany Law... for lawyers Medical... for doctors and those interested in medicine Jerry Pournelle... talks about science, computers, and the world Law Enforcement... for cops Religion & Ethics... talk about religion and the way we should act Travel: EAASY SABRE... American Airlines and others, schedules and reservations Travellers Information Service Bulletin Board... talk about traves Destination Florida... Florida attractions discussions Shopping: Gift Of Time... give GEnie time to a friend GEnie Classified Ads... buy, sell, and promote GiftQuick... quick guide to online bargains Alaska General Store... items from the frozen north AT&T... phones and more Autoquot-R... car prices Computer Express... computer supplies Computer Shopper... subscriptions Direct Micro... computer supplies at discount prices Engraving Connection... brand name items Gimmee Jimmy's Cookies... cookies by mail Godiva Chocolatier... chocolate by mail Hearthside Books... great books 21st Century Hobbies... online hobby shop Hypermail... catalogs Walter Knoll Florist... flowers Long Distance Roses... roses by mail MacUser... subscriptions MaryMac... Tandy products Noteworthy Music... compact discs at discount prices OAG Mall... information on the Official Airline Guide PC Computing... subscriptions PC Magazine... subscriptions Programs Plus... Apple software Safeware... computer insurance Sears... the Sears catalog online Software Discounters... software for home computers Superstore... consumer electronic goods Tall Tails... pet items Tiffany & Co.... gifts TRW Credentials... enroll in personal credit service Wall Street Journal... subscriptions ----- End of forwarded messages