11-14-94 Free-Net Seeks Sponsors COLUMBUS FREE-NET SEEKS SPONSORS TO SUPPORT COMPUTER NETWORK COLUMBUS -- The Greater Columbus Free-Net has created a new sponsor program to support its operation. In turn, the sponsors will have their business information displayed on-line on the Internet. The Free-Net, which was launched in Columbus last May, is a community electronic information service with free access from computer terminals at libraries and schools. People with home computers dial into the Free-Net over local telephone lines. The Free-Net permits users to obtain information and exchange electronic mail with people around the world through its connection with Internet, an international network of computers. Since the Free-Net began operation May 1, its members have connected with the Free-Net more than 302,000 times. More than 10,000 people in central Ohio have already joined the Free-Net and have received electronic mail accounts. Membership applications are available without charge at public libraries. Business sponsors of the Free-Net can place information about their businesses in the new on-line, searchable database called NetLocator. Businesses also can obtain an electronic mail alias with their business name for use on the Free-Net. Professor Steven I. Gordon, associate director of academic computing at The Ohio State University, said the Free-Net began with about $65,000 in cash and donated equipment and services. He estimates that about $100,000 is needed annually to operate the Free-Net. The Greater Columbus Free-Net is a project of Ohio State and a number of corporate, civic, educational and local government partners. Ohio State is housing the Free-Net equipment and is training community volunteers to run the system. The first Free-Net was organized in Cleveland in 1986. Its success led to creation of similar services in many cities across the country, including most of the major cities in Ohio. For information on the sponsorship opportunities for the Greater Columbus Free-Net, contact Marty Lobdell at the Ohio Supercomputer Center, 1224 Kinnear Road, or call 292-9291. Lobdell can be reached through electronic mail at: mlobdell@freenet.columbus.oh.us # Reporters wanting more information on the Greater Columbus Free- Net should contact Steven Gordon at 292-3372. SPONSOR PROGRAM FOR GREATER COLUMBUS FREE-NET What is NetLocator? NetLocator is a service that provides network access to a database of business organizations. Users may select entries by SIC code, International product code, name, county of location, metropolitan area, product or service. The user will be given a list of names of organizations. With that list, users can access the name, address, telephone, and electronic mail location of each business and view a text file describing the business and its current activities. The information in the text file is maintained by that commercial organization and can be edited at any time. Research is being done to understand the ramifications of locating the information at the NetLocator database location or at a location designated by the commercial organization. What is an E-mail alias? In the operating system data files for mail there is a file that contains aliases. You may have a listing in that alias file such that anyone sending mail to you (or your organization name) will have that mail routed to your home computer or routed to several members of your organization on your home computer or on Free- Net. Here are the gift levels and what a business gets in return: $100 1. Entry in the database searchable by name. $150 1. Entry in the database with search capabilities by: Name International Product Code County Metropolitan Area SIC code Product/Service (key words) $200 1. Entry in the database with search capabilities by: Name International Product Code County Metropolitan Area SIC code Product/Service (key words) 2. A customized E-mail alias (any name they choose; mail will be forwarded to address of their choosing) $500 1. Entry in the database with search capabilities by: Name International Product Code County Metropolitan Area SIC code Product/Service (key words) 2. A customized E-mail alias (any name they choose; mail will be forwarded to address of their choosing) 3. Six-month of promotion on the Free-Net menu in the About this Area section. The main Free-Net menu comes up with 17 categories. Each of those menu subareas will have an About This Area write-up. Each sponsor of that section will have up to five lines of the write-up. $1,000 1. Entry in the database with search capabilities by: Name International Product Code County Metropolitan Area SIC code Product/Service (key words) 2. A customized E-mail alias (any name they choose; mail will be forwarded to address of their choosing) 3. 12-month entry in the About this Area section. The main Free- Net menu comes up with 17 categories. Each of those menu subareas will have an About This Area write-up. Each sponsor of that section will have up to five lines of the write-up. $5,000 1. Entry in the database with search capabilities by: Name International Product Code County Metropolitan Area SIC code Product/Service (key words) 2. A customized E-mail alias (any name they choose; mail will be forwarded to address of their choosing) 3. 12-month entry in the About this Area section. The main Free- Net menu comes up with 17 categories. Each of those menu subareas will have an About This Area write-up. Each sponsor of that section will have up to five lines of the write-up. 4. Your name will be listed on the Login screen For more information, please send e-mail or call: Marty Lobdell Ohio Supercomputer Center 1224 Kinnear Road Columbus, Ohio 43212-1163 Phone: (614) 292-9291 E-Mail: mlobdell@freenet.columbus.oh.us 11-14-94 [Submitted by: REIDV (reidv@ccgate.ucomm.ohio-state.edu) Mon, 14 Nov 1994 10:45:00 -0500 (EST)] All documents are the responsibility of their originator.