Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!samsung!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!sdd.hp.com!hplabs!hpcc01!hpdmd48!ritchie
From: ritchie@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com (David Ritchie)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: First CIS, then Delphi, now Genie
Message-ID: <15480008@hpdmd48.boi.hp.com>
Date: 5 Sep 90 05:40:22 GMT
References: <1990Aug30.034701.26918@rodan.acs.syr.edu>
Organization: Hewlett Packard - Boise, ID
Lines: 34


  The new Genie fee is a flat rate with no connect charges during access to 
the Star*Services areas. These include

- e-mail (which *may* file transfer between users)
- wire service 
- several financial based services (Schwab, real estate related, etc.)
- Groliers Encyclopedia
- single user games including 550 point Adventure and
  several other Adventure games
- all the hobby related BB's (N.B. this does not include computer related
  BB's).
- closing stock quotes
- Offical Airline Guide
- EAASY SABRE - see what flights are available when
- Jerry Pournelle (ok, maybe they should pay you $4.95 a month instead :^)

  You are probably wondering what isn't covered in the $4.95. I will quote
from GE's press release:

  "The rate for U.S. access to those GEnie serve products/services not covered 
under the flat rate -- such as all personal computing BB's , all software 
libraries, financial services, chat lines and real time conferences,
Computer Assisted Learning Center (CALC), and multiplayer games -- have been 
set at $6/hr for all three access speeds (300/1200/2400)."

  Canadian rates at C$5.95 and C$8/hr. The signup fee is currently being
waived.

The 2400 baud rates have dropped to $6/hr also. I suspect that Prodigy
is giving them fits. It does seem that the services are ones that are probably
not too popular. I will probably try it for the 1st month anyway.

			- Dave Ritchie