Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!ucsd!ucbvax!SH.CS.NET!jcurran
From: jcurran@SH.CS.NET
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Subject: Re: Cost of Internet access
Message-ID: <9011121921.AA08826@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: 12 Nov 90 13:10:19 GMT
References: <1990Nov11.025310.25098@Solbourne.COM>
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 21

> This sounds like a good idea.  But if you are going to do dialup
> already, why not just use uucp mail?  It is simpler to setup than
> arranging slip lines.
> 
> The whole idea of dialup access is good, if it can be done "fast" and
> on demand.  TCP connection would show the line is still in use, but
> how do you work out things like UDP packets?  There is no "connection"
> data or state associated with them.
>
> Warner

Dialup IP provides a general transport service for mail, ftp, telnet, etc.
Many people are using dialup IP with automatic initiation for this reason 
and it works quite well.  Certainly a little care has to be used when setting
up mail and DNS [kids, don't try this at home..], but it's worth it for those
sites who can't afford the cost of a dedicated circuit.  

This line of conversation started regarding the high cost of connecting to the 
Internet; it's important to show there are alternatives to the direct line.

/John