Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!ames!amdcad!sun!pitstop!sundc!seismo!uunet!munnari!vuwcomp!dsiramd!csnz!paul
From: paul@csnz.nz (Paul Gillingwater)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: Haye's/telebit's/USR's special offer to BBS sysops
Summary: Another example of US "We are the world..."
Keywords: hayes trailblazer
Message-ID: <80@csnz.nz>
Date: 14 Oct 88 01:30:36 GMT
References: <71@csnz.nz> <389@westmark.UUCP> <5521@hoptoad.uucp> <1476@netmbx.UUCP>
Reply-To: paul@csnz.co.nz (Paul Gillingwater)
Organization: Computer Sciences of NZ Limited
Lines: 40

In article <1476@netmbx.UUCP> blume@netmbx.UUCP (Heiko Blume) writes:
>since i live in europe, i wonder why these offers are valid only
>inside the us and canada...didnt help me to be a sysop :-(
>anyone know why ??
>-- 
>Heiko Blume | lazy  : blume@netmbx.UUCP
>WestGermany | telex : 183008 intro d      | fax : (+49 30) 882 50 65

You and me both, Heiko!   I am a dedicated sysop from down-under, and
have been BITTERLY disappointed that Hayes, Telebit and USR seem to
think that the world ends at the US border.  We're not exactly part
of COMECON down here, (although we won't let your nuclear-capable ships
into our ports for R&R!), but I don't think it's a trade issue.  I think
it's that these companies just don't want to mess with international
support.  Sure, some of them, e.g. Telebit, license their technology for
external distribution, e.g. you can get a TB+ from Dowty/Case in UK or from
Netcomm in Australia, but the distributors can't afford to do the special
offers.

Obviously it makes sense to offer special prices to sysops and UUCP sites
(I run both), because such sites will be *VERY* influential in dictating
which way the market will go for local compatibility.  But none of the
modem companies stateside have the chutzpah to think globally - despite the
fact that their products are helping to make the world a smaller place!

As an example, I'm about to buy a couple of TB+'s for the company I work for,
in order to support software on exactly the other side of the world, Spain.
But only because there is local support for the Trailblazer.

So, here is the challenge.  As USR, Hayes and Telebit slug it out for
domination of the 9600+ bps market, who wants the Rest of The World?????

I will await e-mailed offers of cut-price modems with eagerness...  I can
give you an order for 10 a month....


-- 
Paul Gillingwater --> Path: ...!uunet!vuwcomp!dsiramd!csnz!paul
Computer Sciences of New Zealand Ltd.  	Domain: paul@csnz.co.nz		 
Magic Tower BBS (24 hrs) NZ +64 4 753-561 (V21/V23/V22/B103/B212A)