Ian & Stuart's Australian Mac: Not for Sale/Another.not.for.sale (Australia).iso/fade into you/access/Japan Internet/Providers

Internet Message Format | 1994-08-28 | 20KB

Date: Thu, 30 Jun 94 13:14:02 JST
From: [e-mail] (Mike Collinson)
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Japanese Internet Service Providers FAQ file - GA version
Status: R

Here is the first "General Availability" version.  Thank you to all
who provided updates to the draft posted a couple of weeks ago.

Japanese Internet Service Providers FAQ file
--------------------------------------------

Last Modified: 94-6-30

The main focus of this list is to help individuals seeking Internet E-Mail
and Usenet news access in Japan. In particular, to help them know (I hope all)
the service providers there are, narrow down to a target list and make
contact with or without E-mail.  For completeness, services for the "big boys"
(commercial organisations with a deep pocket for leased lines) are also
briefly provided.

Caveat Emptor:  The state of Japan commercial Internet connectivity is in a
        state of flux now. With the honourable exceptions of Aegis and
        TWICS, virtually all the listed services are very new and some fall
        into the category of "Real Soon Now".  I have tried to flag the latter
        but ....

Information is provided on an "AS IS" basis and makes no claim to correctness.
Please use it at your own risk.  Data are summarized where possible from
provider information files but are *not* actively corroborated with them.

Corrections and any new information about any sort of openly available or
commercial Internet connectivity service are welcome, please use E-mail if
possible.  I will maintain this at least into July when I move to the
Philippines.

Mike Collinson
        E-mail: [e-mail]
        Fax:    [phone]
        Mail:   NEC Corporation, Daito Tamachi Building,
                14-22 Shibaura 4-Chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108, JAPAN

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Format:
   #Access Provider:
     Last updated:  Age of information
     Services/cost: Basic List of services provided and indication of cost
     POS:       Point(s) of Service (national/local extent,
                telephone numbers)
                "Verified" after a telephone number shows that a login could
                be made.
     How to Contact: Modem, e-mail, phone, fax, mail
                The intent is to provide e-mail address where available and at
                least one method for those without current e-mail access.

                All phone numbers are for Japan except where noted.  To
                dial from abroad, drop the leading "0" and prefix the Japan
                "81" country code along with your international access code.
     Interface: Language of of any on-line menu interface
     Notes:     Miscellaneous items and comments

TO DO:
        - Put in standard FAQ format
        - Replace "??" place-holders with real information - Your inputs please!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#Access Provider: Aegis
  Last update: 94-Jun-10
  Services/cost:
        UUCP as a not-for-profit society.
        Three dial-in lines: 14,400, 14,400, 9,600 with PEP.
        "20,000 yen/year for USENET + mail within Japan (*.jp) and to
        BITNET (*.bitnet).
        Mail to all other addresses is 20 yen/K in both directions."
  POS: Kansai  Tel nos:
                          075-954-0118 14,400
                          075-957-5174 14,400
                          075-954-4749  9,600 and PEP
  Contact:
        David G. McLane
        - Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
          Minami Hirao 1-6, Imazato, Nagaokakyoshi, Kyotofu 617
        - E-Mail: [e-mail] | [e-mail]

#Access Provider: AppleLink, Apple
  Last update: 94-Jun-22
  Services/cost:
        Internet email can be gatewayed to Applelink users.
        [ Here is some sketchy information as a placeholder ]
        "Although they don't have a PC9800 or Windows client, they certainly
        provide as much Internet access as AT&T, as well as many other things
        of interest to Mac owners."
  POS: Access numbers in several cities, including Tokyo and Sendai.
  Contact:
        ??
        Indirectly, start with Apple Japan.
        You can also use a US AppleLink account here.

#Access Provider: ASCII-NET, ASCII Corporation
  Services/cost:  This is the third largest PC Information Service provider
        after PC-VAN and Nifty-Serve.  According to one user who is going to
        sign up with them:
        "You can use telnet, ftp, whois, finger at ASCII-NET now.
        3000 yen for setup, 2000 yen upto 5 hours 20yen/3 minutes"
  POS: ??
  Contact: ??

#Access Provider: AT&T Jens
  Last update: 93-Dec-15
  Services/cost:
        IP services - Digital leased line connection, 64Kbps up
                One-time 50,000 Yen, Monthly 475,000 Yen and up
        Dial-up router connection - PSTN or INS-C switched ISDN network
                Monthly 215,000 Yen and up
        Dial up SLIP and PPP - planned
  POS:
  Contact:
        Vince Gebes [e-mail]

#Access Provider: AT&TMail
  Services/cost:
        E-mail
  POS:
  Contact: - Thomas Caldwell, CFI Associates, [e-mail]
                Tel: [phone]      Fax: [phone]
                (agent for AT&TMail)

#Access Provider: Compuserve
  Services/cost:
        PC Information Service provider with Internet E-mail gateway.
        No active marketing in Japan but provide access point(s) at least in
        Tokyo area.
  POS:
        The following are unverified access points for Tokyo area:
                (Tokyo)         03-5471-4790
        The above is a direct number but has no no E-mail or electronic
        forum section.
        The next numbers may actually be part of Fujitsu "Fenics" network
        (see Nifty-Serve):
                (Tachikawa)     0425-29-5491  7E1
                (Tokyo)         0337-39-9968  7E1
                (Yokohama)      0453-16-6325  7E1
                (Yokosuka)      0468-25-7697  7E1
        Can also be acccessed via Nifty-Serve, sprintnet.
  Contact:
        Get an account in your home country or sign up using one of
        the introductory offers which often come with (US) modems.
  Notes:
        Compuserve policy is, er, fluid.  The Japan access point(s) exist
        but they apparently do no publicize it/them.

#Access Provider:  C.T.I. - Metanoia BBS (as 94-6-8 is under beta testing)
  Services/cost:
        dial-up UNIX shell accounts
        e-mail and usenet
        ppp (and maybe SLIP) for local files like e-mail and news
        http/ftp servers for users to publish their own data
        uucp
        bbs (fido-net and first class node)
        QWK mail packets for downloading of e-mail and news
          for off-line reading and replies.
        The price will probably be 2000-3000 yen per month.
  POS:
        Tokyo 03-3465-1439 (verified)
  Contact:
        - Dial POS and login as "new"
                [ I tried this but got the following mesage : ]
                We are sorry but new user accounts are
                temporarily not available.  If you wish
                to have more information regarding access
                to CyberShrine, please e-mail the system
                administrator at [e-mail] or
                call customer support at [phone].

#Access Provider: Fidonet
  Services/cost:
        BBS with a Fidonet gateway can be used to send and recieve Internet
        E-mail via Fidonet.  For example john smith at 1:2/3.4 can be
        reached at [e-mail]
  POS:  National though concentrated around Kanto, Kansai and Okinawa
  Contact:
        There are about 80 Japan located BBS's listed in regular (copyrighted)
        FidoNet Region 63 Nodelist put out by Bill English of BillBoard
        BBS 6:731/16.
        I hope to put in an editted version of this list if the author agrees.

        Meanwhile try Tokyo PC BBS (as listed) or the following to get started:
                FidoNet-Japan BillBoard BBS  0427-77-0847, 8N1

#Access Provider: Global On-Line Japan (beta testing as of 94-6-8)
  Services/cost: Subscription BBS with as yet unspecified Internet services
  POS:  Tokyo 03-5310-5143 (verified) ,  03-5310-5142, 8N1
  Contact:
        - Dial POS for on-line registration
  Interface: English (will have Japanese)

#Access Provider: GOEMON public-access Unix (No Internet connectivity yet)
  Services/cost:
        UNIX BBS.  Accounts on Goemon are presently free, will be a charge
        for email and Usenet feeds when available.
        "Coming soon (hopefully):"
        - Internet email.
        - Usenet and other network news.  Users will be able to choose the
          groups that I add to the newsfeed.  fj.* groups are OK too.
        - Better Japanese news-reading software and on-line support for
          Japanese email.
  POS:  Fujisawa 0466-44-5652 (verified), 8N1, up to 14.4Kbps
  Contact:
        - Dial POS and log in as "guest"
        - Bruce Hahne [e-mail]
  Interface: English

#Access Provider: IBM Japan's PEOPLE service, people.or.jp (beta until June 30th)
  Last updated: 94-Jun-28
  Services/cost:
        - Internet services:Internet services:
            Internet email, apparently at no per-message surcharge.
            No ftp, telnet, or WWW, at least not now.
            A small selction of Japanese and non-Japanese Usenet newsgroups
            is presently available
        - Until June 30th, for beta testers only: free.
          After June 30th:  10Y/minute for 2400 baud, 20Y/minute for up to
                            14,400.  Disk space: 10Y/100KB/day.
  POS:  03-5572-7011(300-2400bps)
        03-5572-7110(9600/14400bps)
        and 93 access points nation wide(July 1st)
  Contact:
        - Information and online sign up
            Tokyo: Dial-in POS and CONNECT:<cr>
                                    UserID:<PAMGUEST>
            Others:Dial-in POS and CONNECT:@
                                         *:A PAM(2400) A HPAM(9600)
                                    UserID:<PAMGUEST>
        - PEOPLE office
          0120-860864(toll free, 9:00 to 18:00)
          fax: [phone]
  Interface: Japanese(Shift-JIS, default, and most kanji codes).

#Access Provider: Information Access Cnter (IAC)
  Last updated: 94-Jun-23
  Services/cost:
        BBS with Internet Email
        Usenet News sub-set planned
        Basic BBS service - Free (carries advertising)
        [ Email probably free too but needs checking ]
  POS:  Tokyo 03-3582-6047 (verified at 9600 bps) , up to 14.4kbps
  Contact:
        - Dial POS for on-line registration
        - The Information Access Center
          Nomura Roppongi Bldg., #202,  3-4-2 Roppongi,  Minato-ku, Tokyo  106
          Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
  Interface:  English

#Access Provider: International options (via dial-back, ICOM, SprintLink)
  To Be Added - Your inputs please !

#Access Provider: Internet Initiative Japan, Inc. (IIJ)
  Last updated: 94-Jan-7
  Services/cost:
        1) UUCP (E-mail, News, files)
                One-time 30,000 Yen, Monthly 2,000 Yen, 30 Yen/minute
                for speeds up to 19.2 Kbps (analog)
        2) IP service connected to the WIDE R&E internet
                PPP available early April 94 ?
                Starting from: One-time 180,000 Yen, Monthly 60,000
        3) Dial Q2 Service
                "Access to IIJ's information server via UUCP using NTT's
                "Dial Q2" servive will be available" [Note the "will"]
                30 yen / minute excluding dial-up connect charges.
  POS: ??
  Contact:
        - 2-11-2 Nagatacho, Hoshigaoka Bldg., Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100
          Tel: [phone]  Fax: [phone]
        - [e-mail] or David R Conrad [e-mail]
        - Info can be obtained from ftp.iij.ad.jp (192.244.176.33):
                ftp:pub/info/English
                ftp:pub/info/Japanese
        - In the US contact UUNET Technologies, Inc.
                Tel:  1-800-4UUNET3 or [phone]
                Fax:  [phone]
                Email: [e-mail]

#Access Provider:  Intercon KK. Now taken over, see PSI Inc.

#Access Provider:  JANIS II BBS, M.R.T Inc.
  Services/cost:  Subscription BBS running PC Board software
        Basic Cost: From 10,000 Yen/year
        Internet E-mail gatewway, Cost: ??
  POS:  Tokyo 03-3252-7224, 8N1 1200-28,000bps (verified)
  Contact:
        - Dial POS for on-line registration
        - Pete Perkins, M.R.T. Inc, 2nd Fl., Belle Square Bldg.
          2-7-10 Kanda Sudacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101
          Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
  Interface: English
#Access Provider:  PSI Inc. (was Intercon KK)
  Services/cost:  IP services - Leased line Internet access for commercial users
                  19.2 Kbps - 1.5 Mbps
                  One-time 60,000 Yen and up, Monthly 210,000 Yen and up
  POS: No dial-in access
  Contact:  Tel: [phone]  Fax: [phone]

#Access Provider: Nifty-Serve, Fujitsu
  Services/cost:
        No. 2 Compuserve-like PC Information Service provider with Internet
        E-mail gateway.
        [ Costs were obtained off-hand from a user and need corroboration ]
        Basic cost: zero  flat rate + 10 Yen/minute connect time (?)
        Cost for sending/receiving Internet email: Free (?)
  POS: National via FENICS Frame Relay network dial-in points 300 - 9600bps
        Examples:  Tokyo 03-3739-9120 (verified)  2400bps
                   Tokyo 03-5703-0222 03-5710-5300
                   Osaka 06-949-2573 06-941-7006 06-947-5936
                   Akita 0188-31-4120  0188-31-6640
  Contact:
        - "Nifty-Serve Guide Book" available at book stores and LAOX computer
          in Akihabara (Tokyo electronics shops district)
        - Nifty-Serve is "presently offering" (94-6-14) free
          English-language startup kits for "Nifty-Serve
          ES, the English language version of Nifty-Serve."  To get one, call
          their customer service department at [phone].
        - On-line sign up in English via POS
                Log in is not intuitively obvious and  according to the number
                that you dial.  Here is example for 03-3739-9120 :
                Prompt                          What you enter
                ----------------------------------------------------------
                (none)                          .00+    (Do not press RETURN!!)
                COM Enter Connection-ID--->     SGE     (press RETURN)
                Enter Serial#--->               NIF00777
                Enter Agreement#--->            NIFTYSGN
                ----------------------------------------------------------
                Note - It is the first line which varies, try also "C NIF"
                       (no quotes, press return)
        - Member Service Department (toll-free) 0120-22-1200
                and 03-5471-5806.   Fax: [phone]
  Interface: Japanese ("SVC" Connection ID) or English ("SVE" Connection ID)

#Access Provider: PC-VAN, NEC Corporation
  Services/cost:
        No. 1 Compuserve-like PC Information Service provider with Internet
        E-mail gateway.
        Basic cost:  From 2000 monthly OR zero monthly + 20 Yen/3 min connect           time
        Cost for sending/receiving email: ??
  POS: National access points, 300-9600bps
  Contact:
        - On-line Sign up:  0120-00-9896 (Free dial - 2400bps MNP5)
                            Enter "VANPCINFO" and press return key.
                            06:00 - 02:00 Japan Std. Time
        - Voice: 0120-00-9805 (free-dial) or 03-3454-6909 (information)
        - NEC Show-rooms, "Bit.INN" sales centres
  Interface: Japanese , NEC-JIS or Shift-JIS

#Access Provider: TPC BBS, Tokyo IBM PC Users Club
  Services/cost:
        BBS with Fidonet and experimental Internet E-mail gateways
        Small number of Usenet newsgroups carried.
        Not-for-profit society offering services for convenience of members
        Membership:  One time 3,000 Yen , annual 10,000 Yen
        One year BBS Membership - Yen 4,000 (Complete acess to BBS/CD-ROMs)
        There will probably be supplementary charge for Internet E-mail soon.
  POS: Tokyo 03-3472-7512 (public) , 8N1 (verified)
  Contact:
        - Dial POS for on-line registration
        - Information Hotline:        [phone]
        - Address: The Tokyo PC Users Group, Shibuya Post Restante,
                   Shibya, Tokyo 150, Japan
  Interface: English

#Access Provider: TWICS
  Last updated: early 1994
  Services/cost:
        BBS, Internet Email, TELNET/rlogin , FTP, Archie, whois, talk, irc
        "5000 yen/month includes access to all facilities for up to 20 hours
        each month.  A 200-500 yen per hour charge (pro-rated) is added for
        additional time, depending on the time of day."
        A 2000 Yen/month, 25 Yen/minute UUCP only service was available
        and may still be.
  POS:
        Tokyo direct dial-in or via ??
  Contact:
        address:   TWICS
                   IEC (NichiBei Kaiwa Gakuin) Bldg.
                   1-21 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku
                   Tokyo  160  JAPAN
          phone:   [phone]
            FAX:   [phone]

       internet:   [e-mail]
                        or
                   Tim Burress <[e-mail]>
  Interface:  English (Japanese??)
  Notes:
        Until very recently, this was the only commercial Internet provider.

#Access Provider: WIN/TRI-P
  Last updated: 94-Mar-8
  Services/cost:
        "WIN provides with full Internet services.
        Domestic ftp, telnet are available now.
        Internation ftp, telnet will be available April '94.
        E-mail and news are reachable to world wide .

        WIN can be accessed through dial-in phone lines or ISDN ."
                                adult     student      per:
        First registration      3000yen   2000yen      one time
        Basic charge            1000yen    800yen      month
         (mail and read news)
        Uucp charge [OPTION]     250yen    200yen      month
        IP Usage registration
                    [OPTION]    2000yen    1800yen     person
        IP Usage charge
         (PPP,SLIP) [OPTION]     780yen     600yen     month
         FTP,TELNET Usage charge
                    [OPTION]     700yen     500yen     month
  POS:
        1) Tokyo  03-5370-7171 8N1 (verified at 9600bps), and ISDN
        2) National via TRI-P charge is  10 yen / minute (92 access points)
  Contact:
        - Dial-in POS and login in as "guest"
        - From Welcome screen:
          TEL [phone]
          FAX [phone]
        - From Enghlish canned info:
        WINSYSTEM Inc.,
        Yokohama Branch ( For Foreigner Information)
        33-4 Matsugaoka Kanagawa-ku Yokohama Kanagawa 221, Japan
        Fax: [phone]
        Email: Hirotaka Ikeda / [e-mail]
  Interface: Japanese - Shift JIS , JIS , EUC selectable


Contributors:
         Andrew Norimasa Nishigaya <[e-mail]>
         Max Morris <[e-mail]>
         Rogers Huw <Was: [e-mail]>
         Bruce Hahne <[e-mail]>
         Yoshiyuki Abe    <[e-mail]>
         Anonymous <[e-mail]>
         Brian Gusko <[e-mail]>
         Joel West <joelwest@san_marcos.csusm.edu>
END