What is RoseNet ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ February 17, 1993 The best way of describing RoseNet is to say that it is functionally equivalent to Internet. RoseNet provides the means for informal BBS systems to provide true person to person communication. But, RoseNet is far more than that. It provides the ability to connect seamlessly with other world- wide nets such a Internet. Now you can give your users direct access to any Internet site such as Compuserve, without having to connect to an Internet site. Rosenet is able to do such things as registering your software purchases from Microsoft, Borland, IBM, Clark Development Corporation etc., merely by your calling your local RoseMail BBS. Rosenet can allow the software Companies to create a'Bulletin' of product announcements, upgrade information, etc. Rosenet will then automatically 'post' these Bulletins on _every_ RoseMail BBS in the world. Rosenet has the ability to allow shareware authors to distribute their software automatically and then get their registration orders back the same way. RoseNet is the most powerful means to communicate _anything_ that has been been available to the PC user yet! Rosenet? Welcome to the start today of the 21st Century! The use to which RoseNet can be put will be limited only by our imaginations. There will certainly be much discussion about "what can be done" with it. Just as a sample, below is reprinted a message that we left in the RoseMail Support Conference a few days ago. It is specific to some extent to the Internet gating, but it should give you an idea of what's going on. ==================================================================== "In reality, what we are doing, is creating an environment where communications will be easy, ie. we are building a 'transporter' of information without the user needing to know anything about how it works. To get a driver's license does not require one to have mechanics papers. With RoseReader, when one replies to a public message, the "address" and name of the person you are writing to is automatically picked up by RoseReader. Once inserted into the RoseMail door, RoseMail will know exctly where it's going and how to send it there. The only tricky part will be for sending 'private' routed mail that is not a reply. In this case, you will need to know the address of the person you are writing to. If it's a "RoseNet" message headed to another "RoseNet" site, the address would be similar to 'jim dickson@rose', or 'rick munro@crs' etc. etc. [NOTE: there are no '.'s (periods) between the first and last name in a 'RoseNet' address, just spaces. An Internet address _MUST_ have 'periods. No spaces are tolerated. The fun part comes when you cross over from RoseNet to Internet. Being a Rose Media Member, you have the "Internet" address of 'jim.dickson@rose.com'. When you send mail out to Internet, you need to know the person's 'Internet' address if you are _not_ replying to an existing public message. This is where the RoseReader address book comes in handy. Now comes the really fun part: If someone on Internet wishes to send you an Internet message, they can send it to 'rn.1020@rose.com' or (since you are a Rose Media Member), to 'jim.dickson@rose.com'. (1020 is your RoseReader serial number). _Anyone_ who has a registered copy of RoseReader automatically has both a RoseNet _and_ an Internet address assigned to them. Let's say that a person called 'Sandy Smith' is a member at CRS (or _ANY_ BBS running RoseMail and connected to RoseNet). Sandy tries out RoseReader and likes it. She then uses the 'REG' command in the RoseMail door and registers RoseReader. Once registered, she automatically is assigned the RoseNet address of 'sandy smith@crs'. CRS in the address is known to RoseNet as her 'home' address. Now, let's say that the serial number of her RoseReader is 4655. This is what becomes her Internet address, ie 'rn.4655@rose.com'. (It's always 'rose.com' as this is where the Internet gating occurs). Anyone on Internet can now send private mail to Sandy at rn.4655@rose.com. It's _only_ Rose Members that have the two addresses as outlined above. RoseMail is plenty smart! Let's say that Sandy's membership expires on her "home" BBS and she moves over to 'Acme Nuts and Bolts' (AN&B) BBS in Timbuktoo ..... all she need do is send _one_ message out over Internet and the software will detect the change of address. All Internet mail coming in to Sandy will then be routed to 'Acme Nuts and Bolts' from that point onwards! There may be a hundred 'Sandy Smiths' at various RoseNet sites around the world. RoseMail will always know how to route an Internet message correctly. However, on RoseNet to RoseNet messages, Sandy will need to inform the people she corresponds with of her address change to 'sandy smith@an&b'. The reason this is not made 'automatic' is because many people have accounts on more than one system. Basically, replies will go to the system from which the message being replied to originated. Jim, are your brains now thoroughly scambled? If not, you must have an I.Q. of at least 200!" Regards ........ Vic. --- þ RoseReader 2.00á P001001: RoseNet - Internet - RoseNet - Internet - RoseNet ============================================================================= During the first few weeks of the wide beta starting today, our main efforts will be directed to helping Sysops set up RoseMail as a fully function qwk door, much as they are now used to. Once this phase is over, then, and not until then, we will discuss RoseNet and it's implementation. It will take some time to get every new RoseMail System connected into Rosenet and onto the maps. It is absolutely essential that you connect with a Host system carrying the RoseMail and RoseReader support Conferences. Please read this daily if you wish to keep up with the announcements.