Holonet, Berkeley, California
Kelly Schwarzhoff

What it is

Holonet is a new, nationally-accessible  Internet service that will be providing a graphical user interface for both the Macintosh and the PC.  HoloNet is run by Information Access Technology (IAT), founded by Arthur Britto, developer of the Macintosh game Armour Alley.  HoloNet is accessible via local call from anywhere in the United States, using PSI’s packet switching network, called PSINet, and BT Tymnet. Other information about IAT can be accessed from the HoloNet Information menu.

However, prior to the release of the Mac front-end software, HoloNet will offer a character based menu system. On login, the user is presented with a list of the main services (Internet Services, News services, etc.)  The user then negotiates through the menus by pressing the first letter of the menu, or <ESC> to go back one menu. Most menus offer online help by entering ?. Once a user feels familiar with the menu system, it is possible to turn on terse mode within the Personalize menu. In terse mode, full menus do not appear unless requested. 

Holonet provides 2400 bps access with a basic membership fee of $60/year. The $60/year membership buys you 3 hours/month of connect time during the off-peak hours; additional hours cost $2/hour off-peak and $4/hour peak. 

Things you can do

HoloNet offers complete Internet access, including use of finger, whois, telnet, FTP, irc, and archie. HoloNet has its own shell for ftp which allows users to scroll through directories at remote sites, and download or view any file. Users can also search for files via archie from within the ftp shell.  

USENET conferencing is available, as are commercial news services such as USA Today, Newsbytes, and Boardwatch. FidoNet support is planned down the road. Easier to use news readers such as nn, and tin are available, as well as old standards such as rn. For mail, HoloNet offers elm. For editors, users can specify vi, or pico (a new, easier to use editor) from within the Personalize menu.

Games such as Hunt (a multi-player shoot ‘em up game) are available from the Games menu. Hunt displays a map of the surroundings in ASCII characters. The players then move around and attempt to kill each other with grenades, guns, slime, and other weapons.

IAT is also working on a number of new services which are available from the Experimental Services menu. One of these is World-Wide Web (www), a hypertextual Internet access system. www is a massive poupourri of information on everything from weather forecasts (updated several times a day) to Project Gutenberg (a project to make popular books available in electronic form), to a list of C programming commands. www also contains links to Wide Area Information Servers (WAIS). 

How to get on

Here is a sample login session.

atdt83-704-1058
CONNECT 2400

Annex Command Line Interpreter   *   Copyright 1991 Xylogics, Inc.

-HoloPacket(SM) - HIGH SPEED ACCESS TO HOLONET(SM) SERVICES -------------------

30-MAY-92  In addition to our Digicom modems, we now have two Telebit T3000
           modems available for HoloPacket Class A access at 510-704-1061.
           PEP support is on order.  If you do not require T3000 access
           please continue to access HoloPacket Class A at 510-704-1058. 

------------ To access HoloNet type "holonet" at the service prompt -----------

HoloPacket Class A -- Service name ("?" for help): holonet
Trying...
Connected to holonet.net.

HoloNet(SM) Internet Access BBS

HoloNet Member Name (Non-members type "guest"): guest

HoloNet Guest Services

Please enter your terminal type (? for examples) or <CR> for none: vt100
Note: Prompts ending in a question mark ('?') do not require a <return>.

HoloNet Guest Menu
 <D> HoloNet Demo (FREE)
 <I> HoloNet Information
 <N> Find the closest HoloNet Access Number
 <J> Join HoloNet (Not Free)
 <S> Talk to System Operator
 ESC Disconnect from HoloNet
Your Choice? j

HoloNet fees can be paid by either Credit Card, Check or Money Order;
however, if you choose Check or Money Order you will not be able
to use your account until we receive and deposit your payment.

Do you wish to join HoloNet? y

--------------------------
HoloNet Member Application
--------------------------

Please answer all questions completely.  Examples are in parentheses.
     *** Control-C will abort the create account process. ***

View HoloNet Terms and Conditions now (y/n)? y

•
•
•
[Terms and Conditions are ommitted for brevity]

Is this account on behalf of a business (y/n)?n

Please enter your full name as you would like it to appear on HoloNet
    (Dr. Phil R. Van Horn, DDS): Kelly Macintosh

Last Name        (Van Horn)    : Macintosh
First Name       (Phil)        : Kelly
Day Phone        (510-704-0160): 510-549-2684
Home Phone       (510-704-0160): 510-549-2684
Birthdate        (16 Nov 1964) : 01 Jan 1984

Please enter your address (backwards):
Country          (USA)         : 
Zip/Postal Code  (94704-1152)  : 94709-1496
State/Province   (CA)          : CA
City/Township    (Berkeley)    : Berkeley
Street Address 1 (445 Rose St.): 1442A Walnut Street, #62
Street Address 2 (Apt. 11)     : 

Where did you hear about this service: Guide to Bulletin Boards and Beyond
What communications software are you using: Zterm
What features are you looking for: Standard Internet services

Note: The access instructions and surchages for some PSINet Access numbers
      have been changed since Boardwatch Magazine went to press.
          Please be sure to check the HoloNet Rates menu entry before
          specifying your Billing Information if plan to use PSINet Access.

Please enter your initial password: ******
Please enter your password again: ******

You may choose your member name.  This is the name everyone will know you
by on HoloNet.  It must be lower-case and contain only alphabetical (a-z),
numeric (0-9), dash ("-") and underscore ("_") characters.  Additionally,
it must start with an alphabetical (a-z) character, be at least 3 characters
long and no longer than 8 characters.

Your member name cannot be changed, so please choose it carefully.

Examples: macintos, kmacinto

What member name would you like: kmac

Type 'v' to view HoloNet Terms and Conditions
Do you agree to the HoloNet Terms and Conditions (y/n/v)? y

Thank you.
Creating account...
Account "kmac" created.

Welcome to HoloNet.

Your Full Internet E-Mail Address (tell all your friends) is:
                kmac@holonet.net

Need Help?
            If you need help send e-mail to:
                   support@holonet.net
              Or call us at 1-510-704-0160.

Again, welcome to HoloNet.
Logging in as kmac...
Note: Your password won't print when type it in.

HoloNet Member Name (Non-members type "guest"): kmac
Password:
Please enter your terminal type (? for examples) or <CR> for none: vt100

                 *****     Holo:    complete, total, whole
      ******** ***...***               [from the Greek word holos]
    ********* ***.....***  Network: an interconnected or interrelated chain,
  ******....* ****...****              group, or system
 ******......* *********
 *******....**** *****                                           
 ******************                Welcome to HoloNet(SM)        
  ****************                                               
    ************             For more info, call:  510-704-0160  
      ********                                                   

17-MAY-92  HoloNet members can purchase high-speed modems for $320.00 and less.
           See "Special Offers For Members" in the "HoloNet Information" menu.

14-JUN-92  The release of HoloTerm, our custom access software, has been
           delayed.

You must specify your billing information to use HoloNet.

Checking Billing Information...  Done.

Billing Status -- No Billing Policy Choosen
 <C> Choose Credit Card Billing Policy
 <D> Choose Deposit Billing Policy -- Check/MO
 (R) HoloNet Rates
 (B) HoloNet Billing Policies
 <T> Talk to System Operator
 ESC Exit Billing Menu
Your Choice? c
Do you wish to select Credit Card Billing as your method of payment? y

[ Users are advised to read the HoloNet Billing Policies and HoloNet Rates before choosing a method of payment]

     Please set your payment information:
                             Card Type:  Canasta
     Card Holder Name embossed on Card:  Kelly Macintosh
                           Card Number:  <censored>
                 Card Expiration Month:  06
                 Card Expiration  Year:  93
          Yearly or Monthly Membership:  Yearly

--- Control-P for Previous Line, Control-N for next line, <CR> to accept --- <CR>

Membership includes:  $6.00 connect credit per month
                      100K of Data Storage per month

         Membership:  $6.00 per month, or
                      $60.00 per year -- Save $12.00

                      Rates for hourly connect charges and access surcharges
                      are available in the Billing Status Menu.
Save Changes? y
Changing Billing Data...  Billing Data Changed.

Billing Status -- Current Policy: Credit Card Billing Policy
 <D> Display Current Billing Information
 <C> Change Credit Card Billing Information
 <S> Switch to Deposit Billing Policy -- Check/MO
 (R) HoloNet Rates
 (B) HoloNet Billing Policies
 <T> Talk to System Operator
 ESC Exit Billing Menu
Your Choice? <ESC>

Once you’re on
Menus do not require a <CR> -- Hit ESCape to leave any menu.
Highlighted menu items indicate sub-menus.

 You have mail. 

Main Menu
 [G] Games Menu
 [I] Internet Services Menu
 <M> Mail
 [N] News (USA Today, USENET, etc.)
 [P] Personalize Menu
 [X] Experimental Services
 <S> Talk to System Operator
 <H> HoloNet Information
 [B] Billing Status
 ESC Logout (normally exits a menu)
Your Choice? i

Internet Menu
 <F> FTP -- File Transfer Protocol
 [I] IRC -- Internet Relay Chat
 [M] MUDs -- Multi-User Dimension/Dungeon/Dialog
 <L> Login -- Internet Terminal Access (Telnet)
 <P> Finger -- Internet User Profile Lister
 <T> Talk to Another Member or to the Internet
 <R> Trace Route to a remote site
 <E> ICMP_ECHO (ping) a remote site
 <W> Whois -- DARPA Internet user name directory service
 <?> Help on the Internet Menu
Your Choice? l

Internet Terminal Access (Telnet)
You may type "bbs" to obtain a list of Internet BBSes.
You may type "service" to obtain a list of Internet services.

Which host (? for suggestions): garnet.berkeley.edu
What port to you want to connect to (telnet port is default): <CR>
Trying 128.32.136.6...
Connected to garnet.berkeley.edu.
Escape character is '^]'.

Ultrix V4.2 (garnet.berkeley.edu) (ttys2) 

FTP Interface

The following is a sample of HoloNet’s FTP interface in which I choose the pubnix.txt file and view it.

Directory: browser_root/Files                       Selected:   1 Page  1 of  1
  3.0 Ships 
  faq_ham_2 
  msclient.lzh 
  muddweller-11d7.hqx 
*[pubnix.txt]
  x00v124.zip 

[q]quit  [SPACE]next page  [arrow keys, hjkl]move hilite  [?]help
[ESC]move up a directory  [RETURN]view file/enter directory  [/]hide commands
[i]get info on the hilited file  [v]view selected files  [s]toggle select
[F]FTP files to/from here  [L]Look for files on the Internet (Archie)
[R]Rename hilited file  [E]Erase Selected files  [=]edit selected files
[D]Download selected files  [M]Mail selected files [U]Upload  

From: phil@jabber.ls.com (Phil Eschallier)
Date: 20 May 92 12:17:47 GMT
Newsgroups: alt.bbs,alt.bbs.internet,comp.misc
Subject: Nixpub Posting (Long)

                          nixpub long listing
           Open Access UNIX (*NIX) Sites [both Fee and No Fee]
                           [ May 20, 1992 ]

Systems listed (127)
 [   abode     actrix    admiral   agora     alchemy   alphacm   amaranth  ]
 [   anomaly   anubis    aquila    atrium    banana    barbage   bdt       ]
 [   bigtex    bitsko    bluemoon  btr       bucket    cavebbs   cellar    ]
 [   chinet    cinnet    compnect  conexch   coyote    cpumagic  cruzio    ]
 [   ddsw1     dhw68k    digex     dircon    disk      dorsaidm  edsi      ]
 [   eklektik  eskimo    fcsys     gagme     gator     genesis   gna       ]
 [   gold      gorn      grebyn    halcyon   hcs       highlite  ibmpcug   ]
 [   ichlibix  isys-hh   ixgch     jabber    jack      jwt       kb2ear    ]
 [   kcbbs     kralizec  latour    loft386   lopez     lunapark  lunatix   ]
 [   m-net     m2xenix   madnix    magpie    marob     medsys    micor     ]
 [   mindlink  mixcom    mv        ncoast    neis      netcom    nuchat    ]
 [   nucleus   nyx       oldcolo   pallas    panix     pnet01    pnet12    ]
-- SPACE to continue -- c for continous output -- q to quit --

Holonet

Dialup Account 
                                        $6/month ($60/year) plus $2/hour off-peak, $4/hour peak
Data Transfer surcharge
                     $1/Mb off-peak (beyond 1 Mb), $2/Mb peak (beyond 1 Mb)
Data Storage
 
                                            $1/Mb per month
Peak
 
                                                               Monday – Friday, 8 AM –5 PM, except holidays.

Information Access Technologies, Inc., 46 Shattuck Square, Suite 11, Berkeley, CA 94704-1152; (510)704-0160, Fax: (510)704-8019, email: ahbritto@iat.com