From: Anthony_Pelliccio@brown.edu (Tony Pelliccio)
Subject: Re: PC Pursuit no Longer Accepting New Users
Date: 9 Nov 1993 15:57:14 GMT
Organization: Brown University Alumni & Development Office


In article <telecom13.746.13@eecs.nwu.edu>, Goemon <goemon@venice.mps.
ohio-state.edu> wrote:

> I called PC Pursuit's information line (1-800-736-1130) and although
> it was past their business hours, there was a recorded message. It
> stated that PC Pursuit is NO LONGER ACCEPTING NEW USERS, effective
> November 1.

> What is the thinking behind that? Aren't they in this to try to MAKE
> money? I would think they would want as many subscribers as possible
> to make it cost effective. Or is this another typical Sprint anal
> retentive move?

Nope ... I have a feeling it's due to lack of bandwidth. They don't
have the facilities to switch anymore packets than the already do.
Don't forget that PC Pursuit is simply an extension of SprintNet (aka
Telenet for those of us who've been around longer than Sprint!) and
from what I've seen of dealing with SprintNet it's fairly bogged down
with old equipment right now.


Tony Pelliccio, KD1NR     Anthony_Pelliccio@Brown.edu
Brown University Alumni & Development Computing Services
Box 1908   Providence, RI 02912   (401) 863-1880


[Moderator's Note: There is an interesting history behind the whole thing.
Prior to about 1984 when PC Pursuit began operation, Telenet had their
data network going, which dates from sometime in the 1970's. Like the
phone network, it was busy all day and almost deserted all night. Telenet
started PC Pursuit as a way to make use of all the facilities sitting
idle all night long. I was one of the first half-dozen or so users to 
sign up for PC Pursuit when it started operation back then. They used
a clumsy, rather tedious call-back system where you dialed in, entered
your (authorized) call-back number, disconnected and waited for their
return call to put you on the network. There were about five cities we
could call in the beginning, at 300/1200 baud only. PC Pursuit was
greatly improved upon as the years went by. For many years they even
offered *unlimited* access between 6 PM and 7 AM for $25 per month. It
was such a good deal they eventually had to put limits on the amount
of time people could use the service each month without extra payment.  
I would not be surprised if they are now swamped beyond their capacity 
to handle the traffic. PAT]