October 23, 1990 FrontDoor 2.00 - The electronic communications solution ------------------------------------------------------- Electronic mail brings new dimensions to usefulness to the Personal Computer. With the FrontDoor e-mail system, it is easy to set up new paths of communications within an organization using equipment that in most cases is already present. Requiring no more than a laptop or a PC, a telephone line, and a modem, FrontDoor transfers mail and files worldwide between an unlimited number of sites, without the need for servers or expensive equipment. Many companies are using modems and ordinary terminal programs to transfer information. For example, a spreadsheet has to be transferred from a branch office to the main office several times a week. With ordinary terminal software, this requires two employees, one at each end to initiate the transfer. It often takes several failed attempts before the file goes through properly. In addition to the cost of having personell supervising something that two machines ought to be able to accomplish on their own, it may also require hours of telephone time at unneccesarily high phone rates. In contrast, the FrontDoor e-mail system can accomplish the same thing completely unattended. It will dial the other system and negotiate a session with multiple security check-points to ensure the protection of valuable information. It will then transfer the files, along with any message to persons at the other office using reliable file transfer protocols with advanced (32-bit CRC) error checking to guarantee that not a single digit is ever misplaced. It can then pick up waiting messages and files, hanging up after the completed session. And all of this can be done automatically, in the middle of the night, using the cheapest phone rates, with nobody present in any of the offices. The possibilities are endless. The list of systems to be called can just as easily be a dozen or a hundred - all decided by the messages that have been entered during the day. An urgent message can be sent immediately while less urgent messages can be kept (held) waiting until the night and the lower phone rates. The FrontDoor e-mail system can transfer information faster, cheaper, and more reliably than any alternative method. No Fax machine can send a complete database or a large spreadsheet, and the postal service will take at least 24 hours to deliver a diskette with the information. Reliable communication means that nothing is distorted or corrupted during the transfer, even across extremely poor line conditions. If a Fax were to be used to send a manuscript back and forth for repeated editing and revisions, it would very soon be completely illegible. With FrontDoor, be sent back and forth an unlimited number of times without ever losing a single character. An added advantage is that the same software can be used to edit the document at both locations. ========================================================================== +---------+ +------------+ | USA |-----------------------| Sweden | +---------+ +------------+ | | | | +----+ + / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ / \ +------+ +------+ +------+ +------+ |Region| |Region| |Region| |Region| +------+ +------+ +------+ +------+ | | | | +----------+ | +--------+ | +--------|Main frame| | | | | | +----------+ +------+ +------+ +------+ +------+ +------+ |Branch| |Branch| |Branch| |Branch| |Branch| +------+ +------+ +------+ +------+ +------+ -------------------------------------------------------------------------- FrontDoor makes inter-connectivity a reality today. Sending 10 double-spaced pages of information from the USA to Sweden: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Transfer method Time Cost --------------------------------------------------------------------- FrontDoor w/high-speed modem 22 seconds $1.10 Communications program 2.5 minutes $2.20 / personell FAX group III 4 minutes $4.20 Reading over telephone line 25 minutes $24.50 / personell Mail with "Next-day" delivery 1 day $18.50 Air mail 7 days $12.00 --------------------------------------------------------------------- FEATURES MAILER ------ * Handles networks with tens of thousands of nodes with ease (the theoretical limit is in the billion range). * File attaches - files can be sent with or without covering message. * File requests - ask for a file from other systems, and allow other systems to automatically retrieve files from your system. * File update requests - the file is sent only if it is more recent than the one you already have. * Pickup - call in for waiting mail. * Hold messages for pickup. * State-of-the-art streaming Zmodem protocol with 32-bit CRC protection for maximum throughput and reliability even under bad line conditions. * Support for communications over packet-switching networks with Zmodem, a protocol that has been explicitly developed for packet-switching networks. * If a file transfer is interrupted because of a lost connection, the transfer will be restarted from the point where it was interrupted, eliminating expensive resends of already received material. * Extensive routing capabilities - messages can be sent by way of certain nodes in the net, be held for pickup by the receiver, etc. Powerful routing language for advanced users or those with special requirements, eg. large corporations. * Extensive capabilities for handling mail on an "event" basis where mail can be sent/received based on the time of day and/or day of the week. * Automatic calls can be made to pick up or deliver mail at specified times. * Advanced script language for communications over packet switching networks. * Can be used as a "front-end" for conferencing systems combining full e-mail capabilities with on-line services. Has functions to pass baud-rate and other relevant connection information to the conferencing system. * Extensive possibilities to control dialing with phone number translation tables making it possible to add dial prefixes and suffixes containing access codes, etc. * Queue manager allowing message bundles to be viewed, prioritized, and de-prioritized. * Server function that allows remote execution of any series of programs or DOS commands. * Mail service functions for manual override of the current schedule. * Built-in configurable display blanker to protect the screen. * Configurable number of retries on busy signal/failed transfers. * Pop-up with recent activity including number of mail sessions, sent/received files, file requests, etc. * Outbound and inbound mail history statistics for mail sessions which are retained for a configurable number of days. * Uses configurable activity log. You decide which information you want to save to a log. * One node can operate under several addresses. You have full control over which address (alias) is used to communicate to other systems. * 20 (24 on extended keyboards) for user-installable commands - run other programs, execute DOS commands, etc. * DOS shell function from any input prompt or menu at the touch of a key. * Can be used as a "front-end" to your own applications, allowing remote systems to perform on-line queries in databases, etc. * 43 and 50 line mode support. Can be configured to automatically adapt to the current screen mode, allowing you to use 132x28, 80x60, etc. EDITOR ------ The FrontDoor e-mail system provides you with a full screen integrated environment for managing mail. Some of its feature are: * Easy to find, read, and reply to newly arrived mail. The editor automatically grabs the recipients address from the original message and also allows you to insert the contents of the original message (quote) to easily remind the recipient of the current issue. * Address look-up functions making it easy to find the correct recipient or group of recipients when entering mail. The address directory can contain as many or as few systems as you want. * Carbon copies - the same message and/or files can be sent to more than one recipient. * File attach message - cover messages for attached (enclosed) files. * Request/update request files from a remote system. * Printing of single or multiple messages with an internal print queue allowing you to continue your work after the print request has been issued. * Editing of existing messages with instant notification to the mailer. Should you decide to change your message before it has been sent, the editor will notify the mailer of the changes once you have saved your changes. * Importing of ASCII files into messages. * Mass message manipulation, remove, copy, move, or export tagged messages. * Up to 200 message folders for easy organization and classification of your mail. Folders can be protected by passwords or on a per-user basis. * Folders can be used for mail conferences where more than one system and/or user is participating. * Cross posting - the same message can be posted to several folders (conferences for example) at the same time. * Full eight-bit character support for languages such as German, Swedish, Danish, Spanish, etc. * Configurable translation tables for alternative ASCII standards. * Saving of messages to external text (ASCII) files. * Easy-to-use scan for unread messages function. * DOS shell function from any input prompt or menu at the touch of a key. * Line drawing in messages. * Lock (prevent) messages from being sent or manipulated, allowing you to continue your work later. * 43 and 50 line mode support. Can be configured to automatically adapt to the current screen mode, allowing you to use 132x28, 80x60, etc. TERMINAL -------- A sophisticated terminal emulation function for dial-up services is included in the FrontDoor e-mail system. While this isn't FrontDoor's primary task, the built-in terminal emulator closesly competes with the most advanced terminal emulation packages. Some of its features are: * TTY (raw), ANSI X3.64, DEC VT100, DEC VT52, and Avatar/0 terminal emulation. * Zmodem, Telink, Xmodem, and SEAlink file transfer protocols with an optional external protocol such as Kermit easily accessible from a hot key. * Automatic Zmodem downloads (receive). * Seven to eight bit translation tables for incoming and outgoing data. * Internal phone directory allowing you to store 200 numbers in addition to those stored in the Mailer's telephone directory. Each of these numbers can have its own macro-key set, file transfer protocol, terminal emulation, etc. * Up to 65,535 macro-key sets can be defined and are easily accessible during your terminal session. * Support for script files, allowing you to establish a session through a packet switching network. * 43 and 50 line mode support. Can be configured to automatically adapt to the current screen mode, allowing you to use 132x28, 80x60, etc. * Session capture buffer with hot key scroll-back. * Capturing of received data to a disk file or logging to printer. * On-line, split-screen, conversation mode. * Command history allowing you to repeat any of the last ten commands issued to the remote system. * ASCII transmit for already-prepared text files and documents. * Can be run in terminal-only mode, acting similar to an ordinary terminal emulation program. * DOS shell function from any input prompt or menu at the touch of a key. NODELIST MANAGER ---------------- Advanced nodelist manager facilitating centralized control of very large and complex networks. * Edit nodelist entries. * Enter new nodes / delete obsolete entries. * Compile a centrally distributed nodelist for use. * Export selected groups of systems for distribution to other sites. * Import an external nodelist. * Editor for routing file. * Editor for dial-info control file. * Can be run in batch mode, allowing you to incorporate new nodelists automatically and unattended. SECURITY -------- * Three authorization levels for multi-user environments. * Configurable password protection for each local user. * Session passwords may be configured for specific systems. * Optionally refuse mail from systems without a configured password. * Refuse mail sessions with all "unlisted" systems. * File requests can not be made from directories that are not listed as "requestable". * Password protection for file requests on a file-by-file basis, or for whole directories. * Possible to not allow pickup of waiting mail so that the mail will only be delivered on outgoing calls. * Message folders can be configured as "restricted" so that only the recipient can read his/her own messages. * Password protect individual message folders. SUMMARY ------- * Extremely powerful with hundreds of advanced options yet easy to install with a point-and-shoot install program. Easy to reconfigure and maintain with menu-driven configuration utility. * Extensively tested at over 2,000 locations world-wide during a development period of almost four years under all types of line conditions and with most existing modems. Tested in networks containing more than 10,000 connected systems. * Runs on any IBM-PC BIOS compatible machine with MS or PC DOS 3.10 or above in as little as 250 KB with optional support for LIM/EMS memory. * Support for most high-speed modems. * Supports all reachable COM ports. With explicit support for buffering UARTS such as the NS16550AFN. * Multi-tasking support for DESQview, TaskView, TopView, DoubleDOS, and PC-MOS/386. * User-installable "fastkey" function for faster keyboard input. * Fully automatic and unattended file transfers. * Send messages along with any type of files, including word processor documents, graphic images, and spreadsheets. * Files can be sent or fetched. * Faster and safer than any alternative transfer method. * Uses ordinary (voice grade) telephone lines to reach anywhere in the world. * Highly efficient and reliable transfer protocols. * Allows you to send mail and files during off-peak hours and thereby saving you money. "When you need to create working links between people next door or around the world, go no further than your FrontDoor." ======================================================================== FrontDoor is a registered trademark of Joaquim H. Homrighausen. Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. ========================================================================