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C00002 00002	%forwar[f85,jmc]		The Mail Forwarder
C00011 00003	BUSINESS PLAN
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%forwar[f85,jmc]		The Mail Forwarder
\centerline{John McCarthy proprietary}

\centerline{The Mail Forwarder as a Hardware Product}

	The product is a mail forwarding microcomputer attachable to
the local area networks (LAN) marketed by many companies.  The Mail
Forwarder provides these LANs with extensions of their computer
mail capability to anywhere in the world served by the national
and international telephone networks.  No modification of the
hardware or software of the computers on the network or the network
itself is required except for the attachment of
the forwarder which sits on the network like any other computer.
However, the LAN must provide a local mail service to be extended.
The Mail Forwarder uses the telephone system in an economically
optimized way, and in almost all cases will be more economical
than connecting to one of the public networks.  Before discussing the
specifications of the Mail Forwarder further, we will discuss
the present situation with of computer mail.

\noindent The Present Situation with Computer Mail

	At present computer mail is a real organizational mess
compared to paper mail because of the variety of systems used
no one of which shows any sign of becoming universal.
Here are some of its features.

1. The pioneer (1970) was the ARPAnet.  It is supported by the
Department of Defense and functions very well.  However, since
its use is subsidized, its use is limited to those installations
where the DoD benefit is sufficient to justify the subsidy.
Besides its cost of use, the local computers required are expensive.

2. The commercial networks like Telenet.  They are expensive to
connect a computer to.  Their main use is to allow providers
of database and time-sharing services to let their users access
their computers for the price of a local telephone call.  The
different networks are incompatible.

3. Private networks like IBM's are used internally by large
corporations.

4. Co-operative networks like CSnet and the
Unix networks.  The latter depends of compatible computer
operating systems.  Both depend on polling and are slow to
deliver messages.

	Some years ago McCarthy's laboratory at Stanford University
developed a system of protocols called Dialnet that would allow operating
systems implementing them to send messages and transfer files over
ordinary telephone lines.  There was no way of charging for the use of the
protocols, so their was no commercial incentive for publicizing them and
completing the development.  Also they required attachement of special
hardware to the computers and operating system modifications.  Anyway the
Stanford Dialnet is not in use.  (There is no connection between that old
Stanford research project and the more recent network of the same name set
up by Dialog).

\noindent The Mail Forwarder

	The Mail Forwarder has the following components:

	1. A microcomputer with hardware and software for
connection to a variety of makes of LAN.  Because
IBM PCs have this hardware and software for many networks, it
is a good candidate for the microcomputer.  However, various
compatible microcomputers will also be considered.

	2. Hardware for connecting the microcomputer to the telephone
network and dialing calls.  Connections to other networks may also
be implemented where that provides an economic advantage.

	3. Proprietary software in the microcomputer that allows
users of the local area network to send computer mail to any
similarly equipped system in the world just as though it was
local mail.  The user merely addresses the message to the
Mail Forwarder using the mail system of the local area
netork.  The Mail Forwarder then interprets the first lines
of the message as designating the addressee, then dials the
telephone number of the Mail Forwarder at the other end and
delivers the message with its addressee.  The Mail Forwarder
at the receiving end then sends the mail on the LAN at that end.

	4. Additional services include the following.

		a. Both paper and computer database directories of subscribers.

		b. Accounting information of use of phone facilities.
This information is collected and transmitted as computer mail to
whatever individual or computer file is designated for the purpose.

		c. The ability to delay mail until late night if this
is wanted for economy reasons.  The Mail Forwarder may also use
alternative long distance services according to whatever is
economical for the particular message in view of its length
and the time.

		d. The ability to transmit mail to mailing lists.

		e. The ability to restrict certain services to certain
classes of users.

		f. The Mail Forwarder parameters are changed by
sending it computer mail accompanied by suitable passwords.

	The major advantage of the Mail Forwarder over other ways
of achieving universal electronic mail is the fact that it
can be added to a local area network without hardware or software
changes in the user computers or in the LAN itself.  Besides
reduced initial cost, this means that the system will be stable
as operating systems of local computers are changed provided that
they remain capable of handling local area network computer mail.
\end
BUSINESS PLAN

Discussion:

	The business plan needs to settle the following issues.

1. target price

2. whether patent protection can be obtained

3. There is no present direct competition, but unless patent protection
can be obtained, competition is sure to arise.

4. 

Notes on conversation with John Nafeh and Robert Blackmer of MAD

1. The product can be introduced in stages.

2. Nafeh would like to sell it to AT&T or other biggie

3. Nafeh will be away till Jan. 2

4. The target for agreement is between Jan and Feb.

5. I asked for a $10,000 down payment on agreement.