ACC: Net Guide

The Internet World Wide Web (commonly the Web) is currently the fastest growing medium for publishing and accessing information. The Web carries data ranging from encyclopedias to games, from the latest world news to hobby chatter. Data includes text, graphics, sound, even video and is instantly accessible from around the globe. Most important: it carries data relevant to your business.

Web information can be browsed on your own desktop or portable computer ('surfing the Internet'). All it takes is a telephone modem and a modest subscription to a service provider.

The Internet is GLOBAL. You can search for and print out useful information at any time, day or night, from almost anywhere in the world.

Additionally, you can publish your own information on the Web for others to read and use. You might put up a simple advertisement, or publish constantly changing details of your services.

The Web can also supplement your traditional catalogues and directories, keeping them truly up to date on a weekly or even daily basis. You can keep them private, for use by your company's branch offices or field representatives, or make them freely available to the public. Your staff or customers need no longer lack the latest product details; they just plug in and the information is there. Indeed, they can even place direct orders, there and then!

The Internet is not exclusively suited to publicly accessible data. Confidential business can be transacted using extremely secure data encryption, readable only by the designated recipient. Which must be better than a postcard!

Email is THE alternative to fax machines. Provided both parties have an Email address, mail can be sent and received at any time and any where. You do not even have to be in your own office; just plug your laptop into a nearby telephone outlet.

By using Email you avoid the long distance telephone charges usually associated with fax calls. Email and Internet calls are mostly at local rates; certainly no more than the national rate. You also save on time and paper. Messages can be sent and received directly from your desktop or portable computer. There is no need to print out your memo first -- just send it. You need to send copies of papers? Just scan them in and send them on.

What about larger documents? Perhaps a full copy of a word processed document, spreadsheet or database, for someone at a branch office to work on. Or a graphics image or sound clip urgently required by your advertising agency. Send it by expensive motorcycle courier or tomorrow's post?

The electronic answer is File Transfer. You do not even have to track down a floppy disk to put it on. With Email or Internet services you can send and receive computer files directly by telephone. No more floppy disks to handle or lose, no size limit.

The file transfer facility is also invaluable for those in desk top publishing and advertising. And not only to show designs to clients: many print and copy shops are now able to receive files for direct printing.