From: mjohnsto@ditdah.Morse.Net (Michael R. Johnston)
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.announce
Subject: ANNOUNCING: The Linux Support Service
Date: 13 Sep 1993 22:18:31 GMT
Approved: linux-announce@tc.cornell.edu (Matt Welsh)
Message-ID: <272rjn$aeo@samba.oit.unc.edu>
Morse Telecommunications is pleased to announce The Linux Support Service, an
online technical response system designed to assist users new to Linux or
Unix in general in getting their systems running without the headaches
associated with 'winging it.' Technical support is provided via electronic
mail and fax. Direct UUCP connections are provided for sites wishing to do
so.
Using the service is simple. Email us your questions or problems with Linux
and we'll email you a personal response to your question, usually the same day.
Services
Monthly Subscribers Get:
- Guaranteed twenty-four hour response time to technical queries
- Patches for acknowledged Linux bugs
- Access to our source code and precompiled binary library via
electronic mail or fax
- Notification of critical software version updates or bugs
- Dialup UUCP access to our archives
Quarterly Benefits:
- All services provided to monthly members PLUS
- 15% Discount on Linux diskette distributions
- 5% Discount over our monthly plan.
For Annual Plan Members:
- All services provided to monthly and quarterly subscribers PLUS
- One free copy of the Linux distribution of your choice per
year. The distribution is provided on bootable floppy for the
size diskette you require. Additional distributions are provided
at the discount listed above for quarterly subscribers.
- 7% Discount over our monthly plans
Who we are
Our staff of three has 25 years cumulative experience with Unix and
a broad array of its variants. Some of the versions we've worked on
are:
- Unix System V Releases II, III, IV
- SunOS 4.x
- Solaris 2.x
- AIX 3.x
- SCO Xenix System V
- Altos Xenix
We also have had extensive experience with the following hardware
and associated peripherals:
- IBM PC's and compatibles
- Sun Equipment: Sparcstations I, II, 10, IPC, IPX.
Servers: 4/470, 4/490, 4/670, 4/690 Symetric
Multiprocessing.
- Altos Minicomputers 1000, 2000, 3000
- IBM RS/6000 Workstations and Servers
- Plus a dull array of klunky old machine such as
MAI/Basic4 Mini's and HP Mainframes running MPE.
In short, we have a broad range of experience with many different
types of hardware and software. Each member of the support team
has a background of applications development in C and shell
programming in addition to some other languages.
In-house we run Linux on all of our machines. We use it
every day so we know it pretty well. We believe that Linux
is not only the lowest cost Unix around, it's also one
of the best.
What we can answer
Let's face it, no technical support service can answer *every*
question posed to it. That's an unreasonable expectation and
we would never promise to be able to deliver on such a vow.
We're not kernel hackers, though we've configured many of them.
If you have a problem with a bug in a package included with Linux,
the best avenue of support will be to discuss it with the
developer of that utility. However, we can and will make an
effort to help you isolate the bug and determine a fix or
workaround until the next release of the software if at
all possible.
A few examples of the areas in which we will be of the most
assistance to you:
- Configuring pre-installed packages such as UUCP,
Netnews, TCP/IP, Smail and many others.
- Tailoring software configurations prior to
compilation to take maximum advantage of your
hardware. Yes, this includes kernel configurations.
- Recommending equipment purchases to make your
system more efficient.
- Clarifying areas of Linux not well documented or
those just plain UNdocumented.
Our Guarantee
Use our service for the first two weeks. If you're not fully
satisfied with it, you may cancel it with no obligation or
cost incurred.
Rates
Plan Cost Discount
Monthly $19.95 None
Quarterly $56.86 %5
Yearly $170.57 %7
( Discounts are shown for illustration. Actual prices given have
already been discounted)
Please note the following restrictions:
- Prices are per machine. At these prices, we cannot
afford to provide support for an entire network.
- Support is provided on the honor system, per the
above restriction. We cannot definitively verify
how many machines or users there are at your site
and we will make no attempt to do so. Bear in mind
that we're still a small company and let your
conscience be your guide.
- We make no guarantees that we'll be able to
answer every question you pose, although we will
make every effort to do so. If we cannot resolve
your problem we may suggest an alternate means.
- Cancellations of support contracts can be made with
written notice. We will refund the remaining whole
months of your contract price. For example, if you
subscribe quarterly, and 6 weeks into the contract
you wish to cancel, we will refund the final month's
support fees.
- We reserve the right to modify the terms of this
agreement with 14 days written notice.
Terms
Invoices are mailed at the beginning of each service period
and are payable upon receipt. Accounts in arrears for more
than 10 business days will be suspended. After one month they
will be fully terminated
Subscribing
You can subscribe by filling out the electronic order blank
below and mailing it to order@Morse.Net. A representative will
contact you, usually on the same business day, to verify
the information and establish your account. At that time
you will be given a customer ID number. This should be
used in all correspondence with us.
===============================
Linux Support Service Order Blank
Part I, Customer Contact Information
Name: ___________________________
Email address: ______________________
(Optional. We will provide a domain name for you
if you're not already on the network.)
Company: ____________________________
Address: ____________________________
City: _____________________ State: ___ Zip: _____________
Voice Telephone Number: ( ) -
Fax Telephone Number: ( ) -
Part II, Billing Information
Name: ___________________________
Email Address: ______________________ (Optional)
Company: ____________________________
Address: ____________________________
City: _____________________ State: ___ Zip: _____________
Voice Telephone Number: ( ) -
Fax Telephone Number: ( ) -
Part III, Service Selection
Please select the type of a account you wish to initiate:
Monthly Service: ___
Quarterly Service: ____
Yearly Service: ____
How many machines do you wish support for? ___
Part IV, Site information
Type Machine: ____________________
Version of Linux you are running: _______________
Would you a UUCP connection with us? (Yes or No): ________
If so:
Your Hostname: ___________
Your domain name: __________________
Highest speed your modem supports? ________
(Note: There is an additional charge for newsfeeds. Send email to
info@Morse.Net for further details.)
Please email this completed form to order@Morse.Net when you are
through with it. A representative will contact you as soon as we
receive it. If you wish, you may send it via regular postal mail
to:
Morse Telecommunications
24 Prospect Avenue
East Rockaway, NY 11518
(516) 887-4046
--
Michael R. Johnston
mjohnsto@Morse.Net
Morse Telecommunications - Unlimited, flat rate Usenet & Email: info@Morse.Net
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