ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, September 19, 1996 TAG: 9609190081
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B8 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: Computer Bits
SOURCE: BOB ADAMS STAFF WRITER
TELEPHONE BETA SOFTWARE is enabling computer users to plug into the Internet and hold worldwide conversations toll-free.
I've been tinkering with PCs for more than a decade, but nothing has been more fun than using the Intel Telephone beta software. By turning my computer into a long-distance telephone via the Internet, Intel has made it possible for me to enjoy conversations with PCers on every continent except Antarctica.
And, it's all free.
"Beta" means not all the bugs have been worked out, but you'd never know it. The Intel Internet Phone is easy to use, offers outstanding audio quality and was designed to work with either Microsoft Explorer or Netscape Navigator.
Better still, the telephone software can be used with a companion application, Storm EasyPhoto Net, to allow talkers to exchange photos. That's next for me.
Meanwhile, I'm working my way around the world toll-free.
It is easy. Pick out a name in the Internet phone directory's white pages, click, wait about 25 seconds for the connection, and talk.
Certainly, there is a downside. Sometimes the connection is not good, or the person on the other end is not yet familiar with the simple-to-use software. And there is always the possibility of connecting with kooks and oddballs out there. So far, I haven't stumbled across them, but if I do, they can be gone in a click of the hang-up button.
My hookups have mostly been with well-mannered cyberheads doing what I'm doing - experimenting with talking at my computer. Language has been the main complication. Sometimes we cybertalkers don't speak the same ones. The broken English of chatters in Hong Kong, Japan and Eastern Europe has been tough for me, to say nothing of their difficulties in interpreting the Southern English being babbled at them.
Among my conversationalists have been a retired teacher in Vienna, Austria; a journalist in Sarajevo, Bosnia; a waterworks specialist in Reykjavik, Iceland; a 14-year-old computer whiz in Singapore; a law student in Italy; Internet installers in Australia; and American servicemen in Okinawa.
The journalist in Sarajevo said connecting to the Net there was a problem because of limited phone lines out of the war-torn area. A Marine on Okinawa reported on the conditions of a passing typhoon.
A first-year law student in Italy said English was her third-best language, behind Italian and French. Arthur, the 14-year-old in Singapore, had just completed his own upgrade to a 166 Pentium and installation of a 6x CD drive. He said he would be back in school soon, studying English, Chinese, physics and computer science.
Topics have not been a problem. Talkers discuss where they are, computer setups and telephone reception. Cybertalkers are happy to find that a caller knows something about their areas, though, which should make us all better at history and geography.
The waterworks manager in Reykjavik responded well when asked about Iceland's thermal springs, which heat all the capital's homes.
Cybertalking has reminded me, however, of what a small area Western Virginia takes up on the world stage.
Few international talkers have known much about Roanoke or Virginia. A caller from Mexico asked if we had snow on the mountains now. A Hong Kong caller wasn't certain if Virginia was part of the United States. Southwest Virginia's niche isn't all that big with some national folk, either. A south Texas caller wanted to know if we had trees here.
Although still new, and occasionally buggy, the potential for the Net telephone and photo companion seems limitless.
It has practical uses for students away at college to curb telephone bills home and for businesses with operations out of the country.
The main drawback is time. The temptation is great to take just a few more minutes and try one more call to a faraway place in the directory.
However, if you set up Intel, you aren't obligated to list your address. Some people don't want to be bothered by calls from strangers.
I love it!
Oops, excuse me. I have to go. The computer is ringing!!
Bob Adams can be reached by computer telephone at www.IAF.net white pages or by sending him an e-mail at Bob-Adams@bigfoot.com
LENGTH: Long : 101 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: chart - http://www. TO DOWNLOAD INTEL SOFTWARE:by CNBhttp://www.intel.com
Cost: Free
System Required:
90 Mhz Pentium processor-based system or higher
Full duplex sound card (half-duplex minimum)
Microphone for voice input
5 MB free disk space
16 MB RAM
Windows95 operating system
Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 or higher or Netscape Navigator
2.0 or higher
Internet service provider that supports TCP/IP
Modem: 14.4 or 28.8.
You can contribute to this column or comment by e-mailing
biznews@roanoke.infi.net or calling 981-3393 or 981-3237 in the
Roanoke Valley, or (800) 346-1234, ext. 393, outside the Roanoke
area.