Speakers are Larry Berels for software.com and Dave Hofstatter for Digital Sound.

Announcements:

Cox Cable polling for opinion/input cable services like data/internet, TV, community usage. Becky Davis suggested that they provide an e-mail address for us to send our suggestions. Jan Ballard indicates Cox feels that the community is ungrateful for the investments they have already made. Becky asks if this applies to county-- Cox person says the input is needed for a balanced decision.

Janet Murphy has received a mini-grant to develop internships for high school students (mostly seniors) at technology companies in Santa Barbara County. Her email address is jrm@silcom.com.

Next meeting will have Walter Capps, Andrea Seastrand, and Steve Wheeler on their plans/opinions on telecom.

Larry Berels on Software.com gave a nice introduction on the goals of the company. AT&T and Netscape use their mail package. They have about 1.5 million users today. The Internet has more subscribers than Time magazine--it has reached critical mass.

Dennis Cagan speaks for software.com. They provide server based messaging and directory software solutions. They emphasize security, Internet standards, and simplicity. Intranet and internet are converging. Unix and NT are their big OS's. Privately held company with 80 employees.

Messaging is e-mail, edi, voice mail, fax, calendering, collaborative, etc. Their product scales up to million users. They will have their own native DNS server. their system allows distribution of message storage across the net.

Qualcomm will be using their server.

One question was -- does SB impair or is it a benefit to their business. Answer: People are happier, but it's harder to get people to come here. On the other hand, they use the net for their telecommuters. How did they market their product?-- the web. They only recently began to open sales offices.

Mark Fell and Dave Hoffstatter on Digital Sound. They are rolling out a unified messaging service locally with GTE on a free trial basis. They have been at about $30m and 200 people for a while and are seeking to expand with their new products. They want to provide messaging using the familiar means.

Mark talks about the details of the unified messaging. Integrated voice, fax, e-mail with access via phone, fax, or PC. Using W311/W95 Inbox and web browser. Since education market is 50% Mac-- they are going to do Macintosh by the end of the year. Messaging is critical to SOHO and busy signals are bad news. Limited resources is also a problem. Their system assures home/business/mobile messages of all sorts are captured and available. Big selling feature is the need for only one phone line.

The free offer is for those who want to use the service fully and participate in their market research. The offer has been extended to the Real Estate community, ISPs, and SCTA members.

Target pricing is about $20/month, but it may be less from various partners because it may be a usage driver.

Sharon Clausen asks if this new technology trial could be used as a means to explore improved communication for the homeless and low income people in SB who need a low-end, low tech form of communication. Dave Hofstatter thought it was a good idea and good PR for DSC.

Another issue is the collision of this technology with the unification/integration software.com is providing. Dave Hofstatter says the telecom providers do not take the collision seriously as competition.

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