NATCO E-Newsletter - April 2004

April 2004 - NATCO Technologies E-Newsletter

Deadline to Complete Survey is Approaching - Submit Yours by April 30th!
Our 2004 Customer Survey is drawing to a close. Remember, if you respond before April 30th, 2004, you will be entered in our prize drawing. From the completed responses, we'll randomly select one survey to receive 3 months of free Internet Service. If you do not wish to enter the drawing, we still want to hear from you - just leave your contact information blank and submit your survey anonymously. Visit: www.natcotech.com/survey2004.htm to submit your survey today.
The New Portal Page: My.SouthShore.com - Streamlined Information
For those of us who like having information at our fingertips, the new Portal Page provided by South Shore and NATCO Technologies is a welcomed addition. My.SouthShore.com streamlines area news and information in a useful and compact way. Here - on one Web page, you can get up to date headline news from the Twin Lakes area and beyond, weather, stock prices, Mountain Home and Harrison movie listings, local lake levels, access to Web mail and many extra services like your horoscope, the NATCO Technologies tip of the week, access to Amazon.com and a personal links list that you create. Plus, you can remove features that you don't want!

It's free to become a member and easy to join. Just go to my.southshore.com, enter your e-mail address and choose a password. You'll receive a confirmation e-mail that contains a link. Click the link and your portal page appears.

You can even make the South Shore Portal your home page! You'll see a link at the very top of the portal page. Click the link and then click Yes in the message box that appears. With my.southshore.com as your home page, the information you need is delivered to you right away every time you log on the Internet.

Seven Great Security Tips for Our Small Business Customers
While security should be a concern for everyone who uses computers, businesses need to be especially careful because they often have considerably more to lose. NATCO Technologies knows what's at risk for our business customers so we offer the following tips to help increase security:

Use passwords that are hard to guess and use different passwords for different accounts.
Remember to make regular backups of important information. Make a habit of backing up data every day. Verify your backup data.
Use anti-virus software. This doesn't mean just having it on the computer. Maintain it by regularly checking for updates and use it by performing a complete scan at least every week. Most anti-virus software can be set up to do these tasks automatically - but remember, if your computer is not online at the scheduled time, the update cannot be performed.
DSL customers should use a firewall to provide added security. This is a must for those who keep computers connected to the Internet. Firewalls can also be used by dial up users.
Disconnect from the Internet when you are away from your computer.
Never open e-mail attachments from strangers and be wary of unexpected attachments from those you do know. Infected machines can send out virus laden e-mail without the user's knowledge.
Check frequently for security patches from software vendors. Microsoft and other software companies make them available as security vulnerabilities are discovered in their software.

NATCO Technologies Offers DSL Packages for Residential and Business Customers
If you're a dial up Internet customer in the NATCO telephone service area and you're ready to make the switch to high-speed Internet, you now have three tiers of service to choose from!

Note: First number in the preceding speeds represents download speed - second number represents upload speed. An ADSL modem is needed for DSL high-speed Internet service. These modems are available for $126.00 from NATCO and can be paid out over six months. NATCO Technologies is waiving the DSL set up fee of $95.00 for a limited time.

These new package prices apply to both business and residential customers in the NATCO telephone service area. If you are already a NATCO DSL customer and want to upgrade your current package - or if you want to change your access from dial up to DSL, call 1-800-775-6682 to speak to a customer service representative today.

Winning E-Story Submitted by: Dianne Hall of Flippin
I have family and close friends in 7 different states, and it is nice to be able to keep in touch at a moment's notice, and get an answer back in just a few minutes. But you don’t know what a Godsend NATCO was when tragedy hit. My husband is a diabetic and on the 12 of Feb., he was on his way home and his sugar bottomed out on him, he went into a diabetic coma and drove into a tree, he was air-evac to St. John’s in Springfield. It is a miracle he survived the crash. He was there for 5 days and then in Baxter Hospital for therapy for another 5 days. I’ve been going thru a living nightmare, but having your services has been a big help. Thru you I could write one letter and send it to all at one time. I could keep everyone updated on his condition daily and reading notes back from my family and friends was and still is a comfort to me. We have a really great community. I wish there was a way to contact each and every person who helped him and myself thru all of this, thank you for your services.
Dianne Hall just earned two free months of NATCO Internet service! Submit your E-Story today and you could be our next winner! Remember that you can enter more than once. So, if you didn't win this time, try again! Just go to www.natcotech.com/estories.htm and tell us how using NATCO's Internet or e-mail service has made your life easier, helped you promote or manage your business, or simply how much you enjoy using the Internet and e-mail. If your E-Story is chosen, you'll win two months free NATCO dial up Internet service ($19.95 X 2 = $39.90) or an equivalent credit on your DSL or ISDN account!
Useful Web Sites
http://www.ozarkregionaldirectory.com/
NATCO's Online Yellow Pages - the same yellow pages found in the directory - are now online so you can find the local businesses you need in an easy to read format without leaving your computer. The online yellow pages allow you to browse by categories listed alphabetically - like the yellow pages in the directory - or you can search for a category name.

If you already know which business you are looking for, skip the categories and jump right to searching by business name! What could be faster or easier?

New Computer Users
http://northville.lib.mi.us/tech/tutor/welcome.htm

SPAM Filtering Service Helps Customers
Since NATCO Technologies began offering its new SPAM Filtering service, we've received a lot of feedback from satisfied and relieved customers. Many comment on how nice it is to check their e-mail without receiving more SPAM messages than real messages. We are happy to offer a service that can help with this widespread problem for the affordable price of $1.99 per month. It is part of our ongoing mission to provide our customers with enjoyable Internet access and great customer service.

If you are not yet using the SPAM Filter, you may call 1-800-775-6682 to request it today. A one-time $10.00 change/additional service fee does apply. You can also check your SPAM folder for any messages that you may want by accessing your Web Mail. Filtered messages are held in your SPAM folder for 14 days before being deleted. Visit http://www.natcotech.com/webmail.htm to learn how to use your Web Mail or https://webmail.natcotech.com/src/login.php to go directly to the login page.

Learn some great keyboard shortcuts and other helpful tips at our Technical Support Bulletin Board.
Maintenance Window: NATCO Technologies performs regular maintenance on Internet equipment every Wednesday morning, between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Your Internet service should not be affected. But, if you do experience an interruption in service during this time, please try again a few moments later. We try to minimize any “down time” by doing our maintenance at a regular time each week.
All users agree to the terms and guidelines published at www.natcotech.com/guidline.htm.