Natco Net News

Volume 2, Issue 12
December, 2000

Natco Notes

As the Holiday Season nears, we at NATCO would like to take the opportunity to wish each and every one of our customers a very joyous Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

E-mail: To Bcc or not to Bcc?

Q: What in the world is Bcc?

A: It's a function called "Blind Courtesy Copy" that allows you to send an e-mail to additional recipients without disclosing this fact to any of the other recipients.

For example, if you send an e-mail to Bob with a Cc (courtesy copy) to Phil, and a Bcc to Alice, only Bob and Phil will show up in the list of addressees. Alice, for all intents and purposes, will be invisible. No one but you and Alice will know that she received a copy - hence the term "Blind." With this said, it should be noted that it does not work this way in reverse. If Bob, Phil or Alice reply to the e-mail using the Reply All function, all of the addressees are then listed, including the previous "blind" copies.

Dialup: Reconnect fee

NATCO does not charge a reconnect fee to customers who request cancellation of their service and then sign up again at a later date. For those who travel out of state for several months at a time, this is a convenient option. However, when service is terminated due to non-payment, the customer will be charged a reconnect fee before service is restored.

Dialup: Sign up for free Internet

Sign up and pay in advance for 1 or 2 years of Internet service and get 2 or 5 months, respectively, for free! These plans are not offered for month-to-month billing.

If you'd like to take advantage of one of these plans, call NATCO at 1-800-775-6682 , NATCO Partner Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing, Inc. at (870) 425-8064, or NATCO Partner The Computer Zone at (870) 449-6333.

Dialup: Get drafted

Although most customers choose to mail their payment to NATCO, or to drop it off at the Bank of Yellville, many customers have chosen to pay by bank draft. With this type of billing arrangement, you still receive a monthly statement, but your payment is made automatically every month, so you never have to worry about late fees or being disconnected due to non-payment. Signing up is as simple as filling out a form, and doesn't cost a thing. So what are you waiting for? Get drafted!

If you would like more information, or if you'd like to sign up for a bank draft, please contact NATCO at 1-800-775-6682 or call NATCO Partner Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing, Inc. at (870) 425-8064.

According to U.S. News & World Report, these are the top 10 scams on the information highway:

Auctions (45%) - Buyer pays but gets wrong item or none at all.

Internet access (21%) - A "free" deal has hidden charges, fat cancellation fees.

Credit card fraud (9%) - Adult-only sites want credit card data to verify age. Unauthorized charges ensue.

Get your own Web site (5%) - Free for 30 days? Check your phone bill for charges.

Modem scam (5%) - Download a "free" dialer to access adult sites, but fat long distance charges still follow.

Set up a home biz (3%) - Pay a fee but earn no dough.

Travel bargains (2%) - That cheap trip is crummy - or nonexistent.

Sell on your own (2%) - One catch: no buyers.

Health products (1%) - Miracle medicines are Internet snake oil.

Invest now (1%) - Money doesn't grow as promised.

From U.S. News & World Report, November 13, 2000

GoHip! is a new search engine Web site that offers chat, Yellow Pages and other options that users may find useful. However, it is also a very intrusive site that causes advertisements to pop up, and prompts users to download their GoHip! browser enhancement software. This software attaches itself to all the browsers on your computer and then continually displays pop-up type advertisements. Before you GoHip!, be sure you go over all the Terms and Conditions (http://www.gohip.com/terms.html).

If you download software that adversely affects your NATCO Internet access, NATCO Technologies can help you, but it will probably be at an hourly charge, so make sure you know what you're getting into before you download new software.

Dialup: Configuration

Always read the fine print before downloading or installing any software or subscribing to any service. Even if the program is free, getting rid of it again may not be.

With that in mind, it is important for NATCO Technologies customers to be aware of what is and is not covered by NATCO Technologies' free technical support. Below is a list of problems that are NOT covered for free:

1. Problems caused by the installation and/or deletion of software.

2. Problems that are diagnosed as hardware issues. These problems are referred to the computer manufacturer and/or the retailer who sold the computer.

3. LAN configuration and support may be referred to an outside computer maintenance company.

4. Problems with customer Web sites are referred to a Web site construction/maintenance firm. NATCO Technologies does not assume responsibility for the function and/or maintenance of hosted sites.

If you're experiencing difficulties, call NATCO Technologies' Internet Troubleshooting numbers: (870) 453-8822, (870) 425-7325 or (870) 449-5087.

Dialup: Online Christmas shopping

As we gear up for the holidays, shopping becomes more and more of a concern. We'd like to offer you a few tips for shopping via the Internet. These tips may help make Web shopping a more pleasurable and rewarding experience. Here are a few things to remember:

1. Shop early. Try to have your items ordered by about the middle of December, since many Web-based businesses have a shipping deadline of December 12 or earlier.

2. Let the Web do the work for you. Instead of calling numerous retail stores or poring through dozens of catalogs to find the best prices, use a "shopbot" (shopping robot) such as mySimon.com (http://www.mysimon.com/index.jhtml), and let it compare prices for you, within seconds.

3. Have fun. Shopping doesn't need to be such a chore. Since online shopping eliminates the crowds, the long lines, and the shortage of parking spaces, it's a good opportunity to really enjoy the shopping itself.

Natco Net News
Volume 2, Issue 12

Archives of Natco Net News are available online at www.natcotech.com/newsletter

Questions? Problems? E-mail custserv@natconet.com or call 453-8822, 425-7325 or 449-5087 for assistance.

(c) 2000, Northern Arkansas Telephone Company, Inc