FreeMail – Origonal Feb 28th, 1994 press release…

I just found this from a google group search of “FreeMail” which is the email system that Glenn and I wrote and which we ended up licensing to Kinkos and then creating our first compnay, FreeMail, Inc, getting a patent, and then selling the company to a nightmare……

Message from discussion FreeMail *wildly new* E-mail

Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc,comp.protocols.pcnet,comp.protocols.ibm
Subject: FreeMail *wildly new* E-mail
Date: 28 Feb 1994 23:25:07 GMT
Organization: Saroff Design

Keywords: modem, window, e-mail

Subject: FreeMail *wildly new* E-mail

This is a press release (not an ad)  which may be of interest.
=================================================
PRESS RELEASE

Saroff Design, a software development house in Missoula, Montana, has
announced the commercial release of a unique and timely communication
product. FreeMail is a Windows software package which allows stand-alone PCs
to exchange unlimited and free e-mail with other PCs. FreeMail does not
require a computer network; FreeMail uses regular telephone lines and
standard modems and is easier to use than simple fax machines. Unlike other
e-mail  packages, only one copy of FreeMail must be purchased: unlimited
copies of 'FreeMail Children' can then be given away, allowing fast file and
e-mail  transfers between the FreeMail 'Parent' and any 'Child'.

FreeMail is pleasant to use and is ideal for people who want to exchange
letters / news letters, or files electronically without incurring the
on-going membership costs of commercial on-line services. Designed simply,
FreeMail is the perfect software for grandchildren to stay in touch with
their grandparents; for college professors to send and accept assignments to
and from their students; for newsrooms to receive stories from their off-site
reporters; and for businesses to provide their own on-line customer support.
This is done with minimal phone time: FreeMail is a client-server package,
and all connections and exchanges are fully automatic, meaning that
long-distance charges will be less than what the postage would have cost to
send the same amount of e-mail, and that a single phone line can handle a
tremendous amount of e-mail traffic. The store-and-forward way in which
FreeMail works means that you can leave messages and files to be 'picked up'
by callers at a future time, or you can send your messages and files
immediately.

A single copy of FreeMail can make any place an information center.

FREEMAIL WILL WORK AT HOME. FreeMail uses
'software ring-detection' which allows homes with a single
phone line to be able to receive e-mail and files. FreeMail can be used
without having to buy any sort of data switch box. FreeMail can work without
interfering with answering or fax machines which may also be on the same
phone line. 'Software ring-detection' is unique; no other communication
product does what FreeMail does. 

USES OF FREEMAIL. With FreeMail you can set up an
on-line support  and news center with just one phone line. People use
FreeMail for fast, free, distribution of newsletters,  price information,
catalogues, graphic files, tech-support answers, software up-dates,
and e-mail. FreeMail  lets people who are working together on any
sort of project easily exchange their work files and notes. FreeMail is
used for automated transfer of daily  backup-files. FreeMail is the
perfect software package for exchanging personal letters. 

FreeMail has built-in security, as well as automatic site polling and
restriction times for calls. (Site polling can be used to automatically
exchange e-mail and files at set times during the day or the week.) Any kind
of file can be exchanged with FreeMail.

If you are using Windows and own a modem, FreeMail will work for you.
FreeMail will make your life easier.

The list price for FreeMail  is $74.95 plus $5.00 for shipping & handling
($15.00 for overnight FedX)

We have a no-risk  return policy. If, for any reason you are not fully
satisfied with FreeMail, return it (diskette and manual) to us within
30 days for a  refund of your purchase price. 

For more information, or to place an order contact:
	Saroff Design
	1901 Missoula Avenue
	Missoula,  MT      59802
	(406) 542-3867 

	or send e-mail to:	ssar...@aol.com

FreeMail is now shipping.

To run FreeMail, you need the following:
Personal computer using 286, 386, or higher microprocessor.
MS-DOS operating system version 3.3 or later.
Microsoft Windows 3.1 or later.
Hard disk with at least 1.5 megs of free space.
Any modem which recognises standard AT (Hayes) command set.
One 3.5 inch 1.44 meg disk drive, or one 5.25 inch 1.2MB disk drive.
Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!     FREEMAIL  TECHNICAL NOTES   2/94
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saroff Design  - a software house            ssar...@aol.com
1901 Missoula Avenue, Missoula, Montana   59802  (406) 542-3867
                FreeMail. Technical Notes.

FreeMail was  written with Borland's C++ for Windows 3.1, and uses standard
Windows features, including MDI, Common Dialogues for file selections and
printer control, the clipboard, tool bars, floating tool bars, an interesting
graphics.

FreeMail does not require a computer network; FreeMail  uses regular
telephone
lines and standard modems FreeMail was designed for the stand-alone Windows
user who need to send e-mail and files to other Windows users and who wants
to
do so as easily and inexpensively as possible.

One copy of a FreeMail 'parent' can create any number of FreeMail 'children'
which can then be given away to any one who is using Microsoft Windows 3.1.
The Children copies of FreeMail are made by selecting a prominent control
button on the FreeMail Parent's main window. All children copies are
self-installing (the parent creates a Windows setup program on the child
diskette). FreeMail may just be the closest thing to a benevolent and useful
virus: it can spread itself, but only to knowing and very willing hosts.

A FreeMail parent can send any kind of file, and any number of files, at fast
modem speeds, to any other FreeMail parent or any other FreeMail child. A
FreeMail child can send any kind of file, and any number of files to any
FreeMail parent (not just to the Child's creating parent). Children copies of
FreeMail also have limited communication abilities with other FreeMail
Children. A single 'Parent' copy of FreeMail can create an unlimited  number
of 'Child' copies, allowing any place to become a true information center.

FreeMail is a peer-to-peer client-server communication system. All e-mail and
file transfers are exchanged automatically whenever two FreeMail sites
connect with each other. Using store-and-forward technology,  all E-mail is
composed and read entirely off-line. When a user of FreeMail selects files to
be
sent to another FreeMail site, or writes e-mail, the e-mail and files are
placed in
waiting queues until the other site calls in or is called. 

Calling other sites is done be selecting a  prominent 'Call Now' control.
Setting FreeMail to answer calls is done by selecting a prominent 'Wait for a
Call' control. FreeMail is easier to use than FAX machines. 

A FreeMail site can automatically call another FreeMail site at set times
during the day or the week. This 'polling' feature can be used for
unattended,  automated transferring of any kind of files or for
timely exchange of e-mail.

FreeMail uses 'software ring-detection' which allows homes with a single
phone line to be able to receive e-mail and files. FreeMail can be used
without having to buy any sort of data switch box. FreeMail can work without
interfering with answering or fax machines which may be on the same phone
line. 'Software ring-detection' is unique; no other communication product
does what FreeMail does. FreeMail WORKS AT HOME!!!

FreeMail can also restrict times during the day or the week when other sites
should not attempt to connect, thus making FreeMail highly useful even for
homes or businesses with one phone line.

Anyone who has had to exchange files with another PC user will appreciate how
easy FreeMail is to use. The setup is entirely automatic: FreeMail detects
the computer's modem, and the setup requires no user interaction except to
choose a site name and to enter phone number information and optional
dialling out access codes.

FreeMail functions as an iconized program; if FreeMail has been set to accept
incoming calls from other FreeMail sites, it will exchange e-mail and files
in the background.

FreeMail's wonderful ease of use is due to its sophisticated client-server
design. This design allows no user interaction while two FreeMail sites are
connected, thus letting a single phone line handle a tremendous amount of
calls per day. FreeMail is not a bulletin board system, but it can replace
much  of what bulletin board software is used for: exchanging files and
e-mail as  well as giving out specific and repeated information. Since an
unlimited number of the children copies can be given out without any cost,
FreeMail becomes an option for anyone who wants to maintain their own
on-line support service, or distribute news or price information
electronically. FreeMail can send 'persistent' files and mail to all first
time
callers as well as to known sites. This 'persistent' feature is very useful
for
anyone who wants to have the same information given out repeatably. 

The installation of FreeMail does not change any existing Windows system
files, and all of FreeMail's files are put in one sub-directory.  And,
something rare today, FreeMail requires less than one meg of hard disk space.

MHS & MAPI gateways for FreeMail  will be available later this year.
These network mail gateways will be sold as an add-on products for $295.00
each. Other network add-on products are also under development.

FreeMail was written by Saroff Design, a software house in Missoula, Montana.
Saroff Design specialises in Windows applications. The development of
FreeMail started in November of 1992, and beta testing at sites
around the country was completed in December of 1993.

The list price for FreeMail  is $74.95
(plus $5.00 shipping & handling. $15.00 for overnight FedX)

We have a no-risk  return policy. If, for any reason you are not fully
satisfied with FreeMail, return it (diskette and manual) to us within
30 days for a  refund of your purchase price. 

For more information, or to place an order contact:  

	Saroff Design
	1901 Missoula Avenue
	Missoula,  MT      59802
	(406) 542-3867 

    or send e-mail to:  ssar...@aol.com 

FreeMail is now shipping.

To run FreeMail, you need the following:
Personal computer using 286, 386, or higher microprocessor.
MS-DOS operating system version 3.3 or later.
Microsoft Windows 3.1 or later.
Hard disk with at least 1.5 megs of free space.
Any modem which recognises standard AT (Hayes) command set.
One 3.5 inch 1.44 meg disk drive, or one 5.25 inch 1.2MB disk drive.
Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device.

!!  END OF FREEMAIL TECHNICAL NOTES
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sep 29, 2009 | Categories: History | Leave A Comment »