Rev.Net Announcements/News

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Dear Customers,

The Rev.Net offices and tech support will be closed on Friday, April 10th, 2009 in observance of Easter. The offices and tech support will reopen Monday, April 13th, at 8:00am as usual. We hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend with your families!

Rev.Net Support Team

This is the Rev.Net Internet Access monthly help email to remind you of security warnings, polices and other important matters dealing with your Rev.Net account.

** EMAIL **

Rev.Net will NEVER ask for your USER ID or PASSWORD through an e-mail. If you get such a request, delete it. It is NOT from Rev.Net.

Just recently, another spam email came through with the subject "CONFIRM YOUR EMAIL IDENTITY FOR UPGRADE/MAINTENANCES", but it is not from us! Just delete the message.

We do occasionally send out email announcements and reminders, including this monthly message. However, we will never ask for you to reply with personal account information including your account name, password, billing information, etc. We never send attachments in our broadcast emails either. If you get an email proporting to be from a Rev.Net employee or Rev.Net department asking for personal information or with an attachment, simply delete the email.

** SPAM/VIRUS **

Our premier customers enjoy our spam and virus blocker on their email boxes. If you have one of our standard accounts and would like the spam/virus blocker added to your account, please call us at 772-3282 (or your local voice number listed at the bottom).

For virus protection on your personal computer at home, we recommend the Free AVG program by GriSoft at http://free.avg.com/

Greetings Rev.Net Customers!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! The Rev.Net offices and tech support will be closed on Thursday, Nov 27, 2008 in observance of the holiday. We will be back in the office on Friday morning. We hope you and your family have a nice Thanksgiving!

Thanks for choosing Rev.Net!

Congratulations Erich and Lori!

Samuel James Geist, born Friday, July 25th 2008. 6 lbs 12 ozs.

The Rev.Net offices and tech support will be closed on Friday, July 4th, 2008. The offices will reopen on Monday morning at 8:00am as usual. We at Rev.Net wish everyone a safe and happy Independence Day.

Thanks for choosing Rev.Net!!!

Doyle

E. Doyle Edgerton, Jr.
President & CEO
Rev.Net Technologies, Inc.
540-772-3282 x710

Rev.Net has had ENOUGH!

It is time to do something to save some money against these ridiculous gasoline prices.

One way is to cut our fuel use, which will lower demand. To start what I, as CEO of Rev.Net, hope becomes a trend throughout Roanoke, I am allowing ALL my Roanoke employees to work from home 2 days per week: 1 day individually, and 1 day, collectively, on Fridays.

About 15 months ago we developed a new phone system that allows us to carry our phone number and extension wherever we are in the world! We have been testing this by allowing employees to rotate working from home for some time now and it has been a success. So now we're going full tilt. Your technical support will be the same as it is now. What this means for you is there is NO CHANGE for you to reach us by phone.

What it means to Rev.Net employees is cash back in their budget, every week, for other things, as each employee has a substantial commute. This shall result in a 40% reduction per employee, PER WEEK, in fuel use. If companies pull together and do this, IT COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. If it doesn't affect fuel prices, at least I'll know I've saved my employees 40% per week on their gasoline bill. That adds up, fast! I understand a lot of industries can't do this yet, but there are a LOT of companies that can. I call out to all CEO's throughout Roanoke, whose employees spend most of their time on the phone, to seriously give this some thought. It will absolutely save your employees money and raise morale at the same time. Plus we just might be able to do our part in saving a planet and maybe, just maybe, if it catches on in other cities, drive the cost of gasoline down to a sane price again.

Starting the week of June 23rd, 2008, the offices on Brambleton Ave in Roanoke will be closed on Fridays, but we shall remain hard at work on your Internet service, websites and programming. Just give us a call at 540-772-3282 if you have any questions or need Internet access support.

If you are interested in how we can help your company utilize the same phone system and other technologies available to reduce costs, save time, and increase efficiency give me a call at 772-3282 and select option 3 for sales.

Thanks for choosing Rev.Net !!!

Respectfully,

E. Doyle Edgerton, Jr. President/CEO Rev.Net Technologies, Inc. 540-772-3282 ext 710

Also, WSLS Channel 10 has done a news report on the changes Rev.Net is taking. That video can be seen on their site here.

ROANOKE, Va., Oct. 15, 2002 - Rev.Net Technologies, Inc. was awarded the prestigious BBB Torch Award during an awards ceremony held Tuesday, October 15th at the Hotel Roanoke with more than 200 attendees. The award for Marketplace Ethics is an annual program that publicly recognizes companies in Western Virginia that maintain a solid commitment to conducting their business in an ethical fashion. The Torch Award is designed to promote not only the importance of ethical business practices, but the willingness and efforts made by outstanding businesses to ensure that the state's marketplace remains fair and honorable for all Virginians. Doyle Edgerton, Jr., President of Rev.Net remarks, "We are very honored to receive this award. I vow to continue our commitment to provide the highest quality of service to the communities we serve and to make certain each person, be it customer, vendor or associate, knows they are in a win-win situation when they deal with Rev.Net."

Entries were judged by an independent panel of business and ethics experts. Guidelines included: long-standing history/reputation of ethical practices in the marketplace; demonstration of ethical practices surrounding buyer/seller relationships; high ethical standards of behavior toward customers, suppliers, users, shareholders, employees and the communities where they do business; marketing, advertising, communications, and sales practices that reflect what is being offered in the marketplace; acknowledgement of ethical marketplace practices by industry peers and in the communities where they do business; and management practices and policies that give long-term value to shareholders, customers, employees, vendors, and surrounding communities.

Rev.Net was one of seven finalists chosen from the Bureau's 32-county service area that was ultimately chosen to be a Torch Award recipient for 2002. As noted by Calvin J. Collier, Chair of the Council of Better Business Bureaus and Senior Vice President & General Counsel/Corporate Affairs, Kraft Foods Inc., "The winners of the Better Business Bureaus' Torch Award competition are remarkable for the extraordinary energy, imagination and talent they devote to exceeding the expectations of their customers, employees, suppliers and their communities. They are proof positive that businesses that do good, will do well, particularly in today's competitive marketplace."

Rev.Net Technologies, Inc. located in Roanoke has been serving Roanoke, Blacksburg, Lynchburg, Lexington and Pulaski County since 1995, as a premier provider of Internet Services to both business and residential customers. In addition to affordable and reliable Internet Access, the company provides Web Site Design, Hosting, Domain Registration, Online Technical Training Programs, Streaming Video and Audio, Shopping Cart Services, Network Design and Custom Programming. For more information please contact Sales at (540) 772-3282 x719.

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ROANOKE, Va., Nov. 1, 1999 Rev.Net Technologies Inc., a Roanoke-based Internet service provider, at a news conference today announced the introduction of the "Rev.Net Family Filter," a new website filtering service.

The Rev.Net Family Filter is designed to block access to objectionable web sites. The web sites are pre-determined and include pornographic sites that contain nudity of any sort; alcohol sites promoting the use of alcohol, drink recipes, home brewing and advertisements; and criminal sites that promote illegal activities. The program also blocks objectionable chat rooms and incoming and outgoing e-mail.

"Using the Internet is a great way for children to learn," said E. Doyle Edgerton Jr., president of Rev.Net. "But the Internets a hazardous place. Children can be exposed to violent or sexually explicit material right through the computer in the family room. Family Filter helps parents protect their children."

U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte, who has supported numerous legislative attempts to prohibit child pornography and gambling on the Internet, joined Edgerton at the news conference.

"Congress has actively taken on the issue of the Internet and our children," said Goodlatte, co-chair of the Congressional Internet Caucus. "Internet safety programs put immediate control into the hands of parents. Now parents can be sure their children are not victims of online predators and do not fall prey to sites that promote violence, gambling or any objectionable material. I applaud Rev.Net for offering such a practical and worthwhile program to its subscribers. These types of products are a responsible and affordable way to protect our children."

The Rev.Net Family Filter is also one of the easiest ways to block web sites. Unlike over-the-counter filter software programs, Family Filter subscribers need not install or update any software its done automatically every 24 hours.

"Programs that load on the end-users computer require the user to install and update them regularly. Not only that, these programs are fairly easy to bypass," Edgerton said.

Because the filtering software resides on Rev.Nets server, it offers a deeper level of security than other popular blocking software. The program is constantly surveying the Internet for changes in web site addresses and updating the system. And because the blocking software is associated with a user name and password, Family Filter protects the user even at other locations or computers.

Rev.Net Family Filter is available to existing subscribers for an additional $4.95 a month. In addition to its other service plans, Rev.Net also will begin offering a "Family Plan" for $29.95 a month. The Family Plan includes the Rev.Net Family Filter, one dial-up account and 160 hours of service per month plus three additional e-mail accounts for family members and a copy of "Safety on the Web" guidelines.

The Rev.Net Family Filter is available to businesses as well. Employers can use the Rev.Net Family Filter to block objectionable sites and prevent employees from using the Internet for inappropriate, non-business purposes.

Rev.Net Technologies Inc. was formed in December 1995 to provide Internet access and services to businesses and residents in the Roanoke Valley. It operated as a division of Kinetic Data Systems Inc., a local computer consulting firm, until 1997, when it was established as a separate company. In addition to Internet access, the company provides domain creation, as well as Web design, hosting and management.

For more information about the Rev.Net Family Filter or to request your free copy of "Safety on the Web," visit www.rev.net or call 540/772-3282.

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Roanoke, VA Thursday, October 22, 1998 Rev.Net Technologies, Inc. today announced an enhanced service feature now available to their subscribers. The Rev.Net Institute offers high quality, self-paced business and personal training courses presented interactively through the Internet.

"We are always looking for value-added services that will help our subscribers improve their quality of life, skills, or earnings" said E. Doyle Edgerton, Jr., President. "Education and training have always been something we wanted to offer our subscribers, but the price component has always been unreasonable or the courses werent created in a manner that could be effectively presented through the Internet. We can now offer our subscribers an educational resource that covers a wide variety of topics provided by over 200 high-quality courses. These courses can be taken at any time, interactively, through the Internet at an extremely low per-month price. For a limited time, we are offering our subscribers this educational enhancement at a special introductory rate. And, if a Rev.Net subscriber signs-up for this service before the end of 1998, we will never increase their monthly course fee as long as they never let their service lapse!"

Now through the December 31, 1998, you may add education to your existing Rev.Net account for an additional $8.00 per month per userid for end-user courses, $12.00 per month per userid for technical courses, and $17.00 per month per userid for all courses! Subscribers that take advantage of this introductory offer will be considered "Charter Subscribers" and will never experience an increase in course prices as long as they continue using Rev.Net service.

Both personal and business subscribers will benefit from the courses we offer. Home subscribers and their entire family (ages 14 and up) can enjoy the benefits of high-quality training for users at all levels of education or computer experience. Courses range from stress management to business management as well as more technical courses dealing with PC operations, the Internet, and programming languages.

Business subscribers using Rev.Net Internet access can finally provide all their employees access to highly cost-effective training. No longer will your business have to pay the high costs associated with to off-site training or deal with the disruption of having employees spend days away from the office learning a new desktop technology. Now employees can increase their skill level at their desktop through Rev.Net, from the home or office, at their convenience. Its easy, convenient, and very cost effective!

The courses provide training on such topics as:

Most of the Microsoft courses have received either the Microsoft Approved Study Guide logo or the Approved Courseware User Certification logo assuring subscribers of high-quality content reviewed by Microsoft. The courses were also specifically developed for effective presentation through the Internet using a 28.8 KB modem. Rev.Net subscribers wanting to see an example of these courses can visit our Web site at http://www.rev.net/.

To sign-up for your educational service upgrade, call Rev.Net at 540-772-3282.

ROANOKE, Va., March 24, 1998 -- Rev.Net, a local Internet service provider, today announced that it will begin accepting new dial-up subscribers April 1. The company stopped taking customers early last month after reaching a self-imposed limit of 1,000. The limit was set over two years ago when Rev.Net began operation. The company has spent the last two months planning for future growth and bolstering operations to ensure the continued high quality of its service. With added staff and equipment upgrades, Rev.Net said it is now prepared to accept another 1,000 subscribers.

Customers who had been put on a waiting list will have the first chance to sign up. To handle the expansion, Rev.Net has added two employees to its technical support staff. Technical support will continue to be provided seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The company also has invested in software and hardware enhancements, which allow Rev.Net now to provide:

· Secure Web site hosting, which safeguards commercial transactions.
· Faster connections for dial-up subscribers.
· The ability to handle a 500 percent greater volume of data.

To mark this milestone in the company's history, Rev.Net plans to award a $1,000 scholarship to a Virginia Western Community College computer science student. The company also plans to replace the message on the billboards it has posted throughout the Roanoke Valley. The billboards now read "Thanks, Roanoke, for our first 1,000 customers." After April 1, the message will be changed to: "Ready for the next 1,000. Sign up today."

Rev.Net was formed in December 1995 to provide Internet access and services to businesses and residents in the Roanoke Valley. It operated as a division of Kinetic Data Systems Inc., a local computer consulting firm, until the end of last year, when it was established as a separate company.

Rev.Net's offices are in the Fralin & Waldron building at 2917 Penn Forest Blvd., S.W., in Roanoke County. In addition to Internet access, the company also provides domain creation, as well as Web site design, hosting and management.

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ROANOKE, Va., February 2, 1998 -- Rev.Net today announced that it has signed its 1,000th customer, reaching a self-imposed limit set just over two years ago when the local Internet service provider went into business.

"We didnt want to sign up any more dial-up subscribers than we felt we could handle initially, both from an equipment and a personnel standpoint," said E. Doyle Edgerton, president of Rev.Net, which provides technical support and service in person.

Dial-up subscribers are those who access the Internet for a few hours each month for personal or limited business use and need only a temporary connection. Rev.Net also provides dedicated lines, including the high-speed ISDN, Frac T1 and T1 for business subscribers who require permanent, uninterrupted access. The limit on dial-up subscribers in no way affects Rev.Nets dedicated-line subscribers.

While Rev.Nets equipment and other infrastructure can accommodate more than 1,000 dial-up subscribers, Edgerton said he wants to evaluate the quality of the service to make sure it's just as good today as it was when Rev.Net began. Still, the companys incoming phone lines are being only about 70 percent utilized even during peak times and only one or two busy signals have ever been reported, according to Edgerton.

"As we grow, we want to make sure our first 1,000 subscribers arent adversely impacted by our next 1,000," said Jeff Culverhouse, Rev.Nets director of Internet services. "Once we determine that we have the capability to expand, we will begin accepting new dial-up subscribers."

In the meantime, those who want to subscribe are being added to a waiting list.

In anticipation of the expansion, Rev.Net plans to add technical support staff and has already begun interviewing.

Rev.Net was formed in December 1995 to provide Internet access and services to businesses and residents in the Roanoke Valley. It operated as a division of Kinetic Data Systems Inc., a local computer consulting firm, until the end of last year, when it was established as a separate company.

To celebrate this milestone in Rev.Nets history, Edgerton is posting billboards throughout the Roanoke Valley that read, "Thanks, Roanoke, for our first 1,000 customers." He also has awarded Rev.Nets first subscriber, Chuck Keelean of Roanoke, a lifetime account.

"We owe our success to our subscribers who have supported us from the very beginning," Edgerton said.

Rev.Net's offices are in the Fralin & Waldron building at 2917 Penn Forest Blvd., S.W., in Roanoke County. In addition to Internet access, the company also provides domain creation, as well as Web site design, hosting and management.

ROANOKE, Va., September 25, 1997 -- Roanoke Valley computer users with the fastest modems now can benefit from Internet connections with the speed to match. Rev.Net, a local Internet service provider, today announced that it has completed a major hardware upgrade which makes the service compatible with users' 56 kilobits-per-second modems. Rev.Net is the first ISP in the Roanoke Valley to offer compatibility with the new, faster modems.

The new 56 kbps modems, introduced earlier this year, send and receive data at twice the rate of modems commonly used today. To benefit from the modem's speed, though, the user's ISP also must have newer, faster modems.

Rev.Net has added new high-performance Series56 Digital Modem modules from Ascend Communications, a leading provider of Internet hardware.

"The 'World Wide Wait' has just gotten shorter ," said Rev.Nets director of Internet services, Jeff Culverhouse, referring to the time computer users spend waiting for web pages to materialize. "People have been clamoring for faster access to the Internet and Rev.Net is pleased to be the first ISP in the Roanoke Valley to provide high-speed, 56K service."

Rev.Net is using K56flex technology, which is expected to become the standard for 56 kbps Internet access. Personal computers or modems that bear the K56flex logo are compatible with Rev.Net service and available from most major computer and modem manufacturers, including Compaq, Diamond, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Motorola, Sony, TDK Systems, Toshiba and Zoom. The new modems retail for between $150 and $200.

Rev.Net is offering 56 kbps access at no additional charge to subscribers. Monthly fees range from $9.95 for ten hours of access to $24.95 for 160 hours. Subscribers who pay by credit card receive a 20 percent discount and pay $7.95 and $19.95, respectively.

K56flex technology was developed by Rockwell Semiconductor and Lucent Technologies, which are among the worlds leading chip makers.

Rev.Net is a division of Kinetic Data Systems, a Roanoke-based computer consulting firm. Rev.Net became the Roanoke Valley's first local ISP when the service was launched in December 1995. Since then, Rev.Net has signed up more than 900 subscribers.

For more information about subscribing to Rev.Net, call 772-3282 or visit Rev.Net's homepage at www.rev.net.

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ROANOKE, Va., January 24, 1997 -- Five computer programmers huddled around a computer screen late one fall afternoon in 1995 awaiting the much-anticipated message.

"Rev.Net is alive."

The words flickered humbly on the computer screen, but the message they contained sounded as momentous as "The Eagle has landed."

After ten long months of intense research, the programmers finally had figured out how to tap into the Internet, paving the way for the Roanoke Valley's first direct connection to the "Information Super Highway."

"We saw that the Internet was going to change the way business is conducted, and we wanted to be a leader," said E. Doyle Edgerton Jr., president of Kinetic Data Systems, a Roanoke-based computer consulting firm whose online service known as Rev.Net celebrated its first year in business in late December.

The name Rev.Net is an abbreviation for Roanoke Electronic Village Network and reflects Edgertons vision of an electronically connected Roanoke Valley.

A local service would provide a direct connection from the Roanoke Valley and eliminate the busy signals that subscribers frequently experienced because of the large volume of users across the country competing for access. Edgerton also figured his company could offer a lower-cost service and provide technical support in person, which was unheard of among the Internet access providers of the day.

By early 1995, he had committed himself and his company to developing an online service.

Beginning in June that year, he and a team of four KDS staff members worked 12- to 16-hour days reading, researching, problem-solving, meeting and planning. They had to learn quickly because he knew it was only a matter of time before competitors would begin providing local access.

"We knew the Internet had consumed us when I called another member of the team one day and told him that 'my TCPIP stack was having trouble running PPP over the ISDN line,' and we both knew what we were talking about," Edgerton said.

Only four months later on Sept. 28, the team sent out its first test message into cyberspace and Rev.Net was deemed "alive" or operational.

After thorough testing, KDS began marketing Rev.Net to businesses and consumers on December 29.

Now, after one full year in business, Rev.Net has reached 50 percent capacity with 500 subscribers. Rev.Net offers 160 hours of service for a monthly fee of $19.95. To maintain quality, the service has a self-imposed limit of 1,000 subscribers.

While individuals make up the majority of its customers, large commercial Internet users represent a growing segment of the subscriber base. Moore's Lumber and Building Supplies, Delta Dental Plan of Virginia and Professional Network Services are among the businesses for whom Rev.Net has begun providing high-speed, 24-hour dedicated Internet access.

Also in its first year, Bernie Cosell, a computer engineer who in 1969 helped develop the original software for the Internet, signed on with KDS as a Rev.Net consultant.

"Hiring Bernie is one of the smartest moves I've ever made," said Edgerton. "He was one of a handful of people in the world who designed a lot of what is still in use today on the Internet."

Other major advances in Rev.Nets first year include converting its entire network to digital telephone lines, which transmit data more clearly, and extending its network to the New River Valley. KDS will begin marketing its online service to New River Valley businesses and residents later this month.

"Launching an Internet access service requires a huge investment of time and money. Weve come along way in a year, and its very gratifying to see the results of all our hard work," said Edgerton.

Rev.Nets greatest accomplishment in the past year, he said, is successfully competing against the many other Internet providers -- including the large, national companies -- that serve western Virginia.

At one year old, Rev.Net is the oldest of at least a half dozen companies that now provide local Internet access in the Roanoke and New River valleys.

For 1997, Edgerton plans to further develop Rev.Nets services and, of course, remain competitive in an industry that is becoming increasingly crowded.

"This will be the year that will determine which Internet service providers will survive," he said. But with Edgerton's perseverance and talented staff, chances are that at this time next year Rev.Net will still be alive. And well.

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ROANOKE, Va., January 8, 1997 -- Rev.Net, a Roanoke Valley-based online service provider, today announced that it will begin offering local Internet access to New River Valley residents and businesses.

Rev.Net is a division of Kinetic Data Systems, a Roanoke-based computer consulting firm. Rev.Net became the Roanoke Valley's first local online service provider when the service was launched a year ago. It now has more than 500 subscribers.

"The tremendous growth that Rev.Net has experienced in its first year positions us well to expand beyond the Roanoke Valley, and we look forward to providing the New River Valley community with a high quality, dependable direct connection to the Internet," said E. Doyle Edgerton Jr., president of KDS.

Monthly fees range from $7.95 for ten hours of access to $24.95 for 160 hours. The $20 setup fee will be waived for New River Valley Internet users who switch from another online service provider.

Although Rev.Net is based in the Roanoke Valley, an expansion of its all-digital network now allows New River Valley subscribers to access the Internet without making a long-distance call.

In addition, high-speed service via ISDN is available for a monthly charge of $9.50 plus 2 cents for each minute of use. With an ISDN connection, Internet users can send and receive data five times faster than is possible with a 28.8 modem.

Technical support will be provided from Rev.Nets Roanoke office by a toll-free telephone line.

Rev.Net, which stands for Roanoke Electronic Village Network, was developed by KDS after ten months of research and made available to the public in December 1995.

For information about subscribing to Rev.Net, call 800/487-8058 or see Rev.Net's homepage at http://www.rev.net.

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ROANOKE, Va., September 4, 1996 -- Rev.Net, the Roanoke Valley's only local on-line service provider, today announced that it has begun providing high-speed access to the Internet for Moore's Lumber and Building Supplies.

The new high-speed service will allow employees at Moore's corporate headquarters on Brandon Avenue to access the Internet 24 hours a day and send and receive data up to 25 times faster than is possible with the fastest available modem.

"We needed fast, reliable Internet access," said Martin Ewing, Moore's vice president of information systems.

"Our new high-speed Internet connection through Rev.Net enables us to obtain up-to-the minute business information and communicate more quickly and inexpensively with our hundreds of suppliers."

This high-speed service is made possible by a special telephone line and a direct connection to the Internet. The telephone line, known as an Integrated Services Digital Network, transmits data digitally unlike a conventional telephone line which transmits information using analog signals. Digital technology is considered to be far superior for the speed and clarity with which it transmits information.

The ISDN line can transmit data at 128 kilobits per second or five times the rate of a 28.8 modem. The high-speed line also has the ability to compress data and transmit it up to 25 times faster than is possible with a 28.8 modem.

"Moore's is one of the first companies in the Roanoke Valley to embrace this powerful new technology. They are demonstrating how the Internet can become an invaluable tool for business, saving time, increasing productivity and allowing businesses to become more competitive," said E. Doyle Edgerton Jr., president of Kinetic Data Systems, Rev.Net's parent company.

Rev.Net installed Moore's ISDN line earlier this year. With employee training now complete, the lumber company is beginning to experience the benefits of having high-speed Internet access.

For example, managers can now obtain the number of new housing starts and a complete analysis of the data within hours of its release by the federal government. That information is extremely important to Moore's, whose customers are professional contractors and builders.

"We used to wait days to receive housing start information. Now we get it the same morning it's released," said Ewing.

Managers also can more closely track lumber prices, which helps them make better buying decisions and marketing employees now are able to quickly access product information for company ads or other promotional literature via suppliers' homepages or e-mail.

Rev.Net was formed in 1995 to provide Internet access and services to businesses and residents in the Roanoke Valley. It is a division of Kinetic Data Systems Inc., a local computer consulting firm. Its offices are in the Fralin & Waldron building at 2917 Penn Forest Blvd., S.W. in Roanoke County.

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ROANOKE, Va., April 23, 1996 -- The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce today announced plans to create an "electronic marketplace" on the Internet. Through the Roanoke Chamber Network, as it is being called, The Regional Chamber not only will connect its 1,700 members with one another and the rest of the world, it will also become one of the first organizations in the country to set standards for conducting business on-line.

This "chamber of commerce in cyberspace" is being created through a partnership with Kinetic Data Systems Inc., a local computer consulting firm which began providing Internet access and services through its Rev.Net division last year.

"The Roanoke Chamber Network will help chamber members communicate and do business with one another more efficiently. It also has the potential to stimulate economic growth within the region by linking area businesses with prospective customers throughout the world," said John M. Stroud, president of the chamber.

The network will consist of three components: a business interchange, a homepage and electronic mail.

The most innovative part of the project is the business interchange, which will allow businesses and individuals to conduct commercial transactions on-line.

The concept is similar to that of bev.net, the Blacksburg Electronic Village, which pioneered the idea of electronically connecting a community. But architects of the Roanoke Chamber Network plan to take their electronic village one step further by standardizing business forms, such as credit applications and purchase orders, and regulating business procedures. This direction would be a significant advance over current Internet business methods.

"We are pleased to join forces with the chamber on this exciting project. It has been a goal of ours to create an electronic village in the Roanoke Valley. Through this partnership, we are taking the next step toward turning our dream into reality," said E. Doyle Edgerton Jr., president of KDS, whose Internet division is a high-tech abbreviation of Roanoke Electronic Village Network.

The Roanoke Chamber Network will use IBM AS/400 technology, considered to be the best for supporting commercial transactions. According to Edgerton, KDS is one of only 50 Internet service providers in the world that uses this technology.

The second component of the Roanoke Chamber Network is a homepage, an electronic vehicle accessible through the Internet whose purpose is strictly informational. The chamber's homepage will incorporate a listing of all of its members and links to their own homepages.

In addition to information about individual businesses, homepage visitors will be able to access a wide variety of data about the area, such as its history, demography and economic statistics. Stroud said that information will be updated frequently so that the homepage will become a "living, vital source of regional economic and business development data."

When fully developed, chamber officials envision links with the homepages of other community organizations in the Roanoke area and in western Virginia, including other chambers of commerce.

"Through our homepage, we would like to provide those outside the area with easy access to information about the communities and businesses throughout western Virginia," said Stroud.

Roanoke Chamber Network users also will have the ability to send and receive messages and transfer data through electronic mail. The e-mail adresss chamber@rev.net already has been established for this purpose.

Work on the other portions of the Roanoke Chamber Network will begin immediately. The chamber plans to post its homepage early this summer, and the business interchange portion of the network is expected to be operational within a year. An advisory board made up of representatives of the area's business community will be formed to guide the development of the network.

The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce is the third largest business organization in Virginia. Its primary mission is to facilitate economic growth in the region.

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Direct Internet access now available in the Roanoke Valley