Crouser & Associates Performance Group program helps printers prosper through
on-site assistance and twice yearly group meetings. For more information by Email or call (304) 342-5100. Crouser Report OnLine is the Copyright Thomas P. Crouser. Material may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent. Current reports are on the WWW at http://www.printusa.com.

File Transfer: Why Not Internet?

Copyright January 5, 1996

Transmitted from Folkston, Georgia

Tom:
That was interesting reading regarding Launch, but the question I have, and if it s stupid I m willing to be corrected, why not use the Internet for the transfer? It s much easier in that you don t need special software --- but it does require that the parties involved be on the net. Just curious. Respond when you have some time.

Thanks for the question. I turned it over to our vice-president of software and all things technical in our firm, Edward Crouser. His response follows:

It s not so much the transfer, it is the complications of the transfer. The actual UUENCODE and UUDECODING, if required, presents some technical problems which would require a bit of knowledge to deal with over the net. With a MiME formatted attached file, it is easier to transfer through the Internet. But it is still not as easy as using a file transfer product. So, it is very practical to use the net and as long as your customers have the access to it.

However, many of the potential customers for such a service are not yet connected to the Internet. Therefore, a file transfer product is preferrable. It is also preferrable from the printer s view since it locks the customer closer to the print provider. However, there are some alternatives.

Files can be easily transferred via the commercial on-line services. If the customer is on America OnLine, CompuServe or Prodigy, then they already have the file transfer capabilities through e-mail. The only thing required of the printer is that they be subscribers to the same services which is a slight overhead cost, but not much. The real cost comes in the transfer time. If you have a 20 or 30 meg file, you might be on line quite awhile. Additionally, as long as you are transferring from AOL to AOL or CompuServe to CompuServe, the file integrity is good. However, go from AOL to CompuServe or the Internet and you have to use the UUENCODE and UUDECODING procedures to get a good file transfer.

Another alternative is a full-scale bulletin board could be operated by the printer. Many of the file transfer programs really are similar to stripped down bulletin boards, so you would have maximum flexibility with this approach. There is also usually no long distance call charge or an on line service provider charge, either, which adds up if it takes a half hour to transfer. The drawback to bulletin boards is that it usually takes an accomplished person to keep one up and going. Although possible, it s not the kind of thing most printers would want to spend their time doing.

And that leaves the file transfer products. Set it up on your computer similar to a bulletin board. Give the software to your customers and have a local connection. So, that, in general, is the reason for the file transfer products and why it s not just as simple to use the Internet instead.

And, by the way, if the printer is looking to get a bunch of business using communications software, then they had better be prepared to sell the service and service the sale. Communications just transfers the file. It s essentially the same thing as a customer bringing you a disk. If the printer hasn t solved that one yet, investing in a communications program isn t going to do them any good.

Edward Crouser

Thanks, bucko. If you d like to follow up with Edward, he can be messaged at crouser@ibm.net.

Crouser & Associates - Helping Printers Prosper Since 1985

Crouser & Associates Performance Group program includes two on-site evaluations by Tom Crouser each year along with two group meetings. Management training is held during the group meetings along with participation in a meeting with non-competing printers. Join others who have decided to run their business instead of the business running them. Reply to by Email to Tom Crouser for more detailed information or call Clark Workman at (304) 342-5100. Or fax (304) 342-5187 or contact crouser@ibm.net.


Return to Crouser Index

Date inserted: Thursday, February 01, 1996 3:48:39 PM

Return to PrintUSA home page WWW at http://www.printusa.com.