L-Soft seeks joint study partners for LISTSERV-TCP/IP deployment ---------------------------------------------------------------- In order to address the growing customer demand for LISTSERV solutions not dependent on NJE technology, L-Soft international is seeking partners to evaluate, test and deploy the TCP/IP version of LISTSERV that has been developed over the summer. Highlights: - Goal: LISTSERV-TCP/IP must be ready for high-volume, production quality service by July 1st, 1994. - Partners: any academic site with good Internet connectivity and a suitable hardware/software configuration (VM system with TCP/IP V2) may apply. - Benefits: partners will receive a free license for indefinite use of LISTSERV-TCP/IP and LMail(TM) for VM, worth $7,928. In addition, partners will receive free "category II" service for the above products until July 1st, 1994. - Commitments: partners must use LISTSERV in "non-NJE mode" until July 1st, 1994, and act as beta-test sites for new revisions of the software during that period. A high degree of interaction between L-Soft and the partners will be necessary to achieve a well-tested, quality product by July 1994. There is no commitment by either party beyond July 1st, 1994; partners will retain the right to use the (then) current version of both products indefinitely, at no charge. - Deadline: applications must be received by November 22nd, 1993. L-Soft reserves the right to award licenses earlier if suitable applications have been received before the deadline. There are three sets of licenses to be awarded by November 22nd, 1993. L-Soft may award additional licenses at a later time if it becomes necessary to test some of the more sophisticated functions. **************************** * Technical considerations * **************************** When running in "non-NJE mode", LISTSERV-TCP/IP does not use RSCS to communicate with users or other servers. In the case of BITNET sites, this means that remote users will not be able to order files via NJE, or send commands via TELL. This may constitute a discontinuance of service if you are already running LISTSERV. In addition, since the new code is unlikely to be as robust as the current version of LISTSERV, some problems may occur and quality of service may be impacted. In particular, LISTEARN sites are not capable of interacting with non-NJE servers, and you will no longer be able to peer lists with LISTEARN servers. Note that LISTEARN is being phased out and that it is expected that all LISTEARN sites will have converted to LISTSERV by March 31st, 1994. For these reasons, sites which are not running LISTSERV at the moment and sites which have definite plans to leave BITNET during the test period will be preferred over current LISTSERV sites. ************************ * Legal considerations * ************************ The joint study will be implemented as a simple addendum to L-Soft's general licensing agreement, GA-9305-2. You will receive free licenses for indefinite use and will commit to their use in "non-NJE mode" until July 1st, 1994. All other commitments will be non-contractual. If you "bail out" and switch the software to NJE mode before July 1st, 1994, you will owe us $7,928. There will be no penalty if you simply decide to stop using the software forever and cancel your indefinite right to use license. This penalty is necessary for BITNET sites because, for technical reasons, we are not in a position to deliver a version of LISTSERV-TCP/IP that will not work in NJE mode. We would not include it on contracts with organizations not connected to BITNET. The exact text of the contract is being prepared and will be sent to applicants as soon as it becomes available.