Electronic message services into the 80´s

This paper will first present a model of an electronic mail system which may be characterized according to speed, type of input and output, users, terminal characteristics, transmission mode, and communications channel. It will then focus on four future systems which will be able to provide electronic message services: INTELPOST (International Electronic Post) sponsored by the US Postal Service, the SBS System by the Satellite Business Systems, the ACS (Advanced Communications Service) by the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) and then XTEN Network by the Xerox Corporation. Service features of these systems will be described, and their impact on worldwide electronic message services discussed.