Expense in Multicar

>If the Papyrus Network charges $8/hr would you continue to call? No, that's way to high. Worse, it would defeat the purpose of the service since so many others would also not call. I can't see most people paying much more than $2 an hour for this kind of service, and even that will weed some out. Isn't that what Warbirds costs, $2 an hour? And I even see a lot of people complaining about that. Joe

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> Okay, we all know LD stinks so I will not dwell on it nor will I post > yet another question to Ed Martin "When will we have local numbers" > Enough has been discussed on the matter, when it happens it happens. > However, given that I would like to post my own scenrio...having checked > my LD rates, it appears I am close to .10/minute, which translates to > $6/hr. In my "burst mode" which I am certain you read about earlier, > this expense is only moderately acceptable. Calling once or twice for > 20minute or 40minutes is about all I will do in this beta phase. > Here is my concern, I have heard from a source that I can't confirm nor > dispute, the intention of an 800 number to accomplish the connection > dilema, BUT and this is a HUGE BUT....charging $8/hr. > Again, I am unable to confirm this, but I thought it was important > enough to bring to the SIMCAR, IVL, NASSCAR, ex-IWCC'ers etc. If this > is even under the remotest consideration, I want it to be known that I > WILL NOT call. > I would consider this gouging on a product that we all already own. I > already pay $20/month for unlimited PPP/Slip access it would seem > unreasonalble for me to pay on the order of $240/mo additionally to play > 1 hour/day. Considering I am on the internet 3-4 hours/day this > estimation on cost would be correct and if I wanted to run enough races > to get my rating high enough a low ball estimate would be $80-$160/mo. > Again, totally unreasonable. > I am not expecting Ed Martin to comment on this, most of the plans have > been items he can't comment on, which is fine. This is is more for the > current racing series people that area doing some testing. > If the Papyrus Network charges $8/hr would you continue to call?

Well, you didn't expect me to comment, but I will anyway. That's just the kinda guy I am! :-) OK, here is some behind the scenes Papyrus info. Yes, we did look into 800 #'s as an option to bring costs down a long while ago. However, even with ridiculously high volumes, 800 #'s do not come cheap. AOL, CompuServe & any other online service that has 800 #'s charges at least $5/hour just for the line PLUS whatever they charge for online time. I can not get into any specifics on what we determined the price point could have been for 800 #'s, but I will say that we determined that it was too expensive for where we want to be. As for the $8/hour that you heard, that kinda sounds like what AOL charges for 800 #'s ($5 for the 800 # plus $3/hour for AOL itself). Again, the goal is to deliver this as inexpensively as possible. -- Ed Martin Papyrus Design Group

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>>If the Papyrus Network charges $8/hr would you continue to call? >No, that's way to high. Worse, it would defeat the purpose of the >service since so many others would also not call. >I can't see most people paying much more than $2 an hour for this kind >of service, and even that will weed some out. Isn't that what Warbirds >costs, $2 an hour? And I even see a lot of people complaining about >that.

I agree. I tried WB for a month with 5 hours free and then spent 5 more hours before I had to delete my account. The game is Fantastic and I Love it but just can't afford $10.00 a month plus $2.00 per hour. A reduced hourly fee or no monthly fee would make it alot more affordable. Shame ICI isn't reading this :-). I hope they finish the Beta soon and come up with something affordable. Steve +-----------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | All the worlds a stage, | ("'-''-/").___..--''"'-._ | | and there's a comedy playing. | '6_ 6 ) '_. ( ).'-.__.') | | May as well enjoy the show. | (_Y_.) ._ ) '._ '. ''-..-' | | | _..'--'_..-_/ /--'_.' ,' | +-----------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Go Dale Earnhardt #3 | Go Rusty Wallace #2 | +-----------------------------------+-------------------------------------+ | Split_S on IRC Split_S on Hawaii sp-s on Warbirds | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+