Inter view with Global Online President

The UMJ Volume 5.1

More than nine years ago, when I used Macintosh power talks and slow speed modems to access my electronic mail box, Macintosh was the best and it was the only 32-bit platform in the world.

In 1995 Microsoft introduced Windows 95 and Internet users increased sharply worldwide. In Japan there was a boom of 28mbps modems and then, in 1996, 33mbps modems.  The 56K modems were introduced to the Japanese market three years later. Recently ISDN, ADSL, satellite, and cable connections with their even higher speeds are popular in Japan.

Contemporary life is so hectic.  People demand fast and cheap connection to the Internet. Many of my friends say that NTT phone lines are too expensive, so they are going to change their connection to cable connection which is very inexpensive and faster than phone lines. NTT ISDN provides only 128 K, but cable connections are speedy as 1.5 mbps, and they are offered at fixed rates from 4000 yen to15000 yen and allow usage 24 hours a day without any extra charges.

To find out more about these fast connections, I interviewed the president of Global On-Line (GOL), Mr. Roger J. Boisvert, who has lived in Japan for more than eighteen years. GOL is also the sponsor of the UMJ web site and mailing list. GOL is a leading and well-known Internet service provider in Japan. It offers bilingual support to its customers and ideal services for international residents of Japan. For more information, you can view the GOL web site at http://www.gol.com/

IAC - In the USA more than one million people have cable modems.  What are your thoughts about fast cable connections in Japan? 

RJB - Well, this is true.  There is a boom for Internet cable connection.  These cable companies provide inexpensive, 24-hour, flat rate service, but in fact these connections are not as secure as dial-up services.

In the Internet world security is more important than speed. To connect to the Internet 24 hours a day with your PC is to invite hackers to enter into your database and steal your passwords, accessing private documents that you want to keep hidden from other people. Cable users have increased sharply in the last few years, and Japanese people are looking for faster and less expensive connections to access the Internet, but most businesses are using 128 K ISDN lines still. Home use of these connections is not so risky as most private users connect for 2/3 of an hour per day on average. However, business require more security than home users. They may prefer the security more than speed.

IAC - Which connection is the best for home users?

RJB - That depends on the individual needs of the user. 64K ISDN dial-up connections are ideal and secure for home users and SOHO solution. GOL is providing dial-up ISDN service throughout Japan, with access points in all major Japanese cities. ISDN Terminal Adapters (TA) and Routers are on the market, ranging in price from 25,000 yen to 80,000 yen.

Just apply for an ISDN connection from NTT, buy a TA and enjoy secure and fast surfing.

( Mr. Roger J. Boisvert spoke with Imtiaz A. Chaudhry)

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