Personal Account
Frequently Asked Questions at NetBox

NetBox is a virtual Post Office Box - a permanent, portable, and secure personal address on the Internet. NetBox provides you with an e-mail address independent of how you access the Internet. If you change your Internet provider your NetBox address remains the same. NetBox provides many other services as well, including powerful options for routing, remailing, storing and accessing electronic messages. For example, your NetBox will hold your messages so that you can pick them up or forward them at your convenience.

NetBox gives you the security and anonymity of a post office box for your electronic messages:

Like a P.O. Box, NetBox protects your identity. Your mail routed through NetBox will appear to the recipient as if it came from within NetBox - separating your e-mail address from your provider.

NetBox improves the confidentiality of your personal e-mail:

NetBox allows you to separate your e-mail into appropriate categories: personal vs. professional; confidential vs. public.

NetBox allows you to put electronic correspondence on hold for days or weeks:

Like a regular post office box, NetBox will hold your mail until you request it. You can also easily forward your mail to any address (or addresses) you may use.

NetBox gives you e-mail address that won't change, even if you change how you connect to the Internet in the future:

NetBox is a provider-independent anchor in the Internet; Mail sent to a NetBox address is routed to any new service or system the user chooses. Changing providers doesn't interrupt electronic correspondence.

NetBox provides those already connected to the Internet a safe, private, convenient and permanent address for electronic mail.

NetBox is not a full service Internet Access provider. NetBox is not an anonymous base for Internet abuse. All normal "rules of the I-ways" apply to NetBox users. For more information, please read the NetBox Acceptable Use Policy, which is available by sending a message to P_O_Master@NetBox.com with "Send AUP" as the subject or go to the NetBox web page.

A NetBox account is an Internet address on a dedicated mail server. Mail addressed to you@netbox.com is routed to one or more addresses according to your instructions. When you write mail, you can send it through you@NetBox.com to ensure all mail gets properly routed to you.

When e-mail arrives at your NetBox, how it is handled is determined by how you configured your NetBox. The options are:

REMAILED TO A CONVENIENT ADDRESS - By default, incoming mail will be automatically rerouted to your current home address. Your NetBox can be configured to direct messages to as many as three predefined delivery points.

HOLD UNTIL CALLED FOR - When you set your NetBox to save, it will hold your mail until it is picked up. The first 3 MB of storage space is included in the base NetBox services - if more space is used, a small charge will be assessed based on the average use over the billing period [larger capacities available for special projects; contact sales@netbox.com for more information].

PROCESS THE MAIL AT NETBOX - With your NetBox set to the save mode, you have the option of using NetBox' Pine mailer in a telnet session. To take advantage of this option, you need to be able to telnet to NetBox.

Posting mail through your NetBox allows you to take advantage of NetBox' mail handling features. These messages arive so that replies are automatically addressed to your NetBox. Sending e-mail through your NetBox requires only the addition of one line per message.

Your message is addressed to your NetBox with the recipients' address on the first line of your message. NetBox will extract the delivery information, change the message TO and FROM lines, and deliver it. The message appears to the recipient as originating from your NetBox. When the message is replied to, it is automatically addressed to your NetBox account.

When you travel or go on vacation, your NetBox account can be configured to hold all mail until you return. The usual options of delivery will apply to the messages that accumulate at NetBox while away - sent to your home address, delivery to an alternate site, or using NetBox's mailing facility in a telnet connection.

Providing a permanent, secure and portable Internet address is NetBox' primary mission. To enhance the Internet's usefulness to you, NetBox offers a number of related, reasonably priced services:

E-mail Autoresponders - Similar to fax-back services, NetBox will provide you with an e-mail address which automatically responds to requests with a message of your choice. [Additional cost]

Web Page Hosting/Rerouting - NetBox can supply you space on our web server for your personal messages. If you already have a web site, NetBox can provide a route to that sight which can simplify others finding it. [Rerouting free/Hosting at additional cost]

Post Office Protocol (POP) Mailer Capability - For users who have POP compatible mailer programs (such as Eudora), NetBox can provide for optional POP3 server capabilities. [Additional cost]

NetBox for Business - NetBox offers a special service for businesses who want an Internet e-mail presence without the risk or trouble of connecting their own server to the network. This service centers around a virtual subdomain within the NetBox domain. For details, see the NetBox for Business web page or e-mail a request to Sales@NetBox.com with NetBox for Business in the subject field.

In addition to these current services, NetBox is working on further additions to make your NetBox even more useful. Some current projects we are working on include: Automatic encryption of messages received at your NetBox; Archiving and off-line storage of your e-mail correspondence; and e-mail to fax or e-mail to voice-mail on demand.

More detailed descriptions of the projects we're working on can be obtained by e-mail to P_O_Master@NetBox.com with Coming Attractions in the subject.

Any mail coming across a public network is at risk. However, once it is received at NetBox, we have implemented various security steps to protect your mail.

Since NetBox deals primarily with mail service, the access to our server is limited. The NetBox accounts themselves are kept securely in private areas of our server to protect them. By default, all mail is deleted from the server once it has been successfully rerouted.

NetBox was founded by a small group of dedicated computer professionals with over twenty years of experience operating electronic mail and high tech business services.

There are four ways to sign-up for your NetBox:

SIGN-UP DIRECTLY ON OUR SERVER - If you have a telnet capability, you can sign up directly on our server. Telnet to netbox.com and login as "guest". In the guest menu you will find more information on NetBox, including the opportunity to sign up. Fill out the on-line form and we'll do the rest. We recommend this method since telnet sessions are more secure than e-mail or world-wide-web messages.

SIGN-UP BY E-MAIL - Send an e-mail request for the sign-up kit to sign_up_kit@netbox.com (the subject and message are optional). The sign-up form, more detailed information and acceptable use documents will be mailed automatically. Fill in the form and return it to NetBox.

SIGN-UP BY WORLD WIDE WEB - If you have a forms capable web browser, jump to the NetBox Sign Up Page to join on-line. You will receive our welcome message and confirmation of your account by return e-mail once your NetBox has been set up.

SIGN-UP BY HARD COPY - There is also a printable form attached to the sign-up web page, if you prefer hard copy; the e-mail form is also suitable for printing. Fill this out and fax it to NetBox at 1-415-324-0998 or mail it to us at:

If you need to talk to a real person, you can all us at 1-800-9-NetBox (1-800-963-8269; +1-415-961-4880 from outside the US) during business hours - 9am - 6pm Pacific Time (-0800 GMT).

Not much. NetBox basic rates are:

A one time set-up fee of $25. For this, you are entitled to the basic service of 3 destination addresses, 3 MB of disk space, 15 hours per month of telnet access to NetBox, and unlimited e-mail.

A full list of current services and costs is available - check the NetBox Services web page for currently available services or send e-mail to services@netbox.com with "current services" in the subject. If you have questions about additional services or special needs you may have, feel free to drop us a line at P_O_Master@NetBox.com or call us at 1-800-9-NetBox (1-800-963-8269; +1-415-961-4880 from outside the US).