How to turn on to IEEE's e-mail service

E-mail is making its way to the IEEE, you were told in the last issue of THE INSTITUTE [November/December 1992]. Now we want to tell our members how they may use it to contact each other, the Institute's staff, and many of the organization's entities. They can also use it to request and receive services electronically.

Members may access the IEEE's e-mail, begun in 1990 via the ieee.org node on Internet, through the local electronic mail capability they find most convenient. [The special report on electronic mail in IEEE SPECTRUM, October 1992, describes computer interconnection networks on p. 33.] Provided at the outset, was a forwarding service to simplify the myriad of computer mailbox addresses. The service relies on several so-called aliases. IEEE aliases are dummy addresses of the form "xxx.yyy@ieee.org" (the address is the part between the double quotes).

When a message arrives at the IEEE Internet node "ieee.org", the message is automatically redirected (or forwarded) to the appropriate mailbox -- whether it be at the IEEE service centre or on the other side of the world. This forwarding address may change as people and equipment are relocated. However, this change is handled internally; the aliases remain the same.

PERSONAL ALIASES.   Of the form "i.name@ieee.org", personal aliases can be requested by IEEE volunteers (members) For example, the personal alias "m.sloan@ieee.org" is that of 1993 IEEE President Martha Sloan. An alias offers three advantages: it lists you in the IEEE E-mail Directory so that other people may find you; you need notify only one place of any future changes in your e-mail address ("alias.update@ieee.org"); and it is usually much easier to remember and simpler to use than your real address. You can find out how to request a personal alias by sending a message to "info.directory@ieee.org". Likewise, you can obtain a copy of the volunteer (and member) directory by sending a message to "directory.vols@ieee.org".

SECTION ALIASES.   Of the form "sec.name@ieee.org", Section aliases may be set up by each IEEE Section. Sections are encouraged to do this so that their officers can be contacted electronically. As of November 1992, 101 Sections had registered their local e-mail address with IEEE. Example: "sec.toronto@ieee.org" is the alias of the Toronto Section.

To find out how to register your Section e-mail address, send a message to "info.startup@ieee.org". Section aliases are listed in a directory at "directory.sec@ieee.org".

SOCIETY ALIASES.   Of the form "soc.name@ieee.org", Society aliases may be set up by each IEEE Society. As of November 1992, 11 Societies had registered their e-mail address. Example: "soc.computer@ieee.org" is the alias of the Computer Society. Society aliases are listed at "directory.soc@ieee.org".

STUDENT BRANCH ALIASES.   Of the form "sb.name@ieee.org", Student Branch aliases may be set up by each Branch and 65 Branches were registered by last November. To find out how to register your Branch e-mail address, send a message to "info.startup@ieee.org". Branch aliases are listed at "directory.sb@ieee.org".

INFORMATION ALIASES.   Of the form "info.topic@ieee.org", 71 auto-response text files were available as of November. If an e-mail message (not really a message, but a request using a message format) is sent to an alias that begins with "info.", the message content is discarded, and an already written text file is automatically returned to the sender. For example, a message sent to "info.directory@ieee.org" results in the return of information on how to obtain an e-mailed copy of the IEEE E-mail Directory. Also explained is how the directory is partitioned into modest sized text files for ease of handling. These information text files are listed in an auto-response text file at "info.info@ieee.org".

SERVICE ALIASES.   Of the form "service@ieee.org", these aliases enable members to request a service from IEEE. For example, send a message to "membership.inquiry@ieee.org" if you have a question about your IEEE membership (maybe to find out why you got a dues bill long after your cheque was cashed, or to find out how to apply to upgrade your membership from associate to full member grade). As of November 1992, 21 service aliases were available. These service aliases are listed at "info.services@ieee.org".

REQUESTS TO STAFF.   If you know the name of the staff person, send your message to his or her personal alias, which is usually of the form "i.name@ieee.org". Example: "j.powers@ieee.org" is the alias of IEEE general manager John Powers. You can find out the aliases for IEEE staff in one of two ways: most departments have their staff listed in an information file -- the Regional Activities (formerly known as Field Services) file is at "info.fs.staff@ieee.org"; all staff (who use-mail) are listed at "directory.staff@ieee.org".

NEED FOR VOLUNTEERS.   Now the IEEE is developing an electronic mail contact network, and it needs volunteers to help. Many IEEE members do not have easy or low-cost access to the Internet (directly or via the many interconnected networks), but do have access to a PC and a modem. IEEE Sections can provide local telephone call access to many of these members by operating a bulletin board service with local dial-up lines and an Internet connection. Please contact your local Section executive if you are willing to help put such a system in place. We expect that IEEE members will make increasing use of e-mail once the usefullness becomes apparent. --Robert T.H. Alden