August 2003 No:001

Picture of Michael
Michael Malone
Managing Director iiNet

Message from
the Managing Director

Welcome to the first edition of our new look monthly newsletter. We hope the user friendly information contained in iiNews will help you get the most out of your Internet service.

I am very proud to announce iiNet's recent expansion into South Australia, and the ACT meaning our Internet services now cover every State in Australia.

It is hard to believe it's been just under two years since we started offering Internet services outside of WA. These days, while Perth remains our home town and headquarters of operation, nearly one half of our customers are located in other states. This expansion marks an exciting shift in focus for iiNet.

Despite all the big plans we have in store for the next twelve months, our primary focus remains on improving our existing products to further enhance your Internet experience, while providing you with the highest possible standard of customer service. I hope you will join us for what promises to be an exciting journey.

Message from the MD
News Corner
Customer profile
In the Call Center
Inside the staff room
bliinky's game tips
Competitions
Site scan
Domain Names Australia


Octa4 Joins the iiNet Group

Leading Darwin Internet Service Provider (ISP) Octa4 has joined forces with iiNet, WA's largest regional ISP. Octa4 Managing Director, Felino Molina said: "Joining the iiNet Group will, over a period of time, allow us to provide our customers with a wider range of products, faster links to the rest of the world and access to a 24 hour-day, seven-day-a-week help desk."

iiNet's Managing Director Michael Malone agreed, saying Octa4 had a proven track record in the Northern Territory, where they had been providing customers with quality products and a high level of customer service for a substantial period of time. "By adding to the existing range of products and services currently offered by Octa4, we hope to raise service levels even further in the future," said Mr Malone. iiNet celebrates ten years as an ISP this year and is the #2 broadband ADSL provider in Australia.

For more information on bliink availability in the Northern Territory go to: www.octa4.com.au


bliink now available nationally!

The bliink ADSL range is now available to customers in South Australia, Tasmania, ACT and the Northern Territory. “The new Adelaide POP will allow bliink customers to enjoy the benefits of broadband including flat rate billing, faster downloads and an always-on Internet facility,” said Network Manager Roger Yerramsetti. The first bliink accounts were activated in Tasmania on June 23, following iiNet’s introduction of broadband services into New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland earlier this year. For more information about the availability of broadband in your local area simply click here.

Changes to SFOA

On 1 August, iiNet’s Standard Form of Agreement (SFOA) will undergo a number of changes. In accordance with the Telecommunications Act 1997, an overview of these changes was published in the Financial Review on Friday 11 July, 2003. You are welcome to review the Summary or the complete SFOA here

This month's gaming advice goes out to all you Counter Strike fans

LISTEN CAREFULLY
Learn the different weapon types by sound. This will help you identify the kind of fight you are walking into. It’s also helpful to turn up the volume when playing counter strike so that you can hear the footsteps of your enemy.

CROUCHING AND WALKING
Crouching down will help steady your weapon and lower your profile, thus making you a smaller target. It is useful to remember that walking is silent in Counter Strike. So even though crouching and moving at the same time is slow, its an excellent way of moving silently.

TAKE COVER
Hide behind crates and other nearby objects when you need to reload or protect yourself. However, it’s also worth remembering that some of the heavy weapons can shoot straight through certain walls etc.

New iiNet Website Goes Live

iiNet's new-look website is now officially live! Launched on 3rd July, the new website is easier for site visitors to navigate, and for the first time features a dedicated Broadband Zone. Incorporating customer suggested components including: Word of the day and Local photo, the site also boasts a customisable home page and national weather map.

Webmaster Anna Kauffmann said the team at iiNet would continue to add new features to the site in the months ahead. "On the drawing board are further improvements to the navigation tools available in the support section, and a completely new iiNet product finder."

You can view the new website here

Help iiNet Increase ADSL Coverage

If your phone line is currently on a Remote Integrated Mulitplexer (RIM) you are unable to access broadband ADSL, as they are incompatible. However, a trial is now being run using MiniMuxs to deliver ADSL where RIM technology has been deployed.

Therefore, if you live in any of the following suburbs and would like to try broadband ADSL at no charge, please register your interest in participating in the trial by emailing: corporate@iinet.net.au

  • Amaroo, ACT
  • Ngunnawal, ACT
  • Nicholls, ACT
  • Rouse Hill, NSW
  • Bella Vista, NSW
  • West Pennant Hills, NSW
  • Annandale, QLD
  • Kirwan, QLD

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Tip of the Month

If you receive an error message when logging onto the Internet, for example "Invalid Username/password -
Access Denied" or "Error 691" there is usually a simple solution to this problem.

* Both your username and password are case sensitive so make sure your CAPS lock key is off

* If you have a dialup account your username is often the first part of your email address (everything
before the @ symbol)

* If you have a bliink broadband account your username is usually your complete email address
(username@iinet.net.au)

If you get this error when attempting to connect, retype checking your unique iiNet username and password
and try again. This will solve the problem in most cases. If you have forgottenyour password, simply call
the iiNet customer service team and we will have your password checked for you.

Shell Server Lives Again!

opera.iinet.net.au iiNet’s faithful ten-year-old server, has finally passed on to the great machine room in the sky. In recognition of the number of iiNet customers who found shell access useful, we are proud to announce our sponsorship of a community run server: shell.iinet.net.au Please note, although this is not an official iiNet service, we have donated the colocation facilities, hardware and bandwidth. If you would like more information or would like shell access enabled on your account email: support@shell.iinet.net.au

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Ray Johnstone
iiNet Customer

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Name: Ray Johnstone
Customer Since: 1994
Account Type: Dialup account
Why did you choose iiNet as your ISP?
In 1994 Internet.au magazine listed iiNet as the only registered ISP in WA. So I gave them a call and to my surprise got Michael Malone on the other end of the line. He gave me my username, password and some excellent instructions on how to get started on the Internet.
How has the Internet changed since 1994?
There were no Customer Service Centres in those days, just Michael Malone's home phone at his house. So I called him up on Christmas Day in '94 and he talked me through some technical problems I was experiencing. He helped me for two hours before interrupting me to say he had to go because Christmas lunch was waiting for him on the table.
What is the best Internet advice you have ever received?
Actually, I have kept a hard record of all the support information I have been given by the staff at iiNet, because I always find it useful and you never know when you may need to use the same advice again in the future. I now have a book containing ten years worth of technical support.

Your Top 3 iiNet Call Centre Questions Answered

Q: Can I pay my account online?
A: Yes, you can pay your account online quickly and easily using Toolbox. Simply go to https://toolbox.iinet.net.au log in using your iiNet username and password, simply select your outstanding invoice and preferred method of payment and you are done. It’s that easy.

Q: What is Toolbox and what can I use it for?
A: Toolbox is an easy to use facility, which allows you to update and manage your own account information online. You can use Toolbox to do the following:

  • Add mailboxes to your account
  • Pay your account online
  • View modem diagnostics
  • View volume usage
  • View connection logs

Q: Is it possible to pay my account by Direct Debit?
A: Yes, you can arrange to pay your account using a direct debit from your nominated bank account. Simply click on www.iinet.net.au/products/direct-debit.pdf fill out the attached application form providing details of the bank account you wish to pay your account from each month, and mail the signed form to iiNet at the address provided.

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Kylie Metropolis
Office Manager

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Name: Kylie Metropolis
Position: Office Manager & PA to the Managing Director
Duration at iiNet: 13 months
What are you responsible for? I organise all staff travel, manage reception, provide support to the corporate services team, make sure all staff resources are available and maintained. I am responsible for directing the movement of departments within the office and overall office security. I also manage the administration team, and look after all office equipment and stationery. Recently I have also been responsible for project managing the refurbishment of our offices and call centre.
Where do you see iiNet in 5 years time? Recently, we have built a formidable staff team, achieving an excellent balance of experience, new ideas and a fresh outlook for the future. In five years I hope I will still be here improving our working environment by encouraging staff input. After all happy staff help create happy customers.

To enter iiNet's August competitions simply email: competitions@iinet.net.au and write the name of the movie you wish to win tickets to see in the subject line, and answer this question: What year did Ray Johnstone become a customer of iiNet?
For competition Terms and Conditions click: http://www.iinet.net.au/competition/comptandc.html


Thanks to Luna Palace Cinema's we are giving ten lucky iiNet customers the chance to win a double pass to the preview screening of Buffalo Soldiers, on Saturday 9th August at 11:00am.

Set in 1989 on a German American army base as the Berlin Wall is about to be hacked into souvenirs, Buffalo Soldiers is about a group of US soldiers under the uncanny Ray Elwood who steal, drink, fight and take and sell drugs on the black market. But with the arrival of the Sergeant everything changes. In the style of Joseph Heller’s black comedy Catch 22 and Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, Australian director Gregor Jordan, who brought us Two Hands, has created an outstanding American debut that is beautiful, foreboding, surreal and cool with an impressive cast headed by Joaquin Phoenix, Ed Harris, Scott Glenn and Anna Paquin.


Our friends at Village Roadshow are giving iiNet customers the opportunity to win one of 25 double in season passes (valid nationally) to see Tony Martin's latest film BAD EGGS starring Mick Molloy, Bob Franklin and Judith Lucy.

BAD EGGS is an elaborate comedy thriller that unfolds at a breakneck pace. When a freak accident involving a dead magistrate lands two undercover detectives on the front page of the local paper, Ben Kinnear and Mike Poddock are busted down to uniformed duties. But when the two discover a link between the accident and a shady casino boss they have been investigating, the duo decide they can no longer turn a blind eye to their colleagues corruption.

Cinebuzz
Greater Union is also offering iiNet customers the opportunity to take
advantage of their great monthly movie specials simply by joining Cinebuzz.

This month's Cinebuzz offer is an invitiation to see THE ITALIAN JOB for only $8. One very lucky movie goer who takes advantage of this offer will go into the draw to win a MINI Cooper for the weekend and overnight accomodation at Rydges Perth. Check out Cinebuzz at: www.greaterunion.com.au We also have ten double passes to give away from Greater Union, which can be used for the movie of your choice.

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Don't miss these websites

www.taxpayer.com.au
Learn about what to do at tax time

www.motorist.org/e1.htm
All the basic things you should check with your motor vehicle

www.homesolutions.com.au
Renovating, buying or renting? Check this site out

www.collecting-records.com
A site dedicated to those old vinyl records

www.otherpeoplesstories.com
Read other people's wacky stories

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www.eventrate.com
The best site for those adrenalin junkies.

www.redhotjazz.com
Discover the colourful history of Jazz.

www.captionmachine.com
Click on an image and add your own caption.

www.bandit.com.au
Everything you need to know about marketing and media industries.

www.vogue.com.au
Watch the beatiful people on the party scene in Bondi.

Changes to the SFOA for Domain Names

Do you have a domain name that is hosted through iiNet? iiNet has recently made some changes to the terms and conditions for renewing domain names that are hosted with us.

As of the August 1, 2003 we will only be able to renew domains in the following circumstances:

  • The domain is a .au domain registered at Connect West;
  • The domain is a .com, .net, .org, .biz or .info domain registered with Melbourne IT;
  • The domain is a .nz domain that was registered with Domainz Limited.

    To find out who your domain Registrar is, please visit one of the following websites:

    for .au domains: http://www.ausregistry.com.au
    for .com, .net: http://registrar.verisign-grs.com/whois/
    for .org domains: http://www.pir.org/whois_search/
    for .nz domains: http://www.domainz.net.nz/Domainz.asp

    If these changes affect you, we will be contacting you by email in the next few months to discuss your options. In the meantime, If you receive a renewal notice for your domains name, please forward it to our support team and we can advise you of the most appropriate course of action.

    If you would like to change to an approved registrar, or if you have any questions regarding the changes, please email hostmaster@iinet.net.au, and our staff will assist you with making the changes.

http://www.auda.org.au/about/news/2003071703.html
http://www.auda.org.au/about/news/2003061903.html

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