But u r quite right VSNL customer service people have ON idea about either Linux or Unix, which i think should take this up with the head of operation of VSNL.
Good Luck
Sutanu Ghose
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Dear All:
Welcome to the world of VSNL. A world where you are being forced to use Internet Explorer, Outlook Express or Microsoft Outlook - but not Mozilla and Netscape. A few days before i got a mail from VSNL saying that i need to make certain changes in my mail client so as to enable me to send and recieve emails. The mail is quoted below:
<QUOTE> You are four days away from reduced spam and improved security.
If you use Microsoft Outlook, Eudora or Netscape 7.2 mail client, we request you to follow 3 easy steps to change your mail settings:
Step 1: Go to your mail account settings Step 2: Select the outgoing server option Step 3: On your server option, select the "My sever requires authentication". (This option uses the same User ID and Password that you are using)
And you're done! For a more elaborate set of instructions, click here If you require any assistance, feel free to contact us
Regards, Customer Service
Note : Starting 22/11/2004 your mails will not transmit and bounce back unless this setting is applied to your email client. All mail users will need to re-configure your mail client.s outgoing server as smtp.vsnl.net This does not apply if you use your web browser to access mails. </QUOTE>
Well... Nothing new, VSNL has kept on changing its settings from time to time to improve their service. This time according to them the changes were being put into place for *reducing spam and improving security*. So, like a good boy that i am, i went and changed the settings. And i guess i am well versed in computers to know what exactly i need to do. Happily i downloaded the mails and then went about replying to them and i get the message "Your SMTP server is inaccessable". Stumped, i rechecked the settings and found the settings to be in order. To be doubly sure i went to http://internet.vsnl.com/mailservices/popmailsettings.htm to find out if i am doing anything wrong. *Surprise No. 1* No Mozilla or Thunderbird listed. As i use Mozilla 1.5 at home I choose Mozilla's cousin Netscape to find out about the settings. Everything in order. To be on the safer side i rechecked the examples for all possible MS Outlook stuff given on the site. Ditto. Again i tried to send in the mails - same message, same problem.
Finally today morning i called up VSNL Customer Care. A lady called Sandhya took up my call. On informing her about my problems she asked me about my mail - incoming and outgoing server - settings which i promptly told her. I guess it was correct because she put me on hold. After some time she comes back and asks me what email client i am using? "Mozilla 1.5" i replied. Again i was put on hold and then she informed me that <QUOTE> People using Netscape or Mozilla will have to use Microsoft Outlook, or Outlook Express to check the mail </QUOTE> When i asked her why, the reply was even more pointed "It is our policy". Any exposition from my side about the benefits of Mozilla fell on deaf ears. I politely thanked the lady and kept the phone down. Then i logged on to the VSNL webmail service to compose this mail
So the point is that VSNL does not like Netscape, Mozilla. (Not Sure about Thunderbird - but i guess it will fall in the same category because of its pedegree) "So what" you say? I SAY IT IS ABOUT CHOICE. Just because an organisation says use IE should i be forced to use IE? Or the philosophy of "Openness", of making alternative technologies available, of giving user choices over software IS KAPUT?
Can i request members of ILUG to help convince VSNL about the unfairness of their "policy". After all we belong to a movement where "user-choice and freedom" is respected.
All i ask my dear LUG friends is to provide this email wide circulation and call / email vsnl asking them not to block Mozilla, Netscape, Opera or for that matter any other email client. If the VSNL high-handedness continues then probably one day we may well be asked to connect to the internet while we are running Windows XP and not Linux. The VSNL customer support number is (033) 23558282 and their email is [EMAIL PROTECTED]
As they say at VSNL "Thank you for calling and... Have a nice day"
Rohit Vishal Kumar 20/Nov/2004 9:52
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