Easy-TimeShare:
Surprisingly Less Expensive Than On-Site Computers

Easy-TimeShare, especially for comparatively-small, high functionality or multi-sited systems, is often far less expensive, and risky than installing your own system. To show you how we compare, we have prepared some samples of typical total costs to install and maintain systems with different user counts. We have prepared it both ways: for "native" systems and "open" systems. All costs shown here are for the "server" component in a multi-user environment. When comparing Easy-TimeShare with the alternatives below, remember that the effective cost of Easy-TimeShare service will run from $50 to $75 a month depending upon database and features options desired.

Per-User Costs of "Native" MV-DBMS Systems
(No Internet Connectivity!)

Of all the possible solutions you can use, "Native" MV-DBMS is historically the least expensive, because it has the lowest basic administration cost. However, it is also the least flexible. It generally costs more consulting work, and more ongoing administrative time, to implement enhanced functionality in a "Native" environment than the same thing done in an "Open" environment.

* Calculation method: install cost time .026/month, which assumes a 60 month $1 dollar lease, together with the annual costs divided by 12.

** By Definition, Native is incapable, in and of itself, of supporting any kind of network connectivity, and thus is incapable of providing e-mail, network browsing, and other capabilities. Annual maintenance includes such categories as hardware repair, operating system and database support, and the labor required by the user to keep the system alive.

Per-User Costs of "Open Systems" MV-DBMS Systems
(No Internet Connectivity!)
(Open systems include PC-based UNIX Flavors and Windows NT)

* Calculation method: install cost time .026/month, which assumes a 60 month $1 dollar lease, together with the annual costs divided by 12.

** The costs shown do not include the costs of installing, engineering, and maintaining a Internet connection for the requisite user counts, and as such do not include e-mail, web browsing, and other important business services. For these services, see below. Annual maintenance includes such categories as hardware repair, operating system and database support, and the labor required by the user to keep the system alive.

Per-User Costs of "Open Systems" MV-DBMS Systems
With Basic Internet Connectivity
(Open systems include PC-based UNIX Flavors and Windows NT)

This "basic connectivity" section includes provision of web browsing and mail service. This service is suitable for single-sited systems using this capability, but is not suitable for use with multi-sited systems which need to pass information securely between themselves. For such an example, see the following section.

* Calculation method: install cost time .026/month, which assumes a 60 month $1 dollar lease, together with the annual costs divided by 12.

** Basic Internet connectivity is obtained by installation of a proxy server firewall with DNS routing, using, typically ISDN or dial-up service. The cost shown here do not include your incremental line costs as these are included. However, the annual costs of third-party mail and web service for all users have been included. Annual maintenance includes such categories as hardware repair, operating system and database support, and the labor required by the user to keep the system alive.

Per-User Costs of "Open Systems" MV-DBMS Systems
Single-Site In A Multi-Site Private/Secure Intranet Network
(Open systems include PC-based UNIX Flavors and Windows NT)

This section assumes a private network installed by a first or second tier ISP, typically using either Frame-Relay or T1 type connections. Such a service provides secure but unencrypted communications. It also provides mail and web services, typically over a public network. As noted, the prices assume the costs of a single-site connected to such a network. To determine your average cost, determine the average number of users at each site by adding total users and dividing by the number of separate sites.

Easy-TimeShare is especially attractive for this type of installation because our approach to highly encrypted public network traffic permits the use of low-cost "public" solutions rather than high cost proprietary communications solutions.

* Calculation method: install cost time .026/month, which assumes a 60 month $1 dollar lease, together with the annual costs divided by 12.

** Connectivity is obtained by installation of private network Frame Relay, which is generally less expensive, together with a proxy server firewall with DNS routing. The cost shown here include incremental costs over the costs of an Easy-TimeShare solution with equivalent bandwidth. The annual costs of third-party mail and web service for all users have been included. Annual maintenance includes such categories as hardware repair, operating system and database support, and the labor required by the user to keep the system alive.

Conclusion

Easy-TimeShare offers lower costs in many areas when compared with company-based solutions. And what is surprising is that even though the small user and system always wins with Easy-TimeShare, the larger the user, and the more complex their inherent solutions, the more probability there is of savings as well.