Netband Pricing for OnDisc/@Site
Frequently Asked Questions

My Ideal Solution is Web Access plus CD Backup. Is this covered by the new Pricing?

Yes. Together with our partners/agents, Dialog has nearly thirty mirror sites around the world offering "Secure Web Access" to the entire range of OnDisc/@Site databases. Normal networking supplements apply, and you will continue to receive the regular CDs as back-up / archiving. Contact for more information.

Will My Network Subscription cost more - or less - under the new Model?

In most cases your subscription price will stay the same - but you will get more for your money. The NETBAND cost represents the VALUE of networking a particular database; rather than being an arbitrary percentage of the Base price (the old scheme). This allows us much more flexibility in setting networking prices that are fair to every type of customer — big as well as small.

What is included in the "Base Price"?

In the Dialog OnDisc/@Site Price Guide, every product has a BASE price (or multiple BASE prices) — and a NETBAND price. The BASE price covers one concurrent user on one site (10km= 6 miles).

What is the cost of Networking "Archive" discs?

The new BASE price now includes one concurrent networked user on one site. For older back-discs this may already be an adequate number of concurrent users for you. However, if you need additional users or sites for back-discs, then you can of course purchase additional NETBANDs for back-discs as well. In such cases these additional NETBANDs will typically be single-payment.

Including one networked user in the BASE price: Does this mean that Dialog will be increasing the BASE prices?

No — in the majority of cases it does not. Even though you will be getting more for your money, this change does not mean price increases across the board. There may be certain cases where a price increase or decrease is appropriate however.

Can we immediately network our existing stand-alone subscriptions and not pay anything extra?

Yes you can — as long as you have signed the "OnDisc Network License Agreement" — and as long as you limit to one concurrent user on one site. Please email immediately if you have not yet signed the above license agreement.

Can the Dialog @Site Software help us to limit to one concurrent user?

Yes — the Dialog@Site software (Web interface) can do this. However - the DOS, Windows, & MAC interfaces cannot (user trust ensures compliance). If you have an intranet or if you wish to access the databases over the Web (on one of the many mirror sites), then Dialog@Site probably represents the most efficient and flexible way of having multi-user access to your Dialog OnDisc products. Please contact immediately - or go to http://www.dialog.com/products/atsite/ for further information. Dialog@Site is free of charge.

When does the new model take effect?

From April 2000 onwards we started accepting new orders using the new pricing model (and we have been actively encouraging this of course) — and UNTIL END 2000 we have also accepted orders that use the existing mode. The invoices that we sent to you for RENEWALS during the course of 2000 have also continued to use the existing (old) model . However, from January 2001 we will only be able to accept orders or upgrades under the new model.

Why is the model based on "concurrent users"? Why not "per-seat" pricing or "Site license" pricing?

We feel that "concurrent usage" represents the fairest and most objective way of charging for different levels of networking. Since Dialog@Site controls by concurrent users, it makes most sense to also charge by concurrent.

Is the charging for "sites" in this new era of the WWW still meaningful or relevant?

Yes — we feel that it is. Electronic database subscriptions often replace multiple printed subscriptions that were previously housed on different sites. While this is still the case then there is significant perceived value in being able to access the database from multiple sites — and this needs to be reflected in the network supplement.

11. What is one "Site"?

One town? One City? One Municipal Area? One clump of buildings? They're all subjective & open to interpretation. For this reason, in order to try to introduce some objectivity, Dialog defines a single site as: All the members of the single organization whose normal place of work is within a circle of 10km diameter, or from within an unbroken space of equivalent area.

Should Every site be counted, however small?

No. Only the "significant sites" are counted. This can discussed in more detail with your agent or Dialog Sales consultant.

Is there ANY link or relationship between the BASE price of a product and the NETBAND price?

No — none whatsoever. The NETBAND price could be one quarter of the BASE price - or twice the BASE price! However, to make the conversion from the old model to the new model as painless as possible, the majority of the NETBAND prices have initially been set at 25% of BASE. This represents "parity pricing" for the majority of customers.

If we have 700 potential users (for example) that will use a particular database, how many concurrent users do we need?

There is a useful conversion rule that gives a good starting point:

Does Dialog's Consortium Pricing Model stay the same?

The underlying principle of consortium pricing is still (and always has been) that every quoted price is conditional upon IP approval.

Nonetheless, Dialog salespeople and agents will continue to apply the following structure as a starting point:

• Each member of the consortium earns a discount of (number of members x 2)% on the stand-alone subscription, up to a maximum of 20%.
• Only the HUB pays the appropriate network supplement (NETBANDS), covering ALL the members. This network supplement also earns the same discount as calculated in point one.

What about discounts?

Discounts that apply to the BASE (for example: print subscriber, academic/public library) would normally also be applied to the NETBANDS — but not necessarily. Since the BASE and NETBAND prices are no longer linked by a percentage, it becomes possible to offer promotional discounts just to the NETBANDS, for example.

Where are BASE and NETBAND prices published?

The Price Guide showing BASE prices and NETBAND prices is on the Web where you will also find a "NETBAND" pricing calculator to help you .

18. Is there any extra charge for distance learning and Dial-up?

There is no extra charge; this is included as part of the normal network supplement. The "Site" definition (see question 11) covers all users whose normal place of work (real or virtual) is within the 10km circle.

Is there any extra charge if the CD-ROM-delivered information is first downloaded to a hard disk?

No — there isn't. The Dialog network pricing is technology-independent. The network supplement depends on the number of concurrent users, number of sites and number of members (in the case of consortia) . It does not depend on method of storage, speed of CD drive, interface used, and so on.

20. Do I REALLY not have to pay anything extra for CD Backup - if I access a Database over the Web on a Mirror Site?

No — you don't pay any extra for CD backup.