re: Yet another X.400 vs SMTP question

[Tony Genovese <[e-mail]>]

Hi Jock,

> 
> The technology issue is important but not the only one.  Is there no
> integrating technology to render this issue moot?
> 

	If I understand your question the simple answer is yes.  As I 
mentioned befor ESnet is an Internet mail shop. Most, if not all my users 
do not know they are using X.400 or for that mater many do not know they
are useing SMTP ;-).  Our users use, Quickmail, SMTP, Eudora, etc.  Our main
mail hubs handle the conversions (gatewaying) between the different mail 
systems.  They think they are using Electronic Mail period.  The Postmaster 
team of ESnet handles all the magic behind the scenes.

	The technology that accomplished this is being shaped by the
efforts of IETF, RARE and others.  Jock maybe you can attend one of these
meetings and get a feel for the scope of what we are working on.


> I am very much interested in the social and political implications of
> architectural technology choices with respect to sustaining a robust
> democracy.

	I believe Erik Huizer summed up the best course. We should at best
do damage control to restrict the WAN mail systems to just two, SMTP and
X.400. 


Tony...