This document provides an overview of PowerTalk, a high-level description of many of the contents of the PowerTalk folder posted here, and a list of resources which can provide additional PowerTalk related information.
 
About PowerTalk
 
PowerTalk software, available as part of MacOS System Software 7.5.1, provides a set of common collaboration services that allows users to send electronic mail and faxes, share files, and even digitally sign and verify documents. Because PowerTalk functions are implemented in the operating system, these collaboration services can be accessed not only from the desktop, but also directly from all your applications.
 
When combined with third-party gateways, PowerTalk makes sending information and documents as easy as drag and drop. Group information cards can be used to streamline the communcation of information to any number of people, regardless of their method of communicating.
 
PowerTalk Universal Mailbox provides a one-step repository on the desktop that allows you to manage all your correspondence. Electronic mail, internet mail, fax and even voice messages are automatically gathered and stored in the Universal Mailbox.
 
For workgroup or enterprise networks, Apple's PowerShare Collaboration Server software provides PowerTalk users with server based electronic mail and messaging, shared catalogs and additional network security services. PowerShare can be obtained from any Apple authorized dealer.
 
For more details on PowerTalk, PowerShare and third-party applications that work with PowerTalk, please see the PowerTalk Solutions Guide posted here.

About The PowerTalk Folder
 
Contained in this PowerTalk folder are a number of Apple and third-party developed software extras for PowerTalk.
 
PowerTalk Tour - The PowerTalk Tour provides a step by step overview of PowerTalk and how to use it.
 
PowerTalk Direct Dialup - This program allows you to exchange electronic mail, over a modem, with any other Macintosh user. See the Read Me as part of the PowerTalk Direct Dialup posting for more information.
 
PowerTalk Gateways - The following PowerTalk gateways are included:
 
CompuServe - Gateway for sending and receiving CompuServe mail
STF PowerFAXª PE - Gateway for sending and receiving faxes
ExMachina Notify! - Gateway for sending electronic pages
StarNine Internet/SMTP - Gateway for exchanging mail over the Internet
StarNine Microsoft Mail - Gateway for exchanging mail with Microsoft mail users
StarNine QuickMail - Gateway for exchanging mail with QuickMail users
 
For more information on any of these gateways please see the Read Me as part of the PowerTalk Gateways posting.
 
Additional PowerTalk Resources
 
Here is a list of places to go for more information on PowerTalk and PowerShare.
 
The PowerTalk mail list (aoce-list) is the best place to go for detailed information on PowerTalk. The mail list is basically a bulletin board for users of PowerTalk and PowerShare. You can post questions, that will be answered by a slew of experienced users or simply listen and learn as others share information.
 
To become part of the list send a message with the word ÒsubscribeÓ as the subject to: Aoce-List-Request@umich.edu
 
If you simply want to post a question the address is: aoce-list@umich.edu
 
Users Group
 
The new International PowerTalk and PowerShare Users Group provides a valuable source of information to users.  They have just recently announced a new CD which includes all publically available PowerTalk/PowerShare software, third-party applications, archives of AppleÕs PowerTalk and PowerShare documentation, an archive of the internet mail list and much more.
 
The users group can be contacted at:
 
http://www.iptpsug.org/iptpsug/
 
Also on the internet there is a PowerTalk home page maintained by Seam McMains at the Univ. of Texas.  He has some software (e.g. X.500 gateway, and PT internet template software) that you can download at:
 
http://seansmac.nms.unt.edu
 
And General Business Interfaces offers a new software tool for extending PowerTalk catalogs. You can download a demonstration from:
 
http://www.gbi.com/cataloger.html
 
or via FTP at gbi.com (user: anonymous).

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