Tasman Solutions is the only locally based internet service provider in the region and has celebrated its sixth birthday by relocating premises to Network House, 281
Queen St (under the clock), Richmond.
Managing Director Steve Christie explained that July 1st represents six years of uninterrupted provision of internet services, with the exception of a 'brief nap' of 55 minutes on Saturday to enable the relocation.
"The area we were in was a bit low profile, we'd always tried to keep a low profile really, preferring to act like a wholesaler than a retail outlet. But the days of people not knowing what to expect from an internet service provider or what they look like are gone. They want more than concrete floors, so we have moved to the new salubrious location."
Another reason is the emphasis on wireless connections, particularly for rural customers allowing them to leap frog the often troublesome 35 year old copper wire telephone connections, accessing the internet via very low power radio waves at speeds over 40 times faster than 56k modems. Permanent 24 hour, 7 days a week connections that put an end to engaged signals, and the delays inherent of dial-up connections.
"The building we are in now has a high radio mast on top of it which saves us having to build our own. That's already up there, and we're rigged up and ready to go."
Dial-up connections can now be made via a toll free number from anywhere in the country and Steve highlighted the advantages of high quality external modems for rural clients. "There are specific rural modems designed to handle electric fences and interference, and we find that makes a big difference."
Steve described sending his first email in 1988 while working for IBM. The email was to an astronomy newsgroup asking how long Pluto would be inside the orbit of Neptune. "I got 40 replies back from my query, two of them answered the question, the other 38 told me off for writing it all in capital letters - which is shouting."
