Comms Coster

by Lee Calcraft

The purpose of CommsCost is to automatically monitor the
serial port of your computer, and calculate the size of the
telephone bill that you are running up. It keeps a running
total of the number of units used, the time on line, and the
total costs incurred.

There is also a manual option enabling the program to be
used for non-comms phone calls.

All the data is displayed in CommsCost's main window, but if
you want to keep the desktop uncluttered, you can run
CommsCost with the window closed, since the icon bar icon
displays the most important information: the cost of the
call in progress, or the running total of units used.

Note however, that CommsCost has no way of automatically
knowing who originated the call, and will start counting
costs even if you are receiving a comms call (for example if
you are running a bulletin board). Also CommsCost will not
work with ArcFax, or other fax handling software because it
has no way of knowing when you are on line.

The data regarding charge bands and unit costs on which the calculations are based is kept in an editable file, which can be updated by the user should the need arise.

For Users of the Original CommsCost
With the advent of sub-unit charging, where you are charged
for the exact time that you use, once the first unit has
elapsed, there is little point in displaying a countdown to
the next charging point. CommsCost therefore displays the
cost of the current call on the icon bar. When the call is
over, it displays the accumulated units total, as it did
before.

If you wish to use your old Totals file with this new
version of CommsCost, you may do so by just copying it
across. If you want to use your old Charges file, you will
need to add to it the sub-unit charging data, and the
version number to make it the same format as the new Charges
file.

A more detailed description together with instructions on using the program can be found in the !Help file inside the application.

Text and Software  Lee Calcraft 1995
