The new ESA/IRS pricing scheme : a comparison with dialog

• Published in: Online (Weston, Conn.) Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 35 - 39
• Main Author: JACK, R. F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wilton, CT Online 1990; Information Today, Inc; Online, Inc
• Subjects: Characteristics; Company pricing policy; Comparative analysis; Comparative studies; Computerised information retrieval; Computerized information services; Computerized information storage and retrieval; Database industry; Database searching; DIALOG; ESA-IRS; Exact sciences and technology; Fees for services; Information and communication sciences; Information industry; Information publishing, dissemination and reproduction; Information retrieval; Information retrieval systems. Information and document management system; Information science. Documentation; Information services; Information services industry; Information storage and retrieval; Information work; Internet/Web search services; Magnetic tape; Multinational space ventures; Online; Online information retrieval; Online searching; Prices; Prices and rates; Pricing; Pricing policies; Sciences and techniques of general use; Searching; Subject indexing; System design and modelling; Technical services; Europe; Host computer; Telecommunication; Costs; Tariffication; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0146-5422; 2324-9706

The new ESA-IRS pricing scheme for accessing its on-line data base is described and actual charging rates are published for 78 data bases giving: on-line session rates; on-line hourly rates; and display charges per record (for SCAN, BROWSE, BROWSE ABS, and REF OR ALL). ESA and DIALOG charges, for 36 data bases, are compared in terms of session rates, hourly rates and full citation rates (for ESA-IRS) and connect hour and full citation rates (for DIALOG). Detailed cost of searching ABI/INFORM and INSPEC on ESA-IRS and DIALOG at 1200 baud and 2400 baud suggests that it may be cheaper to search ESA-IRS using 1200 baud and cheaper to search DIALOG using 2400 baud. 00 N.L.M.