>Looked at Netcom & it seems you really need their
>software to be able to do anything. It did not
>sound like the a standard ISP connection!

It seems like you need there software. It's just that many ISPs built their own softwares so it look better when you logging because they have their logos and personal helps, etc. To connect to a com server all you need is a few parameters like the phone number, the DNS, the gateway, etc. You don't necessary have to have their own software.