digital duo h t big time Internet Direct, B.C. Tel do deal TWO NORTH Shore entrepre- neurs are riding a big technolo- gy wave with Internet Direct, the company they co-founded. By lan Noble News Reporter West Vancouver's David Schulz, 26. and former North Shore resident David Wostenholme, 25, started with a simple solution to help folks get on the Internet. That marketing approach, which included flat-rate pricing and easy to use software, has netted them the title of Western Canada’s largest Internet service provider 17 months later. The duo’s success has been swift. Internet Direct now has 60 employ- ees, 8.7 million shares trading in the $2.35 range on the Vancouver Stock Exchange, and an over-subscribed ' share offering waiting in the wings. Without divulging specifics. vice president Wostenholme said: “You could say we've done well.” He deflected much of the credit for the company's success. “It's a team effort,” he said. “We've got 60 people and all are providing a very important component to the busi- ness.” Results have surpassed even Wostenholme’s expectations. “A lot of people didn’t expect us to get this big this quick,” he said from his downtown Vancouver office. Now. not content to rest on its lau- rels, Internet Direct. has teamed up with B.C. Tel in a first for Canada's Internet industry. On Wednesday, Internet Direct announced it had signed an agree- ment with B.C. Tel Advanced Communications to launch a high- speed Internet service province- wide. The deal calls for the communica- tions finn to house and manage the Internet Direct network and hard- ware. Wostenholme said the arrange- ment provides speedier Internet access for clients, and allows B.C. Tel to monitor lines 24 hours a day and detect and fix problems immedi- ately because the hardware’s in the telecommunications firm's office. Currently, six communities are hooked up to the system, including Vancouver and Abbotsford in the Lower Mainland. Additional com- munities will be included. The new network will add 1,100 phone fines to Internet Direct's exist- ing 1.200 lines, The 2,300 lines equal the largest number of Internet access lines in Western Canada. But the company’s growth has not been without pains. One problem has been Intermet users taking advantage of the $19.95 per month flat-rate charge by “camping” on their lines. Such surfers log on and stay cn. Internet Direct's new policy allows for 30 hours of use per month between noon and midnight Monday to Friday and 452 hours of non- prime time usage without extra charge. NEWS photo Mike Wakefield INTERNET DIRECT co-founders David Wastenholme {lefi) and David Schulz guide the firm to Western Canada's top spot. (Javconmoviwe” 176 PEMBERTON AVE VAN a ALIGNMENT SPECIALISTS} B.C.A.A. - 1.C.8.C. - A.R.A. APPROVED CENTRE ALIGNMENT - BALANCING - TIRES | OUR 37TH YEAR . e . . e . ° ° . . . . e e . ° ° . e e e . e . e ry e . e . e . » e ESTIMATES. ALEING °° CONSULTATION | a7230°9 985-7455 Male. See glant gray whales up close. from large, comfortable 45' cabin crulsers! Take advantage of our Drive-in Packages or come aboard our bus and leave the driving to us. . . Bus Tours Include: . © Stop at Coombs Old Country Market. © Visit majestic Cathedral Grove . * Stroll miles of sandy beach: at world- famous Long Beach. * : © Shore-side or authentic stateroom accomodation, 99 ¢ for 5 minutes. Save a bundle when you talk long depending on your calling patterns. ‘To find out how you can take advantage of these and other great savings, just call 1-800 355-REAL. BCTEL 44 distance to your little bundle. With It’s one of the little things we're doing BC TEL long distance savings plans, to help you save big on long distance. A FIVE MINUTE CALL _ Vancouver ~ Victoria _&le¢ Vancouver - Abbotsford 78¢ 92¢ 94¢ you can call anywhere in B.C. for five Whale watching season open March 9 - April 20 Call early for best. dates. 1-800-663-7090 7 days a weck minutes and spend 99¢ or less* That's for calls after 6pm and on weekends, and includes average Real Plus™ Vancouver - Kelowna savings. And you can save even more, BC TEL’S LOWEST LONG DISTANCE RATES EVER. * Rates apply to calls in the AG TEL serving area only. Vancouver - Prince George Fberecesccsevvescecese An Oak Bay Marine Gooup Quality Resort.