Personal computer communications company NTTPC Communications has begun an international electronic mail service with rates 30% to 50% cheaper than KDD’s packet switching network, Venus-P. The new service will use the JUST-PC protocol recommended by the Japanese Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, MPT, and dial-up lines to transmit data in batches, run from a host computer in Tokyo. Service will initially be restricted to the US and Europe. Venus-P costs $0.016 for 512 bits running at 4,800bps; the system has been tested sending 10,000 characters, including Japanese Kanji, between Tokyo and New York in one minute, at $1.58, at least 30% to 50% the price of Venus-P. Growth of the Venus-P market is expected to be 50% over the next few years. A 4800 bits/s JUST-PC adapter costs $687.30 and has, therefore, not been popular.