BBS Gateway

Uh-oh, 4:00am inspiration. I just got out of bed to ask about this: Is there an existing BBS system that provides a BBS<==>Internet mail gateway? So that a BBS user could, say, subscribe to a mailing list like this one? The reason I ask is that I tried to get a shell account with a local ISP a few months ago so I could use internet services on my Atari 1200XL. None of the local providers offered that service at all, and seemed shocked that someone was even asking for one. But a shell prompt doesn't exactly have the romance of a classic BBS and I am now set on writing one that can do internet mail and browse text html docs. Even more ambitious would be the ability to http/ftp binaries using xmodem/etc. But first, your input would be appreciated: Does such a system exist already? Is the source available? For what platforms? Is there anyone who would be interested in using such a product/service? I guess what I'm asking is if there are others who would like to log on to a "classic" BBS using a "classic" computer but still have access to the wealth of information and software on the internet... Any thoughts on platform/environment? Language? My first impulse is Linux, written in C. But I also do Windows, and some other languages too. Anyone want to collaborate on something like this? My time is rarely my own, so this would take me a long, long time to do myself. But it seems like it'd be an interesting project, so I don't mind at all. Thanks for listening to a groggy man's ranting. I'm going back to bed now...