GC: PSO 1&2 and PSO+... one in the same?

[QuickFix]

I'm wondering if anyone on here knows some the answers to my lovely questions?

I have a friend who is thinking about getting PSO+ (he just got into PSO from playing offline split screen with me on ep 1&2) and I'm wondering if we're going to be able to play together both online and off with the two different versions? I saw some talk about the ability to convert your characters from ep 1&2 to +, but that doesn't really apply to us and I have no plans to convert my guys over to the new version.

So are the games compatable? I'm assuming so as it would be kinda retarded for them not to be... (but you never know) Any info would help. Thanks.

[Tycho]

Yes, you can.
It's not like plus is getting it's own servers or anything.

[QuickFix]

Cool, thanks.

... now we only have to wait another 3 weeks or so to start playing since it got delayed.