Corporate File sharing

Is it possible to give others access to files on our server via the internet? We currently have many remote users who are using VPN to access files on our WinNT server. However, even on a high speed connection retrieving files is slow. We’ve had consultants recommmend going to a Citrix system to host our shared files, however I do not believe a $80K unit is the best solution for our small office of 36 users /15 of which are remote.

In this day of Napster which transfers files as large as 5 megs easily, isn’t there a way transfer small word and excel files?

Any ideas?