Alex (videotex service)

Alex (videotex service)

in market research from 1988 to 1990 and thence to the general public until 1994.

The "Alextel" terminal rented to customers was a NAPLPS terminal with CRT, attached keyboard, and a 1200 bit/s modem for use on regular phone lines. In 1991 proprietary software was released for IBM PCs that allowed computer users to access the network.

The system operated in the same fashion as Minitel, whereby users connected to various content providers. The most popular (and most expensive) sites were chat rooms. Using the service could cost as much as 0.30 C$ per minute, and many users terminated their subscription upon receiving their first invoice.

The advent of the World Wide Web contributed to making this service obsolete. On 1994-04-29, Bell Canada sent a letter to its customers announcing that the service would be terminated on 1994-06-03. In that letter, Mr. T.E. Graham, then Director of Business Planning for Bell Advanced Communications, stated that "Quite simply, the ALEX network is not the right vehicle, nor the appropriate technology, at this time to deliver the information goods needed in our fast-paced society."

The "Alextel" terminal is reportedly usable as a dumb terminal for VT100 emulation.

References

* Serge Proulx (1991). The Videotex Industry in Québec: The Difficulties of Mass Marketing Telematics.

* David Leibold, "ALEX Service Starting in Toronto, Montreal", message <4727@accuvax.nwu.edu> posted to comp.dcom.telecom on 1990-03-04

* Dave Leibold, "Bell Canada Alex Videotex Service Officially Closing", message posted to comp.dcom.telecom on 1994-05-10.

* Jakub Dalek, "Re: Terminal Woes (AlexTel)", message <7846b2d8.0306250727.69c660e2@posting.google.com> posted to comp.terminals on 2003-06-25


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Videotex — (or interactive videotex ) was one of the earliest implementations of an end user information system . From the late 1970s to mid 1980s, it was used to deliver information (usually pages of text) to a user in computer like format, typically to be …   Wikipedia

  • Minitel — 1. Built 1982 The Minitel is a Videotex online service accessible through the telephone lines, and is considered one of the world s most successful pre World Wide Web online services. It was launched in France in 1982 by the PTT (Poste, Téléphone …   Wikipedia

  • History of virtual learning environments 1990s — In the history of virtual learning environments, the 1990s was a time of growth, primarily due to advent of the affordable computer and of the Internet.1990s1990* Formal Systems Inc. of Princeton, NJ, USA introduces a DOS based Assessment… …   Wikipedia

  • Tesco — For other uses, see Tesco (disambiguation). Coordinates: 51°42′18.89″N 0°1′36.37″W / 51.7052472°N 0.0267694°W / 51.7052472; 0.0267694 …   Wikipedia

  • Netscape — For the web browser produced by this corporation, see Netscape (web browser). Netscape Communications Type Subsidiary of AOL Industry Internet, Software, Telecommunication Founded 1994 Headquarters Mountain View, California, United States (as an… …   Wikipedia

  • Annuaire téléphonique — Un annuaire téléphonique est un registre (sur support papier ou électronique) listant des inscriptions comprenant le nom, adresse et numéros de téléphone. La diffusion de son contenu est soumise à certaines directives permettant de garantir le… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Salle de marchés — Une salle de(s) marchés est une salle où sont rassemblés les opérateurs de marché intervenant sur les marchés financiers. Salle des marchés de RVS L usage désigne souvent la salle des marchés par le terme de front office. Les pays anglo saxons et …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Telephone directory — Phone book and White pages redirect here. For a contact list, see Contact list. For other uses, see White pages (disambiguation). Gothenburg telephone directory, 1928. A telephone directory (also called a telephone book, phone book and… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”