Micronet 800

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Micronet 800
Micronet800-logo.png
Micronet 800 logo
Developer
  • Telemap
  • Prism Microproducts
  • ECC Publications
Key people
  • Richard Hease
  • Bob Denton
  • David Babsky
TypeInformation and services provider on Prestel videotex service
Launch dateMarch 1983;42 years ago (1983-03)
DiscontinuedOctober 1991;33 years ago (1991-10)
StatusDiscontinued
Membersc. 25,000 at peak [a]
Pricing modelSubscription (quarterly) and usage (time spent on system, some telesoftware, some messaging service actions)
AvailabilityClosed user group

Micronet 800 was a provider of information and communication services hosted on Prestel, a British videotex service, from 1983 to 1991. It targeted the UK home computer market and operated as an online, subscription-based magazine and database. Subscribers also received Log On, a print quarterly. [2]

Contents

Micronet 800 offered computer-related news, reviews of hardware, software, and videogames, access to turn-based and real-time multiplayer games (MUDs), downloadable telesoftware, chatrooms and bulletin boards, business and personal finance advice, and email, telex, and other forms of messaging. [3] In addition, a group, club, or individual could rent space on the database. [4]

A subscriber connected to Micronet 800 via the Prestel network using an ordinary phoneline (typically at local call rates) [b] and a microcomputer equipped with a modem. [c] If their microcomputer had not been set up to access Micronet’s home page automatically, they entered *800# to do so.

History

Origin

Micronet 800 stemmed from the development by Bob Denton, in 1980 and 1981, of Electronic Insight, a features and price-comparison site on Prestel listing computers, calculators and other electronic and IT products. Its entry-point was page 800. [8]

In 1982, Electronic Insight was acquired by Telemap, the videotex arm of EMAP (East Midland Allied Press), on the recommendation of Richard Hease, the owner of ECC Publications: EMAP had just bought several computer magazines from him. [9] : 154 

Telemap, formed in 1981, was at that time an information provider on Prestel. [10] EMAP asked Hease to look into the future viability of Telemap's Prestel presence. In Hease's words, "I thought the only way Prestel was going to work was to make it possible to link micros into it and develop a database micro users would want." [11] : 185  In autumn 1982, Hease and Denton negotiated a deal with British Telecom that provided substantial investment and positioned Micronet 800 as a key part of a new plan by Prestel for attracting residential users. [12] The Department of Trade and Industry provided additional financial backing. [11] : 185  The arrangement included the free installation for subscribers of a phone jack-socket in which to plug a modem. [13] [14]

Development

Telemap was responsible for Micronet 800 and the editorial development of the site.

Prism Microproducts [d] developed the modems needed to make Micronet 800 pages accessible by a variety of home computers. These included the Apple II, ZX81, BBC Micro, Dragon 32/64, IBM PC, PET, ZX Spectrum, Sinclair QL, Lynx, VIC-20, and Commodore 64. [15] Prism's modems ranged from a simple acoustic coupler to integrated network interface controllers, and included the VTX 5000, custom-designed for the ZX Spectrum. [16]

From 1985, prospective Micronet subscribers were sent a list of other modem suppliers. [17] That same year, Prism went into receivership and Telemap purchased their modem stock. In 1986, in a bid to increase take-up, Micronet 800 offered a free modem to new users subscribing for a year. [18]

Growth

In March 1983, at the launch of the service, the first subscriber was Jeremy Dredge, an estate agent. There were over 2000 subscriptions during the first two months of Micronet 800, [11] : 187  rising to over 4000 by October. [19]

Just over a year later, in November 1984, the figure had grown to more than 9000, with subscribers to Micronet accounting for nearly 60% of Prestel's residential users. [20] Franchises to run Micronet were given to the Hong Kong Telephone Company and the Swedish PTT. [21] The Micronet news editor stated that in December that year, 1.1 million accesses per week were made to the Micronet database. [22]

By January 1986, there were 18,000 subscribers, [23] : 132  with 20,000 declared in an advertisement by Micronet published in July that same year. [24] 25,000 subscribers and a database of 35,000 pages were reported [1] [25] when Micronet was relaunched under new management in mid-1988. [26]

Looking back some decades later, David Babsky, Micronet 800's founding editor, observed that: [9] : 157 

What we found was that there was a high churn rate ... So we kept getting lots of new people, but at the same time about a third of the people we had disappeared.

Incorporation in Prestel Microcomputing

In May 1984, as one of several specialised services launched on Prestel at the time, British Telecom set up Prestel Microcomputing. [27] This incorporated services from Micronet 800 and the information providers Viewfax 258 (a magazine similar in scope to Micronet 800) [28] and Clubspot 810 (run by ACC, the Association of Amateur Computer Clubs). [29]

Acquisition by British Telecom

In 1985, Bell Canada bought a 20% share in Telemap, and British Telecom acquired a 25% stake. [30] British Telecom became the majority shareholder in 1987, initially managing the company as part of BT Spectrum, its Value Added Services Group, before transferring it to BT Prestel. In 1989, British Telecom acquired the entire company. [31] It moved it to Dialcom House in Apsley, near Hemel Hempstead, and folded the business first into the Dialcom Group (along with BT Prestel and Telecom Gold), and then into BT Managed Network Services.

Closure

British Telecom closed Micronet 800 on 31 October 1991. [32] A letter to members stated that "With over 10,000 members, Micronet is easily the largest online service in the UK specialising in microcomputing. However, it is still not large enough to enable us to maintain a cost-effective service and provide the extra facilities requested by our customers." [33] The figure of 10,000 was less than 10% of what was predicted shortly after launch. [15] The letter included a free introductory membership to CompuServe, suggested as "[An] excellent alternative to the many products and services provided by Micronet."

Membership had decreased from a peak of around 25,000. [1] The Guardian attributed the decline to the introduction in mid-1988 of an off-peak Prestel time-charge discouraging the use of the "Chatlines" service. [34] The Times agreed, and also pointed to a steep rise in subscription charges, opining that "BT's failure to provide even this committed group with an economic ... service means that Prestel is destined ... for businesses." [35]

Services provided

Printed on Micronet 800 headed paper, this page from the science fiction section of the database shows an entry to a story competition, c. 1985 Micronet800page.jpg
Printed on Micronet 800 headed paper, this page from the science fiction section of the database shows an entry to a story competition, c. 1985

Directories and guides

Micronet 800 had an A–Z online index, published a directory in its Log On print magazine, [36] and distributed a guide for users containing a London Tube-style map of the database. [37]

Chatlines

A form of chatroom, Chatlines began in late 1984 as a single online chat service where users could post messages that other users could read and respond to. It was described in the vocabulary of the time as a "Citizens' Band (CB) emulator". [38] A year later, Chatlines was divided into six special-interest sections and moved to a mainframe computer. [39]

By 1986, eight Chatlines were available: two so-called "Daisychats", each composed of a continuous loop of linked videotex frames where, once full, the newest posting overwrote the oldest; and six online forums, where postings were archived. The forums, known as "lines", included ones for politics and religion (the latter was monitored), "Gay Chatline", and a weekly "Celebrity Chatline" (launched in 1985), [40] which operated like a phone-in  –users posted questions to a celebrity, [e] who would answer them during an interview by a Micronet editor. [23] : 127 

In June 1990, British Telecom suspended Chatlines. [41] Micronet stated that sporadic monitoring had not prevented abuse of the service, and that it would investigate how to operate Chatlines in a "fully monitored" way in future, though without committing to a reinstatement. [42] In the event, Chatlines did not return. A year later, Micronet introduced a moderated "Line Noise" forum. [43]

Teleconferencing

DialTalk (briefly "TeleTalk"), a teleconferencing service, opened in 1988. A user could hold live conferences or discussions with up to sixty-three other users in one of 30 "rooms", and convene breakaway or private meetings in other vacant rooms. [25] : 29 col 2 

Downloadable software

In return for a fee or royalties, Micronet 800 encouraged individuals, amateur computer groups and software companies to supply programs that could be stored on Micronet's 800 telesoftware database and downloaded by subscribers. [44]

Originally, about half of the programs were free, with the rest available at discounts of around 15% or more. [25] : 29  In early 1989, however, Micronet abandoned paid-for telesoftware and began supplying programs free of charge via a Prestel gateway. [45] Microcomputers for which programs were made available included the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, BBC Micro, IBM PC, and Spectrum. [46]

When Micronet 800 launched in 1983, providers of programs on Prestel were using a protocol drawn up by the UK's Council for Educational Technology (CET) [47] [48] after consulting British Telecom, microcomputer manufacturers, users, and educational software agencies. [49] [f] In early 1991, Micronet issued FCET, a revised version of the CET format, that much decreased download times. [51]

Micro Arts, creators of computer art in text and graphic form, [52] published articles and downloadable programs on Micronet 800 from 1985 onwards. [53]

Games

The longest-running online game on Micronet 800 was Starnet, a turn-based game, with players sending in moves [g] that would be executed once a day. [54] Micronet 800 also hosted Shades, one of the first real-time multiplayer games. [55] Other multiplayer games offered included The Round Britain Yacht Race, [56] Trash ("The game puts you in the role of a pan-dimensional dustman"), and Casino, which featured simulations of slot machines and games such as roulette, blackjack, keno, baccarat, and poker. [57]

Email

Each Prestel user had a unique Mailbox number –usually derived from the last nine digits of their phone number –that was used to address and send messages to others on Prestel. Reportedly, Micronet 800 subscribers were particularly enthusiastic about the medium, sending twice as many Mailbox messages as regular Prestel users. [22]

In 1984, Mailbox was connected to the telex system via Prestel's Telex Link: telexes could be sent and received like standard messages. [58] From mid-1987, Micronet's "Interlink" facility offered subscribers direct access to the Telecom Gold email, chat, and information service. [59] [60]

Magazines

Micronet created separate online magazines –"micromags" – for owners of a range of popular home computers, [h] adapting its offering according to levels of ownership of particular models [62] and market developments. [25] : 28 

Bizznet, the first non-microcomputer section in Micronet's database, launched in 1986 with guidance for small businesses on accounting, law, tax, insurance, and finance. [63] In 1988, it was renamed Money Xtra [64] and refocused on personal finance, [65] providing consumer, financial, and tax advice, together with a legal advisory service. [66]

Xtra!, described as a leisure magazine, also began in 1986, and contained music reviews, analysis of current affairs, restaurant and bar reviews, and letters from users. [67] Separate sections covered TV and radio (Waveguide), [68] and consumer electronics (Voltage).

Computers, music, and MIDI-music were the subject of MidiSpot, [69] which incorporated Micronet's earlier Music City magazine, launched in 1988. [70]

This was an area of the database where, for a fee, users could rent pages and publish anything they wished, subject to monitoring by Micronet for instances of libel or obscenity. [4]

Personnel

Management
Richard Hease (co-founder 1982–1983) [12]  –Bob Denton (co-founder 1982–1983) [12]  –Tim Schoonmaker (managing director 1983–1986) [21]  –Tom Baird (managing director 1987) [59]  –John Tomany (managing director 1988–1990) [26]  –Michael Weatherseed (general manager 1990–1991)[ citation needed ]
Editors
David Babsky (founding editor) [71]  –Simon D'Arcy (later, publisher) [72]  –Sid Smith [72]  –Francis Jago (managing editor) [26]  –Paul Needs [36] : 3  –Ian Burley [36] : 3  – Barbara Conway
Other editorial staff
Ken Young (journalist) –Adam Denning (technical editor) –David Rosenbaum (news and music editor) [65]  –Chris Bourne (Sunday Xtra editor) – Paul Vigay (Acorn editor) [36] : 3  –Chris Lewis (Sinclair editor) – Rupert Goodwins (editorial assistant) – Afshin Rattansi (music and arts journalist) –David Farmbrough (music journalist)[ citation needed ]
Production
Robin Wilkinson (software manager) [11] : 315  –Val Burgess (telesoftware database manager) –Mike Brown (technical manager) [11] : 187  –Richard Tyner (software sales and acquisition) –John Mason (software testing and pricing) –John Prout (technical helpdesk) –Denise Shemuel (editorial database manager) –Colin Morgan –Roger Cracknell –Gary Smith –Robert O'Donnell –Patrick Reilly –Daemonn Brody [36] : 6  –Denise Slater (graphics designer, telesoftware pages) –Anna Smith (editorial graphics designer) –Sharon Giles[ citation needed ]
Marketing
Ian Rock (marketing manager) [56]  –Peter Probert (public relations manager) [72]  –Phil Godsell (product manager) [44]  –Lynne Thomas (promotions manager) [73]  –Claire Walker (advertising and public relations executive) [40]  –Lynne Bennett (marketing executive)[ citation needed ]
Other contributors
Steve Gold  – Robert Schifreen  –David Janda[ citation needed ] –Richard Poynder, Bizznet editor [31]

In the run-up to Micronet 800's launch in March 1983, staff worked out of EMAP's offices in Hatton Garden in London. [74] Subsequently, editorial staff were based in London's Clerkenwell. [16] Technical staff were first based in Peterborough. [75]

Quotes

"The thing that inspired me most was looking at the Gutenberg Bible, the first book to be printed using moveable type. Micronet is to communication in the 80s what that Bible was to the Middle Ages." –David Babsky (1984), Micronet 800 founding editor. [71] : 70 

"Long term, I see being able to program your computer with various names of journalists you particularly like, various sports that you have a habit of looking at, and being able to program your computer at 4 o'clock or 5 o'clock in the morning to log on to Prestel Micronet and then download very rapidly information which will then be printed out. So instead of sitting on the train in the morning with your Times, Guardian, Telegraph, or whatever, you will have a printout with all your favourite journalists, your sports pages, cartoons ... you can make up your own newspaper." –Simon D'Arcy (1986), Micronet 800 publisher. [76]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The figure reported when Micronet was relaunched in mid-1988. [1]
  2. ↑ 62% of phone subscribers could access Prestel at local call rates when Micronet 800 launched in March 1983. [5] : 129  This rose to 94% in April 1984, [6] : 3  and to 98% in February 1986. [7] : 4 
  3. ↑ A dedicated terminal or an adapted TV set with a keypad or keyboard could also be used to connect to Prestel.
  4. ↑ The distributor of Sinclair Computers in the UK.
  5. ↑ Those interviewed included Clive Sinclair, Cynthia Payne, Douglas Adams, Fatima Whitbread, Feargal Sharkey, Lord Cardigan, and Terry Pratchett.
  6. ↑ Several formats for telesoftware downloadable from Prestel and Prestel-compatible videotex systems were trialled in the early 1980s. [50]
  7. ↑ Using a "response frame", a preformatted Prestel message page.
  8. ↑ In Spring 1989, Micronet listed these as Spectrum (with a new edition issued each Monday), PC & Compatibles (Tuesday), Commodore 64/128 (Wednesday), Atari ST (Thursday), Commodore Amiga (Thursday), Amstrad CPC (Friday), and BBC Micro (Friday). [61]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Widening the Net". Your Commodore . No. 45. June 1988. p. 7. Retrieved 23 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  2. ↑ "Log On –The Magazine for Micronet Members". Archived from the original on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2025. Scroll down to Log On section and pdfs of issues 1 (July 1987), 2, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 14 (Winter 1990).
  3. ↑ "Micronet 800". Celebrating the Viewdata Revolution. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  4. 1 2 Hayward, Julian (Spring 1989). "Gallery" (PDF). Log On. No. 7. pp. 13–14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2025– via Internet Archive.
  5. ↑ Broadhead, W. R. (July 1981). "Prestel: The First Year of Public Service". Post Office Electrical Engineers' Journal . 74 (2): 129–133. Retrieved 15 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  6. ↑ "Prestel Briefing" (brochure). London: Public Relations Department, Prestel. April 1984. Issue 1.
  7. ↑ "Prestel Briefing" (brochure). London: Public Relations Department, Prestel. February 1986. Issue 4.
  8. ↑ Steele, Rupert (December 1982). "ACC News". Personal Computer World . Vol. 5, no. 12. pp. 180–181. Retrieved 2 March 2025– via Internet Archive. Also at the PCW Show was the Electronic Insight Micronet stand. This was the launch of their new Prestel subscription service, which will be a closed user group, membership of which includes a very simple Prestel adaptor. [...] Watch this space (and Electronics Insight, *800#) for more details.
  9. 1 2 Lean, Tom (2016). Electronic dreams: how 1980s Britain learned to love the computer. London: Bloomsbury Sigma. ISBN   978-1-47291-833-8. OCLC   944121056 . Retrieved 3 March 2025– via Google Books.
  10. ↑ Kelly, David (20 October 1982). "New Year sees in Prestel-linked Micronet 800 database". Popular Computing Weekly . Vol. 1, no. 28. p. 11. Retrieved 10 March 2025– via Internet Archive. Telemap gets 60,000 accesses to its pages each month from the 18,000 Prestel users which puts it into the top 20 information providers оп Prestel.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 Burton, Maggie (July 1983). "Micronet 800: an electronic magazine?". Personal Computer World . Vol. 6, no. 7. pp. 184–185, 187. Retrieved 13 March 2025– via Internet Archive. p. 187: The target for subscriptions is 12,000 by the end of the year. ... Over 2000 subscriptions in two months and a 50 per cent reply rate on promotional mailings could hardly be called a failure.
  12. 1 2 3 Johnstone, Bill (6 September 1982). "Prestel plans another offensive" . Computers and Technology. The Times. No. 61330. London. col 2, p. 13. The total Micronet 800 project is a joint venture between three private companies and British Telecom. ... £500,000 has been ear-marked by Telecom ... The chairman of all three companies is Mr Richard Hease, who approached Telecom with the scheme.
  13. ↑ Dellow, Beverley (c. 1983). "Dear Spectrum User" (PDF) (Letter from Micronet 800 to Sinclair Spectrum users). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2025– via Internet Archive. p. 1: As part of this offer, we will also supply you with a FREE jack socket installation worth £25 should you need one (see enclosed jack socket form).
  14. ↑ "Important: Do You Need A Jack Socket?" (PDF) (Form accompanying offer from Micronet 800 to potential subscribers). c. 1983. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2025– via Internet Archive. p. 2: [T]he cost of installation [of a] jack socket will be included in the adaptor package price ... if you apply through Micronet 800.
  15. 1 2 "Netting personal computer users through Prestel" (PDF). Viewdata & TV User. Vol. 5, no. 1. January 1983. p. 8. ISSN   0260-6984. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2025– via Internet Archive. Special adaptors which allow the computers to link to Prestel are being made for the popular computers like Sinclair, Apple, BBC and Commodore.
  16. 1 2 Adams, Stephen (November 1983). "Adaptor opens up the Micronet world". Sinclair User . No. 20. pp. 56–57. ISSN   0262-5458. p. 57: Micronet 800 is at Scriptor Court, 155 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3AD. Note: staff later moved to 8 Herbal Hill in the same area.
  17. ↑ Ruse, Melanie (c. 1985). "Dear Micro User" (PDF) (Letter accompanying brochure sent to prospective Micronet 800 subscribers). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  18. ↑ Bird, Jane (29 June 1986). "Prestel offer boxes clever". News. The Sunday Times. No. 8447. p. 63. Gale   FP1801731116. Peter Probert ... has bought 10,000 modems, ... and is giving them away free to anyone who takes out a year's subscription to Micronet ... 'It's crazy,' says Probert, marketing manager of Micronet. 'We're not in the business of selling hardware. We just sell an information service. But we can't wait forever for Prestel to be innovative.'
  19. ↑ Tootill, Peter (January 1984). "Micronet adaptors". Personal Computer World . Vol. 7, no. 8. p. 260 col 3. Retrieved 13 March 2025– via Internet Archive. I hear that, at the time of writing (October [1983]), Micronet subscriptions number over 4000. While this may not be anything like as high as Micronet was forecasting 12 months ago, it is a fairly respectable number, more than many people expected[.]
  20. ↑ Tootill, Peter (November 1984). "Networks". Personal Computer World . Vol. 7, no. 11. p. 206 col 2 and fig. 1. Retrieved 13 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  21. 1 2 "The Net spreads". Popular Computing Weekly . Vol. 3, no. 9. 6–12 December 1984. p. 5. Retrieved 24 March 2025. The Swedish franchise will make Micronet available to users in Sweden, Norway and Denmark.
  22. 1 2 Smith, Sid (April 1985). "Micronet matters". Sinclair User . No. 37. p. 8. ISSN   0262-5458 – via Internet Archive. Net members proved a talkative lot ... sending twice as many mailbox messages as other Prestel users.
  23. 1 2 Bourne, Chris (January 1986). "Going On-line". Sinclair User . No. 42. pp. 126–127, 132. ISSN   0262-5458 . Retrieved 13 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  24. ↑ Micronet 800 (July 1986). "How does 20p a day turn your micro into a mainframe?". Sinclair User (full-page advert). No. 52. p. 78 col 1. ISSN   0262-5458 . Retrieved 14 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "Micronet –a new look". Commodore Computing International . Vol. 6, no. 12. July 1988. pp. 28–29, 111. Retrieved 21 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  26. 1 2 3 "The Comms Column". Acorn User . No. 71. June 1988. p. 13. Retrieved 23 March 2025. Micronet 800 has undergone a re-launch with a new managing director, John Tomany; a managing editor, Francis Jago: and a new advertising campaign. The main alterations are a general tidying up of the news and machine-specific areas, which over the past few years have grown in a rather uneven fashion.
  27. ↑ British Telecom (May 1984). ""Prestel Microcomputing will add a new dimension to your home computing"" (PDF) (Letter to Prestel subscribers). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  28. ↑ Tootill, Peter (February 1984). "Viewfax 258". Personal Computer World . Vol. 7, no. 8. p. 261. Retrieved 10 March 2025– via Internet Archive. Viewfax 258 [comprises] news and gossip from the micro world, and telesoftware. Much of it is for the BBC Micro, but other systems are supported[.]
  29. ↑ Steele, Rupert (August 1984). "ACC News". Personal Computer World . Vol. 7, no. 8. p. 211. Retrieved 10 March 2025– via Internet Archive. Microcomputing activities on Prestel are now ... in a single ... structure starting on page 456[.] Most of this material will be within a single Prestel Microcomputing CUG (Closed User Group — you'll have to subscribe before you can access the pages). Micronet and Viewfax will be two of the other participants, and ClubSpot[.]
  30. ↑ "Data bases Bell unit's stake". Globe & Mail . 21 June 1985. p. B14. Gale   A165611044. Tele-Direct Canada Inc., a unit of Bell Canada ... has bought a 20 per cent share in Telemap, a British company that runs a data base for home computers. British Telecommunications PLC has also acquired a 25 per cent stake.
  31. 1 2 "Net future secure in BT buyout" (PDF). Log On –The magazine for Micronet members. No. 9. London: Telemap. Autumn 1989. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2025– via Internet Archive.
  32. ↑ "Major network closes". Acorn User . No. 113. December 1991. p. 15. Retrieved 10 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  33. ↑ Gilbody, Sue (27 September 1991). "Micronet to close from 31st October 1991" (PDF) (letter). BT Tymnet. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 May 2012.
  34. ↑ Brown, Mike (31 October 1991). "Reaching the end of the line". The Guardian . p. 33, col 8. ProQuest   187285975.
  35. ↑ May, Matthew (3 October 1991). "Hey Prestel! A disappearing act". Science and Technology. The Times. No. 64141. London. col 1, p. 30.
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 For example, see: "Micronet Directory" (PDF). Log On. No. 7. Spring 1989. p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  37. ↑ "Your Guide to Micronet". London: Telemap. 1986. Retrieved 18 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  38. ↑ Smith, Sid (March 1985). "Microsoft matters". Sinclair User . No. 36. p. 7. ISSN   0262-5458 . Retrieved 18 March 2025– via Internet Archive. Only two months after Chatline's opening, over 15,000 messages were posted on the system during December 1984.
  39. ↑ "Net News". Electronics & Computing Monthly. June 1985. p. 57. Retrieved 18 March 2025– via Internet Archive. Chatline is already a success –registering either first or second most accessed area in the monthly Prestel survey, and publishing around 400 messages per evening.
  40. 1 2 "Micronet launches a new Chatline". Micro User . Vol. 3, no. 3. May 1985. p. 24. Retrieved 19 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  41. ↑ Janda, David (October 1990). "Chatlines suspended". Acorn User . No. 99. p. 17. Retrieved 22 March 2025– via Internet Archive. [S]ince June all chatlines have been suspended ... owing to a few people abusing them. ... [British Telecom] states that it is currently reviewing ways of monitoring the chatlines in a more efficient and effective manner. Previously, chatlines were monitored on an ad hoc basis.
  42. ↑ "Chatlines and Log On" (PDF). Log On. No. 12. Summer 1990. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 22 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  43. ↑ McKendrick, Eddie (June 1991). "Noise on the Net". Amiga Computing . No. 37. p. 135. Retrieved 22 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  44. 1 2 Godsell, Phil (October 1985). "Written any good programs lately?". Sinclair User (advert). No. 43. p. 10. ISSN   0262-5458 . Retrieved 12 March 2025– via Internet Archive. Micronet 800 are currently looking for good quality Spectrum programs to load onto our mainframes and offer direct to our thousands of members. [Y]ou'll earn a substantial fee, or top royalties[.] We'll distribute your programs as 'telesoftware' ... delivered via the phone lines to Micronet subscribers nationwide. Just send us your cassette[.]
  45. ↑ Jones, David (March 1989). "Telesoftware". ST World. No. 37. p. 98. Retrieved 21 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  46. ↑ "Telesoftware Gateway –Top 5's" (PDF). Log On. No. 7. Spring 1989. pp. 18–19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  47. ↑ Council for Educational Technology (September 1981). "Telesoftware: CET Information Sheet No. 3" (Abstract). ERIC   ED279288 . Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  48. ↑ "Format Recommendations for Prestel Telesoftware" (booklet). London: Council for Educational Technology. February 1982. Note: this document was superseded by "Format Recommendations for Prestel Telesoftware" (PDF) (booklet). London: Council for Educational Technology. June 1986. Retrieved 11 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  49. ↑ Brown, Mike (October 1981). "Prestel initiative will remove the barriers" (PDF). Practical Computing . Vol. 4, no. 10. pp. 53–54. Retrieved 11 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  50. ↑ Blower, Peter (August 1981). "Views on telesoftware display standards" (PDF). Practical Computing . Vol. 4, no. 8. pp. 100–102. Retrieved 11 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  51. ↑ Vigay, Paul (February 1991). "It's faster with Fred". Acorn User . No. 113. p. 17. Retrieved 14 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  52. ↑ Davis, Geoff (15 November 2020). "1984 Computer digital art and music". Micro Arts Group. Story Software. Retrieved 17 March 2025. The art programs were [first] distributed on data cassettes [for the] Sinclair Spectrum and Acorn BBC Micro.
  53. ↑ Kewney, Guy (October 1985). "Micro who? What a carry-on!". Personal Computer World . Vol. 8, no. 10. p. 110 col 4. Retrieved 17 March 2025– via Internet Archive. The Micro Arts database and some software is now available on Micronet (Prestel Microcomputing)[.]
  54. ↑ Bourne, Chris (Spring 1989). "Starnet" (PDF). Log On. No. 7. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2025– via Internet Archive. There are normally three moves a week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, sent in by response frame. This leaves plenty of time for plotting and organising your strategies, and to aid this Micronet provides a special chatline for Starnet players.
  55. ↑ "Micronet's Multi-user Game". Commodore Computing International . Vol. 5, no. 4. November 1986. p. 16 –launch on Micronet. "Micronet Enhances Shades". Commodore Computing International . Vol. 6, no. 7. February 1988. p. 5 –scrolling version announced. Retrieved 16 March 2025 –via Internet Archive.
  56. 1 2 "Voyage round my modem". Sinclair User . No. 43. October 1985. p. 6. ISSN   0262-5458 . Retrieved 23 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  57. ↑ Janda, David (June 1990). "A pile of trash" and "Dynamic flutter". Acorn User . No. 95. p. 17. Retrieved 23 March 2025 –via Internet Archive.
  58. ↑ British Telecom (September 1987). "Message Services". Prestel Customer Handbook. p. 8. Retrieved 20 March 2025– via Internet Archive. Telex Link enables you to send telexes worldwide, and receive them too.
  59. ↑ "Micro Magazines" (PDF). Log On. No. 7. See foot of p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  60. ↑ For example, see: "Inside the ST Micromag" (PDF). Log On. No. 10. Christmas 1989. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  61. ↑ "Bizznet new on Micronet". Acorn User . No. 42. January 1986. p. 129. Retrieved 21 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  62. ↑ Bibby, Andrew (August 1988). "Down to Business". 8000 Plus . No. 23. p. 30, "Comms çi, comms ça". Retrieved 21 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  63. 1 2 "Micronet set for carve-up". Acorn User . No. 69. April 1988. p. 9. Retrieved 21 March 2025– via Internet Archive. The Bizznet section, originally aimed at small businesses, is being renamed and revamped into a personal finance section.
  64. ↑ "Online Law with Legal Eagle" (PDF). Log On. No. 9. Autumn 1989. pp. 5–6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  65. ↑ Bourne, Chris (Winter 1989). "Xtra –Read All About It" (PDF). Log On. Vol. 2, no. 2. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  66. ↑ Bourne, Chris (Summer 1990). "Four Years On the Box" (PDF). Log On. No. 12. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  67. ↑ "MidiSpot moves to Micronet" (PDF). Log On. No. 11. Spring 1990. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  68. ↑ Janda, David (February 1988). "The Net Gets Musical". Your Commodore . Vol. 4, no. 5. pp. 13–14. Retrieved 21 March 2025– via Internet Archive. p. 14: Micronet ... is inviting submissions from all subscribers, and if the tune is good enough you'll get paid for it as well.
  69. 1 2 Bourne, Chris (November 1984). "The Micronet Story". Sinclair User . No. 32. pp. 65, 70. ISSN   0262-5458 – via Internet Archive.
  70. 1 2 3 Probert, Peter (April 1986). "Dear Member" (PDF) (Letter to Micronet 800 subscribers). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  71. ↑ "A day in the life of ..." (PDF). Log On. No. 2. Autumn 1987. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2025– via Internet Archive.
  72. ↑ Micronet 800 (December 1982). "More ideas than a think-tank. More programs than a software house. Less money than you'd expect". Sinclair User (Double-page advert). No. 9. pp. 16–17. ISSN   0262-5458. p. 17: Send to: Micronet 800, Petersham House, 57a Hatton Garden, London ECIB IDT [coupon text]. Retrieved 14 March 2025  –via Internet Archive.
  73. ↑ Micronet 800 (July 1983). "Dock your games software into Britain's largest home-user database ... one cassette reaches thousands of enthusiasts". Sinclair User (Full-page advert). No. 16. p. 76. ISSN   0262-5458. Send your disk or cassette, together with the coupon to Micronet 800 [at] Bushfield House, Orton Centre, Peterborough PE2 0UW
  74. ↑ D'Arcy, Simon (February 1986). "Micro Live 17th Feb 1986 part 3". Micro Live (TV broadcast). Quote starts at 07:02. BBC2 . Retrieved 4 March 2025– via Internet Archive. This is a segment from season 2, episode 15: "Long-Distance Information", first aired on 14 February 1986. The interviewer is Andrew Neil.

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