Part V: Commercial Systems

A Commercial Information Service consists of a large computer or network of computers set up to accept calls via modem. Users call in to the system to send and pick up messages, or exchange files, just as with a BBS. The difference is, while BBSs are small, low-cost, (frequently free) and available only in one or a very few calling areas, information services are quite large, charge for the use of their services, and are usually available across a country, or even around the world.

Because of their widespread presence, in the past information services were the best way of gaining access to E-mail for people who moved around a lot, because most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) were restricted to a small geographic area. However, the consolidation in the Internet market (as large ISPs buy up smaller ones), the appearance of nation-wide (or larger) Internet services offered by telephone companies, and the development of "roaming" agreements between ISPs are making it easier to have Internet access on the road.

America OnLine
CompuServe
Delphi
Ecunet
GEnie
Prodigy

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