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Alex (videotex service)

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Alex
Alex videotex terminal
DeveloperNorthern Telecom
TypeVideotex
Launch dateDecember 5, 1988; 35 years ago (December 5, 1988) (Montreal)
1990 (Toronto)
DiscontinuedJune 3, 1994; 30 years ago (June 3, 1994)
Platform(s)Minitel
StatusDiscontinued
Members32,000 (1991)

Alex was an interactive videotex information service offered by Bell Canada in market research[1] from 1988 to 1990[2][3] and thence to the general public until 1994.

The Alextel terminal was based on the French Minitel terminals, built by Northern Telecom and leased to customers for $7.95/month. It consisted of a CRT display, attached keyboard, and a 1200 bit/s modem for use on regular phone lines.[4] In 1991 proprietary software was released for IBM PCs that allowed computer users to access the network. Communications on the Alex network was via DATAPAC X.25 protocol.[5]

The system operated in the same fashion as Minitel, whereby users connected to various content providers over the X.25 network and thus access was normally through a local telephone number. The most popular (and most expensive) sites were chat rooms. Using the service could cost as much as CA$0.3 per minute. Also offered was an electronic white pages and yellow pages directory.[6] Many users terminated their subscription upon receiving their first invoice.[7] One subscriber racked up a monthly fee of over C$2,000 spending most of his online time in chat.[7]

History

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The motivation to develop the Alex terminal and online service came from competitive pressure from France's Minitel, which had expanded into the Quebec market[8] in April 1988.[9] Bell Canada quickly organized their own version and received approval from the CRTC to offer the online service as of November 1988.[6] Both services were expensive. A Minitel terminal cost $25 per month to rent or a one-time payment of $600, and $15 per hour of usage on top. An Alextel terminal was $7.95 a month to rent, but services cost up to $40 an hour.[9]

The advent of the World Wide Web contributed to making this service obsolete. On April 29, 1994, Bell Canada sent a letter to its customers announcing that the service would be terminated on June 3, 1994.[10] 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 also usable as a dumb terminal for VT100 emulation.[4]

Further reading

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  • Proulx, Serge (1991). "The Videotex Industry in Québec: The Difficulties of Mass Marketing Telematics". Canadian Journal of Communication. Université du Québec à Montréal. 16 (3). ISSN 1499-6642

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Telecom Decision CRTC 88-16". crtc.gc.ca. 1988-09-30.
  2. ^ Conhaim, Wallys W. (February 1989). "Bell Canada Launches Major Consumer Videotex Trial in Montreal". Information Today. 6 (2): 23. Archived from the original on 2020-03-21. Retrieved 2020-03-22.
  3. ^ David Leibold (March 4, 1990). "ALEX Service Starting in Toronto, Montreal". Newsgroup: comp.dcom.telecom. Usenet: 4727@accuvax.nwu.edu. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Jakub Dalek (June 23, 2003). "Terminal woes". Newsgroup: comp.terminals. Usenet: 7846b2d8.0306231744.6acef5a0@posting.google.com. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  5. ^ Suen, Ching Y.; Shinghal, Rajjan (2014). Operational Expert System Applications in Canada. Elsevier. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-4832-9570-1.
  6. ^ a b "Telecom Public Notice CRTC 1988-46". crtc.gc.ca. 1988-11-15.
  7. ^ a b Birk, Dieter (October 1990). "ALEX Users Are Shocked By Gigantic Phone Bills". Toronto Computes!. ConText Publishing Inc.
  8. ^ Fennell, Tom (March 14, 1988). "Showdown in Montreal". Maclean's. 101 (12): 44–45.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ a b Chapdelaine, Benoît (31 May 1988). "Minitel and Alex conquer Quebec homes". Hebdo-Science.
  10. ^ David Leibold (May 10, 1994). "Bell Canada Alex Videotex Service Officially Closing". Newsgroup: comp.dcom.telecom. Usenet: telecom14.210.8@eecs.nwu.edu. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
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