[ih] AT&T, carterfone, the 103, and why didnt BBSs start earlier?

[vint at google.com (Vint Cerf)]

I thought the bell modems were pretty expensive for residential users?

v

On Aug 13, 2009, at 3:08 PM, Johnny RYAN wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> This is my first posting to this list. It's a question about the Bell
> 103 modem in 1962 and Carterfone
>
> If AT&T sold modems commercially since 1962 (the 103 modem), why was
> the carterfone decision so important? I understand that the
> introduction of the Hayes modem prompted Christensen to write XMODEM
> and set the scene for the BBSs - but does anybody recall why these
> things could not have happened with the Bell 103 from1962 on? Was the
> 103 just intended for subscribers of expensive leased lines such as
> corporations or universities?
>
> Best wishes to you all,
>
> Johnny
>
>
> --
> My Next Book... http://johnnyryan.wordpress.com/books/net- 
> history-2010/