What does Minitel mean in French?
noun. An interactive videotex system sponsored by the French government, in which computer terminals are linked together via the telephone network.
What was the Internet before the Internet?
ARPANet
Remember the Internet started as ARPANet, a military and research network. By the early 90s, it had expanded, but it was still not open to most people and commercial traffic was forbidden.
What is the name of the French national telephone company?
France Telecom SA, French telecommunications company, formerly with a monopoly status. Headquarters are in Paris. The company provides fixed-line and wireless voice and data services, cable television, and telecommunications services for businesses.
Do the majority of French people still have a Minitel?
The surprise is that the network has lasted so long. There are still 810,000 Minitel terminals in France, mostly used by older people who dislike computers. There are still 1,800 services available through Minitel, although most people these days contact them (final indignity) through the internet.
When did internet start in France?
1994
Internet in France has been available to the general public since 1994, but widespread Internet use did not take off until the mid-2000s. As of 31 December 2014, France had 26 million Internet broadband and high-speed connections on fixed networks.
What are the mobile networks in France?
French mobile operators
- Bouygues Télécom.
- Free Mobile.
- La Poste Mobile.
- Lebara Mobile.
- Lycamobile.
- Orange.
- Prixtel.
- Réglo Mobile.
Did the French create the Internet?
At the end of the 1990s, nine million terminals were linked to some 25,000 Minitel services. So the French invented the internet? No, not exactly. Of two ideas launched in France in 1981-82, it was the seemingly backward-looking one – the TGV – which seduced the world.
What is Minitel 1?
Minitel 1. Built 1982 The Minitel was a videotex online service accessible through telephone lines, and was the world’s most successful online service prior to the World Wide Web. It was invented in Cesson-Sévigné, near Rennes in Brittany, France .
What is the Minitel service in France?
France Télécom retired the service on 30 June 2012. Officially TELETEL, the name Minitel is abbreviated from the French title of Médium interactif par numérisation d’information téléphonique (Interactive medium for digitized information by telephone).
How much did France Télécom make from Minitel in 1985?
In 1985 France Télécom earned 620 million francs (approximately $70 million) from Minitel. 2,000 private companies earned 289 million francs (about $35 million) during the year; Libération earned 2.5 million francs (about $300,000) from the service in September.
Was Minitel a success or failure?
Minitel was a huge success. With free terminals at home or work, people in France could connect to more than 25,000 online services long before the world wide web had even been invented. Many services of the dotcom-and-app eras had precursors in 1980s France.