Alex was a pioneering videotex service that revolutionized the way people accessed information. It was launched in 1979 in the UK.
The service allowed users to access a vast database of information, including news, weather, and sports updates, using a special terminal connected to a phone line. This was a game-changer at the time.
Users could interact with the system by selecting options from a menu, making it a user-friendly experience. The service was widely popular in the UK and other European countries.
One of the key features of Alex was its ability to send and receive messages, making it a precursor to modern-day email services.
History
The Alex terminal and online service was born out of competitive pressure from France's Minitel, which had expanded into the Quebec market in April 1988.
Bell Canada quickly organized their own version and received approval from the CRTC to offer the online service as of November 1988, making it a relatively new service at the time.
The cost of using the service was quite high, with a Minitel terminal costing $25 per month to rent or a one-time payment of $600, and $15 per hour of usage on top.
An Alextel terminal, on the other hand, was $7.95 a month to rent, but services cost up to $40 an hour, still a significant expense.
The advent of the World Wide Web in 1994 marked the beginning of the end for the Alex network, which was deemed not the right vehicle to deliver information goods in a fast-paced society.
Bell Canada sent a letter to its customers announcing that the service would be terminated on June 3, 1994, effectively ending the Alex network's life.
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Videotex Terminal
ALEX videotex terminals were released to the public in 1988.
These terminals included a CRT monitor attached to a keyboard with eight extra function keys, and a phone. The screen and keyboard fold up and include additional spots to plug in peripherals such as card readers or printers.
ALEX terminals could be modified with ALEX emulation software packages for other PCs.
Users could dial into a Videotex Access Point using the Bell telecommunications network to send and receive messages.
The charges for extensive calls were a major frustration, with rates as high as CA $0.30 per minute.
This was particularly problematic for users who participated in chat rooms.
Alex (Videotex Service)
The Alex videotex service was launched in the early 1990s, and it was a NAPLPS terminal with a CRT, attached keyboard, and a 1200 bit/s modem for use on regular phone lines.
This terminal was rented to customers and allowed them to access various content providers, including chat rooms, which were the most popular and expensive sites.
The service operated similarly to Minitel, where users connected to various content providers and paid per minute, with costs reaching as high as 0.30 C$ per minute.
Many users terminated their subscription upon receiving their first invoice, which suggests that the pricing model may not have been very appealing to customers.
Additional reading: Internet Service Providers Association (United Kingdom)
In 1991, proprietary software was released for IBM PCs that allowed computer users to access the network.
The advent of the World Wide Web contributed to making the Alex service obsolete, with Bell Canada announcing the termination of the service in 1994.
The "Alextel" terminal is reportedly usable as a dumb terminal for VT100 emulation.
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