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Micronet 800
Logo of Micronet 800
Micronet 800 logo
Developer
  • Telemap
  • Prism Microproducts
  • ECC Publications
Key people
  • Richard Hease
  • Bob Denton
  • David Babsky
TypeInformation and services provider on Prestel videotex service
Launch dateMarch 1983; 42 years ago (1983-03)
DiscontinuedOctober 1991; 33 years ago (1991-10)
StatusDiscontinued
Membersc. 25,500 at peak
Pricing modelSubscription (quarterly) and usage (time spent on system, some telesoftware, some messaging service actions)
AvailabilityClosed user group

Micronet 800 was an information provider (IP) on Prestel, aimed at the 1980s personal computer market in the United Kingdom. It was an online magazine that gave subscribers computer-related news, reviews, general subject articles and downloadable telesoftware.[1][2] Subscribers also received Log On, a print magazine.[3]

Users would log on to the Prestel network (which was usually a local call) and then access the Micronet 800 home page by entering *800# (hence the name) on their modem or computer.

History

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The name Micronet 800 derives from its home page, 800, on the BT Prestel videotext service.

Origin

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Micronet 800 stemmed from the development by Bob Denton, in 1980 and 1981, of Electronic Insight, a features and price-comparison site on Prestel listing computers, calculators and other electronic and IT products. Its entry-point was page 800.[4]

In 1982, Electronic Insight was acquired by Telemap, the videotex arm of EMAP (East Midland Allied Press), on the recommendation of Richard Hease, the owner of ECC Publications: EMAP had just bought several computer magazines from him.[5]: 154 

Telemap, formed in 1981, was at that time an information provider on Prestel.[6] EMAP asked Hease to look into the future viability of Telemap's Prestel presence. In Hease's words, "I thought the only way Prestel was going to work was to make it possible to link micros into it and develop a database micro users would want."[7]: 185  In autumn 1982, Hease and Denton negotiated a deal with British Telecom that provided substantial investment and positioned Micronet 800 as a key part of a new plan by Prestel for attracting residential users.[8] The Department of Trade and Industry provided additional financial backing.[7]: 185  The arrangement included the free installation for subscribers of a phone jack-socket in which to plug a modem.[9][10]

Development

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The Telemap editorial staff was first based at 8 Herbal Hill, Clerkenwell, London (after the preliminary discussions and presentation at EMAP's offices in Hatton Garden), and the technical staff in an EMAP building in Peterborough. In 1986 the technical staff moved down to the London building.[citation needed]

Telemap was to be responsible for Micronet 800 and the editorial development of the site. Prism Microproducts, the distributor of Sinclair Computers in the UK, was charged with developing the modems needed to ensure that Micronet 800's pages could be accessed by a variety of home computers, including the Apple II, ZX81, BBC Micro, Dragon 32/64, IBM PC, PET, ZX Spectrum, Sinclair QL, Lynx, VIC-20, and Commodore 64.[11]

Telesoftware

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Several formats for telesoftware downloadable from Prestel and Prestel-compatible videotex systems were trialled in the early 1980s.[12] By the time Micronet 800 was launched, providers of programs on Prestel were using a format drawn up by the UK's Council for Educational Technology (CET)[13][14] after consulting British Telecom, microcomputer manufacturers, users, and educational software agencies.[15]

Micronet 800 negotiated with individuals, amateur computer groups and software companies to provide CET-format programs that could be uploaded to and downloadable from the Micronet 800 site. About half the programs were free.[citation needed]

Modems

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Prism developed a range of modems – from a simple acoustic coupler to integrated network interface controllers – suitable for different makes of home computer. Their models included the VTX5000, the only modem custom-designed for the ZX Spectrum,[16] and the more general-purpose Modem 1000 and Modem 2000.

From 1985, when Telemap realised that Prism was preoccupied with its Sinclair computer distribution agency and in marketing its own Wren microcomputer,[17] prospective Micronet subscribers were sent a list of other modem suppliers.[18] Prism went into receivership in 1985 and Telemap purchased their modem stock. In 1986, in a bid to increase take-up, Micronet 800 offered a free modem to new users subscribing for a year.[19]

Subscribers

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Some 25,000 subscribers were eventually signed up to Micronet 800 to make it the largest CUG, Closed User Group, on Prestel; its total user base peaked at 90,000. Micronet achieved over 1.1 million page views a week.[citation needed] Its first subscriber was Jeremy Dredge, an estate agent.[7]: 187  Its 10,000th subscriber was Tom Corcoran, a director of BBC television's Top of the Pops.[citation needed]

Incorporation in Prestel Microcomputing

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In May 1984, as one of several specialised services launched on Prestel at the time, British Telecom set up Prestel Microcomputing.[20] This incorporated services from Micronet 800 and the information providers Viewfax 258 (a magazine similar in scope to Micronet 800)[21] and Clubspot 810 (run by ACC, the Association of Amateur Computer Clubs).[22]

Acquisition by British Telecom

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In 1985, Bell Canada bought a 20% share in Telemap, and British Telecom acquired a 25% stake.[23] British Telecom became the majority shareholder in 1987, initially managing the company as part of BT Spectrum, its Value Added Services Group, before transferring it to BT Prestel. In 1989, British Telecom acquired the entire company.[24] It moved it to Dialcom House in Apsley, near Hemel Hempstead, and folded the business first into the Dialcom Group (along with BT Prestel and Telecom Gold), and then into BT Managed Network Services.

Closure

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British Telecom closed Micronet 800 on 31 October 1991.[25] A letter to members stated that "With over 10,000 members, Micronet is easily the largest online service in the UK specialising in microcomputing. However, it is still not large enough to enable us to maintain a cost-effective service and provide the extra facilities requested by our customers."[26] The figure of 10,000 was less than 10% of what was predicted shortly after launch.[11] The letter included a free introductory membership to CompuServe, suggested as "[An] excellent alternative to the many products and services provided by Micronet."

Membership had decreased from a peak of around 20,000.[27]: 145  The Guardian attributed the decline to the introduction in mid-1988 of an off-peak Prestel time-charge discouraging the use of the "Chatlines" service.[28] The Times agreed, and also pointed to a steep rise in subscription charges, opining that "BT's failure to provide even this committed group with an economic ... service means that Prestel is destined ... for businesses."[29]

Services provided

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Micronet 800 page c. 1985, transcribed at the time onto Micronet 800 headed paper. This was a competition entry in Micronet's popular science fiction pages

Micronet 800 pioneered many public online services, such as Multi User Games, before the Internet was in widespread use.

  • Chatlines: Users could post messages that other users could see and respond to. Celebrity Chatline was a weekly feature conceived by Publisher Ian Rock and implemented by Sid Smith in which a prominent person was interviewed by Micronet users whose questions appeared onscreen, with Micronet personnel usually typing the answers (if the 'celebrity' couldn't type or format the text themselves). Early 'celebrities' included Sir Clive Sinclair, Feargal Sharkey, Fatima Whitbread, Lord Cardigan, Cynthia Payne and Sir Terry Pratchett.
  • Downloadable software: Micronet 800 implemented the CET specification that allowed 8 bit files to be transmitted over a 7 bit medium, with some basic error detection and error correction. Micro Arts (computer art) were invited on by David Babsky in 1985, and published articles and downloaded 'art programs' for the ZX Spectrum and the BBC Micro.[citation needed]
  • Online games: The longest-running game on the system was StarNet, a Play-by-mail game, whereby the players would send in moves which would be executed once a day (a sort of very slow game of chess, where the aim was to become the emperor of the galaxy) run by Liverpudlian Mike Singleton by inputting the moves he was forwarded by email from Micronet into a Commodore PET computer. Micronet 800 also hosted SHADES, one of the first MUDs - a realtime, highly competitive hack-and-slash game that is still running today.[30]
  • Email: Each Prestel user had a unique Mailbox number, usually derived from the last nine digits of their phone number. This could be used to address and send messages to others on Prestel. Reportedly, Micronet 800 subscribers were particularly enthusiastic about the medium, sending twice as many Mailbox messages as regular Prestel users.[31]
  • Gallery: Conceived by Publisher Ian Rock, this was an area where users could post their own pages about anything they wished, subject to minor oversight for libel and obscenity.[32]

Personnel

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Management

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Richard Hease, co-founder 1982–1983 – Bob Denton, co-founder 1982–1983 – Tim Schoonmaker, managing director 1983–1986 – Ian Rock, publisher 1983–1986 – Tom Baird, British Telecom liaison – John Tomany, managing director 1987–1990 – Michael Weatherseed, general manager 1990–1991[citation needed]

Editors

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David Babsky, founding editor – Simon D'Arcy[33] (later publisher) – Sid Smith[33] – Francis Jago – Paul Needs – Ian Burley – Barbara Conway

Other editorial staff

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Ken Young, online journalist and roving reporter – Adam Denning, technical editor – David Rosenbaum, News and Musicnet editor – Chris Bourne, Sunday Xtra editor – Paul Vigay, Acorn editor – Chris Lewis, Sinclair editor – Ian Burley, Acorn editor, then News editor – Rupert Goodwins, editorial assistant – Afshin Rattansi, music and arts journalist – David Farmbrough, music journalist[citation needed]

Production

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Robin Wilkinson, testing, sales and downloading – Val Burgess, telesoftware database manager – Mike Brown, technical director[33] – Richard Tyner, software sales and acquisition – John Mason, software testing and pricing – John Prout, technical helpdesk – Denise Shemuel, editorial database manager – Colin Morgan – Roger Cracknell – Gary Smith – Robert O'Donnell – Patrick Reilly – Daemonn Brody – Denise Slater, graphic designer for downloadable software pages – Anna Smith, editorial graphic designer – Sharon Giles[citation needed]

Marketing

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Ian Rock, marketing manager – Peter Probert,[33] public relations manager – Phil Godsell, product manager – Lynne Thomas, exhibitions manager – Claire Walker, advertising and public relations executive – Lynne Bennett, marketing executive

Other contributors

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Steve Gold – Robert Schifreen – David Janda – Richard Poynder, Bizznet editor[citation needed]

Quotes

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"The thing that inspired me most was looking at the Gutenberg Bible, the first book to be printed using moveable type. Micronet is to communication in the 80s what that Bible was to the Middle Ages." – David Babsky (1984), Micronet 800 founding editor.[34]: 70 

"Long term, I see being able to program your computer with various names of journalists you particularly like, various sports that you have a habit of looking at, and being able to program your computer at 4 o'clock or 5 o'clock in the morning to log on to Prestel Micronet and then download very rapidly information which will then be printed out. So instead of sitting on the train in the morning with your Times, Guardian, Telegraph, or whatever, you will have a printout with all your favourite journalists, your sports pages, cartoons ... you can make up your own newspaper." – Simon D'Arcy (1986), Micronet 800 publisher.[35]

See also

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  • Email – Mail sent using electronic means
  • Home computer – Class of microcomputers
  • Online game – Video game played over the Internet
  • Prestel – British videotex service
  • Telesoftware – Transmission of software via teletext
  • Viewdata – Information retrieval service and legacy system

References

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  1. ^ "Micronet 800". Celebrating the Viewdata Revolution. Archived from the original on 12 May 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  2. ^ "Micronet advert: Micronet 800: Nice password, shame about the identity". nosher.net. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Ephemera: Log On – The Magazine for Micronet Members". Archived from the original on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2025. Scroll down to Log On section and pdfs of issues 1 (July 1987), 2, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 14 (Winter 1990).
  4. ^ Steele, Rupert (December 1982). "ACC News". Personal Computer World. Vol. 5, no. 12. pp. 180–181. Retrieved 2 March 2025 – via Internet Archive. Also at the PCW Show was the Electronic Insight Micronet stand. This was the launch of their new Prestel subscription service, which will be a closed user group, membership of which includes a very simple Prestel adaptor. [...] Watch this space (and Electronics Insight, *800#) for more details.
  5. ^ Lean, Tom (2016). Electronic dreams: how 1980s Britain learned to love the computer. London: Bloomsbury Sigma. ISBN 978-1-47291-833-8. OCLC 944121056. Retrieved 3 March 2025 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ Kelly, David (20 October 1982). "New Year sees in Prestel-linked Micronet 800 database". Popular Computing Weekly. Vol. 1, no. 28. p. 11. Retrieved 10 March 2025 – via Internet Archive. Telemap gets 60,000 accesses to its pages each month from the 18,000 Prestel users which puts it into the top 20 information providers оп Prestel.
  7. ^ a b c Burton, Maggie (July 1983). "Micronet 800: an electronic magazine?". Personal Computer World. Vol. 6, no. 7. pp. 184–185, 187. Retrieved 9 March 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  8. ^ Johnstone, Bill (6 September 1982). "Prestel plans another offensive". Computers and Technology. The Times. No. 61330. London. col 2, p. 13. The total Micronet 800 project is a joint venture between three private companies and British Telecom. ... £500,000 has been ear-marked by Telecom ... The chairman of all three companies is Mr Richard Hease, who approached Telecom with the scheme.
  9. ^ Dellow, Beverley (c. 1983). "Dear Spectrum User" (PDF) (Letter from Micronet 800 to Sinclair Spectrum users). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2025 – via Internet Archive. p. 1: As part of this offer, we will also supply you with a FREE jack socket installation worth £25 should you need one (see enclosed jack socket form).
  10. ^ "Important: Do You Need A Jack Socket?" (PDF) (Form accompanying offer from Micronet 800 to potential subscribers). c. 1983. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2025 – via Internet Archive. p. 2: [T]he cost of installation [of a] jack socket will be included in the adaptor package price ... if you apply through Micronet 800.
  11. ^ a b "Netting personal computer users through Prestel" (PDF). Viewdata & TV User. Vol. 5, no. 1. January 1983. p. 8. ISSN 0260-6984. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2025 – via Internet Archive. Special adaptors which allow the computers to link to Prestel are being made for the popular computers like Sinclair, Apple, BBC and Commodore.
  12. ^ Blower, Peter (August 1981). "Views on telesoftware display standards" (PDF). Practical Computing. Vol. 4, no. 8. pp. 100–102. Retrieved 11 March 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  13. ^ Council for Educational Technology (September 1981). "Telesoftware: CET Information Sheet No. 3" (Abstract). ERIC ED279288. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
  14. ^ "Format Recommendations for Prestel Telesoftware" (booklet). London: Council for Educational Technology. February 1982. Note: this document was superseded by "Format Recommendations for Prestel Telesoftware" (PDF) (booklet). London: Council for Educational Technology. June 1986. Retrieved 11 March 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  15. ^ Brown, Mike (October 1981). "Prestel initiative will remove the barriers" (PDF). Practical Computing. Vol. 4, no. 10. pp. 53–54. Retrieved 11 March 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  16. ^ "Making Connections". The Home Computer Advanced Course. No. 22. 1984. pp. 426–427. ISSN 0265-2919 – via Internet Archive. p. 426: The Prism VTX5000 modem is one of the most ingenious add-ons in the world of home computing. By linking the most successful home computer, the Sinclair Spectrum, to Prestel's Micronet and similar databases, it has opened the way for thousands of micro owners to step into the exciting new field of communications.
  17. ^ Bright, Peter (March 1984). "Newsprint: Prism Microproducts has launched its first own brand micro". Personal Computer World. Vol. 7, no. 3. p. 23. Retrieved 5 March 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  18. ^ Ruse, Melanie (c. 1985). "Dear Micro User" (PDF) (Letter accompanying brochure sent to prospective Micronet 800 subscribers). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  19. ^ Bird, Jane (29 June 1986). "Prestel offer boxes clever". News. The Sunday Times. No. 8447. p. 63. Gale FP1801731116. Peter Probert ... has bought 10,000 modems, ... and is giving them away free to anyone who takes out a year's subscription to Micronet ... 'It's crazy,' says Probert, marketing manager of Micronet. 'We're not in the business of selling hardware. We just sell an information service. But we can't wait forever for Prestel to be innovative.'
  20. ^ British Telecom (May 1984). ""Prestel Microcomputing will add a new dimension to your home computing"" (PDF) (Letter to Prestel subscribers). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  21. ^ Tootill, Peter (February 1984). "Viewfax 258". Personal Computer World. Vol. 7, no. 8. p. 261. Retrieved 10 March 2025 – via Internet Archive. Viewfax 258 [comprises] news and gossip from the micro world, and telesoftware. Much of it is for the BBC Micro, but other systems are supported[.]
  22. ^ Steele, Rupert (August 1984). "ACC News". Personal Computer World. Vol. 7, no. 8. p. 211. Retrieved 10 March 2025 – via Internet Archive. Microcomputing activities on Prestel are now ... in a single ... structure starting on page 456[.] Most of this material will be within a single Prestel Microcomputing CUG (Closed User Group — you'll have to subscribe before you can access the pages). Micronet and Viewfax will be two of the other participants, and ClubSpot[.]
  23. ^ "Data bases Bell unit's stake". Globe & Mail. 21 June 1985. p. B14. Gale A165611044. Tele-Direct Canada Inc., a unit of Bell Canada ... has bought a 20 per cent share in Telemap, a British company that runs a data base for home computers. British Telecommunications PLC has also acquired a 25 per cent stake.
  24. ^ "Net future secure in BT buyout" (PDF). Log On – The magazine for Micronet members. No. 9. London: Telemap. Autumn 1989. p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  25. ^ "Major network closes". Acorn User. No. 113. December 1991. p. 15. Retrieved 10 March 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  26. ^ Gilbody, Sue (27 September 1991). "Micronet to close from 31st October 1991" (PDF) (letter). BT Tymnet. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 May 2012.
  27. ^ Rutter, Dorian James (2005). "Chapter 4: Before the Internet: the Rise and Fall of Prestel" (PDF). From Diversity to Convergence: British Computer Networks and the Internet, 1970–1995 (PDF) (PhD thesis). University of Warwick. pp. 105–158. OCLC 93065596.
  28. ^ Brown, Mike (31 October 1991). "Reaching the end of the line". The Guardian. p. 33, col 8. ProQuest 187285975.
  29. ^ May, Matthew (3 October 1991). "Hey Prestel! A disappearing act". Science and Technology. The Times. No. 64141. London. col 1, p. 30.
  30. ^ "SHADES - What the computer magazines used to say..." Archived 30 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine at games.world.co.uk. Accessed 18 November 2007
  31. ^ Smith, Sid (April 1985). "Micronet matters". Sinclair User. No. 37. p. 8. ISSN 0262-5458 – via Internet Archive. Net members proved a talkative lot ... sending twice as many mailbox messages as other Prestel users.
  32. ^ Hayward, Julian (Spring 1989). "Gallery" (PDF). Log On – The magazine for Micronet members. No. 7. London: Telemap. pp. 13–14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  33. ^ a b c d Probert, Peter (April 1986). "Dear Member" (PDF) (Letter to Micronet 800 subscribers). Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  34. ^ Bourne, Chris (November 1984). "The Micronet Story". Sinclair User. No. 32. pp. 65, 70. ISSN 0262-5458 – via Internet Archive.
  35. ^ D'Arcy, Simon (February 1986). "Micro Live 17th Feb 1986 part 3". Micro Live (TV broadcast). Quote starts at 07:02. BBC2. Retrieved 4 March 2025 – via Internet Archive. This is a segment from season 2, episode 15: "Long-Distance Information", first aired on 14 February 1986. The interviewer is Andrew Neil.

Further reading

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