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Bulletin Board System. In the earliest days of computers being available for use in the home, about 1980, a method of multiple people sharing computer data and accessing messaging was needed. The BBS was formed, whereby anyone annywhere in the world could logon to a computer that was running BBS software. The BBS computer had a dedicated telephone line and would be left on conitnuously, whicle running multiple programs to allow users that dialed in to access its resources.

In addition to file sharing, BBS's began running message systems using a "hub and spoke" system to distribute messages worldwide in packets on timed systems. These message systems were important during Desert Storm in 1992, as message from the US were transferred to the troops within hours, typcailly posted in a day room.

CompuServ was the first commercial BBS, while hundreds of private BBS's started even before CompuServ.

As dial up modem speeds increased and the internet was released for public use, BBS's slowly faded away and very few survive today.

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12y ago

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