MicroNET (CompuServe Personal Computing Division)

CompuServe's consumer dial-up time-share service, launched mid-1979 in Columbus OH on DEC equipment. By May 1980: ~1,200 users, $5/hr off-peak, $9 init fee + 128K free file storage, languages include APL. Stock and bond data via MicroQuote (charged by data accessed plus connect).

H&R Block announced an agreement to buy control of CompuServe (per Reinbrecht's May 1980 article) — a foreshadowing of the consumer-internet era.

Mentioned in

• 1980-05 — V02 N05 — Reinbrecht's side-by-side comparison