CompuServe

CompuServe was an early online service provider launched in the late 1970s that offered users internet-like features before the World Wide Web became popular. It provided services such as email, forums, news, and file sharing through dial-up connections. Users accessed CompuServe using specialized software on their computers, paying for subscriptions and usage. It played a key role in introducing many people to digital communication and online communities, setting the stage for future internet services. By the late 1990s, CompuServe was gradually eclipsed by the web, but it remains an important part of internet history.