Beginnings
Before the Internet, Singapore was the first country to launch an interactive information service to the public which included photographic images. A service known as Teleview was jointly developed by Telecom Authority of Singapore (TAS) and GEC-Marconi of the UK. The service started trials during late 1987 using specifically designed terminals. This was expanded in 1989, and eventually, as Personal Computers became more capable, there was a software/hardware addition made available for the PC. Early service providers for editorials were Singapore Press Holdings, Housing Development Board and Singapore Stock Exchange, which provided a range of services, including general news, business news, housing lots and selection lists, real-time stocks and shares prices.
Teleview was initially set up as a public service at the same time Singapore Telecom was formed in 1992 from the business arm of TAS, whereas TAS remained as the statutory regulatory authority. Subscribers connected to the Teleview, now-defunct, service by SingTel, via a dialup connection initially by 1200-2400 bit modems (V22 Biz) and then later via 9600-14400 kbit/s modems. Subscribers initially paid no time based usage fee for this service. However later charges, on top of telephone line charges were levied. A later development from Teleview provided an interfaced connection to the Internet, subscribers were given access to the Internet via a text-only terminal; email was accessed by Pine, and webpages were viewed by Lynx. Subsequently, Teleview was rendered obsolete, and SingNet started offering to the Internet via SLIP/PPP over modem.
Read more about this topic: Internet In Singapore
Famous quotes containing the word beginnings:
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