BASIC USES OF COMPUTER BULLETIN BOARDS

BASIC USES OF COMPUTER BULLETIN BOARDS

You can use BBSes to send and receive messages from people all

around the world where there is a telephone; send and receive

various files and programs from people and companies; as well as

play games, receive information, and just have a good a good time.

What Is A Computer Bulletin Board?

Computer bulletin boards are more commonly referred to as a

bulletin board system, or "BBS" (for short). A BBS is a computer that

uses a special program whaich allows other computers to call it up

by using regular phone lines. A BBS is like a storage facility that

permits people to send and receive messages through their

computers, as well as send and receive files.

General Uses of BBSes

There are many uses for BBSes. You can use them like a regular

(cork) bulletin board. You can use them to post jokes, notices, news

flashes, and so on... You can also use them much the same way that

you would use a CB. People can hold a "conversation" over the

computer by sending messages back and forth just by typing the

sentences into the computer, and posting them on a BBS. BBSes

can also be used to send and receive private messages. You can

use a BBS to gather information about a certain topic, as well as

ask other people to help you with something. A lot of people

exchange files and programs, and play games with people through

the computer.

You can also use BBSes to buy and sell things.

The Business Use of BBSes

Many businesses use BBSes to send electronic mail to distributors,

and distributing networks. They use them also to talk to business

prospects. Businesses use BBSes for a variety of reasons. Auto

Repair Shops, Mail- Order Companies, Government Offices, Travel

Agencies, Banks, and Sales Organizations are among the different

types of businesses that frequently use BBSes to do business.

A Short History Of BBSes

In 1978, Ward Christiansen and Randy Suess wrote the first BBS

software program. They called it CBBS (Computer Bulletin Board

System). They designed the BBS to look like a real bulletin board

that you would find in a supermarket, a school, or at the office. The

idea was for people and businesses to be able to use their

computers to exchange information, post messages and contact

people over the phone.

Since then, BBSes have become mainstream, numbering close to

over 40,000 public and 120,000 private BBSes. There are

approximately 12 million BBS users nationwide, and growing daily

as modems become standard equipment in every computer sold,

growing at a rate of about 10,000 a day. Estimates suggest that by

the year 2000 there will be more than 25 million BBS users

nationwide. Get ready to give them information.