Internet Outdials and the History of Global Outdials
In the early days of digital communication, connecting to remote servers often came with a significant financial burden. Before the ubiquity of high-speed broadband, users relied on modems to establish connections. One ingenious solution to the cost of long-distance connectivity was the Internet outdial.
An Internet outdial is essentially a modem that is accessible via the Internet and can be triggered to dial a phone number remotely. By routing a connection through an outdial, a user could instruct a remote modem to call another system, effectively shifting the point of origin for the phone call.
Global Outdials (GOD)
When an Internet outdial is configured to permit long-distance calling, it is referred to as a global outdial, often abbreviated as GOD. These systems were particularly valuable for users attempting to reach servers located in different cities or countries without paying the high per-minute rates typically charged by long-distance telephone carriers.
The Role of Outdials in the 1990s
During the 1990s, outdials became a popular tool for enthusiasts of bulletin board systems (BBS)—early community-driven servers that hosted forums, files, and games. Because BBSs were often localized, accessing a distant board usually meant expensive phone bills. Outdials provided a workaround, allowing users to connect to these distant systems for free or at a significantly reduced cost.
The online zine Phrack played a notable role in this ecosystem by maintaining a curated list of available Internet outdials. Many of these outdials were hosted by universities, leveraging the academic infrastructure of the time to facilitate these remote connections.
| Term | Definition | Primary Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Internet Outdial | An Internet-accessible modem capable of remote dialing. | Remote connectivity to phone-based systems. |
| Global Outdial (GOD) | An outdial that supports long-distance calling. | Avoiding long-distance carrier charges. |
| BBS | Bulletin Board System. | Early community servers accessed via modem. |
Key Facts
- An Internet outdial is a modem that can be dialed remotely via the Internet.
- Global Outdials (GOD) specifically allow for long-distance calls.
- These systems were widely used in the 1990s to access distant Bulletin Board Systems (BBS).
- The primary motivation for using outdials was to avoid per-minute long-distance carrier fees.
- The publication Phrack maintained lists of these outdials, many of which were hosted at universities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Internet outdial?
It is a modem connected to the Internet that allows a remote user to trigger it to dial a specific telephone number.
What does GOD stand for in this context?
GOD stands for Global Outdial, which is an Internet outdial that permits long-distance calling.
Why were outdials used in the 1990s?
They were used to connect to distant bulletin board systems (BBS) without incurring expensive per-minute charges from long-distance phone companies.
Who maintained lists of these outdials?
The online zine Phrack maintained lists of Internet outdials, many of which were hosted by universities.
How did outdials help BBS users?
They allowed users to bypass the geographical and financial limitations of traditional long-distance telephony to reach remote community servers.