CompuServe, Prodigy, America Online, Microsoft Network, AT&T WorldNet

Beginning in 1980's CompuServe, Prodigy, America Online saw market opportunity to provide Internet-like services to people who had no access to the Internet

Provided easy-to-install, easy-to-use software

Typical services included information retrieval, home shopping, e-mail

Each was similar to LAN

Clamor for e-mail outside the LAN led each to become Internet nodes