April 1981
Hayes Smartmodem brings PC-controlled dial-up
Hayes microcomputerA small computer built around a microprocessor — the category that became personal computers. Products announced the Smartmodem in April 1981 — the first modem a PCPersonal computer — a computer designed for individual use, especially desktop or laptop machines. could control in software via an RS-232 port and Hayes command set.
What it was for
Before the Smartmodem, hobbyists used acoustic couplers or machine-specific modem cards. Hayes put a phone jack and microprocessorA CPU on a single integrated circuit — the heart of personal computers and countless embedded devices. on an external box so any computer with a serial port could dial BBSes, UUCP nodes, and early online services. The Hayes AT command language became the de facto standard for dial-up modems through the 56K era.
Why it's here
The Smartmodem made dial-up networking a plug-in peripheral instead of a custom hardware project.
Why it mattered
It enabled the BBS, dial-up ISPInternet service provider — a company that sells internet access to homes and businesses., and remote-admin culture that preceded always-on broadband.
What it solved
microcomputerA small computer built around a microprocessor — the category that became personal computers. owners needed a modem that worked across brands without per-machine hardware designs.
Related
- The World: first commercial dial-up ISPNovember 1989