so you can press "M" (or C/R) to be asked for any #'s that you missed. If you left messages, check for ones to you. Periodrd Christensen and Randy Suess, on January 16, 1978. At that time, rough hardware and software require- ments were established. Randy began working on hardware, and Ward prototyped the software in MITS 8K BASIC, with no actual message saving to disk. As Randy got further with the hardware, programming was done in assembler for the final version to go online. After buying a license for CP/M, burning some PROMS (for scroll routine), and so on, the system went on the air, ONE MONTH from the day it was conceived. It was totally financed by Ward and Randy except for memory board contributions from Lloyd Smith. It was originally thought to be connected to the CACHE message recorder line as a way to get material for the "CACHE Register" (newsletter of the Chicago Area Com- puter Hobbyist's Exchange) but turned into a more general message exchange system. Articles or comments appeared in various publications: June ('78) BYTE's Bits, July BYTE editorial, July 17 Computerworld, June Dr. Dobbs Journal, Nov. BYTE, etc. <>