Beltel was the name and trademark used by the South African Department of Posts and Telecommunications (later Telkom) for its Videotex system between the mid eighties and 1999.
The system used telephone lines and modems connected to personal computers or to dumb terminals which had built in modems and no processing functionality. Telkom's dedicated terminal was named the Minitel.
The system incorporated a billing system which enabled information providers and service providers to receive payment for information and services provided to users. The billing system was capable of handling very small transactions, and referred to as Micro-billing. Today all of the functionality of the Beltel system, and more, is delivered by handheld mobile phones or cellphones and PDA's which utilize mobile payment.
Booklets/Magazines: What is BELTEL? BELTEL user manual. (Setting up, Facilities, Passwords, Logging off, Mail, Commands) Videotex SA Beltel. (Various business services for its 14,000 users) (In 1990) BELTEL as a business tool The BELTEL post box. Telematics: (News, views, reviews and adverts) (Seasonal)
Beltel provided many online services such as: Debates, competitions, prizes. Banking: Allied Bank, First National Bank, Nedbank, Standard Bank, Trust bank, United Bank, Volkskas Bank
Credit Checking: National Credit Bureau
Message Handling: Beltel e-Mail, Interlink, Telkom 400
Agriculture Agritel Fresh Produce, Agritel Meat Service, Boere-Data, Mielieraad
Directories: INNOBEL, Electronic Yellow Pages
Entertainment: Bel-Base, Elmdene SA, Playworld, Times Media
Chatlines: FROGG, Intercom
News/Weather: Agritel, Bel-Base, Elmdene SA, Times Media
Classifieds: Bel-Base, CDS Classifieds, Junk Mail