The term BBS usually refers to Bulletin Board System, an online message center where you can post messages or review and respond to messages that others have left previously. A BBS is a host computer that's accessed through modem dial-up. In order to do so, you usually need to know the phone number of the host. Be aware, however, that dialing up a BBS with a long-distance telephone number can incur long-distance charges just as you do with your telephone. BBSs can be quite helpful for their way of pooling information, and usually there are numerous BBSs within your local area code. Also, some of these BBSs are accessible through Telnet, a protocol used for accessing remote computers, provided they have given you permission to do so. A BBS is generally run separately from the Internet. However, some BBSs have Web sites that usually have additional information relating to the topic discussed on the BBS. You can usually find BBSs that are devoted to particular interests; some are more finely narrowed down than others. There are thousands of BBSs online that are dedicated from general to eclectic interests. Information is available for the disabled, professionals such as lawyers and doctors, computer gaming enthusiasts, and more.
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