Computer Science | Grinnell College

One of the first external modems, it was released in 1981. Smartmodem was the first modem that was able to exert complete control over a phone line. Hobbyists used this modem and cutting edge software to create the first bulletin board systems, which allowed users to upload and download software and data, and exchange messages.

References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayes_Microcomputer_Products
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulletin_board_system