(Interactive medium by digitalizing telephone information)) French videotex service that counts as perhaps the most successful online service before the general adoption of the World Wide Web. It began in 1977 as an online telephone directory but went on to provide more than 25 000 services, including facilities for online purchases, train reservations, mail, and chat. At its peak the Minitel had more than 20 million users, before being gradually overtaken by the Internet. The service was suspended in June 2012.