Audiotext and the Re-Invention of the Telephone as a Mass Medium

The telephone has a long history as a communication medium, but until recently played only a minor role in the electronic media environment. That was before 800 and 900 numbers became available. This study found support for the proposition that people adopt information technologies functionally similar to services they use already. People who use teller machines, for example, are willing to share personal codes; they are also willing to use certain telephone services. There is evidence found for what Everett Rogers and his colleagues call an innovation cluster in how people use audiotext services.