FidoNet
 n.

    A worldwide hobbyist network of personal computers which exchanges mail,
    discussion groups, and files. Founded in 1984 and originally consisting
    only of IBM PCs and compatibles, FidoNet now includes such diverse machines
    as Apple ][s, Ataris, Amigas, and Unix systems. For years FidoNet actually
    grew faster than Usenet, but the advent of cheap Internet access probably
    means its days are numbered. FidoNet's site count has dropped from 38K
    nodes in 1996 through 15K nodes in 2001 to 10K nodes in late 2003, and most
    of those are probably single-user machines rather than the thriving BBSes
    of yore.

	

	FidoNet

   A worldwide hobbyist network of personal computers which
   exchanges e-mail, discussion groups, and files.  Founded in
   1984 and originally consisting only of IBM PCs and
   compatibles, FidoNet now includes such diverse machines as
   Apple IIs, Ataris, Amigas, and Unix systems.  Though
   it is much younger than Usenet, FidoNet is already (in early
   1991) a significant fraction of Usenet's size at some 8000
   systems.

   [Jargon File]