audiotext

Audiotext is a type of interactive communication system that allows users to dial into a phone number and listen to pre-recorded messages or interact with a live operator. It was popular in the 1980s and 1990s, particularly in the United States and Europe, as a means of providing information, conducting surveys, and offering goods and services to customers.

The audiotext system typically consisted of a touch-tone phone, which was used to enter a specific telephone number or access a local exchange. The caller was then presented with a series of recorded messages or options, which they could navigate using the phone's keypad. Each option or message led to further interaction or action, such as providing demographic information, partaking in a survey, or placing an order.

Audiotext involved a range of applications, including directories and information services, trivia and entertainment, and commercial messages and sales pitches. Many companies and organizations utilized audiotext to connect with customers and offer personalized services, often using a premium phone number or credit card-based access fee to generate revenue.

The audiotext market began to decline in the late 1990s, as the rise of the internet and mobile web provided users with alternative and more comprehensive means of accessing information and interacting with companies. By the early 2000s, the use of audiotext had largely given way to digital voice services and mobile apps, which offered more sophisticated and convenient interfaces for users.