Au Revoir, Minitel

The Minitel was dreamed up in the 1970s when France was lagging behind on telecommunications, with the nation's homes underserved by telephones – particularly in rural areas. Amid a technological dawn in France, it was, with the TGV railway, a matter of political and national pride.

We remember the clunky black 'phone we had in Paris an infinity ago. No idea how old it was, but it would always make one loud click about three secs. before it would actually ring.