CompuServe

Updated: 11/12/2023 by Computer Hope
CompuServe logo

Established in 1969, CompuServe became the first commercial online service when it started accepting users on September 24, 1979, and helped introduce the GIF image standard. Today, the company is a wholly owned subsidiary of AOL.

Contact information

Support: (800) 944-9871
Alt phone: (614) 723-9942
Fax: None or unknown
TDD: None or unknown
Website: CompuServe official website
AOL official website
E-mail: None or unknown
Address: CompuServe Interactive Services, Inc.
Customer Service Department
P.O. Box 28650
Jacksonville, FL 32226-8650
Stock: AOL

Companies selling similar products

Related pages on Computer Hope

  • GIF (graphics interchange format)
  • ISP (Internet service provider)

Company news

July 1, 2009 - The online service CompuServe shut down.

October 1, 2006 - The Software Freedom Law Center announced that all patent claims interfering with the employment of the GIF format have expired. All users should no longer fear patent claims when using the GIF format.

February 1998 - CompuServe became part of AOL (America Online).

December 24, 1994 - Unisys and CompuServe announced that they expected licensing fees for software that creates and displays GIF images. This caused hysteria among developers and website owners using GIF images because of potential future GIF taxes that lead to developing the PNG (portable network graphics) format.

1987 - CompuServe introduced the GIF standard and images.

September 24, 1979 - CompuServe began offering dial-up service.

1969 - CompuServe was established.