[PierreA]

I remember that the original idea was to create white/yellow page online (it was very costly to print all these white pages). Then came commercial services. You were billed according to the number you dialed (from free -3613- to very expensive service -3617-). That was my first online experience and that was magic :-) There was also a hacking scene on pirated servers where you can meet a lot of people (and it was on the free number of course).

[kleim]

Part of the huge prices is explained by the fact terminals were subzidized. IIIRC their real cost was around 1000 FRF but were nearly given for free. This is the economic model that is still used by all mobile phones operators in France nowadays (except for Free Mobile).