Delphi Forums is a U.S. online service provider and since the mid-1990s has been a community internet forum site.
It started as a nationwide dialup service in 1983. Delphi Forums remains active as of 2023.
In 1996, Delphi launched a free, ad-supported managed-content website with associated message boards and chat rooms, under the management of a team led by Dan Bruns, which included Bill Louden, who had headed GEnie during its heyday. For a period of time, both text-based and web-based community services were available. After a year as a managed content site, Delphi reinvented itself as a community-driven service that allowed anyone to create an online community.
Prospero Technologies was formed in January 2000, as the merger of Delphi Forums and Wellengaged. Webpages for forums were discontinued.
In 2001, Rob Brazell purchased Delphi Forums, merged it with eHow, Idea Exchange, and formed Blue Frogg Enterprises. The Delphi.com domain was sold to Delphi Corporation, the auto parts manufacturer. Prospero was sold to Inforonics.
1980 – 1982 – founded by Wes Kussmaul as Kussmaul Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia, email and a primitive chat. Added newswires, bulletin boards and better chat in early 1982.
1983 – 1992 – Delphi online service, General Videotex Corporation
Forums are text-based, and accessed via Telenet, Sprintnet, Tymnet, Datapac (Canada). Delphi name first used March 15, 1983. Partners with ASCII Corp. of Japan to open online services in 1991.
1992 – 1993 – Delphi online service, General Videotex Corporation
Delphi is the first service to provide national consumer access to the internet in 1992: Email (July 1992), FTP, Telnet, Usenet, text-based web access (November 1992), MUDs, finger, Gopher.
1993 – 1996 – Delphi Internet Services – News Corporation and Rupert Murdoch
Delphi had 125,000 text based customers in 1995, by 1996 they were down to less than 5,000 by some accounts, 50,000 by others. Other estimates of membership range from half a million, to 2.5 million during this time period.
Rupert Murdoch Buys Delphi
Online World Handbook
1996 – 1999 – Delphi Internet Services
Delphi moves to a web-based interface, and free service. Advertising supported. Earlier forums have full websites, later forums have a single templated webpage.
2000 – 2001 – Delphi Forums, Prospero Technologies
Prospero was formed in January 2000 as the merger of Delphi Forums and Wellengaged. Webpages for forums are discontinued. December 2000, switch to PChat.
2001 – 2002 – Delphi Forums, Blue Frogg Enterprises
Rob Brazell purchases Delphi Forums, merges with eHow and Idea Exchange, forms Blue Frogg Enterprises. Prospero sold to Inforonics.
Sale to Blue Frogg announcement
Merger with eHow and Idea Exchange
Sale of Prospero to Inforonics
2002 – 2008 – Delphi Forums, LLC.
Prospero reacquires Delphi Forums, joins it with Talk City to form Delphi Forums LLC. PChat2 introduced, December 2002
March 3, 2008 – August 2011 – Delphi Forums
Newly formed company Mzinga acquires Prospero, Delphi Forums & Talk City.
September 1, 2011 – Delphi Forums, LLC
Mzinga sells Delphi Forums and its sister site Talk City to original Delphi online services executive and Mzinga VP Dan Bruns, forming (once again) Delphi Forums LLC.
January 18, 2012 – Delphi Forums, LLC
Delphi Forums resigns from the BBB in protest of pending SOPA/PIPA legislation, which the BBB supports. Hosts join in web protest by having their forums “go dark” for the day.