French Minitel pioneer Gerard Thery dies aged 88

Paris: Gerard Thery, the telecoms engineer whose Minitel project brought internet-style communications to France long before other industrialised countries, has died aged 88, officials said Monday.

Thery, who oversaw the development of the Minitel ahead of its commercial launch in 1982, died in Paris on July 18, the civil registry confirmed.

Developed by France Telecom and freely distributed to households, the Minitel allowed users to check the news, search phone directories, buy train and plane tickets, make restaurant reservations and even engage in online sex chats.