While the CNS network was not itself based on the X.25 protocol, the network presented a standard X.25 interface to customers, providing dial-up connectivity to corporate hosts, and allowing CompuServe to form alliances with private networks Tymnet and Telenet, among others. This gave CompuServe the largest selection of local dial-up telephone connections in the world, in an era when network usage charges were expensive, but still less than long-distance charges. Other networks permitted CompuServe access to still more locations, including international locations, usually with substantial connect-time surcharges. It was common during the early 1980s to pay a $30-per-hour charge to connect to CompuServe, which at the time cost $5 to $6 per hour before factoring in the connection-time surcharges. This resulted in the company being nicknamed CompuSpend, Compu$erve or CI$.
While the CNS network was not itself based on the X25 protocol the network presented a standard X25 interface to customers providing dial-up connectivity to corporate hosts and allowing CompuServe to form alliances with private networks Tymnet and Telenet among others This gave CompuServe the largest selection of local dial-up telephone connections in the world in an era when network usage charges were expensive but still less than long-distance charges Other networks permitted CompuServe access to still more locations including international locations usually with substantial connect-time surcharges It was common during the early 1980s to pay a $30-per-hour charge to connect to CompuServe which at the time cost $5 to $6 per hour before factoring in the connection-time surcharges This resulted in the company being nicknamed CompuSpend Compu$erve or CI$