> we would probably have a number of competing closed platforms instead of a single Internet, with paid services to perform protocol translations between them.

> we would probably have a number of competing closed platforms instead of a single Internet, with paid services to perform protocol translations between them. That did exist with the likes of Tymnet and the various Online Services (AOL, CompuServe, etc). The Internet won out over those because it was open, as you alluded to. Internet adoption really exploded with unlimited services rather than ISPs that billed hourly.