The DICT Development Group

  FidoNet
   n.
  
      A worldwide hobbyist network of personal computers which exchanges mail,
      discussion groups, and files. Founded in 1984 and originally consisting
      only of IBM PCs and compatibles, FidoNet now includes such diverse machines
      as Apple ][s, Ataris, Amigas, and Unix systems. For years FidoNet actually
      grew faster than Usenet, but the advent of cheap Internet access probably
      means its days are numbered. FidoNet's site count has dropped from 38K
      nodes in 1996 through 15K nodes in 2001 to 10K nodes in late 2003, and most
      of those are probably single-user machines rather than the thriving BBSes
      of yore.