Telesoftware provides the transmission of computer programs from one computer to another by either broadcast radio or television via telephone lines and offers a national electronic system for the distribution of computer programs. Telephone based telesoftware can be based on any viewdata system or locally established telephone lines between mainframe and microcomputers, and in the United Kingdom (UK), British Telecoms PRESTEL service provides the basis for national telesoftware experiments in which users need a microcomputer, a modem for connecting to a telephone line, a jack socket and Prestel telesoftware. Development projects for both viewdata and teletext telesoftware transmission in the UK in which the Council for Educational Technology (CET) has been involved include: (1) a 2-year trial scheme for the distribution and reception of computer programs via Prestel that was set up in 1981 by CET; (2) the investigation of the educational potential of teletext software using the broadcast facilities of CEEFAX and ORACLE; (3) a Scottish project for the adaptation of microcomputer software to act as viewdata terminals and perform telesoftware functions; and (4) the provision of telesoftware on an experimental basis by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Computer Literary Project and the associated BBC Microcomputer. A set of recommended standards for formatting viewdata telesoftware have been developed by CET in conjunction with computer manufacturers, software agencies, users, and representatives of PRESTEL, and copies may be obtained from CET. (DJR)