U.S. Robotics Has 56Kbps Modem
Ray Van Eng (10/28/96)
Faster analog modems using regular telephone lines are on their way. How about 56Kbps? That's right, U.S. Robotics will have such a beast that could almost rival the speed of a B-channel ISDN connection at 64Kbps. However, the new modem would require a network software configuration by your local ISP (Internet service provider). More than 30 major ISPs including Compuserve, AOL, Netcom, MSN, US West, IBM Global network etc. have all pledged support for the technology which U.S. Robotics dubbed as x2, possibly to signify the fact that the new devices will run at twice the speed of the 28.8 Kbps modems in use today. Pricing has not been announced, but it is expected to cost just below $300 for a basic model and under $450 for a more advance one. U.S. Robotics says that some of the modems they make earlier like the Sportster 33.6 and the V.Everything modems can be upgraded with additional hardware or software. While U.S. Robotics uses a chipset from Texas Instruments, some modem makers such as Hayes, Cardinal and others have adopted semiconductors from Rockwell International which uses a different technology to achieve the same transmission speed. This may lead to compatibility problems with a conflict of standards. Because of that consumers may be forced to go with a certain ISP because they would only support either the T.I. or the Rockwell hardware. |
Updates (02/12/97):
