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News Archive for May 11 to 17, 1997

May 17
Les Brown wrote us concerning our May 16 news item:
 
I would like to comment on your WEB page views of May 16. TIA TR-30.1 and ITU-T SG16 Question 23 are working closely to complete a first V.pcm modem Recommendation for determination in September and decision in January. Both committees share an email reflector, an ftp site, and are using common document numbering. Most participants are members of both groups. The two groups have a common goal, the completion of V.pcm - Issue 1 in time for determination in September. The TIA Interim Standard is really a fallback position, should we fail to complete V.pcm in a timely manner. An implied goal is that any TIA Interim Standard would either be the same as or a subset of the expected ITU version.
 
I also don't know where you got the Motorola view that the standard would not be completed until sometime mid 1998.
 
Respectively yours,
Les Brown, Motorola ISG,
Chair TIA TR-30.1,
Rapporteur (Chair) ITU-T Q23/16 (PCM modems)
 
I'm glad to hear of the close cooperation between the TIA and ITU committees, both chaired by Mr. Brown. Committee work is difficult work, and inter- and intra-committee politics can be brutal. It is encouraging to all 56K modem buyers that the two committees are working towards common goals.
 
The gist of my May 16 comment was that the ITU standard would be more influential than the TIA standard. I still believe this to be true. Given the international nature of the modem industry, and the similar time frames in which the two standards will be approved, there is little incentive for widespread adoption of the interim TIA standard. The exception, as Mr. Brown notes, would be if the ITU standard were to be delayed.
 
I found Motorola's mid-1998 estimate for ITU approval from their Web site at http://www.mot.com/MIMS/ISG/Products/tidalwave/faqs.html#17, though to be fair Motorola referred to the expected date as spring 1998:
 
When will the upgrade be available?
It is difficult to speculate, but we anticipate the 56K standard will be approved by the ITU in the spring of 1998. It should be noted that Motorola is spearheading an effort to adopt an accelerated North American 56K standard. If approved, this could result in a 56K standard being available much earlier.
 
The North American 56K standard referred to is the TIA standard.
 
May 16
MacWEEK reports on progress towards a 56K standard, but not the 56K standard. The story quotes Les Brown, chairman of the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Committee, as saying that he expects his committee to adopt a 56K standard by September. The TIA is a North American committee with limited clout. The more powerful International Telecommunications Union (ITU) was responsible for previous modem standards such as V.32bis 14.4 and V.34 28.8. A proposal to ITU is not expected until August, and Motorola has stated that they do not expect an ITU standard until mid-1998.
 
MacWEEK also has a story about the U.S. Robotics LANLinker Dual Analog router, a device that uses multiple 56K modems and multiple phone lines to achieve speeds of up to 112K when connecting to similar devices. See our May 10 news for related information.
 
Cisco made its first shipments of K56flex modems to CompuServe for field testing. Volume shipments are expected this summer. Cisco has a press release, and ZDNet has an article.
 
Cardinal's $20 rebate on x2 Connecta modems ends May 31.
 
U.S. Robotics announced x2 upgrades for Bigpicture modems. The release date was not specified, but USR says that the software-based upgrades will be free.
 
May 15
ZDNet has a special report: 56K -- The need for speed with input from multiple Ziff-Davis magazines. Highlights include:
 
Scot Hacker's Hands-on with 56K is one man's quest for speed that vividly illustrates the influence of your phone lines on download rates.
 
Albert Pang's 56K countdown examines the 56K issue from the Internet service provider's and hardware retailer's perspectives. Includes a discussion of possible higher rates for 56K access and figures that point to skyrocketing 56K modem sales.
 
AOL is currently offering field trials or x2 in selected cities:
 
 
There are no additional charges for 56K during the field trials. AOL also has a toll-free, surcharged number: 888-265-4736. Use of the 888 number is 10 cents per minute, even during the trial period. For more information about AOL's x2 tests, use AOL keyword "x2".
 
U.S. Robotics has AOL modem settings files and installation instructions for the 56K Sportster.
 
May 13
The Buyer's Guide won't be up until June 15, but we've posted a preview with our suggested guidelines, and an example of the kind of information you'll find in the guide.
 
Ascend Communications has announced their GET FLEX 56K upgrade program for their MAX and MAX TNT terminal servers and switches. Act quickly: the offer expires June 30, 1997.
 
Looking for an ISP that supports 56K? Our list of companies supporting 56K lists two new resources: U.S. Robotics' listing of x2 ISPs by zip code, and Ascend's listing of K56flex ISPs by state.
 
 
May 12
Topping today's news is word of 56K upgrades for older modems.
 
TDK announced a $56 rebate for owners of TDK CyberExpress 3000 and DataVoice 3400 PCMCIA card modems when they buy any TDK 56K modem. It's not a huge rebate, but the good news is that you get to keep your old modem.
 
Bay Networks has announced a free, software-based K56flex upgrade for the 5399, plus a trade-in program for the 6100, 6300, 5391 and 5393. Bay also has a remote access white paper that discusses 56K technology.
 
Guoqiang Fan asked us about upgrades for the Mwave modem in his IBM Aptiva. A check of the IBM Aptiva page uncovered an IBM press release about the new S-series Aptivas (the S8C, S9H and S9C). The press release states that the included 33.6 modems will be "upgradeable to 56Kbps through IBM Aptiva Update Connector at no additional cost during the first year." No word yet on upgrades for older Mwave modems. IBM's press release does not specifically refer to the modems in the Aptiva S-series as Mwaves, though they may be.
 
These latest announcements bring to twenty the number of manufacturers offering 56K upgrades for their older modems. See our upgrade guide for the complete rundown.
 
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