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Logicode is out of the modem business. In a press release dated February 6, Logicode announced that it has stopped producing modems and is seeking a buyer for its manufacturing equipment and other assets. Effective February 16, technical support and warranty inquiries can be directed to 20600 Prairie Street, Chatsworth, California 91311-6008, 818-678-1850. The company's web site is still online for now.
In the yet another DSL department, Centillium is promoting what it calls Universal DSL. Key features include low power consumption, low cost for the consumer DSL equipment, ease of deployment, and the ability to work over distances greater than 18,000 feet. The company has a press release.
V.90 upgrades
Multi-Tech and Xircom announced plans for free V.90 upgrades in March.
Like Hayes, Multi-Tech and Xircom modems will have ability to support V.90 and K56flex, but apparently not both at the same time. They can use one or the other, and re-installation (which probably means a firmware change) will be required to switch between them. The three vendors all call this feature by slightly different names - including "dual modem capacity," "dual capability, "and "dual mode capacity, " respectively - but it's clear they're reading from the same page.
New @ 56K.COM
The ITU's V.90 56K modem standard isn't even a week old, but companies are already announcing new products and upgrades. Look for a new page at 56K.COM to track the release of V.90 upgrades.
Shiva claims to be the first company to put V.90 upgrades in the field. Selected sites have received the upgrades, which will be available on Shiva's web site Monday, February 16th.
Hayes announced that its first V.90 products will have what Hayes calls dual modem capacity: they will support both K56flex and V.90 for maximum compatibility. I'd be surprised if other modem vendors didn't offer the same feature. Hayes expects to ship V.90 products "as early as March 1998."
A Diamond Multimedia press release states that Diamond has begun V.90 interoperability testing. According to the release, the company's Supra 56K product line has established connections with both V.90-enabled Ascend MAX and 3Com Total Control servers, though it does not say at what speed. Diamond expects to offer V.90 upgrades this quarter.
Boca Research is offering a V.90 interoperability money back guarantee to assure customers that their V.90 products will interoperate with other V.90 products. Boca expects to ship standards-based modems by March, and free upgrades for existing Boca 56K modems by April.
Wired News reports that Rockwell began shipping V.90 chipsets on Monday, just days after approval of the standard. Rockwell doesn't sell modems, but the company makes the chips used by more than a hundred modem makers. Upgrades to V.90 for existing Rockwell-based modems will be delivered by the individual manufacturers, not by Rockwell.
Motorola expects to have V.90 upgrades on its web site by second quarter, according to a press release.
As reported here Friday and in a weekend update, the ITU has a recommended 56K standard, V.90 (formerly V.pcm).
Wired News estimates that sales of 56K modems will rise from 10 million units in 1997 to 30 million units in 1998, an increase attributed partly to the new standard.
A new 3Com page promises more information about their standards-based products and upgrades on February 16th.
A new Hayes web site, www.56kstandard.com, will track Hayes' release of standards-based products and upgrades.
For more coverage of the new standard, see Friday's news on 56K.COM. I'm contacting Rockwell this week to address questions about interoperability of Rockwell's V.90 with other V.90 implementations.
The listings for ISDN, DSL, and cable modem ISPs are taking longer than expected. Look for the new areas next Monday, the 16th.
56K.COM is written and maintained by Les Jones. Artwork by Mark Maxwell.