56K.COM: V.92 Modem Standard

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Special Report:

V.92 Modem Standard

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) has announced an improved ITU-T 56K modem standard: V.92. Though the top speed for downloads is still 56K, V.92 has a number of enhancements:

Startup time - the time needed to establish a connection - has been reduced, making hopping on and off the Internet much easier. This should make it easier to hop on and off the Internet. Reports from months ago claimed that startup time had been reduced from around twenty seconds to about five seconds, though more recent reports put the figure at ten seconds. (One difference in the figures may be whether or not dialing time is included, or if the figures only cover the time when the two modems are screeching at each other during the connection phase.)
V.92 has a standard method of disconnecting the modem long enough to let you know that someone is trying to call you without losing the connection, a feature being referred to as "Internet call waiting."
The maximum upload speed has been increased from 33.6K to 48K, which should improve video conferencing and general uploading.

The ITU-T also proposed two new related modem standards:

The ITU-T has upgraded the V.42bis compression to V.44, which it says compresses data 25% more effectively.
V.59 is a new protocol for facilitating modem and connection fault-finding.

Final approval of the new standards could come as early as the group's November, 2000 meeting.

ITU Press Release: Voiceband Modem Standards Take Another Significant Step Forward

V.92 links

newest first

NetworkWorldFusion: New modem standard boosts access options (July 17, 2000)

ZDNet: Modems Get an Extra Bit of Oomph

InternetNews: ITU Moves to Speed Modem Improvements

P.S. The V92.com domain is already registered. Conexant Systems got it on January 12, 2000.