[GTE, SuperComm and contracts]
<<< Doesn't it seem late in the game for GTE to be testing "more vendors" if they do plan to deploy this year?>>>
Yes and no. The advanced trials have little to do with whether the technology works. It does. Both Westell's FlexCap and Amati's Overture 8 work. Now it's a matter of testing applications. As in the Duke and Purdue trials, specific tasks/applications are being examined. In the Redmond trials I know they'll be testing multicasting among other things. They'll be testing the higher speeds to determine how to use them whereas the earlier tests were set up to determine if ADSL is viable.
Incidentally, I get the feeling GTE likes Amati's rate adaptability since they can set the speeds to 2, 4, or 6Mbps as they need. I knew the Overture 8 was rate adaptive depending on the quality of the line but I didn't realize it could be pre-set.
At the close of my time there, I asked my guide what the biggest surprises to come out of the tests were and she said the first was the fact they didn't have to replace the copper. At the outset they were replacing lines right and left and once they learned they didn't have to, they stopped. The second was the fact the installation was so simple. "It's too easy!" is a common response from the field. And then, of course, the fact that everyone using the service refused to relinquish it. As Bill Kula said at InterOp, "Not even from my dead cold hands will you take this away. . ."
Amati at SuperComm '97: I don't know which announcements they're saving, but I'll try to find out. This is the show where Amati's next to USRX. I'm not going, but I'm tempted to fly down just to see it. :))
<<<Remember you discussing how Deutsch Telecom "did not prefer" any mention of an alliance with Siemens or their ADSL plans. Just a subtle reminder.>>>
Did I notice a small smile forming at the corners of your mouth --- a slight twinkle in your eye? :) (How much you want to bet AT&T's testing our stuff????)
Cheers!
Pat
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