This is old news, but I didn't see it posted. Sounds interesting:
Hong Kong's Internet Access Picks Up
Speed
Source: Newsbytes
HONGKONG, 1997 MARCH 18 (NB) via Individual Inc. -- By Patty
Oey, IT Daily. Hongkong Telecom IMS Netvigator is the first of a
number of local ISPs to begin offering 56 Kbps access this week, via
US Robotics modems.
Francis Fong, vice-president of Synergy, US Robotics' local
distributor, said more than 10 Hong Kong ISPs had purchased the
modems, including Star Internet and Chevalier Internet. He believed
this covered about 70 percent of local Internet users.
Currently, there is no universal standard for 56Kbps technology, with
two competing standards -- US Robotics x2 and Rockwell and
Lucent Technology's K56Flex modems-- unable to "talk" with each
other. A universal standard is currently being developed.
US Robotics, however, has beaten its competitors to the market.
William Lo, IMS's managing director, said that Netvigator would offer
access with all types of 56 Kbps modems when they become
available. There would be no extra dial-up fees for users of the 56K
modems.
In Hong Kong, 56 Kbps modems would average about 40 to 50
Kbps, Fong said. The US Robotics' 56 Kbps Sportster modem
costs HK$1,688, much cheaper than an ISDN 128 Kbps Terminal
Adapter. Both Fong and Lo foresee ISDN having poor prospects.
"With the availability of 56Kbps modems, the benefits of ISDN are
going to be marginal," Lo said.
Following the recent departure of Samantha Hon, ex-general
manager of IMS, rumored to have been fired after losing an internal
power struggle, IMS officials said Hon's duties were now shared by
Judy Inn, managing businesses and service development, and Alex
Tam, managing Internet platform and application development.
(19970324/ Reported By Newsbytes News Network:
newsbytes.com)
[03-18-97 at 15:00 EST, Copyright 1997, Newsbytes News
Network.]
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