Netcom UK ISP Opens x2 Access Ports
BRACKNELL, BERKSHIRE, 1997 MAY 5 (Newsbytes) -- By Steve Gold. In a
surprise move, Netcom UK, the UK division of the US Internet service
provider (ISP) of the same name, has become the first ISP in the UK to
offer immediate and full access at 56,000 bits-per-second (bps).
According to officials with Netcom, the company has installed US
Robotics' x2 rackmount modems on its dial-in ports. When Newsbytes
spoke to the company late Friday about the company's reasons for
adopting x2 over the rival Rockwell-Lucent k56flex system, a
spokesperson said that the x2 technology is available from US Robotics
now, while k56flex systems are still not widely available.
Netcom claims that all of its UK dial-up ports, with immediate effect, are now enabled for 56Kbps access. Of course, Newsbytes notes, only a very few x2 alpha test modems from USR are "out and about" in the UK, since almost all of US Robotics' x2 modem support so far on its test program has been on the rack mount side.
Nick Lambert, Netcom UK's operations director, claims that the move to support x2 demonstrates the company's leading edge approach to its ISP operations. "The move to X2 modem technology, will provide our dial-up users with more efficient and competitive access to information," he said.
According to Netcom, the main reasons for adopting USR's x2 technology were speed of delivery and the future-proofing of the Total Control Chassis rackmount systems. Netcom UK officials note that the company's Canadian division is also supporting x2 modem access to the public. It remains to be seen how many Netcom subscribers actually use the x2 ports, Newsbytes notes. Only a very few people in the UK actually have access to x2 modems, or for that matter, k56flex modems. And those that do report that the modems are still very much in alpha test. Netcom's Web site is at netcom.net.uk .
-0-
(19970505/Press Contact: Ted Lelekas, A Plus +44-1753-790700; E-mail:
tlelekas@aplus.co.uk; Reader Contact: Netcom Internet UK +44-1344-
395555/Reported By Newsbytes News Network: newsbytes.com)
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