Can't Drive 55: IBM Global
Services Goes to 56-kbps
With x2
by Glenn McDonald, PC World
May 29, 1997
IBM Global Services, one of the largest business ISPs in the game,
announced today that it would implement U.S. Robotics' x2 technology for
56-kbps modems at more than 500 U.S. network access points.
This comes on the heels of an announcement yesterday from USR that all
x2 products--both on the consumer side and on the server side--will be
upgraded free to the 56-kbps modem standard expected to be adopted in
1998.
USR's x2 technology has been in a protracted war with the K56flex
protocol from Rockwell and Lucent. The two standards are not
interoperable, meaning that a 56-kbps x2 modem can't talk to a 56-kbps
K56flex modem. Consumer modem makers and ISPs have been taking
sides in the standoff, leaving consumers confused as to when and if to buy a
56-kbps modem. The final 56K protocol isn't expected from the
International Telecommunications Union until sometime next year.
Lisa Pelgrim, an analyst for industry research firm Dataquest,
recommended paying attention to the upgrade path of your modem. "Know
your vendor's upgrade policy, and make sure it's free. That's important."
With USR promising free software upgrades--meaning you can simply
download the new standard from the Internet--the company seems to be in
a strong position. Almost all 56-kbps modems will be upgradable via
software, but not all upgrades will be free.
"USR is definitely ahead in the game," Pelgrim said. "They've had much
more aggressive marketing and this announcement shows USR can still
attract and partner with new ISPs."
IBM said the implementation of x2 was accomplished in 30 days in North
America due to Global Services' local interface gateway infrastructure, which allows
higher access speeds with a simple software upgrade. That
same infrastructure suggests an equally speedy shift to the new standard
coming next year.
The bottom line: If you want 56-kbps access, check with your ISP to see
which standard, x2 or K56flex, it supports. Many support both, and
some--like AT&T's WorldNet service, the largest Internet service provider
in the country--don't plan to support 56-kbps connections at all until a
standard is resolved.
Then make sure you're getting a software-upgradable modem and a good
deal on the upgrade. Free is about the best deal around, and you can
expect plenty of modem manufacturers to match USR's free upgrade
policy. |
