thought this might be of interest here. Off the intel thread.
...dkp...
Intel codeveloping
high-speed modem
By Stephanie Miles
November 14, 1997, 12:55 p.m. PT
Alcatel announced today that it will
be demonstrating a new asymmetric digital
subscriber line (ADSL) modem, developed
in conjunction with chipmaking giant Intel,
next week at Comdex.
The prototype ADSL modem connects to
a computer's Universal Serial Bus (USB),
rather than a network interface card, which
most ADSL modems require. Most
computers come equipped with a USB.
ADSL technology has been slow to catch
on in the consumer market, not only
because of high costs but also because it is
complicated to install. The computer must
have a network interface card installed and
connect to a telephone company that has
ADSL equipment at its end.
With the addition of the easy-to-connect
USB modem, however, the technology
comes one step closer to being viable as a
consumer product.
"ADSL technology is not new, and USB is
not new. The two together is very new,"
said Holland Wood, product marketing
manager for Intel Architecture Labs.
ADSL offers much faster transmission
speeds than traditional modems, with
downstream speeds reaching as high as 8
mbps and upstream transmission of 1
mbps. ADSL also offers simultaneous
voice, data, and video transmission.
Typical analog modems offer transmission
at a maximum rate of 56 kbps.
According to Michael Newsom, a
spokesman for Alcatel, the USB modem
offers the same speeds as typical ADSL
technology. "It's real full-blown ADSL,"
Newsom said.
Representatives from both companies
noted that the codeveloped prototype does
not mean that Intel has made a
commitment to further develop or
distribute the modem. "Intel has a general
broadband interest, for making broadband
easier to use for PC users," said Wood.
The modem will be demonstrated publicly
for the first time at the Intel booth at the
Comdex industry trade show in Las Vegas.
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Barry |
