Big price cuts unlikely on old models
South China Morning Post - Tue, Mar 10 1998
Modems based on the recently announced 56 kilobits-per-second standard will be
here soon, but don't expect savings on older models.
Prices for x2 and K56Flex modems are unlikely to fall in Hong Kong even as
vendors clear out their stock to make way for the new V.90 models.
Rockwell Asia-Pacific marketing manager Brian Chao said K56Flex model prices
might not fall because of the ease of upgrade.
Francis Fong, of 3Com modem distributor Synergy, predicted that any price cuts
offered "would not be big, probably less than {HK}$50". He said pricing "will be
determined by the market and vendors".
But low-priced V.90 modems soon will be released in the United States. 3Com and
Diamond Multimedia recently announced plans to release entry-level V.90 modems
for US$99, but it is not known whether such deals will be offered in Hong Kong.
A Hong Kong 3Com spokesman said there were "no plans to offer any low-cost
56 kbps {modems}". Diamond Multimedia could not be reached for comment.
Many consumers have held back from buying a 56 kbps modem because of
confusion over the two inter-operable standards, as well as the upgrade procedure,
but ISP managers say the 56 kbps modem is worth buying.
Convenience and the money saved on shorter on-line time was worth the purchase
price, said David Teng, Star Internet vice-president of sales and marketing. "But
{consumers} have to take care whether upgrades can be done with a software
download."
Buyers should seek Ram-based modems by brand-name vendors who will supply
free, post-sale upgrades to users through their Web site.
YVONNE CHAN
(Copyright 1998)
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#13579 certainly was odd, but not of prime importance.
o~~~ O |
