Diamond Multimedia and Nortel (Northern TElecom) to Develop 1-Meg Modem
Anyone up for another modem battle?
Companies to Deliver High-Speed Internet Access to the Home in 1998
VANCOUVER, Wash., July 7 /PRNewswire/ - Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: DIMD - news), a leader in interactive multimedia acceleration, and Nortel (Northern Telecom) (NYSE:NT/TSE: NTL) today announced that they plan to co-develop a PCI card using Nortel's 1-Meg (one megabit per second) Modem technology. This co-branded DSL (digital subscriber line) solution will combine the functionality of a modem and an ethernet card for extremely fast Internet access.
Diamond and Nortel's co-branded product is expected to be simple to deploy as it requires no subscriber service call and no rewiring at the home or central office. The product's ''always on'' connection will be up to 17 times faster than a 56Kbps modem and provide all the features and benefits one expects from a DSL solution: fast downloads of Internet content, no busy signals and the ability to use voice and fax while connected to the Internet.
Diamond Multimedia continuously looks for ways to bring faster, leading-edge communications products to the consumer. Nortel's strong central office and digital network experience coupled with Diamond's modem brand recognition and channel experience makes for a winning team. ''We have teamed with Nortel to deliver a cost-effective, quality DSL solution that works in today's network,'' said Jim Cady, vice president and general manager of Diamond Multimedia Communications Division. ''Implementing DSL service requires only a simple upgrade to Nortel's current installed base of switching equipment.''
Industry Support
In just eight months Nortel has received over $US 1 billion in total orders for its 1-Meg modem technology. Diamond Multimedia and Nortel believe that now is the best time to combine efforts and develop a product that addresses the growing DSL market. Nortel has already announced major contracts with Transwire Communications, Inc., AGIS Communications, MegsInet and a number of public institutions and ISP's throughout the country. In addition, Microsoft has recognized the potential of DSL products by announcing the development of consumer applications that will work with 1-Meg Modem technology like that found in the Diamond and Nortel product.
Diamond and Nortel support the Universal ADSL Working Group as that group works to establish a DSL standard. Diamond Multimedia and Nortel believe that their agreement to co-develop a 1-Meg modem product may actually help accelerate and add insight to the standard-making process.
Diamond and Nortel intend to roll-out the 1-Meg Modem product in the third quarter of 1998 and plan to distribute the product through their respective distribution channels. Diamond Multimedia also expects to build other consumer premise equipment using Nortel's 1-Meg modem technology later in the year. More information on Nortel's 1-Meg modem technology can be found at www.nortel.com/1megmodem.
Diamond Multimedia holds a leadership role in the modem industry with its Supra modem product line. The SupraExpress 56 line of modems continues to be one of the most popular analog modems available today. Diamond's new dual-line modem, the SupraSonic II with Shotgun technology, offers Internet users download speeds of up to 112Kbps over two ordinary analog phone lines, demonstrates the company's ability to quickly bring advanced technology modem products to the consumer marketplace.
Diamond Multimedia is driving the interactive multimedia market by providing advanced solutions for home, business and professional desktop computer users, enabling them to create, access and experience compelling new media content from their desktops and through the Internet. Diamond accelerates multimedia from the Internet to the hard drive with products that include the Stealth and ViperAE series of media accelerators, the Monster series of entertainment 3D and sound accelerators, the Fire series of professional 3D and SCSI accelerators, and the SupraAE series of modems. Diamond's common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol DIMD, and its web site address is www.diamondmm.com.
Nortel had 1997 revenues of US$15.5 billion and has approximately 73,000 employees worldwide.
SOURCE: Northern Telecom Limited
|
