Re 3COM... Is this what they bring to the set top?
cabledatacomnews.com
3Com Starts Shipping Two-Way
DOCSIS Solution
TCI Planning Buy-Only Launches with 3Com
to Answer Key Cable Modem Retail Questions
3Com Corp. announced it has started shipping its two-way DOCSIS
cable modem system to Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI) and other
operators. TCI has started a field test of the products, which include
the 3Com Total Control cable modem termination system (CMTS) and
U.S. Robotics Cable Modem CMX, in Spokane, Wash.
3Com is working hard to push its DOCSIS cable modems into retail
stores and the company has found a friend in TCI, which cannot wait to
eliminate cable modem capital expenditures. However, due to high
initial cable modem costs, limited service availability and delays in
DOCSIS certification, both parties agree it will take time and effort to
make retail a reality for MSOs.
3Com built its CMTS using its flagship Total Control remote access
concentrator platform, which is widely used by dial-up ISPs and
enterprise customers. 3Com's two-way external U.S. Robotics Cable
Modem CMX carries a suggested retail price of $319. 3Com is also
offering the U.S Robotics Cable Modem CMI, an internal PCI card
with a suggested retail price below $300.
DOCSIS certification will start in Dec. and it looks like 3com is
ready.
cabledatacomnews.com
DOCSIS vs DVB in Europe.... In this territory DIVI and 3 COM seem to be in opposite camps.. but in the US I don't know.
The Market will Decide DVB vs. DOCSIS Debate
Dueling cable modem standards coalitions took the stage at the
European Cable Communications show in October to promote their
positions.
Nine cable vendors joined the DVB/DAVIC Interoperability
Consortium to advance digital cable modems and set-tops based on the
technology. The participants include: Alcatel, COCOM, DiviCom,
Hughes Network Systems, Nokia, Sagem, Simac, Thomson Broadcast
Systems and Thomson Multimedia. This fall, EuroCableLabs issued a
RFP for DVB-based cable modem equipment.
Not to be outdone, a dozen other vendors formed the European Cable
Modem Coalition to advocate the use of products that meet the
ITU-TJ.112 cable modem standard, which combines DOCSIS
technology with a DVB downstream physical layer. These
DOCSIS-driven vendors include 3Com, Broadcom, Cisco Systems,
Dassault IT, Deltakabel, Elsa, FUBA-General Instrument, Motorola,
Pace, Samsung, Teldat, and Tonna.
Trying to get to the bottom of this debate? Forget the rhetoric and
follow the purchase orders. The early winner in the DOCSIS vs. DVB
cable modem spat will be apparent by next spring as European cable
operators start placing high-volume cable modem orders. We're placing
our bets on the DOCSIS crowd for initial customer wins, but expect
there to be meaningful technical convergence between the camps over
the next three years to prevent significant market fragmentation. |
