Peter: more news.....
THE 56K MODEM GAMBLE -- Consumers are about to become high-tech gamblers, placing a bet on which of the two largely incompatible types of modems they should buy. The new modems, which are supposed to appear on store shelves in the next few weeks at about $200 each, can receive data at 56 kbps, but they do that only if they are talking to another modem built to the same technical standard. If not, they drop down to the much lower speed of 33 kbps. For past generations of modems, two camps each decided to go their own way. One is led by U.S. Robotics, the other is dominated by Rockwell and Lucent Technologies. The two firms have the support of large computer makers such as Compaq and Toshiba for a standard dubbed "K56flex." The Rockwell/Lucent camp is hoping to take advantage of its dominance in the market for both consumer modems and the heavy-duty devices used by Internet access providers. [Washington Post, 2/20]
U.S. ROBOTICS DELAYS 56K MODEM -- U.S. Robotics delayed selling a new computer modem that allows data from the Internet to be transferred at 56 kbps. The company planned to ship the new device to retailers last week. It was then going to release software that would allow its modems sold since August to be updated to the faster receiving speed. But the company is still working on software for the new modem and hopes to ship it within a few weeks. The delay jeopardizes the lead U.S. Robotics has over Rockwell. U.S. Robotics was perceived to have a six-month headstart on Rockwell until earlier this month, when Rockwell declared it would provide manufacturers with necessary parts and software in late March. [WSJ, 2/20] |
