<<<I wasn't aware that Compaq and HWP are going towards DMT only>>>
Hi bill, I too have no proof of a major boxmaker preparing for DMT only. But, it certainly makes sense to me that if they had to choose, it would be DMT because of the BB consortium's supply pact with ALA. The computer makers will try to avoid another confusing x2 fiasco. It looks to me like DMT has already raced ahead in the PR battle. Look at PacBell's FasTrak home page for example. They're not just selling ADSL anymore--they're promoting DMT and Alcatel (initially). If I (I'm in PacBell territory) buy a computer this fall with a ADSL modem and NIC I'll want DMT, assurances of interoperability aside---because my telco has DMT! It may not be fair and the best technology my not have won (though I think it has) but, we must acknowledge Westell did a lousy job selling CAP and suffered credibility in the process. Geographically, CAP has a small bite and its architecture is now superfluous. Pushing CAP enabled Westel to survive Amati but now WSTL has the tools needed to compete with the current champion, Alcatel. Westell matches up with ALA in these respects:
1. Interoperability
2. Rate-Adaptiveness
3. Scalability
4. Standards compliant
5. DMT
These things Westell has. Of course it needs a chip too. But I think the box-makers will prefer to market Texas DMT to Mietec.
bill, I respect your efforts on behalf of Westell and concede your knowledge in this field surpasses mine, and admit I have prematurely counted CAP out before. But, I would be surprised if Globespan contributes much to Westell's bottom line in the future--although, as a WSTL shareholder, I will be 'pleasantly' surprised. IMHO sg
p.s. I'm waiting for WSTL's announcement of the product below.
ALCATEL ANNOUNCES A RATE ADAPTIVE DMT SOLUTION FOR ADSL-LITE WITH ITS STANDARD-COMPLIANT DSLAM
Paris, December 2, 1997 -- Alcatel has taken a further step in its continuing effort to improve the ease of use and ease of installation of ADSL.
It has demonstrated a high-speed ADSL service that does not need a POTS splitter to be installed in the subscriber's home. The "splitterless" ADSL service is offered over the existing Alcatel DSLAM and ADSL modem.
This further extends the range of services that can be offered with the Alcatel DSLAM to include a rate-adaptive splitterless ADSL-Lite service in addition to the full rate ADSL service. Moreover, the demonstration confirms that splitterless ADSL with simultaneous POTS services can be interoperable with DMT standard-compliant (T1.413) equipment.
Alcatel is active in contributing to the different standardisation bodies currently working on a "Lite" version of ADSL and ensuring that ADSL-Lite modems will be able to interwork with existing standard-compliant DSLAMs. Operators and service providers therefore have choice in offering a wide range of services to subscribers connected to a single type of ADSL DSLAM. This can range from several hundreds of kilobits to multiple megabits, with or without POTS splitters at the subscriber site. ADSL subscribers can be offered service upgrades with an optional installation of a POTS splitter to maximise performance.
Alcatel aims at commercially offering support for ADSL-Lite on its third-generation ADSL DSLAM. The highly-programmable, rate- adaptive DMT chipset currently used in the Alcatel ADSL equipment already offers the flexibility needed to implement this solution.
This new development for splitterless ADSL represents a further move by Alcatel to ensure mass-market availability of high-speed Internet access based on a single, standardised ADSL technology.
Recently, Alcatel has announced other ADSL products improving ADSL's ease of use, such as the ADSL PC-NIC card with Plug 'n Play support (shown at Interop '97, Atlanta) and the ADSL modem with USB interface (shown at Comdex '97, Las Vegas).
This solution offers operators a range of variants, including versions with and without splitters to allow them to extend their service offerings taking into account commercial, regulatory and installed base parameters. In addition, several variants of POTS splitters are available to maximise ADSL performance, as part of easy-to-install solutions.
Alcatel's main customers for ADSL technology are Singapore Telecom, the American operators Ameritech, BellSouth, Pacific Bell and SouthWestern Bell, Telia in Sweden, British Telecom and, more recently, Bell Canada, Belgacom, Telefonica in Spain and France Telecom. Pilot projects have also been ordered by Korea, Japan and Denmark. Today Alcatel holds over 30% of world market, making it the world leader in ADSL technology.
Alcatel, the Telecom segment of Alcatel Alsthom, designs, manufactures, and markets complete telecommunications systems. Activities include fixed switching networks, transmission systems, access systems, mobile communications infrastructure, business networking, submarine cable networks, as well as radiocommunications, space, and defense systems. ÿWith operations in over 130 countries, Alcatel is a leading-edge supplier in the majority of its businesses. In 1996, these activities registered total sales of FF 71 billion ($13.65 billion). Alcatel Alsthom trades on the Bourse de Paris and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ALA).
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