Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Ascend Communications-News Only!!! (ASND) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: FUZFO who wrote (1144)	2/9/1998 2:14:00 PM
From: Maverick	Respond to of 1629

V.pcm will boost modem sales to 75 MM a year by the year 2000 56K modem standard approved Compatibility: International union's OK enables many to log onto the Net twice as quickly. Mercury News Staff and Wire Reports GENEVA -- An international group has finally resolved the industry tussle that had crippled the 56K modem, setting a common standard that will nearly double the speed at which many people can log onto the Internet. The long-awaited decision by the International Telecommunications Union will resolve compatibility problems between two 56K technologies -- the x2 from 3Com Corp. and the K56flex, produced by Rockwell International and Lucent Technologies. 56K modems hit the market last spring and have since become standard issue on many new personal computers. But users have often found themselves unable to get a high-speed connection with those modems because of the compatibility issue. The ITU approved the 56K standard Thursday in Geneva and announced it Friday. It replaces the previous fastest standard for modems in common use over telephone lines, 33.6K or 33,600 bits per second. Manufacturers say they will quickly adopt the new standard -- and a host of smaller companies are expected to get into the 56K market soon. The ITU said the agreement is expected to boost modem sales significantly, to 75 million a year by the year 2000 from 50 million last year. Dataquest Inc., a San Jose research organization, estimates that manufacturers will ship 33 million so-called 56K modems this year, a sharp rise from the 10.8 million shipped last year. But problems remain, cautioned senior analyst Lisa Pelgrim, as manufacturers wring out problems in making one another's modems communicate, a process that might take two to three months. ''It's going to be a little messy, but we go through this with all new standards,'' she said. In addition, not all phone lines can handle a 56K connection. The telecommunications union decision removes ''a dark cloud'' over the market, said Neil Clemmons, vice president of marketing at San Jose-based 3Com. The executive said 3Com plans to begin shipping product that meets the new standard ''this quarter.'' The company also will be sending out new