To: Rohit Sood who wrote (34700 ) 2/13/1998 8:14:00 AM From: Gary Korn Respond to
Feb 12, 1998 (COMMUNICATIONS TODAY) -- The Vendors' ISDN Association
(VIA) has announced that 15 of its members plan to release Always
On/Dynamic ISDN protocol support on their products in 1998. The
technology allows users to stay connected to the Internet or a
corporate LAN 24 hours-a-day over the 9.6 Kbps D- channel of ISDN basic
rate interface (BRI) service. The protocol also can sense when large
files are being transmitted towards an end user, and turn up the two B
channels of ISDN automatically for the full 128 Kbps of bandwidth
available on ISDN.
The 9.6 Kbps D-channel of ISDN BRI is a packet-switched service, which
in many cases has a low price in carrier tariffs. Always On/Dynamic
ISDN will allow users to receive e-mail from their Internet service
providers (ISP) around the clock. Carriers and ISPs could also develop
services to download news and stock quotes to end users over the
D-channel of ISDN.
"VIA members are excited and pleased to see the progression of 'Always
On' from a VIA initiative proposed in late 1996 to the product and
application' [available] now," says Walt Mansell, VIA president.
"Simultaneous release of AO/DI products and support by carriers helps
to ensure that the application works transparently, and will
demonstrate the level of coordination attained between VIA and the
National ISDN Council to achieve AO/DI implementation."
Ameritech [AIT], Bell Atlantic [BEL], BellSouth [BLS], and SBC
Communications [SBC] have each confirmed that they will support AO/DI
in their territories in the first quarter of 1998. "AO/DI is perfect
for telecommuters and home-based workers because the application
simulates an 'in-the-office' environment," reports Garrett Jenkins,
chair of the NIC and an ISDN industry liaison at BellSouth. "We are
pleased to see the strong interest and support of AO/DI shown by ISDN
vendors and service providers."
Some of the equipment vendors launching Always On/Dynamic ISDN products
in 1998 include 3Com Corp. [COMS], ADTRAN [ADTN], Ascend Communications
[ASND], Eicon Technology, Jetstream Communications, and Shiva [SHVA].
(Vendors' ISDN Association, 510/277-8110.)
