AT&T Co has introduced the AT&T LapTop Complete Modem Chip set, and claims it is the first to enable modem makers to build a viable full-featured, battery-powered pocket modem or notebook personal computer modem operating at a striking 38.4Kbps for data – 9,600 bps with data compression – as well as the usual 9,600 bps for facsimile. AT&T looks to the new chip set to speed the migration away from lower performing 2,400bps modems as users discover that higher speed modems can pay for themselves in reduced phone charges during the first year of operation hardly something of vital interest to the long-distance phone service side of the house. The chip set implements modems that typically draw no more than 800mW when working – AT&T claims that is about the same as many 2,400bps modems – and takes only 15mW in built-in sleep mode. The chip set consists of four devices – DSP16A, T7525 Codec and V32INTFC, which implement the data-pump function including CCITT modulations specified in V.32, V.22bis, V.22, V.23, V.21, Bell212A, Bell103 for data communications and V.29, V.27ter and V.21(ch2) for send-and-receive facsimile communications and echo cancellation. The fourth part is the LMC Laptop Modem Controller, a microprocessor that supports the AT Command Set, V.42/V.42bis and MNP4 and MNP5 compression protocols, and EIA/TIA 578 Class I AT Command Extensions. The chip set is supported by a design package. The chip set requires a single 5V power supply and is available now, costing $105 when you order 10,000 sets or more.
