In a bid to establish an industry standard for 56Kbps modem technology, almost 30 companies throughout the computer and communications industries have set up an Open Forum to actively encourage the widespread adoption of 56kbps. 56kbps analog modem technology can only achieve its speed if modems are compatible at both the end user’s site and at the Internet providers site, and therefore the Forum’s main aim is to achieve widespread compatibility and interoperability via a 56kbps protocol. Trials are underway across the US, initiated by some of the companies involved, based on the K56flex protocol which was established by Lucent Technologies Inc and Rockwell Semiconductor Systems last year. Companies such as 3Com Corp, Motorola Inc, Compaq Computer Corp, Cisco Systems Inc and Hewlett Packard Co have all joined the Forum which will hold its first meeting on March 27 in New York. Participants currently in the Forum represent 70% of the modem communication industry. The Forum has said that any company that is interested in supporting a universal 56kbps technology can become involved, the intention being that the more companies become involved, the easier it will be to establish a universal standard.
