Rockwell Semiconductor Systems Inc has a new analog modem technology that operates at speeds of up to 56Kbps over standard phone lines, nearly twice the current fastest speed. However, the technology is not suitable for all situations, and will be pitched mainly at Internet access applications, although it can also be used where corporations have direct digital lines into their enterprise networks. The technology, which Rockwell intends to submit to standards bodies for consideration as a standard, relies upon the fact that for most users accessing the Internet over the PSTN the only portion of the call which is analog is from the user to a local phone company switch. The Newport Beach, California-based company says that for this reason traditional modulation techniques – which were designed for much longer distances over poorer quality lines – are no longer required, and that it has developed a new way of encoding that enables the higher speeds to be achieved. The technology does, however, require Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to have compatible equipment installed, although Armando Geday, vice president and general manager of Rockwell Semiconductor Systems’ multimedia communications division, believes the company will not have a tough job convincing them to buy: Given that the ISPs biggest problem is throughput, I don’t see why not he says. Rockwell is planning to demonstrate the technology at the forthcoming Las Vegas Comdex trade show in November, and says that it is working to analyze performance in real-world situations. Because testing is still at an early stage, says Geday, it is too early to talk about how much modems using the technology will cost. However, he predicts that the situation will be s imilar to what happened when 28.8Kbps modems were introduced, so that any initial price premium over slower products is eroded as uptake of the technology increases. As for Rockwell’s own plans, it is planning to launch a family of modem chipsets us ing the new technology, although it is not giving a development timescale for these. Immediately after Rockwell’s announcement Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc jumped on the bandwagon, by promising to support 56Kbps speeds on its modems and server products. However, the company has not committed itself to supporting Rockwell’s technology, and says it will wait to see what technology the standards bodies adopt. Hayes also said it will add support for the enhanced version of the V.34 that operates at 33.6Kbps to its Optima and Accura desktop modems, and its Century rack mount systems.
