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- @BEGIN_FILE_ID.DIZ
- USR Announces Officially for the FIRST TIME:
- 56k Modems Over standard Phone Lines!!!!
- Available as an Upgrade SOON!!(jan '97)
- Snapped DIRECT from the USR UK BBS by Turbo!
- @END_FILE_ID.DIZ
-
-
- U.S. ROBOTICS SHATTERS SPEED BARRIER: DELIVERS 56 Kbps OVER STANDARD
- TELEPHONE LINES
-
- Internet Service Providers Embrace New x2 Technology; Plan Field Trials &
- Roll-Out
-
- Skokie, Ill., October 16, 1996 -- U.S. Robotics (NASDAQ:USRX) today announced
- a key breakthrough in modem technology that provides Internet and on-line
- connections at speeds nearly twice as fast as those currently available over
- standard telephone lines.
-
- U.S. Robotics' new x2 increases the top speed of a standard modem for
- downloading data from 28.8 or 33.6 Kbps to 56 Kbps -- equivalent to many
- Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) connections, but without the need
- for expensive new central office equipment required by other high-speed
- technologies.
-
- Service Providers Sign Up for x2
- U.S. Robotics also announced that the world's leading Internet and on-line
- service providers support x2. To date, more than 30 service providers
- worldwide have agreed to participate in field trials with broad roll-out
- plans to follow.
-
- "We believe that this development marks a quantum leap in technology for
- Internet and on-line services, and that it will add huge impetus to the growth
- of consumer Internet services in the UK. We will be the first to pass this
- onto our wholesale customers, such as Virgin," said Jag Sanger, marketing
- manager for Cable Online.
-
- "As the worldwide leader in providing consumer Internet on-line services,
- America Online is excited about the x2 technology that will provide our more
- than 6.2 million members the ability to access AOL at even faster speeds," said
- Matt Korn, vice president, operations, America Online. "We will continue to
- work with innovative technology, like x2, which will expand our members'
- experience and enable them to use a variety of multimedia services on AOL."
-
-
- "We plan to aggressively deploy this new high-speed modem technology across the
- IBM Global Network's more than 500 local calling points in the U.S.," said Gary
- Weis, general manager, worldwide operations, IBM Global Network. "As soon as
- this new feature becomes available, the IBM Global Network will implement x2
- via our automated software download process that enables customers to obtain
- network enhancements like this easily and quickly," he said. In the near term,
- IBM Global Network will use x2 technology in the U.S., Canada and 14 other
- countries.
-
-
- These service providers already use U.S. Robotics' Total Control Enterprise
- Network Hub, a remote access server, which will enable them to quickly and
- easily upgrade their networks and offer x2 service to millions of existing
- subscribers.
-
- With the introduction of x2, U.S. Robotics will deliver the industry's only
- immediate, end-to-end higher speed solution for both individuals and service
- providers. "No other company has both the market presence and systems
- architecture to immediately provide on-line and Internet Service Providers
- (ISPs) with a significantly faster and better Internet experience," said Casey
- Cowell, chairman, chief executive officer and president of U.S. Robotics.
-
- U.S. Robotics submitted a proposal for 56 Kbps modem speeds to the ITU-T in
- September. As a key contributor to many past standards, the company plans to
- lead the effort to standardize 56 Kbps technology worldwide. However, because
- of the typically lengthy time to bring a standard to fruition, U.S. Robotics is
- bringing x2, a proprietary technology, to market immediately.
-
- "The unique combination of USR's market leadership in modems and Texas
- Instruments' market leadership in DSP (Digital Signal Processor) solutions
- will set a new standard in Internet access for the networked society," said
- Rich Templeton, SemiConductor Group president for Texas Instruments. "USR's
- new x2 technology enables solutions for a wide variety of communications
- products, and TI is pleased to be part of this innovative technology."
-
- Why Faster is Better
- Surfing the World Wide Web has become immensely popular, but the increase in
- complex graphical content on web sites has slowed the downloading process. x2
- substantially speeds up the delivery of information and reduces time wasted
- waiting for information, thereby increasing productivity for users.
-
- "As the Internet continues to evolve from a novelty into an important business
- tool, customers are demanding faster and more reliable service," said Steve
- Tabaska, executive director, MCI data services engineering. "Through the use
- of U.S. Robotics' x2 technology, MCI will be able to offer our dial-up
- Internet customers faster connectivity without the added expense of an ISDN
- line."
-
-
- Most Internet access continues to take place over regular telephone lines, so
- x2 technology is expected to have a widespread impact. "Increasing the speed
- at which data can be delivered will dramatically improve service for those
- already using the Internet, and it will encourage more people to get
- connected," Cowell said.
-
- x2 Enhances Corporate Remote Access
- Any corporation can easily add x2 to existing Total Control systems through a
- software upgrade. This flexible upgrade path is unmatched in the industry and
- is the reason many major corporations have standardized on Total Control. The
- system was designed with "investment protection," which allows customers to
- easily take advantage of new technologies without completely changing to new
- hardware in their networks.
-
-
- U.S. Robotics' corporate and smaller ISP customers also will benefit from the
- company's other remote access products that will offer x2.
-
- "Corporate applications are fueling tremendous growth in remote access, "Cowell
- said. "As the top remote access provider, U.S. Robotics will be the company
- that delivers multiple higher-speed solutions," he said.
-
- x2 Technology Boosts "Downstream" Data Delivery
- U.S. Robotics develops its own modem technology, unlike competitors who
- purchase "chipsets" from third parties. By using DSPs, which are programmable
- modem engines, U.S. Robotics has the flexibility to innovate new capabilities,
- unlike most other companies.
-
- x2 is an asymmetrical technology that supplies 56 Kbps "downstream" for
- transmissions from service providers. It takes advantage of a special network
- configuration commonly encountered when an analog subscriber establishes a
- connection with a data server that is digitally connected to the Digital
- Telephone Network (DTN). This new transmission technique differs fundamentally
- from the modulation techniques used for high speed modems.
-
- This model is ideal for Internet or remote access because information sent to
- the individual desktop is typically graphics-based and requires a
- high-performance channel. User requests, such as http commands, require less
- bandwidth and can be transmitted quickly "upstream" at conventional 28.8 or
- 33.6 Kbps speeds.
-
- Because of U.S. Robotics' flexible software-based modem architecture, the
- company also has the capability to add both proprietary protocols and standards
- to its products, ensuring compatibility and connections with other products at
- the highest speeds available.
-
- It's Easy to Upgrade to x2
- In many cases, individuals will be able to obtain a simple, inexpensive upgrade
- for their U.S. Robotics modems. U.S. Robotics Sportster modems now on retail
- shelves worldwide can be upgraded to x2; Sportster x2 upgrades will be
- available in January 1997.
-
- The vast majority of homes and offices will be able to take advantage of x2,
- although some locations may not be able to achieve these speeds because the
- configuration of the local telephone loop will not accommodate the service. The
- connection at those locations will fall back to the highest standard modem
- speed available on that line.
-
- U.S. Robotics will conduct field trials in November and begin shipping x2 to
- Internet and on-line service providers as well as end users during the first
- calendar quarter of 1997.
-
- U.S. Robotics is one of the world's leading suppliers of products and systems
- that provide access to information. The company designs, manufactures, markets
- and supports remote access servers, enterprise communications systems,
- desktop/mobile client products and modems and telephony products that connect
- computers and other equipment over analog, digital and switched cellular
- networks, enabling users to gain access to, manage and share data, fax and
- voice information. Its customers include Internet service providers, regional
- Bell operating companies, inter-exchange carriers and a wide range of other
- large and small businesses, institutions and individuals.
-
-
- INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDERS WORLDWIDE SUPPORTING
- U.S. ROBOTICS x2 TECHNOLOGY
-
- North American and Global Providers
- America Online
- ANS
- Commonwealth Telephone
- CompuServe
- CyberGate
- HookUp (Canada)
- IBM Global Network
- Netcom
- MCI
- Mindspring
- Prodigy
- TDS Telecom
- U S West
- Web America
-
- Australia:
-
- Microplex
- Netexpress
-
- Austria:
-
- Netway
-
- France:
-
- Grolier Interactive Europe
-
- Germany:
-
- Bertelsmann ZI/MediaWays
- metronet
-
- Hong Kong:
-
- Hong Kong Star Internet
- Hong Kong Telecom
-
- Japan:
-
- ASCII
- Business Network Telecom
- Global Online
- Toyko Internet
-
- Norway:
-
- Telenor Online
-
- Taiwan:
- New Silkera Network
- WowNet
-
- United Kingdom:
-
- Cable Online
- UUNET Pipex
- NETCOM
-
-