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From: prc@erbe.se (Robert Claeson)
Newsgroups: comp.society
Subject: Re: What can ISDN be used for
Message-ID: <1211@limbo.Intuitive.Com>
Date: 19 Sep 90 00:49:29 GMT
Sender: taylor@limbo.Intuitive.Com
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Approved: taylor@Limbo.Intuitive.Com

In a recent article Mike Rychener writes:

> With ISDN, it is apparently possible to carry on several communications
> simultaneously, including data and voice and Fax, etc.  That alone would
> save on the number of physical phone lines needed.

But... isn't the data communications part of ISDN a circuit-switched
network like X.21 as opposed to a packet-switching one? That would mean
that there can only be one connection per ISDN outlet (just like with
a dial-up modem). And then there's of course the problem with interfacing
to ISDN. If my memory serves me right, X.21 is needed in order to get
auto-connection. Otherwise, one will need to connect manually using some
kind of external box.

Robert Claeson