Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!hayes!tnixon
From: tnixon@hayes.uucp
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: CIS & USR DS
Message-ID: <3716.27886916@hayes.uucp>
Date: 7 Jan 91 12:27:02 GMT
References: <49@ns.UUCP>
Distribution: na
Organization: Hayes Microcomputer Products, Norcross, GA
Lines: 30

In article <49@ns.UUCP>, bob@ns.UUCP (Robert J. Mathias Jr.) writes:

> In a previous article, I reported that CompuServe had purchased USR Dual
> standard modems.  I have just found out that these modems are rack mounted and
> that CIS plans to only enable V.32 on these modems.  It seems a pity that 
> CIS does not play to enable HST mode.  Also I cannot figure out why they
> chose the Dual Standard if they only plan on using V.32.  

When I asked a CompuServe rep about this, he explained that they 
aren't enabling HST mode for a very simple reason:  once they offer 
a service, it is almost impossible to ever withdraw it or not offer 
it universally.  Because only USR builds modems with the 
non-standard HST modulation, if CompuServe enabled HST modulation, 
they'd be locked into using only USR modems, forever and ever.  They 
don't want this!  They went with USR because few companies now have 
rack-mounted V.32 modems, but this won't be the case in the future.  
They want to be able to choose from a wide range of alternatives the 
NEXT time they go out to bid on modems, and not be stuck with having 
to provide a non-standard modulation forever.

As to why they chose DS modems rather than just V.32s, it was 
probably because that was what was available at the time in 
sufficient qualitities.  I'm sure CIS cut a good deal and didn't pay 
for the HST modulation they weren't going to use.

-- 
Toby Nixon, Principal Engineer    | Voice   +1-404-449-8791  Telex 151243420
Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc. | Fax     +1-404-447-0178  CIS   70271,404
P.O. Box 105203                   | UUCP uunet!hayes!tnixon  AT&T    !tnixon
Atlanta, Georgia  30348  USA      | Internet       hayes!tnixon@uunet.uu.net