Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!olivea!uunet!hayes!tnixon
From: tnixon@hayes.uucp
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.modems
Subject: Re: Another 9600 protocol!
Message-ID: <3826.27d2479a@hayes.uucp>
Date: 4 Mar 91 13:11:54 GMT
References: <1991Mar2.005717.14483@qiclab.scn.rain.com>
Organization: Hayes Microcomputer Products, Norcross, GA
Lines: 75

In article <1991Mar2.005717.14483@qiclab.scn.rain.com>,
al@qiclab.scn.rain.com (Al Peterman) posted information on the 
CompuCom proprietary 9600 modem.  I have a couple of comments on the 
description.

> The v.32 
> standard originates from The International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative 
> Committee, CCITT.  Unfortunately, the committee overlooked something 
> important...YOU...the PC user.  It was biased toward main frame, not PC 
> communications, thus cost wasn't an issue.  v.32 technology is intrinsically 
> too costly to achieve the required performance/cost goal.  

This is simply not true.  We've seen dramatic reduction in the cost 
of V.32 modems over the past year or two -- from almost $3,000, down 
to street prices under $500.  Many analysts believe that the price 
will go even lower.  There is nothing "intrinsically too costly" 
about a V.32 modem that makes it more expensive; but it _has_ been 
costly because of the available technology, until now.  There's no 
reason why the cost of implementing V.32/V.32bis will not continue 
to fall as technology progresses.

Also, I _must_ comment on this idea that the CCITT is "biased" 
toward mainframe applications.  That is also simply not true.  
Hayes, USRobotics, Telebit, and many other modem companies that 
focus on the PC marketplace have been active in the CCITT for many 
years, and you can be sure that we quite vocally look out for the 
interests of our customers!  

> All high speed modems can communicate at 2400 bps, and many support MNP.  
> However, there is no modem which can communicate at 9600 bps with all other 
> 9600 bps modems.  Of four high speed modem types selling today: US Robotics, 
> HST, CompuCom, SpeedModem; Telebit, TrailBlazer; and Hayes et al.,v.32: NOT ONE 
> of these modem types will communicate at 9600 bps with any other one!  They 

Huh?  What utter nonsense.  Any V.32 modem can communicate with a 
V.32 modem from any other vendor.  USR, Telebit, Hayes, Microcom, 
and most other modem vendors have high-speed modems that implement
V.32 and can communicate with high-speed modems from other 
companies.  CompuCom is virtually ALONE in offering ONLY a 
proprietary, non-standard modem, and failing to offer compatibility 
at high speed.

> must be the same kind.  When purchasing a high speed modem one must consider 
> both compatibility (with whom will one be communicating) and cost.  The 
> SpeedModems' low cost makes it an extremely attractive alternative to 
> established high speed modem types for the majority of users.  Thus it is 
> expected to gather a wide base of support.  Many services which support v.32 
> modems will also likely support SpeedModems in the near future.   

Who are these "Many services"?  CompuServe?  Prodigy?  SprintNet?  
BT Tymnet?  No way are these important nationwide services
considering yet another new, unproven, proprietary, non-standard
modem technology for implementation.  No way!  They realize that the
cost of V.32 modems is quickly dropping, and they're not going to
sign on to a cheap non-standard modem just because it provides some
temporary price advantage -- and then be locked into providing that
service forever, even though it's only available from one company. 
A few BBS sysops might be willing to buy into it, but most sysops
are much more aware of the importance of widespread compatibility
than they used to be. 

If CompuCom really believes what they've written about the 
likelihood of their modem acheiving any kind of widespread 
acceptance, they're suffering from severe cranio-rectal inversion. 
God help their investors. 

[And I apologize in advance to anyone who finds these comments 
offensive, but I feel strongly about the issue of complying with 
standards.]

-- 
Toby Nixon, Principal Engineer    | Voice   +1-404-840-9200  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