What is 56K ??
For years, 33.6K was thought to be the practical transmission speed limit over
ordinary (analog) phone lines. Not any more. Pioneered by U.S. Robotics (now
3Com), x2™ technology shattered this barrier. x2 technology -- and now
the V.90 56K ITU standard -- are capable of high speed downloads over analog
phone lines.
This revolutionary breakthrough is brought to you by the advanced team of
engineers at 3Com. Their knowledge of the increasingly digital telephone system
makes 56K technology possible. This technology takes advantage of the typical
network configuration found when a modem dials into a digitally connected Internet
service provider. Because it bypasses the analog-to-digital conversion in the
downstream path, it can use nearly all of the available 64K network bandwidth.
(Upstream data, typically less speed-sensitive, travels at up to 31.2K.)
The result is a completely new kind of transmission technique. Based on "encoding"
rather than "modulation," it can give you download speeds that you
never thought possible. What's more, with standard V.42 bis compression,
56K technology can download at speeds up to a blistering 115.2K.
Whether you're surfing the net, telecommuting from home, or accessing information
from a mobile location, 56K technology can help you get what you want, when
you want it.
3Com: First to Bring You V.90 56K ITU Standard Technology
3Com is uniquely positioned to bring you this breakthrough. We are one of the
leading providers of information access solutions in the world today. That's because
our communications products are favored by Internet service providers, corporate
networks and individual modem users. This is important, since a communication
technology must be in place on both ends of the connection to work properly for
you.
Connecting More People Than Anyone Else in the World
3Com® Total Control EnterpriseTM
Network Hubs are widely used by Internet service providers (ISPs), corporate sites
and online services. Our Megahertz® brand
is the leading choice for mobile users. And more people choose U.S. Robotics®
modems than any other desktop brand. All told, no company puts more communication
power into the hands of more people throughout the world than 3Com.
ISP Leaders Choose 3Com 56K Technology
America Online, CompuServe, IBM Global Services, MCI, MindSpring, Prodigy Internet
and WebAmerica Networks are just some of the nearly 1400 ISPs worldwide that currently
offer 3Com's 56K x2 technology to their subscribers through more than 42,000 local
phone numbers. 3Com is working with ISPs to upgrade to the new V.90 56K ITU standard
as quickly as possible.
Simply check to find out if your ISP supports 56K technology, or call them
directly.
Adopted by Industry Leaders
3Com 56K technology has been embraced by every sector of the communications industry,
including major retailers, chipset makers, and original equipment manufacturers.
This widespread acceptance ensures that both V.90 56K ITU standard and x2 technology
will be available to you on a variety of platforms, now and in the future.
Creating the Next Worldwide Standard
As the first company to bring you 14.4K, 28.8K/V.34 and 33.6K technology, 3Com
is the leader in blazing the trail toward faster standards. In fact, we were the
first company to submit a 56K technology proposal to the ITU board, and were instrumental
in moving the standard toward determination and eventual ratification.
And because we're committed to universal compatibility, all 3Com V.90 56K
standard-compliant products will continue to work with x2 technology.
Offering 56K Products to Meet every Need
3Com, maker of the #1 selling U.S. Robotics modems, is now shipping V.90 56K ITU
standard-compliant modems, and will begin making free software upgrades available
to x2 modem users soon. If you've registered your modem, we'll notify you as soon
as upgrades are available. If you haven't registered, please do it now, so you
don't miss a minute of the V.90 56K experience!
All 3Com products with x2 technology built in are Flash ROM upgradable, with
no extra equipment to buy.
And our Megahertz 56 K PC Cards with x2 technology built in will soon be shipping
in 56K ITU standard- compliant form also. Whatever your needs, you know they'll
be met at incredible speed -- and a reasonable price -- whenever you see the
3Com logo.
Performance
3Com wants to set realistic speed expectations. We want you to know what current
reality is: top speeds for downloads are approximately 53K due to regulatory restrictions
on the power of service provider output in the United States and Canada. Additionally,
factors like line conditions and traffic can impact performance -- just as they
did with V.34 connections. In real applications, speeds typically range from the
40s to the low 50s (Kbps), with the average in the mid- to upper 40s. Still, there
may be a few cases where performance is in the 30s, and a few cases where true
V.90 56K standard performance may not be possible.
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