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What is K56flex™ Modem Technology?


Introduction:
K56flex™ is the interoperable modem protocol co-authored by Lucent and Rockwell that enables high speed Internet downloads over standard telephone lines. Bridging the gap between current analog transmission rates and fully digital communication -- such as Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) -- this new technology offers substantially faster speeds without requiring the added investment of installing digital ISDN lines.

This means that graphics-heavy web pages, sound, and video files -- the data that usually makes you wait -- will now race to your computer at greater speeds than you currently experience with your V.34 connections. As long as your K56flex™ modem is connected to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or corporate site that has K56flex™ technology over their digital connection to the network and your connection to the Internet meets certain conditions, you can experience the increase in speed.


Low Cost and High Performance:
Since K56flex™ operates over standard telephone lines, users don't have to pay additional up front and monthly costs for special lines, telephone companies don't have to make changes in their equipment at the central office, and ISPs can offer even better services. K56flex™ will help Internet telephony work better, provide superior collaborative computing, telegaming, and videoconferencing.

The Industry's Endorsement:
Leading companies such as America Online, Ascend, BBN, Boca, Compuserve, Compaq Computers, Concentric, Earthlink, Epoch Networks, Erol's Internet, Diamond, Fujitsu, Hayes, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Livingston, Lucent, Motorola, Multi-Tech, Prodigy, PSINet, Rockwell, Sony, Toshiba Computers, Xircom, & UUNet have endorsed K56flex™ just to name a few. In fact, over 1600 modem makers, computer companies and ISPs endorse K56flex™, so you know you're getting the technology that will have the best acceptance and compatibility.

How does K56flex™ technology work?
Traditional modems assume that both ends of a modem conversation have an analog connection to the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Data signals are converted from digital to analog and back again, and this limits transmission speeds to 33.6 Kbps. But K56flex™ technology makes a different assumption: that one end of the modem conversation has a pure-digital connection to the phone network (which ISPs and corporations already use for remote access) and takes advantage of that high speed digital connection. By viewing the PSTN as a digital network, K56flex™ technology is able to propel data downstream from the Internet to your computer at high rates of speed, depending on the telephone line and other conditions. In this way K56flex™ technology is different than other modem technologies -- because the downstream data is digitally encoded instead of modulated. This is an asymmetrical method, so upstream transmissions (mostly keystroke and mouse commands from your computer to the central site, which require less bandwidth) continue to flow at the V.34 rate. For more details, see the white paper.
Serious Internet Speed:
K56flex™ modems are ideal for serious Internet users, because you can really use the increased speed for downloading those multimedia Web pages with audio, video and other large files. Hundreds and hundreds of ISPs have agreed to support K56flex™. Check the list to find one in your area, and call them today. Web surfing gets faster and Internet telephony works better with K56flex™ -- providing superior collaborative computing, interactive gaming and video conferencing.




K56flex™ is a trademark of Lucent Technologies Inc.

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