Global Village today announced they are preparing to ship two new models of their OneWorld communications server family. The OneWorld Network Modem replaces the OneWorld Remote Access server, offering both incoming ARA and outgoing shared modem services. The OneWorld Combo offers both of those features, plus the outgoing fax service of the OneWorld Fax server.

When Global Village introduced their OneWorld Fax and OneWorld Remote Access servers (see TidBITS-232), the potential for enhancement was obvious. The OneWorld Combo unit offers nearly all of the capabilities we outlined nearly six months ago. (It still can't receive faxes, and currently supports Apple Remote Access 1.0 or 2.0, but not SLIP or PPP.)

The basic OneWorld device is still a book-sized box with one or two PowerPort modems (100-series) installed, and either just LocalTalk, or both LocalTalk and EtherTalk ports. Global Village's downloadable firmware approach means any OneWorld can take on any of the above identities. In fact, first-generation OneWorld owners can upgrade to Network Modem or Combo capabilities quickly and easily. (Serialized keys mean users won't be able to pirate upgrades.) Global Village will begin shipping the new OneWorlds around the time of next month's Macworld Expo in San Francisco, and both retail and upgrade pricing will be available at that time.

GlobalFax gets a face-lift with this release as well; the popular fax software that comes with the OneWorld Combo now offers better greyscale and more dialing options. The current software also supports all of Global Village's personal modem products; previous OneWorld users had trouble with Duo and 500-series PowerPort modems.

Each of the modems built into the OneWorld can handle any or all of the unit's tasks: incoming ARA, outgoing faxes, or outgoing network modem service. That network modem service gives users the option of "shadowing" either a modem or printer port, or of using a CTB-aware application to access the OneWorld server more directly.

A single OneWorld Combo could replace two LanRovers, two TelePort Mercury modems, and a 4-Sight Fax server, all with a single box that doesn't require a Macintosh. Sounds like a good arrangement to me.

Global Village Communication -- 800/736-4821 -- 408/523-1000
408/523-2423 (fax) -- <sales@globalvillag.com>