• Recommend:
• 0 Comments

Microsoft, 3Com Push High-Speed Remote Access

Interoperable ADSL services heat up, promising 8 mbps downstream; Microsoft backs new 1-mbps modem from Nortel.

By Stephen Lawson, PCWorld   

3Com on Tuesday jumped into ADSL with products, a strategy, and more partnerships to bring the high-speed access technology to end users. The company introduced a $595 ADSL router for its OfficeConnect line, as well as internal and external ADSL modems for desktop systems. The products will support the International Telecommunication Union%squots emerging G.dmt standard and can be upgraded to the future G.lite standard, according to 3Com.

Using G.dmt, the router and modems will support speeds as fast as 8 mbps downstream and 1 mbps upstream. G.lite will provide as much as 1.5 mbps downstream and 128 kbps upstream.

Observers said Microsoft%squots endorsement of Nortel%squots 1 Meg Modem, a rival to future standards-based ADSL technology, will not place Microsoft%squots weight against ADSL.

Microsoft is a member of the Universal ADSL Working Group, one analyst pointed out.

%dquotI think what they%squotre doing is playing all sides,%dquot said Craig Driscoll, a research analyst at the Yankee Group in Boston. %dquotThey%squotre less concerned with who wins this battle. They%squotre more concerned that it is won, and high-speed access to homes and businesses becomes available.%dquot

Observers said that the entry of vendors such as 3Com, and interoperability deals among large equipment suppliers, will speed high-bandwidth services to homes and remote offices.

%dquotYou%squotre seeing one of the stronger players in the market putting a stake in the ground,%dquot Yankee%squots Driscoll said. %dquot3Com doesn%squott get involved until the volumes pick up and they can drive the cost of the customer premises equipment down.%dquot

Also on Tuesday 3Com joined with Lucent Technologies to announce a jointly developed specification for ADSL products and services based on the G.dmt standard. Driscoll said the relationship with Lucent could be a significant boon to ADSL deployment, as Lucent is a major supplier of Digital Loop Carrier equipment. DLC will be the infrastructure used for many carriers%squot ADSL services, he said.

In the past, 3Com has demonstrated interoperability with Alcatel carrier equipment and has agreements to make its products work with gear from Newbridge Networks, RedBack Networks, and other vendors. On Tuesday 3Com also announced an agreement with RedBack Networks in which it will resell RedBack%squots Subscriber Management System 1000 concentrator for carrier facilities.

The internal 3Com/U.S. Robotics PCI ADSL modem will ship in September for $269. The external 3Com/U.S. Robotics USB ADSL modem will ship in November for $299.

Click here for more news from InfoWorld Electric.