W8SDZ@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL (Keith Petersen) (11/10/88)
The following file was recently uploaded to my BBS. It is presented
here "as-is" for its informational value. I am *not* the author.
--Keith Petersen
Arpa: W8SDZ@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL
Uucp: {ames,decwrl,harvard,rutgers,ucbvax,uunet}!wsmr-simtel20.army.mil!w8sdz
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Notice to all sysops:
U.S. Robotics' Courier HST has been the subject of some recent
industry scuttlebutt and misinformation. These untrue rumors have
raised concerns among our loyal customers and friends in the BBS sysop
community. Please allow me the opportunity to set the record straight.
First, and most important, we are still manufacturing the Courier
HST, and we plan to continue manufacturing it for a long time to come.
The Courier HST has been the most successful product in USR's 12-year
history.
As with any of our products, we may find ways of enhancing the
current version of the Courier HST. But you can rest assured that
today's Courier HST will be compatible with any future version of the
product. You also can be sure that we will offer you some procedure for
upgrading your current Courier HST to encompass all the features and
capabilities of any future enhanced version.
Another subject has the rumor mill grinding -- that subject is modem
standards. Formal industry standards for modems come from the
international organization known as CCITT (the Consultative Committee
for International Telephony and Telegraphy).
Several years ago, CCITT issued its V.32 standard for 9600-bps full-
duplex modems for use on the dial-up phone network. Although many modem
manufacturers have announced V.32 modems, the market for this product is
developing very slowly.
We believe V.32 modems and our Courier HST modem serve different
applications and different market segments. Our Courier HST has already
established a very successful presence in the personal computer
marketplace. From our analysis of industry sales reports, we conclude
that, in the personal computer market, more people are using Courier HST
modems than those who are using V.32 modems from all manufacturers
combined.
Next year, the CCITT will consider issuing a new standard --V.34 --
based on the Courier HST. Our proposal for this new standard is
supported by several U.S. manufacturers (including Telebit, Rockwell and
Anderson Jacobsen) and some key European nations. Prospects for this
new standard were favorably reported in the July issue of Byte magazine
and several other trade publications.
Another source of confusion is a recently issued CCITT standard
concerning error-checking protocols for dial-up modems. This standard -
- V.42 -- includes the popular MNP series of protocols (levels 1 through
4) and a new synchronous-style protocol called LAP-M.
U.S. Robotics is already compatible with V.42, in that we offer MNP
in our 2400 and 9600 bps modems. We intend to be fully V.42-compliant
in future products, offerring LAP-M as well as MNP. Some other
manufacturers have announced support for full V.42 compliance, but here
is an important point to note: to our knowledge, no modem manufacturer
is currently shipping a V.42-compliant modem. You can confidently
purchase U.S. Robotics modems featuring MNP, knowing that they are
compatible with the installed base of more than 600,000 MNP modems, and
that they will operate with any future V.42-compliant modem.
You have my personal assurance that we will continue striving to
design and manufacture modems that provide the best performance and best
value in the industry. During the past four years, U.S. Robotics has
developed a special relationship with the growing worldwide community of
bulletin board system operators. We value your loyal patronage, and we
pledge our continued support of your pioneering efforts in expanding the
world of data communications.
Casey Cowell
President
U.S. Robotics, Inc.