adamg@world.std.com (Adam M Gaffin) (07/10/90)
Digital and Applitek Corp of Andover, MA, are demonstrating an interesting pilot system at the current DECWorld. Two Digital engineers have been given computers so they can work at their homes in Stow, Mass. (one got a workstation, the other a VAX). But rather than tying into Digital headquarters in Maynard (the next town over from Stow) by phone, they are using an otherwise unused channel on the Stow cable system to transfer data. Applitek modems at Digital HQ and in each of the engineers's homes, allow rapid data flow (1 or 10 megabytes/second -- I don't have my notes in front of me, sorry), far faster than even a T1 phone line. Other companies are working on similar systems, but Applitek says theirs is the only one that needs just once cable channel. Right now, there are some serious drawbacks to the system, notably cost (each modem is $10,000) and the fact that you can't use it across cable company boundaries. But Applitek says the cost will come down eventually, but that even now, it's cost effective for companies with several plants in one town, and that it has bridging devices that can link neighboring cable systems. So is this something phone companies should be worried about, even if in the long term? And does anybody know any analysts or experts or whoever who could talk about the potential for cable-telco competition for an article I'm doing on the above (any suggestions would be, of course, most appreciated). Adam Gaffin Middlesex News, Framingham, Mass. adamg@world.std.com Voice: (508) 626-3968 Fred the Middlesex News Computer: (508) 872-8461