x2 is the clear 56K choice

Jean-Pierre Houdard is a senior applications engineer and a member of the Group Technical Staff. He also serves as a TI representative to the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) and to International Telecommunication Unit (ITU).

By Jean-Pierre Houdard, senior applications engineer

Download speed. Without a doubt, it is one of the most essential issues facing today's PC users. Remote access technology is the engine that transforms the PC from an isolated island into an interactive communications tool. Networked applications like the Internet are exploding, but in order to make them truly valuable, users need a fast data freeway to handle the glut of graphics and other complex data coming their way. And in the future, remote access technology will be key for new applications such as real-time video that will truly turn the PC into the home communications center, making a face-to-face visit with grandmother just a phone call away.

The recent buzz over next-generation 56 Kbps modem technology is a good example of the increased value OEMs and, ultimately, consumers are placing on high-speed remote access. The list of worldwide computer manufacturers, modem manufacturers and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) implementing up to 56 Kbps remote access technology is growing rapidly. But in the scramble to quench consumer thirst for higher speed access, it is vital to choose the right 56 Kbps technology. Consumers want speed, but they also want flexible solutions that are easy to implement, easy to use and easy to upgrade.

x2 winning the world

Using TI DSP Solutions, the new x2Ē 56-Kbps protocol remote access technology delivers on all of these promises. And as a result, it is rapidly becoming the 56 Kbps technology of choice with manufacturers, consumers and ISPs. Already, more than 800 ISPs, representing roughly 70 percent of the web-surfing public, and the world's top modem and PC manufacturers have given x2-based solutions the nod for their systems. Why? The reasons are clear.

The x2 protocol was developed as a next-generation modem technology by 3Com and U.S. Robotics, the industry's leading supplier of modems. This high-speed, 56 Kbps technology is designed to transmit data at up to twice the speed of current V.34 modems over existing phone lines, all at a fraction of the cost of comparable-speed, dedicated ISDN lines. Currently, however, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission limits the transmission level to 53.3 K, and depending on line conditions, the user may not be able to achieve 53.3 K.

TI DSPs are the technology behind the technology

x2, like previous generation U.S. Robotics modems, features a powerful advantage -- TI Digital Signal Processing Solutions (DSPS). This state-of-the-art technology behind the technology is the same that designers in nearly every industry are using to make their systems more powerful, flexible and cost effective. For x2-based modems, TI DSP Solutions provide performance to spare and the flexibility to upgrade to protocol enhancements, including the final 56 Kbps standard when it is written.

With the click of a mouse button, end-users can download upgrades right from their PCs. This is a tremendous advantage when you consider the competitive alternative of prying open the computer case to install expensive new boards. ISPs using x2 technology benefit from the same programmability that ensures upgrade is just a software download away. Furthermore, TI's industry-leading TMS320 DSP family promises a roadmap of continued power and flexibility. Future modem board generations will be software upgradeable to the blazing 6 Mbps asynchronous digital subscriber line (ADSL) protocol as well as numerous transmission speeds in between.

Software upgradeability ignites the future

Finally, computer and modem OEMs building TI DSP-enabled x2 products get the benefit of working with an industry leader. TI was the first to market with DSP Solutions to power 33.6 and 56 Kbps modems, and TI's worldwide network of fabs ensure customers of continued supply, even as demand for 56 Kbps products soar.

Networked applications will continue to fuel the market for higher and higher transmission speeds. As evidenced by today's 56 Kbps market, however, speed isn't the only consideration. Once you get there, you also have to consider how to reach the next speed node, the next protocol and the next new customer. Fully programmable TI DSP Solutions for x2 remote access equipment are the best way to reach them all.

All x2 products are capable of 56 Kbps downloads; however, due to FCC rules that restrict power output of your service provider's modems, current download specs are limited to approximately 53 Kbps. Actual speeds may vary depending on line conditions. U.S. Robotics is a registered trademark and x2 and the x2 logos are trademarks of 3Com/USR.