Pratap Derrick wrote the following to all, and I quote (in part):
 PD>     Its Feb 5 and I havent seen or heard anything about the
 PD>     new STANDARD upgrade.
 PD>     Any one got any info on this?
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ITU Press Release 6 February 1998
International Telecommunication Union
United Nations specialized agency
for telecommunications
Release
This press release is published in French, English and Spanish. For further
information, or for additional copies in one of the languages, please contact
the Press Office, International Telecommunication Union.
Telephone: +41 22 730 6039
Telefax: +41 22 730 5939/733 7256
Internet: pressinfo@itu.int
Web: http://www.itu.int/newsroom/
(For information media, not an official record)
ITU/98-4
6 February 1998
Original:  English
AGREEMENT REACHED ON 56K MODEM STANDARD
Geneva – The International Telecommunication Union agreed today on the
technical specifications for PCM modems (also known as 56K modems) and has
initiated the formal approval process.
The ITU, a United Nations agency, coordinates global communications 
tandards.
Study Group 16 of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T)
where the work on the modem standard was carried out, drives the development 
of
standards for multimedia systems.
The new Recommendation, designated V.90, is expected to be widely used for
applications such as Internet and on-line service access. V.90 modems are
designed for connections which are digital at one end and have only one
digital-to-analogue conversion. Download speeds of up to 56,000 bits per 
second
(bit/s) are possible, depending on telephone line conditions, with upload 
speeds
of up to 33,600 bit/s. Manufacturers currently producing modems based on
proprietary schemes have already stated they will rapidly migrate to the new
standard.
According to industry analysts, the ITU agreement will boost modem sales
significantly. VisionQuest 2000, a market researcher, estimates the number of
modems shipped each year likely will rise to 75 million by the year 2000 from 
50
million in 1997.
Work began on the development of V.90 (previously referred to as V.pcm) in 
he
ITU-T in March 1997. "This is the shortest period of time ever taken for an
ITU-T modem Recommendation to achieve 'determination' approval status, and
demonstrates a commitment by the ITU-T to respond quickly to urgent market
needs", said Mr. P.-A. Probst, Chairman of Study Group 16.
The V.90 modem harmonizes the two competing proposals submitted last year.
Customers who have purchased 56kbps modems based on either technology may be
able to get software to make their devices compatible with the new ones
developed on the V.90 standard.
Note to Editors:
The Study Group has agreed to apply the approval procedure under which the 
draft
text is circulated to all ITU-T members to determine whether the Study
Group is to be assigned the authority to give it final approval ("decision") 
at
its next meeting. After unanimous approval by the Study Group, the standard
takes effect. For the V.90 draft standard, the "decision" step is scheduled 
for
September 1998.
For more information, please contact:
 Mr. Les Brown
 Rapporteur for PCM Modems
 tel: +1 905 507 7361
 E-mail: les.brown@itu.int
 Mr. John Magill
 Chairman, Working Party 1/16
 tel: +44 1666 51 01 05
 E-mail: john.magill@itu.int
 Pierre-Andre Probst
 Chairman, Study Group 16
 Tel: +41 22 797 7700
 E-mail: pierre-andre.probst@ptt.inet.ch
=============================================================================
Regards....
Craig
aka: cford@ix.netcom.com
   : craig.ford@2001.conchbbs.com
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