Since it seems that not everybody have access to the ZyXEL announcement 
regarding the 56k technology, I decided to post it here. The following 
contains the contents of 
http://www.zyxel.com/html/news/pressrel/pr9701-a.html, of course without HTML 
tags.
The open point for me: It seems that existing Elite modems will be able to 
support the new technology after a simple firmware upgrade. Somebody told, 
that there were only about 50 kb free space left in the flash EPROM. Can 
anybody confirm that? I wonder about it because the uncompressed file size is 
somewhat about 512 kb, the flash EPROM size is 1 MB. If the flash file 
compressed itself?
Regards, Michael
=============================================================================
* Forwarded by Michael Siebke (2:241/599)
* Area : NETMAIL_E-MAIL (Monday January 06 1997)
* From : Michael Siebke, 242:4900/99
* To   : Michael Siebke
* Subj : NEWS ANNOUNCEMENT
=============================================================================
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Munira Brooks
          ZyXEL Communications
          714-693-0808
          mbrooks@zyxel.com
          Paula Brici Bordigon
          Lages & Associates
          714-453-8080
          76400.2765@compuserve.com
ZYXEL ANNOUNCES 56K SUPPORT
  Leading Communications Solution Manufacturer
  Expands Product Line with High-Speed Analog Technology
  ANAHEIM, California, January 2, 1997 - ZyXEL Communications today announced
  it will support the latest 56Kbps modem technology in its current 28.8
  Elite and Omni product lines.  ZyXEL has entered into a licensing agreement
  with Rockwell to incorporate Rockwell's K56Plus technology in its
  industry-leading Elite 2864, Elite 2864I and Omni 288 modems.
  ZyXEL will make the new 56KPlus technology available in the second quarter
  of 1997.  Current owners of Elite or Omni modems will be able to upgrade
  their units at no cost by simply downloading the new firmware.
  "We are pleased to be working with Rockwell to be among the first to bring
  56K products to market and provide users around the world with the fastest
  online connectivity speeds available," said Shin Jou Fang, vice president
  marketing.
  ZyXEL chose Rockwell's 56Kbps approach due to Rockwell's leading market
  share among ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and its efforts in working
  with major modem vendors such as Lucent and Motorola in establishing the
  international standards.
  Commenting on the issue of standards, Fang explained that,  "Once an
  international standard has been established and accepted, our Elite and
  Omni modems will be upgradeable.  This allows users to have access to the
  highest speed communications today, while ensuring future compatibility
  once a standard is set."
  With the addition of 56K to its product line, ZyXEL continues to
  provide the broadest, most complete range of Internet and communications
  solutions.  The company is a leading supplier of innovative, high
  performance analog and digital modem and data communications products.
  Today's K56Plus analog product announcement comes on the heels of product
  introductions for the digital (ISDN) market.  The company recently launched
  ISDN solutions for the small office/home office (SOHO) including Omni ISDN
  terminal adapters and Prestige remote access routing solutions.  "ZyXEL is
  committed to providing a variety of high-speed communications solutions for
  all customers.  Our goal is to offer the most cost-effective, feature-rich
  products for communicating over standard telephone or ISDN lines," said 
Fang.
  Company Background
  ZyXEL Communications Corp. (http://www.zyxel.com) is a leading supplier of
  high-speed ISDN terminal adapters, ISDN remote access routers, modems and
  compatible LAN/WAN data communications products.  Since its inception,
  ZyXEL has built a reputation as the price/performance leader in modems by
  providing high-quality products at affordable prices.
=============================================================================
--- FastEcho/2
---------------