Richard Town wrote the following to Craig Ford, and I quote (in part):
-=> Note: Copied from ZYXEL by WIMM/2 1.31
       ZP> P.S. And tell me please what is _FLEX_?
     RT> Short name for K56flex (Rockwell) or Flex2 (Lucent)  Both
     RT> interoperable providing upto 56kbps in the download (server to
     RT> client) direction.
  CF> Make that K56Plus from Rockwell and Flex/2 form Lucent. They do 
  CF> _not_ interoperate.
 RT> K56flex _is_ the amalgam of K56Plus and V.flex2 architecture.  
 RT> K56Plus does not interoperate with Livingston Portmasters (Lucent 
 RT> chipsetted) _only_  To others' kit it does. 
K56Plus and V.Flex/2 do not interoperate at _any_ level. The K56Flex protocol 
as used in the Livinston server is the _first_ implementation of K56Flex, 
_everything_ else has been a bastardization of K56Plus. Client and server 
vendors are both now rushing to catch up.
   RT> Many modem makers using it who are part of the Open Forum, where 
   RT> makers and developers pool their 56k knowledge and experience.
   RT> Rival to USR x2 which gives upto 53k3 in download direction (not
   RT> part of Open Forum)
 CF> USR is an integral part of the _real_ forums, the TIA
 RT> EIA/TIA is hosted by Rockwell.
The last meeting was hosted by Rockwell, the organizations have no single 
host.
 RT> I didn't know USR still had a seat there given their hostile 
 RT> antics toward V34 (V34+), fax Class2 (promoting Class2.0 in 
 RT> opposition to EIA/TIA position), V8bis (promoting their own V8.CI 
 RT> causing other EIA/TIA members product to barf) etc., etc 
You would do well to look up who the real contributors to those 
recommendations were.
 CF> and ITU.
 RT> SG16 is bogged down in intellectual property rights' issues.  No
 RT> such problem for Open Forum members, of which ZyXel is one.
Mr. Townsend's pattents cover ALL applications, they affect K56Flex, X2, and 
the ITU's V.PCM.
 RT> No such problem for V.FC users too who often have to turn to this
 RT> proprietary protocol (where available) to avoid V34 incompatibility
 RT> problems with x2 upgraded USR product.
Rockwell isn't even supporting V.FC in their 56K chipsets, and where problems 
exist, it is a simple matter of going down or up-level a ROM version... X2 
capability remains.
Regards....
Craig
aka: cford@ix.netcom.com
   : craig.ford@2001.conchbbs.com
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