New Modem From Actiontec Combines USB Connectivity With Call Waiting Convenience.SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 13, 1999-- Unique USB USB in full Universal Serial Bus Type of serial bus that allows peripheral devices (disks, modems, printers, digitizers, data gloves, etc.) to be easily connected to a computer. Voice/Fax/Modem Takes Advantage of Call Waiting Capabilities to Permit Telephone Call Screening While Online Actiontec Electronics Actiontec Electronics, Inc. is a company headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, that designs and sells networking and broadband equipment. They are best known for the Actiontec MI424WR router that is given to Verizon customers. , Inc., a leading manufacturer of data communications data communications, application of telecommunications technology to the problem of transmitting data, especially to, from, or between computers. In popular usage, it is said that data communications make it possible for one computer to "talk" with another. products, announced today the 56K USB Call Waiting Modem. The new modem combines the high performance, easy installation, and convenience of USB connectivity with Actiontec's unique Call Waiting feature which ensures vital calls are not missed while users are surfing the Web or checking e-mail. The modem's unique Call Waiting feature permits users to screen incoming telephone calls without interrupting their on-line connection. Using the Call Waiting Service available on most telephone systems, the modem monitors the phone line for incoming voice calls while the user is online. The user is notified when a call comes in, and has the option of ignoring the incoming voice call or picking up the call to see who is calling without disconnecting from the Internet! The user then has the choice of accepting the incoming call or taking a message and remaining online. The 56K USB Call Waiting Modem's USB connectivity makes plugging the modem into a desktop or notebook computer A laptop computer that weighs in a range from five to seven pounds. The term originated when laptops were routinely more than 10 pounds, and those that became lighter were placed in a special "notebook" category. In practice, notebook computer and laptop computer are synonymous. as easy as plugging in a lamp users simply plug the modem into an available USB port A USB socket on a computer or peripheral device into which a USB cable is plugged. See USB. . Opening up the PC is not required. Because the modem is hot swappable See hot swap. , users do not need to turn off the computer to plug in or remove the modem. Drawing its power from the USB port, the low-power modem does not require an external power supply, an important advantage that eliminates compatibility issues caused by different power supply wall sockets around the world. "Actiontec is the first modem supplier to combine two such convenient capabilities as USB operation and our own unique Call Waiting feature," commented Alex Hewko, VP of Channel Sales and Marketing for Actiontec. "The Call Waiting feature means that for the first time users can go on-line without worrying about missing important calls." With such advanced features as voice mail system with separate mailboxes, remote voice mail retrieval, automatic paging upon receipt of message, Internet phone (1) See IP phone and softphone. (2) (Internet Phone) The first VoIP telephone service in the U.S., introduced in early 1995 by VocalTec Communications Ltd., Fort Lee, NJ (www.vocaltec.com). Using a Windows softphone, calls could also be made to a regular phone. software, and send/receive fax, the modem turns PC's into full-featured home office communications centers. The 56K USB Call Waiting Modem is Plug-N-Play under Windows 98 (and USB-compatible versions of Windows 95). Based on the Lucent Technologies Microelectronics Group USB-compliant chip set, the V.90/K56flex 56K USB Call Waiting Modem delivers powerful advantages in performance, innovation, power saving, and upward compatibility. Automatic rate adaptation technology adjusts speeds, depending on line conditions, to operate at the optimum speeds with the fewest errors. The modem is software upgradeable to take advantage of performance upgrades as they become available. Purchasers of the new modem will be able to download future software updates directly from the Actiontec Internet site at www.actiontec.com. The modem includes Actiontec's award-winning, easy-to-use fax and data communications software and trial Internet phone software. The Internet phone software allows users to place voice and video calls from their home computers to others around the world for just the cost of an Internet connection. The modem comes with bonus software from leading Internet service providers Internet service provider (ISP) Company that provides Internet connections and services to individuals and organizations. For a monthly fee, ISPs provide computer users with a connection to their site (see data transmission), as well as a log-in name and password. , virtual office software, speed reading software and much more. Supporting even the most sophisticated high speed data communication needs, the modem operates at up to 56 Kbps, and combines MNP (Microcom Networking Protocol) A family of communications protocols from Microcom, Inc., Norwood, MA, that have become de facto standards for error correction (classes 2 through 4) and data compression (class 5). In 1997, Compaq acquired Microcom. 5 and V.42bis data compression data compression Process of reducing the amount of data needed for storage or transmission of a given piece of information (text, graphics, video, sound, etc.), typically by use of encoding techniques. with MNP2.4, V.42, and LAPM LAPM - Link Access Protocol for Modems error correction to provide full duplex (Computers) arranged so that the information may be transmitted in both directions simultaneously; - of communications channels between computers; contrasted with The 56K USB Call Waiting Modem will be available August 15, 1999 through Actiontec national distributors and retail outlets at an estimated street price of $129.95. The modem is backed by an aggressive five-year limited warranty Limited warranty A warranty with certain conditions and limitations on the parts covered, type of damage covered, and/or time period for which the agreement is good. and comes with free technical support. About Actiontec Actiontec Electronics, Inc. is a significant global player in the data communications marketplace. The company's product line includes a complete line of Home Networking products, Call Waiting, Mobile and Desktop Fax/Modems, and Ethernet cards, as well as Internal and External PC Card Read/Write Drives for SmartMedia, CompactFlash and ATA Flash PC Cards. Actiontec products have been recognized with a Best of Show award at Retail Xchange, the Editors Choice award from CNET's computer.com, and an Editors Choice award from Computer Retail Week. Actiontec products are available through national distribution, retail outlets and the Actiontec on-line store as well as through private label and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and relationships. The company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, CA, and maintains branch offices in Philadelphia, PA, Government Sales in Arlington, VA, and International Sales in Irvine, CA. Actiontec Inc. can be reached via the Internet at http://www.actiontec.com, or by phone at 408-752-7700 or fax 408-541-9003. Actiontec and the Actiontec logo are trademarks of Actiontec Electronics, Inc. All other product names and trademarks are the property of their respective holders |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion