Zoom® Ships K56flex™ FaxModems with Programmable
DSPs
Zoom's 56K Line Features Flash
Memory and Programmable DSPs
Boston, MA, April 22, 1997 - Zoom Telephonics (NASDAQ:
ZOOM),
a leading manufacturer of modems and other data communications
equipment, announced today that it has begun high-volume shipments
of K56flex faxmodems featuring flash memory for downloading
updates for all modem code, including Controller and Digital
Signal Processor (DSP) code. "Zoom believes that
K56flex is positioned for the dominant share of the 56K market,
and we believe the right client modem choice is a programmable
DSP model from Zoom Telephonics," said Frank Manning,
Zoom's President. K56flex is supported by modem chipmakers
Rockwell and Lucent, who together have approximately 70 percent
of the worldwide modem chip market. K56flex is also backed
by central site equipment manufacturers representing about
70% of the installed base of central site modem ports, including
Ascend Communications, Bay Networks, Cascade Communications,
Cisco Systems, Compaq Computer, Digital Equipment, Livingston
Enterprises, Microcom, Shiva, 3COM, and others. Computer manufacturers
supporting K56flex include AST, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, and
Toshiba. K56flex is backed by over 600 Internet Service
Providers, including America Online, CompuServe, NETCOM, PSINet,
and UUNET Technologies. Zoom will focus its shipments
and marketing efforts on the most advanced K56flex technology,
which has a DSP that is updated from flash memory instead
of being "hard-coded." This means that all modem
code, both DSP code and Controller code, can be easily modified
by the user with simple software commands without touching
the modem. This makes it easy to make sure the modem code
is the "latest and greatest," and to add features
including possible upgrades to future standards. Zoom's
first programmable-DSP 56K models are the Zoom/FaxModem 56K
internal (Model 2819) and Zoom/FaxModem 56Kx external (Model
2849 for PC, Model 2845 for Macintosh¬, and Model 2848
for PC/Macintosh). The internal features 14,400 fax capability,
Plug and Play for easy installation, and advanced ZoomGuard™
lightning protection. The external features 14,400 fax capability,
Plug and Play compatibility, 14 status lights, ZoomGuard lightning
protection, and a small, sleek design. The street price for
the internal should be from $149 to $179, and the street price
for the external should be from $169 to $199. "We
have elected to focus on the highest-end K56flex technology
available from Rockwell," said Frank Manning, Zoom's
President. "Our extensive testing convinces us that the
smart customer will want the significantly higher performance
and superior upgradeability of 56K modems with flash memory
for both the modem Controller and Digital Signal Processor.
You don't need full-upgradeability for stable technology like
33.6K, but you should use it for advanced pre-standard technology
like 56K. Customers should be wary of modems that advertise
flash memory and don't specifically mention DSP upgradeability,
since modems typically use flash memory for Controller code
only." "Zoom has been doing interoperability
tests with Rockwell and the major central site equipment providers,"
said Terry Manning, Zoom's Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
"We're convinced that Zoom's DSP-upgradeable 56K modems
are the right high-performance choice for high throughput
and maximum compatibility." Zoom will offer a
full line of faxmodems supporting K56flex, including internal,
external, and PCMCIA models, some with full-duplex speakerphone,
voice mail, and simultaneous voice and data capabilities.
Zoom Telephonics designs, produces and markets products
that link people and their personal computers through the
world's largest network, the international telephone network,
and connected networks including the Internet and corporate
local area networks. Zoom products are produced in Boston,
Massachusetts and sold worldwide. Zoom Telephonics is publicly
traded on Nasdaq (NASDAQ: ZOOM).
The Zoom Web site is www.zoomtel.com |
