UK comms reseller passes on 56K

At least one company is refusing to get caught up in the 56K modem hype. Berks-based communications specialist Electronic Frontier has declined to offer products based on the technology until the standards picture gets clearer.

"The technology is not stable," said Simon Lewis, sales and marketing manager for the firm. "You'll find it absolutely impossible to get anyone to say they'll get 56 kilobits a second and the [K56flex and x2] products don't talk to each other. I've seen 51-52K at best and until you see a guaranteed 56K and the ISPs decide which way they're going to go, we're not going to push the technology. The feeling I'm getting is that the 56K modem market is moving very slowly. Why spend £150 when your 33.6 modem is going to do pretty much the same speed anyway?"

Electronic Frontier can be contacted by telephone by telephone on 01734-810600.