56k.com maintains a list of companies offering free upgrades to the final standard.Īnd be sure to consider newer, faster alternatives: cable modems, various types of DSL (digital subscriber line), even satellite dish and radio wave. If you can’t wait, make sure you buy a modem that can be readily upgraded to v.90 (you want a software upgradeable modem, one that uses flash ROM). If possible, hold out until your ISP supports the v.90 standard. With the new v.90 standard finalized and most 56k modems upgradeable to the new standard, a better day is coming.ĭon’t even think about buying either type of 56k modem until you know which protocol your ISP supports. X2 modems and K56flex modems can’t talk to each other faster than 33.6 kbps – yet. There were two independent and mutually exclusive 56k protocols: X2 from US Robotics and K56flex from Lucent, Rockwell, and others. The problem began with competing standards. They’re ideal for surfing the World Wide Web, but perhaps less than ideal for other uses. 56k) modems are the greatest thing since Zip drives. 1998: According to the hype, v.90 (a.k.a.
