56K modems: “Approach with Caution and a Grain of Salt”

• High Performance

• Reliable and Repeatable

• Low Tech Support

• Cost-Effective; Widely Available

• Standardized

• Performance increase small

  Unimpaired lines: 39.5 to 41.2 Kbps
  
  Impaired lines: 23.2 to 28.9 Kbps
  Source: Data Communications 8/97

• Still an analog modem; variation in speed to be expected

• Worse–Intel UART problems

• Free to many (including ISPs)

• Heavy market thrashing; reminiscent of V.fast/V.32fc

Quote from Communications Week, 8/4/97

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