Next week at Comdex, 3Com will show off its new line of cable modems that will deliver data down coaxial cable pipe to homes, schools, and businesses at speeds theoretically up to 100 times faster than ISDN lines.
The US Robotics Cable Modem VSP and Cable Modem VSP Plus are compatible with the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification, a set of standards that was developed by the monopolistic cable industry to hurry along the development of two-way hybrid fiber/coax cable-television systems.
The modems will be available early next year and will retail for US$199 and $249, respectively.
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Integrated chip alliance: NEC and Philips Electronics are teaming up to develop integrated chips for digital consumer applications such as still cameras, digital televisions, and digital video discs.
NEC will supply its high-end MIPS processors to Philips, which will handle the integration of the chip into a variety of new consumer devices. The chips will integrate memory and microprocessors, and will be able to "handle a large number of complex and audiovisual tasks," the companies said in a release. (14.Nov.97)
