This X2 and K56Flex war is a dilemna for ISPs and their customers. Most
ISPs will not be able to afford supporting both X2 and K56Flex. As a
result, many ISPs will lose X number of existing customers and potential
new customers until the new 56K standard becomes available. That X value
or damage will yet to be determined. Because of their earlier deployment
of 56K aka X2, coupled with their reputation as an excellent modem
manufacturer and their superior marketing for X2, USR have won the hearts
and minds of the consumers regarding 56K. Because of X2 onslaught, many
consumers are thinking that X2 and 56K are one and the same. At the
sametime, it's discouraging to see little K56Flex onslaught in the media.
X2 have won the battle and whether they win the war remains to be seen. I
believe that onslaught should have begun even without a product to at
least get K56Flex recognition out there. Most movies are advertised a few
months before they are released. I have thought hard and long about how to
explain to our USR(potential X2) customers why we chose or were forced to
choose K56Flex because we chose Livingston for the better integrated
solution. And my feelings are that most customers that have X2 don't
really care, as there are enough X2 ISPs out there for them to choose
from. And as an ISP, we are in the IP business and not in the modem
business. We would rather not have to knock X2 and push K56Flex if
possible even if K56Flex is in fact technically superior than X2(so was
MacOS vs Win3.1).
We would like to see the vendors all just eat humble pie(in other words,
get a reality check) and get together to escalate the 56K standard or
provide for dual X2/K56Flex support in the interim. The vendors may say it
doesn't make sense from a technical standpoint, but it sure makes a lot of
sense to consumers who are choosing with their wallets. As a business, we
try to give our customers what they want and it's frustrating when you
can't. In the meantime, for our customers who have modems that's
upgradable to X2, they would either have to buy a new K56Flex modem or
wait for 56K to stay with us or leave for an X2 provider. Or we can invest
in USR TC to keep our USR/X2 customers. Every USR TC sold also means a
potential PM3(We are Livingston biased) loss. From a network vendor
standpoint, does it really matter whether the PM3 supports X2 or K56Flex?
I kinda doubt it. Let the customer(ISP) decide. Bay Networks have done it
and I would love to see Livingston support both X2 and K56Flex. So
regardless of whether the ISP chooses X2 or K56Flex, Livingston still
sells PM3s.
I would like to hear feedback on how other ISPs are dealing with this
current dilemna. And it doesn't with the patent and legal dispute over the
current ITU 56K standard.
Regards,
Turnando Fuad
NSNet