Modems also dial the line, answer the call, and control transmission speed.
On files that are already compressed, the hardware data compression adds little value, because it cannot make compressed files smaller. Modems also have automatic feature negotiation, which adjusts to the other modem's speed and hardware protocols. Analog modems are relatively slow compared to ISDN and DSL, but are fast enough for most users. They can be used from any location and are the least expensive of the three remote access connectivity options. DSL is by far the fastest connection available to University customers.