U.S. Robotics also said it will give all X2 purchasers a free upgrade to whatever international standard for 56K technology international communications agencies adopt next year.
Modems allow computers to send and receive data over phone lines.
U.S. Robotics is trying to win the widest sales among both consumers and Internet service providers to increase its clout in the standard-setting procedure, Chairman Casey Cowell said. U.S. Robotics' X2 standard is incompatible with the competing standard from Rockwell International Corp., known as K56Flex. Cowell said in a conference call with reporters. The plan was designed to allay consumer fears about the two competing standards for 56K modems and to kick-start sales with the aggressive marketing that is typical of U.S. Robotics, Cowell said. Cowell said in a conference call with reporters.