This fast-growing ISP used Ascend's digital modem technology to eliminate their analog modem banks. With digital modems, analog modem calls from its customers now arrive as digital data streams from the carrier's central office on the same high-speed digital trunk lines that ISDN and frame relay subscribers use. Expansion plans call for 200 POPs serving 17 major markets. The company, which OEMs valves and other key parts to manufacturers of refrigeration equipment, has sales representatives throughout the U.S. and Europe. For the sales people, it's like having their own personal server.
Productivity is way up.
The Internet and telecommuting have put ISDN back in the limelight. Meanwhile, like the premature announcement of Mark Twain's death, reports of ISDN's demise are somewhat exaggerated. When ISDN was introduced nearly a decade ago, it was hyped as the business communications solution for both voice and data networking. Its 128 Kbps speed was considered nothing short of amazing. However, ISDN did not prove to be a blockbuster.