• Does the Business Internet service support V.90?
• What's new about the V.90 standard?
• What connect speeds can I expect?
• Should I upgrade to the new V.90 56 Kbps standard?
• What if I'm already using, or decide to upgrade to a V.90 modem?
• How do I upgrade my modem?
• More information about the new V.90 standard on the Web
• Some modem manufacturers

Until recently, there were two standard for high-speed Internet dialup access using a modem. x2 and K56flex were competing standards for 56 Kbps modem Internet access. The V.90 standard, which combines the best of x2 and K56flex, will slowly be implemented as the new 56 Kbps standard.

If you already have an x2 or K56flex capable modem, there's no advantage to upgrade now; we advise you to wait; if you want to upgrade your 28.8 or 33.6 Kbps modem to 56 Kbps, see the caveats below before upgrading to V.90

Yes and no. Not all of the Business Internet service providers have upgraded their modems to V.90 (as of November 1998). Those who have upgraded include Bell (in Ontario and Quebec) and MTS (in Manitoba). However, if your service provider has not yet upgraded to v.90, you might still be able to connect at 56 Kbps--if the protocol of your 56 Kbps modem matches the standard your Business Internet service provider currently supports (x2 or K56flex). Your V.90 modem should continue to work once your local Business Internet service provider upgrades their modems.

The V.90 standard is primarily an amalgamation of the best parts of x2 and K56flex technologies (both support up to 56 Kbps speed), which makes it easier for modem manufacturers and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to support one single 56 Kbps modem standard. This new modem standard does not provide an increase in Internet connection speed if you're already using an x2 or K56flex modem. To accommodate the transition between standards, most V.90 56 Kbps modems also support an alternate standard--either x2 or K56flex (but not both).

First, check which dialup speeds and protocols your Business Internet service provider supports, then use the tool below to help you match the speed and standard your modem supports with that of your Business Internet service provider. The connection speeds indicated tell you what can expect (in Kbps) under optimal telephone line conditions only.

The Business Internet service recommends that you do not upgrade your modem to the V.90 standard until your local Business Internet service provider has upgraded its own dialup access equipment to this new standard. You do not need to upgrade your modem since there's not much to be gained if you're already using an x2 or K56flex modem. The Business Internet service providers don't expect to support the V.90 standard until later this year.

However, if you have a 28.8 or 33.6 Kbps modem, that you want to upgrade to 56 Kbps, we advise that you upgrade it to x2 or K56flex, depending on which standard your Business Internet service provider supports.

Most new modems that support the new V.90 standard will also support either x2 or K56flex (but not both). As long as your Business Internet service provider supports the same 56 Kbps dialup speed standard that your modem supports, you should be able to connect as usual, with the following caveat:

If you do upgrade your modem to V.90, or if you purchase a new computer with a V.90 modem already installed, because the Business Internet service does not yet support V.90 be aware that you may experience one or more of the following situations when connecting to the Business Internet service:

• You should be able to connect at 56 Kbps (actually, no higher than 53 Kbps) if your Business Internet service provider supports the same alternate standard your V.90 modem uses (x2 or K56flex).
• Otherwise, you will only be able to connect at a maximum of 28.8 or 33.6 Kbps (your connection speed may 'downgrade' to the slower modem standard that both modems support).
• In rare cases, you may not be able to connect to your usual Sympatico dialup access number (sometimes modems with mis-matched standards won't connect at all).

  **Note that if you upgrade your modem to the V.90 standard, you probably cannot downgrade it back to the previous standard, so it's best to be sure your service provider supports V.90 before upgrading.

You can find out whether and how you can upgrade your existing modem from your modem manufacturer's Web site, or your local computer store. Most existing 56 Kbps modems can be upgraded over the Internet for free (see the literature that came with your modem for more information)

• Press release from the ITU February 6, 1998 (International Telecommunication Union)
• No Hype 56k Modem Page
  (The name says it all!)
• http://www.v90.com/
  (the "definitive source" of information about the new V.90 modem standard--an unofficial V.90 information site put together by modem afficianados)
• http://www.56kstandard.com/
  (Managed by Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc.)
• http://www.pcwebopedia.com/V_90.htm
  (A useful online encyclopaedia of Internet and computer terms, including V.90)