Are dial-up networks endangered?

[gittyup]

story

Some of the largest ISPs in the U.S. have no plans to upgrade their dial-up networks to support the latest modem standard, despite the fact that millions of users depend solely on dial access when on the road or working from home.

Users may prefer DSL or cable-modem services because they are faster, but each service has its own set of drawbacks.

Moreover, cable-modem service providers such as Comcast, Cox Communications and AT&T Broadband's MediaOne prohibit customers from using their standard cable-modem services to access corporate networks such as VPNs.

Time Warner allows access to corporate networks via a VPN.

 

[AndrewR]

Since broadband users are in the minority still by a significant margin, I think dial-up is here to stay for awhile. The availability of broadband needs to be CONSIDERABLY improved before any sort of replacement will take place. Cable is one thing, but DSL is hardly available anywhere outside very densely populated areas.

It's not surprising that ISPs don't want to upgrade their systems though, but what are they upgrading to? Modem technology hasn't really budged in the last 4-5 years, v.92 notwithstanding. Faster connections? They're still limited to under 56k (or 52k, if I understand the FCC restrictions from awhile back, unless they've changed) downstream, and the upstream increase is from 33 to 48 -- big deal. These people aren't exactly playing Quake III over their connections.

 

[Telemonius]

Since broadband users are in the minority still by a significant margin, I think dial-up is here to stay for awhile. The availability of broadband needs to be CONSIDERABLY improved before any sort of replacement will take place. Cable is one thing, but DSL is hardly available anywhere outside very densely populated areas.

ditto. i read an article about this not too long ago, solely on the use of dial-ups from home PC users...you have to remember that a large chunk of Internet junkies live outside of the burbs and city which have (relatively) easier access to cable or dsl. regardless, i will try and find that link.

besides, i was aslo under the impression that the latest modem standard wasn't such a great improvement, at least in terms of overall speed.