San Jose, California-based PC-TEL has announced what it claims is the industry’s first Linux-compatible software modem. Software modems have been available for Windows-based systems for some time, but Linux has not been able to take advantage of them. Now PC-TEL says it has simply ported its Windows-based host signal processing (HSP) technology across. Original equipment vendors are looking to build more devices using the Linux OS, and are starting to leverage the freeware operating system to help drive down costs for mass-market consumer systems, explained VP of marketing Steve Manuel. Since most customers purchase these systems for internet access, there is a real need for the same sort of flexible, reliable, cost-effective connectivity that has made software modems the fastest-growing connectivity solution in the Microsoft Windows market.
