Bay Networks is allowing Internet service providers (ISPs) and corporations to easily straddle the x2-K56flex fence.
The networking company has developed a module which plugs into Bay equipment to let ISPs simultaneously accept calls from modems using x2 and K56flex.
'We are not religious about standards,' said Adam Judd, Bay's business development manager for Asia. 'We don't want to dictate what you have to buy.' Bay joins its competitor 3Com as the only companies offering both x2 and K56flex. 3Com recently bought out US Robotics, which developed the x2 technology.
The module fits Bay's 5000MSX rack, which had greater modems capacity than competitors' equipment, Mr Judd said.
'It makes Bay more attractive to Internet service providers because the ISPs don't have to risk alienating any of their users by not offering support for one of the technologies,' Lisa Pelgrim, a remote-access analyst with Dataquest in the United States, said.
The module's x2 capability is expected to be ready in September through a free software download.