EDN -- 04.11.96 Boards gang modems for computer telephony

Out in Front: April 11, 1996

Boards gang modems for computer telephony

Ariel now offers two new ISA-bus cards that implement 12 to 24 modems and include connections for use with T1, integrated-services digital-network (ISDN), and analog line cards. The CTI-Modem can provide as many as 16 19.2-kbps or slower V.32 modems in an ISA slot. You can specify the other card, the T1-Modem, with a choice of 12 or 24 28.8-kbps V.34 modems.

The two boards employ vastly different architectures. The CTI-Modem board is based on 16 DSPs and a real-time operating system that implements the modem functions. Customers can take advantage of the programmable nature of the board to add features. The T1-Modem, on the other hand, uses fixed-function modem chips to deliver higher speed modems.

You can use both boards in modem banks for applications such as Internet servers, transaction-processing equipment, and private-branch-exchange adjuncts. The boards have Multivendor Interface Protocol and Signal Computing System Architecture interfaces, which simplify connections to telephony line cards. The T1-Modem costs $11,995 (50), and the CTI-Modem costs $5995 (50).

—by Maury Wright
Ariel Corp, Cranbury, NJ. (609) 860-2900.