December 12, 1996 11:00 AM ET
Northern Telecom protocol to provide permanent digital link
By Margaret Kane

NEW YORK -- Northern Telecom Inc. on Wednesday announced a new Internet access protocol that will allow high-speed digital network connections and simultaneous switched voice transmissions over a standard phone line. The new I-Link technology, demonstrated here at Internet World, is designed around a server that resides at the edge of the telecom network and makes a direct Ethernet connection to the user's Internet service provider. The user also must install an enhanced terminal adapter between his or her computer and phone line. The setup will enable a permanent 128K-bps digital connect. Officials at Nortel, based in Toronto, said products based on the I-Link protocol should be ready in 1997 as an extension of the company's Internet Thruway solutions. Nortel also expects to license the technology to Motorola Inc. and other companies, the officials said. The I-Link protocol was tested in November using a Motorola BitSurfr Pro terminal adapter. Nortel yesterday also launched a new router aimed at the small office market. The Rapport SOHO Router allows users to connect via Ethernet to an ISDN line and to consolidate analog telephony, fax and digital services. Copyright(c) 1996 Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff-Davis Publishing Company is prohibited. PC Week and the PC Week logo are trademarks of Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. PC Week Online and the PC Week Online logo are trademarks of Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. Send mail to PC Week