Faster Internet access is coming -- one way or another By JIM BROOKS My first exposure to the Internet was in 1990 at Western Kentucky University. Of course, this was the text-only, pre-Web Internet that was available primarily to scientists, research labs, colleges and universities. While I marveled about its capabilities -- e-mail, newsgroups, etc. -- I still remember muttering to myself "I wish this thing was faster." Speed. It's the dream of nearly every Internet users. No long waits for file downloads. We all want Web pages that pop up instantly on our computer screens. The promise of faster Internet access seems to be everywhere in the media, and it's easy to think that you're the last person in town still using an "old" analog dial-up modem. The truth is, you're in good company. Most Web surfers still rely on analog modems and dial-up Internet access, connecting at speeds of 56k or slower. And for the foreseeable future, it appears dial-up access will continue to be the way most of us get our Internet access. Cable modems and DSL access are only available now to 27 percent of Web surfers in the U.S., according to a recent study by the Yankee Group. FASTER TIMES AHEAD. If you're using dial-up Internet access, rest assured that modem manufacturers are still trying to devise ways to improve analog modems. A new modem standard is set to be approved this month by the International Telecommunications Union, and this standard will bring some small but noticeable improvements to analog modems. The new V.92 standard means that new modems will be able to connect to the Internet in half the time it takes now. File upload speeds will be faster, and the new V.92 standard supports Internet call waiting -- the ability to accept an incoming phone call without disconnecting from your Internet provider (the modem works in conjunction with the phone company's call waiting service). The new standard will also improve fax transmission capabilities for the new modems, and their ability to handle voice over the Net will be noticeably improved. But aren't analog modems a thing of the past? Not according to industry analysts. Market research firm IDC Corp. predicts that the worldwide demand for modems will continue to grow by double digits over the next three years, with an estimated 100 million modems sold in 2002. Industry watcher GartnerGroup predicts that 55 percent of home PC users will still be using dial-up Internet access by 2004. Analysts say the delays in getting broadband Internet access deployed will continue to keep analog modem dial-up access the dominant method for Web browsing. Once the new V.92 standard is approved this month, you can look for the "new" modems to hit dealers' shelves by later this year. Before you purchase a new modem, you may wish to check with the company that manufactured your existing modem to determine if it can be upgraded by running a software patch or program. And most importantly, make certain your Internet provider will support the V.92 standard after it is approved. A new modem won't give you better service if your Internet provider doesn't support those new features. NC-YAHOO! The ever-popular Net destination Yahoo! is putting its experience to work for state governments seeking to revamp their official Web sites. The state of North Carolina recently announced that Yahoo! and Andersen Consulting will develop a government Web portal called North Carolina@Your Service. The site will offer the state's residents, businesses and workers easy access to government information, services and department. The $3.6 million plan includes some pretty cool goals, including the ability for automobile owners to register their cars online. Other online services planned include business registration, incorporation, licensing permits and more. Users will be able to personalize their own page with content they want to see, including government resources, stock quotes, and free Yahoo! e-mail services. Andersen Consulting is also working with several other states seeking to centralize and improve their online governmental Web sites. The list includes Florida, Texas and Wyoming. CORNY STUFF. Web cams are nothing new these days. There are Web-based cameras in hundreds of cities all over the planet, showing traffic, beaches, and even the inside of apartments, homes and college dorms. But leave it to an Iowa farmer to set up a Web cam that highlights the growth of the corn in his cornfield. The CornCam Web site went online last month, and has attracted thousands of visitors -- nearly 20,000 hits on a recent day alone. The crop editor of Iowa Farmer Today, a weekly Ag newspaper, planted the idea. The site has an archive of still pictures from the weeks since it went online, and I was amazed at how quickly the corn has grown since the Web cam went online. The image is updated every 15 seconds. If you visit at night, you'll see nothing but the archive photos, since they don't have lights setup on the corn at night. Visit the CornCam at www.IowaFarmer.com/corncam/corn.html. It's an interesting idea, and one that some farm entrepreneur in Kentucky could duplicate to show the world how we grow burley tobacco here. A BurleyCam, anyone? PRICELINE ADDITION. Priceline has added Krogers to its list of supermarkets taking part in its name-your-own-price-for-groceries program. While Krogers nationally won't be online with Priceline until the fall, your local Krogers may be online with Priceline by late July. Check individual stores for details. As promised, your author will be providing "true life" tales of using Priceline's grocery program in an upcoming column. Stay tuned. In the meantime, you can point your browser to www.priceline.com for more information, or to sign up for your own grocery card. Comments and questions about this column may be sent to jbrooks@myoldkentuckyhome.com, or visit www.myoldkentuckyhome.com on the World Wide Web. | HOME |