The new modems typically cost $500 or more, as against $100 to $150 for the 14.4-kilobit modems.

A new 33.6-kilobit-per-second modem for the Palm V is $169.

We have had a new modem installed and hope our problems are over.

By remembering the information, the new modem could cut the time it takes to establish a connection from about 30 seconds to less than 10.

Only those closest to remote terminals will see anything approaching 40Mbps (and they'll need a new modem to do so).

The products envisioned by the consortium would essentially be new modems, either installed inside a computer or sitting alongside one.

The company said it would sell the new modem for $349, along with a $30-a-month Internet subscription fee.

All the new modems are "backward-compatible," meaning they can communicate with older ones at their standard speeds.

In fact, when the new modems talk with each other or transmit any data, they use only the current standards.

They aren't going to send you a new modem if they don't have to.