Motorola, US West each unveil plans to widen access to big data networks

Motorola Inc and US West Inc announce plans to offer networking services that employ asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) technology. ATM enables local-area networks (LAN) to exchange multimedia information via telephone lines faster and more cost-effectively. The leased lines that are currently used to connect networks perform at speeds of 64,000 to 1.54 Mips, but ATM technology offers transmission speeds of between 45 Mips and 622 Mips. ATM also enables the transmission of video, voice and data simultaneously. Motorola intends to offer by the end of the 2nd qtr 1994 a software-based ATM Softcell switch that enhances the speeds of existing lines. US West plans to conduct two customer trials of a switch from Newbridge Networks Inc. Both companies are making it possible for network operators to link some lines to ATM transmission while just enhancing other existing lines.