Motorola heeft op de WinHEC een demonstratie gegeven van zijn SoftDSL technologie, waarbij de processor misbruikt wordt om DSL signalen te (de)moduleren. Het grapje is vergelijkbaar met AMR audio: kostenbesparend voor low-end PC's, maar ongewenst voor de überklokker. Positief is wel dat SoftDSL is geoptimaliseerd voor 3DNow!:
Motorola (NYSE: MOT - news) today announced the first public demonstration of Motorola's SoftDSL(TM) communications technology running on an AMD Athlon(TM) processor. Leveraging the latest PC processor advances, Motorola's SoftDSL technology gives PC OEMs a glimpse into next-generation low-cost broadband communications.The demonstration is taking place this week at WinHEC in New Orleans where attendees will be able to view Internet surfing and full-screen streaming video demos that show SoftDSL modem performance capabilities and power. See the demonstration at Motorola's booth 100-102 and AMD's booth 400.
Motorola's SoftDSL technology represents the next phase in software communications. Using the power of the computer instead of a dedicated modem chipset, software communications eliminates the need for costly fixed-function hardware and enables PC OEMs to deliver next-generation PCs without compromising performance or functionality. According to VisionQuest 2000, software modems captured one-third of the PC modem market in 1999 with roughly 20 million unit shipments. VisionQuest also expects software modems to exceed 50 percent of the PC modem market in 2000, making them the dominant technology for PC communications. As PCs continue to offer more power at lower cost, PC OEMs can look to SoftDSL technology as a viable communications solution to meet consumer demand for the latest high-speed technology while keeping margins up. Motorola's SoftDSL technology offers dynamic upgradeability and reconfigurability to bridge multiple DSL standards and provides users with a smooth migration path from V.90 analog modem to broadband Internet access.
Het ontbreken van SSE support kan mogelijk verklaard worden door de close relatie waarin Motorola en AMD verkeren?