The Apple USB Modem is a combined 56 kbit/s data modem and 14.4 kbit/s fax external
USB modem introduced by
Apple Inc. after the internal 56k modem was dropped on the October 12, 2005
iMac G5 revision. While it looks similar, it should not be confused with Apple's optional USB Ethernet Adapter accessory, available for its
MacBook Air and
MacBook Pro Retina range of laptops since 2008.
History
Apple introduced its first true modems in 1984, the ''Apple Modem 300'' & ''1200'' modems (
V21/V22). Prior to that they offered a third party Apple-badged comparatively low-tech
acoustic coupler. Those were followed by the industry standard 2400/data and combined 9600/fax (
V29) ''AppleFax Modem'' in 1987. Apple introduced the internal 2400 data/fax modem card for its
Macintosh Portable in 1989 as well as released its last external desktop ''Apple Data Modem 2400''. Only standard internal modems were offered during the 1990s through 2005, with the notable exception of Apple's foray into
GeoPort passive
telephony modems which relied heavily upon the computer's software and processing power rather than dedicated hardware (like Apple's proprietary internal ''Express Modem''). The ''Apple USB Modem'' is Apple's first true external modem since the ''Apple Data Modem 2400'' was discontinued in 1992.
As of September 2009 it is no longer available in the US Apple Store, but it still works (at least for fax) as of
Mac OS X version 10.6.2. No officially supported 64-bit driver exists, and as
Mac OS X Lion operates by default in 64-bit mode, the USB modem will not function in Lion without workarounds.
[odems>]
Features
The Apple USB Modem supports
V.92
V.92 is an ITU-T recommendation, titled ''Enhancements to Recommendation V.90'', that establishes a modem standard allowing near 56 kb/s download and 48 kb/s upload rates. With V.92 PCM is used for both the upstream and downstream connections; prev ...
,
Caller ID, wake-on-ring, telephone answering (V.253), and modem on hold. The modem is manufactured by
Motorola. A
device driver
In computing, a device driver is a computer program that operates or controls a particular type of device that is attached to a computer or automaton. A driver provides a software interface to hardware devices, enabling operating systems and ot ...
for the modem was introduced with
Mac OS X version 10.4.3.
It retailed for
US$
The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
49 at the time of its introduction.
Apart from using the Apple USB Modem for
Internet dial-up and faxing, it is also being suggested as a low cost line interface (aka
FXO interface) for telephony applications, such as for telephone systems (software
PBX) and answering machine software.
The decision to drop the built-in dial-up modem is reminiscent of Apple's decision to drop built-in
floppy drives
A floppy disk or floppy diskette (casually referred to as a floppy, or a diskette) is an obsolescent type of disk storage composed of a thin and flexible disk of a magnetic storage medium in a square or nearly square plastic enclosure lined w ...
. With the rise of
broadband Internet and the general availability of wireless networking, it is likely that Apple felt that it was of more use for people to have broadband using an ethernet cable or a wireless system instead of dial-up.
The highly miniaturized product, about the size of a cigarette lighter and with a 4.6-inch long USB cable, won a RED DOT design award for good design.
Windows support
The modem identifies itself as "Motorola SM56 USB Data Fax Modem" and a driver was provided via
Boot Camp Assistant.
References
{{portal, Internet, Telecommunication, Electronics
Apple Inc. peripherals
Modems
Computer-related introductions in 2005