Rising Modems: A Look At The Growth Of 33.6 Kbps Fax Devices

Rising Modems: A Look At The Growth Of 33.6 Kbps Fax Devices

Since
the arrival of 33.6 Kbps modems in 1997, there has been a growing number of
these units introduced, and subsequently, resident in the total installed base
of fax devices. Since high-speed modems can only function at optimal speed when
communicating with similar modems on the other end, the population of these
devices has a direct impact on the average speed, which fax devices transmit
data.

The
Manufacturers

Today,
all of the leading fax vendors offer models with 33.6 Kbps modems, with products
appearing in all segments of the market. Let’s recap each vendor’s entry
into the 33.6 Kbps arena, along with the 2001 introductions for those remaining
in the fax business.

Brother:
Brother entered the 33.6 Kbps fray in 1998 with the 3750 and MFC-7750. In 2001,
the company introduced the 3800 and MFC-9800.

Canon:
Canon introduced its first 33.6 Kbps devices in 1997 with the 9000 and 9500. In
2001, Canon unveiled the 1060P, 2050, 2060P and 3170MS.

DEX: No longer a player, DEX introduced the 796 and 97 MD
in 1998.

Gestetner:
Gestetner’s initial foray into the 33.6 Kbps field was with the 9867 in 1997.
In 2001, the company introduced the 9920, 9940 and 9940NF.

Hewlett-Packard:
Hewlett-Packard’s entry into the 33.6 Kbps fax device fray didn’t occur
until 2001 with the announcement of the Fax 1220.

Jetfax:
Since introducing the M930 in 1997 and the M930E in 1998, the company has since
shifted direction and no longer operates under the Jetfax name, nor does it
market fax devices.

Konica: Konica’s first 33.6 Kbps devices were the 9820
and 9825 in 1998. In 2001, it introduced the 9765.

Kyocera
Mita: Back in 1997 when it was still operating as Mita, the company introduced
the LDC-780. To date, Kyocera Mita has not introduced a 33.6 Kbps device since
the LDC-870 and VI-85 in 1999.

Lanier:
Lanier burst upon the 33.6 Kbps scene in 1997 with the 1240, 1260 and 4900. To
date, it hasn’t introduced a 33.6 Kbps device since the 2005 in 2000.

Minolta:
The company’s first 33.6 Kbps product was the 5500/E announced in 1997. At
press time, it had unveiled the 2800 and 3800 in 2001.

Monroe: Introduced the MX-5070 in 1997. The company no
longer exists.

Muratec:
The F-150 was Muratec’s first 33.6 Kbps fax device. The last 33.6 Kbps
products introduced by the company were 2000’s MFX-1500E and MFX-1600.

NEC: The Nefax 596 and 791 were introduced in 1997. In
2001, NEC unveiled the 655e.

Oki
Data: One of the more aggressive fax device vendors, Oki Data introduced its
first 33.6 device, the 5600, in 1997. In 2001, it announced the 5780, 5950, 5980
and Office 87.

Omnifax:
The company’s first 33.6 Kbps fax device was the L8000, introduced in 1997.
Now, a part of the Xerox family, its products are sold under the Xerox brand.

Panasonic:
The UF-880 was introduced in 1997. In 2001, Panasonic released the UF-490 and
the KX-FLB751.

Pitney
Bowes: Pitney Bowes’ first 33.6 Kbps device, the 9930, was introduced in 1998.
At press time, the only 33.6 Kbps model introduced in 2001 was the DI 170.

Ricoh: In 1997, Ricoh introduced the 3800L. In 2001, it
unveiled the 2050L, 3900L, and 3900NF.

Samsung:
The company unveiled its first 33.6 fax devices in 1999 with the MSYS 6500 and
MSYS 7800. In 2001, it released the SF50, SF-530, and SF-531P.

Savin:
Savin’s entry into the 33.6 arena was with the 3685 in 1997. In 2001, the
company unveiled the 3720, 3740 and 3740NF.

Sharp:
Sharp has been marketing 33.6 Kbps fax devices since 1997 when it introduced the
FO-5600 and FO-6550. At press time, it’s only introduction in 2001 was the
FO-4970.

Toshiba:
Toshiba introduced the TF-861 in 1997. It’s last 33.6 fax devices, the DP
120F, DP 125F and DP 85F, were introduced in 2000.

Xerox:
Xerox unveiled the WorkCentre Pro 657 in 1998. At press time, it has released
the WorkCentre Pro 412, 685 and 785 in 2001.

To
date, thirty 33.6 Kbps fax devices were introduced in 2001, down from the 34
introduced in 2000 and 33 introduced in 1999.

Evolution
Of 33.6 Devices

The
first 33.6 Kbps models introduced were fax-based and toner-based, however, since
then we have seen the technology migrate to other types of devices, which offer
fax functionality, many of which are inkjet machines. Leading the trend to
include 33.6 Kbps speed on non-fax devices has been Canon who was first to
include this speed on a personal segment product in 2000 with the printer-based
MultiPASS F50. Close behind Canon is Hewlett-Packard, who launched the OfficeJet
K80 and Laser Jet 3200. Hewlett-Packard followed those products in 2001 with the
LaserJet 3200M. So, while Canon was the first manufacturer to bring 33.6 Kbps
faxing to a non-fax-centric device, Hewlett-Packard was first to do so on a non
fax-centric laser device. Xerox also made a mark in 2000 with the platen-based
XK50CX MFP.

The
trend to include 33.6 Kbps modems on low-end fax-centric devices has been slower
in coming, as it was not until this year, that models such as the HP Fax 1220,
Oki Office 87, Panasonic’s platen-based KX-FLB751 and the Samsung SF50 brought
this speed to the sub-$1,000 market. In addition, of note, with the exception of
the inkjet HP model, all of these other products are toner-based units.

*As
of 11/20/01

*
As of 11/20/01

33.6
Kbps By The Numbers

CAP
Ventures estimates that there were approximately 850,000 fax-based devices with
33.6 Kbps modems in the installed base at the close of year 2000. Considering
the year-end installed base was more than 25 million units; that’s a small
percentage. However, when we take into consideration all the non-fax devices
that have 33.6 modems, such as those just mentioned, the population of devices
capable of 33.6 Kbps operation is perhaps doubled.

Future
Of Fax Depends On Speed

It
has been CAP’s contention that fax needs to be as good as it can to remain a
viable office technology and withstand the erosion e-mail has caused in
messaging volume. The fact is, fax is faster and more secure than e-mail, so it
makes sense that fax vendors should capitalize on those two areas and make their
fax systems as fast as possible, and also offer security features, such as
encryption. This and adding essential features, such as Internet fax (T.37
fax-to-email) and color scanning will justify the continued presence of
fax-based devices for some time.