CompuCom SpeedModem

The CompuCom SpeedModem was an early high speed <a href="/facts/Modem/9H0Xwtq0">modem</a> that implemented a proprietary 9600 bit/s protocol known as the CompuCom Speed Protocol (CSP). Their modems were much less expensive than competing high-speed models, and were well known for a time. The introduction of low-cost standards-based v.32bis modems made the SpeedModem disappear with surprising speed.
Two versions of the SpeedModem were released in 1991, the Champ with an introductory price of $169, and Combo at $279 which added 9,600 bit/s Group III fax support. The modem supported <a href="/facts/MNP5/6YSLaVeY">MNP5</a> <a href="/facts/Data_compression/gMFuY4FT">data compression</a> and their own format, CSP-3, which they claimed was as effective as <a href="/facts/V.42bis/P85K5Jgw">v.42bis</a>. For connections to other modems, the SpeedModem supported <a href="/facts/V.22bis/P85K5Jgw">V.22bis</a> for 2400 bit/s support (as well as 1200 and 300 bit/s support).
For reasons that are not recorded in the historical record, the SpeedModem had problems connecting over <a href="/facts/Packet_switching/olDlDP1R">packet switching</a> networks, which made commercial <a href="/facts/Online_service/MSe2Ta87">online service</a> connections problematic. Throughout, the very low price led to many concerns about quality and whether or not it was worth buying a non-standard modem.
The SpeedModems came to market shortly before the first <a href="/facts/V.32bis/P85K5Jgw">v.32bis</a> modems, which ran at 14,400 bit/s. These were initially much more expensive, but the <a href="/facts/SupraFAXModem_14400/2pWJSp6e">SupraFAXModem 14400</a> was released in January 1992 at $399, offering even higher performance, complete compatibility with all other modems, and adding a <a href="/facts/Fax/EBvf1cHA">fax</a> capability as well. When Supra's exclusivity over the internal <a href="/facts/Rockwell_International/dPSf6G1b">Rockwell International</a> chipset ended, the market was soon flooded with even lower-cost models. CompuCom responded by introducing faster 14.4 and 19.2 kbit/s CSP modems, but they were drowned out in a market flooded with v.32bis.
CompuCom responded with the CompuCom Storm, which added v.32 support, the high-end Challenger series with v.32bis, and finally the lower-cost CompuCom Star, with v.32bis. These had little or no price advantage compared to other standards-based modems, and little time in the market before CompuCom Communications went out of business.
One remaining vestige of the system is the "CSP" flag in the <a href="/facts/FidoNet/dM4jyojM">FidoNet</a> nodelist file, which indicates the <a href="/facts/Bulletin_board_system/22d9c9s2">BBS system</a> supports the CSP format.

CompuCom SpeedModem open-in-new

CompuCom SpeedModem