Rockwell to Mass-Produce Chips for Faster Modems

Rockwell International Corp. said Monday that a new generation of high-speed modems based on the company’s technology will be on computer store shelves next month.

Rockwell’s Semiconductor Systems unit, based in Newport Beach, has already shipped samples of its latest modem chips to manufacturers and is scheduled to begin mass-producing the chips this month.

Rockwell and rival U.S. Robotics of Skokie, Ill., have been racing to introduce competing technologies that will allow computers to receive data at 56 kilobits per second, about twice as fast as today’s fastest modems. U.S. Robotics is expected to begin shipping its new modems in the next few weeks.

Rockwell had previously said its new technology would be available during the first quarter of 1997. But some analysts had doubts about the company’s ability to keep its schedule.

In a conference call with journalists and analysts Monday, Rockwell Semiconductor Systems President Dwight Decker said the company plans to ship up to 4 million chip sets by June.

Modems using the technology, which will speed up access to the Internet, are expected to cost about $200. A number of major modem manufacturers have made plans to use the Rockwell chip sets, including Hayes Microcomputer and Boca Research Inc.