Apple USB Modem
Encyclopedia
The Apple USB Modem was 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.
. Those were followed by the industry standard 2400/data and combined 9600/fax (V29) Apple Fax 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. It appears that only a 32 bit driver exists and therefore the modem will not operate in operating systems operating in 64 bit mode. This means that the USB modem does not work in Mac OS X Lion, 10.7 (per telephone call to Apple Care, July 22, 2011).
, Caller ID
, wake-on-ring, telephone answering (V.253), and modem on hold. The modem is manufactured by Motorola
. A device driver
for the modem was introduced with Mac OS X
version 10.4.3.
It retailed for US$
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
. 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 default wireless instead of default 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.
connector affects the USB external modem. Placing the modem away from the MagSafe socket on the farthest USB connector will keep your connection from dropping frequently.
If the internal modem is not answering rings, verify that you do not have "Wake when the modem detects a ring" option checked if the Sleep option is set to "Never". (System Preferences - Energy Saver).
Modem
A modem is a device that modulates an analog carrier signal to encode digital information, and also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. The goal is to produce a signal that can be transmitted easily and decoded to reproduce the original digital data...
introduced by Apple Inc. after the internal 56k modem was dropped on the October 12, 2005 iMac G5
IMac G5
The iMac G5 was a series of desktop Macintosh computers designed and built by Apple Inc. using the PowerPC chip architecture. It was the last line of iMac computers that used a PowerPC chip, making it the last of the iMacs that could run Mac OS 9 applications. In August 2004, the iMac design was...
revision.
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 couplerAcoustic coupler
In telecommunications, the term acoustic coupler has the following meanings:# An interface device for coupling electrical signals by acoustical means—usually into and out of a telephone instrument....
. Those were followed by the industry standard 2400/data and combined 9600/fax (V29) Apple Fax Modem in 1987. Apple introduced the internal 2400 data/fax modem card for its Macintosh Portable
Macintosh Portable
The Macintosh Portable was Apple Inc.'s first attempt at making a battery-powered portable Macintosh personal computer that held the power of a desktop Macintosh...
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
GeoPort
GeoPort was a serial data system used on some models of the Apple Macintosh. GeoPort slightly modified the existing Mac serial port pins to allow the computer's internal sound hardware to emulate various devices such as modems and fax machines. GeoPort could be found on late-model m68k-based...
passive telephony
Telephony
In telecommunications, telephony encompasses the general use of equipment to provide communication over distances, specifically by connecting telephones to each other....
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
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
version 10.6.2. It appears that only a 32 bit driver exists and therefore the modem will not operate in operating systems operating in 64 bit mode. This means that the USB modem does not work in Mac OS X Lion, 10.7 (per telephone call to Apple Care, July 22, 2011).
Features
The Apple USB Modem supports V.92V.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; previously 56K modems only used PCM for downstream...
, Caller ID
Caller ID
Caller ID , also called calling line identification or calling number identification or Calling Line Identification Presentation , is a telephone service, available in analog and digital phone systems and most Voice over Internet Protocol applications, that transmits a caller's number to...
, wake-on-ring, telephone answering (V.253), and modem on hold. The modem is manufactured by Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
. A device driver
Device driver
In computing, a device driver or software driver is a computer program allowing higher-level computer programs to interact with a hardware device....
for the modem was introduced with Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
version 10.4.3.
It retailed for US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
49 at the time of its introduction.
Apart from using the Apple USB Modem for Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
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
Floppy disk
A floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...
. With the rise of broadband
Broadband
The term broadband refers to a telecommunications signal or device of greater bandwidth, in some sense, than another standard or usual signal or device . Different criteria for "broad" have been applied in different contexts and at different times...
Internet and the general availability of wireless networking, it is likely that Apple felt that it was of more use for people to have default wireless instead of default 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.
Troubleshooting Tips
According to the Apple discussion boards, the magnetism of the MagSafeMagSafe
MagSafe is a proprietary magnetically-attached power connector introduced by Apple Inc. on January 10, 2006 in conjunction with the MacBook Pro at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco...
connector affects the USB external modem. Placing the modem away from the MagSafe socket on the farthest USB connector will keep your connection from dropping frequently.
If the internal modem is not answering rings, verify that you do not have "Wake when the modem detects a ring" option checked if the Sleep option is set to "Never". (System Preferences - Energy Saver).