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Boca markets 56-kbps upgrades

The modem maker is trying to entice consumers to upgrade to its high-speed devices.

Brooke Crothers Former CNET contributor
Brooke Crothers writes about mobile computer systems, including laptops, tablets, smartphones: how they define the computing experience and the hardware that makes them tick. He has served as an editor at large at CNET News and a contributing reporter to The New York Times' Bits and Technology sections. His interest in things small began when living in Tokyo in a very small apartment for a very long time.
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Brooke Crothers
Boca Research (BOCI) today announced a program to entice users to upgrade from their existing 28.8- or 33.6-kbps modems to the company's high-speed 56-kbps devices.

Boca is offering two ways to upgrade. The first option allows users with any brand of 28.8- or 33.6-kbps modem to purchase a Boca 56K Internet Modem at designated stores at an estimated price of between $149 and $169, depending on the model.

At the time of purchase, a rebate coupon for $30 will be offered. The purchaser will be asked to send in the 28.8- or 33.6-kbps modem and rebate coupon to Boca Research and, in turn, will receive the $30 rebate, according to the company.

The second way to upgrade allows direct exchange between Boca Research and the consumer at a reduced cost. However, the exchange is limited to end users who currently own a Boca Research 33.6-kbps modem.

A customer owning a Boca 33.6-kbps modem will send the modem and $99, plus $14.95 shipping and handling, to Boca Research and, in turn, will receive a Boca 56K Internet Modem, the company said.

The Boca list of retailers and resellers on its site includes Best Buy, PC Connection, Fry's Electronics, and Insight.

Boca Research first shipped its 56-kbps modems on February 27 using technology that supports standards for the devices from Rockwell Semiconductor (ROK) and Lucent Technologies (LU).