V92

V.92 is an ITU-T standard for dial-up modems that serves as an improvement over the earlier V.90 specification. Developed in the late 1990s, it defines procedures for establishing and maintaining data connections over conventional telephone networks, while remaining compatible with earlier V-series modems.

In terms of performance, V.92 allows downstream data rates up to 56 kbps, the same maximum as V.90, and increases upstream capability to up to about 48 kbps under optimal conditions. Real-world speeds depend on line quality and other line conditions. The standard also supports optional data compression through V.44, which can improve effective throughput when the remote end supports it, alongside the V.42bis error-correcting and data-compression framework.

A notable feature of V.92 is Modem-On-Hold (MOH), which enables a user to place an ongoing data connection on hold to receive a voice call or to use the line for voice communication, without dropping the data session. This makes V.92 particularly suitable for users who want to maintain a data connection while still using a telephone service.

V.92 is backward compatible with V.90 modems, meaning that V.92 devices can communicate with older modems, negotiating the best common capabilities. However, to take advantage of V.92’s higher upstream speeds or MOH and V.44 compression, both ends of the connection must support the standard.

From a historical perspective, V.92 saw adoption during the late 1990s and early 2000s as broadband internet access began to expand. With the gradual shift to faster broadband technologies, the use of dial-up modems and V.92 declined, though the standard remains a relevant milestone in the evolution of modem technology.