Alcatel has at long last Linux support for its SpeedTouch USB ADSL modem. The French comms company will release a driver for the open source operating system, along with the source code, next month.

That's good news for UK-based Linux users. British Telecom's domestic ADSL service bundles the SpeedTouch, forcing Linux home users to opt for a more expensive Ethernet-connected service.

Last month, British Linux buffs began an online petition to demand Alcatel get its derriere in gear and ship Linux drivers, something the company promised some time back, but has thus far failed to deliver. The petition drew over 800 signatures.

The driver will be ready next month, Alcatel said, along with full source code and the modem's firmware as a binary. The release will allow Linux to join MacOS 8.6 and 9.0, and Windows 9x, NT and 2000 as OS' capable of making ADSL connections via the SpeedTouch, the company added.

That said, none of the others are available from Alcatel's Web site, so far as we could see. So while BT continues to offer only Windows versions of the SpeedTouch, Mac users are still left out. Hopefully, the Mac driver will be made available next month too. If not, at least Mac coders will get access to the firmware and driver source to create their own. ®

Related Link

The SpeedTouch driver will be available here

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