If you're still using a dial-up modem to connect to the Internet, you are no doubt well aware of its drawbacks. Even with a 56k modem, connecting to your Internet service provider can be painfully slow, uploading can sometimes occur at a snail's pace, and you could be missing important calls if you don't have two phone lines. But a recent change in the way 56k modems communicate wipes out all of these hassles.

One major change the new v.92 modem brings is increased upload speed. Files can now be uploaded at 48 kilobits per second (kbps), which is a marked improvement over the v.90 speed of 33.6 kbps (download speeds will stay at the maximum of 56 kbps). If you send e-mails with large attachments or upload files using FTP programs, you'll appreciate the extra speed. It does borrow some power from your download speed, however, so if uploading is not a priority, you can "switch off" the increased upload speed capability.

Tired of having to twiddle your thumbs while you connect to your ISP? A v.92 feature called quick connect will speed the connection considerably. The modem traces each call over the phone line every time you connect to your ISP and then "remembers" the quickest route so it can retrace it the next time you go online.

And with the v.92 modem, you won't have to worry about missing your clients' calls. Provided you have caller ID service through your phone company, v.92 modems have a call-on-hold feature that notifies you of incoming calls, identifies the incoming number, and lets you answer the call without disconnecting from your ISP.

There is one major problem. To take advantage of the v.92 upgrade, you need an ISP that's willing to upgrade its servers to support it, and so far no major ISP supports the v.92 standard (a few local ones do), which was approved last year.

Industry experts and analysts are predicting that by the end of this year, ISPs will start to support the upgrade, as more v.92 modems are manufactured and sold. But currently, none of the leading ISPs have announced plans to do so.

Even without ISP support, you might not want to rule out a v.92 upgrade altogether if you're in the market for a new modem. Without ISP support, v.92 modems will function just like a v.90 modem. But when you do find an ISP that offers support, you'll be able to immediately reap the benefits.

These enhancements do come at a price. These modems are just starting to hit the market for about $100 - a bit more costly than v.90 modems, which are running as low as $30. PC card modems for notebooks haven't entered the market yet, so notebook users will have to resort to an external modem.

If you plan on sticking with a 56k modem, the v.92 upgrade could be the answer to your dial-up access prayers, as soon as ISPs - large and small - support it.