Yeah, But

Inconsistent availability of ISDN prevents this useful technology from ever becoming as popular in the U.S. as it is in Europe.

Yeah, but the ISDN situation continues to improve to the point that companies such as JetStream ((408) 777-4300) have released ISDN hubs and communications suites specifically for telecommuters who want the features and power of a company's PBX extended to the home office. Teloquent ((800) 468-6434) also uses ISDN for its Distributed Ca ll Center and Video Call Center. Although Teloquent officials say limited ISDN deployment in the U.S. has resulted in a smaller potential customer base, that situation is improving.

ISDN is just an interim step on the way to asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), ADSL, or cable modems.

Yeah, but those services are still immature in many ways. ATM will likely succeed in the long term. But ISDN will also satisfy an immediate need for midrange data access and a wide variety of services, including videoconferencing, branch-office interconnection, and Internet access, especially as telephone companies improve their ISDN service and support.