Bell 103 modem standards

Hell! I just picked up a modem for a classmate (I finance the restoration with tech support - *sigh*), and on the label on the outside, with the supported protocols, and along with the V.24 V.90 yadda yadda there was at the end, Bell 103, Bell 212A...! (I may have the numbers slightly off, but I'm sure about the 103 part). ...Is this a common protocol? In a brochure that came with the DECUS newsletter, about Telecommunications, it mentioned these protocols, and described them as Low-Speed (defined as less than 2000 baud, I believe). This was also mentioned as built-in options for the TTY 33's, and I seem to recall them being mentioned several other places. Is this me being wrong, has the protocol been constantly upgraded speedwise, is the protocol "Just something that stuck around", and therefore direly needing support from every new modem? Or is this just a case of truly, *truly* excellent backwards compat? I mean, the brochure was all in all dated 1967. -Tore (: Lame smilies and RaNdOm CaPiTaLiSaTiOn, oh, and 5(R33P733 57Y13 writing makes you live longer, d00d! OmG! :) :O!!! :)!!!