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NAUTILUS is pleased to provide the following
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Zapple, business, general, govt, ibm, telecom, trends, unix, other
TUCSON, ARIZONA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Artisoft, Solectek, and NCR have signed an agreement to share the knowledge necessary to develop software drivers for their wireless interface adapters for Artisoft's LANtastic.
While the agreements are signed, Newsbytes has learned that the earliest any of the companies are expecting to have products is in the first quarter of 1993. Newsbytes has also learned that discussions have started between Artisoft and Proxim aimed at reaching the exact same kind of agreement.
6 KIRKLAND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Firefox, a UK based company taking its products to the US market, has opened offices in the US and has attracted Victor Woodward from Spry to head its US operations. The company is taking advantage of the NetWorld and InterOp shows to introduce its first products in the US.
Firefox will be showing Novix for Netware at its booth at the InterOp show. Novix for Netware is a set of software modules that run on the Novell server and give Novell users access to TCP/IP hosts and services. This is a different approach than that used by many other companies which have produced TCP/IP protocol stacks that run on individual PCs.
Firefox claims there are distinct advantages to its server based approach. For instance, there is no need to install a protocol stack on each PC with its heavy use of memory and installation resources. Other advantages include the ability to completely manage administer, and support all of users from the central server. Without Novix, the network administrator has to take time on each PC to perform assigned management tasks. This can interfere with normal operations for the user and can become somewhat of a problem. By using Firefox's approach, the inconvenience is eliminated.
Novix for Netware will be available in November. Firefox is establishing sales and support channels for their products. Most of the company's participation at NetWorld was geared toward identifying and recruiting qualified resellers. At the InterOp show they hope to concentrate on selling the product.
Novix for Netware is shipping already in the UK. Newsbytes has learned that there are at least 200 server installation already operating in the UK. Licenses are sold in quantities of 5, 10, 20 40, 60, 80, and 100 users so that network administrators can match their exact configuration needs. These licenses are for simultaneous users. The server downloads the necessary code resources to the nodes and keeps track of how many are in use at any one time. Should the number of licenses be exceeded, the user will get a message telling them of the unavailability of the channel and will be urged to try again later. A 5-user license will sell for $500.
NOVATO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Wordstar is offering a new twist on its traditional writing products with a collection of jokes, a bundle of seven writing tools, and a bundle of three writing applications with a rock music compact disc included. Wordstar calls the new packages Just Joking, The Works for Writing, and Rock and Write.
Just Joking offers 2,800 jokes, one-liners and humorous quotations from contemporary comedians and famous personalities from the past, according to Wordstar. The collection is drawn from "The Comedy Quote Dictionary," by Ronald L. Smith, and "Friendly Advice," by Jon Winokur and is cross-referenced so a search for a writer or a subject can be accomplished, Wordstar maintains. A cut and paste operation can be used to insert the joke or quote into any document, the company added.
While the product is available for the Macintosh, DOS and Windows, the Windows and Macintosh versions offer the user the ability to add their own jokes or quotes to the collection Wordstar said. Just Joking is retail priced at $49, the company added.
Works for Writing is geared toward the DOS personal computer (PC) market and includes WordStar for DOS 7.0; the American Heritage Dictionary; Correct Grammar; Correct Writing; Correct Letters; Correct Quotes, and graphics program PC Paintbrush IV Plus. Wordstar says purchase of each package separately would be valued at over $1,000, but the company is offering the bundle for $495.
The Rock and Write bundle offers Correct Letters, Correct Writing, and Correct Quotes with a CD of music from popular female vocalists such as Sheena Easton and Tina Turner. Wordstar says the bundle is retail priced at $49.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921020/Press Contact: Kathleen Raycraft McLean Public Relations for Wordstar, tel 415-358-8535, fax 415-377-0325; Public Contact 800-523-3520)
5-377-0325; Public Contact 800-523-3520)
10/21/92
Wordstar Offers Jokes, Writing Bundles
GENERAL
Fifth Generation Offers 24-Hour
kes, Writing B
Radius Cuts Price On MultiView 2
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Hoping to take advantage of the enormous popularity of Windows-based PCs and the need for accelerated graphics capabilities, Radius has cut the price of its MultiView 24 color graphics board for IBM PCs and compatibles running Windows.
According to the company, the 24-bit MultiView 24 offers advanced Windows drivers, photo-realistic color, and now carries a suggested list price of $1,499. In addition, it comes with a full seven-year warranty.
Designed for professionals in the color publishing, graphic design and presentation markets, the MultiView 24 supports 16.8 million colors and features three on-board accelerators. It also offers 1024 by 768 non-interlaced resolution and refresh rates of up to 75 hertz (Hz).
The board supports ISA (Industry Standard Architecture), EISA (Extended ISA), and compatible computers with 386SX or faster CPUs (central processing units). It drives monitors capable of 1024 by 768 non-interlaced and interlaced resolution.
Two weeks ago Newsbytes reported that Radius had signed a deal with IBM, in which Radius will manufacture AT Bus XGA-2 graphics cards for IBM to resell through its sales channels in Europe. Part of the agreement calls for IBM to recommend the Radius product for sales in North America.
In September Newsbytes reported that stockholders had filed a class action suit against the company, and that then President and Chief Executive Officer Barry James Folsom had resigned.
Also in September Radius introduced the Radius PrecisionColor Matching System (PCMS), intended to provide accurate color proofing and monitor calibration capabilities for Macintosh users.
(Ian Stokell/19921020/Press Contact: James Strohecker Radius Inc., 408-954-6828)
Contact: James Strohecker Radius Inc., 408-954-6828)
10/21/92
Radius Cuts Price On MultiView 24 PC Graphics Card
New For Macintosh: MacGlobe 1.3
Sun & OEMs Choose Seagate Drives
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Seagate Technology is having some success in getting major computer manufacturers to use its hard drives. The company now says that its Elite 2 product has been selected by Sun Microsystems for use in its high-end multiprocessor servers. At the same time, major OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) such as NEC, Texas Instruments, and Commodore have selected Seagate's ST9144 hard disc drives for use in their new notebook computers.
According to the company, the Elite 2 features an 11.5 millisecond average seek time with a data transfer rate of 10 megabytes (MB) per second. It also provides 2.5 gigabytes (GB) of unformatted storage capacity with either a single-ended or differential SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)-2 interface.
According to Seagate, Sun will continue to use the Elite 1 in its "first-generation of general purpose multiprocessor servers."
Bernie Carballo, Seagate's senior vice president of product line management and marketing, said: "Both companies are pleased with the results that the strategic relationship has yielded with the introduction of the Elite 2."
According to Seagate, the 2.5-inch low-profile ST9144 line available with an embedded AT interface, offers high shock resistance and maximum capacity of 127 MB.
NEC has selected the 42MB ST9052A as the hard drive for its PC-9801 ns/L40 notebook computer. Texas Instruments has adopted the ST9144A for use in its TravelMate 4000 25 megahertz (MHz) WinSx/25 and WinDx/25 notebooks. Commodore is using the dive in its Amiga 600 home entertainment system.
Seagate has been in the news a couple of time already this month. At the beginning of October, Newsbytes reported that the company had shipped its first hard disk drive with magnetoresistive (MR) heads to an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) for technical evaluation.
In mid-October the company claimed that it was the first to bundle compression software with its hardware. This involves the bundling of a special version of Addstor's Superstor product Superstor Personal Edition (PE), with its 40 megabyte (MB) ST351A/X hard disk drive.
In April, Newsbytes reported that Seagate had signed an agreement with Microsoft that allowed it to preload MS-DOS and Windows 3.1 onto its hard disks. The agreement was reported to be the first time a hard disk manufacturer had made this type of agreement with Microsoft or any operating system supplier. These arrangements are more common with OEMs.
(Ian Stokell/19921016/Press Contact: Brian P. Ziel, 408-439 2838, Seagate Technology)
408-439 2838, Seagate Technology)
10/21/92
Sun & OEMs Choose Seagate Drives
BUSINESS
Everex Cash Crunch: Subsidiary S
New Grid Color Notebook
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- GRiD has announced its first color notebook, a 6.9-pound, 25 MHz 386SL-based PC oriented to on-the-road presentations as well as desktop use.
In an interview with Newsbytes, Bett Cook, product manager, said that the GRiD 1660c comes standard with a 125 MB hard disk and 64 KB cache memory, plus 4 MB of RAM. Unlike many other notebooks the new computer provides simultaneous internal and external video support, she emphasized.
The same application can be run simultaneously on the notebook's built-in active matrix color screen and on a larger external monitor, connected to the PC through the VGA port, according to Cook. "This feature permits the person controlling the presentation to view the application at close hand, while at the same time displaying the show to a wider audience," she explained.
The 8.4-inch screen that comes with the notebook offers a clear viewing angle of almost 180 degrees, Cook told Newsbytes. The screen displays 16 colors at 640 by 480 resolution, or 256 colors at 320 by 200 resolution.
The active matrix technology used in the screen provides maximum contrast and prevents shadowing by supplying a separate transistor for each pixel, the product manager said. The user can choose between three brightness settings, achieving ultimate crispness at the highest level and power savings of up to 20% at the lowest level, she maintained.
Other power management features are also helpful when on the road added Cook. Through a resume/suspend capability, the notebook can automatically shut down its components when not in use. Then, when called upon again, the computer will return to where the user left off in the application.
The 1660c is also equipped with a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive, a built-in trackball, MS-DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1, and an internal removable/rechargable nickel metal hydride battery pack.
A built-in 200-pin AT bus provides connectivity to an optional docking station. Used by GRiD's previously released 1660 monochrome notebook, as well as by the new color portable, the docking station supports one full-length 16-bit and one half-length AT card.
Other options for the GRiD 1660c include a 25 MHz 80387SL math co processor and a proprietary 2400/9600 bps data/fax modem with MNP5.
Memory of the machine is initially upgradable to 8 MB, and will be upgradable to 20 MB by January of 1993, according to GRiD. "The 1660c will probably starting shipping this week," Cook told Newsbytes. GRiD's first color notebook is priced at $4,495.
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Mouse Systems, manufacturers of the Penmate desktop "work pad," says it is offering Microsoft's Pen Windows and pen-based spreadsheet product Pencell Lite for Windows as a bundle with the company's Penmate product.
Mouse Systems is hoping the $349 retail price of the bundle will prompt potential users to try pen computing. Penmate connects to the serial port and will work with any PC with a 286, 386, or 486 microprocessor and Pen Windows installed Mouse said. A special pen stylus allows the user to input commands to the computer by making special gestures or writing on the "work pad," the company said.
The Pencell Lite, bundled with the Penmate hardware, offers much of the functionality of the standard Pencell spreadsheet product, according to developer Penware. Penware says Pencell takes advantage of the pen as a pointing/selecting device and also allows users direct manipulation of the spreadsheet. Drag and drop of cells, delete, copy, and sum operations can all be done with the pen directly. Also, the pen can be used as "electronic ink" so notations can be made on the spreadsheet in the users own had that are not interpreted into ASCII characters or commands, but just appear on the spreadsheet each time it is viewed.
Pencell Lite is missing macro support, support for Microsoft Excel file formats, and the ability to handle larger spreadsheets, but the company provides a coupon for a discounted upgrade for interested users.
Fremont, California-based Mouse Systems describes itself as a leading supplier of input devices for computers. Penware located in Palo Alto, California offers application software for pen-based computer systems.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921020/Press Contact: Tom Nunan, Penware tel 415-858-4920, fax 415-858-4929; Lara Kaplinsky, Mouse Systems, 408-727-0351)
Lara Kaplinsky, Mouse Systems, 408-727-0351)
10/21/92
$349 Bundle Lets PC Users Try Pen Computing
US Government Sniffs Out Russian
New For PC: Russian Language Too
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Informatic, a language tools company exhibiting at the Softool exhibition in Moscow last week reported that two new programs, including a new version of its Orpho spelling checker program, have been released.
Natalia Artemova, the manager of Informatic, said the spelling checker will work under Microsoft Windows and has an improved user interface a larger upgradable dictionary, and will be able to check style hyphenation, as well as regular spelling.
Another product in the works is Context, which the firm bills as bidirectinal computerized dictionaries that simplify the process of translating text between various languages.
A third product, still in development, is a full text search utility, which will allow keyword searching of Russian words in plain text files.
Natalia Artemova said Orpho and Context are immediately available and the price is "reasonable."
Informatic is a private company established in 1988 to develop Russian language software.
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Microinform, the developer and distributor of Lexicon, a popular Russian-made word processing package, has declared amnesty for all owners of illegal copies of the program. Microinform has also scored a software sale to the Russian government.
Lexicon, in wide used but seldom bought, would be supported under the amnesty program, plus those who signed up would also get 15% off the price of newer versions. Microinform claims the "amnesty" program is already quite popular.
Amnesty isn't unique to Microinform. Autodesk Russia, which sells AutoCAD, a popular design package, says "amnesty" is available for 10,000 rubles (US$30), while the "upgrade price" on newer versions is set at the 90,000 rubles level (US$270) for those purchasing amnesty.
Novell said it will provide regular service and support for owners of illegal copies who pay 50% of the regular price, which is somewhat in the US$1500 range, or 1,500,000 rubles.
In other Microinform news, the office of Russian President Boris Yeltsin has bought 100 copies of Lexicon and plans to use them in offices of the President's representatives in various regions according to an announcement made by Boris Friedman, Microinform's general manager.
More than hundred local representatives of the President have been appointed, and most of their offices have more than one computer.
(Kirill Tchashchin & Vladimir Shliemin/19921020/Press Contact: Microinform, Boris Friedman, phone +7 095 233-0006)
ontact: Microinform, Boris Friedman, phone +7 095 233-0006)
10/21/92
Russia: Microinform, Others, Offer Amnesty, Sells To Govt
BUSINESS
CompuAdd Touch-Screen POS Termin
Motorola PCMCIA Modem
Ovsen Builds Bridge Between Russ
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Ovsen, a private company, has entered a partnership agreement with the Ukrainian state software certification center to promote Russian-made software in Ukraine and vise versa.
Ovsen and SoftRating agreed to both use each others' existing dealership networks and to protect intellectual property rights of authors, Sergey Savvinov, marketing chief of Ovsen told Newsbytes.
As an example of the cooperation, Savinov quoted Moscow-based Argumenty and Fakty, a weekly claimed to have the world's largest circulation. Savinov said the weekly publication has decided to use the service of Ukrainian software developers in creating an internal subscription database.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Desktop publishing firm Aldus Corporation announced its third quarter results yesterday, reporting third quarter revenues up 12 percent, but earnings were down a whopping 80 percent.
The company reported revenue of $45.3 million, up from the $40.3 million reported for the 1991 third quarter. However net income for the period was only $1 million, or $0.07 per share, compared with $5.5 million, or $0.35 per share for the same quarter last year. "We still have some work to do to get the figures in line," Aldus spokesperson Brad Stevens told Newsbytes.
The company said international revenues accounted for slightly more than half of total sales during the quarter. "We are pleased that revenues improved from the second quarter in light of continued recessionary conditions and seasonally slower markets in Europe," said Aldus VP of Finance Bill McAleer. He said the revenue increase was related to improved results from the company's German subsidiary and record sales from the Pacific Rim division, particularly Japan.
Operating costs were up from the previous year, with sales and marketing costs reported at $18.7 million, compared to just under $13.6 million the previous year. Research and development costs were up, from $3.3 million to $4.7 million. The company also took a one time $1.4 million charge which included domestic restructuring costs, reserves for obsolete product inventory, and costs incurred in establishing the company's Ireland subsidiary. The company laid off 100 employees during the period.
Aldus doesn't talk about future financial projections, but in the fourth quarter last year the company reported increased revenues but reduced earnings. Earnings were $4.5 million, of $0.29 per share. This year's second quarter was a disappointing one, with Aldus reporting the fourth straight poor earnings quarter.
With Pagemaker reaching the end of its product cycle, Aldus is expected to release a major upgrade to its flagship product, a popular desktop publishing program. Stevens told Newsbytes the upgrade will incorporate some specific features requested by professional users. Those will include incremental rotation of images (image rotation of any user-specified number of degrees), the ability to open multiple publications simultaneously, and what Stevens described to Newsbytes as "significantly" faster printing. Stevens declined to specify the version number of the Pagemaker update, but industry watchers speculate that it will be release 5.0.
Asked about other new products, Stevens declined to be specific, but said the company is working on upgrades on all its major products.
Aldus announced two new products during the period, Fetch, a multi-user program for cataloging, browsing and retrieving images; and TrapWise, a color trapping product for use in the pre-press process. As reported by Newsbytes, the Aldus board of directors had authorized a share buyback program of up to two million shares. So far, the company has re-purchased 1.2 million shares.
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- IBM is suing several companies for allegedly selling illegally modified IBM products and bootleg IBM software. In documents filed in US District Court in Charlotte, North Carolina, IBM accused the companies of selling counterfeit circuit cards for IBM 3174 Establishment Controllers, along with copied IBM internal code.
IBM spokesman Clifton Scott said the companies modified IBM circuit boards "to make them do things they weren't designed for." According to IBM, the accused then attached fake part numbers and labels to the cards and software to make them resemble genuine IBM products.
The suit alleges that in the course of modifying the cards, the defendants subjected them to damaging heat, chemicals, and physical processes, resulting in latent defects that can cause customers' computer systems to fail.
The companies named in the suits are: American Data Company of Charlotte, North Carolina; Brookwood Computer Industries of Alpharetta, Georgia; Classicblue Computer Services of Randolph, New Jersey; Com-Gear Unlimited and Computer System Services, both of Canton, Georgia; Five Star Computer Services of Carrollton, Texas; and Savon Systems of East Setauket, New York.
Principals of some of the companies were also named as defendants.
IBM is seeking temporary and permanent injunctions to stop the companies selling the hardware and software, as well as unspecified monetary damages from the seven corporate and five individual defendants.
IBM officials said the company is continuing to investigate other third parties who may be involved in similar activities.
The 3174 Establishment Controller is used in computer networks for applications such as airline reservations, patient information systems in hospitals, and electronic banking.
(Grant Buckler/19921021/Press Contact: Ed Trapasso, IBM 914-642-5359; Clifton Scott, IBM, 914-642-5457)
-5359; Clifton Scott, IBM, 914-642-5457)
10/21/92
IBM Suing Over Modified Circuit Boards
Australia: Tasmanian Firm Increa
Compaq Doing Well, Says Price Wa
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Compaq Computer Corporation President Eckhard Pfeiffer told Reuters yesterday that he doesn't think the personal computer price wars will be over in 1993. "We are prepared for that," Pfeiffer told the British news agency. "We will be seeing very intensive price fights at the very entry level."
Pfeiffer declined to predict when the price wars would end. In contrast to Pfeiffer's comments, Dell Computer Chairman Michael Dell said in late September he believed the price cuts were over. Dell told analysts that the personal computer market is now so strong that he sees no need for further PC price cuts. According to Dell "We are overwhelmed with demand, so if we lowered prices it would be like a self-inflicted wound."
Pfeiffer told Reuters it's not important when price cuts among PC makers end "because the goals we are setting are independent of that." He said cost leadership is essential for good times and for bad times. "The most cost efficient manufacturers will become the industry leaders," according to Pfeiffer. He predicts that system prices are tied to the cost of microprocessor chips, with the prices of 386 and 486-based systems will continuing to drop just as the prices of 286-based systems did as those chip prices fell.
Intel is expected to introduce its next generation chip, the Pentium in early 1993. Until now the chip has been referred to by its development code name, P5, and frequently referred to as the "586." However, Intel decided not to use the generic number system in order that it could copyright the name, and conducted an extensive campaign both within the company and from without before deciding on Pentium.
The company had no comment about rumors that it would demonstrate a PC running Pentium at next month's COMDEX trade show in Las Vegas. Comdex is traditionally the place where many companies introduce new products. Nor would Compaq had no comment on fourth quarter projections, but according to Pfeiffer "We are bringing out new products as fast as production permits."
Meanwhile, Compaq reported a strong third quarter, in stark contrast to the company's earnings for the same period last year.
Compaq said it earned $49 million on sales of a record $1.07 billion. For the same period last year the company reported a loss of $70 million on sales of $709 million last year. Both third quarters were affected by restructuring and other special charges and credits.
Compaq President and CEO Eckhard Pfeiffer said record product shipments during the third quarter "are customer affirmation of the strategy we put in place just one year ago to lead the industry in PC technology, price competitiveness and customer support." It was a year ago that the Compaq board of directors ousted president and co-founder Rod Canion, saying it was time for a change. The board felt that Pfeiffer's experience in sales, marketing and manufacturing, was what the company needed. It cost Compaq $3.6 million to remove Canion.
Earlier this week, Newsbytes reported that Compaq had cut prices on 13 of its desktop and portable personal computers. Earlier this month the company issued pink slips to about 1,000 employees, or 10 percent of its worldwide work force. Compaq had reduced its work force by 1,400 employees earlier.
(Jim Mallory/19921021/Press contact: John Sweney, Compaq 713-374-4583)
1/Press contact: John Sweney, Compaq 713-374-4583)
10/21/92
Compaq Doing Well, Says Price Wars Will Continue
UK: Kalamazoo Sponsors Technolog
Review of: Image Club New Faces
New For Macintosh: Fifth Generat
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Fifth Generation Systems (FGS) says it is now shipping Public Utilities a preventive maintenance and recovery software program that runs on Apple Computer's Macintosh line.
According to Barry Bellue Sr., FGS president and CEO, Public Utilities can help users of all levels protect against and recover from potentially damaging disk problems. "It is the only product on the market that works transparently to prevent most common disk and data corruption problems from happening," says Bellue.
The program periodically scans the user's hard disks in the background, doing its work when the processor is idle, to find potential problems. Once a problem is noted, the program displays a message on the user's screen, and can also make recommendations about how to fix the problem. The user can also set up Public Utilities to scan for problems when the computer is turned on or at shutdown. Similar to another FGS program, Fastback, the program can be installed for the novice or for more experienced users.
FGS spokesperson John Crowe told Newsbytes Public Utilities scans for such problems as damaged partition maps, drivers and driver maps, and problems in the System Folder. It also checks for bad blocks and scans all disks and/or partitions in a single operation. The program also optimizes disks, defragmenting files and relocating them for maximum disk performance. Deleted files can be removed after optimization.
The $149 program is compatible with System 6.0.2 and higher including System 7. FGS recommends the minimum system configuration include a Mac Plus with megabyte of system memory.
(Jim Mallory/19921021/Press contact: John Crowe, Miller Communications for FGS, 310-822-4669)
: John Crowe, Miller Communications for FGS, 310-822-4669)
10/21/92
New For Macintosh: Fifth Generation Maintenance/Recovery
APPLE
Everex Cash Crunch: Subsidiary S
NEC Broad-Band Four-Megabyte Vid
Client/Server Version Of MarketP
OnTime For Networks To Use Banya
SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Campbell Services has chosen the develop the enterprise network version of its OnTime for Networks using Banyan Vines as the basic network operating system. OnTime for Networks is Campbell's group calendaring and scheduling software.
Campbell has chosen Banyan Vines primarily because StreetTalk and the Vines transport protocols are the most robust designs in existence today and the ones that meet Campbell's goal to support large enterprise networks, the company says.
Campbell's Anik Ganguly told Newsbytes that the company is convinced that group scheduling and calendaring must be done in real time since delays inherent in a store-and-forward operation would be a major detriment to the use of such a program. Being able to use the Vines real-time transport facility in conjunction with StreetTalk lets Campbell's OnTime for Networks operate in real-time. Most scheduling takes place in a time span of a few minutes, regardless of the size of the enterprise or its dispersion.
Campbell also announced support for the ENS for Netware product that Banyan recently introduced.
A final factor in the decision to go with Vines as the network operating system was customer demand. Campbell found that most of their customers who are interested in an enterprise-wide system were Vines users, or, at least, were asking for Vines compatibility.
Campbell has begun development of this new product, which is not an upgrade to their existing line. Campbell expects to begin shipments of it in early 1993.
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Accton Technology will introduce two new stackable modules for its hub system at the InterOp show that will be held next week. The two new modules will provide either 6 ports for fiber optic connections or 8 ports of thin Ethernet.
The Accton stackable hub concept is somewhat unique in that it does not provide a hub with modules that plug into slots. What Accton does is sell different modules that are essentially stand-alone hubs. If a customer exceeds the capabilities of a single module, they add another and connect the hubs together. The Accton system can support up to 14 hubs connected together.
In addition to hubs that support different amounts of ports and different wiring types, Accton also makes a module that provides management capabilities. This module gives complete SNMP management capabilities to the overall system.
The EtherHub-6FI contains 6 pairs of ST-type connectors. It will retail for $2395. The EtherHub-8Ci is an 8 port devices with BNC connectors. The EtherHub-8Ci will retail for $2295. Both units will begin shipping on December 7.
(Naor Wallach/19921021/Press Contact: Tom Woolf, Woolf Media Relations for Accton, 415-508-1554/Public Contact: Accton, 510-226-9800)
n, 415-508-1554/Public Contact: Accton, 510-226-9800)
10/21/92
New For Networks: Accton's 2 New Components For Hub
GENERAL
LSI Logic Posts Huge Loss
` - MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- As expected semiconductor manufacturer LSI Logic has posted a third-quarter loss of $111 million, after taking a restructuring charge of $102 million.
LSI revenues were $154 million, down nearly 11 percent from revenues of $172 million in the like period last year. In the year-ago quarter, earnings were $804,000, or 2 cents a share.
As reported previously by Newsbytes, the restructuring charge will be used to cover the cost of closing a production plant in Braunschweig, Germany, during the next six months, shifting some production from the Silicon Valley to the Far East in the next 18 months, and reducing the company's Headland Technology subsidiary in Fremont to a division that will be run out of its headquarters. The charge will also be used to dismiss 175 employees, or four percent of its work force.
At that time, Wilfred J. Corrigan, LSI's chairman and chief executive, said: "The reality is that our cost structure is out of line with the current level of revenues and we are compelled to reduce costs, and do it quickly."
The quarterly loss will come to more than $2 per share. Last quarter, LSI reportedly lost $5.8 million on revenues of $152 million. The operating loss in the quarter, without the restructuring charge was $3 million, compared to an operating profit of $4 million in the third quarter a year ago.
Said Corrigan: "Excess manufacturing capacity combined with a fiercely competitive chipset market had the effect of overshadowing the true results of the ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) business. With the financial restructuring behind us, LSI Logic now expects to return to profitability in the fourth quarter of 1992."
For the nine months ended Sept. 30, LSI lost $116 million compared with earnings of $7.4 million, or 17 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenues were $456.3 million, compared with $533.6 million.
According to the company, additional ways to cut costs, planned for the future, include accelerating the phase-out of older process technologies, increasing the role of the Far East for high-volume wafer manufacturing and assembly and test, and relying upon subcontractors and other outside sources to satisfy an increased portion of the company's requirements.
(Ian Stokell/19921021)
(Ian Stokell/19921021)
10/21/92
LSI Logic Posts Huge Loss
BUSINESS
UK: Husky Completes Major Order
TI Earns $57 Million In 3Q
IBM Japan Releases Low-cost PCs
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- IBM Japan has followed its Western brethren by announced 10 low-cost personal computers. These PCs include the PS/V and the Thinkpad and are priced at about half that of Japanese personal computers with equivalent features. The move is expected the escalate price-cutting wars in Japan.
IBM Japan's latest personal computers are an 80486-based 32-bit "PS/V," the Japanese version of the PS Valuepoint introduced in the West. It is basically the same unit except that the PS/V has a Japanese language interface in addition to an English language interface. The retail price of this entry-level PC is 198,000 yen ($1,650), which is about half the cost of most 80486-based personal computers in the Japanese market.
Another major release is the Thinkpad, a B5-sized pen-input notebook-type personal computer. It has a color TFT (thin-film transistor), touch-panel type display. IBM Japan has also released an upgraded version of the Japanese notebook-type PC called the PS/55. It weighs 1.2 kg, and costs 338,000 yen ($2,800).
IBM Japan will sell these PCs through a number of dealers including Canon Sales and Catena Group. Also, IBM Japan has about 130 dealers throughout Japan, and over 500 PC wholesale dealers.
These new PCs are expected to directly vie with NEC's PC-9801 family, which is currently dominating the Japanese market. The PC-9801 has an over 50 percent share of the PC market in Japan. Its share is eroding, however, from higher sales of Apple Computer's Macintosh, IBM's DOS/V PC, and Fujitsu's multi-media PC FM-Towns.
Compaq, Apple Computer, and Digital Equipment Japan recently started the price war in which IBM is now engaged. The prize will be to capture the largest share of computer buyers during the Christmas sales season. Due to the price war, NEC is also expected to lower prices in the near future.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921021/Press Contact: IBM Japan 81-3-3586-1111)
ontact: IBM Japan 81-3-3586-1111)
10/21/92
IBM Japan Releases Low-cost PCs
Fujitsu Releases 1.8-Inch Optica
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Fujitsu has developed an extremely small optical magnetic disc 1.8-inches in diameter, or half the size of a regular credit card.
Fujitsu, which is aiming the disc at the multimedia device market reports that its optical disc is covered with a cartridge the size of 5 x 5 cm. The current version can store 60 megabytes of data but Fujitsu plans to make the final version store up to 128 megabytes, or the equivalent of 100 floppy disks. Fujitsu's optical disc is much smaller than one made by Japan Victor which is 2.5-inches.
Fujitsu, waiting for the market to mature, expects to release this tiny disc in 1995. By that time, the firm may able to go into mass production of the devices and the retail price may be affordably low.
Fujitsu wants to sell this optical disc for various new media products including personal computers, telephones, fax machines and electronic still-cameras. The optical disc can be an ideal device for storing motion picture data and sound data, and it may replace current floppy disks, Fujitsu claims.
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- DCC (digital compact cassette tape) software makers will finally release the first DCC music software next month. Due to a defect in DCC tape, the release of the DCC software was delayed.
Matsushita and Philips had just approved the release of DCC tapes several weeks ago when Japan Victor Corp. discovered a defect in the medium. Due to this defect, Matsushita and Philips the advocates of DCC, ordered software makers to put off the release of the DCC software. Some seven Japanese record makers had to wait for the next word from the two companies.
Both firms seem to have pinpointed the problem in the DCC tape now, and have apparently found a solution. They have not yet made a clear explanation of the defect. An industry source says the tape was extremely weak in humidity, and it had a durability problem. The problem DCC tapes were destroyed. JVC has started manufacturing the error-free tapes at its Mito plant in Japan. These tapes will be supplied to major record firms such as Polydore and Victor Music.
The release of music software was initially planned for October 1. However, due deficiencies of the tape, the release was delayed. Now the first DCC music tapes will be released on November 21. Toshiba EMI is also planning to release DCC music software in December.
DCC as a medium now needs the support of the consumers. Due to its compatibility with existing audio cassette tapes, it is expected to catch on quickly and to replace regular audio cassette tapes in the near future.
Meanwhile, Sony is also preparing to release its Mini-Disk software by the end of this year. The firm is now seeking support from the music industry.
ALBANY, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Senior investigator Ron Stevens of the New York State Police Computer Unit has told Newsbytes that it will be the practice of his unit to avoid the use of the term "hacker" in describing those alleged to have committed computer crimes.
Stevens told Newsbytes, "We use the term computer criminal to describe those who break the law using computers. While the lay person may have come to understand the meaning of hacker as a computer criminal, the term isn't accurate. The people in the early days of the computer industry considered themselves hackers and they made the computer what it is today. There are those today who consider themselves hackers and do not commit illegal acts."
Stevens had made similar comments in a recent conversation with Albany BBS operator Marty Winter. Winter told Newsbytes, "'Hacker' is unfortunately an example of the media taking what used to be an honorable term, and using it to describe an activity because they [the media] are too lazy or stupid to come up with something else. Who knows, maybe one day 'computer delinquent' WILL be used, but I sure ain't gonna hold my breath."
Stevens, together with investigator Dick Lynch and senior investigator Donald Delaney, attended the March 1993 Computers, Freedom and Privacy Conference (CFP-2) in Washington, DC and met such industry figures as Glenn Tenney, congressional candidate and chairman of the WELL's annual "Hacker Conference"; Craig Neidorf, founding editor and publisher of Phrack; Steven Levy, author of "Hackers" and the recently published "Artificial Life"; Bruce Sterling, author of the recently published "The Hacker Crackdown"; Emmanuel Goldstein, editor and publisher of 2600: The Hacker Quarterly" and a number of well-known "hackers."
Stevens said, "When I came home, I read as much of the literature about the subject that I could and came to the conclusion that a hacker is not necessarily a computer criminal."
The use of the term "hacker" to describe those alleged to have committed computer crimes has long been an irritant to many in the online community. When the July 8th federal indictment of 5 New York City individuals contained the definition of computer hacker as "someone who uses a computer or a telephone to obtain unauthorized access to other computers," there was an outcry on such electronic conferencing system as the WELL (Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link). Many of the same people reacted quite favorably to the Stevens statement when it was posted on the WELL.
(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19921021)
(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19921021)
10/21/92
NY State Police Decriminalize The Word Hacker
CompuAdd Touch-Screen POS Termin
Portable MIDI Sound Unit For Mac
NY State Police Decriminalize Th
India: Arthur Andersen Eyeing Op
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Andersen Consulting, the world's largest management consultancy firm (with income over $2.3 billion), is pepping up its Indian operations for "new opportunities after the economic liberalization here."
Keith Burgess, managing partner, UK, who has personally been responsible for some of the biggest information technology projects in the UK was on a visit for an Indian review. "We solve business problems. Solution of business problems involves predominant usage of information technology and software applications," said Burgess.
In the process of standardizing on custom application systems for its clientele worldwide, Arthur Anderson has evolved a set of CASE (computer-aided software engineering) tools called Foundation. Foundation provides systems methodology for the company's analysts and software developers.
"We have access to all this resource," said S.K. (Sid) Khanna, the "partner" in-charge of Arthur Andersen & Co. in India, pointing to the bulky volumes of Foundation on his shelves. The latest version of Foundation is now available on CD-ROM with his Western counterparts.
Burgess is eloquent about the imperatives in the application of IT. "If we look back to 80s, there was neglect on people's side and technology did not solve problems," Burgess said. While there was multiplicity with emphasis on vertical sectors of operations, the current trends in technology -- like client-server computing -- now enable organizations a "horizontal" view. Across the four facets of "strategy, technology, operations and people," he observed, there is already a forced shift from the "production lobby" to "customer/people" orientation.
Burgess oversaw the development of the biggest network anywhere outside the defence sector -- for the Department of Social Security in UK. The nationwide integrated network with about 40,000 terminals handles about 50 million records. It involves disbursement of various social security allowances to the unemployed and pensioned amounting to over 50 billion pounds. "It's like printing money (for the government)!" The network itself has cost more than 600 million pounds.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19921020)
illion pounds.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19921020)
10/21/92
India: Arthur Andersen Eyeing Opportunities
BUSINESS
Artisoft, NCR, Solectek Sign LAN
Dataquest Forecasts Multimedia G
Malaysia Asks To Be Included in
India: Hinditron Signs Handful O
BOMBAY, INDIA, 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- The Bombay-based Hinditron Informatics Ltd. has recently bagged software export contracts from Global Weather Dynamics Inc. (GWDI) and Chemshare Corp., both of the US.
For the former, Hinditron will develop unified message switch applications on DEC systems in THE Ultrix operating environment. Work on the project, which is scheduled to be completed by April next year has already begun at Hinditron's software facilities at Andheri in Bombay. GWDI, which is also looking at Hinditron as a potential partner to service its customer base in Asia and Europe, is involved primarily in weather forecasting and message switching applications.
Chemshare Corp, a Houston-based software company specializing in process applications for refineries and petrochemical companies, has awarded a remote delivery project to Hinditron. The order entails development of an application program interface for "Design Master" (a proprietary process design software from Chemshare) with RKH02, a general purpose heat transfer application. The venture which is slated to be completed in one person year, will be developed on Sun SPARC II workstations. If the project is successfully implemented, Chemshare may develop a service alliance with Hinditron for its customers worldwide, especially the Japanese market.
Hinditron is also undertaking software development for its sister concern, Hinditron Tektronix Instruments Ltd. The agreement involves software development on X-terminals for Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), an Internet Data Communication Agent which will include Management Information base II (MIB II). Another project entails development of VT-340 emulation on X-terminals. This is expected to provide all VT-340 capabilities, and commands in some European and other languages will be included in it.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19921020)
ll be included in it.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19921020)
10/21/92
India: Hinditron Signs Handful Of SW Export Orders
BUSINESS
Spinnaker Account Firm, Chief Fi
Storagetek 3Q Results Down Again
Motorola PCMCIA Modem
BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Motorola's announcement of a PCMCIA wireless modem highlighted news in the field computing area.
The Motorola NewsCard is the first wireless receive modem in a PCMCIA card format. PCMCIA is a standard format for chip-based cards which can be plugged into small computers using a standard interface. The cards themselves are about the size and shape of extra-thick credit cards, and could feature memory, software programs, or discrete devices like modems, depending on the types of chips inside them.
Motorola is aiming its NewsCard at the vapor market of "personal digital assistants" or "personal communicators" like the Apple Newton and AT&T-Eo Hobbit.
The NewsCard is based on technology used in the NewsStream, a receiver used by Motorola's EMBARC system for electronic mail. It can link with both one-way paging and two-way electronic messaging networks, including SkyTel's SkyStream, BellSouth's MobileComm paging system, and EMBARC. SkyTel said it would display the NewsCard at its booth during the Comdex show in November. Motorola also announced a new version of its Altair wireless local area network system, which will also ship in November.
In other news, Casio said its BOSS organizer will have electronic mail access to AT&T EasyLink Services. The AT&T EasyLink Communications Package is designed to provide a low cost electronic mail system for the growing organizer market.
Finally, the paging industry continues to move forward at a double-digit annual growth rate, which may surprise advocates of new technology who see paging as old news. The industry is consolidating, with new big players like Cue Network and PageNet of Dallas, fighting hard against SkyTel, BellSouth's MobileComm and a host of smaller companies. Drivefone made a move toward being more competitive by announcing it has reached a final agreement to acquire a paging frequency for the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. The transaction is scheduled to be consummated in late November, with construction scheduled for completion in early summer 1993. The company also signed a letter of intent to acquire a small paging carrier in Tampa, Florida with approximately 5,000 subscribers. Drivefone also added the new operations will be added to its own re-selling operation and three paging systems it will build in upstate New York. The company also plans to combine its paging subsidiary, with a private, metropolitan New York-based paging reselling company.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921021/Press Contact: Drivefone, Lee R. Montellaro, 201/843-6400x206; Elisa Fershtadt, for SkyTel, 212 614-4253; Ken Countess, Motorola, 305-475-5603; Ed Lopez, AT&T Easylink, 201-331-4136)
Easylink, 201-331-4136)
10/21/92
Motorola PCMCIA Modem
TELECOM
Phone Earnings Mostly Good
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- While most attention in the phone industry is focused on San Francisco where PacTel directors will decide this week whether to split-up the company to enhance shareholder value, earnings reports in the rest of the industry show solid growth.
MCI said it earned $154 million for the quarter ending in September, up from $141 million in the previous quarter and $133 million a year ago. Revenues were up 11.2 percent from a year ago, to $2.682 billion, with traffic up nearly 15 percent. President Daniel Akerson credited large accounts, consumer and international markets for the gains, while acknowledging the general US economy remains weak.
GTE, the largest local phone company, said its earnings rose 8 percent during the quarter, thanks mainly to those operations. It earned $500 million, up from $461 a year ago, but revenues were up only 2 percent, to $4.97 billion, compared with $4.85 billion in the third quarter of 1991. Most local companies have been able to reduce staff while increasing revenue in recent years, thanks to automation.
Among the regional Bells, BellSouth said its net actually fell 3 percent, to $345 million. But that was blamed on a one-time refinancing charge, $40.7 million for refinancing $550 million in bonds. Over the long term, the company said, the deal will save money. Revenues, however, were up considerably, to $11.29 billion from $10.75 billion. NYNEX, which did not have those kinds of charges, said its net rose 9.6 percent, despite a soft economy, to $319.7 million from $291.8 million a year ago. Sales at NYNEX rose just 1.6 percent, to $3.32 billion from $3.27 billion in the third quarter of 1991.
Bell Atlantic also reported strong earnings, $386.6 million against $331 million a year ago, on flat sales of $3.2 billion. That company's results were boosted by the sale of a stake in Hospital Corp. of America, the result of its acquisition of Metro Mobile, a cellular phone operation. The company has also shrunk its financial services and real estate units, adding that profits from New Zealand and its cellular operations also helped results.
US West, meanwhile, said its net rose 5.2 percent to $283.4 million, up from $269 million a year ago, even though revenue fell from a year earlier. Like Bell Atlantic, US West blamed real estate operations for the revenue shortfall. US West said its subscriber base grew 3 percent over the last year, while cellular subscribers are up 40 percent, and a British joint-venture it has providing phone service and cable television services is also succeeding in the market.
Among smaller companies, Rochester Telephone reported strong earnings of $18.4 million, up from $15.6 million a year earlier. Rochester's gains were helped by its sale of some cellular phone interests, but profits were up even without those gains. ACC, a small long distance company also based in Rochester, which has considerable operations in Canada, also report much higher earnings, $685,156 against $145,183 a year earlier, on revenues which rose to $22.08 million from $13.71 million. Results were great despite the fall of the Canadian dollar and increased costs from the expansion of that network.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921021)
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921021)
10/21/92
Phone Earnings Mostly Good
TELECOM
UK: Cognito Packet Radio Network
NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Three months after the Dowty Group wound down its Cognito packet radio operation, a group of investors have acquired the name Cognito along with the assets and subscribers for an undisclosed sum.
A group of five, including two former managers with the company have bought into Cognito using Swiss private investor's money. According to Noel Leslie, marketing manager with the company, the network will go live again on November 30, barely four months after Dowty shut the packet radio network down as part of the arrangements for when Cray Electronics bought into the telecom and electronics group.
"To be fair to Cray, I think they were after the Case division of Dowty rather than ourselves. We're glad we have managed to revive the network with most of the infrastructure intact," he told Newsbytes.
When the network goes live again, it will cover around 80 percent of the UK -- around the same coverage as the company's two main rivals in the packet radio market-place, Hutchison and Ram Mobile Data.
Leslie said that the bulk of the old network's subscribers have signed up to the new network. That will enable the company to put 1,000 terminals on the network, which is capable of supporting 100 times that number of subscribers.
"We've raised the monthly rental per unit on the network from UKP 35 to UKP 50, although that does now include all packet switching charges on the network," Leslie said, adding that pricing on the two-way Messenger and Radio Transmission Units (RTUs) has yet to be set. Customers, Leslie said, will have a choice of buying or renting the Messengers and RTUs.
The Messenger is a two-way radiopager unit with a Qwerty keypad and an LCD screen. The battery-powered unit comes in a box the same size as a pocket PC or Casio IQ/Wizard personal organizer. The RTU, meanwhile, is a stripped down Messenger, without the screen or keyboard, and is essentially a packet radio modem.
Early next year, Leslie said, Cognito will launch a number of new services, including a message handling system (MHS) hub for Novell Netware. This will allow Cognito network users to link straight into Novell Netware.
COVENTRY, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- Husky Computers has just completed one of its largest ever orders in Europe by supplying SNCF, the French national railway, with 700 Hunter series portable computers.
The computers are being used by SNCF as part of an information technology program to record the movement of all freight on the French railway network.
The Hunter 16 computers are the mainstay of the French contract. The DOS-compatible units are what Husky calls ruggedized, meaning they are suitable for use in adverse weather conditions, the company claims. This is important, the company added, since the units will be in use 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with data downloaded from the computer back to regional centers and the national central office in Paris.
SNCF plans to use the data collected on the hand-held computers to optimize the use of space for freight on its trains. The French railway service has an annual turnover of FF 14,000 million a year on freight alone, so the logistics are incredible.
Andrew Faulkner, Husky's managing director, said that hand-held computers are proving to be a major growth area for the computer industry. "This trend is undoubtedly set to continue as companies, such as SNCF, recognize that computerization using hand-held technology gives them cost and time savings, as well as a significant competitive edge," he said.
SNCF has used Husky computers for the last four years, Newsbytes notes. According to Husky, the Hunter 16 was chosen because of its easy to program user interface, as well as its DOS compatibility in a rugged casing.
c Contact: Husky - Tel: 0203 604040; Fax: 0203-603060)
10/21/92
UK: Husky Completes Major Order With French Railways
BUSINESS
Borland Bundles Training Video W
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- In the fierce business of spreadsheet products, companies are turning to innovative methods to sell their wares. Now Borland International claims it has become first software company to ship a "comprehensive" training video as part of a spreadsheet software product.
According to the company, Quattro Pro Special Edition, originally released last year, was designed specifically for first-time spreadsheet users in homes and small businesses. The $89.95 spreadsheet product now includes a 100-minute training video and 50 built-in sample spreadsheets.
Borland claims that the Quattro Pro training video instructs users "in all aspects of spreadsheet use, from installation and set-up to graphing and creating electronic slide shows."
The sample spreadsheets include formats for financial statements, shipping and receiving, sales and order entry mortgage amortization, loan comparisons, day planning, home finances, proposal and invoicing, and requisition and purchasing.
Quattro Pro Special Edition includes such features as a "solve-for" tool for goal-seeking; "what-if" scenarios; the ability to connect with databases; over a dozen graph types; and electronic slide show tools.
Quattro Pro Special Edition requires DOS 2.0 or later 100 percent compatible versions, a minimum of 512 kilobytes (KB) of RAM, a hard disk with minimum of 4MB of space, and a graphics card and monitor to display graphs.
(Ian Stokell/19921020/Press Contact: Mara Stefan, 408-439 4704, or Vallee Ghosheh, 408-439-4705, Borland International Inc.)
hosheh, 408-439-4705, Borland International Inc.)
10/21/92
Borland Bundles Training Video With Spreadsheet
US Government Sniffs Out Russian
Australia: Telecom Law Book On P
Court Says Sega Acts Illegal, Se
B REDWOOD CITY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- The written decision from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the Sega/Accolade case has been made available and Sega says the court decision opens up the door for the company to continue its battle against Accolade. However, the decision states clearly that some of Sega's acts were illegal and confirms Accolade's release by the Ninth Circuit Court from a lower court injunction.
In an unusual move, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals handed down the decision freeing Accolade to sell and develop new titles for the Sega Genesis game system in August before completing all the written documentation. Accolade said the decision was announced so it could get back into the business of making game software.
The entire issue started when Sega changed its game hardware so any cartridge inserted displays "Produced By or Under License From Sega Enterprises Ltd" and then sued Accolade for reverse engineering, claiming a violation of Sega's copyrights.
Alan Miller, president and chief executive officer of Accolade, said Sega has been attempting to force Accolade into agreeing to what amounts to a non-negotiable, third-party licensing arrangement. The whole issue here is whether or not a hardware manufacturer can force those making compatible software to pay them for doing so.
Michael Crick, president of third-party software development company for Nintendo machines, Mica, says Sega's hardware change amounts to a trick to drive Accolade into compliance. Crick says the design of the hardware now requires any software manufacturer to deliberately display the license message in order to get the cartridge to work at all. Crick says while it can be argued Accolade should not be displaying that which misleads consumers, using the copyright laws to stifle a competitor is not the manner in which the laws were intended to be used.
Sega says it changed the design to lay the groundwork to stop software pirates. However, the decision from the Ninth Court states: "Thus, in addition to laying the groundwork for lawsuits against pirates, Sega knowingly risked two significant consequences: the false labeling of some competitors' products and the discouraging of other competitors from manufacturing Genesis-compatible games. Under the Lanham Act, the former conduct, at least, is clearly unlawful."
The case is being carefully watched as a precedent setting case and already other companies were using the Sega/Accolade fight to fuel fights of their own. Thomas F. Smegal, legal counsel for Media Vision, who this summer was defending itself against similar claims against personal computer (PC) sound board manufacturer Creative Labs (a fight recently settled out- of court), offered an explanation of reverse engineering and its implications.
In a paper entitled, "Reverse Engineering of Software Scrutinized In Sega," Smegal says the Sega vs. Accolade suit "... is the strongest challenge yet to what seems to have been a widely held assumption in the law that a reverse engineer may make fixed 'interim' copies of a copyrighted program so long as the final product is non-infringing." Smegal says criticism levied at the Sega vs. Accolade case contends that only the final product that is sold on the market or used in a functional manner should be scrutinized for copyright infringement.
The Ninth Circuit Court said: "By facilitating the entry of a new competitor, the first lawful one that is not a Sega licensee, Accolade's disassembly of Sega's software undoubtedly "affected" the market for Genesis compatible games in an indirect fashion. We note, however, that while no consumer except the most avid devotee of President Ford's regime might be expected to buy more than one version of the President's memoirs, video game users typically purchase more than one game....
"In any event an attempt to monopolize the market by making it impossible for others to compete runs counter to the statutory purpose of promoting creative expression and cannot constitute a strong equitable basis for resisting the invocation of the fair use doctrine. Thus, we conclude that the fourth statutory factor weighs in Accolade's, not Sega's favor not withstanding the minor economic loss Sega may suffer."
Evidently the Ninth Circuit Court agrees with Smegal, however Sega's legal counsel Riley Russell said in a prepared statement, "In our opinion, the court improperly applied the doctrine of fair use and disregarded established precedents in this area of law. We feel the court's ruling, if it stands substantially reduces the ability of manufacturers to protect their intellectual property. The ruling also fails to recognize the significant problem of international piracy."
Accolade has already been required to clearly state on its game cartridges the cartridge was not produced by or licensed under Sega, a decision the Appeals Court has upheld.
Sega lists Apple, DEC, Intel, IBM, Lotus, Wordperfect, and Xerox, the Computer Business Equipment Manufacturer's Association, and the International Anticounterfeiter's Coalition as in support of its position as those company's filed supporting Amici Briefs for Sega during the hearings. Crick maintains companies like Sega and Nintendo are attempting to force third- party developers to license from them and follow their rules for production of game titles. While such practices are illegal, Crick told Newsbytes a good deal of what the third-party developers are calling unfair competition Nintendo and Sega are calling attempts at quality control.
The hardware game manufacturers want to determine how many titles can be introduced in a year by a licensee, among other things. Crick maintains such practices, while illegal, do drive up the quality of titles for a system as the developer has to concentrate all available resources on a few titles. While quality control is a laudable goal, Crick said the effect could be a far reaching one for the entire industry if Sega manages to win.
Peter Choy of chairman The American Committee for Interoperable Systems (ACIS) which includes companies such as Chips and Technologies, Phoenix Technologies, Seagate Technology, Zenith Data Systems, and Sun Microsystems, has publicly released statements saying a decision against Accolade could seriously damage the computer industry as a whole. Choy said: "The life blood of the computer industry is the ability of any competitor to make and distribute interoperable software and hardware."
Sega says it has an open door to pursue the case further and it has filed for a rehearing. Sega quotes the written court decision which says: "This case presents several difficult questions of first impression involving our copyright and trademark laws... To oversimplify, the record establishes that Accolade, a commercial competitor of Sega, engaged in wholesale copying of Sega's copyrighted code as a preliminary step in the development of a competing product. However, the key to this case is that we are dealing with computer software, a relatively unexplored area in the world of copyright law... Our conclusion does not, of course, insulate Accolade from a claim of copyright infringement with respect to its finished product. Sega has reserved the right to raise such a claim and it may do so on remand."
In another patent suit settled in May of this year, Sega was found by a jury to be deliberately in infringement of a patent held by inventor Jan Coyle and paid out $43 million to Coyle. The Coyle patent was on display of color images on a video screen via low-frequency audio signals audio signals, or "sprites," the figures that move in the foreground against the still background, like the Mario characters or Sonic the Hedgehog.
Sega Enterprises, based in Tokyo, has offices in Redwood City California. Accolade is based in San Jose, California describes itself as the third largest developer of 16-bit video game software.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921021/Press Contact: Brian Webster Manning, Salvage, & Lee for Sega, tel 415-508-2800, fax 415 802-1448; Charlotte Skeel, Accolade, tel 408-985-1700, fax 408 246-0885; Michael Crick, Mica, tel 206-883-2876, fax 206-869-0155)
ael Crick, Mica, tel 206-883-2876, fax 206-869-0155)
10/21/92
Court Says Sega Acts Illegal, Sega Files Rehearing
Expert Edge Survey Reveals Corpo
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 21 (NB) -- According to a new survey conducted by Expert Edge, the major role for Microsoft Windows in the corporate computing market-place is to give user-friendly PC front ends to mainframe applications.
In the survey, conducted by the software tools development company, management information service (MIS) managers from 50 of the top 500 companies were interviewed by phone and their views on Microsoft Windows sought.
According to survey, which was conducted by Profile Market Research, 74 percent of MIS managers felt that Windows' most important usage was in creating a user-friendly interface to mainframe applications, ahead even of client server or stand-alone PC facilities.
Of the managers surveyed, 70 percent believe that Windows will be the most influential PC platform over the next five years and 80 percent of survey respondents said they are planning to support Windows over the next three years.
The majority of these respondents (57 percent) said that they plan to support more than one platform, while of those planning to concentrate on a single operating system, 65 percent opted for Windows, 20 supported DOS and 10 percent support PS/2. Only five percent supported the Apple Mac's operating system.
"This is the first survey of its type which has demonstrated the importance of corporate user places on front ending the Windows environment," explained Donal Daly, Expert Edge's managing director.
According to Daly, survey shows there is little doubt that Windows is winning the battle to become the leading desktop operating system.
"Our results show that Corporate MIS departments are using the Windows environment to develop co-operative applications consequently protecting their existing IT investment. Downsizing to a client-server environment seems to be less important than rightsizing, using Windows to rejuvenate old mainframe applications," he said.
Copies of the survey results, which make for interesting reading can be obtained from Expert Edge's offices.
(Steve Gold/19921021/Press & Public Contact: Expert Edge - Tel: 081-941-7433)
ress & Public Contact: Expert Edge - Tel: 081-941-7433)
10/21/92
Expert Edge Survey Reveals Corporate Role For Windows
TRENDS
IBM Japan Releases Low-cost PCs
Motorola PCMCIA Modem
DEC Japan Cuts PC Pricing In Hal
Long Distance Update
Apple Computer Ships System 7.1,
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- The long awaited Macintosh operating system update -- System 7.1 -- with the new Quicktime 1.5 multimedia extensions is now shipping, Apple Computer has announced. The biggest emphasis from Apple is the inclusion of Worldscript for support of Asian languages, but the company announced other enhancements as well.
The Worldscript technology enables Apple to offer System 7.1 to its Asian customers who have languages with such large character sets that two bytes of memory are required for each character, also known as "double-byte" languages. Specifically mentioned was Kanji, a Japanese alphabet available now for System 7.1. Other System 7.1 versions for Asian languages such as Thai and Chinese are expected to follow between now and the first of the year.
The international market is important to Apple Computer. In the company's latest earnings statement, the company said that 45 percent of its 1992 revenue was from markets outside the US.
System 7.1 has other enhancements as well, Apple Computer said. A new fonts folder is offered for seamless type integration and it holds all of the user's fonts, regardless of the font format, Apple said. This makes installation and removal of fonts easier, the company added.
Also, Apple says it can stop modifying the system software each time it ships a new model of the Mac and can now offer a drop-in software module, known as a "system enabler" that enables System 7.1 to automatically support a new Macintosh.
In the past, when Apple offered new hardware, anyone who already had Macs and wanted them all to talk to each other had to upgrade and test the rest of the computers with the new operating system.
Now Apple says the instructions, or systems enablers, to take advantage of the new hardware, will be added as a module to the current operating system on the newly introduced Macintosh. Then when Apple decides to introduce an upgrade to the operating system, the system enablers can simply be rolled into the core of the new system.
The System 7 Tune-up is now integrated into System 7.1, and offers improved memory management, especially in low memory conditions; simplifies systems administration, and offers better system stability. The Tune-up will free up 100 to 200 kilobytes (K) of random access memory (RAM), Apple asserts.
In response to customer requests, Apple says it has made the File Sharing security feature no longer offer "guest access" by default. Apple maintains this makes the File Sharing security feature more secure.
The new Quicktime, version 1.5, is bundled with System 7.1. Apple says version 1.5 will run on any of the four million Macintosh color-capable computers with a Motorola 68020 or higher microprocessor with System 6.0.7, System 7.0, or System 7.1, and 2 megabytes (MB) of memory.
The previous version of Quicktime allowed video playback but the new version of Quicktime offers playback in a window four times larger than was previously possible. With software only playback up to 320 x 240 pixels at 15 frames per second can be utilized on a Macintosh LC II-class computer. If left at the original 160 x 120 pixels, Apple says the new Quicktime allows playback at the broadcast rate of 30 frames per second.
Quicktime 1.5 also offers support for full-screen, full-motion digital video cards; integrated support for the Kodak Photo compact disc (CD) so users can have their photos digitized onto a CD; improved compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) and network data handling; 1-bit fast dithering for playback on monochrome screens such as those on the Powerbook notebook computer; generic media handlers for creation of new movie-track types; and closed captioning. The Kodak Photo CD support requires not only Quicktime, but version 4.0 of Apple's CD-ROM software.
The Apple Database Access Language (DAL) has been unbundled from System 7.1 to free memory and to offer simpler set up for customers who don't need database access in a network situation. Apple says that DAL will be offered in a software kit for end users and in-house developers, and will also offer network protocol adapters, a test application, and installation and users' guide.
Apple says that System 7.1 will be offered on all new Macs the company is introducing, including the IIvi, IIvx, Mac Duo System and Powerbook 160 and 180 series.
A System 7.1 Update Kit is available to current System 7.0 users as a single-user upgrade for $34.95 from Apple and includes a 1.4 MB (800K) disk, Quicktime 1.5, and a update guide.
System 6.0x users will need the System 7 Personal Upgrade Kit which retails for $99. The Apple At Ease software is included with this kit for a limited time, Apple maintains. Prices outside the US vary depending on the country.
Kanjitalk 7, the System 7.1 for the Japanese, is available in Japan now. A Korean version is scheduled for November 1 release the Thai and Chinesetalk (traditional) versions for November 15 and the Chinese/simplified version is scheduled for release in January of next year.
Like System 7.0, Apple is distributing Quicktime without charge via user groups and computer bulletin boards. However, those sources may charge a nominal fee for materials, labor, and connect time. Apple will also offer Quicktime on the developer CD available in November from its developer APDA source.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921020/Press Contact: Nancy Morrison, Apple Computer, tel 408-862-6200, fax 408-974-6412; Public Contact for System 7.1 Upgrade Kit 800-769-2775)
Contact for System 7.1 Upgrade Kit 800-769-2775)
10/20/92
Apple Computer Ships System 7.1, Quicktime 1.5
APPLE
Everex Cash Crunch: Subsidiary S
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- Everex has announced it will report losses in the $35 million range this quarter and says it is negotiating with creditors with whom it has already violated loan covenant agreements. The company is blaming the IBM and compatible personal computer (PC) price wars despite its recently announced price reductions of as much as 59 percent.
The company said that it owes lenders the amount it's short, or $35 million, and claims that a cash crunch is forcing it to again reduce expenses, generate cash, and outsource to Asia the manufacture of some of its Notebook and Tempo computer product lines. The company already announced the layoff of 400 employees in August and another 250 in September, but still expects this quarter's losses to put it in the red for nearly $30 million for the fiscal year.
The company says that sales of $110 million will most likely be reported for its fourth quarter. Everex is also saying its lenders are willing to renegotiate the company's debt. The company's major creditors have formed an informal committee to work with the company in establishing a program for continuing supply of components and payment of outstanding balances.
Everex President Hal Clark said that layoffs will continue of the approximately 1,850 employed worldwide, including approximately 1,350 within the United States. Everex also said it will sell off "non-core" divisions and subsidiaries to raise cash. Venture Management Associates of Menlo Park, California was identified as the company Everex has retained to help the company liquidate its assets.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921020/Press Contact: Bob Goligoski, Everex tel 510-683-2179, fax 510-683-2025)
b Goligoski, Everex tel 510-683-2179, fax 510-683-2025)
CANOGA PARK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- Newsbytes ran a story dated September 21 that stated that DAK Industries was advertising a sound card for IBM and compatible personal computers (PCs) that might have implied the DAK card conformed to the Roland GS Sound standard.
DAK's claim, however, was its sound card conformed to the Roland GS card in the 128 sounds produced. Roland has since informed Newsbytes the BSR Mediamaster card is not GS conforming and does not offer identical sound to Roland products.
Also, Newsbytes incorrectly implied that Roland sound cards were in the $1,000 price range. Roland has again informed Newsbytes its sound cards have never been priced in that range.
Newsbytes apologizes for the errors and any inconvenience they may have caused.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921020/Press Contact: Tom White, Roland Corporation, tel 213-685-5141, fax 213-726-8865; Brian Eggers DAK, tel 818-716-6219, fax 818-348-2642)
6-8865; Brian Eggers DAK, tel 818-716-6219, fax 818-348-2642)
10/20/92
CORRECTION: DAK Offers $199 Roland GS Conforming Sound Card
CORRECTION
New For Macintosh: PowerPoint 3.
Ungermann-Bass & Novell In OEM D
fers $199 Rola
Australia: Exhibition Includes G
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- An art exhibition being held in Sydney's Museum of Contemporary Art until next February includes a selection of computer art by German artist Christoph Hildebrand. The exhibition, entitled: "Humpty Dumpty' Kaleidoscope: A New Generation of German Artists," includes Hildebrand's "Media Altar: God," which is a modern equivalent of a Baroque altar piece.
The work features God as a face made up of simple blocks, with various menus and computer-style palettes for selecting various attributes of life.
Says Hildebrand, "My work is very much inspired by the technology as well as using the technology. 'Media Altar: God' comes from using computers, from the idea of computing." The palettes and menus show such choices as moral codes, gender, actions philosophical and theological ideas and emotions, with many ideas from life being translated to "computer-speak" (death, for example, becomes exit).
Hildebrand spent approximately five weeks developing the work, with around 12-16 hours of work a day. Hildebrand says that he was hampered by the limitations the technology he used (a lower-end Macintosh in a Berlin university), as well as the overall restrictions placed on him by the computer -- restrictions which he compares to the restrictions of many organized religions.
"Computers and the Church have many parallels. The Church allows you to do certain things, but it also has restriction, and the computer has the same thing," the artist said. "It gives you possibilities to do things, but if you want to do something not in that framework you just can't do it, it is impossible. And that is what makes me so angry."
(Sean McNamara/19921020)
hat makes me so angry."
(Sean McNamara/19921020)
10/20/92
Australia: Exhibition Includes German Computer Art
GENERAL
New For PC: Russian Language Too
India: Hinditron Signs Handful O
Toshiba Releases World's First 1
Australia: PC OEM Signs Up For W
s Meets To Discuss
BT Claims Sales Will Suffer Due
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- In what many are viewing as a warning to shareholders of potential falling profits, British Telecom has complained that cable TV phone sales could take away up to UKP 10 million a week in revenue by the year 1996.
Commenting in the August/September staff magazine, Arthur Thompson, BT's marketing manager, said that the prospect of seeing a large slice of its income transfer to cable TV companies poses an even greater threat than Mercury Communications.
Thompson's comments come as several cable TV companies in the UK are busy promoting their phone services, which are linked into subscriber's houses using fiber optic network technology. As well as carrying several dozen TV signals, the fiber optic cable can carry as many as three phone lines into a house in many areas.
Furthermore, because the capital cost of installing the fiber optic links is defrayed by the cable TV operations, the companies can offer their phone services at very competitive rates with little or no installation charges. Most cable TV companies then use Mercury Communications' network for trunk and international calls, which are between 20 and 40 percent cheaper than BT's phone rates.
BT is starting to fight back with a number of revamped discount schemes, but these tend to favor major subscribers rather than households with an annual expenditure of UKP 200 or so on the phone. The cable TV companies are interested in the residential market as, with little or no outlay, they can cream off healthy profits from their telephone operations, with Mercury providing most of the network resources.
Mercury Communications is a UK division of the Cable & Wireless group. The company specializes in offer competing services to those of BT's, at rates rather lower than those of its major competitor.
(Steve Gold/19921020)
e of its major competitor.
(Steve Gold/19921020)
10/20/92
BT Claims Sales Will Suffer Due To Cable TV Phones
TELECOM
UK: Olivetti PG400 Laser Printer
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- Olivetti has launched a new family of laser printers -- the PG400 series -- with which it plans to gain a 5 to 10 percent market share within the next 12 months or so.
The PG400 series consists of the three printers initially: the PG404 for single users; the PG408 for workgroups; and the PG417 for departmental networks. Pricing starts from UKP 699.
Announcing the printers, Dominic Macey, the company's product marketing manager, said that, with more than a decade of experience in the printer marketplace, he reckons the new lasers are some of the best available.
"We currently supply products with all the main printing technologies, including one of the most successful bubblejet printers available -- the JP350S. The new PG400 series has been designed to ensure that Olivetti continues to plan a competitive part in the laser printer market," he said.
According to Olivetti, the PG404 and 408 both feature a 32-bit 25 megahertz (MHz) processor -- faster than the 10 or 12MHz processors found in the competition. This fast controller, the company claims, is matched by a data transfer rate of up to 100 kilobits a second, as compared to 25 KB/sec on competing lasers.
Other features of the PG404 and 408 include an economy mode which Olivetti claims boosts life by 50 percent, as well as a macro facility that enables forms, fonts, and logos to be stored. The PG404 offers a first page print speed of 34 seconds.
The PG404 retails for UKP 699, while the PG408 sells for UKP 999. Both printers are available now.
The PG417, meanwhile, is a 17 pages-per-minute machine with two 250-sheet paper bins. The printer can be linked straight on to Token Ring or Ethernet networks using an optional adapter. One interesting feature of the PG417 is the inclusion of a wide variety of font options, including 14 bit-map HP emulations and 13 scaleable fonts. Font expansion options include two slots for HP (Hewlett-Packard)-compatible cartridges.
Pricing and availability on the PG417 have yet to be announced.
NOVATO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- Many in the Macintosh community were wondering what Broderbund intended to do with PC Globe, its acquisition last August. Now an answer has arrived in the form of an upgrade to the flagship product MacGlobe.
MacGlobe 1.3 is the newest version of the program which is now being shipped. The main change in the package is that the database has been updated to include changes that have occurred over the past two years in Europe and Asia.
According to the company, MacGlobe v1.3 fully accommodates the breakdown of the USSR into 17 constituent countries as well as the breakdown of Czechoslovakia. One area that was not changed was Yugoslavia. This was done because it is unclear what will be the ultimate result.
All in all there are 18 new countries represented in the program. As before, the program will show a profile of each country including maps, graphics, and a collection of statistics. The program will also show each country's flag and will allow the user to play that country's national anthem.
The data for the program was compiled from such sources as the CIA World Factbook and the World Bank Atlas. Data from individual countries, or groups of countries, can be compared against similar data from other countries or groups in various graphical formats. All of the maps that the program displays as well as all of the graphics that the program can generate can be exported to any existing desktop publisher, word processor, or graphics package.
MacGlobe 1.3 is sold with a retail price of $59.95. Current users can upgrade to version 1.3 for free if they purchased the program within the last 90 days. If a purchase was made earlier, the upgrade will cost $25.
(Naor Wallach/19921020/Press Contact: Dawn Albertson, Broderbund 415-382-4637/Public Contact: Broderbund, 415-382-4400)
ontact: Broderbund, 415-382-4400)
10/20/92
New For Macintosh: MacGlobe 1.3
APPLE
New For Macintosh: PowerPoint 3.
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- Microsoft Corporation says it is now shipping a major upgrade of its presentation graphics program PowerPoint for the Macintosh.
Version 3.0 for Apple Computer's Macintosh was demonstrated by Microsoft Executive Vice President Mike Maples at the Los Angeles Macintosh Users Group meeting last Thursday.
New features include an outline view that allows users to create and work with the content of their presentation as an outline in a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) format. Outlining provides full text formatting including font size and style.
Microsoft says it has made drawing easier with a Shape Tool that offers a palette of 24 adjustable shapes and a freeform tool. View size can be adjusted from 25 percent to 400 percent, and more than 500 pieces of color clip art are included. The graphing tools are the same ones included in Microsoft Word, including 3-D graphing and 84 pre-designed graph types. Graphs can be rotated, and will automatically pick up the color scheme selected for the overall presentation.
Powerpoint 3.0 also supports the use of QuickTime's video and sound features, ad there's a special runtime version of Powerpoint allowing presentations to be run without the full Powerpoint program being loaded. Powerpoint Mac files can now be shared with Powerpoint 3.0 for Windows users, since the same file format is used for both versions of the program. Powerpoint for Windows users can just load the program without any conversion or translation. There are 35 TrueType fonts provided, and Microsoft has included 160 templates, for overheads, 35mm slides, and electronic presentations.
To run Powerpoint, one should be using the System 7.0 or higher operating system, have at least 4 megabytes (MB) of system memory, a hard disk, and a floppy drive. Microsoft said Powerpoint 3.0 is compatible with all output devices supported by the Macintosh.
Suggested retail price for Powerpoint 3.0 for the Mac is $495. Registered users of Powerpoint 2.01 or Microsoft Office who bought those products after September 19th of this year can get a free update to Powerpoint 3.0. Users who bought before September 19th can get the upgrade for $99 until February 1, 1993. The upgrade price goes up to $129 then.
In an attempt to attract users of competitive products, Microsoft is offering a $129 upgrade if users switch from Aldus Persuasion CA-Cricket Presents, CA-Cricket Graph, DeltaPoint, DeltaGraph, or Symantec More.
The company said it also expects to ship Canadian and United Kingdom versions this month, and French, French Canadian, German and Swedish versions during the first quarter of 1993.
(Jim Mallory/19921020/Press contact: Chris Clemens, Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, 408-986-1140; Reader contact: Microsoft Corporation, 800-426-9400)
140; Reader contact: Microsoft Corporation, 800-426-9400)
10/20/92
New For Macintosh: PowerPoint 3.0 Presentation Graphics
APPLE
New For PC: Demographics Databas
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- DataMap Inc., has announced the release of MarketPro software for market research. The company claims that the software makes available to small to medium size companies demographic information generally available only to larger firms.
The PC-based software provides demographics for more than 300 metropolitan areas in the US based on US Census Bureau data, updated with the latest household counts derived from postal delivery statistics. DataMap merges quarterly post office ZIP+4 information into its existing databases to upgrade them.
DataMap spokesperson Dianne Runnels told Newsbytes that MarketPro includes 16 demographic variables, including home value, age, ethnic breakouts, average rent, average income, the percentage of households with children under 17, average number of residents in households on the postal carrier route, and other information businesses can use to target mailings.
Runnels said that system requirements include a DOS-based PC with 340 kilobytes of memory, a color monitor, a hard drive with 1.5 megabytes of space for the program itself, and enough hard drive space for the data. Runnels told Newsbytes the data files occupy one or more megabytes of space, depending on the metropolitan area purchased.
The price for the program ranges from $195 to $495. The data is also available by state or region. The user can create lists of ZIP codes by establishing criteria that meet their needs. For example, a list of ZIP codes could be produced where home values exceed a certain value, or where more than a user-specified percentage of homes have children under 17.
DataMap, 612-934-0900 or 800-533-7742 fax 612-934-8727)
10/20/92
New For PC: Demographics Database For Small Businesses
Large-Scale ISDN Demo Scheduled
GAITHERSBURG, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has slated a large scale demonstration of Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), a telecommunications network standard that allows voice and data transmissions on the same line.
Plans call for the NIST demonstration to take place during next month's Transcontinental ISDN Project '92 which will involve a number of sites.
ISDN is a standard data exchange system for video and multimedia conferencing, desktop conferencing, local area network to local area network bridging, image transfer, as well as simultaneous fax and voice communications.
ISDN has been discussed for years and the government is apparently now prepared to push the communications standard in a big way.
The major ISDN demonstration will take place from November 16 through the 20th, connecting NIST offices to the Internal Revenue Service, COMSAT (Communication Satellite Corp.), Eastman Kodak and AT&T's Bell Labs.
Civilian government and military applications will be demonstrated on the 16th and 17th, but the final three days of ISDN demonstrations will be open to the public.
For further information and free registration for the event Newsbytes readers are invited to contact Dawn Hoffman at NIST.
(John McCormick/19921020/Press Contact: John Henkel, NIST, 301 975-2762)
John Henkel, NIST, 301 975-2762)
10/20/92
Large-Scale ISDN Demo Scheduled
TELECOM
Spinnaker Account Firm, Chief Fi
Storagetek 3Q Results Down Again
Seagate Bundles Compression Soft
Cabletron Intros SNA Integration
1992 Annual Convention Registrat
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- The Information Industry Association has released information indicating that this year's convention -- scheduled for the San Francisco California Hyatt Regency (Embarcadero Center) from November 15 19 -- will be by far the largest yet. Pre-registration is running 50-percent ahead of last year's at this time, the organizers have revealed.
This year's conference sessions include more competing sessions which may mean that some attendees will miss out on something but at least no one will feel that there was nothing presented which would be useful to them.
In other changes, a half-day interactive workshop on privacy has recently been added for November 18 and a second information provider workshop has been added.
The overall theme of the 1992 Convention is "Knocking Down Info Walls, Building Pathways to New Markets."
More than 300 people have already registered to attend or speak at the conference sessions.
The IIA is a 24 year-old trade association which now numbers more than 500 companies which work in the information creation and distribution industry.
Individual conference attendance costs $795 for IIA members or $995 for non-members. There are discounts for small businesses.
(John McCormick/19921020/Press Contact: Susan Goewey, IIA, 202 639-8262 or Fax 202-638-4403)
ewey, IIA, 202 639-8262 or Fax 202-638-4403)
10/20/92
1992 Annual Convention Registration Up 50%
GENERAL
Apple Computer Japan Releases Ma
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- Apple Computer Japan has announced a series of new Macintoshes simultaneously with its US headquarters. The new products include a Japanese Macintosh Duo. The actual release will be in November. Also, Apple Computer Japan plans to lower prices of existing Macintosh families in parallel with the shipment of the Duo.
Apple Computer Japan has announced six new machines with 14 models. They include the Mac Duo, which consists of the 32-bit notebook type PC the Powerbook Duo and the Duo Dock. The Powerbook Duo can be connected with the Duo Dock and be used as the desktop computer. Other new Macintoshes includes the desktop computers "Mac II vi" and the "Mac II vx." These Macintosh models support 32,000 colors and Kodak's Photo CD. There are also versions that have a built-in CD-ROM. Other models are the Powerbook 160 and the Powerbook 180.
Apple Computer Japan has also released Radius Rocketshare, which supports parallel processing on the Macintosh.
With this new line-up, the company aims to sell 240,000 units of the Mac, and wants to gain 80 billion yen ($670 million) in sales (a boost of 33 percent) over the next fiscal year, which runs until September 1993.
In parallel with the new products, Apple has cut pricing on the existing Mac family sold in Japan by an average of 20 percent. Example pricings includes the Mac Powerbook 100-40 (40MB hard disk) which falls from 358,000 yen ($3,000) to 258,000 yen ($2,150).
The price of the Classic II, meanwhile, has also been cut by 100,000 yen ($830). This is apparently in the wake of the release of lower price PCs from Compaq and IBM Japan. More firms are likely to follow Apple's lead in cutting PC pricing in the near future.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921020/Press Contact: Apple Computer Japan, +81-3-5411-8500)
0/Press Contact: Apple Computer Japan, +81-3-5411-8500)
10/20/92
Apple Computer Japan Releases Mac Duo & Lowers Prices
APPLE
DEC Japan Cuts PC Pricing In Hal
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- Digital Equipment's Japanese operation has leapt aboard the price-cutting bandwagon with the announcement of a range of price cuts, which run up to a maximum of 56 percent and average out at an impressive 46.5 percent.
Why such savage cuts? According to DEC, the company wants to compete price-wise with the competition, which now includes the likes of Apple, Compaq and IBM in Japan.
Example pricing includes the PC 340DXLP, which used to cost 388,000 yen ($3,200), but now costs just 168,000 yen ($1,400).
The price cut war has become very intense recently in Japan. The ballgame kicked off with Compaq earlier this month when the company followed its lead in the West with the launch of an 80386-based system at 120,000 yen ($1,000).
Another PC supplier, Proside, meanwhile, pitched into the fray with an even cheaper 386-based system which cost 110,000 yen ($910). Apple Computer Japan has also just announced a series of price cuts and IBM is expected to announce its counter-offensive next month.
Cutting prices doesn't necessarily mean that sales of PCs will rise forever, of course. That's why DEC Japan has just agreed with Shinko Shoji, Inotech and Tokyo Electron to jointly develop a RISC (reduced instruction set computing) system that will drive the next generation of computers. DEC is investing $500 million in the project, which should see a 64-bit processor on the scene quite quickly.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921020/Press Contact: DEC Japan 81-3-3989-7145)
Contact: DEC Japan 81-3-3989-7145)
10/20/92
DEC Japan Cuts PC Pricing In Half
BUSINESS
Sun & OEMs Choose Seagate Drives
New For Networks: Accton's 2 New
DSC Continues Comeback
Toshiba Releases World's First 1
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- Toshiba has announced plans to release a 16 megabit flash memory chip. The Japanese technology giant claims that this will be the first commercial product of its type.
Toshiba isn't resting on its laurels, however, as company officials have revealed plans to ship a 64 megabit version of the chipset within a short timescale.
So why the rush for the new technology? Simple -- Japanese experts predict that flash memory will take over from magnetic memory in the very near future, so any company that gets its flash memory chips to market faster than the competition should succeed.
Toshiba plans to release the 16 megabit chipset by the end of the year with a retail price of 15,000 yen ($125). This price is expected to fall to a third (5,000 yen), once the company starts producing the chips in volume, however.
To put matters in perspective, Intel has been selling a 4 megabit flash memory chip for $50. Toshiba's equivalent costs $20. Toshiba officials say they want to get this price down to $10 a chip in the very near future.
Flash memories come in the form of semiconductor chip, which is different from current magnetic disk memory. With these flash memories, the size of personal computers can get drastically smaller.
Also, the flash memories are expected to replace the hard disks in the PCs of the future. Toshiba is aiming to get electronic still-cameras to market in a short space of time, as well as new products for the notebook and pocket computer market.
Toshiba Releases World's First 16-megabit Flash Memory
TRENDS
Australia: Tasmanian Firm Increa
Survey Claims Users Want Better
How-to Computer Virus Newsletter
France Telecom, Cap Gemini Deal
PARIS, FRANCE, 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- France Telecom is reported to be considering a technology and equity link-up with Cap Gemini Sogeti. If the deal goes ahead, then state-controlled France Telecom would take a 10 percent stake in the private sector company.
According to Le Figaro, the equity buy-in hinges on permission being forthcoming from Daimler-Benz, which has a 34 percent stake in Cap Gemini.
If the deal comes off, and both companies have said publicly that discussions are in progress, then it would give Cap Gemini a significant cash injection, certainly enough to enable the computer giant to recover from the current European recession.
The deal could also force Daimler-Benz to sell its stake in Cap Gemini, as Daimler is a rival to France Telecom in many areas. Some experts have suggested that Daimler-Benz may try to block the deal going through, although this would be difficult to achieve, owing to the European equivalent of the complex anti-trust laws in the US.
France Telecom currently seems awash with cash. Only last week the company acquired a significant stake in Sema, which Newsbytes notes is a rival to Cap Gemini.
(Steve Gold/19921020)
val to Cap Gemini.
(Steve Gold/19921020)
10/20/92
France Telecom, Cap Gemini Deal In Offing?
BUSINESS
Germany: Third Mobile Phone Lice
BONN, WEST GERMANY, 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- The German Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has announced it is offering a licence for the country's third mobile phone network.
Plans call for the third mobile network in Germany will operate as a digital mobile system, but aimed very much at the residential and small business user rather than the traditional executive. The E-Net service, as it is know, will complement rather than compete with the existing mobile networks in Germany, postal ministry officials have said.
Two consortiums are understood to be applying for the carefully regulated licence for the personal communications network (PCN) service.
The first consortium (E-Plus) consists of 11 companies led by Vodafone in the UK, Bell South in the US, and Veba plus Thyssen of Germany. The second consortium (E-Star) consists of 14 firms led by the BMW Group and MAN of Germany, along with GTE Mobile and US West from the United States.
What's interesting about the bidding for the E-Net network is that Deutsche Bundespost Telekom (DBT) and Mannesmann, both of whom already have mobile phone networks operating in Germany have been barred from tendering for an E-Net licence in any shape or form.
This restriction has allowed the two consortiums of E-Plus and E Star to enter the bidding, safe in the knowledge that the two existing players will not subsidize their bids with the profits from their existing analogue networks. It also raises the interesting prospect of a gentle price war between the analogue and digital networks, once the E-Net service becomes operational.
(Steve Gold/19921020)
ice becomes operational.
(Steve Gold/19921020)
10/20/92
Germany: Third Mobile Phone Licence Up For Grabs
TELECOM
UK: Kalamazoo Sponsors Technolog
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- Kalamazoo has announced it will launch one of the UK's first Technology-Based Training (TBT) clubs next month in Manchester.
The aim of the club is to use the latest technology to give a consistently high level of teaching to students at the club/college, but without the high costs normally associated with such teaching methods.
According to Kalamazoo, the company is one of the largest private providers of information technology (IT) training in the country and the TBT clubs aim to give companies local to the planned 12 regional centers the opportunity to benefit from technology-based training.
"It's undoubtedly an excellent method training," commented Gerry Barton, Kalamazoo's training consultancy managing director, who added that, because the initial outlay is so high, the TBT club is the ideal solution for every employer.
"The tendency at the moment is for TBT training equipment to be used only by large businesses. Our new TBT clubs enable 15 to 20 local employers to join together to share the resources of a TBT learning centre rather than bear the cost of creating their own," he said.
Plans call for Kalamazoo to establish TBT clubs around the UK with centers in Birmingham, Chesterfield, Hull, Liverpool London, newcastle, Portsmouth, Preston, Sheffield and Wakefield in addition to the Manchester center which opens on November 13.
(Steve Gold/19921020/Press & Public Contact: Kalamazoo - Tel: 021-411-2345)
Contact: Kalamazoo - Tel: 021-411-2345)
10/20/92
UK: Kalamazoo Sponsors Technology Club
GENERAL
UK: Samsung Intros 2 New Laser P
SURBITON, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- Samsung electronics has unveiled two laser printers -- the SL1082A and SL1082P that it claims are next-generation units at very low prices.
The SL1082A is an eight pages per minute (PPM) unit that is based around an Intel i960 10 megahertz (MHz) RISC (reduced instruction set computing) chipset. The machine features serial (RS232 and RS422) plus parallel ports with a price tag of UKP 880.
The SL1082P, meanwhile, is also an 8PPM laser that is aimed a bit further upmarket than the SL1082A, courtesy of a 16MHz RISC processor and 2MB of memory, upgradeable to 8MB internally. Switching (including Appletalk interfacing) is featured as standard on the UKP 1,193 printer.
In parallel with the introduction of the new printers, Samsung has announced a round of price cuts on its existing lasers -- the SL1081 is now available for UKP 652, while the SL1081P costs UKP 985.
Both the new lasers are built by Samsung and feature the company's own laser engine plus dual bin paper handling systems.
(Steve Gold/19921020/Press & Public Contact: Samsung Electronics Tel: 081-391-0168)
t: Samsung Electronics Tel: 081-391-0168)
10/20/92
UK: Samsung Intros 2 New Laser Printers
GENERAL
TI Chief Laments Hongkong Brain
Allied Telesis Enters Adapter Ma
DEC Loses $260.55 Million In 1st
Fifth Generation Offers 24-Hour
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- Fifth Generation Systems (FGS) says it is now offering 24-hour toll free customer service seven days a week for customers in Europe, the Pacific Rim, and Africa.
Around-the-clock service was previously available only for US customers. FGS says services will be available in Spanish, French German, and Japanese during normal international business hours, and in English 24 hours a day.
To support the increased technical support, the company has opened new offices in Paris, France and Dusseldorf, Germany. The company says the new offices will work with the London and Hong Kong offices to provide regional support services. Until now, FGS has provided tech support over a regular toll line into the London office.
Under a program called the International Five Points Pledge, FGS will also unconditionally guarantee all its products, and offers a no-questions one year money-back guarantee. Additionally, any European or African customer buying four FGS products will automatically get a fifth package at no cost. The free offer does not extend to site licenses and volume purchases.
The final point of the pledge is that any problem not handled to a customer's satisfaction will be personally handled by a senior level executive at FGS.
FGS markets a number of products for Apple Computer's Macintosh DOS-based PCs, and systems running under Windows. Included in their product line are menuing software, security access programs, screen savers, anti-virus programs, a font organizer, a software print spooler. The company is best known for Fastback, a backup and restore program that automates selective backup of a user's hard drive.
(Jim Mallory/19921020/Press contact: Chris Wildermuth, Miller Communications for Fifth Generation Systems, 310-822-4669; Reader contact: FGS, 504-291-7221)
10-822-4669; Reader contact: FGS, 504-291-7221)
10/20/92
Fifth Generation Offers 24-Hour Int'l Support
GENERAL
CompuAdd Touch-Screen POS Termin
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- About a month from now if you buy a burger from McDonald's, it may be rung up on a point-of-sale terminal just announced by CompuAdd Information Services Corporation (CISC).
CISC is a recent spin-off from CompuAdd Computer Corporation, and has been approved as a systems integrator for the more than 2,500 McDonald's owner-operator outlets across the US.
The new POS terminal, dubbed the TR5, consists of an LCD (liquid crystal display) touch screen terminal integrated with a 25 megahertz (MHz) 386-based PC running point-of-sale software. The system includes an 11-inch touch monitor, a screen programmed for multiple menus, an optional magnetic stripe reader for credit cards, and an attached ink cartridge receipt printer. All the peripherals are connected via a single cable.
CompuAdd spokesperson John Pope told Newsbytes that the company's agreement with McDonald's precludes revealing the cost of the systems or the overall potential value of the deal. Newsbytes has learned that one other vendor, Olivetti, has been designated an authorized systems integrator.
Pope said that CompuAdd is negotiating with other companies for use of the TR5, and expects to be introducing other models of its point-of-sale system.
Earlier this year Newsbytes reported that CompuAdd has obtained an order for 28,000 CR5 systems to be installed by Sears, Roebuck & Company in its stores. The company was also selected initially as the successful bidder on the multimillion dollar Desktop IV contract for personal computers and peripherals. That award was disputed by other bidders and eventually awarded to another bidder.
CompuAdd's initial spin-off company was CompuAdd Express, created in late 1991 to sell CompuAdd's PCs and peripherals through the mail.
(Jim Mallory/19921020/Press contact: John Pope, CompuAdd 512-250-2000)
t: John Pope, CompuAdd 512-250-2000)
10/20/92
CompuAdd Touch-Screen POS Terminal
GENERAL
Metz Task Manager Users Get Bonu
BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- Metz Software has announced it is shipping a collection of utility applications to all owners of Metz Task Manager when they register their product.
Called Metz Task Manager Utility Pack, the toolset for Windows includes Menu, Freemem, Time, and Widget. Menu is a movable version of the Metz Launch menu that stays on top of open Windows applications. Freemem is a utility that checks the availability of memory and system requirements.
Time is a pop-up digital clock which displays the date and time in a movable windows. The window stays on top of open Windows applications. Widget displays information about how CPU time is used, using a scrolling graph.
Metz Software Director of Sales and Marketing Joel Petersen says the company relies heavily on feedback from their user group for product enhancement and development. "The utility pack is our way of thanking our customers for registering their product," says Petersen. The company will be displaying its wares at Comdex, the fall computer trade show held in Las Vegas. Comdex runs November 16-20 this year.
Task Manager 2.0 was released on June 1, 1992 as a replacement for the Windows Task List. The package works with Windows 3.0 and 3.1 to provide instant access to applications and the files they use most frequently, Metz spokesperson Ann Revell-Pechar told Newsbytes.
Once the program is installed, a hot key combination pops it up on top of the current windows. You'll see a list of your current tasks, represented by their respective icons. The list is customizable, and you can choose what tasks to display.
A five-button bar appears across the top of the screen, with each button launching a different utility. Users can select a directory, perform file management (copy, move, delete, rename print), find files, search for text, or check system status.
The program carries a price tag of $49.95, with a street price between $30 and $40. Task Manager includes a Launch Pad that allows users to drag and drop their favorite applications onto customizable launch buttons. There's also a scheduler feature that allows tasks such as hard disk backup or electronic mail transfer to be performed without operator intervention. A task/group window displays a list of running tasks or items, a run list shows the most recently run tasks, and a desktop arrangement feature allows the user to unclutter the Windows desktop.
(Jim Mallory/19921020/Press contact: Ann Revell-Pechar, for Metz Software, 206-282-6242, fax 206-283-0547; Reader contact: Metz Software, 800-447-1712 or 206-641-4525, fax 206-644-6026)
-447-1712 or 206-641-4525, fax 206-644-6026)
10/20/92
Metz Task Manager Users Get Bonus Software
US Government Sniffs Out Russian
Australia: Telecom Law Book On P
UK: Dr Solomon's Anti-Virus Tool
You Too Can Find Employees By Co
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, U.S.A, 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- Employers who place help wanted ads in the newspaper know they will probably be swamped with applications or resumes. However, there's now an easier way for employers to look for applicants -- use a computer.
Using a computer that's equipped with a modem, one can log onto several database sources that store resumes of job seekers online. All you have to do is access the service, enter in your search parameters and review the qualifications.
Employer services are available on several on-line services including GEnie, CompuServe, and Dialog. One company, HRIN specializes in human resources information, providing numerous text files regarding labor relations, affirmative action, benefits and compensation, and safety and health in addition to helping employers find qualified employees. HRIN also has information about training and development, employment and recruiting, administration, systems and planning, and general policies.
Companies can also list their openings on some of these services. One of the most widely available online job listing services is provided by Adnet. It's available on CompuServe, Prodigy, America Online, PC-LINK, Promenade, GEnie, and BIX. Marketing Director Michael Boyer told Newsbytes the company offers a number of rate packages depending on the number of ads, and the length of run time. Ads placed through Adnet automatically appear on all seven on-line services supplied by Adnet.
Many of the online services also list services offered by contractors. If you need a PR person, a photographer, or a myriad of other job types on a contract basis, you can check the Home Office Small Business Forum on GEnie, or its counterpart on CompuServe.
California employers can use a service offered by Pacific Bell that allows them to electronically pre-screen and pre-qualify job applicants. The job seeker calls a number listed in the employer's printed ad, and responds to a series of questions by voice or by pressing buttons on a touch-tone phone. Employers dial into the system, enter a special code, and listen to the responses. If they're interested, they contact the applicant.
Most on-line services also have a library where qualified persons upload their resumes. The PR Forum and the Journalism Forum on Compuserve are examples of this type service.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- In a discussion with Newsbytes, Sgt. Kurt Leonard of the Chesterfield County, Virginia Police Department has disclosed further information concerning the on-going investigation of alleged 911 disruption throughout the eastern seaboard of the United States by individuals purporting to be members of the hacker group "The Legion of Doom" (LOD).
Leonard identified the individual arrested in Newark, New Jersey previously referred to only as "Maverick," as Scott Maverick, 23. Maverick has been charged with terroristic threats, obstruction of a government function, and illegal access to a computer. He is presently out on bail.
Leonard said that David Pluchino, 22, was charged to the same counts as Maverick and an additional count of the possession of burglary tools. Leonard said that Pluchino, the subject of a 1990 Secret Service "search and seizure" action under the still on going "Operation SunDevil" investigation," possessed information linking him with members of the Legion of Doom.
The Legion of Doom connection has become the subject of controversy within the online community. Although Maverick has been quoted as saying that he is a member of the group and that the group's intent was "to attempt to penetrate the 911 computer systems and inflect them with viruses to cause havoc," members of the group have disavowed any connection with those arrested.
"Lex Luthor," one of the original members of the group, told Newsbytes when the initial report of the arrests became public: "As far as I am concerned the LOD has been dead for a couple of years, never to be revived. Maverick was never in LOD. There have been 2 lists of members (one in Phrack and another in the LOD tj) and those lists are the final word on membership."
He added, "We obviously cannot prevent copy-cats from saying they are in LOD. When there was an LOD, our goals were to explore and leave systems as we found them. The goals were to expose security flaws so they could be fixed before REAL criminals and vandals such as this Maverick character could do damage. If this Maverick character did indeed disrupt E911 service he should be not only be charged with computer trespassing but also attempted murder. 911 is serious business."
Lex Luthor's comments, made before the names of the arrested were released, were echoed by Chris Goggans, aka "Erik Bloodaxe," and Mark Abene, aka "Phiber Optik," both ex-LOD members, and by Craig Neidorf who chronicled the membership of LOD in his electronic publication "Phrack."
When the names of the arrested became public, Newsbytes again contacted Lex Luthor to see if the names were familiar. Luthor replied: "Can't add anything, I never heard of them."
Phiber Optik, a New York resident, told Newsbytes that he remembered Pluchino as a person that ran a computer "chat" system called "Interchat" based in New Jersey. "They never were LOD members and Pluchino was not known as a computer hacker. It sounds as though they were LOD wanabees who are now, by going to jail, going to get the attention they desire," he said.
A law enforcement official, familiar with the SunDevil investigation of Pluchino, agreed with Phiber, saying, "There was no indication of any connection with the Legion of Doom." The official, speaking under the condition of anonymity, also told Newsbytes that the SunDevil investigation of Pluchino is still proceeding and, as such, no comment can be made.
Leonard also told Newsbytes that the investigation has been a joint effort of New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia police departments and said that, in conjunction with the October 9th 2:00 AM arrests of Pluchino and Maverick, a simultaneous "search and seizure" operation was carried out at the Hanover, Maryland home of Zohar Shif, aka "Zeke," a 23 year-old who had also been the subject of a SunDevil search and seizure.
Leonard also said that, in addition to computers taken from Pluchino material was found "establishing a link to the Legion of Doom." Told of the comments by LOD members that the group did not exist anymore Leonard said "While the original members may have gone on to other things, these people say they are the LOD and some of them have direct connection to LOD members and have LOD materials."
Asked by Newsbytes to comment on Leonard's comments, Phiber Optik said "The material he's referring to is probably text files that have been floating around BBS's for years, Just because someone has downloaded the files certainly doesn't mean that they are or ever were connected with LOD."
(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19921020)
ra E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19921020)
10/20/92
More On 911 Legion of Doom Hacking Case
Firefox Enter US Market With Nov
New For PC: MacroMedia's Action!
NSF Computer Science Research Gr
Radio Shack To Sell MobileComm P
Japanese Electronics Firms' Poor
IBM Inaugurates US Open Systems
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- IBM has opened its US Open Systems Center (OSC) in Dallas. According to the company, the center will offer customers support and services to help them understand, design, implement, and test open systems.
According to IBM officials, the center will be the company's channel in the United States for sharing information with customers about its strategy, products and services, and how it can help customers put together products from multiple vendors.
Located at IBM's support facility in Dallas, the OSC will begin working with select customers before the end of October. Among its initial activities will be: integrating hardware and software from multiple vendors; briefings on open systems subjects such as standards, application development tools; and distributed database design and data access on multi-vendor systems; and custom services to create open systems for customers.
In the future, IBM officials said, the center will offer proof of-concept services and design validation to help customers make sure their proposed multi-vendor systems will work, as well as integration software development.
IBM said the center has the latest equipment and application software from many technology suppliers.
The center will bring together various existing IBM activities under one roof, said company spokesman Steven Malkiewicz, with a "new focus on integration" and the goal of providing customers with a central point of contact. "We're drawing on an infrastructure some of which is already in place," he said.
About 50 employees are already working at the new center, and IBM plans to add about 70 more, some of whom will be hired from outside the company.
IBM already has a similar center in Japan, Malkiewicz said, and plans to open them in other countries in the future.
(Grant Buckler/19921020/Press Contact: Steven Malkiewicz, IBM 914-642-5449)
ct: Steven Malkiewicz, IBM 914-642-5449)
10/20/92
IBM Inaugurates US Open Systems Center
IBM Launches PS/ValuePoint Line
SOMERS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- The IBM Personal Computer Company has launched its PS/ValuePoint personal computers in the United States. The new machines, already on sale in Europe are aimed at the middle ground between the entry-level PS/1 series and the increasingly upscale PS/2 machines.
Jim McGann, manager for value brands at the IBM Personal Computer Co. North America, described the ValuePoint PCs as a line of industry-standard machines for a market ranging from small business to corporations. He said the PS/2 line will focus on "people that are looking for the latest and greatest advances in technology," while PS/1 buyers are expected to be home and small business users who want a package they can use with a minimum of setting up.
IBM launched four PS/ValuePoint machines. They start with the 325T which contains an IBM 386SLC microprocessor running at 25 megahertz and comes with two megabytes of memory and a choice of 80- or 170-megabyte hard drive.
Next is the ValuePoint 425SX, which is equipped with an Intel 486SX chip running at 25 megahertz and has eight megabytes of memory and the same choice of drives as the 325T. Third in the line is the 433DX, which uses a 33-megahertz 486DX chip, has eight megabytes of memory, and offers either a 120- or a 212-megabyte hard drive.
The top of the line is the 466DX2, which uses Intel's clock-doubling 486DX2 66-megahertz processor and comes with eight megabytes of memory and a 212-megabyte hard drive.
All the ValuePoint machines come with five expansion slots and five bays for storage devices. They all use the older AT bus, or Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) rather than the Micro Channel Architecture which IBM launched with the PS/2 series.
McGann said that IBM still believes Micro Channel "may well" become a PC standard in the future, but admitted that at the moment the AT bus remains the more popular standard.
The PS/ValuePoint 325T will come with the DOS 5.0 operating system pre-loaded. The other models will come with IBM's OS/2 2.0.
IBM plans to sell the ValuePoint computers in two ways. They will go through the same dealers that handle PS/2 models, as well as value-added resellers, said Lyle Hart, business area manager for value brands. IBM is also expanding its direct marketing effort which began with the sale of the PS/2 Models 35 and 40 through a toll-free telephone number earlier this year.
All the PS/ValuePoint models will be sold through the toll-free number 800-IBM-2YOU, and through a printed catalog, Hart said along with some of the company's ThinkPad portable computer models and assorted software, peripherals, and other options.
IBM will not publish suggested list prices for dealer sales of the PS/ValuePoint machines. However, the company did announce its own direct-sales prices.
The 325T with an 80-megabyte (MB) hard drive will sell for $1,299. The 425SX with an 80 MB hard drive will cost $1,629, and the 433DX with a 120 MB hard drive for $1,999. All these prices include color displays. IBM did not supply a price for the 466DX2 model.
While the PS/ValuePoint machines will not come with the three-year warranty introduced last month for some PS/2 models, they will carry a one-year warranty covering on-site service, with a promise of response within four hours on average. IBM has also beefed up its telephone support to provide 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week technical support through a toll-free telephone number.
(Grant Buckler/19921020/Press Contact: Christopher Clough, IBM 914-642-5372; Public Contact: IBM, 800-772-2227)
372; Public Contact: IBM, 800-772-2227)
10/20/92
IBM Launches PS/ValuePoint Line In US
IBM Forms Worldwide Consulting G
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- IBM has created the IBM Consulting Group, an umbrella for a variety of consulting services in 30 countries. The group will include some 1,500 consultants in the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific Rim, company spokeswoman Roberta Paul said.
The group will deal with 12 areas of consulting, grouped under the broad headings of management consulting, functional consulting industrial sector consulting services, and technology consulting.
The new group will include a number of consulting activities IBM is already carrying on, Paul said. In addition to the IBM staff working within the consulting group, the consulting practices will be able to draw on expertise from anywhere in the company as needed for specific projects, she added. The goal is "unlocking or making available a lot of the expertise that exists across the board within IBM."
The management consulting areas will include business transformation and information technology strategy and planning practices. Robert M. Howe, who joined IBM from consulting firm Booz-Allen & Hamilton about 18 months ago, will head this group and serve as general manager for the IBM Consulting Group brand.
Functional consulting, headed by former Coopers & Lybrand Senior Partner Stephen A. Mucchetti, will comprise application development, end-user systems, networking, and information systems management.
Industrial sector consulting services will include engineering and quality management, continuous flow manufacturing, manufacturing logistics, and international trade management. James J. Stifler, a vice-president of IBM, will head this operation.
Technology consulting activities will include management technologies, head by Dr. David W. Low, and image technology, under the leadership of Vincent L. Yannuzi.
(Grant Buckler/19921020/Press Contact: Roberta Paul, IBM 914-642-5362)
ntact: Roberta Paul, IBM 914-642-5362)
10/20/92
IBM Forms Worldwide Consulting Group
BT Claims Sales Will Suffer Due
US Government, Industry Research
Compaq Cuts Prices Again
AT&T Unveils New Products, Hit W
Teleglobe Leads Trans-Atlantic F
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- International communications carrier Teleglobe Canada, its parent company Teleglobe Inc., and 20 European and American companies have announced plans to lay a US$385 fiber-optic cable across the Atlantic Ocean, more than doubling the trans-Atlantic cable capacity now in place.
Expected to be in service by the end of 1994, the CANTAT-3 cable will be able to carry not only digital voice signals but data video, narrowband, wideband, and broadband transmissions between North America and Europe, the backers said.
Teleglobe Canada will contribute US$130 million to the project, and will have the use of about 35 percent of the cable's capacity. Company spokeswoman Cindy Hoffman said that is expected to provide for Teleglobe's trans-Atlantic capacity needs for the next 10 years. Teleglobe Inc. will invest another US$152 million, and will have about 42 percent of the cable's capacity available for resale. The remaining backers, led by Deutsche Bundespost Telekom, British Telecom, Telecom Denmark, and the General Directorate of Post and Telecommunications of Iceland, will invest US$103 million.
The American backers include Sprint and MCI, each with less than one percent of the total, Hoffman said. AT&T is not an investor but has contracted to use "a small amount" of the cable's capacity, she added.
BCE Inc., the parent company of Bell Canada and Northern Telecom has provided financing guarantees in exchange for certain guarantee fees and a 25-percent interest in Teleglobe's portion of the operation. Northern Telecom's subsidiary STC Submarine Cables has been awarded the contract to lay the cable.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- For Pacific Telesis shareholders, this is the week they hold their breath. Directors meet this weekend to consider breaking-up the company into regulated and unregulated entities.
Some analysts claim a break-up would transform the current $43 per share stock into one worth $58 per share, even if earnings remain flat. That is because the unregulated unit, heavy in cellular telephony, would win a high multiple from stock-buyers while the main phone company would not be hurt much because of its regular dividend.
For the quarter ending in September the company said it earned $277 million, against earnings of $275 million a year ago. Sales were also flat, $2.51 billion against $2.50 billion a year ago. Profits were hurt by a $56 million refund paid California ratepayers, but Chairman Sam Ginn said aggressive cost-cutting helped the quarter exceed expectations.
Regardless of its decision on a break-up, Pacific Telesis remains under pressure in all its main lines of businesses. Pacific Bell now finds itself in a shouting match with the state over a "Lifeline Fund," used to subsidize basic phone service to the poor. The state is considering new criteria for withdrawals from the fund, which Pacific Bell is fighting. Harder fights with state regulators could hurt Pacific Bell profits down the road.
Perhaps more ominous is a decision by the regulators, known as the California Public Utilities Commission, to lower wholesale rates for cellular phone service. Cellular Service, a Southern California re-seller of such services, claims that basic charges on calls in the Los Angeles area could drop as much as $12 per month, or 12 cents per minute, because of the decision.
PacTel will fight the change, which will delay the change. But the decision was unanimous, unlikely to be overturned in the courts. Essentially, the regulators said that resellers can operate their own cellular switches and reduce rates to their customers.
Resellers note that, despite a high market penetration by cellular operators in Los Angeles, rates remain high, at $45 per month and 45 cents per minute, in peak hours. By separating charges for switching and air-time, Cellular Services thinks it could cut rates to $27 per month and 33 cents per minute. If that decision goes through, of course, it would first impact PacTel's proposed unregulated entity.
Finally, Portugal's Telecel cellular operation, in which PacTel has a 23 percent interest, was switched on nation-wide. Telecel is the first private cellular operator in that country, and uses the GSM digital service favored in Europe.
GSM is related to the TDMA scheme endorsed by the U.S. cellular industry. The Telechamada paging operation, in which PacTel also holds a 23 percent stake, also began service this week. The news from Europe, however, highlights the fact that PacTel has still seen no profits from its international diversification. The only regional Bell to yet get a real earnings kick from expanding in other countries has been Southwestern Bell, which owns about 11 percent of Mexico's TelMex phone system.
Overall, while a break-up might mean money for arbitrageurs and investment bankers, it is not yet clear that PacTel's operations are making earnings headway, either the regulated or unregulated side.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921020/Press Contact: PacTel, Susan Rosenberg, 510/210-3910; Cellular Service, David Nelson, 213/245 0446)
910; Cellular Service, David Nelson, 213/245 0446)
10/20/92
Pacific Telesis Meets To Discuss Company Breakup
TELECOM
Competition To Cable TV Comes Cl
ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- One promise of the cable re-regulation bill passed over President Bush' veto early this month was a provision demanding that cable programmers deal with new direct broadcast satellite companies. Those companies are now moving forward.
Echosphere announced that construction is now underway on the first of the seven high-powered commercial satellites it has ordered from GE Astro Space. The first satellite goes up in the fall of 1995. The system is designed to deliver hundreds of channels directly to any household with a special 18-inch receiving dish and Echosphere converter.
Echosphere also claims it wants standards to prevail in the compression and scrambling of signals from direct broadcast satellites, so users could get service from any of the four companies slated to provide the services. Each Echosphere satellite has just 16 transponders, so compression, which also scrambles signals automatically, is absolutely necessary if the promise of "hundreds" of new channels is to be made a reality.
Echosphere's primary competitor in this area is General Motors' Hughes Communications unit, whose DirecTv system would use proprietary technology, locking consumers into it. Hughes awarded Sony the contract to design and install the direct broadcast satellite plant for DirecTv, a contract whose value is estimated at $50 million. DirecTv will have a full-year head-start on Echosphere, with satellites launching in early 1994 with up to 80 channels.
The Hughes system will be based in Castle Rock, Colorado, and also offer service to 18-inch satellite dishes. After all DirecTv satellites are launched, in the middle of 1994, the system will have a capacity of over 150 channels. But DirecTv's compression scheme is proprietary, as are its set-top converters. Someone who buys that system will not be able to use services from any other direct broadcast service, although the system will be a direct competitor to cable systems.
Meanwhile, the cable industry itself has begun taking revenge on its political opponents, using operators' ability to flood their own local ad slots with attacks. The strategy failed to dent big majorities in both houses of Congress on the cable bill, but one supporter of that bill, Democrat Dan Glickman of Kansas feels it could cost him his seat. About 10 cable systems in Glickman's district have been running spots endorsing his Republican opponent, State Senator Eric Yost, up to 10 times each day.
Glickman has complained on the basis of "equal time" provisions to the Federal Election Commission and the Federal Communications Commission, both of which are considering action in the controversy. The cable operators say they're just making editorial endorsements, which are not subject to equal time provisions.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921020/Press Contact: Gerrie Schmidt, Sony 201-930-7454; Thomas M. Bracken, DirecTv, 310-535-5027; Echosphere, Charles Ergen, 303/799-8222x4700; GE Astro Space William Shumann, 202/637-4555; Rep. Dan Glickman, 202-224-3121)
4555; Rep. Dan Glickman, 202-224-3121)
10/20/92
Competition To Cable TV Comes Closer
TELECOM
Long Distance Update
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) -- AT&T has launched a counter-attack before U.S. regulators in the face of increasing pressure from arch-rival MCI.
Chairman Robert Allen charged that the FCC is hurting his company's ability to compete, with requirements that it detail new services and products six weeks before introducing them, and continuing price controls. AT&T claims its market share in long distance market has been hammered down to 60 percent, and it is no longer a dominant carrier. Allen added that local service should also be subject to competition, but praised legislation proposed by Rep. Jack Brooks in the last Congress which would keep local phone companies out of the long distance market.
AT&T is also meeting MCI in the market, however. It introduced a new calling plan called "Special Country," which offers a 15 percent discounts on direct-dialed calls to a specific country without sign-up or monthly charges. Consumers can also choose to change the nation subject to the discount as often as once a month. And subscribers to AT&T's other primary calling plan Reach Out America, can also get the discounts.
MCI, meanwhile, bragged it has become the fastest-growing international long distance firm, based on a study by the International Institute of Communications. The institute said traffic from the U.S. to overseas locations doubled between 1991 and 1992, with MCI's traffic growing 35 percent between 1990 and 1991.
The report called MCI the sixth-largest international long distance company. Sprint, whose market share remains stagnant meanwhile, said it will sponsor "On Top of the World," a new in flight audio channel on British Airways international flights. It's an hour-long talk show hosted by David Frost which changes monthly.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921020/Press Contact: AT&T, Mark Siegel 908/221-8413; MCI, John Houser, 202-887-3000; Sprint, Darian Germain, 703-689-7712)
Germain, 703-689-7712)
10/20/92
Long Distance Update
TELECOM
Spinnaker Account Firm, Chief Fi
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 20 (NB) Spinnaker, a publicly held corporation and makers of the PFS: line of desktop publishing and word processing software, has announced that the company's accounting firm and chief financial officer have both resigned.
Accounting firm Deloitte & Touche were the company's independent accountants and Spinnaker said the firm was the signer on its last financial statement for its fiscal year ending June 30, 1992. E. Ronald Goldfuss resigned effective October 15, 1992 and has already been replaced by Patrick J. Burns, who is now acting chief financial officer.
While Spinnaker stock has not been a high dollar item, the stock has fallen steadily from last January's high of 5 7/8 down to close at 1 7/16 on October 19. Reports are the stock is still falling and was well under $1 a share.
Spinnaker purchased several product lines from the Software Publishing Corporation in January of 1991, including PFS:First Publisher, PFS:First Publisher accessories, PFS:First Choice PFS:Preface, and PFS:Easy Start, and the licensing rights to PFS: First Graphics.
In July of this year Spinnaker announced a new release of Personal Access, its database query tool, and strategic alliances with database software vendors Sybase, Ingres, and Informix Software. The alliances were announced to be aimed at joint marketing and mutual support activities such as product bundling and seeding, direct marketing, trade advertising trade shows, and seminars.
Spinnaker executives were unavailable for comment on the announcements and the company says it is seeking a new accounting firm for its first quarter report, ending September 30, 1992.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921020/Press Contact: Pat Burns, Spinnaker 617-494-1200)
020/Press Contact: Pat Burns, Spinnaker 617-494-1200)
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- Intersoft has rolled out a Russian version of the WindowBase SQL-compatible database management software during the Softool'92 show in Moscow.
WindowBase supports all the reporting, database management, and the data interchange options offered by the SQL language and Windows, Intersoft claims, adding that it is the first such product available for Russian buyers in the Russian language.
The combined Russian/English version of the package is immediately available at 35,000 rubles (US$100 at the current rate) direct from Intersoft.
Intersoft estimates that market for the product will not exceed a few dozens copies by the end of the year, but foresees the sale of several hundred copies during 1993. Windows product sales in general are expected to rise 30% in the Russian market during the next year according to the company.
Intersoft is a Moscow, Russia-based two-year-old joint venture engaged in software development and localization.
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 19 (NB) - Brisbane City Council (BCC) has announced the public access of computer-based maps. The maps can be accessed by the public via terminals in Council depots or via modem communications.
The BCC's Brisbane Integrated Map of Assets (BIMAP) system contains the Council's extensive up-to-date mapping information, which can be printed or faxed as an overlay to the base information. The council has developed and installed a MAN (metropolitan area network) to connect its depots to its mainframe. When the system is accessed via an IBM-PC-compatible terminal with EGA graphics (or better), the user is presented with a series of menus to access the different overlays. Once the format is acceptable, the user can choose to have the map laser printed or faxed.
Although private information (such as financial details relating to properties) would be protected, the system would allow ready access to other, non-sensitive forms of information. This information can be used, for example, by potential developers to produce maps showing real property description, nearby bus stops, standing vegetation protection orders, water and sewerage facilities, zoning storm water lines, and parking limits applying outside the property. The council is also talking to AOTC (Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation), one of Australia's carriers, and South-East Queensland Electricity Board representatives about access to the information.
(Sean McNamara/19921016)
out access to the information.
(Sean McNamara/19921016)
10/19/92
Australia: Public Access To Brisbane Council Digital Maps
Firefox Enter US Market With Nov
New For PC: MacroMedia's Action!
NSF Computer Science Research Gr
Radio Shack To Sell MobileComm P
Malaysia Asks To Be Included in
PERTH, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 19 (NB) - The Malaysian Government has requested to be included in an Australian trial of OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) technology by West Australia's Open Systems Center (OSC). The OSC was established earlier this year and is planning to hold the Australia-wide trial to help establish West Australia (WA) as the main center of testing and research in the OSI arena.
The Malaysian Government is interested in taking part in the trial and is prepared to establish the electronic link to the OSC trial itself. This link would use the X.400 standard for messaging, and will be primarily used to trial Australia-Malaysia electronic messaging. The trial, according to Keith Anthonisz, of WA's Department of State Development (DSD), "is to build up the necessary expertise to make OSI a reality in this country." Keith went on to say, "We are negotiating with Queensland and the federal governments to link them into the trial and also lining up government departments in WA."
OSI is an international set of standards governing how computers of different operating systems can interconnect through networks. The X.400 standard is an OSI messaging standard. The Federal and State governments of Australia have ratified OSI as an Australian standard, released as GOSIP (Government Open Systems Interconnection Profile).
(Sean McNamara/19921016)
Interconnection Profile).
(Sean McNamara/19921016)
10/19/92
Malaysia Asks To Be Included in Australian OSI Trial
GENERAL
New For Macintosh: Swamp Gas Vis
LAKEVILLE, CONNECTICUT, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- The second in a series of geography teaching games has been released by Inline Design. This new game, Swamp Gas Visits Europe, is also another title meeting Inline Design's corporate philosophy which emphasizes non-violent games that teach.
As in the first game, Swamp Gas Visits the US, the hero is an alien whose mission is to explore the world. As an inducement to successful completion of missions, the player, through Swamp Gas is allowed to enter the Alien Arcade. Once in the arcade, Swamp Gas can play one of three arcade games. The arcade games in Europe are totally new and different from the ones that were presented in US version of the game.
Inline Designs President Darryl Peck told Newsbytes that these arcade games are so fascinating that the company is considering whether to release them as separate products.
The user can make various selections to customize game play to their capabilities and interests. Missions can involve visits to between five and 50 different locations which can be countries, or countries and capitals, or countries, capitals, and cities, or famous landmarks in those regions. There are also "Close Encounters" which are little quizzes of places that one has visited.
Inline Design is currently planning more titles in this series since the first title was so successful. Newsbytes has learned that discussions are currently underway concerning a third Macintosh title. The company is also engaged in a port of the games to the Microsoft Windows environment.
Swamp Gas Visits Europe is currently shipping and retails for $59.95. It is intended for children 6 years of age and older.
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- Gandalf Technologies has added the ability to connect asynchronous workstations printers, and modems to its Access Hub family of intelligent wiring hubs by launching the GTS 1000 Multiprotocol Terminal Server.
The GTS 1000 is a circuit board that fits in the Gandalf hub and allows as many as 16 asynchronous devices to be connected to Ethernet local-area networks. It works with the popular TCP/IP network protocol, with Digital Equipment's LAT protocol as an added option.
The device can be used to connect non-Ethernet host systems to an Ethernet network, a company spokeswoman explained. It will also give users of single-protocol workstations and older terminal servers access to previously incompatible network resources according to the vendor.
The GTS 1000 provides full protocol translation between TCP/IP and LAT, Gandalf officials said, thus giving users transparent access to Unix and DEC resources.
TCP/IP users get a complete implementation of Telnet and full compliance with all Internet protocols, as well as advanced networking features such as serial line Internet protocol (SLIP) and point-to-point protocol.
LAT features include LAT network management, host-initiated requests, reverse LAT, network printer support, and VT420 split session support, the vendor said.
Available now, the GTS 1000 costs US$3,195 or C$3,300 with TCP/IP support only, and US$3,495 or C$3,500 with TCP/IP and LAT.
(Grant Buckler/19921016/Press Contact: Janice R. Drummond, Gandalf 613-564-0183)
ntact: Janice R. Drummond, Gandalf 613-564-0183)
10/19/92
New For Networks: Gandalf Adds Terminal Server
TELECOM
Computer City Makes Vendor Barco
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- Tandy Corporation's Computer City stores say vendors will have to mark all of their products with one of three industry-standard bar code formats to be sold through Computer City Supercenters. All merchandise received in the stores after January 1, 1993 are affected.
According to Computer City President Alan Bush, about 64 percent of the chain's vendors already comply with the policy. Bush says the policy is being adopted for cost-effective reasons. "Effective bar-coding is the stepping stone to true automation and low-cost distribution of products." Bush says having the bar codes applied before the merchandise arrives in the stores "will result in substantial savings to our customers."
Bar codes are the little stickers found on merchandise in a growing number of stores which have a series of black lines of varying width. When a reader wand attached to a computer is passed across the bar code, the computer automatically reduces the quantity of that item in inventory and passes the unit of measure and unit price to the point-of-sale cash register, where the information is printed on the customer's receipt. Most consumers are familiar with the technique, since it's used in such diverse settings as grocery stores to check out groceries, and in libraries to check books in and out.
According to Bush, "With an effective bar code program in place vendors will be able to monitor inventory levels of their products on a store-by-store basis in real-time. Ultimately, the savings will be passed on to our customers."
Currently Tandy Corporation operates 16 Computer City Supercenters in the US and two overseas markets.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- Novell and Ungermann-Bass have signed a three-year, $14 million OEM (original equipment manufacturing) agreement. The agreement calls for Ungermann-Bass to sell and support Novell's NetWare version 3.11 network operating system and NetWare RunTime worldwide.
Bob Young, director of marketing for Novell's NetWare Systems Group, said: "One of NetWare's strengths is allowing customers to integrate diverse computing environments into cohesive corporate network systems. We are excited about this agreement because Ungermann-Bass can now offer NetWare with their renowned service and support to their enterprise customers who are in the process of rightsizing."
According to the companies, NetWare 3.11 and NetWare RunTime will be available from Ungermann-Bass separately or in conjunction with the Ungermann-Bass Access/Open platform.
Ungermann-Bass maintains that Access/Open, an extension of the Access/One Enterprise Hub, ensures a "tightly managed and secure environment for the integration of mission-critical applications."
Surya Panditi, general manager for Ungermann-Bass' Access/One business unit, said: "This agreement furthers Ungermann-Bass' efforts as a global network integration partner and provides comprehensive support of industry-standard applications and network operating systems on our Access/Open platform. Both Novell and Ungermann-Bass are able to offer customers new network capabilities and an open application environment."
The companies maintain that after-sale NetWare service and support will be available to customers via Ungermann-Bass' Certified NetWare Engineers. In addition, direct access to Novell's service and support organization is also available to customers for a fee.
NetWare 3.11 and NetWare RunTime will be available from Ungermann-Bass during the fourth quarter, 1992.
In August Newsbytes reported that Ungermann-Bass had signed a technology agreement with Insight Development. Under terms of that deal Ungermann-Bass was to sell and support Insight's Mosaic networking product worldwide.
In June Newsbytes reported that Ungermann-Bass had introduced the 12-port 10Base-T Access/Hub network hub. The Access/Hub comes with or without a daughterboard that provides for SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) management. At the time of its release, the product carried a price tag of $1,395 for the unmanaged version, and $1,995 for the managed version.
(Ian Stokell/19921016/Press Contact: Laura Irwin, Ungermann Bass, 408-987-6509)
Irwin, Ungermann Bass, 408-987-6509)
10/19/92
Ungermann-Bass & Novell In OEM Deal
BUSINESS
UK: Micrografx Photomagic
WOKING, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- Micrografx has announced plans to ship Photomagic, its Windows-compatible graphics package, in the UK at the end of this month.
According to the company, Photomagic provides users with 250 stock color photo images with easy-to-use editing tools and more than 35 special effects for a retail price of UKP 99.
"Unlike other photo image editing programs that require a scanner, Photomagic offers users a wealth of stock photo images that can be accessed just like clips," explained Laurent Raynaud Micrografx's managing director.
"As an extremely fast and powerful paint and edit program Photomagic eliminates a fundamental problem found in other Windows paint programs. They're all very, very, slow" he added.
Raynaud argues that Photomagic is much faster than the competition, because it implements features that provide users with instant screen feedback. "Photomagic is designed to provide users with quick, one button control of photo image editing and effects," he said.
Photomagic is available immediately in the UK and requires DOS 3.1 or later, an 80386-based (or better) PC equipped with a hard disk and at least 4 megabytes (MB) of memory. A VGA display and a mouse are recommended.
(Steve Gold/19921016/Press & Public Contact: MIcrografx - Tel: 0483-747526)
rografx - Tel: 0483-747526)
10/19/92
UK: Micrografx Photomagic
UK: Kalamazoo Sponsors Technolog
Review of: Image Club New Faces
Innosoft's PMDF-FAX supports Two
Lotus Offers Norton Desktop With
New For PC: MacroMedia's Action!
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- Macromedia has introduced version 2.0 of Action! for Windows, a business multimedia presentation program.
New features cited by the company include a data-driven charting capability with automatic motion and DDE (dynamic data exchange) links, MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) sound support, a new import presentation feature, an Action! runtime player for distributing Action! presentations, support of True Type fonts, and new transition effects.
John C. (Bud) Colligan, president and COO of Macromedia, explains that users can easily create two- an three-dimensional charts that animate on screen, with the data for the charts linked to other Windows applications such as Microsoft Excel and Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows spreadsheets. Also, a new import presentation feature allows any number of slides to be imported in one step, automatically separating text and graphics for editing.
Macromedia Action! 2.0, has a suggested retail price of $495 and owners of Action! 1.0 can upgrade for $79. Customers who purchased Action! version 1.0 after May 1,1992 will receive a free upgrade to version 2.0.
O CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- When Shiva introduced its LANRover/L product a few months ago, a lot of interest and attention came from corporate network administrators and MIS department heads. The program solved a problem that they had -- how to use Apple's Remote Access protocol to allow customers to connect to their network at the office and use it as though they were directly connected to it.
What potential customers told Shiva was that they would need more than one port into the device to which modems could be connected and they would need it to support both Apple protocol and Novell Netware. So, Shiva created the LANRover/E.
LANRover/E comes in two models. One supports four external modem ports. The other supports eight external modem ports. The whole device fits into a standard 19-inch rack. The device has connectors for either 10Base-T, thinwire, or thickwire Ethernet. For control and management, LANRover/E comes with Shiva's Net Manager software which allows configuration and management of the device from any Macintosh or PC anywhere on the network. One can call in to LANRover/E from a remote modem and use the management software to manage the device.
There is a full set of security features on the product. Things like automatic callback, user passwords, and administrator passwords are standard. There is also an activity log so that error conditions and other activities are tracked and recorded.
"LANRover/E goes beyond workgroup solutions to address the remote networking needs of mission-critical, enterprise networks," said Dan Schwinn, Shiva president. "MIS managers need products that offer scalability, centralized management, and security. LANRover/E meets those needs and provides a platform for future multiprotocol environments."
Newsbytes has learned that there are several more offerings being discussed by Shiva at this time. An obvious continuation is a LANRover/T product that would work with Token Ring networks. Another is a multiport version of LANRover/L.
LANRover/E will be shipped in November and will cost $1999 for the four-port version and $2999 for the eight-port version. Official model names are LANRover/4E and LANRover/8E.
(Naor Wallach/19921016/Press Contact: Carol McGarry, Criswell Communications for Shiva, 617-876-1188/Public Contact: Shiva, 617 252-6300)
Public Contact: Shiva, 617 252-6300)
10/19/92
New For Networks: Shiva LANRover/E
GENERAL
Portable MIDI Sound Unit For Mac
x BUENA PARK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- Yamaha has announced a portable sound box, the TG100 Tone Generator, which, when attached to a Macintosh, IBM or compatible personal computer (PC), or Atari ST, offers the ability to produce musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) sounds. The unit has 192 acoustic and electronic instruments plus special effects and 10 drum sounds that can be played individually or in groups of 16 at a time.
The TG100 Tone Generator offers a stereo speaker hook-up or can be played through the computer's speaker. It is about the size of a removable car stereo, weighs just over 2 pounds, has a computer interface as well as a MIDI interface built-in, and is very much designed for portability, Yamaha said. The computer interface allows the unit to be used as a MIDI interface for a computer connecting the TG100 to the computer, and the MIDI instrument to the TG100, Yamaha said.
The company says up to 15 instrument voices and one drum voice can be played at the same time, and digital reverb and delay effects can also be used. The unit has a Yamaha custom digital signal processor (DSP) chip set which provides the effects, the company said.
Conformity to the new General MIDI standard means MIDI files created with the use of the TG100 will sound the same on any tone generator that supports General MIDI. That means a grand piano on the TG100 will be a grand piano on any tone generator according to Yamaha.
Yamaha says users can record with the TG100, using a microphone or any instrument that has a MIDI interface to the unit. The company's representatives said several software packages will support the TG100 without any additional software drivers including Wordperfect's Presentations 2.0 product, and Master Tracks from Passport.
Software drivers for the TG100 for use with Windows are available for download on Genie and Compuserve and the company says it will provide the software to companies which request it. Retail price of the TG100 is $449, Yamaha said.
Yamaha does warn users that the unit is compatible with most Macintosh software but says PC users should check their software to be sure the TG100 will work with the software package they have in mind.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921016/Press Contact: Debra Charlesworth Giles Communications for Yamaha, tel 914-337-9355, fax 917-961 2170; Michael D'Amore, Yamaha, 714-522-9265)
0; Michael D'Amore, Yamaha, 714-522-9265)
10/19/92
Portable MIDI Sound Unit For Macs, PCs
GENERAL
Dataquest Forecasts Multimedia G
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- The increasing popularity of multimedia is the subject of an extensive study and forecast by marketing research firm Dataquest.
The report, called "Multimedia Computing -- Unleashing the Marketing Opportunity," projects multiple higher-growth opportunities for vendors in sectors of the information technology industry from semiconductors through software.
The new research explores key technologies that will likely influence and drive the development of multimedia, with primary emphasis on the multimedia computing market.
Dataquest claims that in order to complete the report, it "pooled the expertise of senior analysts from five industry services including software, workstations, semiconductors, optical storage, and networks."
Pamela Stone Bliss, senior software analyst at Dataquest and one of the report authors, said: "Multimedia is an enabling technology that will be integrated into existing software products such as word processors, presentation graphics, spreadsheets, groupware desktop communications, desktop publishing and databases. Rather than spawning a whole new school of software multimedia will add capabilities that enhance communication provide deeper levels of information access, and delight the senses."
Greg Sheppard, principal semiconductor analyst at Dataquest and another of the report authors, said: "Other factors that will affect the speed with which the multimedia market grows include user acceptance, enhanced platforms, improved networks, distribution channels and standards, to name a few. Multimedia computing probably represents the largest market opportunity of any electronic technology ever. It crosses consumer, commercial, and technical user boundaries and is the intersection point for so many technologies."
According to the company, a number of major multimedia computing issues are addressed in the report, including: the key factors that will drive multimedia acceptance in the marketplace; the battle for dominance between MPC, Apple, and UltiMedia; the leading standards in multimedia computing; and whether the multimedia market needs a "killer" application to capture the popular imagination.
Other issues identified pinpoint the key factors for multimedia hardware, software and component suppliers to succeed, and what impact emerging technologies such as virtual reality, high definition television, computer conferencing, and voice recognition will have on multimedia computing.
"Multimedia Computing - Unleashing the Market Opportunity" is available now as a two-volume research study for $2,995.
(Ian Stokell/19921019/Press Contact: Mary Hand, Dataquest 408-437-8312)
act: Mary Hand, Dataquest 408-437-8312)
10/19/92
Dataquest Forecasts Multimedia Growth
TRENDS
PeopleSoft/Groupe Bull In Int'l
WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- Hoping to expand the installed base of its PeopleSoft PS/HRMS and Financials applications, PeopleSoft Inc., has signed up Groupe Bull to an international joint marketing deal.
According to PeopleSoft, a provider of client/server financial and human resource applications, this is the first international cooperative agreement signed by the company with a major worldwide computer supplier.
Under terms of the agreement, international customers will be able to purchase the PeopleSoft PS/HRMS and Financials applications running on Groupe Bull's DPX/20 platforms under the Oracle relational Database. The DPX/20 platforms, running BOS/X (Bull's operating system) are based on IBM's Power RISC (reduced instruction-set computer) architecture and the IBM AIX/6000 operating system.
The companies said that the joint marketing agreement will initially concentrate on Europe and the United States.
In June, Newsbytes reported that Groupe Bull's shareholders had approved IBM's purchase of a 5.68 percent stake in the company, in return for a cash payment of FF 540 million.
(Ian Stokell/19921019/Press Contact: Linda Zecher, PeopleSoft 510-946-9460)
Contact: Linda Zecher, PeopleSoft 510-946-9460)
10/19/92
PeopleSoft/Groupe Bull In Int'l Marketing Deal
BUSINESS
Ericsson Signs $160M Telecoms De
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- Ericsson has announced a major telecom supply deal with the Jiangsu Province Postal and Telecommunications Administration (JPPTA) in Eastern China. Terms of the deal call for the Swedish telecom giant to supply and fit a large number of its AXE digital switching exchanges.
The contract is worth around $160 million to Ericsson over a three-year period. According to the company, this is the largest deal of its type with the Chinese telecom agencies.
This is only one of many such deals that China has with the West. Already, a number of cellular phone networks are up and running in the region although, because of the high cost of the technology the price of accessing the network is beyond most citizens.
Experts are worried that the sudden surge in telecom technology in China will result in a two-tier network, with those rich enough to afford the new technology able to buy their way into calling anywhere, while the majority of the citizens of China will continue using their outdated telephone network.
(Steve Gold/19921019)
ed telephone network.
(Steve Gold/19921019)
10/19/92
Ericsson Signs $160M Telecoms Deal With China
TELECOM
Hungarian Telecom Sell-Off To Fi
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- The Hungarian Government has announced that it may have to sell off a third of its state controlled telecom operations if the country's ambitious phone network expansion plans are to be achieved.
The news comes at a time when both Britain and the US, the two countries regarded as most likely to invest in Hungary's phone network, are undergoing a period of recession with, respectively 10 and 8 percent unemployment rates, not to mention a period of currency instability.
According to Sandor Gyurkovics, the state secretary for the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Water, the sale of government interest could take place before the end of the year. Interestingly, Gyurkovics does not rule out a sale of assets -- in the form of shares -- to the general public.
If public shares are offered in the state telecom agency, then this could be the first time that Hungarian citizens will be offered the opportunity to invest in a former state company in their own country -- a major switch in political terms for the Hungarian Government, although one forced by economic necessity
Hungary is rushing through a series of legislative changes to smooth the transition of MATAV, the state telecom agency, from a private to a public entity. All being well, MATAV could be a private company within six to nine months, Hungarian Government officials said.
(Steve Gold/19921019)
ernment officials said.
(Steve Gold/19921019)
10/19/92
Hungarian Telecom Sell-Off To Finance Expansion
TELECOM
New For Macintosh: MacGlobe 1.3
Editorial: Telecom Issues In The
Visualworks ADE From Parcplace S
Japanese Firm Gets New US Govt P
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- Yokohama-based personal computer dealer Vinsotec has received a second volume order for its personal computers from a US government agency. The latest order for 5,200 notebook computers comes from the Department of Defense. A previous order worth $24 million has been arranged with the Internal Revenue Service.
Vinsotec claims the Department of Defense order, worth $8.5 million involves the supply of its 32-bit notebook-type personal computers called the "J1 Plus" models. The units have a fax modem, an 80-megabyte hard disk, a 5-megabyte memory, and MS-DOS 5.0.
A Vinsotec spokesman told Newsbytes that 3,000 J1 Plus computers will be supplied to the Department of Defense and 700 units will be supplied to West Point, a military academy. The order also calls for 1,500 units to be supplied to the General Accounting Office, as well.
The company claims it had to compete with 50 to 60 personal computer makers and dealers for the GAO bid. Five firms were chosen for a test and Vinsotec's unit was among those that passed.
Vinsotec expects to ultimately sell 50,000 of its PCs to the DOD in fiscal 1993 and 1994.
Vinsotec also expects to receive an official purchase order for 17,000 PCs from IRS this week. Vinsotec is to supply PCs to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the US through a contract with a US systems integrator, Falls Church, Virginia-based Sysorex. The total order amount is expected to be $24 million.
Vinsotec is a medium-sized personal computer maker in Japan which is specialized in producing IBM-compatible personal computers on an OEM basis. The firm has been supplying the PCs to US firms as well as Japanese firms for over 10 years.
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- Japan's Sony and Digital Equipment Corporation Japan (DEC Japan) are selling their computers through mail order, following a recession-fighting trend first started by US computer makers.
Sony has started advertising its News workstations in major personal computer magazines and is offering customers a toll-free telephone order line. The idea is to attract individual users such as students and engineers, with this new sales campaign. The ordered computers can be delivered to customers quickly via special delivery firms.
Meanwhile, DEC Japan is also selling personal computers via a mail order service and is reaching potential customers through a direct mail campaign. DEC Japan is reportedly sending 15,000 pieces of mail to buyers and computer magazine readers. DEC Japan sells IBM-compatible personal computers which were released in Japan in July.
Both firms expect this new mail order campaign will save at least 20 percent over the expenses and overhead involved in other marketing campaigns. Other Japanese firms may also follow suit.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921019/Press Contact: Sony, +81-3 3448-2200, DEC Japan, +81-3-3989-7526)
tact: Sony, +81-3 3448-2200, DEC Japan, +81-3-3989-7526)
10/19/92
Japan: Sony & DEC Selling Computers Through Mail Order
BUSINESS
Japan: DCC Tape OK'd For Release
Sega/Accolade Decision Seen As B
Motorola, In Focus In LCD Ventur
UK: Mercury Slams Warring Mobile
Andrew Grove Finally Names New I
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- Well, the wait is over; Intel has finally disclosed that the company's new 100 MIPS or million instructions per second microprocessor will be named the Pentium, a marketing ploy aimed at killing off some chip cloners who have found it easy to penetrate Intel's market by designating their chips using the same numbers as compatible Intel chips.
Although details of the chip have been known for some time, until now the Pentium chip has been known internally as the P5, while reporters and analysts, following the traditional Intel chip naming scheme, have often referred to the chip as the 80586.
Choosing an unusual morning television forum, Intel's CEO and President Andrew Grove today announced the "name" of Intel's long-expected new XXX86-compatible microprocessor on CNN's Business Day.
When asked why the chip needs a name instead of the traditional Intel numbers, Mr. Grove told CNN's audience that the company has discovered that names are easier to protect than numbers and that Intel therefore chose to name rather than number the chip.
As to what Pentium means, Mr. Grove said, "It does not mean anything," but Intel's CEO says that he hopes the number will suggest fifth generation because the new chip is the fifth generation of PC-compatible Intel chips.
Since there have actually been five chip families already -- 8086 80186, 80286, 80386, and 80486 -- it isn't clear exactly which one Intel is leaving out, but it is probably the 80186, which appeared in a single Tandy computer model and a few from other makers but essentially sank without a trace.
When asked just what the new microprocessor can do that current chips can't, Mr. Grove had no ready answer but did suggest that computers based on the chip would offer improved video processing performance.
Actually, there is no new software now available nor even announced that targets the new, more powerful chip, but as with the 80486, which also uses no special software, the new chip will provide much more computing power, making some marginal applications run quickly enough to be practical.
Pentium-based computers will run all current PC software under Unix, MS-DOS, DR DOS, Windows, and OS/2, with few if any compatibility problems and run them about three times faster than many current high-end PCs.
Mr. Grove did admit that no current software "will tax this chip," but observers say that, as with all previous power enhancements, more demanding software will soon appear to eat up all the power available.
In some cases, the new software will actually provide friendlier and more powerful software that carries a distinct advantage over current programs, but in many instances the software will get bigger and slower but not really become more useful.
(John McCormick/19921019)
more useful.
(John McCormick/19921019)
10/19/92
Andrew Grove Finally Names New Intel Chip
UK: Kalamazoo Sponsors Technolog
Review of: Image Club New Faces
Innosoft's PMDF-FAX supports Two
Lotus Offers Norton Desktop With
Hyundai Electronics America Intr
MCI Makes Voicecom Leading Voice
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- MCI has given a small San Francisco company a leading place in the voice processing business by selling its Async unit to VoiceCom Systems. The sale gives VoiceCom the largest company in the field.
Newsbytes discussed the purchase with Voicecom President Marketta Silvera. She said she dislikes the term service bureau. "In the old days, companies like ours were service bureaus, providing mailbox rentals. Now we integrate with in-house equipment, provide facilities management through AMIS," a voice mail standard, and provide other services. "In addition to voice messaging, we can do interactive voice response services. When you register for a Microsoft seminar, for instance, you get us -- we provide seminar registration, sales activity management, product warranty, all other systems that turn the telephone into a computer terminal."
Voicecom has benefitted a lot from the AMIS analog voice mail systems standard, a system pushed by large voice mail users which lets them integrate many brands of equipment into their networks. Silvera said that VoiceCom does not make its own equipment. "We buy from companies like VMX and Centigram, Octel. What drives us is the client's need. We can be equipment independent. We bring in equipment that satisfies the client's needs We have data centers and provide the services. Only in some cases do we put equipment with the client, to tie to their network. AMIS helps us expand into more communications within large accounts."
Silvera also addressed the question of competition from regional Bell companies, most of whom now have voice mail operations. "Most of them are going after the residential market, and we don't. We go after the business community. We've been doing it since 1984. The RBOCs typically start with the residential market. We're a lot quicker to pursue business solutions."
She also agreed with others who believe success in this business is decided based on software, not hardware. "The business is based on solutions that software provides. Our clients don't know what the equipment is, or who the long distance carrier is. Whether it's a fax, sales activity management problem, or conference calling, we provide them with that service, just like telephone companies provide telephone service."
Silvera added that in addition to billings, the Async acquisition brings the company new technology, including 800 number gateway services, at attractive prices. Such gateways provide access to services like voice messaging, long distance calling and faxing with just one phone call.
Silvera predicts the voice processing industry will be a $5.6 billion market by 1994, based on outside research by industry analysts. "The integration of Async's management and services brings us a step closer to our long-range vision of a virtual voice processing service center with one-call access." VoiceCom has over 1,400 corporate customers and 150,000 users worldwide, including Microsoft, Revlon, Abbott Labs, Sharp Electronics, Colgate Palmolive and DuPont.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921019/Press Contact: VoiceCom Systems Marketta Silvera, 415-477-9900)
VoiceCom Systems Marketta Silvera, 415-477-9900)
10/19/92
MCI Makes Voicecom Leading Voice Mail Provider
TELECOM
Merisel Offers VARs A Deal
EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- Apple Computer is attempting to increase its sales and market share by encouraging independent computer dealers and computer consultants to become Apple Value Added Resellers (VARs) in certain specific vertical application areas. Apple has enlisted its major distributors in the thrust to recruit more VARs.
Merisel is one of the three distributors that Apple has chosen for its efforts. Merisel has an agreement with Apple to promote the Apple VAR status and recruit some 650 new VARs for Apple. Merisel has been meeting its goals with a reward system for those who become VARs it's called the Smartstart offering.
The SmartStart kit is a free package that includes a host of peripherals and software programs from 35 different manufacturers. In some cases, the VAR will receive a coupon that can be redeemed for the products directly from the manufacturer. The total value of the SmartStart package is estimated to be in the $15,000 range.
MacSource is one company that has chosen to become an Apple VAR through Merisel. Company President Anthony Taylor said, "We received many outstanding products when we became an Apple VAR through Merisel. It's encouraging to see so many vendors taking an interest in the VAR program and begin so generous. I'm sure I'll be ordering many of these products as our marketing in the legal community continues to grow."
Apple's chosen vertical markets include publishing, imaging, law real estate, accounting, media, architecture, engineering, and construction. Merisel offers many other programs to VARs in addition to SmartStart.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- The US Department of Energy and three electronics firms have announced a $25.2 million research pact for a new generation of chip technology that could springboard the US into a much stronger spot in the world semiconductor marketplace.
The new business/government partnership calls for collaboration between the DOE's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Intel Corp., Jamar Technology Company, and Ultratech Stepper in the development of a new method for performing lithography, the process used in copying chip designs onto silicon wafers.
Officials of the participating organizations claim that the method known as soft X-ray projection lithography, could result in 21st century chips that are 10 times faster and contain 1,000 times more memory than semiconductors of today, which are still being produced through ultraviolet light.
"Lithography is recognized as the most critical procedure in semiconductor manufacturing. If this new technique works out as expected, it will thrust the US back into a leading edge role in computer chip technology," commented Larry Wang, technical support manager for Ultratech Stepper.
Echoed James Glaze, president of Jamar Technology: "Lithography is an enabling technology for the entire multibillion dollar electronics industry. So it's extremely important that the US play a major role."
Soft X-ray projection lithography differs from another emerging X ray-based technique, called proximity X-ray lithography, already being researched in the US as well as Japan, the officials told Newsbytes. "It is believed that X-ray projection lithography can result in even higher resolution than proximity X-ray lithography," noted Glaze.
In proximity X-ray lithography, the design is held close to the chip, and then flooded with X-rays, Glaze told Newsbytes. "There's really no imaging involved," he explained. In contrast, projection X-ray lithography employs microscopic cameras that project the design onto the wafer, he said.
In the projection and proximity techniques, as in the ultraviolet method of today, individual chips are cut from the silicon after lithography is carried out. Wafers in current use are about six to eight inches in diameter, and hundreds of chips can be derived from each, an Intel spokesperson told Newsbytes.
In the new four-year research effort, jointly funded by the DOE and industry, San Diego-based Ultratech and Santa Clara-based Jamar Technology will both build machinery for use in projection X-ray lithography.
Intel Corp., also of Santa Clara, will provide input from the perspective of a chip manufacturer. "We'll basically serve as a `paying consultant,'" the Intel spokesperson remarked. Intel's share in funding the project will be $1.3 million, she said.
Japan, the United States' major competitor in the chip marketplace is emphasizing X-ray proximity lithography over the X-ray projection technique, according to Ultratech's Wang. Meanwhile the US government is taking a dual approach, funding the X-ray proximity method through programs such as DARPA, he added.
The new $25.2 million research pact is part of a broader national program in X-ray projection lithography involving Sandia National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, and a number of US microelectronics companies. Wang told Newsbytes that this and other research programs are aimed in part at adding a nonmilitary commercial thrust to the traditionally military focus of the national research labs.
Companies such as Ultratech and Jamar have gotten involved in the project to help keep manufacturing of semiconductor production equipment within the US, he said. "The US is still making major strides in some areas of microelectronics, such as microprocessors and ASICs, and certain US companies are keeping up in memory. But the bulk of DRAM chips are now being made in Japan," he asserted.
Japanese chip manufacturers tend to use production equipment that is also produced in Japan, he reported. "As a result, Japan now has an 80% share in the world market for lithography systems, the same share that was once held by the US," he claimed.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19921019; Press contacts: Michele Bourdon Intel, 408-765-1538; James Glaze, Jamar Technology, tel 619-481 7823; Larry Wang, Ultratech Stepper, tel 408-982-5312; Steve Wampler, Livermore Laboratory, tel 510-423-3107).
eve Wampler, Livermore Laboratory, tel 510-423-3107).
10/19/92
US Government, Industry Research 21st Century Chips
Group 1 Software Buys Arc Tangen
GREENBELT, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- Group 1 Software has purchased certain assets of Arc Tangent, of Santa Barbara California. In particular, Group 1 takes title to two software packages which it has been selling under license from Arc Tangent a company spokeswoman said.
Group 1 Software will continue selling Arc Tangent's Professional Mail and Zip ++ products under the Group 1 trademarks ArcList and AccuMail respectively.
Along with all of Arc Tangent's mail management software, Group 1 acquires the California company's distributor agreements and end-user lists. Group 1 has also hired several key technical employees from Arc Tangent.
The companies announced the signing of a letter of intent on September 15.
Group 1 said it is working on new agreements with Arc Tangent distributors, and will also work with its own current distributors and dealers to integrate the distributor channels.
Group 1 will honor all subscription and maintenance agreements with Arc Tangent customers, the company said.
Group 1's products include list management, postal discount, mail personalization, demographic, and database marketing software. The firm has offices throughout the U.S. and Canada, and works through distributors in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Scandinavia. The company has about 140 employees, the spokeswoman said.
Group 1 Software is a registered trademark of Group 1 Software Inc. Arc Tangent is a trademark of Arc Tangent Inc.
(Grant Buckler/19921019/Press Contact: Suzanne Porter-Kuchay, Group 1 Software, 301-220-5341)
er-Kuchay, Group 1 Software, 301-220-5341)
10/19/92
Group 1 Software Buys Arc Tangent Assets
BUSINESS
DEC Sells Puerto Rican Plant Ass
SAN GERMAN, PUERTO RICO, 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- Digital Equipment and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Digital Equipment Corporation de Puerto Rico, have announced the sale of assets of a DEC printed wiring board plant here to Circo Craft of Quebec. The sale is part of DEC's plan to get out of certain manufacturing areas not considered central to its business, a strategy incoming President Robert Palmer outlined in his first press conference October 1.
The terms of the transaction will not be disclosed.
In leaving the printed wiring board business, Digital is closing the San German plant along with one in Greenville, South Carolina company spokeswoman Nikki Richardson said. DEC is also closing its other factory in Puerto Rico, which makes power supplies. The phasing out of the Puerto Rican plants was announced in March of this year and is to be completed by March of 1993, Richardson said.
Richardson said the plant itself belongs not to Digital but to an agency of the Puerto Rican government. The deal between DEC and Circo Craft covers the equipment and other contents of the plant.
Circo Craft will use the assets, which include machinery equipment, and leasehold improvements, in the operation of a newly formed subsidiary called DY-4. The companies aid four senior managers now working for Digital in Puerto Rico will join DY-4 and hold equity interests in the subsidiary.
Circo Craft, based in Kirkland, Quebec, manufactures circuit boards and is a supplier to a number of manufacturers in the United States. The company employs about 800 workers in three Canadian plants, all in the province of Quebec.
(Grant Buckler/19921019/Press Contact: Nikki Richardson, Digital Equipment, 508-493-6369; Blanca Cebollero, Puerto Rico Economic Development Authority, 809-753-1172)
rto Rico Economic Development Authority, 809-753-1172)
10/19/92
DEC Sells Puerto Rican Plant Assets To Canadian Firm
BUSINESS
TI Earns $57 Million In 3Q
` % DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- Texas Instruments announced Friday that it earned $57 million, or $0.58 per share, for the third quarter on nearly $1.9 billion in net revenues.
The company reported a net loss for the same period last year of $113 million, or $1.45 per share. Results for this year's third quarter included a pretax charge of $10 million related to the sale of TI's multiuser minicomputer systems and service operations.
In a letter to stockholders TI Chairman Jerry Junkins said semiconductor orders reached record levels in the third quarter. Junkins reported that semiconductor revenues also reached an all-time high in the quarter.
"We achieved volume shipments of the SuperSPARC microprocessor during the quarter. We also strengthened our differentiated product line with the announcement of PRISM, a methodology for integrating multiple semiconductor technologies on a single chip. In addition we recently announced volume production of the TI486SLC microprocessor family and the introduction of microSPARC," Junkins told stockholders.
Junkins said TI will continue converting its manufacturing facilities to produce differentiated products.
TI spokesperson Terri West told Newsbytes profit margins are up even though are orders are down in the defense market. TI was selected to develop a multifunction broad-band technology for the US Navy's Airborne Shared Aperture Program, allowing four different functions to be performed using a single multi-function antenna. West told Newsbytes that contract would have a multi-year value of about $79 million. The company is also participating in developing solid-state microwave technology for the US Army's ground-based radar program.
TI reported a $43 million loss for the fourth quarter last year. Asked about '92 fourth quarter expectations, West told Newsbytes that while TI does make public its financial projections, "We expect to continue to be profitable."
In January Junkins said a return to profitability is based on conservative estimates for the major economies and markets of the world. "The road to profitability is through cost reductions business process and productivity improvements, and emphasis on new products," he said.
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- Compaq Computer Corporation today announced it is reducing the price on several of its desktop and notebook computers.
Included in the reductions are selected models of the ProLinea Deskpro/i, Contura 3/20 and 3/25, LTE Lite/25c, Portable 486 and 486c.
According to Ross Cooley, Compaq senior VP, the price cuts are possible because of increased operating efficiencies, parts availability, and higher production rates. Cooley said the company shipped more than 200,000 units in September.
The 386-based ProLinea Model 40 is now under $800, while a fully configured 486-based ProLinea Model 120, with Windows factory installed, starts at $1,259. The entry level 386-based Contura notebook lists for under $1,500 and the LTE Lite/25c is under $3,500.
Compaq said in conjunction with the lower suggested retail prices it has readjusted its pricing structure by reducing reseller discounts on the selected units, bringing the sticker prices more in line with "street prices" or the actual prices consumers can expect to pay.
The company is also introducing several new ProLinea models, which include DOS, Windows, and a mouse. The Deskpro/i family has also been expanded to include models with larger capacity (120 MB and 240 MB) hard drives.
Also new are several models of the ProLinea, with Windows, a 2400 bps fax modem, and Prodigy software pre-installed. Prodigy is a subscription on-line service where users can exchange mail download and upload files, and share information with other computer users.
New models of the Contura were also announced that offer larger hard drives, and come pre-installed with DOS, Windows 3.1, PFS: WindowWorks, and a Compaq trackball.
(Jim Mallory/19921019/Press contact: John Sweney, Compaq Computer 713-374-0484)
paq Computer 713-374-0484)
10/19/92
Compaq Cuts Prices Again
Apple's New Docking, Multimedia,
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Apple Computer has announced several new Macintosh products that "dock," and which are aimed primarily at mobile users. The firm also unveiled new hardware optimized for multimedia, as well as version 7.1 of its operating system and a new version of the multimedia extensions Quicktime 1.5. All of the new computers introduced are based on the Motorola 32-bit 68030 microprocessor.
The most significant introduction was Apple's "Duo" systems. The Macintosh Duo System consists of a desktop station called the Macintosh Duo Dock, with a notebook computer called Powerbook Duo notebook which contains the hard disk storage and the microprocessor for removable, mobile use.
Apple representatives told Newsbytes the desktop unit looks in appearance like a slimline computer and has a motorized insertion point, the Powerlatch docking technology, that accepts the notebook computer in a closed position like a video cassette recorder (VCR) accepts a video tape.
The desktop Duo Dock unit is simply a shell, however, to which a monitor and keyboard must be added at additional charge to the $2,249 to $2,969 suggested retail price range for the notebooks and the $1,079 for the desktop Duo unit. The Powerbook Duo comes in a model 210 running with 4 megabytes (MB) of memory and an 80 MB hard disk model (4/80), or in the 230 that offers a 4/80 or 4/120 configuration. The desktop Duo Dock can be expanded to offer another hard disk drive, a math coprocessor, video random access memory (VRAM), network connection, a color monitor, and expansion cards. However, the desktop unit requires the notebook to function, Apple representatives said.
A Mini Duo unit is also being offered which connects to a larger monitor and keyboard and will dock with a Duo System notebook. The Mini Duo unit is only a docking device and doesn't allow for network connection or expansion as the desktop unit in the Duo system does, Apple representatives added.
Two new Powerbooks, the Powerbook 160 and 180, in five configurations starting at $2,429 to $4,469, were introduced. The new Powerbooks offer a built-in video-out feature for connection to video graphics array (VGA) and super VGA (SVGA). The displays on the new notebooks offer gray scale, as opposed to the black and white offered previously, and the displays can be run simultaneously with an external display either together or with different displays on each screen, Apple representatives maintain. Apple representatives also pointed out the pricing on the new Powerbooks is much lower than it was compared to the introductory prices of a year earlier. No color notebooks are yet available, however, Apple has said it has color notebooks planned.
New desktop models, the Macintosh IIvx and IIvi were introduced and are optimized for multimedia, Apple representatives said. The three new desktop models offer a graphics subsystem (VRAM) that supports up to 32,000 colors and offer three Nubus slots run at clock speeds of either 16 or 32 MHz, and one model offers a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM) drive. Expansion bays for adding tape back up drives, CD-ROM drives or a high capacity disk drives are included, Apple maintains.
Apple is offering a 14-inch color display monitor with tilt and swivel capability for $589 retail, the company announced.
The new operating system version, System 7.1, is geared especially toward the Asian community and incorporates "Worldscript" which supports the Asian dialect Kanji as well as other "double-byte" Asian languages. Double-byte refers to the need for two bytes of memory necessary for languages with large character sets. Apple representatives did point out software product Kanji Talk, already did support the Asian dialect, but Apple maintains this version of System 7.1 will make support easier. System 7.1 comes with Quicktime 1.5, a upgrade of Apple's multimedia extensions enhanced to offer a video playback area on the screen four times larger than previously and support for Kodak's new Photo CD technology. Support for full screen/full motion video with available add-on hardware is also built-into version 1.5, Apple added.
The Macintosh user groups have known for sometime that System 7.1 was coming, but Ken Gruberman of the 2,000 member MacValley Users Group in the San Fernando of Southern California expressed disappointment that Apple has decided to charge for the operating system. System 7.0 was distributed by Macintosh user groups and via electronic bulletin boards at its introduction early this year. The System 7.1 Upgrade Kit is retail priced at $34.95 and is available by calling Apple Computer. However, Apple has said it will provide Quicktime 1.5 for distribution via user groups and bulletin boards.
In one additional note, the company also announced Deborah Coleman, vice president of Information Systems & Technology (IS&T) at Apple Computer is leaving the company as of November 1 to pursue other interests. Coleman joined Apple in 1981 and has held various positions including chief financial officer vice president of worldwide manufacturing operations, and manager of the original Macintosh finance and MIS groups. She was appointed to the position she currently holds in 1990 and was responsible for direction of Apple's internal information systems.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921019/Press Contact: Pat Kinley, Apple Computer, tel 408-974-2589, fax 408-974-6412; Public Contact for System 7.1 Upgrade Kit 800-769-2775)
blic Contact for System 7.1 Upgrade Kit 800-769-2775)
10/19/92
Apple's New Docking, Multimedia, and Powerbook Macs
APPLE
IBM Takes Equity In Synon
IBM Canada Launches Consulting G
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- IBM Canada has announced the launch of a new consulting group within the company. The move is part of a new worldwide IBM consulting operation, IBM Canada officials said, but Newsbytes could not obtain details from IBM headquarters by today's deadline.
The Canadian group will start off with 30 consultants, all moving from other roles within IBM Canada and many of them senior people said company spokeswoman Anne Hay. The consulting group will have offices in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.
The group's activity at first will be made up of existing contracts, particularly in the application development area, Hay said. In addition to application development, the new consulting group is to have specialized practices in two other areas: information technology strategy and planning, and business transformation.
IBM said its consultants will offer customers help in customizing and integrating their information technology, including a wide range of specialized services.
IBM Canada named partners to head the three areas. They are Rob Steele, who will head the business transformation practice, Gary Getson, who will lead information technology strategy and planning and Jim Webster, who will take charge of the application development practice.
(Grant Buckler/19921019/Press Contact: Anne Hay, IBM Canada 416-479-3900 or 800-563-2139)
M Canada 416-479-3900 or 800-563-2139)
10/19/92
IBM Canada Launches Consulting Group
NSF Computer Science Research Gr
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- The National Science Foundation has announced a number of grants and projects forwarding research and development of interest to the computer industry. Nine grant awards totalling $2.67 million relate to computer science and engineering, while seven other projects come under the Grand Challenge Applications Group Grant program.
The University of Pennsylvania has received $425,000 for a three year curriculum development program involving multimedia presentations using large projection televisions configured as a single large TV. Results of the tests will be available on INTERNET.
Rensselear Polytechnic received a similar amount to improve software engineering education.
Just over $400 thousand will go to Colgate University to develop object-oriented programming course materials.
Carnegie-Mellon University will get $204 thousand over a three year period to develop a senior-level computer engineering course for microprocessor design.
Boston University was awarded nearly $400,000 to develop undergraduate courses bridging engineering, computer science, and natural science classes.
Cornell gets $200,000 to develop four computer science courses for freshmen and sophomores.
Other grants will go to Georgia Tech, Old Dominion, and State University of New York at Stonybrook (SUNY).
NIST's Science and Technology Information System information is available INTERNET: stisinfo@nsf.gov.
NSF Grand Challenge Grants totalling $20 million over the next five years, are intended to tackle fundamental problems in science and engineering through high performance computing techniques and resources.
First year funding for seven projects totals $4.1 million.
MIT's funding will go toward the High Performance Computing for Learning project. Researchers from MIT, Harvard, and Brown Universities will develop new software and hardware for robotics.
The University of Illinois (Champaign-Urbana) will receive funding for Radio Synthesis Imaging: An HPCC (high performance computing and communication program) Application. UI will develop a prototype of a system linking remote astronomical observatories with high-speed networks.
The University of Colorado at Boulder will pursue the High Performance Computational Methods for Coupled Field Problems which involves astrophysics, aerospace applications, geophysics and computer scientists working in fluid dynamics.
Cal Tech's grant involves materials modeling research studied through atomic level simulations.
Carnegie Mellon University will work with MIT on a large scale environmental modeling simulation.
The University of Houston will work on bimolecular design.
LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 19 (NB) - A Tasmanian company is marketing a way of increasing GPS (Global Positioning System) accuracy from a +/- 300m error factor to +/- 2-5m. Campbell Smith Phelps, Pedley (CSPP), a Launceston-based surveying firm, has established a fixed GPS receiver, which is used to correct data from their customers' GPS receivers.
The CSPP receiver constantly monitors positioning data from 12 GPS satellites, and by comparing the data with the receiver's known fixed position, fluctuations can be corrected. Customers can subscribe to this data in diskette form to correct recorded data, or they can access it in real time via modem and CSPP's bulletin board. The service will allow people to use GPS positioning where the 300m error range would have been prohibitive.
An example would be a surveyor driving along a new (and as yet unmapped) road. By taking GPS readings along the road, and then correcting them with the CSPP information, the surveyor would be able to achieve enough accuracy to map the road down to a scale of around 1:25,000. Says CSPP spokesperson John Dent, "Gone are the days when surveyors had to spend days in the bush, followed by even more days back at the office, analyzing whole notebooks full of precise measurements. The service is useful to anyone who needs to establish the position of features on the Earth's surface rapidly economically and accurately." CSPP has also designed award winning software which digitizes aerial photographic data for Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
(Sean McNamara/19921015/Press contact: CSPP, phone in Australia 61-03-62 2993)
s contact: CSPP, phone in Australia 61-03-62 2993)
10/19/92
Australia: Tasmanian Firm Increases GPS Accuracy
GENERAL
Autodesk Buys MES To Enter 3D Su
SAUSALITO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 19 (NB) -- Autodesk says it has acquired the Michigan-based Micro Engineering Solutions (MES), a company that develops computer-aided design/computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) software for three dimensional modeling in industry, including the automotive industry.
Autodesk says the two companies are active in the same market but Autodesk has had more of the drafting and design end while MES has focused on the high-end 3D surface modeling part of the manufacturing industry. MES has been a registered developer with Autodesk's Autocad product since the beginning of this year. Autodesk representatives said the company hopes to capitalize on the opportunities in the manufacturing sector with this acquisition, which is the largest segment of the CAD/CAM market worldwide.
MES distributes in North America, Germany, and Asia but Autodesk says the two companies are developing plans for increased distribution both in the US and in the rest of the world.
MES, a privately held company, has an annual income of $4 million and Autodesk is investing about 15 million to purchase the operation. The 50 employees at MES will continue to work out of the MES offices in Michigan, Autodesk maintains.
Sausalito, California-based Autodesk describes itself as the sixth largest IBM and compatible computer software company in the world, with revenues of $285 million. The company is probably best known for its widely popular Autocad software product.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921019/Press Contact: Andrew Zarrillo Autodesk, tel 415-332-2344 ext 8704, fax 415-491-8305)
415-332-2344 ext 8704, fax 415-491-8305)
10/19/92
Autodesk Buys MES To Enter 3D Surface Model Mkt
BUSINESS
Hongkong: Microsoft Unveils Mult
TAIKOO SHING, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Microsoft has announced a group of Windows multimedia products that add a new sensory dimension to personal computing and set a new level of achievement in multimedia publishing. The Hongkong release of these products follows the US release by about a week.
The new products include the Microsoft Windows Sound System, a hardware and software combination that exploits the audio capabilities inherent in Windows 3.1, and Microsoft SoundBits, a series of three audio clip collections. The company has also issued two new CD-ROM titles, Microsoft Encarta and Microsoft Musical Instruments.
"With the release of Windows 3.1 earlier this year, Microsoft brought full audio and multimedia functionality to the desktop," said Laurie Kan, country manager of Microsoft Hong Kong Ltd.
"The Windows Sound System provides powerful tools that make it easier for business people to use audio in activities such as adding voice annotations to documents, sending messages, incorporating sound into presentations and even using a synthesized voice to help proof-read documents," said Mr Kan. "We believe that audio experience will accelerate the acceptance of the full multimedia potential of Windows."
The hardware element of the Windows Sound System, developed in conjunction with Compaq Computer and Analog Devices, provides PC users with CD-quality sound input and output facilities, together with built-in sound synthesizing on a single PC add-in card, Microsoft reports. It comes with headphones, a microphone and 3 Microsoft applications: Quick Recorder, ProofReader, and Voice Pilot.
Quick Recorder makes use of Windows' Object Linking and Embedding capabilities to add voice annotations to documents and files. Users simply record a message with Quick Recorder and then drag and drop the resulting message icon into the document they wish to annotate.
The ProofReader application has been optimized for checking numerical data. It reads numbers and common spreadsheet terms with a high-quality human voice, reducing the time spent on proofing and improving accuracy. It works with Microsoft Excel and Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows.
The Voice Pilot enables users to execute commands, such as "open a new document" or "print document," by speaking into the microphone. This voice recognition ability can be used to navigate through Windows and, at present, 15 popular Windows-based applications. Voice Pilot can also be set up to respond to customized commands which insert text into a document or execute a macro.
The Windows Sound System comes with an automated set-up program and several utilities that enable the user to do things like play an audio compact disc and mix sound from different sources, such as the microphone and a cassette tape.
The new Microsoft SoundBits series comprises audio clips from well know cartoon characters, classic films and musical instruments. Users can inject a little humour and personality into their systems attaching these high-quality digitized sounds to events such as starting or quitting an application, getting an error message and resizing a window.
The two new CD-ROM titles set a new standard for multimedia reference works. Microsoft Encarta, a multimedia encyclopedia contains an exhaustive collection of articles, animations, sounds illustrations, graphs, photographs, an atlas and a dictionary on a single CD-ROM. Microsoft Musical Instruments offers a highly interactive environment for users to explore the sights and sounds of more than 200 musical instruments from around the world.
"As the first multimedia encyclopedia designed on a computer to run on a computer, Encarta surpasses all other such works on CD-ROM," said Mr Kan. "More than 90 percent of its content was created exclusively for the product."
Among other things Encarta contains 21,000 articles in 94 categories; more than seven hours of sound; over 7,000 photographs; 800 color maps; and nearly 100 animations. This huge multimedia information base is presented in a way that makes it easy for people to browse.
"Through extensive usability testing, we believe we have found the ideal combination of sound, motion, text and illustrations that facilitates learning by offering immediate feedback in an extremely positive manner that creates the desire to learn more," said Mr Kan.
Microsoft Musical Instruments is the first multimedia title resulting from an agreement reached last year between Microsoft and Dorling Kindersley, a specialist publisher of highly illustrated reference books for adults and children.
Users can explore the new CD-ROM by choosing one of four categories: Families of Instruments; Musical Ensembles; an A to Z of Instruments; or Instruments of the World.
For each of the instruments featured, Microsoft Musical Instruments contains studio recordings, high quality photographs (some with the ability to zoom in on specific parts of the instrument) and historical and factual information.
(Brett Cameron/19921023/Press Contact: Sasha Skinner, Microsoft Tel: +852-804 4261;HK time is GMT + 8)
Microsoft Tel: +852-804 4261;HK time is GMT + 8)
10/23/92
Hongkong: Microsoft Unveils Multimedia Products
Hongkong: Microsoft Mail For Wor
TAIKOO SHING, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Microsoft has an upgrade to its electronic mail products in Hong Kong together with its first application aimed specifically at workgroups.
Mail for PC Networks, version 3.0, and Mail for AppleTalk Networks version 3.1, are significant upgrades to the Microsoft messaging family that demonstrate the company's continuing commitment to developing multi-platform electronic mail for customers.
The workgroup-oriented Schedule + for Windows is an integrated appointment diary and meeting planner. It is the first application on the market to take advantage of Microsoft's Messaging Application Programming Interface (MAPI).
"With these releases Microsoft is delivering on the electronic messaging and workgroup strategies articulated last year," said Laurie Kan, country manager of Microsoft Hong Kong Ltd. "The Microsoft Mail platform, together with our gateway extensions provides a reliable, versatile and open LAN-based messaging infrastructure for customers of all sizes and is the foundation for powerful workgroup computing solutions."
The MAPI specification, supported in the Microsoft Mail platform enables other applications to make use of Mail's delivery capabilities to distribute documents and information among users.
For example, while the new Schedule + for Windows package can be used to efficiently manage an individual appointment diary, its MAPI capability also enables the programme to be used as a workgroup tool.
Schedule + allows users to schedule and track meetings, quickly respond to meeting requests, and share calendar information with the workgroup while at the same time maintaining control over who can see what.
"Mail-enabled applications such as Schedule + will become an increasingly common feature in offices as they move from desktop computing into workgroup computing," said Mr Kan.
As well as MAPI support, Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, version 3.0, includes significant additions to the Mail server, MS-DOS and Apple Macintosh-based client software. It also includes a redeveloped Microsoft Windows and OS/2 Presentation Manager client software.
Enhancements to the server software, which runs under all major PC networking environments, include global address lists and fault tolerant directory synchronization. Global address lists allow users to address mail without having to know the server or gateway location of the recipient. Directory synchronization ensures that when users are added, modified or removed from any Microsoft Mail server, those changes can be automatically relayed to other servers on the network.
Similar features are provided in Microsoft Mail for AppleTalk Networks, the new version of which also support server-to-server connectivity over telephone lines and remote log-in, giving Apple PowerBook users electronic mail access when and where they need.
The Windows-based Mail client software, included in the Mail for PC Networks package, now supports object linking and embedding (OLE) enabling users to add sounds, pictures, graphics and other multimedia objects directly into their messages. For example, a user can place a Microsoft Excel chart directly into a message which the recipient can view without running Excel.
A new feature called Message Finders enables Windows-based client users to sort messages by subject, sender, recipient, content or any combination of those criteria. Message Finders can dynamically display incoming messages with matching criteria.
Users of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint can send mail directly from their applications and automatically attach the files they are working on. Messages and files can also be sent from the Windows File Manager.
Microsoft designed the new Mail Windows-based client to be "transport-independent." This means that by adding an appropriate messaging driver, the client program can be used as the user interface for a variety of LAN, host-based and public messaging systems, as well as for Microsoft Mail.
AT&T and Hewlett-Packard have already signed agreements with Microsoft to use the Microsoft Windows-based client as the standard e-mail interface for AT&T EasyLink Services and HP OpenMail respectively.
Microsoft has also upgraded its line of gateways to extend advanced Mail capabilities to complex corporate environments. There are currently 10 Microsoft Mail gateways available, including IBM's PROFS and OfficeVision, Distribution Manager, X.400, SMTP/Unix SNADS, 3Com's 3+Mail, fax, MCI Mail, MHS and the Microsoft Mail connection.
Microsoft Mail network users can now synchronize directories across messaging backbones such as X.400 and IBM SNA. In addition, the gateways can encapsulate messages to preserve formatting, file attachments and OLE objects in messages that are transferred across these backbones.
(Brett Cameron/19921023/Press Contact: Sasha Skinner, Microsoft Tel: +852-804 4261;HK time is GMT + 8)
, Microsoft Tel: +852-804 4261;HK time is GMT + 8)
10/23/92
Hongkong: Microsoft Mail For Workgroups Unveiled
TI Chief Laments Hongkong Brain
TSIM SHA TSUI, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Hong Kong is experiencing a growing shortage of local engineering talent which threatens to harm the territory's competitive position, according to Thomas C. Balch, managing director of Texas Instruments Hong Kong Ltd., one of the largest electronics industry employers in Hong Kong.
Speaking at the awards ceremony for TI's annual Design Championship for students at local tertiary institutions, Mr Balch said the key to the local electronics industry's continued growth was a strong base of qualified engineers.
"The complexity of electronic systems requires an ever increasing pool of engineering talent to support the design and development effort," he said. "I am concerned about our ability to capitalize on the expanding opportunities in Hong Kong because of the growing shortage of engineering talent to apply to those opportunities."
"This shortage may be resulting in an over-dependence on remote design and development resources in the US, Europe and elsewhere." Mr Balch said.
Mr Balch said the shortage of local talent cast doubt on TI's own ability to carry out ambitious human resource plans during the next 12 months. He cited the company's Regional Technology Center which helps customers to integrate TI semiconductor products into their own equipment designs.
"This year we have plans for a major expansion of this center including a new speech sound studio and expanded ASIC design support," said Mr Balch. "We will need to more than double the current number of engineers working in the center."
The Center currently employs more than 16 people, all of whom have engineering backgrounds.
"Our sales and marketing organization is also staffed by electronics engineers. Over the next year, we will need to hire as many additional sales engineers and product marketing engineers as we now employ. I am very concerned about our ability to execute such an aggressive, incremental staffing plan."
Mr Balch said the issue was one for the whole electronics industry to address but pledged extra support by TI for educational institutions.
"We will be increasing our commitment to technical education in terms of our donation of development systems, product samples for projects, and of our people's time for direct interaction with the institutions and their students," he said.
Balch expressed optimism that the shortage of engineers can be solved. "I believe we can be successful in maintaining a qualified engineering talent pool to support the Hong Kong electronics industry," he said. "But this will only happen if we recognize that the problem is growing and if we take collective steps to solve it."
(Brett Cameron/19921023/Press Contact: Vicky Ng, Texas Instruments Tel: +852-737 0307;HK time is GMT + 8)
Tel: +852-737 0307;HK time is GMT + 8)
10/23/92
TI Chief Laments Hongkong Brain Drain
TRENDS
Editorial: Telecom Issues In The
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Editorial by Dana Blankenhorn. One of the few bright spots in the US industrial picture is telecommunications. AT&T remains the largest such company in the world, the seven regional Bells and GTE are big buyers of foreign phone units. On the equipment supply the US enjoys a hefty trade surplus.
One might expect challengers to keep quiet about this record. But the nomination of Senator Al Gore as Bill Clinton's running-mate has brought major issues to the table.
Infrastructure is Gore's battle-cry. He supports major investments in improved telecommunications links, including a multi-gigabit per second network linking major research centers. While the Bush Administration has given this rhetorical support the dollars have yet to flow.
A second question is monopoly, where the differences are stark. Consumers still have just one phone company, just one cable company. Democrats want to control the profits of these companies, and last month won some re-regulation of cable television. Bills to restrict the regional Bells went nowhere however. The Bush Administration, whose point man is FCC Chairman Alfred Sikes, counters that competition between phone and cable monopolies will result in lower prices and better service.
A more important question lies at the intersection between these two issues. That is the quality of America's phone network, and the willingness of monopoly service providers to improve it. Despite a decade of talk, digital services under ISDN standards remain years away for most Americans. Japan, Hong Kong and some European countries, meanwhile, are going ahead. The replacement of low-capacity copper cable with higher-capacity fiber is also moving slowly.
Whenever the subject of investment comes up, however, the regional Bells start by making demands. They want to get into new businesses from information services to cable television to long distance. They want "regulatory relief" to recoup investments more rapidly. When they win what they want, there are a flurry of announcements, with big numbers, showing that some new digital switches and fiber lines are being bought. But on balance, the US is falling further behind places like Hong Kong and Japan, where digital services are a government priority. Our local phone companies are reaping monopoly profits and shipping them overseas, buying the phone networks of foreign nations. So far, only Southwestern Bell's 11 percent stake in Mexico's TelMex has shown a return.
If George Bush is re-elected, which despite the polls remains possible, little will change. Competition may increase, but only slowly. And there is no indication the critical investments in telephone infrastructure will be forthcoming. While Ross Perot has not said anything about telephone company issues, he at least knows what's needed from his experience in the computer business.
If Gov. Clinton and Senator Gore are elected, however, there still remain no guarantees. It will take years to change the FCC. It will take enormous political capital to challenge the phone monopolies. Clinton will first concentrate on economic growth and health care reform. Gore's role remains unclear.
Few voters will decide how to vote based on telecommunications issues. But the future of this key industry, one of the few where American companies remain the unquestioned leaders, does indeed hang in the balance here. And that should not be forgotten November 3.
Me? I'm voting for Clinton.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921022)
ing for Clinton.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921022)
10/23/92
Editorial: Telecom Issues In The 1992 Election
EDITORIAL
TELECOM
Australia: Brisbane Firm Mincom
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Australian software company Mincom has continued to trade strongly, despite the recession. The Brisbane-based has recently announced revenue growth of 37 percent for the Australian financial year ended June 30 with profits rising 13 percent in the same period.
AT first glimpse, with AUS$10M in assets and AUS$5.5M in debt, the company does not look particularly strong. However, AUS$3M of this debt is money owing on its Greenslopes headquarters, and most of the rest is akin to a loan facility which has barely been touched. The figure for assets, also, is deceptive, as it is a "conservative net" figure only, and does not include the value of software. The overall picture puts Mincom in a very strong position to continue to do well during the recession and beyond.
Mincom was established 13 years ago, and quickly established a place for itself in the Australian software development community. During that time it has begun exporting its technology and staff has increased from 6 to 330, with 60 people in international offices and 50 in national offices. The company is owned by over 80 of its employees, and all profits (excepting a few small pay outs to shareholders) have been re-invested in the company to fund growth and R&D (research and development). This re-investment saw AUS$3.5M put back into the company as a result of last financial year's trading. Twenty percent of these re-invested profits are used for R&D.
Mincom managing director, David Merson, is confident growth can be maintained at 30+ percent a year. "While it is hard to forecast that far into the future in this industry, we can see no reason why this growth level cannot be maintained," Merson said.
(Sean McNamara/19921023/Press & Public Contact: Mincom, phone in Australia: +61-7-364 9999)
Contact: Mincom, phone in Australia: +61-7-364 9999)
10/23/92
Australia: Brisbane Firm Mincom Shines In Recession
BUSINESS
BT Claims Sales Will Suffer Due
US Government, Industry Research
Compaq Cuts Prices Again
AT&T Unveils New Products, Hit W
Microsoft Rolls Out Windows For
US Government Sniffs Out Russian
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Thomas Ryan, chief scientist working for the Navajo Technologies software house in Arizona recently came to Moscow as "the facilitator for the future contacts and contracts involving both programmers in Russia and NASA or SDI research teams."
Local spin-off companies presented their most recent developments during a seminar organized by ITS consultancy in Moscow. This meeting was a trial run for similar encounters in the future as Mr Ryan suggested.
Albeit limited in scope, this gathering demonstrated the diversity of programming tools and environments used by the participants: X-Window MS Windows 3.0, Ada, Modula-2 and Smalltalk.
The infrastructure required for the sophisticated projects under discussion may be built in Russia, but not from scratch. Sophisticated projects are already underway. One Ada programming team runs the data processing department of a large savings bank; another is developing C/C++-based commercialized versions of hypertext shells originally designed for government customers. Similar teams work in the defense industry, and never-ending budget reductions urge them to look for non-military contracts.
Before meeting project managers in the field, Mr. Ryan conferred with Dr. Lev Weinberg on Russian high-tech policy issues. Dr. Weinberg's position in the Council for Foreign and Defense Policy (a body of government officials, executives, and consultants preparing recommendations for the President of Russia) gives him a broad view on sensitive subjects; his personal experience relates to joint ventures and various investment schemes.
"The Russian high-tech labor market is fairly diversified these days," Weinberg says. "Numerous spin-offs emerge which inherit vast know-how acquired in the defense sector." Large defense corporations here are just beginning to offer their skilled labor resources rather than products in the world market. Russian programmers, he stated, are not as bound to the strings of existing technologies as their hardware-fiddling colleagues; the former create small dynamic teams which are eager to cooperate in the framework of any advanced project.
"Before the final contract is signed, each group that would like to work with this contract privately would already be in place with their [skills] and the task to do," Ryan explains.
Software engineering is a discipline formal and flexible enough to keep Russian programmers with their ample background in mathematics well aware of the latest CASE approaches. Still many of them lack modern workstations and off-the-shelf software. "We hope that Russian experts in AI, real-time systems and CASE tools will boost their productivity significantly, moving to better workstations which their contractors in the US may install at their sites," Ryan says. Whether these teams are private companies or belong to larger state-owned structures does not matter that much; the professional credibility is all that counts, he said.
Software tools required for the joint projects will be centered around C++ and Ada -- the latter dubbed "the forbidden fruit" for Soviets as COCOM ruled out any Ada- based product from being offered for sale in the former USSR. Still, Ada is used by several teams in Moscow alone. These scattered teams may easily get together, birds-of-a-feather style, when an attractive contract from the West becomes visible.
The scheme for future encounters between US contractors and Russian development teams was discussed in detail. As most of these teams have some products and technologies to offer -- AI and real-time system development environments, among others -- they need assistance in promoting their gear in the foreign market. In return they are ready to change their development priorities if and when the attractive contracts come from abroad.
This set-up requires novel approaches from the US partners' side. Ordinary head-hunting does not work when teams, and not just bright individuals, are needed. The teams in Russia as everywhere cherish their professional reputation; they know what they gain staying in the country and working with a foreign partner.
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- The Russian official newspaper has published the full text of the final approved version of a national software protection bill. The long struggle by lobbying groups to have the legislation enacted has come to an end.
The law was drafted with European and American regulations in mind and carries efficient enforcement measures.
Industry sources say there is one "loophole" in the law. The constitutional amendments, approved in early 1992, declared intellectual property to be subject to both federal and local legislation. The law passed the parliament hearing only after the addition of a special clause stating that "this law and subsequent legislation approved by the republics within the Russian Federation regulates the creation, legal protection and the usage of software programs and databases." This gives governments of the small republic within Russia the right to strengthen or relax regulations in some cases.
Local experts believe this is a very small drawback and the law in general will help establish a "civilized software market" in Russia.
(Kirill Tchashchin/19921023)
Russia.
(Kirill Tchashchin/19921023)
10/23/92
Russia: Software Copyright Law Enacted
DSC Continues Comeback
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- DSC Communications continued its comeback from technical troubles in 1991 reporting net income of $6.9 million on revenue of $142.4 million for the quarter ending in September.
The company appeared to be on the ropes last year after a software bug in its signal transfer points caused service outages on both coasts, and Motorola decided to form a joint venture with Northern Telecom in cellular equipment instead of re-selling DSC cellular switches. The bottom was reached a year ago, when the company lost $78.8 million on sales of $97.6 million.
Standards have fueled DSC's comeback, according to vendors and customers. The company has put new fiber networking standards into its product line ahead of such major competitors as AT&T with the result it has been winning big shares of major contracts, like a recent $1 billion Ameritech order it shared with Raynet for fiber networking equipment.
Spokesman Terry Adams credited "good demands on the switching and transmission side of the business" for the improved result adding that "Ameritech has not played into the revenue stream yet that's more of a 1993 type ramp-up."
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921023/Press Contact: Terry Adams, DSC Communications, 214-519-4358)
nications, 214-519-4358)
10/23/92
DSC Continues Comeback
TELECOM
Telecom Crime Pays for Equipment
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- The rising tide of hacker attacks and phone fraud means gold for some telephone equipment and software products, who have released new products designed to solve the problem.
Xiox released a line of products called Fort Knox for PBXs, or private phone switches, designed to work against toll call fraud that the company claims costs $4 billion per year. Xiox said businesses with PBXs have a one in ten chance of being hacked and many computer systems are also accessible through phone lines. Included are Hacker Tracker, which helps users track and trap hackers; Hacker Preventer, an automated system that senses deviation from "normal" telephone usage and cuts off access, and Hacker Deadbolt, a simpler system providing protection for remote maintenance and testing functions.
On the cellular side, Computer Sciences announced FraudBuster developed by Coral Systems of Longmont, Colorado. CSC, which once owned the Infonet packet network and a large credit report agency, has exclusive marketing rights to the product and is supporting software development. The company said cellular fraud costs carriers $1.5 million per day. The product uses artificial intelligence to track subscriber calling patterns. The software creates a behavioral profile of each subscriber, matches it against actual calls, and alerts network operators when patterns suddenly change.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921023/Press Contact: Computer Sciences, C. Bruce Plowman, 310/615-0311; Xiox Michael O'Connell, 415/375 8188x228)
1; Xiox Michael O'Connell, 415/375 8188x228)
10/23/92
Telecom Crime Pays for Equipment Suppliers
TELECOM
MCI, Infonet To Do Joint Sales C
EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- MCI said it will sell data services from Infonet Services to its US customer base. MCI owns 25 percent of Infonet, a worldwide packet network, with a number of international phone companies owning the rest. In recent months, Infonet has announced a number of deals in many markets, like Finland, under which local telephone companies will handle marketing and support functions for the packet network.
Under the deal, MCI will become the exclusive US marketing and sales channel for Infonet's Enterprise-Defined Network Services a voice and data offering for multinational corporations. The system will be sold as part of MCI's Global Communications Service offering, which includes the design, provisioning management and billing of communication services worldwide. MCI will also assume full responsibility for ongoing support of its EDNS clients and for customized billing.
Spokesman Bernie Goodrich of MCI discussed the deal with Newsbytes. "We have a well-established marketing group in this country that is visiting many of the same people their people are visiting. We already have a global communications service, and we sell that as part of the global effort. It ties in well both for us and gives them our marketing help." An example of the kind of client MCI is trying to attract with this is Visa International which it signed up a year ago. "We have a number of voice and data services," he adds. "We will market theirs along with whatever fits for our customer. This will give us a better opportunity to tailor services." Infonet does not re-sell MCI services, however, he added.
On the technical side, Newsbytes discussed the deal with Eldon Bluft, MCI's director of global initiatives. "Network management is the primary agreement," he said. "Our global network management center now has the ability to interact directly with Infonet's management center, for trouble analysis and restoration. What this means is we can provide a single point of contact, and we can see alarms on the network." He added that the agreement is mainly of interest to large customers. "Infonet does market their packet services directly to customers. This relationship we've entered into is for the higher-level services which is more than packet -- it includes private line and enhanced customer premise services." He said it will compete strongly with AT&T's global network offerings and those of BT's Syncordia unit. "Everyone's realizing customers want global service, and everyone's scrambling to deploy themselves overseas and address those requirements."
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Despite a weak economy, phone industry earnings remain strong.
They're strongest at AT&T, which said it earned $963 million on revenues of $16.180 billion for the three months ending in September. Operating income was up 16 percent, the company said. Chairman Robert E. Allen noted that his company's equipment sales were up, and the company's Universal Card credit card also did well, turning in its first quarterly profit. Telecommunications services revenues, however, rose just 3.2 percent, with long distance calling volumes up 6 percent.
Ameritech reported its net income rose 8 percent, to $330.5 million, while sales grew just 4 percent to $2.8 billion. The company said future results will be boosted by its retirement of debt, which was replaced by lower-cost paper. Return on equity was 15.4 percent, huge by most U.S. industry standards, while the number of regular phone lines in service rose just 2.4 percent.
LCI International posted a loss of $2.48 million, on revenues of $67 million, but management expressed some satisfaction in continuing efforts to reduce debt. Total debt payment for the year of $31 million is wiping out operating income, which for the year so far totals $14.5 million. Use of its services were up 28.6 percent, managers noted.
Meanwhile, stock buyers apparently have discounted the possibility of a Pacific Telesis break-up. On the eve of meetings in which the company will decide on whether to divide into regulated and non-regulated units, the stock's price stood at around $40 per share, near the low end of its recent trading range.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921023/Press Contact: Larry E. Wolfe, LCI International, 614-798-6444; Ameritech,, Mike Brand, 312/750 5219; AT&T, Jim Byrnes, 908-221-4011)
nd, 312/750 5219; AT&T, Jim Byrnes, 908-221-4011)
10/23/92
Phone Earnings, Including AT&T, Continue Strong
TELECOM
In-Flight Scores Another Contrac
OAKBROOK TERRACE, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) Continental Airlines has joined American Air in deciding to give In-Flight Phone's services a try-out. Continental said it will install In-Flight's FlightLink digital phone system on six of its MD-80 planes.
After an evaluation of the system, Continental said it will install the system on all 66 of its MD-80s. Earlier American said it would install the system on one of its airplanes, and evaluate usage before deciding whether to expand the service.
In-Flight is competing with GTE's Airfone unit for the loyalty of US airlines in the newly competitive airplane telephony market. Airfone has dominated the market, but In-Flight says its digital lines provide better voice quality, and its information services can bring airlines higher profits, than GTE's SeatFone offering. Both systems provide telephone hand-sets in each seat-back, but FlightLink adds a viewing screen in each seat-back, above the food tray, which makes more services available, and the system includes a data jack so passengers can transfer files with their laptop computers using the network. The system is adding a 12 channel audio service with music, sports, news and other programming, as well as connecting gate information, gift ordering, weather, and guides to the destination city.
In-Flight was formed by Jack Goeken, who previously founded Airfone and, before that, FTD and MCI, among other companies. Goeken founded In-Flight after selling Airfone to GTE and becoming angered at its slow pace in moving toward the market. Goeken felt GTE was slow to move in order to reduce payments to him under his contract. Later, GTE sued Goeken for violating that contract's "no-compete" clause and he was briefly succeeded as head of the company by his daughter Sandra. Since then, former airline entrepreneur Neal Meehan has been hired as chief operating officer of In-Flight.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- NEC expects to have sample quantities of the company's new high performance mPD482445 video RAM memory chips available by the first quarter of 1993. The four-megabyte video RAM will handle higher bandwidth data and provide faster display refresh rates for high-performance computers based on Joint Electronic Development Engineering Council (JEDEC) standards.
NEC's new 0.5-micron CMOS or complimentary metal oxide semiconductor chips are compatible with earlier NEC one- and two megabyte video RAM currently on the market, offering single-chip replacement for multiple chips, resulting in space savings and lower power consumption.
The mPD482445 is a dual-port graphics buffer, providing 256K-word by 16-bit memory and a 512-word by 16-bit serial read/write port which connects to an internal 8k-bit data register. The split buffer architecture of the register makes the single chip look to the host central processing unit as if it were a 512-word, 8K-bit memory which can be serially accessed 16 bits at a time.
Serial read/write operations take place in 20 nanoseconds for a 50-megahertz response rate.
The chip, which will be available in 1994 at quantity prices under $20 each, comes in a standard 64-pin plastic shrink small outline package.
MADISON, WISCONSIN, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- The Trace R&D Center at the University of Wisconsin has released a new PC- and Macintosh-compatible version of the CO-NET CD-ROM which contains a massive database of 17,000 assistive products for disabled children and adults. A two-issue subscription to CO-NET for the Macintosh and the PC is $50.
CO-NET contains both a Macintosh version of the database and an MS-DOS version complete with installation and search software. ABLEDATA for the PC can be installed in as little as 256 kilobytes of hard disk space, but the entire database can also be completely copied to any hard disk where it will occupy nearly 26 megabytes of space, but becomes much faster to search. When fully installed in this manner, the CO-NET CD-ROM is no longer required.
Individual ABLEDATA files and the complete program are a form of shareware and can be freely copied and given away to others. A special BBS version is under development which is expected to be available on version number 6, the next scheduled release.
Although every sort of device for the handicapped is listed in the database, of most interest to Newsbytes readers is the large section on adaptive computer technology, both hardware and software.
There are no applications or utility programs on this CD-ROM just the names and addresses of companies along with indexed descriptions of all products arranged to be displayed so the newest products are listed first.
Lists of products can be displayed on screen and copied to either a printer or to an ASCII file for further processing.
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Roundup is a brief look at some computer stories carried in other publications received here this past week.
October's Computer Monthly lists 293 dot matrix printers and the top 50 communications programs.
Unixworld for November carries an interesting article on how to develop and market software.
Computerworld dated October 19 shows how fruit company Del Monte is successfully downsizing its IS department.
Communicationsweek for the 19th says that Cisco is about to unveil its APPI blueprint to vendors at Interop '92. Cisco is taking aim at IBM's APPN, hoping to send IBM SNA data over TCP/IP networks.
November's regular issue of Byte highlights low-cost IBM, Compaq DEC, AST, Dell, and Apple computers.
The October-November issue of Closing the Gap shows how MIDI devices can be used to encourage disabled students to learn and to use computers.
Informationweek dated October 19 carries the inside story on the collapse of Marriott's Confirm car-rental and hotel reservation system.
Byte has another special issue out, this one covering what the editors say is "The Essential Guide to Portable Computing."
November's Computer Shopper looks at contract manager software.
(John McCormick/19921023)
act manager software.
(John McCormick/19921023)
10/23/92
ROUNDUP: Stories Carried By Other Media This Week
GENERAL
New For PC: Modern, Color Clip A
UK: Astair Conference Details
Canada: ACC Acquires One Plus Lo
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- ACC Long Distance of Rochester, New York, has acquired One Plus Long Distance Telecommunications, a Toronto-based long-distance reseller. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but officials said One Plus has annual revenues of about C$8 million.
One Plus resells long-distance services in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia, mainly to small and medium-sized businesses but also to some large companies.
It was the second Canadian acquisition for ACC, which last fall bought the customer base of Network Optimizers, another reseller. Francis Coleman, secretary and corporate counsel at ACC, said his company has also wholesaled switching services to One Plus in the past.
One Plus is setting up a new sales and marketing organization to sell ACC's business services and its newly launched residential services, the companies said.
Long-distance resellers lease communications capacity from the major carriers and use their own switching equipment to offer long-distance services. ACC currently has switches in Montreal and Toronto, and has just opened an office in Vancouver, Coleman said.
ACC Corp., the holding company for ACC Long Distance, has just recently launched a long-distance resale operation in the United Kingdom, he added.
The company's subsidiaries provide long-distance telephone service throughout North America and internationally, and cellular telephone service in central Kentucky.
(Grant Buckler/19921023/Press Contact: Francis D.R. Coleman, ACC 716-987-3000)
tact: Francis D.R. Coleman, ACC 716-987-3000)
10/23/92
Canada: ACC Acquires One Plus Long Distance
TELECOM
BT Claims Sales Will Suffer Due
US Government, Industry Research
Compaq Cuts Prices Again
AT&T Unveils New Products, Hit W
Microsoft Rolls Out Windows For
UK: Mercury To Open 2nd Customer
New For PC: Modern, Color Clip A
UK: Astair Conference Details
Virtual Reality Signs Financing
Sega/Accolade Decision Seen As B
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Peter Choy, chairman of The American Committee for Interoperable Systems (ACIS) and deputy general counsel of Sun Microsystems has released a public statement asserting that the recent court decision in favor of Accolade in the Sega versus Accolade suit will strengthen America's position in computer hardware and software technology.
Choy is commenting on the written decision, delivered this week by the Court, reversing a lower court decision which prohibited Accolade from developing or selling game titles for the Sega Genesis game system. In an unusual move, the announcement of the reversal was delivered in August before the written decision was handed down by the Court this week. Accolade asserts that was done so it could get back to business as quickly as possible.
The entire business started in 1991 when Sega changed its hardware so the message "Produced By or Under License From Sega Enterprises Ltd" had to be displayed in order for any game cartridge to work. In order to get its game cartridges to work, Accolade then "reverse engineered" the Sega Genesis system in order to modify its game cartridges so they would work on the machine anyway.
Sega then filed a copyright violation suit against Accolade charging reverse engineering. Accolade's contention has been that Sega was attempting to force it into a "non-negotiable, third party licensing arrangement." In a decision early this year, a federal court issued an injunction against Accolade prohibiting it from developing or selling new game titles, a decision Accolade says has cost it an estimated $2 million a month for the five months the decision was in effect.
Choy has contended for Accolade both in court and publicly that the right for any competitor to produce interoperable software is the "life-blood" of the computer industry. ACIS states it supports policies and principles of intellectual property law that provide a balance between rewards for innovation and the belief that computer systems developed by different vendors must be able to fully interact with each other or be "interoperable."
While Sega claims it was "setting up" software pirates, the Ninth Court called Sega's actions clearly illegal and stated: "Thus, in addition to laying the groundwork for lawsuits against pirates, Sega knowingly risked two significant consequences: the false labeling of some competitors' products and the discouraging of other competitors from manufacturing Genesis-compatible games. Under the Lanham Act, the former conduct, at least, is clearly unlawful."
Sega, however, says it will file for a rehearing and the company's legal counsel Riley Russell said in a prepared statement, "In our opinion, the court improperly applied the doctrine of fair use and disregarded established precedents in this area of law.
"We feel the court's ruling, if it stands, substantially reduces the ability of manufacturers to protect their intellectual property. The ruling also fails to recognize the significant problem of international piracy."
Sega lists Apple, DEC, Intel, IBM, Lotus, Wordperfect, and Xerox, the Computer Business Equipment Manufacturer's Association, and the International Anticounterfeiter's Coalition as company's and groups in support of its position. These companies filed supporting Amicus Briefs for Sega during the hearings.
The ACIS maintains the Ninth Circuit has joined the an emerging consensus among the Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal that rejects the over-protection of software under copyright as contrary to traditional copyright principles. ACIS also filed Amicus briefs for Accolade in the hearings. ACIS filed Amicus briefs in the recent Second Circuit Court's hearings of the Computer Associates vs. Altai case, whose decision also supports the Sega vs. Accolade ruling, the ACIS added.
Choy said about the Court's decision: "This is a centrist opinion that returns to the roots of copyright by taking a pro competitive, pro-consumer point of view."
The areas of intellectual property and international copyright law are being defined now and are being closely watched by the computer industry. ACIS said the decisions being made in the number of legal cases, such as those named and others including the Apple/Microsoft/Hewlett-Packard case, the Lotus/Borland case, the Brown Bag/Symantec case are being watched by policy making organizations such as The North American Free Trade organization and the World and Intellectual Property Organization and could effect world- wide policy decisions concerning computer software and hardware.
ACIS describes itself as a voluntary organization of over 30 companies in the computer industry who directly employ over 150,000 Americans and generate over $50 billion in revenue. It offers a partial list of members which includes Amdahl, Bull H.N. Information Systems, NCR, Seagate Technology, Storage Technology, Sun Microsystems, and Unisys. ACIS says in addition to its company members, the organization includes membership of the Software Entrepreneurs' Forum, a group of over a thousand software developers and entrepreneurs.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921023/Press Contact: Peter Choy, American Committee for Interoperable Systems, tel 415-336-2482, fax 415 969-9131)
able Systems, tel 415-336-2482, fax 415 969-9131)
10/23/92
Sega/Accolade Decision Seen As Boost To America
Cray Supercomputer Goes To Pitts
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- The Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center has taken delivery of the first Cray Research Y-MP C90 to be installed at a non-government site in the US. The C90 is the newest, and said by Cray to be the most powerful supercomputer system the company produces.
The center, a joint project of Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, together with Westinghouse Electric Corporation, was established in 1986 by a grant from the National Science Foundation with support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The center's purpose is to develop and make available state-of-the-art high performance computing for scientific researchers.
A team of Cray Research engineers will require several weeks to bring the system on-line at the Westinghouse Energy Center in Monroeville Pennsylvania. The purchase agreement was finalized in November last year.
The center says it will use the C90 to solve problems which can't be handled by existing computers, such as global climate change environmental modeling, design of new materials, and the structure of proteins and DNA -- important in the development of new pharmaceuticals.
The Cray Research Y-MP C90 has 16 connected processing units, with each capable of performing one billion calculations a second, or six times the speed of the company's previous top-of-the-line system the Y-MP/8. Using a hand-held calculator, such a calculation would take a person 500 years, 24 hours a day, amounting to 16 billion calculations.
The C90 has a memory capacity of two billion bytes, or enough to store seven sets of the current 32-volume edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, with room left over. Cray says the Pittsburgh C90 will have its memory doubled to four billion bytes.
(Jim Mallory/19921023/Press contact: Michael Schneider, Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center, 412-268-4960)
h Supercomputing Center, 412-268-4960)
10/23/92
Cray Supercomputer Goes To Pittsburg
GENERAL
Lasermaster Sales Up, But Still
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) --It's good news and bad news for Lasermaster Technologies. The good news is that its sales for the first quarter were up four percent over the same period last year. The bad news is that it lost $967,000, or $0.10 per share for the period compared to a $0.03 loss per share last year.
The company historically reports a loss for the first quarter attributing that to slow sales during the summer. It also increased expenditures related to expanding its European sales operations, and added a national Windows products sales staff and marketing for new Windows printing products.
Lasermaster CEO Mel Masters says the increased expenditure in European sales and marketing efforts is aimed at building direct to-dealer sales capability in the major European markets. "At the same time, we believe increased sales and marketing expenditures for the Windows printing products are timely investments necessary to realize the full sales potential of our products in the coming quarters," according to Masters.
Masters said losses for the quarter were limited to the first two months in the period, with September being profitable with near record sales of $6.3 million. For the '91 fourth quarter, the company reported record sales. Lasermaster introduced its Unity 1200xl, a 1200 dots-per-inch (dpi) plain paper typesetter for the graphics arts market in September of this year.
TUALATIN, OREGON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) --Motorola Inc and In Focus Systems Inc have announced the formation of Motif Inc, a company which will manufacture low-cost video-speed LCDs (liquid crystal displays) for use in Focus Systems' Active Addressing technology.
The LCDs manufactured by Motif will be 6.5 inches or less in size and will incorporate application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) produced by Motorola to Motif specifications. Production is expected to begin by the end of 1994. The displays are designed for use in projection systems and in wireless communications devices. Larger format displays are planned later.
The deal also gives Motif the sole rights to distribute Motorola-made ASICs in the Active Addressing technology. Active addressing takes advantage of the high yield and low manufacturing costs of passive matrix technology available today to produce the new displays.
Motif is owned equally by Motorola and In Focus. Initial capital is being produced by Motorola, while In Focus is contributing its intellectual properties, including Active Addressing and related technologies. Motorola will acquire 20 percent of the In Focus stock by purchasing 2.2 million shares at $10 per share. Executives from both companies will sit on the Motif board, and the chief executive office will be held jointly by Gerald Brunning of Motorola and Paul Gulick of in Focus, who will also serve as chief technical officer at Motif.
Low-cost video displays are coming into demand for use in devices such as the recently announced PDAs, wireless communications devices, auto navigation displays, pocket TVs and data readers. Motif says the market for applications is expected to approach $1 billion in sales.
In a conventional passive matrix LCD, the picture elements (pixels) are addressed electrically in a sequential manner. Active Addressing continually signals the pixels in any sequence for fast, high-contrast images. Active addressing displays do not require as many transistors, making them less complex and less expensive.
(Jim Mallory/19921023/Press contact: Paul Gulick, Motif 503-692-4968 or Margot Brown, Motorola, 708-576-5304)
rgot Brown, Motorola, 708-576-5304)
10/23/92
Motorola, In Focus In LCD Venture
BUSINESS
Wordperfect Acquires BeagleWorks
OREM, UTAH, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Wordperfect Corporation announced yesterday that it has acquired BeagleWorks for the Macintosh from Beagle Bros, Inc.
WP Corp spokesperson Dave Terran told Newsbytes that BeagleWorks, a six-module program consisting of a word processor, database, draw paint, communications, and spreadsheet with charting, was the only product Beagle Bros marketed. Beagle Bros President Mark Simonsen has joined WP Corp as director of development for WordPerfect Works.
"We are eager to enter the Macintosh integrated-packages market since our strategy is to provide a works offering for multiple platforms," said Senior VP of Development Dave Moon. Moon said the new product, which will be renamed, will target the education, small business and home user markets.
Terran told Newsbytes that more information about the revised product would be available next month, but it would be "pretty much as is." He said Beagle Bros had prepared an interim release which includes bug fixes and enhancements, and that will be part of WP's release. Terran told Newsbytes the release would also include the replacement of the name BeagleWorks with WordPerfect's name.
BeagleWorks had a suggested list price of $299, and Terran told Newsbytes the price "will be about the same, probably lower."
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Saying it is responding to attempts by IBM and Compaq to regain market share, CompuAdd Computer Corporation cut prices on five of its 486-based PCs from 10 to 21 percent.
Compuadd CEO Bill Hayden said the company's strategy is to continue to undercut IBM and Compaq across the board on price.
This is CompuAdd's fourth price cut this year. Today's reductions which are effective immediately, come just two months after the company initiated round-the-clock toll-free customer support.
Models included in the price reductions are the 325S, an entry-level 25 megahertz (MHz) 386SX-based system; the 450DX2, a 50 MHz 486DX-based unit; the 425SLC, the 425S and the 433.
Standard configuration on all the affected models includes a hard drive (ranging from 80 to 340 megabytes (MB) depending on the system model), system memory of 2-4 MB dual floppy drives, a build-in IDE controller, five expansion slots, an integrated video controller and a 14-inch color VGA monitor. Also included is MS-DOS 5.0 and a CompuServe starter kit. The 425S, 433, and 450DX2 also come with Windows 3.1 pre-installed, and one year of free on-site service.
The 325S dropped to $1,195, the 425SLC is down to $1,345, the 425S was cut to $1,549 and the Model 433 now sells for $1,895. The 450DX2 now carries a price tag of $2,145.
(Jim Mallory/19921023/Press contact: John Pope, CompuAdd 512-250-2000, fax 512-331-2794)
ompuAdd 512-250-2000, fax 512-331-2794)
10/23/92
CompuAdd Slashes Prices 10-21 Percent
CORRECTION: Microsoft Hosts 2 De
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) --Newsbytes reported earlier this week that Microsoft will host two conferences for developers next week, one at the Santa Clara (California) Marriott Hotel, and one at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim California. That story contained some inaccuracies regarding the purpose of the two conferences.
The Anaheim conference is for people interested in learning how to develop 32-bit drivers for Windows NT. The Santa Clara get together is for Windows developers, and both shows are expected to draw attendees from all over the world.
Specific sessions at Anaheim will cover printers, keyboards video display adapters, network interface adapters, 3270 cards scanners, fax devices, communications devices, mice and other pointing devices, audio hardware, and SCSI devices.
(Jim Mallory/19921022/Press contact: Erin Holland, Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, 503-245-0905; Reader contact: 800-677-4697 for show registration)
05; Reader contact: 800-677-4697 for show registration)
10/23/92
CORRECTION: Microsoft Hosts 2 Developer's Conferences
GENERAL
Micro Component Files Suit Again
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Patent suits have become a part of doing business in high technology industries, with some critics saying many companies use the legal angle as a way of stifling competition. However, claiming that one of the company's patents, held since 1985, is being violated, Micro Component Technology Inc. (MCT), has filed a lawsuit against Credence Systems Corporation.
According to the company, the suit cites the SC-212 and LT-1000 series test systems as being in violation. The patent protects MCT's "tester-in-a-head" architecture, an innovation used in the MCT 2000 and 3100 test systems, which allows for high speed, high-accuracy integrated circuit (IC) testing.
D.J. Hill, MCT's chief executive officer, said in a prepared statement: "We don't want to disrupt manufacturers' production or burden the industry with unnecessary litigation, but we will protect our patents. If our competitors are engaged in unlawful competitive practices, we're going to call them on it."
The company says that it is "currently reviewing all patents held by MCT to determine if violations exist beyond the Credence case."
MCT is a privately-owned manufacturer of automated test equipment and test handling systems for the semiconductor industry, with annual sales of more than $60 million.
(Ian Stokell/19931023/Press Contact: Mark Godfrey or Henry Kim, Micro Component Technology, 408-432-3200)
Henry Kim, Micro Component Technology, 408-432-3200)
10/23/92
Micro Component Files Suit Against Credence Systems
HP Sells Millions Worth Of Equip
g PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- As the prime contractor for the $2.5 billion AFCAC 300 award from the US government, PRC Systems Inc., has decided to purchase several hundred million dollars' worth of Hewlett-Packard Co's PA-RISC based multiuser systems, file servers, peripherals, networks, and network management software. HP will also supply additional hardware, software, and services.
Under terms of the contract, HP anticipates the shipment of as many as 5,200 HP 9000 computers during the next five years which, according to the company, will be used to upgrade existing minicomputers and mainframes in the armed forces and other civilian agencies that can purchase computers under AFCAC 300.
According to HP, the AFCAC 300 is the first major super minicomputer procurement vehicle for the armed forces to buy "state-of-the-art" multiuser open systems.
Thomas W. Steipp, general manager of HP's Federal Computer Operation, said: "Currently, the US government is under a great deal of pressure to increase productivity in all branches of the armed services. Purchasing these new HP systems should result in greater productivity for the government as it upgrades its computer technologies."
HP is managing to obtain some sizeable defense contracts. In April Hughes Aircraft Company awarded HP a $100 million contract for up to 4,300 HP Apollo 9000 Series 700 workstations and servers. The purchase was part of the Navy's TAC 3 program.
The HP 9000 multiuser systems have a single-chip VLSI (very large scale integration) CPU (central processing unit) that uses HP's PA-RISC technology.
Willem P. Roelandts, an HP vice president and general manager of the Computer Systems Organization, said: "PA-RISC-based systems allow the US government to use the latest technology and provide the best price/performance in the industry. The award of AFCAC 300 reinforces the long-term commitment HP has made to selling standards-based open systems to the US government through a dedicated HP operation."
At the beginning of October Newsbytes reported on HP's plan to eliminate 2,700 jobs by early 1993. The plan involves a voluntary severance-incentive (VSI) program to employees in selected job categories. Two thousand of that number will be in the United States.
HP Sells Millions Worth Of Equip't To US Armed Forces
Digital Slims Down Severance Ben
MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Still trying to cut costs, Digital Equipment has cut back on severance benefits for employees laid off in future. That move could affect as many as 25,000 people who may lose their jobs at DEC over the next two to three years.
Company spokeswoman Nikki Richardson confirmed that in future laid-off employees with less than 10 years service at DEC will be paid for nine weeks after their jobs end and then will get a lump-sum payment of one week's pay for every year with the company. Until the policy change took effect October 21, they got the nine weeks' continued pay and then a lump sum of two weeks' pay per year of service.
Employees with more than 10 years' service will get the same nine weeks of continued pay, then a lump sum of 10 weeks' pay plus another two weeks' pay for each year of service, to a maximum of 52 weeks' pay altogether. Previously, they would have received three weeks' pay for each year beyond 10 years' employment.
Employees who lose their jobs also get continued medical, dental and life insurance benefits for as many weeks paid for in the severance package. DEC also provides outplacement counselling Richardson said.
The change is being made because of the business climate and the company's economic performance, Richardson said.
Earlier in October, Digital reported a loss of $260.55 million in its first quarter, which ended September 26.
The company has not stated how many people it expects to lay off but in a press conference October 1, incoming President and Chief Executive Robert Palmer said published estimates by others were reasonably close. Those estimates range from 15,000 to 25,000 people over the next two to three years.
(Grant Buckler/19921023/Press Contact: Nikki Richardson, Digital Equipment, 508-493-6369)
rdson, Digital Equipment, 508-493-6369)
10/23/92
Digital Slims Down Severance Benefits
BUSINESS
UK: IBM Wins Air Traffic Control
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- IBM may be having its share of difficulties in the United States and worldwide, but it has just won a sizeable air traffic control contract in the United Kingdom.
The company has just been selected to equip the Civil Aviation Authority's New En Route Center (NERC) air traffic control center for managing UK airspace, currently under construction at Fareham, Hampshire. The contract is valued at 130 million pounds.
The contract is part of a 750 million pound capital program which the CAA is currently undertaking to upgrade its airspace management systems.
IBM Federal Systems Company (FSC) is the prime contractor and will be responsible for the project management, design, provision installation, and testing of the system required by the CAA for the control of all en route air traffic over England and Wales. The system is planned to become operational in 1996.
Other companies in the IBM team include Siemens Plessey Systems (SPS), EDS-Scicon, Logica and Frequentis.
Suzanne Corcoran, manager of IBM Federal Systems Company's worldwide air traffic control development and systems integration, said: "This is definitely a strategic win for us. We're going to take advantage of the experiences and knowledge we've acquired while working previously with the CAA and to use what we've learned with the AAS development program in the US."
Tom Murphy, CAA managing director, said: "The competition leading up to the award of the contract has been keenly contested. It has involved a nine-month project definition exercise to enable the rival consortia to evaluate and propose solutions to meet a strict CAA specification."
(Ian Stokell/19921023/Press Contact: Bill Prater, IBM Federal Systems Company, 301-493-1359)
IBM Federal Systems Company, 301-493-1359)
10/23/92
UK: IBM Wins Air Traffic Control Contract
Survey Claims Users Want Better
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- According to a new end-user survey and analysis by Market Intelligence, users are increasingly demanding systems that can create usable metal parts rather than plastic models.
The survey claims that, despite what are seen as the shortcomings of existing machines, end-users are "excited about desktop manufacturing (also known as rapid prototyping) because it dramatically cuts product development time and thus time to market."
The report is titled: "Survey of Rapid Prototyping End-Users First Generation a Smashing Success: End-Users Waiting for Next Generation Systems." The company claims that those who responded to the survey represent approximately a third of the world's current installed base of rapid prototyping systems.
World desktop manufacturing system market revenues have been reported in the region of $32 million in 1991, with an installed base of over 300 systems.
According to the company, vendors will "respond increasingly to end-user demands on systems and materials to develop more effective RP systems, gaining the industry wider acceptance. Widespread end-user enthusiasm for desktop manufacturing reinforces market projections of very rapid growth. However most end-users at the same time express the need for greater accuracy and material flexibility than is afforded by current system models."
Stereolithography is the most widely used rapid prototyping technology.
Some 86 percent of the survey respondents are US-based. The company claims that this reflects the US' leadership in RP technology. Twelve percent of surveyed companies are in Europe and two percent in Japan. Service bureaus provided the largest single share of respondents, with the automotive industry the bureaus' largest single customer group. The aerospace and defense industries represented the largest end-user installed base outside of service bureaus.
From: Image Club Graphics, Suite 5, 1902 Eleventh Street SE Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2G 3G2, phone (403) 262-8008, fax (403) 261-7013, orders (800) 661-9410
Price: $89.95
PUMA Rating: 3.5 (on a scale of 1=lowest to 4=highest)
Reviewed by: Nick Gorski
Summary: A selection of 10 usable fonts, professionally packaged and easy to install, the disks come with Postscript and Truetype options.
======
REVIEW
======
Image Club isn't just a font vendor. It appears to be trying to be something of an institution -- a one stop shop for all your desktop publishing needs. They offer clip art, various font packs, and a newsletter to keep the customer involved in their activities. (One newsletter appeals, "Send us your art made from Image Club material.")
Image Club's "New Faces Summer '92" Font Pack contains 10 fonts that the firm stresses are licensed fonts, not "clones" of existing ones. The selection is a kind of grab bag, which may not be for everyone. (All of the fonts are sold separately and are among 600 different fonts offered by the company.) The advantage, however, is the price break on this many at once.
The most outstanding fonts in this bunch are Bernhard Fashion a nice fine-line deco sans serif very reminiscent of early 30s film titles and Futura Stencil, a real grabber. Letraset University Roman, a formal but not too serifed font with high mean lines is also useful. Carpenter is one of more interesting script fonts I've seen, but the readibility is very dependent on size and your printer capabilities.
The manual offers very helpful typographical, trouble shooting and font file tips, besides basic installation information.
============
PUMA RATING
============
PERFORMANCE (4.0): Does what it promises. Installation is painless and "read me" files explain all.
USEFULNESS (4.0) : The bundling deal offers a saving a $100 over purchase of the 10 individual fonts. Although I had my favorites all the fonts in New Faces
92 have possibilities. It is a workable and usable font selection. None were total novelty items, as some fonts, like a Star Trek Federation font might be.
MANUAL (3.5) Considering the fact that this is a font company, its manual was in fact, a bit hard to read. The content and editorial was fine, but the layout was troubling. Font size seemed a bit small, making the left to right scan a chore -- a minor point.
AVAILABILITY (4.0) -- Mail order direct. There is also a no questions asked, 30 day return policy.
(Nick Gorski/19921023)
asked, 30 day return policy.
(Nick Gorski/19921023)
10/23/92
Review of: Image Club New Faces Summer '92 Font Pack
APPLE
REVIEW
Review of: Miracle Piano Teachin
Runs on: PC, Macintosh, Nintendo Entertainment System, and Amiga
From: The Software Toolworks, 60 Leveroni Court, Novato, CA 94949. 415-883-3000 or 800-234-3088.
Price: $380 (list)
PUMA Rating: 3.875 on a scale 1=lowest to 4=highest
Reviewed for Newsbytes by: John McCormick, 10/23/92
Summary: MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) keyboard with cables and software that serves as a complete introductory piano teaching course.
======
REVIEW
======
The Miracle was reviewed on a powerful 80486-based multimedia computer from Swan Technologies, State College, PA, but would operate on any hard disk 16- or 32-bit PC with a serial port. A MIDI interface is included on the keyboard but not used for the lessons.
They may not have laughed when I sat down at the keyboard, but that was probably because there was no one in the room! Not even a teacher.
I had always wanted to learn to play but never had the time or desire to take personal lessons, and the Miracle appeared to offer me a perfect outlet for my musical aspirations, especially when I saw that DAK Industries (8200 Remmet Ave, Canoga Park, CA 91304) was discounting the nearly $400 keyboard and software to only $200.
Since I needed a MIDI instrument to test various multimedia programs anyway, I jumped at the DAK deal. Apparently a lot of other people did too, because the order took several extra weeks to arrive due to the demand.
MIDI is the standard way for musicians to compose and perform music using computers to control instruments. Using a MIDI keyboard, you can access hundreds of sound effects and instruments, playing more than one at the same time, but writing and arranging music one at a time.
The Miracle keyboard is not the best MIDI instrument ever sold but it is good quality - certainly worth the money. There are 128 music instruments or patches built into the keyboard, all of which can be accessed without computer connection, and the keyboard can even be split in two, letting you play different instruments with each hand in real-time.
Using a MIDI signal feed, the keyboard plays up to 16 different notes at one time or eight in stereo.
Plunging right into lesson one, you learn to read music and play "Ode to Joy" with one hand. By the third lesson you are playing a half-dozen melodies and using both hands.
The keyboard is attached to the serial port of your computer, so the software can monitor your performance and adjust training and practice sessions. You can also replay lessons or skip ahead if you already play.
Miracle watches for 200 different types of errors, such as playing a note too early, late, or for too short or long a time. It will spot your error if you hit the crack between two keys and might even detect if you are using the wrong fingers.
Besides lessons which display an image of the keyboard and standard musical notation which progresses as you play, there are also practice sessions where you can play arcade games or learn new songs while the software tracks your performance but doesn't interfere otherwise. These practice sessions are the one place I about which I have a complaint, albeit a minor one. Few people will want to play a practice piece just once, but instead of going right back to a repeat, the software makes you go through a selection process which can break your concentration since control is exercised not from the MIDI keyboard but through a mouse or the computer's keyboard.
Other than that one complaint, I am very pleased with the Miracle keyboard and teaching software. The lessons at the adult level get very tough very quickly for my taste, but the software is patient and there is no need to move on to the next lesson before you feel ready.
This doesn't take all the work out of learning to play; after all, practice makes mediocre before it makes perfect and a lot of practice is necessary just to become mediocre. The software certainly makes learning and practice much more effective than a human teacher because it monitors all mistakes, not leaving you on your own to practice mistakes for a week between lessons.
Of course, there is more to music than just dull practice with a teacher watching every move, and you can always ignore the software during practice or just play on your own. Remember this is a full MIDI piano, harpsichord, organ, synthesizer, and more than a hundred other instruments, even if it isn't connected to a computer!
If you have a MIDI interface card in your computer, then there are thousands of MIDI files that will play sophisticated music back through the small keyboard speakers and amplifier, or through as powerful a stereo system as you care to connect.
While I was hesitant to spend nearly $400 for Miracle, now that I have it I wish I had bought it when it first came on the market rather than wait for the big discount. I am not a serious musician and never will be, but Miracle is already giving me more appreciation of the classical and jazz music I love.
This wasn't a review loaner; I bought Miracle and am glad I did.
============
PUMA RATING
============
PERFORMANCE: 3.5 The software is good but not perfect, and the keyboard has a rather flimsy feel.
USEFULNESS: 4 If you can't learn to read music and play a keyboard instrument using Miracle, then you never will. It also serves as a good playback instrument for MIDI recordings.
MANUAL: 4 The software is very easy to use, so the accompanying manual is mostly a history of keyboards and operating instructions for the keyboard when it isn't connected to a computer.
AVAILABILITY: 4 Widely available, in a number of stores, and through many mail order outlets.
(John McCormick/19921009/Press Contact: Software Toolworks, 415 883-3000 or fax 415-883-3303)
olworks, 415 883-3000 or fax 415-883-3303)
10/23/92
Review of: Miracle Piano Teaching System
REVIEW
GENERAL
New For Networks: Asante Upgrade
Information America Info Firm Co
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- While America Online has been winning headlines for its consumer-oriented on-line services, Information America is quietly becoming a force in the business information area.
The 10-year old company, which went public about a year ago announced that its earnings continue to grow at a good rate despite a slump in the legal industry. The company earned $465,000 on revenues of $4.67 million for the quarter ending in September, and for the year so far revenues total nearly $14 million, up from almost $12 million in 1991.
Spokesman Jeffrey Alperin discussed the results, and the company's future, with Newsbytes. He acknowledged that the company is making a new push to sell its services to companies other than law firms, including government agencies, bankers and private investigators. President Mary Madden, who co-founded the company with Chairman Buck Goldstein in 1982, expressed satisfaction with the move.
Information America is also diversifying, having announced plans to buy Baltimore-based Hylind infoQuest, a document delivery company, in September. While the law business itself has been struggling, and some document delivery houses have struggled with them, Alperin said the company has high hopes. "There's a magic in the industry, sending people earning $5 per hour out for 20 minutes and charging $15 for the service." However, "It's a different workforce" than Information America has worked with before. "These people know how to handle it."
Hylind also offers vertical integration. "Right now we provide the ability for customers to manually retrieve documents either by calling us or entering orders in our computer. We have a network of correspondents filling the orders. This is one of them, perhaps one of the largest in the industry. There are just 6-7 big players, but the rest are moms and pops. And this company does no sales or marketing. These people bring us a new sales channel -- their customers might use our services as well."
During the quarter, the company also named the Law Bulletin Publishing Company as its exclusive sales representative in Illinois. The Law Bulletin, the 138-year-old publisher of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, serves approximately 400 law customers with its computer services. Alperin called the move unique. "Until now, all sales were done by company employees. It's a peculiarly good fit for us. It's a news publisher with its own on-line system. We don't know of anyone else like that anywhere in the country."
While the company started offering only local legal documents in the Atlanta area, Alperin said, the company has since added many types of services. "We're now getting data nationally. Some is from specific counties. We don't have every courthouse on-line. We have corporate registration information from secretaries of state in 32 states now. We have courthouse records from California, Texas, Georgia, and many places on the east coast including Philadelphia. We have a Dun & Bradstreet product everywhere" in the country. "Our geographic coverage is more extensive than competitors.
Alperin also discussed the company's business environment. "The other people who are public in this area are small divisions of larger businesses -- like a small group within Mead Data Central. But Mead is a very small part of Mead Corp. Prentice-Hall Legal and Financial is another competitor, and they're smaller than us. Within our niche, we're the leaders."
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921021/Press Contact: Information America Jeffrey Alperin, 404-892-1800)
nformation America Jeffrey Alperin, 404-892-1800)
10/22/92
Information America Info Firm Continues To Grow
TELECOM
Client/Server Version Of MarketP
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 22 (NB) MarketPulse, which sells database-driven marketing software for IBM mainframe computers, has announced a client/server version of its software that uses IBM RISC System/6000 servers with personal computers running Microsoft Windows as clients.
The software, also called MarketPulse, gives people throughout an organization simultaneous, immediate access to millions of customer records as well as transaction data, the vendor said. The client/server implementation, version 2.0, has all the features of the mainframe software "and then some," said Betsy Nugent, director of product marketing at MarketPulse.
MarketPulse version 2.0 takes a modular approach, the vendor said, allowing users to implement capabilities such as "select," "profile," or "report" individually.
Features of version 2.0 include a proprietary query engine that the company says will allow fast queries on very large databases, the ability to communicate with other programs through Windows' dynamic data exchange (DDE) features, full relational database capabilities, and a three-dimensional (3-D) profiling capability said to allow marketers profile information and create 3-D cross-tabulations.
This is no low-priced PC package, however. Nugent said a starting implementation would cost about $40,000 for the software alone. As a server, MarketPulse 2.0 needs an IBM RS/6000 with at least 32 megabytes (MB) of memory, the IBM AIX 3.2 operating system and Network File System (NFS). Clients must have at least a 386 processor, a VGA monitor, four MB of memory, a high-density diskette drive, and an Ethernet adapter card, plus DOS 5.0 Windows 3.0 or later, and Beame and Whiteside's NFS software.
(Grant Buckler/19921021/Press Contact: Paula Mae Schwartz or Kathy Dowling, Schwartz Communications for MarketPulse 617-431-0770; Public Contact: MarketPulse, 617-868-6220 fax 617-497-1072)
ic Contact: MarketPulse, 617-868-6220 fax 617-497-1072)
10/22/92
Client/Server Version Of MarketPulse Marketing System
GENERAL
Canada: CGI Opens 3rd Connectivi
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- Canadian consulting firm CGI Group, of Montreal, has opened its third Connectivity Research Center, this one in Ottawa. The first opened in Montreal in November, 1991, while the second is in Quebec City.
The nationwide consulting firm said it plans three more such installations in Toronto, Edmonton, and Salem, New Hampshire. The company expects to invest a total of C$10 million in the six facilities by the time all are complete in 1993.
Each center is a research and development laboratory equipped with "up-to-date" hardware and software, including personal computers Unix workstations, network servers, and a range of networking hardware, telecommunications equipment, and printers. There is also an assortment of networking, client-server, and applications software. The goal is to make all the equipment and software work together well.
The Ottawa operation will focus on issues of concern to the federal government and other public agencies in the area, including electronic data interchange (EDI), image and text retrieval distributed systems, and secure systems hardware and software.
CGI has about 900 consultants working in offices across Canada and the United States. Established in 1976, it focuses on three major areas: information systems, telecommunications, and management consulting in the area of technological change. The company's shares are traded on the Montreal Exchange, and in the year ended September 30, 1991, it reported revenues of C$66.2 million.
(Grant Buckler/19921021/Press Contact: John Ruffo, CGI 514-234-2155)
9921021/Press Contact: John Ruffo, CGI 514-234-2155)
10/22/92
Canada: CGI Opens 3rd Connectivity Research Center
GENERAL
Visualworks ADE From Parcplace S
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- Parcplace System has announced Visualworks, a new application development environment based on the company's Objectworks\Smalltalk product. The company says the product offers integration of user interface builders, database access tools, and application logic that, once completed, will run on a variety of platforms.
Criticism levied at Parcplace for its object-oriented tools has maintained that while the finished application would run on a Macintosh, under Windows on an IBM personal computer (PC) under OS/2 on a PC, and in Unix environments such as Open Look and Motif, the applications did not take on the characteristics of the user interface in the environment. Parcplace says Visualworks offers a change, in that the user can choose the desired "look-and-feel" for the application from a list in the "Chameleon View" section. The application then takes on the characteristics of the platform chosen.
Much emphasis in the Parcplace announcement of Visualworks is made of the product's graphical interface builder with a "palette" and "canvas" metaphor. The company says the metaphor is easily learned and designers who know little about computers can build a user interface. Once visual components of the interface are placed on the canvas, Parcplace says users can re-size, cut, paste, or re-align the pieces.
Database access directly to Oracle and Sybase databases is allowed and the addition of Information Builder's EDA/SQL gateway allows access to 48 other database products on minicomputers, mainframes, and workstations, Parcplace said. Database data can also be mapped to objects via the Visualworks External Database Interface, the company added.
The product generates code to link the graphical user interface to the underlying application via a reusable application framework. Some actions can be entirely generated by the reusable application framework, but where they cannot be the framework prompts the developer to write the necessary code.
Parcplace representatives also said an application module can be created and all applications using the module will inherit any new behavior assigned to the original. This type of inheritance allows for a change to be made in one place that is reflected in the entire application. The company uses the example of changing from a five to nine digit zip code, saying inheritance makes it possible to make that change in one place while more traditional methods might require weeks of reprogramming the appropriate interfaces in a large application.
The company says the product can be used to quickly prototype an application that can then be used to go on and develop the actual application instead of being thrown away.
With a basis in the language Smalltalk, Parcplace says users do not have to worry about memory management and the language is widely supported.
Visualworks is shipping on Intel 386- and 486- based PCs under Windows 3.1; Apple Macintosh, Quadra, and Powerbook computers under System 7; Sun 4; IBM RS/6000; HP 9000 Series 700; Digital's Decstation under Ultrix; and Sequent's Symmetry 200 Series under Open Look and Motif.
The product is in beta test stages on OS/2 and Next and is expected to ship in January of 1993. The product is retail priced at $2,995 for Windows, OS/2, and Macintosh, and $4,995 for Unix. Database drivers for Oracle and Sybase are an additional $495 or $995 for EDA/SQL drivers.
Sunnyvale, California-based Parcplace Systems offers object oriented programming languages C++, Smalltalk, and other software application development tools. Dr. Adele Goldberg still chairman of the board at the company, stepped down to allow Bill Lyons, former chief executive officer (CEO) at database giant Ashton-Tate, to take the CEO position this year. The company's largest competitor in the Smalltalk language field is Los Angeles, California-based Digitalk, developers of Smalltalk/V.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921022/Press Contact: Maureen Welch Cunningham Communications for Parcplace Systems, tel 408-764-0766, fax 408-982-0403)
ems, tel 408-764-0766, fax 408-982-0403)
10/22/92
Visualworks ADE From Parcplace Systems
GENERAL
New For PC: Software For Grassro
SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- Making your voice heard in politics at the federal level may just have got easier. Soapbox Software has introduced Federal Soap Box, a program designed for contacting and influencing policy and lawmakers at the federal level.
The program is more than just a current list of "who's who" in the federal government. It actually offers advice on how to contact and follow up with federal officials, as well as a graphical tree structure of the federal government hierarchy to show what offices report to whom, staff listings for each government office with the staff's party affiliations and contact information, phone numbers of critical government agencies, and information on public access legislation such as the Freedom of Information Act.
A set of correspondence tools to create mailing lists, write the body of the letter, automatically address the correspondence and sample letters are also included, the company said.
The current version is geared toward IBM and compatible personal computers (PCs) under DOS but the company says it is working on a Windows version and a Macintosh version for release next year, as well as OS/2, Unix, and Amiga versions.
Also the program is only geared towards the federal government so asking it to search for presidential candidate Bill Clinton comes up empty as Clinton is Governor of Arkansas. Soapbox did say state versions are planned for California, Texas, and New York.
The program is offered on a subscription basis directly from Soapbox Software with an introductory price of $89 for the program and three updates. Updates are quarterly and are offered for $49 a year, Soapbox said.
The program requires an IBM PC with 649 kilobytes of RAM and can be run in DOS graphics or text modes. A mouse and a printer are strongly recommended.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921022/Press Contact: Lee Moberly, Soapbox Software, tel 415-258-0292, fax 415-258-0294; Public Contact Soapbox Software, 10 Golden Gate Dr., San Rafel, CA 94901, 800 989-7627)
n Gate Dr., San Rafel, CA 94901, 800 989-7627)
10/22/92
New For PC: Software For Grassroots Politics
Optus Claims It Has Been Good Fo
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- Optus claims it has significantly benefitted the Australian economy in its first five months of operation, according to the first annual report it has submitted to the federal government. Optus is required by its agreement with the government to provide an annual report for the first five years of operation.
The report claims that in the five months from January 31 to June 30 (Australia's financial year ends on June 30) Optus and its strategic partners have invested AUS$247 million in capital expenditure, with AUS$120 million being spent locally, and that over 1,100 people have been employed by the companies during that time.
Optus chief executive officer Bob Mansfield said in the report "The achievements to date show we are well on our way to fulfilling the vision enunciated in our industry development plan. As a direct result of the introduction of choice in telecommunications, Australian industry is not only getting an opportunity to grow, but also to build performance to a level where it can compete strongly on international markets."
Optus was appointed Australia's second domestic and mobile telecommunications carrier in December 1991, and will operate in a duopoly in the general carrier market with AOTC (Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation) for five years.
Since it was awarded its second-carrier and mobile licenses Optus' staff has increased from 300 to 900, and its strategic partners claim to have employed 550 people as a direct result of the presence of the second carrier in Australia.
(Sean McNamara/19921022)
ond carrier in Australia.
(Sean McNamara/19921022)
10/22/92
Optus Claims It Has Been Good For Australian Economy
TELECOM
Australia: AOTC's Chairman David
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- AOTC (Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corp) Chairman David Hoare has been reappointed to the post for a second, three year term. Hoare was named as chairman for the then fledgling AOTC 12 months ago, when Telecom and OTC merged to form Australia's government-owned carrier.
During his twelve months with the carrier, Hoare has concentrated on the merging of the two companies, and he will continue to do so during his next term. Senator Michael Collins, Federal Minister for Transport and Communications, said that Hoare was playing a critical role in the continuing development of the Australian deregulated telecommunications industry by the government. Collins went on to say that Hoare will also help in the important work to develop "a fully commercial culture" within AOTC
The announcement came with the news from AOTC chief executive officer, Frank Blount, that managerial positions had been changed to strengthen AOTC's focus on research and development. These changes included the appointment of Harry Wragge (head of Telecom's Research Laboratory since 1985) as chief technical advisor to Telecom (now the domestic trading arm of AOTC), and Ray Liggett (currently managing director of Telecom's corporate and government business unit) as its director of research. Liggett's previous position will be held by Lindsay Yelland ex-vice president Asia-Pacific for Data General.
(Sean McNamara/19921022)
cific for Data General.
(Sean McNamara/19921022)
10/22/92
Australia: AOTC's Chairman David Hoare Reappointed
TELECOM
New For Windows: Visio Drawing S
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 22 (NB) --It is said that if you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door. A Seattle company thinks they have built their own kind of better mousetrap, this time a specialized drawing program for Windows.
Shapeware is set to release Visio 1.0, described as a new kind of drawing program for business and technical users who need to create drawings of diagrams but are not graphics specialists.
"Graphics are no longer just the domain of specialists and artists," said Shapeware's President and co-founder Jeremy Jaech. He believes all kinds of business and technical professionals - from MIS (management information systems) professionals, program managers, and marketers, to administrative professionals and engineers - need to illustrate concepts, processes and relationships as part of their jobs, but do not have the time to master a complicated drawing program.
Shapeware calls their approach to drawing the "drag-and-drop drawing" approach. Visio provides more than 300 different shapes specific to different tasks such as flow diagrams, business models, engineering schematics, organizational charts, facility plans, and network layouts that can be used much like plastic stencils are used. Each group of related shapes, such as flow diagrams, is organized as a group called a "stencil." Users click on the desired shape, "drag" them into the drawing area and "drop" them into place.
What makes the concept different from the usual clip art is that each shape has an underlying spreadsheet of information which can be changed by the user to affect the properties of the shape. You can affect the form, proportion, color, and other properties depending on the context in which the shape is to be used, says the company.
Visio shapes include geometric objects, trees, houses, flow chart objects, and various shapes and symbols appropriate for making maps.
In addition to the shapes, Visio includes a drawing tool set. Windows object linking and embedding (OLE) is supported both as a client and as a server, allowing the user to incorporate the drawings into documents, reports, presentations, forms, and other files. Material from other applications, such a text, can also be incorporated into a Visio drawing.
Other features include "Glue" and "AutoConnect," conversion of two-dimensional shapes into one-dimensional shapes that act like lines, and the ability to split a single shape into separate pieces and join shapes to create special effects or complex structures. Shapes can be rotated to any angle around its center, and the style of text, line weight, fill pattern and other attributes can be controlled.
Shapeware spokesperson Laura Williams told Newsbytes that the company is also marketing additional stencils, or shape collections. Williams said the specific price of the additional stencils had not been determined, but that they would be collections of shapes appropriate for specific industries. Expect prices for the extra shapes kits to range from $49 up. Buyers who purchase Visio before April 30, 1993 will receive one free stencil of their choice.
Shapeware says it will ship Visio in early November, with a suggested retail price of $299. The price includes 90 days of free technical support and a 60-day money-back guarantee.
(Jim Mallory/19921022/Press contact: Laura Williams Waggener Edstrom for Shapeware, 206-637-9097; Reader contact: Shapeware Corporation, 206-467-6723)
act: Shapeware Corporation, 206-467-6723)
10/22/92
New For Windows: Visio Drawing Software
Kodak Donates Equipment For Budd
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 22 (NB) --Eastman Kodak has announced the donation of a variety of Kodak digital hardware software and educational resources to the American Film Institute's Apple Computer Center in Los Angeles.
Kodak's Bob Bender says the gift is intended to enrich the education of current and future film makers as well as encourage creative experimentation with the use of hybrid film-digital imaging technologies. "The work being done at the Apple Computer Center will help keep us focused on how our customers want to use these different technologies to meet their specific needs," says Bender.
The donations include a Kodak professional DCS 200 digital camera. The DCS 200 is a Nikon F4 camera equipped with a special digital storage back that stores the picture in place of conventional film. Images made with the camera can then be transmitted via computer over telephone lines. The camera has been tested on various photojournalist assignments such as the Democratic convention, where images were quickly transmitted to newspapers across the country for the next days paper, eliminating the time consuming film development process.
Other donated equipment includes a Kodak XL7700 digital continuous tone printer, a Kodak professional RFS 2035 film scanner, a Kodak Photo CD player PCD 870, and software for image storage and display. Kodak said its personnel will also participate in AFI-sponsored seminars and training courses on the use of these and other hybrid imaging tools.
An AFI spokesperson told Newsbytes the AFI-Apple Computer Center for Film and Videomakers opened in 1991 as a Macintosh computer lab for training and production. The lab was funded by a grant from Apple Computer as well as donations from 90 other companies. After the violence in Los Angeles this summer the lab instituted a six-week job internship for students from area disadvantaged families. The workshop was funded by five corporate and individual sponsors, including Apple.
Kodak Donates Equipment For Budding Film Maker Use
APPLE
US Government Sniffs Out Russian
Australia: Telecom Law Book On P
UK: Dr Solomon's Anti-Virus Tool
PC Fortunes Up As Mainframes Go
US Makes Commercial Software Pir
Microsoft To Host Two Windows De
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 22 (NB) --Microsoft will host two conferences for developers next week, one at the Santa Clara (California) Marriott Hotel, and one at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, California.
The Santa Clara conference is for people interested in learning how to develop 32-bit drivers for Windows NT. The Anaheim conference is for Windows developers. Both shows are expected to draw attendees from all over the world.
Specific sessions at Santa Clara will cover printers, keyboards video display adapters, network interface adapters, 3270 cards scanners, fax devices, communications devices, mice and other pointing devices, audio hardware, and SCSI (small computer system interface) devices.
Microsoft hopes this conference will help ensure the success of 32-bit computing by supporting the development of a new generation of peripheral devices to take advantages of the Windows NT operating system, when it is finally released. Microsoft has already pushed the release date back once. More than 700 developers are said to have already registered.
The company said senior Microsoft design engineers will deliver more than 50 sessions on a broad range of driver related topics including the design of the Windows NT kernel and I/O (input/output) subsystem, the NT graphics engine architecture network driver interface specs, and SCSI for various peripherals.
Microsoft spokesperson Erin Holland told Newsbytes registration is still open for the conference for those who have the $895 price. A $100 discount is available to those who attended the Win32 Professional Developers Conference held in San Francisco in July. Microsoft has a toll free number to accept registrations.
The Disneyland gathering is for Windows developers who want to learn about Windows 3.1's capabilities, and runs October 26 through 30th.
(Jim Mallory/19921022/Press contact: Erin Holland, Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, 503-245-0905; Reader contact: 800-677 4697 for show registration)
05; Reader contact: 800-677 4697 for show registration)
10/22/92
Microsoft To Host Two Windows Developer's Conferences
Australia: PC OEM Signs Up For W
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- Australian PC manufacturer Osborne Computers has signed an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) agreement with Microsoft for its soon to be released Windows for Workgroups software. The manufacturer plans to deliver more than 120,000 network ready machines with the software already-installed.
The move has pleased Microsoft, but some dealers have expressed misgivings. One dealer told Newsbytes "It looks like a good product but did they have to give it to a discounter so soon? It sets the street-price expectation before we even get product on our shelves."
Osborne Chief Executive Officer John Linton said his company has already sold 40 percent of its machines into local area networks and he expects this to increase to 80 percent within three months. "All our computers are pre-loaded with DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1 and since February this year we've been pre-loading an increasing percentage of machines with Microsoft's Word for Windows and Excel.
Osborne has 50 retail stores throughout Australia and has a sizeable proportion of the high quality clone marketplace. One of its selling points is a five year warranty on all machines. It also offers a 486sx, on-site motherboard upgrade for most PCs for AUS$895 (around US$640).
Microsoft Australia, meanwhile, has grown by 41 percent in net revenues over last year.
l Zucker/19921022/Osborne Computers: +612-9010000)
10/22/92
Australia: PC OEM Signs Up For Workgroup Windows
Australia: Telecom Law Book On P
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- An Australian company has developed a series of law books that are supplied not on paper but on a computer disk. The first to be released is Telecommunications Law for AUS$195 (around US$140).
The disks are designed to run on any DOS-based PC. A typical 3.5-inch disk can hold around 200,000 words. However, these disks use a proprietary compression, indexing and retrieval system to fit almost a million words on a single disk.
According to the company, users need no training and can locate any word, topic or phrase in the book in seconds. Menu options then allow them to copy the desired text to another disk or print it.
Telecommunications Law contains all current Australian acts regulations, determinations directions, and declarations in the field of telecommunications law. Purchasers will be able to obtain a number of updates throughout the year, at much lower prices than a comparable printed book, claims the company.
The "books" are being published by Australian company Eurofield Information Systems which also invented the "MegaFloppy" system used to store the data. Other books already released using the MegaFloppy system include the Bible and Australia Post's "List of Lists."
Eurofield Managing Director Alf Papallo said he believes MegaFloppy is the only system of its type in the world. "We know of no equivalent. Other systems have some of our features but not all of them. It's ideal for encyclopedias, directories dictionaries, legal and medical reference services and product and service listings. And they could save millions of trees! We even use premium disks so they can be used over and over."
While a 1.44 megabyte (MB) MegaFloppy diskette can hold up to a million words, the less common 2.88 MB disks can hold up to two million words. Twenty MB diskettes will hold up to 20 million words. According to Papallo, that is more than the entire Encyclopedia Brittanica.
(Paul Zucker/19921022/Contact: Eurofield Information Systems; phone +61-2-8785111, fax +61-2-8784171
; phone +61-2-8785111, fax +61-2-8784171
10/22/92
Australia: Telecom Law Book On PC Disk
Gandalf Intros Wide Area Network
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- Gandalf Technologies has introduced a wide area gateway module for its Access Hub.
According to the vendor, the new gateway offers three capabilities not previously available on an intelligent hub: a local area network (LAN) to wide area network (WAN) gateway; translation from the Digital Equipment LAT to the Telnet protocol; and hub-based access to frame relay transport.
The WGM 2590 wide area gateway is the latest in a series of add-on products for the Access Hub. Essentially circuit boards that fit into the Access Hub cabinet, the options include local and remote Ethernet bridges, routers, and a terminal server whose introduction was reported in Newsbytes previously.
As a LAN-to-WAN gateway, the WGM 2590 allow the LAN-based LAT protocol and TCP/IP networks to work together, Gandalf said. It supports as many as 250 simultaneous gateway connections and provides network printer support, reverse LAT protocol host-initiated requests, and multiple sessions per user.
Telnet-to-LAT protocol translation lets users on the same LAN use host systems running Unix or Digital Equipment's proprietary VMS operating system, according to the company.
The gateway can use the frame relay protocol -- a technology similar to packet switching but faster -- to carry multiple types of data between sites without the need for a high-end frame relay switch, according to Gandalf. Its frame relay interface is fully compatible with Gandalf's Infotron 2000 family of wide area network products.
The WGM 2590 costs US$8,995 (C$8,900 in Canada) and is available now, a company spokeswoman said.
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- IBM claims it is keeping to its long-standing practice of not laying off employees and says that a recent policy memo on the subject simply shifted responsibilities in line with an over-all decentralization of the company.
IBM has lashed out at The Wall Street Journal over a report on the policy change, which puts day-to-day responsibility for avoiding layoffs in the hands of 13 business-unit general managers.
Spokeswoman Kathleen Ryan read Newsbytes the brief memo which circulated throughout IBM in early October. It reaffirmed that the company has a practice of not laying off employees, then stated that in future the managers of IBM's business units will have the responsibility of maintaining the practice.
That move is "consistent with the delegation of decision-making that we've been making," Ryan said, referring to IBM's "ongoing movement towards a federation of companies."
Analysts have been quoted as saying that by shifting responsibility for maintaining employment to lower-level managers, IBM might be making it easier to lay off employees in future without the move reflecting badly on top management. Ryan denied that, pointing out that the new policy requires managers to obtain the IBM management committee's approval before breaking the no-layoff practice.
Part of the policy statement read to Newsbytes said: "We should realize a departure from full employment could have prolonged adverse business consequences and undermine the leadership of those initiating the action."
In a letter to the editor of The Wall Street Journal, a copy of which Newsbytes has obtained, IBM's senior vice-president for personnel, Walton E. Burdick, claimed the newspaper's report "grossly distorts" the meaning of the statement and accused the Journal of taking a "sensational approach."
Part of Burdick's complaint is that the Journal's story linked the IBM move to the company's recent poor financial performance. His letter said the move is unrelated to current earnings.
Ryan pointed out that the policy statement was circulated October 1, while IBM's recent $2.8 billion quarterly loss was not reported until mid-month.
Newsbytes notes that another IBM spokesman said in September that the company expected a loss in the quarter, and that IBM has had poor results for the past several quarters.
(Grant Buckler/19921022/Press Contact: Kathleen Ryan, IBM 914-697-6578)
Contact: Kathleen Ryan, IBM 914-697-6578)
10/22/92
IBM Claims Full Employment Still Stands
Software Vendors Support IBM's D
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- Two more software vendors have announced products using IBM's Distributed Relational Database Architecture, (DRDA), and two others have announced that they plan to deliver such products.
According to an IBM spokesman, more than 20 vendors have revealed plans to implement DRDA, and ten of those have licensed the technology from IBM.
DRDA, announced in September, 1991, is a client/server architecture for accessing distributed relational data on systems from IBM and other vendors. It is also a key component of the data delivery element of IBM's Information Warehouse framework.
Object Technology International of Ottawa and XDB Systems of Laurel, Maryland, have announced products that provide access from their database products to IBM's relational database managers using DRDA.
Ingres and Progress Software have announced their intention to deliver products that support DRDA. These firms have also licensed DRDA, and they along with OTI and XDB bring to ten the number of software vendors that have licensed DRDA and intend to produce DRDA Application Requesters and/or Application Servers.
The other six are Borland International, Cincom Systems Informix Software, Micro Decisionware, Novell, and Oracle.
Object Technology introduced Envy/400, an object-oriented application development system for the IBM AS/400 minicomputer. Based on the Smalltalk object-oriented language, it is meant for creating client/server applications running on the AS/400 and PCs. Shipment is expected by the end of the year.
XDB announced that version 2.0 of its XDB-Link software supports DRDA. XDB Link is a "PC gateway for mainframe data," a company spokeswoman said. It allows applications running on personal computers to use data from mainframe databases.
IBM said DRDA will give users access to data in the four IBM relational database products -- Database/2 (DB2), Structured Query Language/Data System (SQL/DS), the Operating System/400 relational database manager on AS/400 minicomputers, and Distributed Database Connection Services/2 for OS/2 -- as well as database products from the other vendors.
(Grant Buckler/19921022/Press Contact: Steven Malkiewicz IBM, 914-642-5449)
22/Press Contact: Steven Malkiewicz IBM, 914-642-5449)
10/22/92
Software Vendors Support IBM's Database Architecture
UK: Sony Handportable To Form Ma
Bell Atlantic To Test Telephone
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- Bell Atlantic will test the delivery of videos via its phone network in Virginia. About 400 company employees will participate in the test next year.
While the company only announced that an application had been filed for the test, FCC Chairman Alfred Sikes issued an approving statement the day of the filing, saying "competition" was his preferred method for regulating the cable television industry.
In the test, employees will dial into an electronic warehouse called a "video server," and select any movie they want. US West conducted a market test of this idea earlier this year in Colorado, using a library of tapes which were racked up in response to telephone queries. GTE is also testing response to video services in Cerritos, California.
In the Bell Atlantic service, however, videos will be stored and transmitted in a coded, compressed form that conforms to the Motion Picture Experts Group, or MPEG standard.
The unit on top of the consumer's TV will decode and decompress the video and send it to the TV screen. Art Bushkin, Bell Atlantic president of Information Services, called video-on-demand a "tremendous market opportunity" adding the company is talking with many possible providers of services.
Bell Atlantic will use a Bellcore technology called Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, which lets it deliver video signals into a home over the telephone network by simply adding special equipment to each end of an existing line. Its use will enable the Bell Atlantic companies to enter the mass market for video on-demand services in 1994. The company said fiber cables which will allow for the simultaneous transmission of multiple channels, will be installed where "the economics justify the investment."
Even if the test pans out, however, there is another problem. The Blockbuster Entertainment video store chain succeeded a few years ago in having the "availability" dates of pay-per-view movies on cable moved back until weeks following their arrival in video stores. The company succeeded simply by threatening to cut off studios which did not comply with its demands. A statement from Blockbusters ominously warned that "Hollywood knows which side its bread is buttered on," and, "Video on demand will not have parity with the home video business until the dollars are there."
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921022/Press Contact: Larry Plumb, Bell Atlantic, 703-974-5446)
ntact: Larry Plumb, Bell Atlantic, 703-974-5446)
10/22/92
Bell Atlantic To Test Telephone Video Delivery
TELECOM
International Phone Update
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- Conflicting signals from Brazil highlight international telecommunications developments.
The Brazilian Congress was told it must approve an amendment to that country's constitution before the Telebras telecom monopoly can be sold. The statement was seen as a setback to privatization moves. President Fernando Collor de Mello was for privatization before his impeachment, but acting President Itamar Franco has not made his position clear. All this came as the Securities and Exchange Commission in the US approved an American Depository Note, or ADR, issue for Telebras in the US. This means that Telebras can be traded on over-the-counter markets using a depository bank chosen by Telebras.
Elsewhere. Croatia said it has bought four international phone switches from Ericsson of Sweden. The former Yugoslav republic will install the AXE switches in Zagreb, Rijeka, Split, and Osijek, through a Zagreb licensee, the Nikola Tesla company. Tesla will be privatized by the end of the year, Ericsson said. Also, Infonet set up a joint venture with Telecom Finland, 90 percent owned by the Finnish side, to sell the packet network company's global network. The company's facilities in Helsinki support X.25, TCP/IP and intra-LAN communications.
On the negative side, telecommunications with Monrovia, Liberia remained down. Civil war has erupted again, with an army bombarding West African peacekeeping troops and the US State Department warning its nationals to keep away from the country. Both sides have been warned by their neighbors that a total blockade of Liberia will be imposed unless order is restored by November 6. Liberia was founded by former US slaves, and its capital is named for former US President James Monroe.
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- Ericsson is continuing its season of winning orders for its digital phone technology with a major contract in Singapore.
The Singapore deal will bring the Swedish telecommunications giant a total of US$64 million within the next year. Terms of the deal call for Ericsson to supply and install its global system for mobile communications (GSM) digital phone technology in the country, ready for a commissioning date of September, 1993.
What's interesting about the deal is that, far from hailing GSM as a successor to the existing analog extended total access communications (ETACS) network, both Ericsson and the Singaporean PTT see GSM as augmenting, rather than replacing the existing network.
GSM is fast expanding its international base, after a shakey start a year or so ago. The mainstay of the digital mobile phone technology is that it allows roaming between networks without the need for subscriber information to be logged on all network computers -- subscriber details are passed "on demand" between networks using packet data techniques.
GSM is already slated for introduction in Australia, Hong Kong and India, as well as across Europe. The Singapore network which should go live in September of next year, will have an initial network capacity of 100,000 subscribers.
As a spin-off from the GSM network contract, Ericsson plans to use some of the digital network capacity to expand its ETACS analog cellular phone network, which as supplied to the Singapore PTT a few years ago. Ericsson anticipates that the ETACS network capacity in Singapore will be boosted to 100,000 subscribers.
(Steve Gold/19921022)
100,000 subscribers.
(Steve Gold/19921022)
10/22/92
Ericsson Wins Singapore Order For GSM Phones
TELECOM
European Commission Takes Up Pho
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- After years of paying lip service to the idea of free market competition in the European telecommunications marketplace, the European Commission has launched an offensive to tackle the problem of those PTTs it regards as lagging in plans to open the market up.
The fundamental idea behind the move is to ensure that regardless of where in the EC business and residential subscribers are located, they have access to the widest possible range of telecom services, much as is the case in city areas of the US.
Announcing the offensive, Sir Leon Brittan, the EC Commission in charge of the competition policy division. said that the EC's aim is to ensure the best service at the best price for the consumer.
Brittan, a long-time proponent of free market competition here in Europe, said he viewed the present telecoms situation in the EC as "totally unacceptable."
Under wide-ranging powers, the EC has the option of overriding national governments in its quest for a free market in telecoms. Brittan, however, in what many see as a clear attempt to solve the political problem before getting heavy-handed, said he ruled out any possible moves before the end of the year.
The initial focus of Brittan's offensive will be on the often expensive intra-country calls within the EC. Pundits have long complained about the cost of a phone call from one EC country to another comes close to the cost of a call from Europe to the US. In some situations, it is actually cheaper to call between EC countries using AT&T's World Connect service, with the call routed via the US, than to call between EC countries directly.
When asked to back up his comments with real examples, Brittan cited the situation in many countries where an intra-EC country call, even across a national border, was up to three times more expensive than a trunk call within that country. Typical examples of this are Sweden and Germany, both of which have only recently freed themselves from the shackles of government-controlled telecommunications.
Under the Treaty of Rome, all EC inter-country trading should open up to the free market on January 1,1993, when all trading barriers are set to come down. The reality, sadly, is that it is still be more expensive to trade internationally with the EC than on an in-country basis, with or without the EC's long-running plans.
(Steve Gold/19921022
e EC's long-running plans.
(Steve Gold/19921022
10/22/92
European Commission Takes Up Phone Monopoly Cause
TELECOM
ropean Commission Takes Up Pho
Ford Working On Satellite-Based
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- The Ford Motor Company has announced that it is working a satellite-based emergency car calling system to track down thieves if they steal a car.
The system builds on the technology already used by mobile phone services which poll a car every so often to check that all is well. If a car's alarm system is tripped, then it signals to the network and car details are passed to the police.
That is the idea that Ford is working on porting to a satellite based alarm system, although officials have admitted that the technology is unlikely to be available much before the end of the decade. Ford claims it is working on a prototype vehicle location system, linking back to headquarters using satellite communications.
The Ford system is essentially a re-work of the global positioning service (GPS) that boats and other mobiles use to locate themselves and maintain contact with their colleagues. Details of the car's location, along with identification details, are passed to base using a satellite phone link. Regular polling of the vehicle by the network completes the picture.
In the event that a vehicle is lost or stolen, the police have the option of immobilizing the vehicle or tracking its progress over the network, allowing officers to move in for the arrest.
(Steve Gold/19921022)
n for the arrest.
(Steve Gold/19921022)
10/22/92
Ford Working On Satellite-Based Car Alarm
TELECOM
Apple UK Launches Educational Ma
UXBRIDGE, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- Apple Computer in the UK has announced an ambitious sales campaign targeting students and their lecturers in higher education. The aim of the campaign is to encourage more educational users of the Macintosh, pushing market penetration in the educational field to the same levels that the company enjoys in the US.
According to Apple, the "Dedication to Education" campaign involves 39 authorized educational resellers in the UK. These resellers will be conducting a series of on-campus demos of Apple Macs at 81 universities and polytechnics over the coming weeks.
The mainstay of Apple's argument in favor of the Mac is the plethora of applications available in the educational marketplace. According to David Heath, Apple's educational marketing manager there are more than 3,500 applications available. Each student attending the demos will get a limited edition mug.
Heath said that he believes the campaign will sell a lot of Macs generating healthy profits for the Apple resellers and allowing them to develop long-term relationships with key educational establishments in their area. "The campaign will also enable Apple Computer to build on its current share of the higher educational market," he said.
Apple seems to be pulling out all the stops with this campaign. It is encouraging its resellers to hold small demos for lecturers on the benefits of the Mac over the PC, and offer short-term loans of hardware to educational staff to win them over.
The campaign, which runs until December 18 -- the end of the first term at universities and polytechnics in the UK features Apple's low-end Macs, including the Classic II and Mac LC series. Apple claims that these offer students and lecturers an excellent low-cost entry level to computing.
(Steve Gold/19921022/Press & Public Contact: Apple Computer UK, 081-569-1199)
& Public Contact: Apple Computer UK, 081-569-1199)
10/22/92
Apple UK Launches Educational Marketing Campaign
APPLE
Israel Featured In First Comdex
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- In addition to the myriad of activities that accompany Comdex, the annual computer trade show scheduled for November in Las Vegas Nevada, computer related companies and high-technology talent from the country of Israel will be featured in the first National Resource Forum to be held November 17 and 18, during the show.
Israel has had a relatively low profile in the computer industry. However, Microsoft, Motorola, Intel, and IBM have subsidiaries there. In fact, the Intel 386, 486, and P5 (recently dubbed "Pentium") microprocessors were designed and developed in Intel's research and development facility in Jerusalem, Israel's capital city. The country is boasting that the Soviet immigration into Israel has given it the world's highest per capita ratio of scientists at 4,832 per million compared to 3,282 per million in the US and 1,873 per million in France.
Sheldon Adelson, chief executive officer of The Interface Group, who puts on Comdex, said in a prepared statement: "Israel's reputation for developing sophisticated computer products and its growing population of highly educated Soviet immigrants make Israel the ideal country to first present itself in this forum at Comdex."
Fifty-eight companies in the Israeli computer industry will demonstrate products at the forum and presentations by Andy Grove of Intel, Bill Gates of Microsoft, and George Fisher of Motorola will kick off the event, according to Meir Buber Israel's Trade Minister to the US. In addition, plans are also in the works for the companies to meet with US executives at Comdex to develop joint ventures.
Also, a special pavilion featuring eight Israeli companies exhibiting computer systems and products will be in the Sands Expo and Convention Center, Booth 3242, all week during the show.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921022/Press Contact: Erin Flynn, Hill and Knowlton for the Government of Israel Department of Ministry and Trade, tel 212-697-5600, fax 212-210-8885)
inistry and Trade, tel 212-697-5600, fax 212-210-8885)
10/22/92
Israel Featured In First Comdex Nat'l Resource Forum
GENERAL
tured In First Comdex
How-to Computer Virus Newsletter
TUCSON, ARIZONA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- In a plain wrapper marked "Confidential" Mark Ludwig is sending invitations to purchasers of his book "The Little Black Book of Computer Viruses" to become subscribers to a new publication, "Computer Virus Developments Quarterly" (CVDQ).
Ludwig promises subscribers the quarterly publication will be an "...independent, no-holds-barred publication that will keep you up to date on the latest in computer viruses and teach you about the new technology that even the anti-virus gurus don't want you to know about."
While publishing source code and sample viruses in his book and in the newsletter is controversial, Ludwig claims he is serving "...a lot of people out there who had a legitimate need to understand viruses, but they couldn't get their hands on the material they needed...."
Newsbytes has seen the first issue which contains an interview with Doren Rosenthal, author of the Virus Simulator. Rosenthal claims the Virus Simulator is a software product that simulates hundreds of viruses in order for users to check out their anti viral protection without risk of live virus infection. Other articles included are "Are Scanners Outmoded?" "There Is No Ideal Scanner," and "Computer Virus Disassemblies."
A disk comes with each issue, as well. In addition, Ludwig is offering a series of computer virus disassemblies on disk that he claims are fully documented with code documentation and explanations of how the viruses work. The first two -- a disassembly of The Pakistani Brain virus and a disassembly of the Stoned virus -- are $20 each plus $2 shipping and handling.
Ludwig's activities are not illegal, but some argue about the morality of what he is doing. Ludwig says his company's advertising has been banned by most major computer media but also claims the company has received a volume of complimentary mail.
Subscriptions to CVDQ are $75 a year. However, a special $60 subscription coupon is included in the invitation to book purchasers marked "Confidential."
(Linda Rohrbough/19921022/Press Contact: Mark Ludwig American Eagle Publications, tel/fax 602-888-4957; Public Contact, American Eagle Publications, PO Box 41401, Tucson AZ, 85717)
agle Publications, PO Box 41401, Tucson AZ, 85717)
10/22/92
How-to Computer Virus Newsletter Set For Release
GENERAL
Ericsson-GE To Re-Sell Spectrum
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 22 (NB) Ericsson-GE has announced it will market the Spectrum Axcell intelligent cellular telephone interface with its cellular phones.
The Axcell allows a cellular phone to be connected directly to the modem of a laptop computer, allowing data calls on regular cellular lines. The Axcell will work with both the Ericsson Pocket II and GE CT-200 portable cellular telephones.
Ericsson-GE is best known for its Mobidem, a radio data modem supporting the Mobitex standard which in the US works on the RAM Mobile Data network. The joint-venture, 80 percent owned by Ericsson since the summer, also makes cellular telephones and mobile radios. The Ericsson GE Axcell will carry a retail price of $389.99.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921022/Press Contact: Spectrum Information Technologies, Kathy L. Bachand, 214-999-6023)
ologies, Kathy L. Bachand, 214-999-6023)
10/22/92
Ericsson-GE To Re-Sell Spectrum Axcell
TELECOM
Disney Sound Source Adds Drivers
Japan: Matsushita To Release CD-
Pioneer LDC Intros More Laser Di
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- Pioneer LDC, a subsidiary of Pioneer, will push the sales of its brand new system called the Laser Disc Graphic. It allows graphics to be inserted into the foreground of motion picture.
Pioneer LDC says it will release more software for its Laser Disc Graphic player. The player is the high-end version of its Laser Disc player. With this feature, the user will be able to place graphic text information in the foreground of the picture. For instance, the user can display language-translation text of movies on the screen.
So far, Pioneer LDC has released about 25 software titles, most of which are video versions of theatrical movies. The text information on these disks is in Japanese.
One of the major advantages of the Laser Disc Graphic player according to the company, is its ability to support different languages or text information on a multiple number of channels.
Pioneer LDC is preparing to release software disks containing other language texts such as French and German as well as Japanese. All these languages are included on one disk, and the user will be able to choose the language to be shown on the screen.
The company claims that the text information is recorded on the sub-code area of the disk. The price of the software disks is the same as that of regular Laser Disc software.
A Pioneer LDC spokesman told Newsbytes that this sub-code text information is a bonus track and therefore, they do not want to charge any fee.
The price of the Laser Disc Graphic Player is 128,000 yen ($1,050), which is slightly more than that of a regular Laser Disc Player. Pioneer, the parent firm of Pioneer LDC, is also selling the graphic decoder for regular Laser Disc players. It costs 39,000 yen ($325).
Pioneer LDC Intros More Laser Disc Graphic Software
TRENDS
Pioneer LDC Intros More Laser Di
Nintendo Predicts Sales Of 10 Mi
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- Kyoto-based major game machine maker Nintendo has released an ambitious plan to sell its Super Famicom or the Super NES game system by mid-1993. The firm predicts it will sell more machines than it was initially estimated.
Despite the slump in the industry, Nintendo is planning to sell total one million units of the Super Famicom in Japan and the US between October and December. The firm claims it will sell 10 million units by next August.
In the US, Nintendo was initially planning to sell six million units for the year 1992, but the firm has recently modified this estimate to seven million units. This is mainly due to the expected release of quality programs such as "Dragon Quest" for this coming Christmas sales season.
Another reason is the price drop of the product -- it is now selling for almost 30 percent cheaper than the recommended retail price.
Nintendo's Super Famicom was first released in Japan in November 1990. It sold 6.46 million units within a year since this release date. The Super Famicom is the 16-bit version of its Family Computer, which was sold over 1.8 million units. These machines have no compatibility with each other.
Nintendo Predicts Sales Of 10 Million Super NES Units
GENERAL
Optika Provides Document Imaging
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- John Galsworthy wrote in his play "Over the River" that how to save the old, that's worth saving, is one of our greatest problems and the one we bother least about. Sixty years later, the same thing can be said about business records. But a California company is offering a way not only to save those records, but also a way to instantly retrieve them without tediously searching through a dusty file cabinet.
Optika Imaging Systems offers large and small businesses PC-based image and data management computer software that the company claims, enables users to heighten productivity and make better decisions.
The company, which ranks in the top three in the industry develops computer software which works with image scanning and high capacity data storage hardware to store business records and instantly display those documents on a high resolution computer screen when they are needed. The company already has over 200 installations in the US and Europe.
Ever since businesses started storing paper there have been reasons to look at the documents again -- insurance companies have to review claims, manufacturers have to look at blueprints buyers need to look up items in catalogs, and all businesses have occasion to review correspondence or personnel records.
That is where Optika comes in, President Harvey Jeane told Newsbytes. Optika writes customized software programs that enable hardware such as scanners and optical disks to store and later retrieve those records electronically. A scanner is used to capture a digital image of the document, and that image is stored on an optical disk, similar to the way a company stores word processing documents, spreadsheets, databases, or accounting data on magnetic disks. Optical disks are used because digital images require considerably more disk space and optical disks can store many times as much data as the same size magnetic disk.
Optika's systems are usually sold to the end user through VARs (value-added resellers) or VADs (value-added dealers) companies that combine hardware and software into a turnkey package. Optika can offer VARs and VADs software that will interface with various combinations of hardware, depending on the needs of the customer.
Optika's enabling software is designed to run on PC-based local or wide area networks running under any of the popular network operating systems. The company also develops software that is compatible with the popular Windows 3.1 graphical user interface (GUI) released by Microsoft in May, 1992.
Optika has already demonstrated a development version of FilePower that is compatible with Windows NT (New Technology) Microsoft's 32-bit multitasking version of Windows scheduled for release by the end of 1992. "We were the first to have a PC Windows-based imaging system, and the first to have a PC-based Windows networking system," Jeane says.
Multitasking will allow FilePower users to process hundreds of simultaneous requests instead of one at a time. Multitasking will also allow users to perform tasks such as scanning printing, and document retrieval in the background. Optika is also planning voice annotation for future versions of FilePower allowing users to attach voice messages to images, much like Post-It type notes can now be attached.
FilePower also has the capability to place signature replicas on documents or images being processed. Its SigFiler module provides the ability to link or index signatures to key information in an image, storing signatures on a high-density optical disk or magnetic for retrieval and review. "SigFiler is an excellent solution for banks or other institutions that need a better alternative for verifying signatures," says Jeane. SigFiler can provide rapid access to signatures from remote branch offices on LAN/WAN networks, claims the company.
Optika was founded in 1985 by Malcolm Thomas and Paul Carter veterans of software publisher Ashton-Tate. The company has announced that it would relocate its entire operation from its present location in Simi Valley, California to Colorado Springs Colorado in early December. Jeane told Newsbytes that all of the company's 34 employees and their families have already visited the high-tech city at the foot of Pikes Peak. Jeane told Newsbytes that quality of life, lower employee costs, lower property costs, a considerably lower cost of doing business, and tight government regulations in California are principal factors in the decision to move.
Asked about the paperless office, Jeane told Newsbytes that there may be an illusion that business is moving towards that goal. But he believes that most computer uses, such as spreadsheets, create more paper than they eliminate. He says this is the first industry he has been associated with that has a chance of moving towards the paperless office.
But will the paperless office become a reality? "I don't think so," said Jeane. He says that while companies may create more documents electronically, they usually distribute them on paper and its the storage of that paper by the recipient, rather than the originator, that will perpetuate the storage of hard copies.
CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- Innosoft has announced that their PMDF-FAX product will now support two new and additional modems that will increase the capabilities and flexibility of the product, especially in overseas markets.
PMDF-Fax is a component of the PMDF electronic mail system made by Innosoft. The FAX components allows for the reception and transmission of faxes. PMDF-FAX was originally introduced with support for just two modems - DCE's FaxBox/30 and Fujitsu's dexNet 200.
Innosoft has discovered that due to the diversity of telephone systems, and the prevalence of their product around the world those two modem models by themselves do not adequately accommodate all of their customers needs. Therefore the company has worked on identifying other fax modem manufacturers that would bring to Innosoft significant advantages.
Innosoft has chosen to implement support for the US Robotics WorldPort 2496 and the Hewlett-Packard LaserJet FAX. Between these two modems, Innosoft reaps the benefits of support for over 40 countries phone systems and the ability to attach to the HP LaserJet printer line for use as the output devices.
The US Robotics WorldPort 2496 FAX/data modem is a V.42bis modem capable of sending and receive Group III faxes. It will support data rates of up to 9,600 baud for faxes and 2,400 baud for data. It retails for $379. The Hewlett-Packard LaserJet Fax is also Group III-compatible and supports modem and fax transmission data rates of 2,400 to 9,600 baud.
(Naor Wallach/19921021/Press Contact: Tom Woolf, Woolf Media Relations for Innosoft, 415-508-1554/Public Contact: Innosoft 714-624-7907)
Innosoft's PMDF-FAX supports Two Additional Modems
GENERAL
New For PC: EasyTax Tax Preparat
BOCA RATON, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- Softkey Software Products has been involved in the tax preparation business for many years. Now, it has decided to apply its knowledge to the personal tax preparation arena with its newest program EasyTax.
"Softkey can no longer ignore the growth in the personal tax market. We are banking on our 12 years experience in the professional tax software business to deliver a product second to none," said Kevin O'Leary, president of Softkey. "We estimate the market to be at least 1 million units this year and we are aiming for a 30 percent share. Everybody hates to do their taxes so the key to success is ease of use. By that measure, EasyTax is the best offering."
Newsbytes has further learned that Softkey believes that a number of factors will lead to its success in this field. In the first place, the company feels that it is very experienced in the tax field with sales of over $22 million last year serving the corporate tax market. Softkey also believes that it has the proper distribution strategy and price strategy for entering the consumer marketplace, and that it knows how to write software tax packages.
The Early Bird Edition of EasyTax is shipping now. Softkey will upgrade registered users free of charge if any changes occur in IRS regulations that would affect users of the package. EasyTax includes such features as an IRS Audit Alert, Electronic Filing of returns, Printing of IRS approved forms, 60 built-in tax tips, and a year-end tax planner. In addition to the main program, Softkey will sell individual state tax programs as separate items.
EasyTax retails for $79.95 and each of the individual states sell for $29.95. There are 24 state programs available. Softkey is not planning on developing any more at this time. The ones available are for: Alabama, Arizona, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine Minnesota, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
(Naor Wallach/19921021/Press Contact: Al Abrams, Abrams Creative Services for Softkey, 818-343-6365/Public Contact: Softkey, 407-367-0005)
43-6365/Public Contact: Softkey, 407-367-0005)
10/22/92
New For PC: EasyTax Tax Preparation Software
Rabbit Software Signs New Distri
MALVERN, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 22 (NB) -- Rabbit Software makes a full line of IBM 3270 emulators and other connectivity products for DOS and Unix machines. The company has established two tier distribution agreements with some of the super-regional distributors.
Super-regional distributors are companies that have gotten their start by serving the retailers and VARs (value-added resellers) within a selected region but have later expanded to other areas. Rabbit has previously signed such distribution agreements with GBC Technologies of New Jersey and National Business Group of Georgia. Two new distributor agreements have been signed with Vitronix of Massachusetts and Costa Distributing of California.
Newsbytes has learned that Rabbit software is interested in such distributorships from several perspectives. By concentrating on the super-regionals, Rabbit feels that they get better service and coverage within the geographical regions. Rabbit also believes that the super-regionals provide better service than the big national distributors as they tend to have local training and demonstration facilities and become much more knowledgable about the products that they carry. Rabbit officials contrasted this level of knowledge and service with the large national distributors who, in Rabbit's opinion, focus mainly on moving inventory through their warehouses.
With the addition of these two distributors, Rabbit claims that the company has achieved complete coverage of the United States. Rabbit is not closing the door on other distributors, but it feels that it does not need to seek out any additional US distributors at this time. However, the company is still seeking a strong distributor in Canada.
VILNIUS, LITHUANIA, 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Lithuania and Germany have signed a preliminary agreement concerning cooperation in the field of communications.
Lithuanian Minister of Communications and Informatics Gintautas Zintelis and the German State Secretary of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications Wilhelm Rawe, signed the agreement in Vilnius during the Baltic Info'92 show.
Both parties expressed their intention to cooperate closely and to exchange experience in political, state, and other essential problems of communications. The parties also committed themselves to ensure that the post dispatches and bank commissions should be fast and reliable, according to the official press release.
Lithuanian Ministry of Communications and Informatics has also presented a new state program it titles, "Lithuania - 2000."
Minister Gintautas Zintelis as well as Vice Ministers A. Basevicius and R. Krukauskas explained how the idea of this program came into existence. The goal was to create an information infrastructure for Lithuania. Government, science and industry would combine their efforts to create telecommunication and computer networks, as well as five large commercial databases. Also, there would be a rearrangement of the state information system. It's especially important for Lithuania to have communications with the West and with international organizations, officials stressed. This aim will be accomplished with this program, they say.
Among the firms participating in the plan were Bull, represented by Christian Kindermans and Claude Desbois, and Mentor Informatic Mogens Rasmussen and IBM Finland.
Ericsson held a briefing to describe how quickly data communication can be introduced to the present Baltic States telephone network. Participants discussed the possibility of advanced high speed data communication by digitizing a telecommunication network.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 16 (NB) - In a Newsbytes article about a computer-based wine guide appearing last week, it was stated the phone number for Sydney-based company Heuristic was +61-2-211 3726.
The phone number is, in fact, +61-2-259 3115. Alternatively, the distributors, Bitstorm, can be contacted on +61-6-257 7157 (Fax: 61-6-257 7173). Newsbytes apologizes for any inconvenience this error has caused.
(Sean McNamara/19921008/Press and Public Contact: Stuart Bullock Heuristic, phone in Australia +61-2-259 3115)
: Stuart Bullock Heuristic, phone in Australia +61-2-259 3115)
10/16/92
CORRECTION: Australian Electronic Wine Guide Contact Numbers
CORRECTION
GENERAL
Thinking Machines Supercomputer
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Thinking Machines has announced actions aimed at giving its CM-5 supercomputers greater power and accessibility, including a new supercomputer for under $1 million, a new file server architecture that boosts the speed of the entire CM-5 product line, and a joint development agreement for new engineering software.
Jim Bailey, director of marketing, told Newsbytes that Thinking Machines' new low-cost CM-5 Scale 3 is targeted mainly at the university market, but will also have some industrial applications. All installations of the Scale 3 will include a new file server architecture that raises the transfer rate to as much as 4 Gbps and so will all future shipments of the bigger supercomputers in the CM-5 line, according to Bailey.
In addition, Thinking Machines and the newly established Centric Engineering Systems Inc., will create new finite element software for the CM-5s designed to save time for engineers working in product manufacturing.
Pricing on the Scale 3 starts at $750,000, in contrast to as much as $30 million for Thinking Machines' top-of-the-line Scale 7 Bailey told Newsbytes. First customers for the Scale 3 include Columbia University in the U.S. and Bergische Universitat in Germany, he reported. "Many university departments really need a supercomputer in the lower price range," he commented.
The Scale 3 offers between 16 and 32 of Thinking Machines' 128 MFlops parallel processing nodes, Bailey said. In comparison, the Scale 7 provides some 16,000 nodes. But the Scale 3 will use the same Connection Machine software previously developed for its larger counterparts, as well as the same new file server architecture.
Under the new architecture, disk storage nodes are larger than before. Also, for the first time ever, the disk storage nodes will run as peers on the network established for the parallel processing nodes. "As a result, the transfer rate of the disk storage nodes has been increased from a typical speed of under 100 Mbps to as much as 4000 Mbps," Bailey told Newsbytes.
The new disk storage nodes plug into the same CM-5 cabinets that the processing nodes use, he explained. Each disk storage node consists of eight 3 1/2-inch disks, and carries a total capacity of 9.6 gigabytes. The disk storage nodes are linked together as a RAID 3 file system by the scalable CM-5 data network.
The new finite element analysis software, running in prototype form at Thinking Machines for the past year, will be marketed by Centric when ultimately released.
Palo Alto, CA-based Centric was established to produce finite element analysis software that lets engineers model both the solid and fluid mechanics behavior of products, simulating product performance before manufacturing actually begins.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19921015; Press and reader contacts: Lloyd Benson or Glenda Cudaback, Cudaback Strategic Communications for Thinking Machines, tel 617-234-5096, Bob Ingols or Lynette Barnum Wilson McHenry Company for Centric, tel 415-592-7600)
enry Company for Centric, tel 415-592-7600)
10/16/92
Thinking Machines Supercomputer Under $1M
GENERAL
Legion Of Doom Connex With 911 A
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Members of the well publicized group of computer hackers, The Legion of Doom, has denied any connection with the recent alleged tampering with US and Canadian 911 emergency systems. They have also told Newsbytes that the Legion of Doom (LOD) group has been defunct for a number of years.
The recent publicized quote by an arrested 23-year-old New Jersey man identified only as Maverick, in which he said he was a member of the Legion of Doom and that the group's intent was "to attempt to penetrate the 911 computer systems and infect them with viruses to cause havoc," has infuriated many of the original group.
"Lex Luthor," one of the founders of LOD, told Newsbytes, "As far as I am concerned, the LOD has been dead for a couple of years never to be revived. Maverick was never in LOD. There have been 2 lists of members and those lists are the final word on membership. There has been no revival of LOD by me nor other ex-members. We obviously cannot prevent copy-cats from saying they are in LOD. When there was an LOD, our goals were to explore and leave systems as we found them. The goals were to expose security flaws so they could be fixed before REAL criminals and vandals such as this Maverick character could do damage."
He continued, "If this Maverick character did indeed disrupt E911 service he should be not only be charged with computer trespassing but also attempted murder. 911 is serious business."
Lex told Newsbytes that he is not affiliated with any type of illegal activities especially those concerning computer systems. "However I do try to keep up with what's going on and have 2 articles on computer security being prepared to be published. I won't say where or what name I am using because if the editors know an ex-hacker is trying to help society and help secure computer systems they probably would not accept the article."
Captain James Bourque of the Chesterfield County, Virginia police and the person who had quoted Maverick to the press, told Newsbytes that Lex's comments were probably correct. He said, "I don't think that there is a connection with the original group. I think that this group sort of took on the Legion of Doom Name and the causes that they think the Legion of Doom might have been involved in."
Bourque also said, "This group tried to publicize their activities by calling the local ABC station here as well as ABC in New York. It was not unusual for four or five of these individuals to set up a telephone conference and then to try to bring down our local 911 system here by monopolizing the system -- it never worked but they continued to try."
Bourque told Newsbytes that the continuing investigation is being carried out by local law enforcement agencies and that an investigator from his organization was in Newark reviewing the evidence against Maverick. He said, "It's possible that the Secret Service will become involved after the presidential election is over. They are very busy now."
Mike Godwin, in-house counsel of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), an organization that has been involved in a number of cases involving admitted LOD members, commented to Newsbytes, "I don't believe for a minute that this has anything to do with the real Legion of Doom."
Phiber Optic, another ex-LOD member, told Newsbytes that he was disturbed that the media accepted the designation of Maverick as LOD saying, "If he said that he was a Martian, would they have put in the paper that he was a Martian?"
Emmanuel Goldstein, publisher of 2600 Magazine: The Hacker Quarterly also took issued with the designation of those arrested in New Jersey and Canada as "hackers," telling Newsbytes, "Nowhere have I seen any indication that these people were inside of a telephone company computer. They were allegedly making vocal calls to the 911 services and trying to disrupt them. You certainly don't have to be a genius to do that. Let's not demean hackers by associating them with the kind of behavior that is alleged."
(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19921016)
arbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19921016)
10/16/92
Legion Of Doom Connex With 911 Attacks Denied
New For PC: Modern, Color Clip A
Computer TV Listings
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- The following are the scheduled topics which producers say will be covered on upcoming computer-related television programs.
PCTV Live - weekly half hour, host Victoria Smith. PCTV is carried on the Mind Extension University Cable Network (check local listings for schedule but the main feed is on Saturday at 6 p.m.) and on the G6 Satellite, Channel 22 feed times (Eastern Time) are 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Thursdays and again Sundays at 11:00 a.m.
October 15, 1992 - CorelDRAW 3.0, a drawing program for PCs; also, a look at practical uses for virtual reality.
October 22, 1992 - Windows for Workgroups; Stan Miastkowski explains the basics of setting up a local area network; BYTE's Rob Mitchell reviews several products.
October 29, 1992 - Claris FileMaker PRO for Windows, a spreadsheet and database package.
MacTV - Daily hour-long show on Satellite G6, Channel 22, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Eastern Time. Also on Mind Extension University Cable Network Monday and Saturday from 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
October 15, 1992 - Adobe Systems' Illustrator 3.2 and Photoshop 2.01; Specular International's infini-D; and Nisus Software's Nisus.
October 16, 1992 - T/Maker Company's Click Art; Don Crabb's Quick Time; ExperVision's TypeReader 1.0; Inline Design's Tesserae; and Aldus Corporation's IntelliDraw.
October 19, 1992 - Letraset USA's LetraStudio V2.0; Don Crabb's System 7: File Sharing - Set Up; ASD Software's WindoWatch; and Microtek Lab's ScanMaker 600ZS.
October 20, 1992- Edmark Corporation's Millie's Math House; Shiva Corp.'s LanRover/L; and Aldus Corporation's Persuasion 2.1.
October 21, 1992 - Don Crabb's A Look at the Performa 400; MASS Microsystems' Quick Image 24; and Fox Software's FoxBase+/Mac 2.01.
October 22, 1992 - DeltaPoint's DeltaGraph Professional; Microsoft Corporation's Excel 4.0: What's a Spreadsheet; Dayna Communications' NetMounter; and ALSoft's Power Utilities.
October 23, 1992 - T/Maker Company's FaxMania; Interplay Productions' Dvorak on Typing; Now Software's Now Up-To-Date; and Nolo Press's WillMaker 4.0.
October 26, 1992 - Edmark Corporation's Kid Desk; Hayes Microcomputer Products' Modems; Dayna Communications' PathFinder; and SITKA's MacTOPS 3.1.
October 27, 1992 - Don Crabb's A Look at the QAuadra 950; Adobe Systems' Photostop 2.01 Tutorial; Letraset USA's LetraStudio V2.0; ASD Software's FileGuard 2.7; and MASS Microsystems' Hard Drives.
October 28, 1992 - Software Toolworks' Grolier's Encyclopedia; DeltaPoint's DeltaGraph Professional; and Beagle Bros' BeagleWorks.
October 29, 1992 - Aldus Corporation's SuperPaint; Don Crabb's Glossary: SCSI; Dayna Communications' DaynaSTAR Hubs & SCSI/Link; and Terrace Software's Mum's the Word Plus.
October 30, 1992 - Adobe Systems' Photostop 2.01 Tutorial; T/Maker Company's ClickArt; Letraset USA's Fontek; Interplay Productions' Dvorak on Typing; and Nisus Software's Nisus.
(John McCormick/19921015/Press Contact: Wayne Mohr, PCTV, 603 863-9322)
r, PCTV, 603 863-9322)
10/16/92
Computer TV Listings
GENERAL
HP To Intro 2 New Printers
Local Phone Update
ROUNDUP: Stories Carried By Othe
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Roundup is a brief look at some computer stories carried in other publications received here this past week.
October's Technological Horizons in Education (THE Journal) looks at applying emerging technologies to schools.
Telephony dated October 12 looks at ISDN CPE or customer premises equipment -- hardware that phone company customers will use to access high performance Integrated Services Digital Network voice and data transmissions.
Networking Management for October takes the unusual step of looking not at how new technology affects networking, but at how it affects network managers -- how their jobs are changing and will change in the future.
The October 12 issue of Government Computer News reports that federal employees are telling Congress that they are willing to comply with the Computer Security Act and protect data better but that they can't do so without more money for special hardware and software.
November's Computer Shopper looks at Dell Computer's 325NC Color Notebook.
Computer Reseller News came out with two issues this week, one dated October 12 and another dated the 13th, although the both arrived at this office on the same day.
The first of the week's issues looks at the restructuring of Computerland while the Special Networld Edition dated the 13th says that UnixWare has beaten both Microsoft NT and Solaris 486 to the market.
(John McCormick/19921016/)
s 486 to the market.
(John McCormick/19921016/)
10/16/92
ROUNDUP: Stories Carried By Other Media This Week
GENERAL
The Enabled Computer
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- By John McCormick. This is the third of four columns which look at how the computer press can help business cope with the Americans with Disabilities Act and how most editors fail to understand how important this information is to a large number of businesses.
My articles on the subject seldom mention the ADA; they don't need to, nor are they tearjerkers which turn off many readers and disgust a large number in the disabled community.
Advocates no longer need to raise awareness of the moral rights of the disabled; there is now an anti-discrimination law and a vigorous move within the disabled community to enforce that law.
What the computer press can and must do is provide information not about WHY companies should comply but showing HOW TO COPE with the new law.
What business needs is information showing how it can easily add these productive workers to its fold, and providing information is exactly what we in the press are best qualified to do.
What is the situation today?
Did you know that only one mainstream newsstand computer publication carries a regular column on technology for the disabled? Computer Monthly - this column originates in it. Considering that there are 43 million disabled people in the US, many of whom could benefit from access to computer technology, this is an amazing fact.
Douglas Kilarski, editor-in-chief of Computer Monthly, long ago took on my monthly column because he saw it as the right thing to do.
Wendy Woods also carries a version of The Enabled Computer in the international wire service Newsbytes, but outside the specialized disabled community publications, this column, in its two forms, is the ONLY regular source of such information.
If you think this sort of information is important, then I urge you to spread the word about this column.
This is not self-serving on my part, I won't make a penny more for the column if our circulation instantly doubles, but it is self-serving for you, the disabled reader or business person because the entire country needs more information on this subject brought into the mainstream, even if someone other than myself writes those articles and columns.
The specialized publications like "Closing the Gap" are vital to the disabled community, but, for the most part, they are not read by the people who do hiring, while mainstream computer magazines which are read by managers almost totally ignore the topic.
But perhaps even more disturbing than the general lack of interest among editors is the fact that when other publications try to do a story on the subject they often get it wrong.
I wrote to one major computer newspaper pointing out that an article had advised disabled job applicants to go to the interview prepared to explain how a business could accommodate them.
That isn't the applicant's job, but any employer reading that piece could understandably be led to think that the first thing he or she should do is ask obviously disabled applicants just what adaptive technology they need.
A quick reading of the ADA leads most people to believe that such questions would violate the law.
Under the ADA it is apparently not legal for a potential employer to even MENTION any possible disability until after he or she has offered employment.
An editor at that newspaper wrote back but the reply was actually unresponsive, apparently he didn't understand how much trouble companies could face if they took his publication's advice and inquired about adaptive technology during an interview.
This is a tricky field and any talk about the ADA or other legal issues should be left to those with real knowledge in the field. I am not qualified to give specific legal advice, but as I said before, what business really needs is information on what technology is available.
The next issue will conclude this extra-long diatribe about the lack of access to information about enabling technology.
(John McCormick/19921016)
hn McCormick/19921016)
10/16/92
The Enabled Computer
GENERAL
Australia: Software Prices Too H
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- The air has been heavy, like waiting for the summer monsoon. It broke this week in the Australian software industry in the form of an official report calling for changes in the way software is imported and priced.
The Prices Surveillance Authority (PSA) interim report on the Australian software industry has made a few recommendations that it says will ease the inflated prices paid by Australian users. "BUT!" says the industry, "They don't pay inflated prices. They pay less than any other market apart from North America."
Just which party is correct probably won't matter if the PSA gets its way and has the Copyright Act changed to allow parallel importing of software. At present users can import for their own use but are prevented from reselling. The PSA feels that the market is holding prices artificially high and that competition in importing would correct them.
By taking street price figures from the PSA report and vendor's submissions, it appears that some vendors are inflating prices but most are raising the US price by around 30 percent which they say is necessary for support and other costs that the US distributors don't have to provide. The PSA, however feels that prices can be brought down by around 20 percent and that this will encourage usage and therefore eventually make more jobs.
As expected, industry groups have reacted loudly to the report and are predicting the failure of many importers, a gross reduction in support levels, and many job losses in the industry.
(Paul Zucker/19921016)
he industry.
(Paul Zucker/19921016)
10/16/92
Australia: Software Prices Too High
TRENDS
Australia: Receiver Appointed To
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- HiSoft, the largest PC dealer group in Australia, has had a receiver appointed after its bank pulled the plug. Observers believe major creditors including IBM and Compaq may be owed as much as US$25M.
The National Australia Bank is believed to have insisted on a receiver despite urgent moves within the company during the last month to restructure and show that it was doing something about its situation.
Sources within the company cite the general industry downturn, the move towards discount dealers and shortage of some product such as the low-cost Compaq models as contributing factors. HiSoft has traditionally supplied high-end corporate and government buyers but many of these are believed to have moved away from HiSoft this year.
One buyer told Newsbytes he finally stopped ordering from HiSoft when he was suddenly asked for COD although he had always been a good payer. "They couldn't even promise me then that I'd get what I ordered. I assume they were also being asked for COD from their suppliers."
The company announced plans earlier this year to open a chain of superstores. It had grown well ahead of the industry for a number of years and some analysts believe it had outgrown its capital so that when sales sagged, the cash flow wasn't there to support the business. Part of the growth had included the takeover of other dealer chains.
The receiver is believed to be reasonably confident that the group can trade into a better position and perhaps even trade out of its problems. Turnover for this year was expected to be around US$150M.
(Paul Zucker/19921016)
to be around US$150M.
(Paul Zucker/19921016)
10/16/92
Australia: Receiver Appointed To Largest Dealer
BUSINESS
RasterOps Cuts Large-Screen Colo
MCI Stock Downgraded
India Comm '92: Multinational Fi
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Giant telecom multinationals eager to partake a share of the multibillion dollar Indian telecom market, laid a four-day spread of their wares at the India Comm '92 held from 13-16 October at New Delhi's Pragati Maidan.
Held against the backdrop of the wave of liberalization and privatization of value-added services, more than thirty foreign firms besides the Indian players converged at the second international exhibition and conference on telecommunications. They offered a wide spectrum of products and technologies to be examined and evaluated by the monopoly government sector, particularly targeted at the Department of Telecom (DoT)
England may waver, Greece may opt out, France may go for referendum, but the India Comm '92 has offered a glimpse of what European Community (EC) would be like. The splash was created with a coordinated presentation of what the European telecom giants can do to modernize India's telecom scenario. Prominent among the 14 companies offering their expertise were Alcatel, Siemens, Detecon GPT, Motorola, Philips, Radiall, Radio frequency Systems, Rohde & Schwarz and Wandal & Goltermann.
"Various competitors for the first time have come under joint EC banner to score an edge over those contesting in bits and pieces to assure the Indians that we conform to international standards," boasted Juergen Rosrbaun of the Commission of the European Communities.
The product-spread ranged from digital electronic switches from Alcatel and GPT, ISDNs, access hubs, gateways from Gandalf-Infotron Motorola cellular communication systems, private radio systems and pagers from Philips Kommunikations, to Radiall's attenuators terminators, couplers and Opticable's fiber optic cables.
Another star participant at the India Comm this year was AT&T which emphasized its prowess in building, managing, and operating telecom networks. Currently a presence in India, the firm is promoting its network management system (NMS) technology to further consolidate its position, although DOT is keeping mum over its NMS tender.
Although present on a smaller scale, China External Trade Development Council (CETRA) of Taiwan, was seen promoting its nine-firm delegation, displaying products ranging from fax modems to microwave communication equipment.
Only Siemens AG, out of the three companies which have bagged the letter of intent for the two-lakh line digital switching exchange (others being Ericsson and Fujitsu), made an appearance at the show. The German telecom giant is gearing up to offer competition not only to established multinationals in India like Alcatel in small capacity configuration but also to the local stars as Centre for Development of Telematics (CDOT), Indchem Electronics and Meltron.
Others trying to make a dent in their share include AT&T and GPT Ltd. the Guineas record holder for its System X, having an eight lakh busy hour call attempts (BHCA) handling capacity. Even though the company lost in the bid for the supply of large digital exchanges it is promoting its cost-effectiveness in connecting rural areas without setting up exchanges there.
The worldwide popularity of the cellular mobile communications has finally touched the Indian shores. With the country opening up for privatization of these value-added services, various telecom giants are vying with each other to woo the Indian customer with their range of cellular systems and paging services. While stalwarts like Motorola Ltd., Philips Kommunikations Industrie AG., and Siemens exulted their proven technical expertise along with the multivendor hardware compatibility of their cordless systems, paging equipment and other personal communication devices, smaller players like Paging Systems Ltd., were equally vociferous about their capabilities. Keen to supply their wares to the firms selected for offering operating radio paging and cellular mobile services in the country many like Alcatel and Philips have already set up manufacturing units in alliance with local players. A showcase of their range of products to be manufactured here was India Comm '92.
The multinationals hogged all the limelight at the India Comm '92 be it through their imposing displays or through their technical or manufacturing collaborations with Indian firms in electronic testing, connecting and exchange equipment. C-DOT presented its proud creations: the Rural Automatic Exchange (RAX), EPABX and the Main Automatic Exchange (MAX), all indigenously designed and produced. Tata Telecom Ltd., TVS Dupont Ltd., Indchem Electronics, Usha Rectifier Corporation (India) Ltd., which is currently dependent on customers like the DOT, Indian Telephones Industries and Indian Railways, are banking on their foreign connections to help them score the edge. Others like Rajasthan Telematics Pvt Ltd., Applied Electronics Ltd., Crompton Greaves Ltd., are confident that their indigenous skills will see them through.
A visit to the India Comm '92 left no doubt about the alacrity of the multinationals to tap the potentials of the Indian telecom arena, which is estimated to be nearly $40 billion by the year 2000. All of them seem to be awaiting the green signal from the local decision makers to flood the country with their expertise and merchandise, to take a well-networked India into the 21st century.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19921015)
he 21st century.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19921015)
10/16/92
India Comm '92: Multinational Firms On Parade
TELECOM
MacWorld Australia Set For Novem
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Do you fancy a trip down under next month? What better excuse than MacWorld Australia exhibition and conference on November 12th to 14th in Sydney -- just days before the start of Fall COMDEX in Las Vegas.
Apart from the exhibition there are three forum strands: business training and introduction to programming. Each will be held over three days. The business forum will focus on Apple Computer's Macintosh in the business environment, with keynotes by Apple's Ian Diery T/Maker's Heidi Roizen, and Farallon's Reese Jones.
Sessions include printing technologies; QuickTime and media integration; QuickTime to production; spreadsheet comparisons; word processing comparisons; database comparisons; workgroup computing; and e-mail.
Registration for the conference is AUS$295 for three days (around US$210) from MacWorld Expo, phone +61-2-2645727 or fax +61-2-906 3232.
(Paul Zucker/19921015)
-906 3232.
(Paul Zucker/19921015)
10/16/92
MacWorld Australia Set For November
APPLE
New For Networks: Asante Upgrade
New For Windows: Virtual Workspa
IDG Doing Personal Digital Assis
FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- IDG's International Data and Link Resources research groups want to do an in-depth study on the latest hot vapor industry, consisting of products like the Apple Newton and services based on those products.
Apple calls such products Personal Digital Assistants, while AT&T prefers Personal Communicators for products based on its Hobbit chip set. Bruce Stephen of IDC has chosen Personal Productivity Products, or P3s. He discussed the proposal with Newsbytes.
"What's needed is an outside objective firm like us to do the research and guide these companies in the marketplace. We did an extensive study of pen computing, bought by over 25 companies. Our study indicated there is interest in pen computing, but it would be several years before there were significant volume opportunities. Many of our buyers were in the early stages of research into the market. The other conclusion was pen computing equals handwriting recognition, and there were a lot of perceived applications for pen computing in the office, as opposed to the field. That study was done at the end of 1991, and was distributed to clients in the first quarter of 1992."
The results seemed prescient as sales for pen-based systems fell short of some expectations in 1992.
Stephen and Michael French of Link say that the proposed products from AT&T, Apple, Tandy, Motorola, Hewlett-Packard and others "combine the power of cellular phones, fax machines and pen-based computers." Their preliminary analysis, based on existing in house resources, indicates that total annual sales of these P-3 devices will exceed 1.5 million units or $660 million by 1995 not counting the entertainment based and personal communicator product categories. The initial research also indicates the consumer market will be slow to take off.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921015/Press Contact: Bruce Stephen, IDC 508-935-4269)
Press Contact: Bruce Stephen, IDC 508-935-4269)
10/16/92
IDG Doing Personal Digital Assistant Research
TELECOM
New For PC: Sigma Designs Multim
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Sigma Designs has been concentrating on the Macintosh over the past few years, even though the company's roots were in the PC marketplace. It's now back in the PC market with Winstorm a card that will turn a PC into a multimedia machine.
Sigma Designs says WinStorm has two main parts: video and sound. On the video side, the board uses the Acumos/Cirrus Logic AVGA3/5422 super VGA controller chip which gives the board the ability to accurately display 24 bits of color for each pixel. 24-bit display is only supported for a screen resolution of 640 by 480 pixels. The board can also display 640 by 480 pixels and 800 by 600 pixels with 64,000 colors, and 640 by 480, 800 by 600, and 1024 by 768 pixels with 256 colors.
Another interesting feature is the board's ability to support several scan rates. In 640 by 480 mode, the board can have a scanning frequency of 120 Hz which is well above the rate necessary for completely flicker-free appearance. At other resolutions, there is some degradation in this ability so that at 800 by 600 the board can operate at 100 Hz. At 1024 by 768, the board can operate only at 72 Hz. Sigma Designs officers have told Newsbytes that this ability is unique in the industry.
On the sound side, the company chose to use Yamaha's YMF262 sound synthesis chip which gives the board the ability to provide 16-bit sound similar to that provided by a CD player. The chip also provides up to 20 channels of sound synthesis and stereo operation. All of these capabilities are provided to the user via a stereo jack on the back of the board where speakers can be attached. There is also a MIDI connector, and there is a SCSI connector. The SCSI connector can be used to attach a CD-ROM player to the machine. If this is done, the machine meets and exceeds Microsoft's requirements for a multimedia PC (MPC), the company contends.
Sigma Designs has signed licensing and distribution agreements with three software companies whose products will be bundled with the WinStorm board. Asymetrix is providing the Multimedia Make Your Point program, a Windows-based presentation package incorporating sounds and animation. Animotion is providing MCS MusicRack. This is a utility that allows the use of multimedia hardware through the metaphor of the home stereo equipment. Midisoft is providing the Multimedia Music Library, a collection of MIDI sounds and music with utilities to edit and play these pieces.
The whole bundled package is scheduled to ship on October 26. Company spokespeople told Newsbytes that the board and the software are complete and but packaging is still to be done. Retail price is expected to be set at $429.
Company spokespeople have also told Newsbytes that this is the first in a series of new products and announcements that Sigma Designs is planning for the next few weeks. More PC multimedia products as well as Macintosh products are due to be unveiled soon.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Allied Telesis has vowed to do to the network interface card market what it did to the transceiver market -- come in at a very aggressive price, gain market share, and keep it.
The company has introduced six cards at extremely low prices starting at $79.95. Compare this to its competitors' street prices which hover at about $120.
An Allied Telesis spokesperson told Newsbytes that following the aggressive pricing, the firm's strategy includes an immediate attempt to lower prices again through redesign activities. In this way, the company makes very little money in the beginning, but as volumes increase and efficiency is achieved, the company starts making a respectable profit.
The six new cards are divided into two models. The 1500 series are for those looking for the utmost in performance and who do not care too much about memory consumption. The 1700 series is for the obverse -- those who care about memory but are willing to give a little on speed. Within each series there are three models. The T models support only a 10Base-T connector and cost $79.95. The BT models support both a 10Base-T and a BNC connector and sell for $99.95, and the FT models support 10Base-T and have an FOIRL connector and sell for $299.
All six cards have a set of four LEDs that give Transmit, Receive Link, and Collision status. All of the models have been tested and certified by Novell and Microsoft and come with a lifetime warranty. Drivers included with the cards include those for IPX, ODI, and NDIS.
NORCROSS, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Dolphin Networks is showing a new line of network protocol analyzers at its booth at the NetWorld show being held in Dallas, Texas this week. The Dolphin ESP line of network analyzers is comprised of three models that attach to each of the three most popular kinds of network media: Ethernet Arcnet, and Token Ring.
ESP stands for Expert System Protocol. Dolphin has designed an expert system into each of the three models that will automatically troubleshoot the problems that are most common to that topology. The products are composed of the appropriate network interface card and the software. The card is a standard ISA 16-bit card and the software is DOS-based. The software provides the ability to monitor network performance in real time.
The network administrator can also have the product perform real-time capture and monitoring of packets while applying selected filtering to the data; real-time display of data like network bandwidth utilization with further breakdowns on a statistical basis or by protocol and packet type, etc.; real-time alarms; and an optional feature for remote control and display.
The tools have the standard compliment of triggers and selectable alarm conditions that one would expect from such a tool. It will also capture data to files and will support the capturing of data to multiple files for different situations as set up by the user. The expert system operates on these files and diagnoses potential problem areas that need further investigation or remedial efforts. Dolphin ESP is one of the only such tools that use Time Domain Reflectometry to calculate the location of problems such as collisions and cable breaks.
Many kinds of network traffic and protocols are supported by Dolphin ESP. Some of the protocols supported include IPX/SPX, TCP/IP Appletalk, StreetTalk, NetBIOS, XNS, and SMB.
Dolphin ESP Arcnet will retail for $995; Dolphin ESP Ethenet will retail for $1495 and Dolphin ESP Token Ring will retail for $1995. All three products are being shown at NetWorld this week and will begin shipping within the next few weeks.
(Naor Wallach/19921015/Press Contact: Susan Wells, Irwin Ink for Dolphin, 619-450-1960/Public Contact: Dolphin Networks, 404-279 7050)
blic Contact: Dolphin Networks, 404-279 7050)
10/16/92
New For Networks: Dolphin Network Analyzers
GENERAL
New For PC: Reading Adventures I
ROCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Davidson & Associates has released a new program designed to help children learn to read. "Reading Adventures in Oz" (Oz) is the name of this new program which is closely related to the L. Frank Baum series of books.
The child can select which of the four characters he or she wishes to help in their quest: Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, or the Tinman. Once the character has been selected, the child must help the character fulfill some tasks. When these have been completed successfully, the wizard grants a wish to one's character.
Within the game setting, there are three levels of operation. These are loosely patterned after the three stages of reading comprehension taught in schools today. Level for pre-readers concentrates on teaching word and object association, shape and color identification identification of similarities and differences and other such activities.
Level 2 is intended for the early reader. At this level the concentration is on exercises that teach the long and short vowel sounds, beginning and ending sounds and letters, rhymes, recognition of words, categorization, and the perception of relevant details. Level 3 is for the experienced reader. This level deals with the use of context to construct meaning, problem solving, drawing conclusions and recognition of details, adjectives, nouns, verbs, and digraphs.
By ages, level 1 corresponds to 4 and 5 year olds, level 2 to 6 and 7 year olds, and level 3 to 8 and 9 year olds. These are rough estimations as each child will reach these stages at different times.
The program has begun shipping and retails for $59.95. At this time there is only a DOS version available and the company has not made plans to port this to any other platform. The graphics animation, and sounds of this program requires a VGA display and a sound card. A list of sound cards supported is available from Davidson.
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- To encourage its customers to move up to the most recent DOS editions of its 1-2-3 spreadsheet program, Lotus Development is offering a free copy of Symantec's Norton Desktop for DOS Starter Edition. The offer runs until December 31.
The Norton Desktop for DOS Starter Edition, a special edition for the Lotus promotion, is meant to make DOS easier to use and help users better organize and manage their files. The edition includes file management and anti-virus features as a drag-and-drop user interface. It is available now in upgrade versions of 1-2-3 for DOS Release 2.4 and Release 3.1+.
Users of any DOS version of 1-2-3 can upgrade to Release 2.4 or 3.1+ for $150 and get the Norton Desktop bonus, said a spokeswoman for the company. The offer allows users of Release 2.x packages which are less demanding of memory and processing power -- to move to Release 3.1+ if they wish, she added.
As with earlier Release 3.x DOS versions of 1-2-3, Release 3.1 differs most noticeably from the Release 2.x versions in offering three-dimensional spreadsheet capability. It requires at least an 80286 processor and 1.5 megabytes of memory, while Release 2.4 will run on any DOS PC with at least 512K bytes of memory.
Lotus' 1-2-3 for DOS Release 2.4 and Release 3.1+ offer users added analytical and spreadsheet publishing capabilities, Lotus said while maintaining data, macro, style and keystroke compatibility with Lotus' spreadsheets for other platforms.
Release 2.4, introduced in the spring, includes Lotus' SmartIcon technology -- first used in the Windows version of 1-2-3 -- and the Backsolver multi-variable goal-seeking tool.
Hardware requirements for the Norton Desktop for DOS Starter Edition are the same as for 1-2-3 Release 2.4: any DOS PC with at least 512K bytes of memory.
Existing 1-2-3 for DOS users can upgrade to the new DOS offering directly through Lotus by calling 1-800-TRADEUP, or through Lotus Authorized Resellers. The announcement applies only to the United States, Lotus said.
(Grant Buckler/19921016/Press Contact: Karen Schiff, McGlinchey & Paul for Lotus, 617-862-4514; Public Contact: Lotus, 1-800-TRADEUP)
-862-4514; Public Contact: Lotus, 1-800-TRADEUP)
10/16/92
Lotus Offers Norton Desktop With 1-2-3 Upgrade
Sprint, Centel Get Serious About
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- With its joint registration statement effective, Sprint and Centel are now free to talk about, and push for, a merger that was announced early this year, to loud boos from some shareholders. The two companies said shareholders will vote on the deal December 2.
Many arbitrageurs were very upset early this year when the deal was announced, since Centel had put itself up for bids and speculators had raised its stock price to over $40 per share. The indicated value of the Sprint deal, which will be paid in stock is about $32. This meant a bath for speculators and some, like Moran & Co. of Connecticut, remain opposed to it.
But Sprint Chairman William Esrey and Centel head Jack Frazee said in a statement they're confident the merger will be approved. The tax-free transaction gives Centel holders 1.37 shares of Sprint for each Centel share, and about 35 percent of the total common stock. In a press statement, the two top men said the new company will be the third-largest long distance phone company, serve 5.7 million local phone lines, and have the ninth largest cellular network, with over 20 million "pops" or potential customers. Cost savings, which speculation has it could be job cuts, were also promised within two years. Frazee said in his letter to shareholders their dividends will go up over 50 percent with the merger.
In recent trading on Wall Street, Centel stock has been selling at about $32.50 per share, near the price put on the merger indicating that stock players also think the merger will now go through.
As part of its filing, Centel released documents indicating it got 18 bids for parts of the company, following a bidding process of two months during which 45 prospective buyers requested bid submission materials. But no firm bid was received for either Centel's local telephone properties or its entire cellular network. Frazee said the documents prove he took the best possible deal.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921016/Press Contact: Sprint, Susan Kraus 913-624-2530; Bill White, Centel, 312-399-2735)
24-2530; Bill White, Centel, 312-399-2735)
10/16/92
Sprint, Centel Get Serious About Merger
TELECOM
IMM Changes Name, Discusses SCS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- At a New York press conference, International Mobile Machines announced it is changing its name and discussed the acquisitions and orders detailed earlier to Newsbytes.
The new name for IMM is InterDigital, and key to its acquisition of SCS Mobilecom and SCS Telecom are 30 patents related the Code Division Multiple Access, or CDMA, technology. The new symbol for the company on the American Stock Exchange will be IDC.
InterDigital has patents on Time Division Multiple Access, or TDMA, technology, which it uses in a system called the Ultraphone that offers the equivalent of wired phone service to rural areas without wires. As a digital cellular technology, TDMA has been endorsed by the US cellular industry. But some operators, most recently US West, have decided instead to go with CDMA. The reason: the approved version of TDMA offers only three times the capacity of present analog systems, while the equivalent CDMA offering has 10 times analog capacity.
SCS has been working on a variant of CDMA called Broadband-Code Division Multiple Access, or B-CDMA. The technology was originally created by military planners to prevent the other side from jamming important broadcasts. SCS has submitted its Broadband-CDMA technology for evaluation to the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, the trade group which approved TDMA, and the Telecommunications Industry Association as a second standard for the US cellular industry. It will compete there with a CDMA scheme from Qualcomm of San Diego, which is partly owned by Pacific Telesis and NYNEX, both large cellular operators. A CDMA decision is expected by the end of 1993.
Under terms of the merger, SCS gets 2 million shares of restricted common stock and equivalents. Plus, key executives and managers were given options to buy another 1.59 million shares. SCS President Donald Schilling becomes an officer and member of the InterDigital board. The merger brings to 43 the total number of InterDigital patents in the US. There are also 25 filings at the patent office, and it has patents or filings in 30 other countries.
The company also announced it has gotten orders for 75 of its UltraPhone units from Acuity Digital. The order is worth $30 million. Acuity will use the systems to create a network of Improved Mobile Telephone Service cellular operations, which will work with an old cellular technology. Acuity hopes TDMA will give IMTS enough capacity to be competitive with existing networks. The company said it expects to begin service in Minnesota before year end. Further plans are to immediately expand in the Midwest and West Coast markets, with national distribution by 1995.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921016/Press Contact: David L. Smith InterDigital, 215-278-7800)
t: David L. Smith InterDigital, 215-278-7800)
10/16/92
IMM Changes Name, Discusses SCS Acquisition
TELECOM
US Government Sniffs Out Russian
Australia: Telecom Law Book On P
UK: Dr Solomon's Anti-Virus Tool
PC Fortunes Up As Mainframes Go
US Makes Commercial Software Pir
Australian Multimedia Program Te
Battle For European Videophone S
Apple Likely To Outsell IBM In P
obile Phone Service Goes
Apple's Record Earnings, Despite
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Apple Computer, despite layoffs and the closing of its Fremont California facility, is reporting record revenue and income for its fiscal 1992 year.
For the year, Apple Computer reports a 12 percent increase in revenue compared to 1991, and a 71 percent increase in net income over last year. For the quarter, the company said net revenue increased 17 percent over last year, but its net income in the fourth quarter was up 20 percent above 1991 figures and earnings per share are up 21 percent. Annual earnings per share were reported as nearly 70 percent higher for 1992 than in 1991.
Net revenue for the fourth quarter was reported to be $1.768 billion up from $1.507 billion in the same quarter last year. Net income was $97.6 million compared to $81.2 million in the same quarter last year. A restructuring charge of $224 million last year, or $138.9 million after tax was taken in 1991, Apple Computer added.
Earnings per share are $0.81 compared to $0.67 cents per share in the year ago quarter. Net revenue overall for the year was $7.087 billion compared to $6.309 billion last year and net income was $530.4 million compared to $309.8 million last year. Earnings per share for the year were $4.33, but last year's earnings per share were charged $1.16 for the restructuring leaving a net per share of $2.58 in 1991, Apple Computer said.
Apple Computer has cut back on its employees both last year and this year. In June of 1991, Apple Computer laid off a total of 1,200 employees worldwide and cut the pay of its executives by 15 percent. In September of this year the company announced the closing of its Fremont, California facility and reorganization cuts which netted the loss of 345 positions with Apple Computer.
Apple has traditionally announced price cuts in the fall to bolster sales for the final quarter report and as a preliminary move before announcing new products, according to industry analysts, and this year was no exception. The company announced price cuts in September on most of its product line, and is now trying to attract sales to small businesses through special financing as well. The company is emphasizing data sharing with IBM and compatible PCs in its promotional efforts and is expected to offer a new line of Powerbook portable Macintosh computers soon.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921016/Press Contact: Cindy McCaffrey Apple Computer, tel 408-974-1578, fax 408-974-6412)
pple Computer, tel 408-974-1578, fax 408-974-6412)
10/16/92
Apple's Record Earnings, Despite Recent Layoffs
APPLE
Military Pocket Computer Develop
New For Windows: Graphics Works
Denver Firm To Acquire SecaGraph
DENVER, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Denver-based Video Communications & Radio Inc (VCRI) has announced that it has signed a letter of intent to acquire SecaGraphics, Inc.
VCRI placed the value of the acquisition at $5 million, through a combination of cash and preferred stock. SecaGraphics is a developer of computer-aided dispatch and field service management software primarily for the cable TV industry.
SecaGraphics says its cornerstone product, Mapping and Graphics Integrated Computer (MAGIC), is the only software system capable of delivering totally integrated geographical mapping, design engineering, and cable system operation analysis, asset management and construction management capabilities. The company also provides CADD and design engineering consulting services.
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- A Microsoft Corporation spokesperson told Newsbytes that the company will start shipping version 5.1 of Microsoft Word for Macintosh, an upgrade to its popular word processing program for Apple Computer's Macintosh during the first half of November.
Russ Dorr told Newsbytes that Microsoft's executive vice president Mike Maples officially introduced the upgraded program at last night's October meeting of the Mac LA Users Group in Los Angeles.
The new version features a new toolbar and a special installation procedure for Apple's PowerBook computer. The install routine is customized for the 2.2 MB disk size of the PowerBook, and also installs a battery indicator on the ruler. The program also supports QuickTime, which allows users to insert and edit movies in their word processing documents prepared with Word.
Word for Mac 5.1 will include a customizable 3D toolbar, with the ability to install 19 buttons on 9-inch monitors, 25 buttons on 13-inch monitors, and up to 30 buttons on monitors with 16-inch or larger screens. The toolbar can be set to appear on the top, left or right on the monitor, and provides more than 150 customizable button faces and 300 commands.
Microsoft has also added a facility to address and print envelopes change text case, increase or decrease font size, add borders, and open, save or print files with a single mouse click. Users will also be able to speed up the search for files by searching in a specified folder instead of searching over an entire network or drive.
A text annotation feature allows workgroups to communicate when making changes to shared documents, and the program will automatically date stamp and record the editor's initials when documents are annotated. The date-stamp and initials appear as hidden text which can printed separately or within the document.
Microsoft told Newsbytes it has added a new Table button in the program which allows users to add a table with a specified number of rows and columns, adjust the table size by selecting rows, columns or cells and clicking on the Table button, and convert tab or comma delimited text into a table.
Included with the program is Microsoft Graph, an object linking and embedding (OLE) that can turn Word tables into 2D and 3D charts when the user clicks on the new Graph icon. Objects are reusable portions of code or user-created items that can be linked to and/or embedded in other documents.
A "drop caps" feature will allow users to insert a drop cap in the margin or surround it by text, and specify size of the drop cap by lines deep or point size. Microsoft has also added an odd-even printing feature to make it easier to print long documents double-sided.
Dorr told Newsbytes that users of Word for Macintosh 5.0 can upgrade to the newer version for $14.95. Users of earlier versions can get the upgrade for $129, and first time users will see a price tag of $495 on the package. Microsoft said it expects to be shipping Word 5.1 for Mac in six languages by the end of the year. The program runs on a Mac Plus, SE, Classic, Portable, Powerbook, LC, the II family and Apple Computer's Macintosh Quadra. You'll also need one 800K floppy drive and a hard drive, System 6.0.2. to 6.0.8, Finder 6.1 or higher, a minimum of 1 megabyte (MB) of system memory. If you want to use the grammar checker, you'll need at least 2 MB of memory. If you have System 7 installed, a minimum of 3 MB of memory (4 MB with the toolbar or grammar checker) are necessary. Microsoft Graph requires System 7, so if you're running your Macintosh under a version of System 6, you won't gain the benefit of the bundled graphing program.
LOUISVILLE, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Storage Technology announced its third quarter results late yesterday, with earnings down from $0.59 for the same period last year to $0.10 per share this year on net income of $4.1 million.
Revenue for the quarter was $387.1 million, compared with revenue of $387.3 million for the same period last year. Income for the third quarter last year was $24.4 million.
Ryal Poppa, president of Storagetek, attributed the problem to its customers continuing to defer or reduce capital spending particularly for mainframe-environment computer products, and mostly in the European market. However, he was optimistic about the fourth quarter, saying "We anticipate that fourth quarter earnings will improve over third quarter, as they historically have."
However, Poppa tempered his optimism with caution, saying the company expects the business climate to "remain difficult for the balance of the year and through the first half of 1993."
Poppa said Storagetek plans to refresh its product lines in just about every category in 1993, but doesn't expect that to have much effect until the second half of '93. Storagetek is also instituting cost control measures such as a hiring freeze and salary reductions in the first quarter of '93. The company said it would try to avoid having to lay off any employees.
Storagetek stockholders approved a merger with XL/Datacomp in November 1991, despite an attempt by a XL/Datacomp stockholder to obtain a court order blocking the merger. XL/Datacomp sells and services midrange computers.
In January the company said its direct access mainframe disk array storage device "Iceberg" would ship in the second half of '92. Its stock took a beating after it appeared Iceberg would be delayed although a Storagetek spokesperson told Newsbytes that Iceberg was on schedule.
Earlier this year a group of stockholders filed suit against the company, claiming it provided misleading information which caused the stockholders to lose money on the stock they had purchased. Storagetek's first quarter results reflected net earnings of $0.30 per share, down $0.06 from the same period in '91.
In May of this year the company took another blow when it announced that Iceberg wouldn't ship until the fourth quarter, saying the developers were experiencing problems with a small portion of the Iceberg software code.
In late August, Newsbytes reported that Digital Equipment Corporation and Storagetek had signed an agreement creating a new company, Rocky Mountain Magnetics, which would product and sell inductive and magnetoresistive thin film heads for computer disk drives. Magnetoresistive heads are considered by many experts to be the next generation technology for disk drives. Digital retained control of Rocky Mountain Magnetics, owning 81 percent of the company.
EAGAN, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Supercomputer maker Cray Research announced late yesterday that it will eliminate about 650 regular and contract jobs as part of a restructuring program.
About half the layoffs will be from its Wisconsin operations, with the other half from Minnesota and various field offices. The company said the staff reductions will include both voluntary and involuntary reductions.
Other actions being announced include a wage freeze for 1993, the cancellation of 1992 bonuses for company officers, and the consolidation of the Rice Lake, Wisconsin and Chippewa Falls Wisconsin operations. Earlier the company had announced the reduction of about 150 contract positions. The cuts will bring Cray's workforce down to about 4,600.
The actions are expected to result in a one-time charge of about $40 million, which Cray Research says will be taken against earnings in the fourth quarter. Despite that, President John Rollwagen predicts the company will show a profit for the year. Cray is expected to announce its third quarter results Tuesday. Last year 3Q earnings were $1.05 per share on revenues of $205.6 million.
"The loss of positions is a loss for all of us, however given the difficult market we face today and the extended global recession, we have no option but to reduce, suspend or eliminate functions that are not determined to be our most critical today," Rollwagen said. He estimated that the reductions and other actions would save the company about $50 million.
Cray stock was at its lowest point in a year last week when it dropped to $22.50 per share. That's about half its all time high recorded in 1991. There's been a general slowdown in the supercomputer industry. Many of the machines are purchased by government agencies or defense contractors, both of whom have been cutting back. About two thirds of Cray's sales are to the government or educational institutions.
Cray recently lost its bid to have the Japanese government review the award of a supercomputer contract to NEC instead of Cray Research. The computer was to be used by a branch of the Japanese Ministry of Education.
(Jim Mallory/19921016/Press contact: Steve Conway, Cray Research 612-683-7133, fax 612-683-7198)
2-683-7133, fax 612-683-7198)
10/16/92
Cray Research Cuts 650 Jobs
BUSINESS
Court Says Sega Acts Illegal, Se
New For PC: Demographics Databas
Hungarian Telecom Sell-Off To Fi
Japan: Sony & DEC Selling Comput
News Reports Of 911 Attacks
Digital Appoints VP Engineering,
New For Networks: Asante Upgrade
New For Windows: Virtual Workspa
New For PC: Free Uncle Sam's Bud
Hyundai Electronics America Intr
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Six months after moving its PC operations from Korea to San Jose, California Hyundai Electronics America has introduced more than 60 new PC models and configurations.
At the same time the company has unveiled, what it calls "customer-driven strategies for distribution, end-user support and increased brand awareness."
The company has expanded its toll-free, end-user technical support help desk to seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Hyundai has also signed sales agreements with BrandsMart USA and BIZMART.
According to the company, the new products include more than 50 models and configurations, ranging from entry level 386SX/33 and SX/40 machines to 486 systems, including 486SX and DX2 desktop and tower models. The products are available through Hyundai's direct sales and resellers.
As an example of the new systems, Hyundai cites the 486SX/33 based system, the 433S, which offers 32 million pixels per second of video performance and 18 MIPS of processor performance. The system comes with four megabytes (MB) of RAM, an 120 MB hard drive, two floppy drives, and a 14-inch non-interlaced high resolution color display, all for $1,999.
The company is also offering two new lightweight notebooks the passive matrix color 25 megahertz (MHz) 486SLC Courier Spectra, and the monochrome 25 MHz 386SXL Courier. The Courier products offer a PCMCIA slot for expansion and a removable hard drive for security and upgradability. Both feature built-in trackball.
Hyundai's 486DX2 66MHz-based 466D2 includes 8MB RAM a 360MB hard drive, 1.4MB 3.5-inch and 1.2MB 5.25-inch floppy drives, and 14-inch high resolution non-interlaced color display, for $2,995. The 450D2 system includes the same features as the 466D2, but with a 200MB hard drive and an Intel 486DX2 50MHz processor,and is priced at $2,599.
The 466D2TE floor standing file server features a 66MHz 486DX2 processor with 8 kilobytes (KB) integrated cache, 32-bit EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture) architecture, 4MB RAM for $3,995.
The new line of PCs also includes what the company claims is the industry's first available 386SX-based system running at 40MHz. The system comes with 4MB RAM, an 80MB hard drive; 16KB cache memory; 3.5-inch 1.44MB and 5.25-inch 1.2MB floppy drives, an integrated serial, parallel and super VGA port, a mouse port, and a 14-inch interlaced monitor. The model is priced at $1,549 and also includes DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1.
The company has also introduced two 486-based multimedia products in six configurations.
In June Newsbytes reported that the Hyundai PC Group was cutting its PC prices by as much as 40 percent. At the same time, the company also decided to enter new channels of distribution, including direct telemarketing sales and support.
In April of this year, Newsbytes reported on Hyundai's initial management decision to move their PC business to the United States.
(Ian Stokell/19921016/Press Contact: Gene Kincaid, Hyundai Information Systems, 408-473-9240)
aid, Hyundai Information Systems, 408-473-9240)
10/16/92
Hyundai Electronics America Intros 60 New PCs
Apple's New Sales Campaign In US
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Apple Computer is starting a mail order, print, and radio advertising campaign to try to attract business customers to buy Macintosh computers in the US and will begin manufacturing and distribution expansion in India as well.
In the US campaign, The Easy Way, Apple USA offers special financing to businesses and special software bundles that include applications to run IBM compatible personal computer (PC) software on the Macintosh and for data exchange with PCs.
The emphasis in the direct mail promotional literature is on the purchase of a Macintosh IIsi. A special software bundle of Lotus 1-2-3 for Macintosh, Wordperfect for Macintosh, Universal SoftPC and AccessPC is offered to Macintosh computer buyers for a discounted price of $399, Apple said. The SoftPC and AccessPC software products are geared toward allowing Macintosh users to run PC software programs and exchange data with PC users via floppy disks.
Financing options include a lease to businesses with no money down, no security deposit, and no payments for 30 days; a "90 day same as cash" plan on a purchase of a Macintosh and software or peripherals purchased at the same time via the Apple Credit Card; and an exchange program where Apple will accept used Apple, IBM, and Compaq computers with a minimum cumulative trade-in value of $1,000 against the purchase of a new Macintosh.
On the other side of the world, Apple Pacific, a subsidiary of Apple Computer says India is one of its fastest growing markets and will manufacture the Macintosh LCII with Digital Equipment for the Indian market, a statement that confirms a story first appearing in Newsbytes earlier this year.
Apple says India's large university-educated population coupled with the country's new liberalized economic environment is offering increased opportunities. The company also said it has begun software development using Indian programmers for customized products in that country and for other parts of the world as well. Ten Indian programmers have been hired by Apple already, the company added.
A substantial portion of Apple's business is outside the US the company said in its most recent earnings statement. Apple Computer reported record net income of $530.4 million in its recent 1992 year end financial statement and said its fourth quarter revenues reflected an increase of 41 percent in international sales compared with 39 percent in the year ago quarter. For the year, Apple said international sales accounted for 45 percent of net revenues in fiscal 1992, a figure unchanged from the prior year.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921016/Press Contact: Stacey Byrnes, Apple Computer, tel 408-974-6076, fax 408-974-6412; Public Contact 800-538-9696)
ax 408-974-6412; Public Contact 800-538-9696)
10/16/92
Apple's New Sales Campaign In US And India
APPLE
Court Says Sega Acts Illegal, Se
New For PC: Demographics Databas
Hungarian Telecom Sell-Off To Fi
Japan: Sony & DEC Selling Comput
News Reports Of 911 Attacks
Digital Appoints VP Engineering,
New For Networks: Asante Upgrade
New For Windows: Virtual Workspa
New For PC: Free Uncle Sam's Bud
Cray Research Loses Japanese Com
Campaign In US
Lotus To Unveil 1-2-3 For Mac v1
STAINES, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Lotus will unveil the next release of its 1-2-3 spreadsheet for the Macintosh at Apple Expo '92, the company has announced. Apple Expo '92 will take place at Olympia in London between the 28th and 31st of October.
According to Lotus, 1-2-3 v1.1 includes two categories of enhancements -- usability and graphics handling. Specific enhancements include an improved "drag and drop" facility across two and three-dimensional spreadsheet files, as well as the ability to copy and paste across multiple cells using a single command.
Other features include the facility of piping data to and from Lotus cc:Mail, the company's electronic mail package, plus support for Quicktime.
As with version 1.0, v1.1 of 1-2-3 for the Macintosh supports file keystroke and macro compatibility with other computer platform editions of 1-2-3, including DOS. Windows, Unix, VM, VMS and MVS versions.
"Since introducing Release 1.0 nine months ago, we've seen many hundreds of companies expand their use of Macs. Apple's continuing emphasis on DOS compatibility and our release of 1-2-3 for Mac have really kick-started the multi-platform network this year," enthused Andrew Wyatt, Lotus U.K.'s product marketing manager.
According to Wyatt, the new release of 1-2-3 for Mac is the result of several thousand hours of usability tests and feedback from customers on both sides of the Atlantic. "If release 1.0 made you think about adding Macs to your PC network, Release 1.1 will really persuade you," he said.
(Steve Gold/19921016/Press & Public Contact: Lotus U.K. - Tel: 0784-455445)
Public Contact: Lotus U.K. - Tel: 0784-455445)
10/16/92
Lotus To Unveil 1-2-3 For Mac v1.1 In 2 Weeks
APPLE
EMC: International Focus Credite
HOPKINTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Many US based high tech companies have been undergoing losses, but EMC Corporation, a maker of cached disk arrays, showed yesterday that vendors can reap economic success by taking an international focus.
In ceremonies attended by Massachusetts Governor William Weld and other officials, EMC Corporation reported third-quarter increases of 119% in net income, 100% in earnings, and 59% in revenues over the same period last year, and also announced the company's ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9001 certification.
"EMC has become a shining example of what companies can and indeed must accomplish if they're going to compete in the global marketplace," stated Governor Weld.
Only 130 US companies have met the ISO standard, but adherence to the quality standard is almost expected by now in Europe, stressed Weld and other officials during the ceremony. "Just 15% of American companies have plans to meet ISO certification requirements by 1994, and even worse, nearly half have never heard of ISO 9000," asserted the governor.
"That means they're cutting themselves off from Europe -- which is emerging, along with North America and the Pacific, as one of the three great marketplaces of the world."
Added James P. O'Neil, president of National Quality Assurance Ltd.: "While ISO certification is quite common throughout the EC it is really just beginning to gain acceptance here in the States," O'Neil led an assessment team whose review of EMC's manufacturing procedures led to the ISO certification.
EMC's third-quarter revenues stand at more than $94 million, and revenues for the first nine months at over $240 million, an increase of 42% over the first nine months of 1991. Third-quarter net income was $7.3 million, and earnings were $0.26 per share.
Economic success and ISO certification have coincided with continuing expansion in both Europe and the Pacific for eight-year old EMC, which entered the cached disk array market just four years ago. The company now manufactures its products in Ireland and Puerto Rico as well as in Massachusetts, and carries out sales and marketing through 35 offices in North America, three in the Far East, and 13 in Europe.
During the proceedings yesterday, Michael Ruettgers, president and CEO of EMC, thanked company employees for participating in the quality certification process and also cited specific accomplishments of the company's products. Operating on IBM mainframe, IBM midrange, and Unisys computers, EMC's cached disk array systems are based on the company's modular Mosaic:2000 architecture.
"It was just two years ago that we launched the first Symmetrix ICDA product for the IBM mainframe market. EMC is now the fastest growing storage supplier in that market. We have also brought this technology to the Unisys mainframe market and just last week ComputerWorld magazine ranked our Harmonix ICDA storage systems as the leading disk array product for IBM AS/400 computers," he claimed.
Weld told Ruettgers and other EMC staff gathered at the event: "You've been competing against giants in your field, and you've consistently come out ahead. You are demonstrating that Massachusetts companies -- including those that don't have thousands of employees -- are ready for the big time, that we refuse to be left behind."
The governor added that through Massachusetts' Partners for Trade program, which sponsored a recent European and Middle East trade mission, he and other state officials have been urging compliance with ISO.
"We're singing the advantages of foreign trade, and also trying to educate businesses about the standards that foreign markets require," he concluded.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19921016; Press and reader contacts: Polly Pearson, EMC, tel 508-435-1000; Lloyd Benson and Glenda Cudaback Cudaback Strategic Communications for EMC)
enda Cudaback Cudaback Strategic Communications for EMC)
10/16/92
EMC: International Focus Credited For Stunning Success
BUSINESS
Maxtor Sells Storage Dimensions
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 16 (NB) -- Maxtor manufacturer of Winchester hard disk drives, is again selling and this time it's the Storage Dimensions, Incorporated (SDI) unit of the company. In January of this year the company announced the sale of the Penang, Malaysia headstack assembly plant to Read-Rite, and the Lanham, Maryland design division of its Storage Dimensions subsidiary to an investment group led by Grotech Partners of Balitmore, Maryland.
The entire Milpitas, California-headquartered SDI subsidiary is being sold to the SDI's own management and Capital Partners, a private investment firm located in Greenwich, Connecticut Maxtor said. SDI reported revenues ending March 28, 1992 of approximately $82 million. Maxtor says it will make some money on the deal in the form of cash, a subordinated note, and a minority interest in SDI as consideration, but no figures on exactly how much were released.
Maxtor acquired SDI, which sells magnetic and optical data storage subsystems, in 1987. SDI is also known for its software product, Speedstor, which is designed for the installation and diagnosis of hard disk drives on IBM and compatible computers. Interestingly enough, SDI pulled Speedstor off the market in 1991 because it claimed the software was too popular and wasn't helping the sales of the company's hard disk products. However, SDI relented and has released the highly rated version 6.0.
San Jose, California-based Maxtor says it wants to continue with SDI has a customer for its products and SDI company principles have expressed pleasure that Maxtor has agreed to the buy-out. The transaction is subject to definitive agreement and some conditions have to be met, but the companies say the deal should be complete before the end of the year.
Maxtor's other subsidiaries include Maxoptix, a supplier of optical storage products, which it owns jointly with Japan based Kubota. Maxtor boasts approximately 9,000 employees worldwide.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921016/Press Contact: David Eeg, Storage Dimensions Incorporated, tel 408-954-0710, fax 408-944-1208; Walter Amaral, Maxtor, 408-432-4949)
PUMA Rating: 3.25 (on a scale 1=lowest to 4=highest)
Reviewed for Newsbytes by: John McCormick, 10/16/92
Summary: 101 NASA image data files from the Hubble Telescope and various space probes complete with special image processing software.
======
REVIEW
======
Did you know that there is supposed to be a sculptured face carved into the surface of Mars? Well, there is -- I saw it. Not with a telescope, of course. Not only are my small scopes too small to see anything but a blur when I look at the red planet, but even the powerful professional instruments I have had the privilege of using over the years never show more than a larger blur.
I saw the face just as NASA scientists first saw it when the image was transmitted back from a satellite orbiting the planet.
Also included on this disc are images of the moon, galaxies, and other spectacular astronomical images, all in 8-, 16-, and 32-bit data files, ready for instant viewing or processing through 18 special software filters provided on the disc by The Astronomical Research Network.
Using the software you can add false colors, manipulate image contrast, remove signal "noise," zoom in to enlarge portions of the view, and smooth images.
I still don't know if that hockey mask-like face on Mars is a natural formation or a carving, but I can tell you that it certainly looks just like any National Hockey League goalie's mask.
Other images are just as spectacular but this CD-ROM isn't an astronomy lesson -- it is for serious amateurs who want to work with the same sort of data on their computers that professional astronomers use every day.
It may come as a surprise to most readers, but professional astronomers don't really look through telescopes anyway; they either view these sorts of images via computer monitors or analyze time-exposure photographs.
Any astronomy class or advanced armature should consider buying this disc -- you probably won't make any great discovery working with the software, but there is nothing to equal the feel of using the same signal data that came directly from the satellites.
============
PUMA RATING
============
PERFORMANCE: 3 The interface isn't all that friendly, but that is a minor annoyance -- the images are the important part.
USEFULNESS: 3 It would be nice to have a larger number of images available and an even wider range of software tools.
MANUAL: 3 The documentation is sufficient, but an introductory section for less sophisticated astronomy and image processing buffs would be a welcome addition.
AVAILABILITY: 4 Directly from the company by mail order, or from some computer software stores or mail order catalogs.
Runs on: Stand-alone, requires standard television - home stereo system optional
From: Philips Interactive Media, 11111 Santa Monica Boulevard Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90025. 800-845-7301
Price: $699 list
PUMA Rating: 4 (on a scale 1=lowest to 4=highest)
Reviewed for Newsbytes by: John McCormick
Summary: The Imagination Machine is a consumer electronics Compact Disc-Interactive player for interactive educational and entertainment programs ranging from Sesame Street to a tour of the Smithsonian.
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REVIEW
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The Imagination Machine, available in retail consumer electronics stores such as Sears and Circuit City, looks like a full-size CD audio player and is just as simple to install.
All you really need is a B&W portable TV color but stereo and large screen color do provide significant enhancement. I connected the audio output to a powerful home stereo system because IM is also a fine CD audio player.
The adult-style controller consists of a hand-held infrared VCR type remote with a one-finger joystick which is used to position the on-screen cursor.
IM is a consumer electronics-only system which distances itself as much as possible from the complexities of computers, but it takes a lot of computer power to make things appear this simple and the CD-I player contains a powerful Motorola M68070 microprocessor which controls the way images and sounds are presented.
Optional hard-wired controllers are available, including a giant Roller Controller track ball with a six-inch diameter ball that is perfect for children or some disabled users.
Philips supplied about 35 titles with the evaluation unit and the first one I installed was the Golden Oldies Jukebox disc which contains excellent CD-quality recordings of old rock-and-roll hits, but it also provides a series of still images that complement the music and provide text-based background on the song and singers.
The Jukebox disc has complete lyrics to each song that can be displayed in a sing-along style.
To complete the jukebox image, the main control menu of the program looks like a jukebox; there are even sound effects to simulate records being changed.
This is a cute, interesting application which, at $20, costs only a bit more than many good audio CDs and provides an entertaining background for parties.
But the IM's real strength is in the children's game or education and adult art titles.
Pecos Bill ($20) is a combined illustrated, text, and narrated (by Robin Williams) retelling of the legend of Pecos Bill combined with a pre-school through second grade-level educational game.
Sesame Street Letters and Numbers titles ($30 each) are just what you would expect, with the important addition that children have complete control over repeating or skipping segments.
The adult coffee-table art books are especially well done combining good narration with impressive quality still images of important art works.
The Smithsonian tour shows the interactive nature of the technology to good advantage, allowing visitors to create their own "guided" tour of technology.
Once a title is loaded into the player, the viewer sees an active control screen that allows one to either begin the program or eject the disc.
Program screens consist of images, text, and control buttons which are activated by moving the on-screen cursor to the button and pressing an "action" button on the remote controller.
Positioning the cursor is easy, using the joystick, and all choices are highly intuitive if you are used to running any stereo equipment.
Some of the titles include fast forward, pause, and stop buttons which are marked by the usual symbols rather than labeled with text. There is usually a short but acceptable delay in moving from one selection to another because of the need to search the disc and load the entire new image. There is no annoying image build-up as is seen with many computer-based multimedia images.
Some fine control is a bit more difficult to accomplish with the joystick remote, but it takes little practice to become used to the system.
A very recent development (not available for review) is the ability to add full-motion video to CD-I players by inserting an upgrade video compression chip. This should increase the number and versatility of CD-I titles available for the Imagination Machine.
There are now about 50 titles, ranging in price from $15 to $50.
IM is also XA compatible and can serve as the base system for Kodak's new Photo CD system that lets home-users store up to 100 35 mm images on a CD for playback on a standard television.
The Imagination Machine is a solid, well-developed product perfectly designed for the non-technical home user. The recent Kodak Photo CD development means that business or even home users could develop their own text-sound-photographic multimedia presentations for only a few hundred dollars using the IM as a playback system and a Kodak Photo CD dealer to "publish" the disc.
The biggest hurdle faced by the IM is gaining enough acceptance in the home market to attract more title developers, which will in turn sell more players. Recent price reductions and retail store discounting are helping to move the players out of the stores and into homes.
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PUMA RATING
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PERFORMANCE: 4 Everything is smoothly integrated, and both image and sound quality are excellent.
USEFULNESS: 4 The limited number of titles would make this rating much lower if it weren't for the compatibility with Photo CD discs and the ability to play standard audio CDs.
AVAILABILITY: 4 Sears, Circuit City, and other electronics stores.
MANUAL: 4 Documentation is easy to follow, and titles come with their own instructions.
(John McCormick/19920918/Press Contact: Dave Elliot, Cohn & Wolfe, 404-688-5900; Marijane Levee, Burson-Marsteller, 213-386 8776; or Philips, 310-444-6600, fax 310-478-4810)
86 8776; or Philips, 310-444-6600, fax 310-478-4810)
10/16/92
Review of: Philips Imagination Machine CD-I Player
REVIEW
GENERAL
Pyramid Intros MIServer ES Serve
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Hoping to take advantage of the continuing trend among corporations towards "open systems," Pyramid Technology Corp., has introduced the MIServer ES Series of mainframe-class servers.
Designed to "help customers 'open their proprietary data centers' to the cost and flexibility benefits of open systems," the ES Series offers scales to 24 processors and, according to the company, delivers 768 million instructions per second (MIPS).
Edward W. Scott Jr., executive vice president of Pyramid, said: "Corporations worldwide are looking to open systems to reduce cost of ownership while distributing information in a more efficient manner. Delivering a system with the power, capacity and scalability of the ES Series is essential to this process; however, solution providers must also deliver a comprehensive set of applications and services to meet the needs of the data center."
According to the company, to meet the demands of today's distributed, enterprise-wide networks, servers must scale to the processing requirements of an office environment supporting a dozen users all the way up to a data center host supporting thousands of concurrent users.
The MIServer ES Series consists of the MIServer ES Series Model MIS 2-ES containing two to four RISC (reduced instruction-set computer) processors, the MIServer ES Series Model MIS 4-ES supporting from two to eight RISC processors, and the MIServer ES Series Model MIS 12-ES supporting from two to 24 RISC processors.
The Integrated Device Technology R3002AE RISC processor is used in all the systems, which is a custom design for Pyramid based on the MIPS R3000 architecture.
In July Newsbytes reported that Information Builders had extended the reach of its EDA/SQL multivendor database access system to support Pyramid's MiServer T Series and MiServer S Series servers. The two companies also agreed to work jointly on systems integration for customers of either company.
BEAVERTON, OREGON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Central Point Software has created a new products group to manage a new series of products, technologies, and support services the company says is aimed at eliminating computer viruses.
The new group, called Network and Security Products, has been assigned the primary mission to provide products for network administrators and MIS (management information system) managers. The group's first official act was to introduce a new set of anti-virus products and services, including protection for Novell networks. According to Central Point, that is a critical need for PC networks.
The company said two new technologies, CentralTalk and CentralAlert, have been incorporated into the NetWare and DOS anti-virus product line. CentralTalk is a utility-to-utility communications protocol to support automatic cross-platform communications. CentralAlert is an active notification program built on CentralTalk, providing configurable alerts via pagers MHS electronic mail, or NetWare broadcasts.
Central Point says it is also expanding its Virus Protection Services Plan to supply ongoing support and rapid updating for new viruses.
In other Central Point Software-related news, the company announced that it has raised $17.85 million in private funding from LEGENT Corporation, a systems management software company, and from an investment limited partnership.
Central Point spokesperson Deanne Berry declined to name the partnership. As part of the deal John Burton, president and CEO of LEGENT has been named to Central Point's board of directors. The company says the money will be used for general purposes including strategic acquisitions of complementary products technologies and businesses.
Central Point has a history of acquisitions, having acquired more than a dozen companies over the past two fiscal years. Greene told Newsbytes there were no acquisitions currently in the works "that we can talk about." She declined further comment.
(Jim Mallory/19921014/Press contact: Deanne Berry, Central Point Software, 503-690-2260; Reader contact: Central Point Software, 503-690-2260)
contact: Central Point Software, 503-690-2260)
10/15/92
New For PC: Central Point Anti-Virus Products
Electronic Auto Ad Competition I
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- The Seattle Times has launched the Seattle Times AutoLine, a free shopping service on used cars and trucks accessible by touchtone telephone at 206-624-2255.
A voice information system leads callers through prompts to learn their preferences regarding vehicle type, make, model, year range, and maximum price, then callers hear a description of vehicles fitting the specifications.
The information comes from the Seattle Times and Post Intelligencer newspapers as well as local dealers. Hardware for the system comes from Dialogic, under the SCO Unix operating system, the paper said. CTL Communications, a unit of the French based CTL System, did the work.
The new service will compete with SureFind Classifieds By Telephone, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Surefind covers the entire Puget Sound area and claims it has the largest daily classified advertising inventory of used cars and properties for sale or rent in the area. Surefind started with property rental listings and only added used car listings later and said a few months ago it was getting about 5,000 calls a week. Surefind says it hopes to offer the service in other cities and eventually launch a classified information network for the entire US, but it will likely face stiff newspaper competition in every market.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921014/Press Contact: Bob Silver, The Silver Company for Surefind, tel 206-624-0388, fax 206-583 8753; The Seattle Times, Peggy Rinne, 206-464-3220)
e Seattle Times, Peggy Rinne, 206-464-3220)
10/15/92
Electronic Auto Ad Competition In Seattle
TELECOM
France Telecom, Cap Gemini Deal
Computer City Makes Vendor Barco
Group 1 Software Buys Arc Tangen
CompuAdd Slashes Prices 10-21 Pe
Ericsson Wins Singapore Order Fo
Apple UK Launches Educational Ma
Microsoft Opens 4 East Europe Of
Sun Cuts 600MP Prices, Intros La
Infonet & Telecom Finland Team U
IBM May Match Microsoft Workgrou
Japan: NEC/AT&T Create Semicondu
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- NEC and AT&T Micro Electronics have set up a joint venture firm dealing with semiconductor processors in Japan. The new firm will market semiconductor chips in the Japanese market.
According to NEC's President Tadahiro Sekimoto and AT&T Micro's President William Warwick, the new firm is called "Japan AT&T Semiconductor Chip Sales." It has total capitalization of 200 million yen ($1.7 million), which is owned 51 percent by AT&T Micro Electronics and 49 percent by NEC. Japan AT&T Micro's Maximino Pagan has assumed the presidency of the new firm which is located in Tokyo.
The joint venture firm is fairly small, and has started with about 15 employees. It will increase that number to 40 within two years. About 70 percent of the employees are from NEC and the rest from AT&T Micro.
The company hopes to obtain 10 billion yen ($83 million) in annual sales by 1994. The new firm will mainly sell SRAMs (static random access memories) and ASICs (application specific integrated circuits).
Apparently, this new firm was created to help sales of AT&T Micro's semiconductor chips under the Japan-US semiconductor treaty, which advocates that foreign chip firms gain a 20 percent share in the semiconductor sales in Japan.
Both firms will be able to purchase each other's chips at fairly low prices.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921015/Press Contact: NEC 81-3-3451-2974)
Miyazawa/19921015/Press Contact: NEC 81-3-3451-2974)
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Japan's major game machine maker Sega Enterprises says it has started a project to create major virtual reality game facilities in 50 locations throughout Japan.
Sega Enterprise is reported to have already chosen possible game facility sites in 20 places. Each site has around 7,000 to 10,000 square meters of space. Sega will spend between five and six billion yen (around $50 million) creating amusement facilities at each site.
Sega's first high tech amusement park will be opened in the Asia Trading Center in Osaka in 1994. Sega hopes to gain three to five billion yen ($33 million) annually at this park.
These amusement parks will have game machines and rides which use virtual reality concept. The users will be able to participate as heroes or heroines in adventure games.
The facilities will have multimedia games, which create a virtual reality environment using huge screens and large speakers. These facilities are backed by the military industry division of General Electric, and Sega has linked with GE to gain technical assistance. GE's military industry division specializes in producing simulation facilities for aircraft.
According to Sega's board director, Japan's game market is 700 billion yen ($6 billion), and it has been growing by 20 percent each year. It will double within a few years.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921015/Press Contact: Sega Enterprises, +81-3-3743-7447)
5/Press Contact: Sega Enterprises, +81-3-3743-7447)
10/15/92
Sega Creates Virtual Reality Arcade Game Facility
TRENDS
Seagate Bundles Compression Soft
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Seagate claims it is the first to bundle compression software with its hardware. The company is bundling a special version of Addstor's Superstor product, Superstor Personal Edition (PE), with its 40 megabyte (MB) ST351A/X hard disk drive.
Data compression products have become popular because they can increase the storage space on a hard disk drive without any noticeable difference in the performance of the drive. The increase in time to compress the data by the computer on the fly is offset by the time gained in writing less actual data to the hard disk drive.
Addstor says the PE edition of Superstor will need to be installed on the drive by the user and nothing is built into or changed about Seagate's hardware to specially adapt to the data compression. Addstor says PE will increase the capacity of the drive to between 70MB and 80MB, depending on the type of data stored on the drive.
Newsbytes asked Addstor representative Bob Gronski if Superstor products caused users to experience data loss or corruption in the use of database software products, which by nature allocate hard disk space somewhat differently than other products. Gronski said Superstor products have not experienced problems with database data loss or corruption and credited the fact that the Superstor compresses the drive's data sector by sector as the reason.
The PE edition does not offer floppy disk data compression usually offered by compression products, and will only work with Seagate drives, Addstor said. However, it does offer a defragmentation utility (which the software utilizes before it compresses the drive), an analysis utility that functions like the DOS CHKDSK command, and a statistics utility that shows the compression information for the hard drive.
Addstor has included a coupon for a $39.95 upgrade in the PE edition for its Superstor Pro 2.0 product, which will work on drives other than Seagate hard disk drives and offers floppy disk data compression. Addstor says the Pro product also allows compressed floppies to be read by computers without Superstor Pro 2.0 installed.
Newsbytes asked Seagate representatives if the company thought the Addstor compression product would help it sell drives it might not otherwise be able to move because of their small size. After all, most significant Windows products and Windows itself need approximately 10MB of disk space each in order to run at all. However, Seagate has said the 40MB ST351A/X is one of its most popular products for the entry-level PC market. However, no price increase on the bundle of the drive and Superstor PE is expected to end users, Addstor representatives said.
Some speculation exists that data compression will not really be practical until it is more standardized and offered in the hardware of the drives themselves. The Seagate announcement appears to be a small and single step in that direction.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921014/Press Contact: Bob Gronski, Addstor tel 415-688-0470, fax 415-688-0466; Julie Still, Seagate, 408 439-2276; Public Contact, Addstor, 1040 Marsh Road, Menlo Park CA 94025, tel 415-688-0470, fax 415-688-0466)
enlo Park CA 94025, tel 415-688-0470, fax 415-688-0466)
10/15/92
Seagate Bundles Compression Software With Hard Drives
MCI Stock Downgraded
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- While AT&T and MCI spar over the toll-free 800 number market, which will open-up considerably once customers can take their numbers with them when they change carriers, MCI's past success in the stock market is coming back to haunt it.
All the carriers, as well as big users of the numbers, have begun peppering federal regulators with petitions regarding the "800 portability" issue, with some big users wanting the move delayed. The most recent decision is that the numbers should become portable by next March, but there are also disputes over who should pay to maintain the databases needed for portability.
The FCC has further roiled the market by giving big customers 90 days to change carriers after the change, even if they are tied-up with long-term contracts with AT&T.
While MCI has increased its market share in regular long distance service, in part because of its "Friends and Family" calling plan, some analysts are wondering if the big discounts called for in that plan won't hurt earnings in the long run. Two brokerage firms, Donaldson Lufkin and Jenrette and Morgan Stanley. have lowered their ratings of the stock. Both claim it is because the price has risen to $30 and there are better values in the market, however.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921015)
Blankenhorn/19921015)
10/15/92
MCI Stock Downgraded
TELECOM
Field Computing Update
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- New kinds of wireless telephone technologies continue to move forward as the market awaits delivery of hardware.
Pacific Communication Sciences has received an experimental license from the Federal Communications Commission to run services in the 1895-1918 megahertz (MHz) frequency band, a microwave frequency the FCC wants to clear for new wireless phones called personal communications networks, or PCNs.
PCN phones would be light, inexpensive and competitive with existing cellular networks. PCS is also studying the idea of wireless business switches and local area networks.
In a related story, Qualcomm, which holds rights on the CDMA digital cellular technology, formed a group to work in the PCN area. The group will focus on applications for CDMA in the 1850 1990 MHz frequency range. Robert L. Warren, formerly program management director for CDMA, will head the new group. Qualcomm has in the past provided PCN-related equipment to Local Area Telecommunications of New York, and American Personal Communications of Washington, D.C..
If you have a PCN phone, a pager, a cellular phone, a fax machine, a modem, and a regular phone, you will need a personal phone number to link them. While many companies, including AT&T and Michigan Bell, have begun offering such services, BellSouth is still studying it. The company has 120 employees trying-out a Personal Number Service which links all these numbers with voice mail and fax mailboxes, trying to find what they are worth.
On a more immediate level, BellSouth's MobileComm unit said Radio Shack will sell pagers and service in its stores nationwide. The MobileComm PersonalPager will retail for $99.95 and will be available in most stores in November. The service can be activated with a single call to a toll-free number. Telocator the paging industry trade association, says the industry is growing 15-20 percent per year.
Also, Peoples Telephone reached agreements with Value Rent-A Car and the Florida licensee of Dollar Rent-A-Car to distribute portable phones and equipment through its Carifone unit. Peoples also signed a contract with Remote Telecom of San Francisco for use of an automated system which will allow for the rental of cellular telephones 24 hours a day. Peoples is best known for running pay phones, and has 22,000 phones under contract.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921015/Press Contact: Peoples Telephone Co., Richard F. Millitello, 305/593-9667, ext 155, Radio Shack Tony Magoulas, 817/878-4852; MobileComm, Jean Coppenbarger 601/977-1648; Tim Klein, BellSouth Enterprises, 404-249-4135; Pacific Communication Sciences, Kim Fedderly-Gower 619/535-9500; Qualcomm, Allen Salmasi, 619/597-5060)
n Salmasi, 619/597-5060)
10/15/92
Field Computing Update
TELECOM
Cathay Pacific Moving IT From HK
Hong Kong, 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific is to progressively move its cargo and passenger computer systems to Australia over the next three years.
The move has been welcomed by the Australian information technology (IT) industry, and was assisted by an Australian government waiver of sales tax on the imported, second-hand hardware.
Cathay Pacific is currently based in Hong Kong, and there has been much speculation about its moves as 1997 approaches (the year Hong Kong reverts to mainland Chinese ownership).
Already the airline has announced the move of an information processing center to Guangzhou China, from Hong Kong, citing cheaper land and labor. It says Sydney was also an ideal choice because of lower land prices and a suitable workforce pool. High inflation is another problem in Hong Kong that the company hopes it can avoid by moving.
Establishment costs for the Australian project are estimated at AUS$200 million and the move is welcomed by OTC which praised Australian government moves to attract Cathay.
"The decision demonstrates a commitment by government and industry alike to attract a large proportion of the growing number of transnational corporations locating in the Asia-Pacific region and establishing telecommunications hubs and data centers." said OTC's Steve Burdon. "It reflects the strength and international competitiveness of Australia's telecommunications network and the world class services it provides."
The Sydney base will employ about 50 people but Cathay expects existing Hong Kong staff to be redeployed in Hong Kong. One of the two existing Hong Kong centers will be retained for some time as a backup site.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 15 (NB) - Melbourne-based communications and networking company Datacraft has announced an AUS$3.6 million loss, after tax, for the financial year ended June 30. The company experienced a drop of AUS$8.7 million which was made up for with increased sales in the Asia market.
Overall revenue for the financial year was steady at AUS$81.6 million, with local revenues down to AUS$41.5 million. The loss is an AUS$5.9 million turnaround for the company, which posted an AUS$2 million profit last year. A deduction of AUS$6.5 million for extraordinary items was given as the reason for the turnaround. These included AUS$1.8 million to cover the cost of the establishment of a research and development center, and an AUS$3 million writedown in goodwill for its Summit business.
The research and development center was established with help from Macquarie bank, and the center will provide AUS$4.8 million over the next three years for Datacraft to develop telecommunications technologies for the local, metropolitan and wide area network markets.
The Summit write-down was the result of the consolidation of that business with Computer Protocol and Datacraft Manufacturing into Datacraft Technologies. As a result of Datacraft's purchase of the Summit group several years ago, Datacraft acquired technologies which remained unused, forming the main component of the write-off, said Michael Stockdale, Datacraft's company secretary.
Despite this year's result, Stockdale sees good things ahead for the company. Streamlining from the write-down would "result in lower overheads and greater productivity with a beneficial and long-term impact on future profits of the group," Stockdale said.
(Sean McNamara/19921015)
up," Stockdale said.
(Sean McNamara/19921015)
10/15/92
Datacraft Australian Sales Down, Asian Sales Up
BUSINESS
Australia: Microsoft Offers Bull
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 15 (NB) - Microsoft Australia has launched a bulletin board system (BBS) for its users in Australia. The BBS will be a read-only system, with the latest version of some Microsoft software and technical notes.
The system's main function is to provide users with the latest version of Microsoft's driver software for its various software packages. Many users would be unaware of the upgrades to such software. An example would be users who purchased a Microsoft Mouse more than a year ago - they may be at least two major upgrades away from having the latest driver. Also included are programming examples from Microsoft language staff and technical notes for use by programmers and developers.
The establishment of the Microsoft BBS is just the latest in the growing number of such systems in Australia. Symantec (with a product support BBS) and IBM (with an OS/2 BBS) are two other players in the Australian computer industry which have established bulletin boards for their users.
The BBS can be dialled on (02) 870 2348 (in Australia), and offers speeds up to 9,600 bits per second. The BBS will operate 24 hours a day, with five lines being open for calls. Access is free, and no password or identification is required.
(Sean McNamara/19921015)
entification is required.
(Sean McNamara/19921015)
10/15/92
Australia: Microsoft Offers Bulletin Board For Users
GENERAL
Fifth Generation Offers 24-Hour
New For Networks: Gandalf Adds T
Merisel Offers VARs A Deal
Hongkong: Microsoft Unveils Mult
Russia: Software Copyright Law E
Sega Creates Virtual Reality Arc
New For PC: WatchIT!TV From New
DFI To Pre-Install Windows For W
New For PC: Hyperwrite Next-Gene
UK: Dataflex Design's Low-Cost M
AT&T Offers Information Services
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Subscribers to AT&T Mail electronic mail services in Canada now have access to two on-line information services as part of their AT&T Mail subscriptions. The services are InfoMaster, a collection of more than 850 databases for in-depth searching, and FYI Service oriented to breaking news and stock information.
AT&T EasyLink Services said InfoMaster provides in-depth search capabilities on more than 850 different databases of business information. FYI Service provides stock market and industry reports, foreign news, currency information, sports news, and other information, updated throughout each day, according to AT&T.
Both services are being added to the standard AT&T Mail package which costs C$3.45 per month, said a spokesman for the company. There is no fixed charge for the information services, just charges for connect time and information retrieved.
The information services are not offered separately from AT&T Mail, the spokesman said. They are available now in Canada as well as in the United States and Hong Kong.
AT&T EasyLink Services opened its Canadian operation in 1990 initially offering electronic mail and enhanced facsimile services. The company opened a Toronto processing center in spring, 1991 to run its electronic messaging services, and added electronic data interchange (EDI) services last fall. The spokesman would not say how many customers currently use AT&T Mail in Canada.
(Grant Buckler/19921014/Press Contact: Richard Doyon, Hill & Knowlton for AT&T, 613-238-4371; Public Contact: AT&T EasyLink Services, 613-788-5800, fax 613-788-5889)
nk Services, 613-788-5800, fax 613-788-5889)
10/15/92
AT&T Offers Information Services In Canada
TELECOM
DEC Loses $260.55 Million In 1st
MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Adding to the litany of bad news from old-guard computer companies Digital Equipment has reported a loss of $260.55 million, or $2.04 per share, in its first quarter, which ended September 26. The company reported revenues of $3,314.3 million in the quarter up one percent from the $3,293.09 million of the first quarter last year.
The loss compared with earnings of $11.66 million or $0.09 per share in the 1991 first quarter, before a one-time charge due to a change in accounting for post-retirement health benefits. The net loss for the 1991 first quarter, including that $485.5 million one-time charge, was $473.83 million or $3.80 per share.
There were no special charges included in this quarter's results said Bradley D. Allen, a company spokesman. The company blamed weakness in the world's major economies for the loss.
Like a number of other computer hardware vendors, Digital has been plagued with poor financial results recently. The company has been fighting back with cost-cutting measures, including substantial cuts in its staff worldwide.
Digital's payroll has gone from a 1989 high of 126,000 to 108,500 currently, Allen said. He noted that in that time Digital has added about 11,000 employees through acquisitions, so that in fact just short of 30,000 jobs have been eliminated in the three years. In the latest quarter, Allen said, 5,300 jobs were cut. DEC will probably cut more jobs than that in the current quarter, he added.
The cuts continue. In his first press conference after assuming the job of president and chief executive of DEC October 1, Robert B. Palmer said more jobs will be eliminated in the coming year though he added that he does not expect the company will have to take further restructuring charges.
Palmer also spoke of cutting costs in other ways, by getting out of some less vital areas of business on focusing on core competencies. "It's time for a clear direction with a focus on meeting our customers' needs," he said.
According to a statement from the company, recent cost-cutting measures include a reduction in research and development spending.
(Grant Buckler/19921014/Press Contact: Bradley D. Allen Digital Equipment Corp., 508-493-7182)
Digital Equipment Corp., 508-493-7182)
10/15/92
DEC Loses $260.55 Million In 1st Qtr
BUSINESS
Wordperfect Office Upgrade Due F
OREM, UTAH, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Wordperfect claims it will release an upgrade version of Wordperfect Office during the first quarter of 1993.
According to the company, Office Release 4.0 will include versions for DOS, Windows, and Macintosh computer systems, and includes electronic mail (e-mail), scheduling, and calendaring features all wrapped in a single application.
Office 4.0's functions will all share a common database, allowing users to schedule to-do tasks with other users just like they send an e-mail message. Users will also be able to send messages to other mail systems, with the Office 4.0 gateways converting the message for the appropriate system. Even if you don't have a PC on your desk but there's a network printer nearby, you'll be able to get mail. Office 4.0 can be directed to associate you with a printer on the network and send your mail to that printer.
Users will also be able to attach files and documents to e-mail messages, scheduled appointments, and to do items. For example an agenda or correspondence to be reviewed prior to a meeting could be attached, with the reader viewing the file by double clicking on the file icon.
Wordperfect is also adding some editing features, promising cut-and-paste, indent, center, flush right, search, and spell check features, as well as a thesaurus. Another new feature is called "ordered distribution" which lets the user set up a distribution list for mail. The first user receives the mail, acts on it and releases it. It is then sent to the next user on the list.
Office 4.0 will also offer a "Delegate" feature, allowing a user to delegate scheduled to-do tasks, appointments, or messages in a "I'm not here, could you handle this" manner. The program will also integrate the company's InForms filler, allowing a user to display, fill in, and transfer electronic forms through the messaging system.
Office 4.0 on a PC local area network (LAN) requires 384 kilobytes (KB) or RAM and DOS 3.1 or higher. Office supports most popular PC networks, including Novell, Banyan, LAN Manager, LAN Server, and DEC PCSA. The Windows version requires 2 megabytes (MB) of RAM, Windows 3.0 or higher, and compatible PC/LAN software.
Wordperfect spokesperson Hank Heilesen told Newsbytes that the Platform Administration Pack, which includes documentation and includes software for five users, will has a suggested retail price of $495 for any version. There's also a multi-pack, which includes all three versions, for $795. Additional single and multiple user packs are available, starting at $80 depending on the number of users.
Heilesen told Newsbytes Wordperfect will upgrade to Office from a competitive product for $25 for a single user version, to $15 per user for a 100-user pack. Users of other programs can upgrade to the multipack for $200. Present Office users can upgrade for $16 for a single user to $10 per user for a 100-user pack.
Office 4.0 will run on Apple Computer's Macintosh Plus, Classic SE, Portable, LC and II systems with a minimum of 1 MB of RAM. Its compatible with System 7, Localtalk, EtherTalk, AppleTalk, or PC/LAN network software.
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Radio Shack has announced a joint agreement with MobileComm to sell that company's PersonalPagers in Radio Shack stores nationwide.
The PersonalPager will retail for $99.95 and is expected to be in most Radio Shack participating dealers stores by November 1. To reach a MobileComm/Radio Shack pager user, you'll be able to call a toll-free number. MobileComm spokesperson Jean Coppenbarger told Newsbytes basic monthly paging service costs average $10-12 per month. That is without the voice mail feature. Costs in some areas are regulated, said Coppenbarger.
The paging industry's trade association Telocator says the $2 billion paging industry is growing at 15 to 20 percent annually. No longer the purview of doctors, pagers are now carried by children, drug dealers, service technicians, police officers, and a host of workers in other industries.
Radio Shack says it will also market a nationwide pager for $179.95 with regional and nationwide coverage provided by MobileComm. The regional option can be customized to meet the needs of the frequent traveler who requires coverage in selected parts of the country. MobileComm says it is the only company that offers these coverage options on its own systems. The company provides messaging services in all 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and has about one million paging units in service.
(Jim Mallory/19921015/Press contact: Tony Magoulas, Radio Shack, 817-878-4852)
ny Magoulas, Radio Shack, 817-878-4852)
10/15/92
Radio Shack To Sell MobileComm Pagers
TELECOM
Kodak Demos Multidimensional Pic
COLOGNE, GERMANY, 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Eastman Kodak recently demonstrated a new depth-imaging technology that enables images captured on photographic film to be produced and viewed as high-resolution, three-dimensional pictures.
However, the company says it has not decided yet whether it will bring the film to market. But reaction from a few potential customers has been good, according to Roland Schindler, project manager at Kodak.
Kodak President Leo Thomas who demonstrated the new technology at Europe's annual photo show, Photokina, said that previous 3D systems failed, not because people do not want 3D, but because a poor stereo image is less satisfying than a good photograph.
Kodak scientists use track-mounted 35 millimeter cameras with electronically triggered shutters to capture scenes from several different perspectives. Old fashioned stereoptican viewers, with which viewers looked through a magnifying lens at two pictures shot from slightly different angles, used a similar but less sophisticated technique.
The company said it used six to 12 images to produce a single 3D picture. The film is processed normally and scanned by a Kodak Photo CD scanner into digital information. The Photo CDsystem was introduced to the public recently as a means of storing conventional photos on a CD-disk. Conventional Photo CD images can be viewed using a television set and a special CD player, or can be edited using a CD player and a personal computer with special software.
So far Kodak has used transparency film (slides) to project the 3D images, but says there is no theoretical reason why the technology would not work well with prints. Kodak scientists say they can product depth images as large as 40.6 by 50.8 centimeters.
(Jim Mallory/19921015/Press contact: Paul Allen, Eastman Kodak 716-724-5802)
contact: Paul Allen, Eastman Kodak 716-724-5802)
10/15/92
Kodak Demos Multidimensional Pictures From Film
TRENDS
Interpreter Intros Portable CD-R
WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Interpreter a vendor specializing in hardware that runs off the PC parallel port, is adding a pair of CD-ROM players to its product lineup.
Martin Steinberg, company director, told Newsbytes that the two models in the new DiscXchange CD-ROM Series offer the same portability as competing players in the market segment, but with a unique TSR (terminate-and-stay-resident) capability. The two players, the model 100 and the speedier model 200, are slated to ship next week.
"As more and more CD-ROM titles are released, we're seeing increasing interest in players that work off the parallel port. With products like ours, the user can buy a volume of reference materials and share it among multiple desktop and notebook PCs without having to add cards to all those machines," Steinberg commented.
The company's new model 100 weighs six pounds and requires an external power supply. The model 200 weighs nine pounds, and comes with a built-in power supply. Access times are 450 milliseconds (ms) for the model 100 and 340 ms for the model 200.
The new TSR feature brings extra convenience to each model, by enabling immediate access from an application operating on a PC to a CD-ROM title running on the player, according to Steinberg.
"Let's say you're in the middle of a spreadsheet and you need to access some information off the CD. All you do is go to your 'C' prompt, boot us off the 'A' drive, and type 'Start CD.' The system will automatically recognize the drive and let you into the database," he illustrated.
Steinberg told Newsbytes that he expects the players to be especially popular with notebook users, due to the lack of standard expansion slots on many PCs in that category.
He emphasized that the products will also be useful for desktop PCs, by circumventing the need to open up the machine, insert an interface card, and reconfigure the system. Even players that use the SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) port require interface cards, he noted.
"One of our clients has bank examiners on the road all over US who carry our players with them, together with CD-ROM discs filled with documentation concerning every pertinent law on the books," stated Steinberg. The examiners can quickly plug the players into their own portable computers, or into whatever desktop PCs happen to be handy, he explained.
The CD-ROM Series joins a DiskXchange family that already includes removable hard drives and removable cartridge drives. Interpreter also offers the TapeXchange lineup of tape backup systems. Like the CD-ROM Series, the company's other products operate off the PC parallel port.
The model 100 and model 200 each come in a ruggedized aluminum case. Prices are $595 for the model 100 and $895 for the model 200.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19921015; Press and reader contact: Martin Steinberg, Interpreter, tel 303-431-8991)
ct: Martin Steinberg, Interpreter, tel 303-431-8991)
10/15/92
Interpreter Intros Portable CD-ROM Player With TSR
UK: BT's EDI Net Links With AT&T
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- British Telecom's EDI Net the company's electronic data interchange (EDI) network, has linked with AT&T's and IBM's EDI networks.
The interconnection marks an interesting development in the previously highly competitive marketplace for EDI networks. Until the link-up, BT and IBM were battling for EDI market share here in the UK.
Since buying into Tymnet last year, BT has been steadily increasing the geographical limits of its EDI network. The link with AT&T is a logical step for the company, since it opens up the possibility of luring AT&T's US customer over with the prospect of international access and inter-network messaging.
The interconnection between the networks is available to CCITT X.25 network standards working to the Odette EDI network protocol. According to Neil Lawrence, BT's commercial manager for EDI, customers are the winners in this interconnection arrangement.
"Customers buying from suppliers who offer interconnections can look forward to improved service and after sales care. These suppliers will be forced to compete on service as customers will no longer be 'locked-in' to a single supplier community," he said. "Since the launch of EDI Net in the UK, BT has set about promoting interconnections to all other EDI VANS. This policy was pioneered by us in the States and we now have 24 interconnections globally."
CORTAILLOD, SWITZERLAND, 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Silicon Graphics has opened a manufacturing and support facility in Cortaillod Switzerland. The factory, which cost around $25 million, will handle production of the company's European hardware.
Plans call for the new SG plan to produce the Iris Indigo family of RISC (reduced instruction-set computing) workstations. What's interesting is that the facility will be producing Iris Indigo workstations for worldwide consumption.
SG's Swiss Manager Gien Pham, announcing the factory, said that around 100 jobs will be created in total. "My efforts will be focused on developing Switzerland's competitive technological edge in Europe by establishing a close cooperative partnership between Silicon Graphics and Switzerland's industrial research private and government sectors, and technical universities," he said.
Bob Bishop, SG's president, said that the factory was designed to be a European showcase for the technical and scientific capabilities of Silicon Graphics.
So why Switzerland? Bishop explained that the country choice was made because of Switzerland's "reliable, efficient multilingual and quality-oriented engineering workforce. Cortaillod's proximity to all European markets makes it ideally suited for Silicon Graphics," he said.
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Elonex, the UK direct-sell operation, has announced the Office PC series of computers. The PCs are billed a family of 80486-based machines pre-loaded with Microsoft Office, the integrated suite of software from Microsoft.
Announcing the new machines, Israel Wetrin, Elonex's managing director, said that his company was one of the first PC manufacturers to include high value software. "In a sense, we're reviving a company tradition with the introduction of our Office PC range," he explained.
"What makes this new family special is the sheer power of the systems on offer. The Office range matches some of the most powerful hardware available today with several of the most well-regarded applications for Windows -- these systems offer unprecedented value for money," he said.
The Office range of PCs are based on the company's ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) desktop computer, LAN (local area network) workstation and modular notebooks. Each machine in the range comes with at least four megabytes (MB) of RAM plus a 100MB hard disk. A number of display options are available.
Pricing on the three families of Power Office PCs - the desktops LAN workstations and notebooks - is highly competitive, according to company officials.
Sample pricing on the desktop series, which range from 25 megahertz (MHz) 80486SX to 66MHz 80486DX2 processor bases with eight MB of memory and a 200MB hard disk, is UKP 1,705 for a 33MHz 80486-based system with 14-inch color monitor.
Sample pricing on the notebooks, with center around the same choice of processors as the desktop series, is UKP 1,785 for a 25MHz 80486SX-based machine with passive matrix color screen. All the notebooks feature 4MB of memory plus a removable 120MB hard disk.
(Steve Gold/19921015/Press & Public Contact: Elonex Tel: 081-452-4444)
c Contact: Elonex Tel: 081-452-4444)
10/15/82
UK: Elonex Unveils Office PC Range
Australia: Comms Network Keeps T
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 15 (NB) - An extensive communications network is used by Queensland Railways (QR) to monitor and administer all facets of its operation - the largest rail network in Australia. QR uses an extensive mix of technologies and methods combined into the second largest communications network in Australia, after national carrier AOTC (Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation).
The network is the result of extensive research and development by the QR Telecommunications Division (QRTD). This division was recently made an independent entity, as were the other seven QR divisions. It uses a variety of cabling and transmission equipment including copper wire, optic fiber, satellites, radio, microwaves cables and commercial carrier services.
The network is used for both inter-office communications, control of the rail network, and in emergency situations. For example, all of the whistle stops and crossing signals on the 10,000 kilometers of tracks can be activated from central control. If there is a failure in this feature, central control can also communicate with any train throughout the network, informing them of problems.
Currently, there are over 2,000 computer terminals hooked up to local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs), which is used are used for the administration side of the rail network control, such as rosters, maintenance schedules, and payrolls.
For yards, there is an on-line control system, which allows staff to move stock by using a light-pen on the screen, as well as monitor loading and unloading operations onscreen. The QRTD also offers consultancy services, mainly to overseas companies and also maintains communications equipment for other Queensland State departments.
(Sean McNamara/19921015)
ate departments.
(Sean McNamara/19921015)
10/15/92
Australia: Comms Network Keeps Trains Going
TELECOM
Australia: BHP Installs On-line
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 15 (NB) - BHP, Australia's largest mining and metal processing company, has installed an AUS$150 million automated metallic coating plant. The plant allows the control of the coating process to such a degree that it will open up whole new markets for BHP's products.
Until now, the precision needed for the hot-dip galvanizing process (steel feed rate and minute temperature variations play a vital role in the process) has limited the resulting products to use by the construction and appliance industries. However, with the new computer-controlled plant and the development of micro-alloyed steels, it opens the markets to other customers, such as car makers who need perfect surface quality with pre-determined roughness and increased corrosion protection.
The plant was developed and installed by Cegelec Australia, a company which combines GEC Alsthom Australia's Automation Systems division and the work of Cegelec of France. The system features 40 digital Gemdrive Micro DC drives, 54 AC drives, eight Multigem programmable logic controllers (PLCs), software, motor control centers and field devices.
Responding to BHP's requirements, Cegelec installed a system in which "our overriding priority was to include as high a level of automation as possible without complicating the design - and within budget," said Peter Vicary, Cegelec Australia's metal industries manager. "At (the system's) heart are the Multigem PLCs. They control all items of the line, from starting and stopping hydraulic pumps, strip transportation and complete process control, to operator interface and diagnostics via keypads and color monitors."
(Sean McNamara/19921015)
nd color monitors."
(Sean McNamara/19921015)
10/15/92
Australia: BHP Installs On-line Coating System
GENERAL
Australia: Qantas Offers Disaste
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 15 (NB) - Qantas information technology (IT) division Qantek, has joined with Ferntree Computer Corp and Comdisco Disaster Recovery Services (CDRS) to form Failsafe Recovery Services (FRS). FRS will offer customers computer recovery services in the event of major equipment failures.
Qantek will supply the computer recovery facilities for the venture, based in its own recovery center in Sydney's West. This facility was recently called into action when Qantas' primary and secondary mainframes failed. Staff, systems, and data were transferred to the recovery center until the mainframe problems were fixed. Ferntree's contribution to operations will come in the form of its 30 years of experience in the sale, installation, and support of computer equipment and services to large corporations and government departments.
CDRS is a US firm specializing in computer disaster recovery. With 400 staff and 25 "hot site" recovery centers in the US and four in Europe, CDRS claims to have helped companies recover from 97 disasters in the US and in Europe over its 12 years of operation.
FRS will use Qantek's IBM 3090-5 00J mainframe, with a full range of peripherals and networking from its Homebush center. These facilities will also be linked with a remote Business Recovery Facility in Melbourne.
(Sean McNamara/19921015)
y in Melbourne.
(Sean McNamara/19921015)
10/15/92
Australia: Qantas Offers Disaster Recovery
GENERAL
Cabletron Intros SNA Integration
ROCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Many network sites that have IBM mainframes and other equipment are encountering a growing problem.
The IBM equipment has traditionally been managed and networked via SNA (Systems network Architecture). The new equipment is more than likely to be SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) based. So how do you manage both types of network equipment and integrate newer technologies such as Token Ring at the same time?
Cabletron has a strategy to help solve such dilemmas. Part of the strategy are encompassed in a set of four new products that the company will be showing for the first time at the Interop show set for October 28.
The first of the four is a new set of modules for Cabletron's Spectrum network management platform. These modules are called BlueVision and they were developed jointly with NetTech of Raleigh, North Carolina. BlueVision allows the customer to use Spectrum and depict the complete network using the graphical and icon-based approach of the product. Both SNA- and SNMP-based elements will be shown on the screen and the network administrator will be able to send commands to them in the usual graphical way. In addition, those network administrators who are used to the IBM NetView command line and wish to continue issuing commands in that fashion will be able to do so. Cabletron is claiming that they are the first company that allows for both SNA and SNMP management from a single platform.
There are various software components that are a part of BlueVision - there needs to be a separate library for each of the types of network devices out there - and Cabletron has decided to sell them each separately so that the customer needs to buy only the components for those network devices that they have in their site. For that reason, there is no single price for a BlueVision installation but Newsbytes has learned that Cabletron expects the customers to spend about $15,000 per site.
The second new offering is called SNACMIM. This is the result of another collaborative effort, this time between Cabletron and SYNC Research. The SNACMIM is a module that fits into Cabletron's hubs and that will perform SDLC (Synchronous Data Link Control) to Token Ring message conversions. This is a rather unique approach as it does not require that a counter-conversion to take place on the other side of the network.
The SNACMIM comes in either a two-port or four-port configuration on the SNA side, and is capable of attaching up to 16 physical units to the hub. Prices are $3,495 and $5,195 respectively. The SNACMIM will begin shipping in 90 days.
Another new module for Cabletron's hubs is the TRBMIM. This module provides two Token Ring ports with local source routing bridging and management capabilities provided on board. The module uses both SNMP and IBM's LAN Network Manager modules for the system's management. This module will also be available in 90 days and will retail for $6,995.
Finally, Cabletron has introduced a set of two new standalone hubs that are intended to meet the needs of the small satellite office. Some of the special needs that the TRXI line will meet will be the ability to support up to 24 Token Ring ports as well as be manageable either locally via a LCD (liquid crustal display) and keypad, or remotely, via SNMP. Users can initially purchase the 12-port version for $3,995, and then upgrade to the 24-port version for $1,000 (which is the difference in the pricing) when they need the extra ports. As with the other modules, Cabletron expects to make these available to customers within 90 days.
BILLERICA, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Automatix and Sharp Digital Information Products have announced a jointly-developed hardware and software package to provide high speed alignment for the machine-vision market. Sharp will sell the combination of software from Automatix and an image processing board from Sharp, said Gary Wagner, vice-president of marketing at Automatix.
Automatix' Correlation Search is pattern-recognition software written in the C language and meant for automated assembly and process feedback applications. It works with Sharp's GPB-1 image processing board for personal computers, and a new daughtercard called AlignCard which Sharp is announcing.
The combination of Correlation Search, the GPB-1, and the AlignCard provides fast gray scale pattern recognition at sub-pixel accuracy, the companies said.
Wagner said the combination of Correlation Search and the GPB-1/AlignCard are suitable for a variety of manufacturing and scientific applications. A major market, the vendors said, will be original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and high-volume users of automated semiconductor and printed circuit board manufacturing equipment.
According to Wagner, the type of performance the Sharp-Automatix package offers has been generally available only from proprietary vision systems.
Billerica-based Automatix develops and manufactures industrial machine vision systems, hardware and software modules, and robotic controls products. Sharp Digital Information Products based in Irvine, California, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sharp Corporation of Japan. It provides image processing products for various applications.
(Grant Buckler/19921015/Press Contact: Gary Wagner, Automatix 508-667-7900, fax 508-663-5482)
Gary Wagner, Automatix 508-667-7900, fax 508-663-5482)
10/15/92
New For PC: Automatix, Sharp Release Vision Products
Court Says Sega Acts Illegal, Se
New For PC: Demographics Databas
Hungarian Telecom Sell-Off To Fi
Japan: Sony & DEC Selling Comput
News Reports Of 911 Attacks
Digital Appoints VP Engineering,
New For Networks: Asante Upgrade
New For Windows: Virtual Workspa
New For PC: Free Uncle Sam's Bud
Cray Research Loses Japanese Com
Compaq To Layoff 1,000 Workers
Lotus Revenues Slide, But Earnin
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Despite a decline in third-quarter revenue to $206.7 million from $218.8 million in the same period last year, Lotus Development has reported a 40 percent gain in net income. Income in the quarter ended September 26 was $30.1 million, or 72 cents per share, up from $21.5 million or 48 cents per share in the third quarter of 1991.
The net-income gain came from cost-cutting efforts and from the sale of $34.6 million worth of stock in software vendor Sybase.
Ed Gillis, chief financial officer at Lotus, said the Sybase sale accounted for just over half of the jump in Lotus's net income in the quarter. The rest came from improvements in costs in the company research and development and general administration areas, slightly offset by higher sales and marketing costs, he said.
Asked about the danger that cost-cutting in research and development could hurt Lotus' ability to keep producing competitive products, Gillis said the company is focusing on core areas of its business at the expense of some less vital areas of R&D, and is also seeking to be more efficient through measures such as using the same portions of software code in different products.
As for the decline in revenue, Gillis said several factors are to blame. For one thing, he said, the third quarter is usually slow while the fourth quarter is usually stronger. General economic weakness, resulting in lower-than-expected shipments of personal computers, has been a factor, especially in Japan and to a lesser extent in other international markets, he said.
Gillis added that the market's move to Microsoft's Windows operating environment has been bad for Lotus' sales in the short term, though he said that in the long term the company expects to benefit. And he added that price competition in the software market has put pressure on the company's revenues as well.
"The magnitude and direction of those trends is hard to assess," Gillis said, "but they are not likely to disappear in a quarter." He said that while Lotus expects revenue growth in the fourth quarter to exceed that in the third quarter, the company expects growth to be slow for the next few quarters.
For the nine months ended September 26, Lotus' net income rose 76 percent to $65.8 million, or $1.52 per share, from $37.3 million or 84 cents per share, in the same period last year. Lotus' revenue for the nine months increased 13 percent to $654.1 million, from $579.7 million in the comparable 1991 period. Excluding the gain from the sale of Sybase stock, net income in the first nine months of 1992 increased 15 percent to $43 million, or 99 cents per share over net income for the similar 1991 period.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Intel the giant manufacturer of processors for IBM and compatible personal computers (PCs) says all microprocessor chips it makes will eventually have the energy saving features of the microprocessors the company designs now for use in battery operated portable PCs. The move is in support of the US Environmental Protection Agency's "Energy Star Computers Program," Intel added.
The voluntary Energy Star program was introduced this year by the EPA and some of the largest companies in the industry have already signed up, including Apple Computer, Compaq, Digital Equipment, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, NCR, Smith Corona, and Zenith. The idea is to find ways to allow computer devices to use less energy.
The "sleep," or power conservation, mode designed into some microprocessor chips, such as the i386SL from Intel, was born out of the necessity to conserve precious battery energy in portable computers. Portable computers go into a low-power mode after several minutes of non-use to allow a longer period of use.
However, Intel says it can build all microprocessor chips in this manner. The EPA says if all the estimated 10 million computers could "power down" they would use will use 50 percent less energy and ultimately save enough electricity to power Vermont and New Hampshire each year.
Intel says it can do better than a 50 percent power reduction. It plans a low-power state that would use 30 watts or less of power, compared to several hundred watts that is typically used by personal computers today. According to market research firm Dataquest, 80 percent of today's personal computers are built using Intel microprocessors. Intel maintains over 20 million new personal computers annually are built using Intel microprocessors.
The EPA plans to issue permission for computers that meet its standards to carry a special "Energy Star" logo. However, the energy-saving standards for the program have not been determined as of yet, the EPA said.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921015/Press Contact: Howard High, Intel tel 408-765-1488, fax 408-765-1402; Dave Ryan, EPA, 202-260 2981)
488, fax 408-765-1402; Dave Ryan, EPA, 202-260 2981)
10/15/92
Intel's Processors Will All Sleep To Save Energy
TRENDS
Sega CD Introduced On TV In NY's
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Sega has launched its compact disc (CD) player, the Sega CD, in New York City by allowing guests to play the new "True Video" games on the 750 square-foot television located in Times Square from a hotel with a window facing the giant TV.
Sega says up until now, video games have included animated characters. However, the company maintains its "True Video" technology allows users to control and manipulate real actors. Animation, digitized video footage from movies, special effects, graphics, and audiophile quality CD sound are included as part of the new games. The company asserts its goal is to make Sega CD play like being in a movie theater controlling characters on the screen.
Another plus for Sega buffs is that the 16-bit Genesis system is already built to incorporate the Sega CD. Those with Genesis systems can simply add the $299 Sega CD portion to add the multimedia game capability.
In addition, Sega says video games and music CDs individually valued at $300 are included with the Sega CD. The titles included are Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective; a single disc with Revenge of the Shinobi, Golden Axe, Columns, and Streets of Rage; Sol Feace, a made-for-CD shooter; and two others including an audio CD.
Nintendo, Sega's largest competitor, has announced a similar system but Sega says it has beat the company to the market by a full year. Sega President Tom Kalinske blasted Nintendo and its recent announcement with Sony for a new CD player, expected in the third quarter of 1993 by saying, "It's one thing for Nintendo to claim that a future product will become an industry standard, and quite another to achieve that goal."
Sega is boasting it expects to sell 200,000 Sega CD units by the end of this year and is spending $11 million on advertising and a promotional campaign to launch the new system. The units are planned for sale in retail stores in November, Sega added.
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- Speakers at a conference of Silicon Valley executives have mixed feelings about who is to blame for the community's economic woes, which includes reports that the community has lost 30,000 jobs since 1984. Alvin Toffler, author of "Future Shock" says underinvestment in intellectual products is to blame while others are blaming underinvestment in manufacturing for the region's problems.
More layoffs and company moves out of the area sparked the formation last month of a group to combat the problems - Joint Venture: Silicon Valley. Made up of high-tech firms, government bodies, and educational institutions, Joint Venture sponsored it's first "High Tech Summit -- A Visioning Conference" to draw attention to the problems and seek answers.
Toffler said the US government agenda is misdirected and congress is ignoring the critical "brain-force economy," and concentrating instead on funding "macho-materialism" industries such as manufacturing, according to reports from the conference. In a proposed $100 billion bill to improve the nation's infrastructure $99 billion is ear-marked for concrete and steel construction and only $1 billion is pointed at fiber optics and supercomputer systems, said Toffler.
However, Kenneth Courtis, an economist and professor at Tokyo University was reported as saying the problems stem from the opposite reason -- lack of US investment in plants and equipment. Courtis showed figures indicating US investment trails the Japanese by half and significantly trails German investments, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle.
While no mention was made of the State of California's high tax rates or stringent requirements on businesses, reports on other states offering lower wages and tax incentives were listed as one of the reasons jobs are moving out of Silicon Valley.
The one thing everyone seems to agree on is Silicon Valley firms need to make "deals" with Asian firms, especially for opportunities opening up in China. Opportunities for Pacific Rim-based Silicon Valley may go by in the global economy some analysts claimed.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921015)
lysts claimed.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921015)
10/15/92
Silicon Valley Woes Addressed At Conference
GENERAL
IBM Loses $2.8 Billion In 3rd Qt
ARMONK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 15 (NB) -- There is more red ink at Big Blue as IBM reported a $2.8 billion loss in its third quarter, which ended September 30. Though revenue was up in the quarter, a large charge to cover the cost of staff cuts and reduction of manufacturing capacity led to a net loss.
The loss, amounting to $4.87 per share, compares with net earnings of $177 million or 31 cents per share in the same quarter last year. Earnings for the nine months ended September 30 were up over the same period last year, however, coming in at $45 billion up 5.1 percent from the prior year's $42.8 billion.
IBM's third-quarter earnings include a charge of $2,886 million or $5.02 per share as a result of the cuts in capacity announced September 29, and the cost of additional work force reductions.
At the end of September, IBM announced plans to cut capacity around the world, selling equipment and buildings. The company also said its incentives to employees to leave the company originally intended to cut worldwide staff by about 20,000, are getting many more takers than expected. IBM now expects to reduce its worldwide work force by about 40,000 employees this year.
Company spokesman Rob Wilson said these cuts will result from voluntary incentives already in place, not from layoffs or additional incentives.
The total cost of additional 1992 employee departures, plus some employees who will be leaving by early 1993, will be about $2.1 billion, and about half of that amount falls on the third quarter Wilson said. Wilson could not say whether the charges might lead to a loss on the year.
Revenue in the third quarter was $14.7 billion, up 1.8 percent from $14.4 billion in the third quarter of 1991. Net earnings before the special charges would have been $86 million, or 15 cents per share IBM said.
For the first nine months of 1992, worldwide net earnings before capacity and workforce reduction charges and the cumulative effect of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 109 (SFAS 109) (Accounting for Income Taxes), were $1.5 billion, or $2.56 per share. After the workforce reduction and accounting charges, net earnings for the nine months were $498 million or 87 cents per share compared with a loss of $1.4 billion or $2.46 per share in the same period of 1991.
In a press release, IBM Chairman John F. Akers said: "I'm disappointed by our third-quarter results. Our business was adversely affected by economic turmoil in Europe, particularly at the close of the quarter, and by persistent economic weakness in the United States and Japan. Our hardware profits continued to be hurt by price pressures, especially within our personal computer line. Software and services revenues grew and our expenses declined."
There were times today when the NYSE ticker was showing three trades out of five as sales of IBM, with occasional streams of five or even six individual IBM trades in a row. Around 10:30 a.m. east coast time the trade prices were hovering around $74 per share, with occasional dips as low as 73 3/4. By 11:30, the price had dropped by another full point. IBM stock had closed the previous day's trading at $78 per share.
(Grant Buckler & John McCormick/19921015/Press Contact: Rob Wilson, IBM, 914-765-6565)
IBM, 914-765-6565)
10/15/92
IBM Loses $2.8 Billion In 3rd Qtr
Canadian Group Hooks Up W/ Brode
NOVATO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Broderbund Software, known for its titles Print Shop and the Carmen Sandiego game series, says it will become the exclusive North American and Australian distributor of Binary Zoo's "edutainment" software titles.
Binary Zoo is a new company made up of a group of Canadian programmers headed by Rick Banks and Paul Butler and has produced more than 30 disk and cartridge-based products over the last 10 years. Broderbund boasts eight of the products from this Canadian group have won Software Publishers Association sales awards including Ace of Aces which has sold 500,000 copies and Quest for Tires which has sold 1 million copies. The team also developed some of the earliest educational programs including Wiztype and Wizmath, which were published by Sierra Online in 1984.
Binary Zoo has the advantage of relationships with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. as a licensee. Two of the three titles the company is planning for release were done with input and resources from the Smithsonian. The titles will be distributed on floppy disks but will have the sound, animation, and interactive elements of multimedia Binary Zoo representatives said.
The three titles are "Rock 'n Bach," "Wild Science Adventure," and "Mystery at the Museum." Zoo's President Henry Karp told Newsbytes the titles are designed to instruct but from the child's perspective are designed to be like a video game. For example, the science title will focus on concepts such as gravity, friction, magnetism, and momentum. "Kids can learn the concept without the requirement of a science vocabulary. For example, if you turn off gravity in a room (in the game), your ball is going to float up to the ceiling," Karp said.
The titles will be displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada in January and will be available through retail channels shortly afterward, Binary Zoo said.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921014/Press Contact: Jessica Switzer Broderbund Software, tel 415-382-4568, fax 415-382-4582; Connie Connors, Binary Zoo, tel 212-995-2200)
82-4582; Connie Connors, Binary Zoo, tel 212-995-2200)
10/14/92
Canadian Group Hooks Up W/ Broderbund As Distributor
BUSINESS
DEC Expands EDI Client/Server Of
MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Digital Equipment has beefed up its Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) client/server software offering, adding support for applications running on IBM mainframes and announcing companion products from other manufacturers.
Digital announced HostBridge for DEC/EDI Application Services software that runs on IBM mainframes and allows existing mainframe applications to use the DEC/EDI server on a VAX minicomputer running DEC's VMS operating system.
DEC/EDI can now support as clients IBM mainframe applications running on the MVS operating system in batch mode or using the CICS time-sharing software, in addition to existing support for those running with CICS on the VSE operating system, said Mark Hayward marketing support manager.
This is "the first capability from any vendor to have all those applications integrated into one EDI environment," Hayward told Newsbytes.
The company plans to support other client systems as well in the future, he added.
Digital launched Version 1.2 of the DEC/EDI software, saying the new release offers better system management and business data reporting features.
New capabilities include improved archiving features, support for remote system management tools and international character sets and the ability to produce summary reports of EDI transactions for analysis. Performance enhancements boost throughput by as much as 30 percent, DEC claimed, and electronic mail integration features can send e-mail messages to notify users immediately of operational conditions.
Digital also announced availability of nine new "EDI-ready" applications to work with DEC/EDI.
They include: the Renaissance Financial Series and Promix Manufacturing Series from Ross Systems of Redwood City, California; Administrative Data Systems health care software from Shared Medical Systems of Oakland, California; Alliance customs and brokerage software from ASA International of Salem, New Hampshire; and Powerdoc*EDI software for the transportation industry from Fraser Williams Group of Liverpool, England.
The four remaining packages are for distribution and purchasing: DCS/Logistics from Andersen Consulting of Chicago; Modis from Mancos Computers of Manchester, England; MDS from Distribution Architects International of Tempe, Arizona; and Ross Distribution Series from Ross Systems.
The HostBridge for DEC/EDI Application Services portfolio is available now worldwide, with prices starting at $36,000. Additional clients for IBM mainframes are available for $10,000 for VSE applications and $18,000 for MVS applications.
DEC/EDI Version 1.2 is available now worldwide, beginning at $10,000.
(Grant Buckler/19921013/Press Contact: Terri A. Slater, Digital Equipment, 603-884-0753)
Slater, Digital Equipment, 603-884-0753)
10/14/92
DEC Expands EDI Client/Server Offering
GENERAL
New For PC: Microsoft Multimedia
REDMOND, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Microsoft has announced a multimedia encyclopedia for release in mid-December it is calling Encarta. The company says this multimedia encyclopedia has the distinction of being developed on a computer for a computer.
Other multimedia encyclopedia titles are already available such as Compton's Multimedia Encyclopedia, but Microsoft says Encarta has the distinction of allowing the user to accumulate information from various subjects using category browsers. The company also claims the product is extensively hyper-linked and has more audio and visual clips than other similar products.
The name Encarta is a mix of the word encyclopedias and a Latin word that refers to mapping and atlas capabilities, Microsoft representatives said.
Like most multimedia encyclopedias, this one will be distributed on a compact disc (CD) for use in a computer with a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive. Retail price is expected to be $395, but the company is offering a discount to educators, students, and administrators of $249.
Microsoft also announced Microsoft Musical Instruments, a CD ROM title developed with the London, England-based Dorling Kindersley company, who is known for the "Eyewitness" books it produces. That title is expected in mid-November and will retail for $79.95.
Other CD-ROM titles from Microsoft include Microsoft Bookshelf CD-ROM reference library for the Windows operating system; Multimedia Beethoven: the Ninth Symphony, an illustrated interactive musical exploration for Windows; Microsoft Cinemania interactive movie guide; and Microsoft Works for Windows, Multimedia Edition.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921013/Press Contact: Karen Fry, Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, tel 503-245-0905, fax 503-244-7261)
Microsoft, tel 503-245-0905, fax 503-244-7261)
10/14/92
New For PC: Microsoft Multimedia Encyclopedia
Sun & OEMs Choose Seagate Drives
New For Networks: Accton's 2 New
DSC Continues Comeback
Field Computing Update
DEC Expands EDI Client/Server Of
2nd Online Legal Guide Released
HDS Names New President And CEO
Japan: NTT Packet Service Member
New For PC: PC-Kwik Power Pak, S
Strategic Mapping Crime Analysis
Japan: Western Digital Pushes Sa
Hongkong: TI Awards To Students
New For Macintosh: Multimedia En
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Warner New Media says it has started shipping a multimedia program for the Macintosh that incorporates music, sound effects, drawings, and animation to help kids learn to read. Word Tales is the name of the title and Warner says it is geared toward children learning to read.
Word Tales was created by The Discovery Software Company and focuses on getting children ages 4 to 7 to identify initial letters of simple words. Correct answers are rewarded with arcade games when children have correctly identified several words. Warner says children are only rewarded for success, and never penalized for mistakes.
Milo, a character in Word Tales, pronounces each word for the child until the child selects the correct letter. Milo lives in a control room with animated and colorful objects children on which children are invited to click.
Warner says developers at The Discovery Software Company have some experience with educational materials. The company is headed by Harry Goldberg who taught for eight years and has master's degrees in education and computer science.
Two versions of the program are available, a compact disc (CD) version for $59.99 and a floppy disk version for $49.99. Either version requires a Macintosh LC or II-series computer with a color monitor, 2.2 megabytes (MB) of memory, and System Software 6.0.7 or later, the company said. The CD version requires a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive while the floppy disk version needs at least 10.4 megabytes of free hard disk space, Warner added.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921013/Press Contact: Kim Sudhalter, Warner New Media, tel 818-955-9999, fax 818-955-6499)
alter, Warner New Media, tel 818-955-9999, fax 818-955-6499)
10/14/92
New For Macintosh: Multimedia Encourages Beginning Readers
APPLE
Spinnaker Account Firm, Chief Fi
Storagetek 3Q Results Down Again
Seagate Bundles Compression Soft
Cabletron Intros SNA Integration
UK: Tulip Desktop Lock, Color Mo
New Media Vision CD-ROM/Sound Ki
IBM Takes Equity In Synon
Ericsson Gets $95M Japanese Mobi
Zenith Electronics Cuts Nearly 4
IBM May Match Microsoft Workgrou
Texas Instruments Intros New Chi
UK: Mercury Happy Hour Calls To
Microsoft Opens 4 East Europe Of
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Microsoft has announced plans to open wholly owned subsidiaries in Hungary, Russia Czechoslovakia, and Poland.
Microsoft claims its offices, registered under local law and staffed by native citizens of the respective countries, will help it become the software company with the largest presence in the Eastern Europe.
The development of the Eastern Europe infrastructure was managed from Microsoft's Eastern European division based in Munich, Germany.
Microsoft subsidiaries in Moscow, Prague, and Warsaw are slated to open by the end of 1992. Hungarian customers will be able to contact Microsoft through a local help desk set up in Budapest before the end of the year, and the subsidiary will be fully open by the spring of 1993.
Microsoft hopes to offer as many as 16 products localized for the respective markets by the end of 1992, although the firm announced no exact shipping dates for them.
Robert Clough, an American formerly with Dialogue and Nantucket's Russian subsidiary, was appointed chief of Microsoft Moscow. Nickolay Lyubovny, a long time manager of RPI, is Clough's deputy.
No one was able to comment on the fate of RPI which was initially to be a long-term partner of Microsoft in Russia. Most of the staff is expected to move to the Microsoft office.
(Kirill Tchashchin/19921014)
ffice.
(Kirill Tchashchin/19921014)
10/14/92
Microsoft Opens 4 East Europe Offices
BUSINESS
Japanese Firm To Supply IRS With
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Yokohama-based personal computer maker Vinsotec is to supply personal computers to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the US through a contract with a US systems integrator. The total order amount is expected to be $24 million.
Vinsotec officers expect that by the end of this year, the company will have supplied 7,200 notebook-type personal computers to the IRS, with another 9,800 units supplied by the end of May 1993, for a total of 17,000 units.
Vinsotec's US sales are handled by Falls Church, Virginia-based Sysorex, a systems integrator. Sysorex's president, Carleton Jones added that Sysorex is delivering computers to the IRS under an existing long term contract. Jones says Sysorex was approved to supply notebooks to the Department of the Treasury in May, 1991 in an IDIQ (indefinite date, indefinite quantity) contract. The IRS is a division of the Treasury Department. A previous notebook machine supplied to the IRS through this contract is no longer being made. In March, 1992, Sysorex approached Vinsotec to take over supply of notebooks, according to the senior manager of business acquisitions Maryann Hirsch.
The contract has several more years to run. An IDIQ contract does not specify how many computers will be purchased or when they will be delivered, Jones stressed.
The PC to be supplied in quantity to the IRS is an IBM-compatible 32-bit personal computer called the J1 Plus. It has a built-in fax modem, an 80-megabyte hard disk, a 5-megabyte memory, and MS-DOS 5.0.
Vinsotec has already sold 30,000 notebook-type personal computers to Japanese companies on OEM (original equipment manufacturer) basis. IRS engineers have been testing the durability of this new model personal computer, according to Vinsotec.
Vinsotec's J1 Plus machines will be manufactured by Hocks in Japan.
A Vinsotec spokesman tells Newsbytes in Japan that the firm wants to enter more bids for governmental contracts in the US through the assistance of systems integrators, and is specifically eyeing a contract with the FBI in the future.
Vinsotec is a medium-sized personal computer maker in Japan which is specialized in producing IBM-compatible personal computers on an OEM basis. The firm has been supplying the PCs to US firms as well as Japanese firms for over 10 years.
NEWBURY PARK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Modem maker Computer Peripherals Inc., has decided to enter the PC multimedia market with its new ViVa Maestro Pro multimedia sound board.
While most PCs do have some sort of sound capabilties built into the system, more often than not they are extremely limited. Often any sound other than regular beeps are difficult to distinguish. Consequently, sound boards are becoming very popular for users of games and multimedia applications.
The company claims that the board is the first fully Sound Blaster Pro-compatible sound and game board to ship from a third-party supplier.
The Maestro Pro supports the original Sound Blaster board along with the AdLib, Disney Sound-Source, and Covox Speech Thing products. According to the company, the ViVa installs in the standard PC bus, and is fully compatible with all multimedia games, entertainment, music, and presentation software under both the DOS and Windows environments.
The Maestro Pro features a 20-voice stereo FM music synthesizer, producing an orchestra of realistic sounds including voice and music, and performs stereo CD-Audio playback at a rate up to 44.1 kHz. It uses two eight-bit DAC chips with a sampling rate of 7 kHz to play back and reproduces digitized sounds such as speech, music and special sound effects.
Standard external features include a speaker audio output jack a microphone input jack, a line input jack, a game port, and adjustable volume control knob. Internal features include two CD-ROM interfaces, AT bus and Small Computer Systems Interface (an optional SCSI chip is required), CD-Audio input and PC internal speaker input.
The company says that a built-in four-watt amplifier will directly drive a pair of speakers or headphones, and a free pair of stereo speakers are included. The Maestro Pro can also be patched directly into a stereo system for the maximum in realism.
Also, any MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) instrument, synthesizer or control device can be interfaced to the Maestro Pro with an optional MIDI cable and relevant software.
New For PC: Computer Peripherals Multimedia Sound Board
Japan: Proside's Low-cost 80486
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Japanese personal computer firm Proside has released extremely low-cost 80486 and 80386 personal computers. They are much less expensive than Compaq's competing models which were released in Japan recently.
Proside's latest desktop personal computer, the JD1994SL-25JLB has an 80486SLC processor and supports the Japanese DOS/V operating system. This 80486 PC is sold for 130,000 yen ($1,100), which is the cheapest 80486 personal computer in Japan. Proside has also released an 80386 model, which costs 110,000 yen ($920). This is about 10,000 yen ($80) cheaper than Compaq's latest 80386 PC in Japan. Proside has set the low price in order to vie with Compaq.
Proside's 80486 has a 25 megahertz processor and a local bus interface called ET4000. Under this system, the graphic speed of this machine is said to be three times faster than regular 80486 personal computers. The display supports 1,024 by 768 pixel resolution, and 256 colors. A maximum 150 megabyte hard disk can be installed internally.
According to Proside President Shiina, the DOS/V personal computer market will translate to 300,000 units for 1993, 500,000 units for 1994 and 800,000 units sold for 1995 in Japan. The market presents a challenge to NEC, which is currently dominating the personal computers market with its original PC-9801 in Japan.
Meanwhile, prices of personal computers are expected to be cut further. The price cut war started when Compaq released a low-cost 80386 personal computer last week.
BERKHAMSTEAD, HERTFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- S&S International has released three new versions of its Anti-Virus Toolkit. In parallel with an updated DOS version, the company has released OS/2 and Windows-specific versions.
According to the company, the new toolkits mark a milestone in PC virus protection with a faster software engine, more efficient use of memory, and a new user interface.
The new user interface was actually designed specifically for the Windows version. The idea behind the interface, according to S&S was to enable users to select the right operational level for their requirements: basic scanning and checksumming on front-end buttons, simple customization via a first level dialogue box, and an advanced dialogue box with a simulated command line facility for more sophisticated users.
Response to the Windows toolkit user interface was very positive -- so positive, in fact, that the interface was used on the other two versions, subject to the limitations of the operating system concerned.
Both the DOS and Windows toolkits feature context sensitive help including what S&S describes as advice on dealing with a virus outbreak. Other features include customized configurations for individual users, an online "virus encyclopedia," support for 2.88 megabyte (MB) floppy drives, and a Novell Netware messaging capability.
Alan Solomon, head of S&S International, claims that, while the toolkits have not sacrificed any of the underlying technology for the sake of what he calls superficial "bells and whistles," the software is the most consistent, anti-virus package available today.
Dr Solomon's Anti-Virus Toolkit is available in several versions. The basic single-user versions, inclusive of quarterly upgrades for a year, costs UKP 99, while a monthly software upgrade pushes this price to UKP 175. The Windows toolkit costs UKP 125 and UKP 215, respectively, for quarterly and monthly upgrade editions.
The OS/2 version, meanwhile, costs UKP 149 and UKP 265 for the quarterly and monthly versions. Site license arrangements are available on application to the company.
(Steve Gold/19921014/Press & Public Contact: S&S International Tel: 0442-877877; Fax: 0442-877882)
l Tel: 0442-877877; Fax: 0442-877882)
10/14/92
UK: Dr Solomon's Anti-Virus Toolkit
UK: BT Offers Reuters Textline G
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, HERTS, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- British Telecom has announced the signing of a deal with Reuters, terms of which allow users of Telecom Gold, BT's flagship e-mail service, to gateway into the Reuters Textline service.
Because of the complex "algebraic logic" user interface of Textline, BT is having to develop what it calls an easy to use user interface to the online text retrieval service. This should be in place by early next year, officials with Telecom Gold said.
The Reuters Textline service contains the full text of several hundred publications from around the world, as well as abstracts and translations from several hundred more publications. Publications are sourced from 40 different countries, as well as the Reuters network of journalists.
Announcing the deal, David Rosenbaum, BT Business Information Services' product manager said that the Telecom Gold access will bring the Textline service to a much wider audience. This will also serve to improve the attractiveness of Telecom Gold to new users of online services, he added.
Textline is very similar to the Financial Times Profile service which is also available on a pay as you gateway service on Telecom Gold, Newsbytes notes. The Textline service offers a much more in-depth facility to keyword search through articles than FT Profile, a fact that is reflected in its higher tariff levels.
T Sales - Tel: 0442-237386; Reuters - Tel: 071-324-8348)
10/14/92
UK: BT Offers Reuters Textline Gateway On Telecom Gold
TELECOM
UK: Sony Handportable To Form Ma
STAINES, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Sony has confirmed recent reports that it is offering its CM-H333 handportable analogue cellular phone on a special deal with Cellnet for Cellnet's new low-cost consumer cellular service in the UK.
According to Tim Woods, Sony's senior manager of personal telecommunications, the mobile phone will be available in November of this year. Woods reckons that the advent of the Cellnet Lifetime low-cost tariffs and the arrival of the small Sony handset will mean that the mobile phone is no longer the exclusive domain of the business user.
"Like the electronic calculator, or PC, its use is set to become universal. The Sony phone will be available to everyone, whatever their needs. Its size and shape is about the same as a Mars Bar so convenience combined with ease of use will contribute to its success," he said.
The CM-H333 cellphone costs UKP 399 with a battery life of 24 hours standby and 90 minutes talk time. A hands-free kit is available for use in the car.
Tipping the scales at just 200 grams, the new Sony handset is smaller than the Motorola Microtacs III unit unveiled in the US a few months ago. The unit's weight is about the same, however. In use, the phone operates as a Class 4 hand portable, with a maximum power output of 750 milliwatts.
(Steve Gold/19921014/Press & Public Contact: Sony - Tel: 0784 467000; Fax: 0784-463278)
& Public Contact: Sony - Tel: 0784 467000; Fax: 0784-463278)
10/14/92
UK: Sony Handportable To Form Mainstay Of Cellnet Marketing
TELECOM
UK: Mobile Data Interface For AS
HEATHROW, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Ram Mobile Data and Computing Services for Industry (CSI) have jointly developed an interface for the IBM AS/400 series of minicomputers to link to the Ram packet radio network.
The thought of AS/400 minicomputers trundling around linked to packet radio networks springs to mind but, in reality, the idea is not as ridiculous as it first sounds, since many users choose to link their minicomputers directly to a packet radio service such as Ram's, so as to allow mobile users direct access to the facilities of the computer.
The Mobilink/400 interface is a software and hardware unit that plugs straight on to an AS/400 computer, allowing it access to the Ram network using a Mobidem modem. The Mobitex modem is widely used in the US, where the Mobitex packet radio network is in widespread use.
According to Karim Khoja, Ram's general manager, the open philosophy of the Ram network enables data to be passed on to any system linked to the network. In turn, the Mobilink/400 provides Mobitex users with the connectivity and integration to a wide range of AS/400 applications.
"This interface allows us to offer existing and new users of the Ram network, connectivity to an even wider range of applications," he said.
Pricing on the Mobilink/400 interface depends on the user requirements.
(Steve Gold/19921014/Press & Public Contact: Ram Mobile Data Tel: 081-990-9090)
ess & Public Contact: Ram Mobile Data Tel: 081-990-9090)
10/14/92
UK: Mobile Data Interface For AS/400 Users On The Move
TELECOM
UK: Dataflex Signs Deal With AST
SOUTH WIMBLEDON, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Dataflex Design has announced it has contracted with AST Research for the supply of its PCMCIA card modem for use with the company's AST Powerexec notebook computers.
AST will now recommend that users of its Powerexec use the Dataflex card modem, which sells for UKP 399 and supports 300 1200 and 2400 bits per second (bps) data access speeds. The PCMCIA card modem is billed as the UK's first approved card modem of its type.
Announcing the deal, Phil Benge, Dataflex's marketing director said that the PCMCIA standard is the most important step in personal computing since the introduction of the PC notebook standard.
"The market will grow rapidly as people take advantage of the latest credit card size applications. AST has shown its commitment to this technology by introducing the first notebook with two PCMCIA type II slots," he said.
The deal with AST gives Dataflex a marketing foothold in what is fast becoming a highly competitive modem marketplace, Newsbytes notes. Although the company sells a substantial number of modems on a stand-alone basis, the deal gives Dataflex the same credibility as other modem companies such as Dowty and Tricom which have achieved considerable sales success in the bundling market.
(Steve Gold/19921014/Press & Public Contact: Dataflex Design Tel: 081-543-6417)
Public Contact: Dataflex Design Tel: 081-543-6417)
10/14/92
UK: Dataflex Signs Deal With AST For PCMCIA Modem
TELECOM
BT Claims Sales Will Suffer Due
US Government, Industry Research
Compaq Cuts Prices Again
AT&T Unveils New Products, Hit W
Microsoft Rolls Out Windows For
UK: Mercury To Open 2nd Customer
New For PC: Modern, Color Clip A
UK: Astair Conference Details
Virtual Reality Signs Financing
Japan: NEC's PC-VAN Connects Wit
Apple Intros AppleLink CD Info C
HP To Intro 2 New Printers
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Hewlett-Packard is expected to introduce the LaserJet 4 and LaserJet 4M as early as October 26. Newsbytes has obtained preliminary information about the product.
The new printers can print with up to 600 dots per inch, up from 300 dpi in previous models. HP is also using new resolution enhancement technology and a new kind of the toner with a smaller particle size. The resolution enhancement makes the printing looking like 800-900 dots per inch, sources say.
The printer is controlled by a 20 MHz Intel i960 RISC processor. HP is introducing a complicated Bi-Tronics printer interface, which allows the printer to control the printing process, in addition to the computer controlling the printer.
New models are to be equipped with an enhanced version of the PCL5 control language, which uses vector graphics and data compression. An Adobe PostScript Level II module could be also supplied.
The recommended retail price for this 8 pages per minute, 2-megabyte memory, 16.5 kg printer, is expected to be the same as LaserJet III US$2785 with a one-year warranty.
Another brand -- The LaserJet 4M -- is a special version for the multimedia environment, which support PostScript Level II, has 6MB memory installed and could work with both IBM and Macintosh computers.
In the US, Bill Horning of HP's public relations department, refused to comment on the report but denied that there was any press event in store for October 26.
(Kirill Tchashchin/19921014)
(Kirill Tchashchin/19921014)
10/14/92
HP To Intro 2 New Printers
GENERAL
Japanese Mac Operating System Du
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Apple Computer Japan will release the latest Japanese language operating system for the Macintosh in November.
Apple Computer Japan's latest Japanese operating system is called Kanji Talk 7 Release 7.1 and it runs on almost all the Macintosh family of computers from the Macintosh Classic to the Quadra. This new Japanese language operating system is based on System 7 which was released in May 1991 in Japan. It supports outline fonts called Kanji True Type, virtual memory, multitasking and 32-bit addressing. Also, with the multimedia extension called Quicktime the user will be able to synchronize motion picture and voice data.
A Macintosh also supports the original English operating system and a user can switch between the two operating systems while using a Macintosh.
Apple reports that over 100 kinds of programs are being developed by third party software makers.
The CD-ROM-based upgrade kit for Kanji Talk 7 Release 7.1 will be sold at 20,000 yen ($170). The CD-ROM and floppy disk upgrade kit costs 35,000 yen ($290).
Apple's Macintosh has been selling quite well in the Japanese market despite the slump in the computer industry.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921014/Press Contact: Apple Computer Tokyo office, +81-3-5411-8500)
: Apple Computer Tokyo office, +81-3-5411-8500)
10/14/92
Japanese Mac Operating System Due In November
APPLE
PeopleSoft/Groupe Bull In Int'l
Ericsson Signs $160M Telecoms De
MCI, Infonet To Do Joint Sales C
Nintendo Predicts Sales Of 10 Mi
Maxtor Sells Storage Dimensions
Picturetel Forms User Group, Pla
Telecom Companies Push Products
New For Macintosh: Lapis Board L
Conner Enters Tape Drive Busines
New For Unix: Wordperfect Markup
India: Tandons, Tatas Among Expo
India: US-Based Quality Group En
Japan: NTT Develops Motion Pictu
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Japan's former telecom monopoly NTT has developed a CCITT-based TV phone which supports motion pictures. Due to be released around mid 1993, it can be used for both business and home use.
NTT's new TV phone can be used with the INS Net64, an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). The phone is the world's smallest TV phone, according to NTT, a fact made possible by the development of a coding device for pictorial data.
An LCD (liquid crystal display) is attached on top of the phone box and a camera is built-in.
This TV phone also offers a variety of interfaces such as the G3 fax machine, a personal computer, a door phone, and a security system. It can be also be connected with a television set and a video player. The variety of connections allow this TV phone to be used for conferencing, using external video cameras and monitors. It can also be used to set up a remote educational system for students. Motion picture data can be stored on a computer's hard disk.
NTT released a quasi-TV phone for analog telephone lines a few years ago. It did not support motion pictures, and was not compatible with other makers' similar TV phones because there was no set standard for such devices. As a result, the device did not sell well.
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Two previously incompatible formats the Japanese and European HDTV systems, are now talking to each other, according to NHK. NHK claims to have developed a conversion technique for the two high-definition television (HDTV) formats.
NHK's HDTV, backed by Japanese electronics firms, supports 1,125 lines and 60 hertz while the European type of HDTV television supports 1,250 lines and 50 hertz. NHK has developed a device to convert between these two different systems. The device separates pictorial data into small blocks, and modifies them one by one.
The conversion device, still huge due to the massive amount of data it must process, is too unwieldly for commerical release. But NHK plans to refine it and reduce its size so that it can be sold on the market.
Japan's National broadcasting Firm NHK has been pushing its HDTV system, developed and extensively tested since summer. The HDTV programs are currently aired for eight hours a day in Japan.
Several Japanese electronics firms have already released HDTV sets. The first product cost about 4 million yen ($33,000) but price has gradually fallen. Matsushita's latest HDTV is sold for 1.5 million yen ($12,500) -- a drastic price reduction. Many other firms including Sony, Fujitsu, Sharp, Mitsubishi, and NEC are developing LSI chips for HDTVs. They are trying to shrink all the features into tiny chips. The price of HDTV is expected to drop when these LSI chips are developed.
NHK Develops HDTV Conversion Method For European HDTV
TRENDS
ALR Cuts 100 Jobs, Intros New Pr
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- As part of its cost-cutting campaign, Advanced Logic Research Inc., will eliminate about 100 jobs, or 15 percent of its work force. At the same time the company has also introduced a new line of PC file servers based on Intel's 33 megahertz (MHz) i486 and i486DX2/66MHz microprocessors. The company also announced plans to offer Advanced Micro Devices' new Am79C960 Ethernet 10BASE-T chip with its Ranger M and MC notebooks for $199 retail.
The company says that the restructuring plan also cuts the salaries of all employees paid more than $50,000, ranging from five percent to 30 percent for Gene Lu, its chief executive officer and president.
The company has already announced that it would report "an unspecified loss" in its fourth fiscal quarter ended September 30 Among the reasons for the loss were the current recession and what the company calls, "ferocious price cutting" among personal computer makers.
Lu said that: "Our quick action to reorganize following our first ever quarterly loss is designed to enable ALR to continue to be competitive in the current low-margin computer environment, and shows our willingness to take the difficult actions required to achieve this goal. It is our intent to use our strong cash position to fuel new product introductions and grow our business."
The company's new file servers, called the ALR PROVEISA line start at prices as low as $2,495. The ALR PROVEISA base model comes with a 33MHz Intel i486 CPU (central processing unit), four megabytes (MB) of RAM, and 256 kilobyte (KB) cache RAM.
Expansion capabilities on the ALR PROVEISA include 12 drive bays 12 expansion slots, RAM expandable to 256MB on the motherboard and cache RAM expandable to 1024KB. The ALR PROVEISA's are EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture)-based and are capable of handling a second processor. The company says that Novell certification is pending.
The company also maintains that, in dual processing environments the new file server line supports SCO Unix with MPX, Banyan Vines SMP, Microsoft Windows NT, and Novell's upcoming SFT3.
According to ALR, when using its patent-pending MULTUS controller running under Novell's Netware operating system, the PROVEISA system performance is boosted by 100 percent over standard IDE (Integrated DRive Electronics) output and is about the same performance when compared to SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) and SCSI-2-like benchmark tests.
ALR plans to offer 18 models of the PROVEISA with six of them using the MULTUS controller and 12 using Intel's 486DX2/66.
ALR also plans to offer AMD's Am79C960 Ethernet 10BASE-T processor with its Ranger M and MC notebooks.
Dave Kirkey, vice president of marketing at ALR, said: "As one of the first PC manufacturers to release an internal Ethernet solution for notebook class computers, ALR demonstrates the exciting capabilities of its high-performance 486 class Ranger models for mobile professionals such as accountants and consultants who need easy access to their office LANs (local area networks) or their customers networks."
The company claims that the ALR Ranger Ethernet Module is 100 percent software-compatible with Novell NE2100 and NE1500T networking cards. It also supports Microsoft LAN Manager, Banyan Vines and Artisoft LANtastic network operating systems.
The Ranger Ethernet LAN Module is set for availability in December, 1992.
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Dell Computer has introduced what is says is the industry's fastest drive array technology, including a SCSI drive array and external media storage systems that provide for storage up to 58.8 gigabytes (GB), or 58 million bytes, of data storage.
Dell's 466SE/DSA is a 66 megahertz (MHz) Intel 486DX2-based file server with up to 128 megabytes (MB) of system memory and up to 8.4 GB of data storage. Drive array storage provides for multiple storage locations for data to preclude the loss of information, and is a common technique with mainframe and minicomputer systems. The company says the new server is compatible with all is desktop and floor-standing EISA (extended industry standard architecture)-based systems.
In addition to the file server, Dell is also introducing its External Media System 753 (EMS 753), an external storage system capable of providing up to 14 GB of information storage. The company says multiple EMS 753's can be attached to the DSA to reach a maximum capacity of up to 58 GB of total storage space. That's enough storage to provide 80 MB of storage for each of 735 workstations on a network.
Dell spokesperson Michele Moore told Newsbytes that a DSA with 16 MB of RAM, a DSA controller, one floppy drive and a monitor will have a suggested retail price of $7,564. A EMS 753 carries a price tag of $5,999 for a unit with two 650 MB SCSI drives. Each additional gigabyte of storage will add $1,899 to the price. Dell says the drives have a 9.5 millisecond access time and an average of 250,000 hours mean time between failures (MTBF).
"The vast majority of PC servers in networks act as file servers storing, retrieving and distributing data to and from workstations on the network. We expect this trend to continue and feel the best way to improve network throughput is to improve the performance of the server's disk subsystem," according to Dell VP of PC systems Mike Bennett.
Bennett says operating system support for multiprocessing PC servers is still in its infancy, although some vendors promise to introduce such operating systems in the next few years. Bennett also said that Del plans to introduce multiprocessor systems when there is sufficient operating system support, as well as customer demand for that class of product. The company says that advances in disk subsystem performance, not processing power, holds the key to satisfying the greatest number of customers needs in PC networks.
The new server is expected to ship next month, and is upgradable to the Intel P5 microprocessor when it becomes available, Dell said. The EMS 753's are immediately available.
s contact: Michele Moore, Dell Computer 512-343-3535)
10/14/92
Dell Intros Industry's Fastest Drive Array Server
New For Macintosh: MacGlobe 1.3
Editorial: Telecom Issues In The
Visualworks ADE From Parcplace S
New For PC: EasyTax Tax Preparat
The Enabled Computer
Australia: Software Prices Too H
Military Pocket Computer Develop
New For Windows: Graphics Works
Russia: Zyxel Modems Available
TI Intros Four New 486-based Not
Australia: School Raises Funds T
Europe's Openforum '92 Details
Review of: What's my Angle? Educ
Military Pocket Computer Develop
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Texas Microsystems (TMI) says it has begun work on a prototype of a pocket size Soldier's Computer under a $500,000 contract from the US Army's Communications & Electronics Command.
TMI regional manager, Bill Taylor, told Newsbytes the development is important to civilian computer users because the Soldier's Computer is being developed under the US Defense Department's Small business Innovation Research Program. To quality for funding under the program, projects must demonstrate commercial promise, as well as military application potential.
Taylor cited as possible civilian applications automobile and aircraft maintenance, police and fire protection, as well as other public safety functions, hospital and emergency medical services, and securities trading.
Taylor said the "ruggedized" prototype is expected to be complete by the fall of 1993, and functional units could be deployed to Army troops as early as 1995.
Design plans, while not yet finalized, call for the prototype to be a two to three-pound notepad-type unit, built to withstand the harsh use of a field environment. It will have its own high-resolution display, with a screen approximately four by five inches. A final decision about the power source is still to be determined, but Taylor told Newsbytes that the Army is favoring a rechargable ni-cad (nickel-cadmium) battery.
The system could eventually be used to help aim weapons, pinpoint the user's location using the satellite-supported global positioning system (GPS). GPS has been introduced to the civilian market by several manufacturers for use by hikers, campers, and boaters. A working GPS system to pinpoint the location of automobiles is already being tested by one national auto rental firm, as reported in a recent Newsbytes story.
Taylor told Newsbytes that the prototype may be used initially for such purposes as storing complete repair and operator manuals and medical treatment instructions. Taylor said eventually an artificial intelligence software program could even be used to diagnose and recommend treatment for injuries in the field.
Designers also envision that the finished product could include external interfaces such as "heads-up" displays and "data gloves." Heads up displays are commonly used in military aircraft to display important data in front of the user, to avoid having to look down at instrumentation. Data gloves would allow users to operate the computer through simple hand and finger movements, without having to actually touch the computer. The emerging visual reality technology now being demonstrated uses a similar system. Taylor said voice command technology might also be integrated into the Soldier's Computer.
Taylor said the Army has also awarded other contracts for development of related components such as the lightweight helmet-mounted display system. A working prototype of that system is expected to be ready by mid-1994.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Diversification was the headline this week in the $60 billion local phone industry.
Ameritech celebrated the first anniversary of its Complete MasterCard, a combination credit and calling card competing with AT&T's Universal Card. Ameritech said that it has almost 500,000 cardholders, and paid $1.5 million in calling rebates to cardholders in the last year. Household Bank actually issues the card.
GTE predicted there will be 40 million cellular phone users by the turn of the century. GTE is the largest owner of local phone companies in the US, and predicted that 10 percent of US households will have wireless phone services by the millennium. Data transmission will spur growth, the company claims.
In Western Massachusetts, New England Telephone introduced the controversial Caller ID service, at just $4.95 per month. The service goes live in the Boston suburbs November 15, but won't be available in Boston itself until 1995. Caller ID is banned in Pennsylvania as a violation of state wiretap laws, but won approval from Massachusetts regulators after blocking was offered. In Pennsylvania, meanwhile, Governor Robert Casey announced a new network for the state's offices, which he claimed will reduce costs by about 15 percent.
Finally, SNET, which covers southern Connecticut, announced a plan to increase rates slowly over three years, which it submitted in response to an inquiry from state regulators. The company claimed the higher rates will give it the capital needed to make necessary investments in the telecommunications infrastructure of the area.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921014/Press Contact: Steve Ford, Ameritech 312-750-5205; Bill Seekamp, SNET, 203-771-4662)
SNET, 203-771-4662)
10/14/92
Local Phone Update
TELECOM
Sprint Outage Headlines Long Dis
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Sprint spokesmen discussed a recent outage on their network with Newsbytes.
Steve Dykes of Sprint said that one of the company's major switching centers in Fairfax, South Carolina was hit by a flood on October 9. "It caused a lot of road closings, and a train derailed. We operate a switching center there. So we took that switch out of service. We were able to alternate route our switched services to other carriers, so they were able to operate normally. We were restoring some of the 800 services, that sort of thing. As of 5 a.m. this morning, after replacing equipment we started converting traffic back through the Fairfax switch."
Dykes said regular service was routed to alternate carriers, and operators gave out competitors' access numbers during the outage. Among the areas impacted were most of South Carolina, a substantial part of North Carolina, two cities in Georgia, and part of Florida, mainly along the coast. "We should return to normal service today." During the outage, only MCI sent out a press release calling on residents to use its 10222 code to get long distance service. When AT&T lines went out in recent years on the other hand, it was a major story. Sprint reported earnings up 13.2 percent for the quarter ending in September boosted by better results in its long distance business.
At AT&T, meanwhile, the company said it is the leading investor in a new $220 million undersea fiber optic cable system connecting the United States, St. Thomas, Brazil, Trinidad and Venezuela. That investment gives AT&T a 25 percent stake in the Americas-1 system, which is scheduled to go into service in September, 1994. There are a total of 58 international telecommunications carriers in the ownership group.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921014/Press Contact: AT&T International Tricia Sieh, 201/326-4224; MCI, Kate Fralin, 703-415-6941; Sprint, Steve Dykes, 202-828-7426)
415-6941; Sprint, Steve Dykes, 202-828-7426)
10/14/92
Sprint Outage Headlines Long Distance News
TELECOM
New US Services Internationally
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- US phone and data services are quickly moving into international markets.
Dow Jones' Dowvision, which offers keyword-based news feeds to clients' computers, chosen from a variety of newswires, was expanded into Europe, via an access node in London. That node comes online by the end of the year. The company said it has a global strategy to expand use of its wires.
Infonet, meanwhile, said it will expand its NOTICE 400 messaging service into Brazil, through a service owned by that nation's Embratel network. Infonet becomes the first major carrier to enter the Brazilian market under the X.400 message inter connection standard.
Finally Sprint said it will expand all its value-added voice and data services into Hong Kong through a distribution agreement with Jardine, Matheson and Co. Included are the SprintNet data service, Global SprintFax fax service, SprintMail electronic mail service, and voice services including the Sprint Foncard calling card, Clearline private line service and Global Virtual Private Network service.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921014/Press Contact: Janis Langley, Sprint 202-828-7427, Dow Jones Information Services, Maggie Landis 609/520-4638; Infonet, Juan Cenzano, 310/335-2884)
onet, Juan Cenzano, 310/335-2884)
10/14/92
New US Services Internationally
TELECOM
New For Networks: Lotus Notes Gr
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Lotus Development is opening up its Notes workgroup software to smaller users with the announcement at the NetWorld conference of Notes Group Pack. The new package is designed to support nine users and a server, and can be expanded as needed, the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company said.
Since its introduction in 1989, Notes has been sold mainly to large organizations. Lotus deliberately avoided selling to smaller customers, concerned that if users lacked the expertise to implement Notes properly, they would not be happy with the results. "We might have even been a little overly cautious in the beginning in not making Notes as readily available to people as they wanted," company spokeswoman Betsy Kosheff said.
The result is that the more than 200,000 individuals now using Notes around the world work for only about 200 organizations. That works out to an average of about 1,000 users per organization, with perhaps eight or 10 major users having 5,000 to 10,000 users each Kosheff said. Most of the smaller installations are large companies in the early stages of implementing the software, she said.
Now, Lotus is addressing the concern that users may not know how to get the most out of Notes in several ways. First, Kosheff said Lotus has trained about 200 value-added resellers across the country to install and support the software, which supports cooperative work over local-area networks. The training has a particular focus on working with client/server architecture, which remains unfamiliar to many customers, Kosheff said.
Lotus has also packaged with the Group Pack 10 group applications that customers can use and modify. They include sales management forms routing, meeting tracking, and group discussion.
Finally, Lotus is providing 90 days of free telephone support with the purchase of each Group Pack.
Available immediately, exclusively through authorized value-added resellers, the entry-level Group Pack will have a list price of $4,950. It can be expanded in increments of one, 10, or 25 users Lotus said.
DANVERS, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- PictureTel, a vendor of videoconferencing equipment and services, has announced formation of a Global User Group. The group will hold its inaugural meeting in Boston from November 11 to 13.
Creation of the user group follows the setting up of a seven-member Executive User Committee in June, with representatives from Du Pont, Metropolitan Life, JC Penney, Motorola, Allergan, and Monsanto.
According to Picturetel officials, the user group is intended to involve users more closely in the development process and help the company identify user needs and concerns more quickly.
Picturetel is subsidizing the initial conference, but the user group is intended to support itself mainly from user fees and to be run by the users, said company spokesman Ron Taylor. "What we're trying to do is facilitate it."
The inaugural conference will be moderated by the seven executive committee members. Al Lill, a Gartner Group consultant and PictureTel customer, will give the keynote address. Norman E. Gaut Picturetel's president and chief executive, will also be a speaker.
Conference sessions will deal with topics such as video implementation strategies, desktop conferencing, standards peripherals, new applications, and use of videoconferencing in distance education, Taylor said. A business meeting will also be held to elect officers, adopt bylaws, and formally establish the user group.
The fee for attending the founding conference is $295. Attendance is open to all PictureTel customers. Remote access to selected portions of the conference will be made possible through PictureTel's videoconferencing capabilities.
Membership fees for the user group will be established at the conference. The gathering is expected to become an annual event Taylor said.
(Grant Buckler/19921014/Press Contact: Ron Taylor, PictureTel 508-762-5178; Public Contact: PictureTel, 617-235-1167)
5178; Public Contact: PictureTel, 617-235-1167)
10/14/92
Picturetel Forms User Group, Plans Conference
TELECOM
B &
Computer Associates To Put Unice
ISLANDIA, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Computer Associates has announced plans to put its CA-Unicenter systems management software on hardware from Pyramid Technology of San Jose California.
The two companies unveiled a technology and marketing agreement aimed at putting CA-Unicenter on Pyramid's mainframe-class MIServer (R) systems by some time in 1993.
CA-Unicenter is an integrated software suite for systems and information management. Its functions include security, automated storage management, production control, scheduling report distribution, resource accounting, performance monitoring, and data center automation.
Pyramid officials said the deal provides for joint development and marketing of CA-Unicenter. They also said Pyramid will be the first to offer Unicenter on a large-scale symmetric multiprocessing machine running Unix System V Release 4.
It is the second new-platform announcement in as many months for Unicenter. In September, CA and Sun Microsystems announced that Unicenter would be made available on Sun's SPARCserver and SPARCstation systems.
In a teleconference announcing that deal, Charles Wang, chairman of Computer Associates, said many information systems executives are eager to move mission-critical applications from mainframe systems to distributed Unix platforms, but are worried about the lack of mainframe-class systems management tools. "Today's joint announcement takes away that fear," he said.
"Many of our customers have come to us saying that Unix management software is a critical element for successfully moving their applications off the mainframe and onto open systems," said Edward W. Scott, Jr., executive vice-president of Pyramid, in a press release.
CA-Unicenter currently runs on systems from Hewlett-Packard and has been announced for Tandem, Sequent, Sun, and Pyramid machines as well as IBM's OS/2 operating system and Novell's NetWare local-area network operating system, company spokesman Joe Valley said.
Founded in 1981, Pyramid builds the MIServer line of high-availability servers for data center computing. They are based on a multiprocessing reduced instruction set computing (RISC) architecture and a commercially enhanced version of the Unix System V Release 4 operating system.
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 7 (NB) -- Borland International posted black ink in its second quarter earnings statement to the tune of $5.4 million in net income, but is still struggling to fight off negative perceptions generated in the stock market.
The company's stock was severely devalued in a three-day period last week when several major stock market analysts downgraded Borland's performance estimates.
The company said revenues were up 12.2 percent to $127.8 million compared to $113.9 million posted in the same second quarter a year previously.
Last year in this quarter the company was still attempting to recover from the $110.0 million purchase of Ashton-Tate and showed red ink amounting to $103.0 million in net losses. Revenues for the six-month period in 1991 were 3.4 percent higher at $251.1 million the $242.6 million figure reported for the same period this year.
Some of the devaluation was based on reports that Quattro Pro for Windows was not moving in the retail channels as anticipated. While the company did report decreased revenues of 3.4 percent for the six-month period so far, Borland credits the release of Quattro Pro for Windows two weeks before the end of the quarter and record sales for Paradox 4.0 for the 12.2 increase in revenues for the second quarter of 1992 over the same quarter last year.
Also, reports from some analysts said not even preliminary sales figures in the retail channels were available for Quattro Pro for Windows after the short time the product had been on the market.
The company says it has cut its sales, general, and administrative expenses 11.4 percent from $81.0 million last year to $71.8 million this year. It also reported it increased research and development expenses 31.5 percent on a new generation of products for Microsoft Windows from the $14.9 million last year to $19.6 million this year.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921014/Press Contact: Sandra Hawker Borland, tel 408-439-1659, fax 408-439-9388)
d, tel 408-439-1659, fax 408-439-9388)
10/7/92
Borland Shows $5.4 Mil Income For 2Q
BUSINESS
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Maxtor's Singapore Manufacturing
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Barely a month after announcing a new customer service support plan for returned drives in need of repair, Maxtor Corp.'s Singapore manufacturing and repair operation has been awarded ISO 9002 registration.
The International Standards Organization's ISO 9000 describes basic elements that must be included in a company's quality management system. Categories within the ISO 9000 series include: ISO 9001, the model for quality assurance (QA) in design/development, production, installation and servicing; ISO 9002, the model for QA in production and installation; and ISO 9003, the model for QA in final inspection and testing.
Mike Flood, Maxtor director of quality and reliability, said: "ISO 9000 registration assures manufacturers worldwide their suppliers have superior quality management systems meeting the requirements of the ISO. By promoting the use of international standards, the ISO hopes to reconcile quality standards worldwide and subsequently remove some of the barriers to free trade that currently exist. ISO 9000 registration will not only help ensure Maxtor's existing European customer base, but may help further penetrate the European market of the future."
The ISO 9000 standard was published in 1987 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and is currently endorsed by 52 countries as an international standard.
In September Newsbytes reported that Maxtor had introduced its new "No Quibble Service" customer service support plan which allows customers the choice of two options when returning drives for repair or exchange.
At the end of June, Newsbytes reported that Maxtor had released the 340 megabyte (MB) MXT-340 inch-high 3.5-inch Winchester disk drive. The company claims that the MXT-340 uses the same components and features and offers the same seek times and data transfer rates as its parent drives, the inch-high MXT-540, which provides 540MB formatted storage capacity, and the full-height MXT-1240, which offers 1.2 gigabytes (GB) of storage.
In April, Newsbytes reported that the company had introduced a new 128 MB 2.5-inch disk drive for use in the battery-powered notebook and laptop computer markets.
(Ian Stokell/19921014/Press Contact: Mike Flood, Maxtor Corporation, 303-678-2374)
t: Mike Flood, Maxtor Corporation, 303-678-2374)
10/14/92
Maxtor's Singapore Manufacturing ISO Certified
BUSINESS
Book-To-Bill Unseasonally Down,
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), a San Jose California-based trade organization, says the book-to-bill ratio for the US semiconductor market for September moved down slightly compared to August. The cyclical nature of the business makes lower figures in the summer expected with gains in the fall, the SIA added.
The good news is a slight September increase in new orders was reported and the book-to-bill ratio is way up from last year the SIA maintains.
The SIA's book-to-bill ratio preliminary figure for September is 1.06 meaning for every $100 worth of products shipped or billed, semiconductor manufacturers receive a $106 worth of new orders. Last September the book-to-bill ratio was 0.94, but began picking up in November and reached a high of 1.14 in June, which is traditionally a low month, the SIA said.
However, the ratio is down 0.03 in preliminary SIA reports from August's 1.09 revised figure. The preliminary SIA book-to-bill figure for August was 1.08.
The figures are compiled from preliminary surveys of key semiconductor manufacturers participating in the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) program, the SIA said.
Actual billings for September or shipments based on a three month moving average increased 3.1 percent to $1552.4 million compared to August billings of $1505.1 million. Billings were up 17.1 percent from the September 1991 figure of $1287.3 million, the SIA said.
The actual September billings or single month shipments in the US market were $1769.8 million up 20.1 percent from the $1473.4 million billed in August and up 19.5 percent from the $1480.5 million in September of last year.
The SIA reported in June that 1992 is expected to be a strong year for the US semiconductor industry. The group credited gains in the strength of the personal computer mail order industry in the US as a contributing factor.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921014/Press Contact: Angela Newlove Semiconductor Industry Association, tel 408-246-2711, fax 408 246-2830)
dustry Association, tel 408-246-2711, fax 408 246-2830)
10/14/92
Book-To-Bill Unseasonally Down, But Still Up From '91
TRENDS
Australia: Tasmanian Firm Increa
Survey Claims Users Want Better
How-to Computer Virus Newsletter
New For PC: Reading Adventures I
UK: BT's EDI Net Links With AT&T
New For PC: Computer Peripherals
UK: Sony Handportable To Form Ma
UK: Intuit's Quicken Arrives
HP, AT&T Develop 100 Megabits/Se
Gateway 2000 Intros 486SX/25 PC
MIT Puts US Presidential Campaig
New For Windows: Graphics Works
RICHARDSON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 14 (NB) -- Micrografx has announced it will begin shipping Graphics Works for Windows at the end of this month.
The company describes Graphics Works for Windows as a combination of drawing, desktop publishing, charting, graphing, photo editing, and presentation technologies wrapped into one program.
Micrografx VP of marketing, Kim Shah, told Newsbytes that Graphics Works for Windows will include the company's Windows Draw program and PhotoMagic. Both programs have a suggested retail price of $149 when purchased individually. Shah told Newsbytes Graphics Works will have a $295 price tag. He said the versions of Draw and PhotoMagic included in Graphics Works is identical to the stand-alone package.
Graphics Works supports object linking and embedding (OLE) and works with other popular Microsoft Windows applications such as word processors Word and Ami Pro, spreadsheet Excel, and desktop publishing application PageMaker.
Shah told Newsbytes target markets for Graphics Works fall into three categories: present users of Draw or PhotoMagic, users of Windows-compatible word processing applications, and users of Microsoft Works.
The company said it will announce an upgrade for owners of Draw and PhotoMagic. Shah said the upgrade price has yet to be determined "But the price point will be attractive," he told Newsbytes. Shah said Micrografx has no plans to withdraw the freestanding Draw and PhotoMagic from the market once Graphics Works hits the market.
While the applications in the stand-alone programs and Graphics Works are functionally identical, Shah told Newsbytes there is one major difference. Graphics Works will include about 4 times the number of clip art and photo images found in the stand-alone packages. While Draw has 2,600 clip art images, Graphics Work will have 10,000. PhotoMagic comes with about 250 photo images, while Graphics Works will include 1000.
Shah said Micrografx has no plans to release a Macintosh version of Graphics Works. "The emphasis is on Windows applications," he said. However, you can look for Micrografx to release an OS/2 version of Draw later this month, and an OS/2 version of Designer next month.
Micrografx announced yesterday that its second quarter revenue would be about $13.5 million, compared to analysts' projections of $14 to 16 million. "This revenue shortfall will likely result in earnings being only marginally profitable or breakeven," said chief financial officer, David Henkel. He attributed the results to less-than-expected Ruropean revenues and the company's inability to fill some orders due to a fire at a vendor's factory. Analysts had predicted per-share earnings of $0.05 to $0.14.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- United Press International and the Toronto Sun have reported arrests related to alleged "hacker" incidents involving 911 telephone systems. The law enforcement personnel quoted in the stories were not available for comment due to the observance of Columbus Day and the Canadian Thanksgiving, respectively, but Newsbytes did talk to someone who belongs to an organization accused of promoting the hacking.
The UPI story reports the arrest of a 23 year-old Newark, New Jersey individual, identified only as "Maverick" for allegedly attempting to cause havoc through the disruption of 911 service. The story also said that arrests were expected to be forthcoming in two Maryland locations.
The Toronto story, written by Kevin Hann, described the arrest of a 15-year-old high school student accused of misdirecting emergency services crews and reporting false medical emergencies. He, according to quotes attributed to Toronto police officials used a home computer to route calls through the United States back to Toronto in an attempt to confuse security systems.
The New Jersey man arrested was said to be part of a loose network of computer "hackers" known as the Legion of Doom (LOD) which, according to the story, engages in telephone fraud by using corporate private branch exchanges (PBX) systems to illegally place their calls. It was alleged that the group made over $100,000 in charges to be incurred by a Minnesota company within a single month.
The name Legion of Doom has been used repeatedly in recent years by both law enforcement personnel and others in the last few years. Robert Riggs, Adam Grant, and Franklin Darden, convicted in 1990 for intrusion in to BellSouth's computer systems, were identified by law enforcement officials as members of the Legion of Doom as was Len Rose, sentenced in 1991 for "receiving misappropriated Unix source code."
Additionally, other persons have identified themselves as members or ex-members of the Legion of Doom. In June 1991, Chris Goggans Scott Chasen and Ken Shulman, announcing the formation of ComSec a computer security firm, identified themselves as former LOD-ers "Erik Bloodaxe," "Doc Holiday," and "Malefactor" (the firm has since gone out of business). In January 1992, announcing the commercial bulletin board system Phantom Access, the system owners, Patrick Kroupa and Bruce Fancher, described themselves as "two former East-Coast Legion of Doom members" ("Lord Digital" and "Dead Lord").
Fancher told Newsbytes: "The Legion of Doom is not and never was an organization with criminal intent. Any criminal activity that might have happened was the result of inadvertent actions while exploring. I never heard of Maverick and doubt that he was a member of the group known as the Legion of Doom. I also doubt that anyone that I knew in the group would have considered malicious acts involving 911 systems."
(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19921013)
& John F. McMullen/19921013)
10/13/92
News Reports Of 911 Attacks
Digital Commits To New X/Open Br
b TAIKOO SHING, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- Digital Equipment Corporation has announced its commitment to develop and incorporate X/Open's XPG4 specifications across its open system environments. The first XPG4-branded products from Digital will be available this month.
XPG4 is an evolution of XPG3, through which many existing open systems products are branded. Digital currently offers Ultrix DEC OSF/1, OpenVMS, and SCO Unix operating systems as XPG3 branded open system environments. Digital has obtained the XPG3 Base brand for more systems than any other vendor worldwide.
"Digital is focused on delivering open systems capabilities to our customers, in the form of products and services, to assure their business needs are met," said Kaizad Heerjee, Digital Asia's open systems manager. "The computing environments we provide and support must fill today's needs as well as provide a clear path to the future.
"Our participation in and support for industry standards such as the X/Open Common Application Environment, IEEE Posix and the many international standards produced by ISO have given that path to our customers. Digital will incorporate the XPG4 specifications demonstrating our unwavering commitment to industry standards and open systems."
Digital has been an active member of the X/Open Consortium's Technical and Marketing Committees since it joined X/Open in 1986. Indeed, Digital was the first non-European company to join.
The X/Open brand clearly identifies open systems products and simplifies their procurement. Digital is actively working to brand products according to XPG4 specifications, including Fortran Pascal, the C language and libraries, NFS, X Window System, and elements of the operating system such as the commands and utilities.
Digital includes X/Open specifications in its Network Application Support (NAS) integrated portfolio of software products and services that support distributed multi-vendor environments.
"Digital recognizes the significance of X/Open to our customers and actively supports and promotes X/Open and its efforts to provide the unified path to open systems," said Heerjee.
Digital Equipment Corporation is the leading worldwide supplier of networked computer systems, software and services.
(Brett Cameron/19921013/Press Contact: Walter Cheung, Digital, Tel: 852-805 3533;HK time is GMT + 8)
Digital, Tel: 852-805 3533;HK time is GMT + 8)
10/13/92
Digital Commits To New X/Open Branding Rules
New For PC: It's Legal 3.0 Legal
HIAWATHA, IOWA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- Parsons Technology says it is now shipping version 3.0 of It's Legal, a software program for IBM-compatible PCs that contains 34 documents the company says are legally binding in all states.
Parsons test engineer Dennis Cook told Newsbytes that a team of attorneys worked closely with the developers to assure that the forms would meet the requirements of all 50 states.
It's Legal 3.0 adds ten new documents, and includes the document the company says is the most often requested, the Living Trust.
According to the company, the package separates complex legal documents into sections, providing users with an easy way to customize forms to fit their needs. The forms can be used as a planning tool or for generating a final document. They can also be used as templates, creating a standard form then printing it and saving it for future use. The program provides for the use of US Territory, Fleet Post Office (FPO), Army Post Office (APO) and international addresses.
The program also includes a "Durable Health Care Power of Attorney," a feature which added was added when the company released version 2.0 in July 1991. The document allows users to name the person authorized to decide the extent to which life sustaining measures in the event of a debilitating illness or accident.
Rita Burns, spokesperson at Colorado Springs, CO city-owned Memorial Hospital told Newsbytes that persons executing such a document should discuss it with both their family and their physician, and that if hospitalized, the document should be brought with the patient if possible.
A new federal law, which goes into effect in November this year requires hospitals to notify patients they have the right to advanced directives, the umbrella term under which living wills and durable powers of attorney fall, said Burns. Memorial provides each patient with a brochure explaining their rights.
Cook told Newsbytes that the company doesn't have any plans to release a Macintosh version of It's Legal 3.0, but Newsbytes has learned that the company is working on a Windows version.
It's Legal 3.0 carries a retail price tag of $69, and runs on any IBM-compatible PC with 512 kilobytes of RAM (random access memory) dual floppy drives or one floppy drive and a hard disk.
The package is available by calling Parsons' toll-free order line and is also available in retail software outlets.
Parsons spokesperson Anne Rawland-Warner told Newsbytes that new documents in release 3.0 include an employment confidentiality agreement, an estate planning worksheet, revocation of the living will, a pour-over will and several other documents. Rawland-Warner said all the forms have been revised to include the latest legislative revisions.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- PC Information Group has announced the release of SysLaw, Second Edition: The Legal Guide for Online Service Providers by attorneys Lance Rose and Jonathan Wallace.
According to the company, "Syslaw provides BBS sysops, network moderators and other online service providers with basic information on their rights and responsibilities, in a form that non-lawyers can easily understand."
Subjects covered by the book include the First Amendment copyrights and trademarks, the user agreement, negligence privacy, criminal law, searches and seizures, viruses and adult materials. The company claims that SysLaw not only explains the laws, but that it gives detailed advice enabling system operators to create the desired balance of user services, freedom, and protection from risk on their systems."
Co-author Lance Rose told Newsbytes: "In the four years since the publication of the first edition, the electronic community has become alerted to the first amendment dimensions of the on line community."
"The first amendment has profound implications to the on-line community both to liberate providers and users of on-line systems and to protect them from undue legal harassment. There has, in the last few years, been a lot of law enforcement activity effecting bulletin board systems, including the Steve Jackson and Craig Neidorf/Phrack cases," he said.
Rose continued, "The new edition incorporates these new developments as well as containing new information concerning on line property rights, user agreements, sysop liabilities, viruses and adult material contained on on-line systems."
SysLaw is available from PC Information Group, 1126 East Broadway, Winona, MN 55987 (800-321-8285 or 507- 452-2824) at a price of $34.95 plus $3.00 shipping and (if applicable) sales tax.
(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19911013/Press Contact:Brian Blackledge, PC Information Group, 800-321-8285)
Information Group, 800-321-8285)
10/13/92
2nd Online Legal Guide Released
4 R
UK: Tulip Desktop Lock, Color Mo
CRAWLEY, WEST SUSSEX, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- Tulip has announced a low-cost hardware security system for its PCs, as well as a 14-inch XVGA color monitor that supports 1,024 by 768 pixels in non-interlaced mode.
Announcing the new products, Steve McCall, Tulip's managing director, said that they have been introduced due to customer request.
"Tulip recognizes that our customers need more than quality systems to increase productivity in the corporate environment," he said, adding that "by providing the means for enhanced graphics and security, Tulip is providing the ingredients necessary for a complete computing solution."
The Desktop lock, which sells for UKP 30, is compatible with all Tulip dc, dt and ws machines. The lock is quite simple -- it is a small device that employs a metal bar and a key lock to protect one of the retaining screws on the cabinet lid.
The 14-inch XVGA color monitor, meanwhile, sells for UKP 364 as a stand-alone option, or as an integral part of Tulip's range of PC bundles. The monitor supports a wide array of resolutions other than the XVGA standard, including Super VGA, 8514/XGA, VESA and standard VGA. The screen mask is 0.28mm and the monitor comes with a non-glare screen.
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- Media watchers cannot have failed to hear of the scandal involving Princess Diana and her infamous call on a mobile phone to her alleged close friend James Gilbey. With this in mind, Rabbit, the digital mobile phone network, has commissioned a survey to discover the public's feelings about mobile phone security.
According to Rabbit, a division of Hutchinson Telecom, half of young people in the UK would rather be overheard discussing anything but romance. For older people, however, calls discussing personal finances and business come top of what the company calls "the red face roster."
The findings come from a MORI research survey which was commissioned by Rabbit. The main reason for the survey, it seems is to identify the problems that eavesdropping cause. Rabbit produces a cordless telephone type two (CT-2) system of the same name that uses digital transmissions, a by-product of which means that mobile calls cannot be overheard.
Rabbit's research shows that 29 percent of phone users would be embarrassed if their general day-to-day conversations were overheard. Women would be slightly more embarrassed about snoopers than men, at 31 and 26 percent respectively.
When asked which type of calls during which they would like least to be overheard, 49 percent of 18 to 34-year-olds named romantic calls while only one in five (22 percent) of this age group said they would be worried about having calls involving their personal finances overheard.
In the case of the over-55s, however, 51 percent of respondents said that they would be most worried about having their business phone calls overheard. Only nine percent said they would be worried about having their romantic calls overheard.
Okay - now on to the nitty-gritty - where do phone users make their romantic phone calls from? According to the survey, bed came at the top with 39 percent, followed by the lounge (21 percent) and the bath with 12 percent.
When asked with whom they would most like to have a romantic phone conversation, men put Linda Lusardi (a popular topless model in the UK) as ahead of other contenders such as Madonna Kylie Minogue, and Jerry Hall. With 48 percent of the male vote Lusardi proved to be two and half times more popular as Madonna and five times more popular than Minogue.
Wives and girlfriends came further down the scale with 21 percent of males. But women didn't return the compliment -- only 16 percent of women questioned said they would rather have a romantic call with their husbands and boyfriends.
Women's overall favorite for a phone fling was Sean Connery (24 percent), followed by Kevin Costner (16 percent). Tom Cruise only managed to scrape in with 15 percent.
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- After a roll-out in the Northeast and Northwest regions of the UK in the summer, the Rabbit digital mobile phone network has been launched nationally. The mobile phone company claims that, with 8,000 operational base stations, it has the largest digital cordless phone network in the world.
Rabbit claims to have 3,000 subscribers to its phone network in the NW and NE regions of the UK, and anticipates a national user base of around 20,000 by the end of the year. Within two years, the service reckons it will have 200,000 subscribers.
To support its claims and projections, Rabbit cites MZA, a UK telecom analyst, which projects there will be around 3.7 million cordless phone users in the UK by 1997, of which 1.4 million may be using Rabbit technology.
Peter Wright, Rabbit's managing director, claims there are 2.5 million analogue cordless phones in use in the UK at the moment. He reckons that these users will progressively move over to CT-2 technology in the coming years.
"We think anyone using a traditional analogue cordless phone should switch to Rabbit. At home, the calls cost the same as a wired phone but with Rabbit you get better speech quality, call range, and the bonus of being able to use the phone out and about," he said.
The Rabbit mobile phone system is unusual in that it is based on CT-2 technology. CT-2 systems have been launched and subsequently withdrawn by British Telecom, Ferranti and Mercury Communications over the past few years in the UK.
CT-2 technology has two aspects. The first is a digital replacement for existing cordless phones, operating within 100 yards of a private base station. The second, in which Rabbit is involved, centers around allowing users of the CT-2 handsets to make outgoing-only phone calls when within 100 yards of a public base station.
This one-way only aspect of CT-2 killed off earlier systems based on the technology. The main problem was that only cellular phones, despite costing several times the price, offered truly mobile two-way phone call services.
Rabbit has claimed that it will be successful since it uses the common air interface (CAI) standard. CAI was designed by Rabbit and several other, now closed, CT-2 service providers to allow roaming between networks. Although the Rabbit system allows CAI standard calls, since there is only one CT-2 network in the UK at the moment, the technology is effectively redundant.
Prior to the launch of Rabbit, CT-2 technology was a flop in the UK, Newsbytes notes. Outside the UK, the technology has been sold as a viable operation to several telecom authorities, notably Hong Kong, which signed up 15,000 subscribers within a few months of launch.
The successful launches of CT-2 technology have been, Newsbytes notes, in countries which have had a monopoly -- usually state controlled -- on the provision of telecom service. The UK has a relatively liberal telecom market.
The basic package, Rabbit, costs UKP 199-99, and includes a handset plus charger and base station. Free sign-up and a free subscription to the network until the end of March '93 are also included. From April '93 onwards, the mobile Rabbit service will cost UKP 6 a month.
To make Rabbit users contactable at all times, a voicemail service with a radiopager alert is available at UKP 57-50 with a total monthly charge, including access to the Rabbit network, of UKP 11-50 a month.
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- Borland is offering upgrade pricing of newly released Quattro Pro for Windows to Wordperfect for Windows users. The deal, operating under the "Win Win" brand name, is available in the US with immediate effect.
Borland is offering Quattro Pro for Windows for $99.95 or Quattro Pro Windows (both Quattro Pro for Windows and Quattro Pro 4.0 for DOS) for $149.95 to Wordperfect purchasers. The offer is the same as the upgrade pricing Borland is offering its own users for the new Windows product and lasts until February 15, 1992.
While this appears on the surface to be just a marketing strategy, both Wordperfect and Borland have long been fierce competitors with Microsoft. Also, last week a number of stock market analysts lowered their earnings estimates for Borland. Borland's stock took a beating last week as well, losing nearly 25 percent of its value in a two-day period.
However, some industry analysts and Borland are saying it is too early to tell how the Windows version of Quattro Pro is doing. Computer Intelligence analyst Dan Ness told Newsbytes he didn't even have preliminary figures for Quattro Pro for Windows sales and speculated stock analysts are reacting to Microsoft's "Directions" presentation in Bellvue, Washington to which analysts were invited just over a week ago.
While Wordperfect for DOS has enjoyed wide acceptance, Borland and Wordperfect say Wordperfect for Windows is picking up in user acceptance.
Borland has also invited press and corporate representatives to a corporate roll-out for Quattro Pro For Windows in a companion demonstration with Microsoft's Excel 4.0. The demonstration is to be held Wednesday, October 14 at the Herbst Theater War Memorial in San Francisco and Borland is inviting the press and analysts.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921013/Press Contact: Sandra Hawker Borland, tel 408-439-1659, fax 408-439-9388)
ra Hawker Borland, tel 408-439-1659, fax 408-439-9388)
10/13/92
Borland Lowers Quattro For Windows Price To WP Users
* H ~
New Media Vision CD-ROM/Sound Ki
: FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- Media Vision has announced it is introducing multimedia products geared toward home users that are less expensive than those available previously and don't require the user to understand the computer interrupts and direct memory channels to make the installation.
The products are called Fusion and Media Vision is offering the Fusion compact disc (CD) and Fusion CD 16. Both products offer a sound card, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive, and speakers. Both are also bundled with four CD titles, Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego; Compton's Family Encyclopedia with Atlas and Dictionary; Ultima Underworld; and flight simulator game Wing Commander II with the Speech Accessory Pack.
The company's mixer for DOS applications and the Pocket Recorder, Pocket Mixer, and Pro Mixer for the Microsoft Windows interface are included as well.
Fusion CD is priced under $500 while the 16-bit sound card version, the Fusion CD 16, is retail priced at $699. Street prices on the products are expected to be at least 20 percent lower, Media Vision representatives said.
Both products include Quick Start software for installation. Quick Start is used after one physically hooks up the sound card, speakers, and the CD-ROM drive in the Fusion kit following the instructions. To make the components work, Media Vision says the user types "install" and the Quick Start software automatically sets up the sound card and the CD-ROM settings to work with the computer. The user no longer has to set jumpers or worry about interrupts and direct memory access (DMA) settings.
The Fusion CD products require an IBM or compatible personal computer (PC) with DOS 5.0, 12 megabytes (MB) of hard disk space, and a minimum of 2 MB of memory. The products are expected to be available in mainstream computer retail channels including warehouse and club buying outlets.
Fremont, California-based Media Vision was in the news as it recently settled a legal fight with competitor Creative Labs over Creative Labs' Sound Blaster sound technology. The company says its founders started Video 7 and Paradise Systems which produce color graphics products for the PC.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921013/Press Contact: Roberta Brosnahan Roeder Johnson for Media Vision, tel 415-858-1686, fax 415-347 5238)
r Media Vision, tel 415-858-1686, fax 415-347 5238)
10/13/92
New Media Vision CD-ROM/Sound Kits For Under $500
Court Ruling Opens Up AMD Chance
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- In the continuing saga of rounds between microprocessor giant Intel and various other semiconductor manufacturers, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is crowing about recent rulings from a United States District Court Judge that may open up opportunities for AMD. The fights are over rights to the enormous IBM compatible personal computer (PC) microprocessor market.
In a fight over the code to the Intel math coprocessor, called microcode, a jury ruled against AMD saying the company did not have the right to the code despite an agreement that AMD entered into with Intel in 1976 that was renewed in 1982. However, US District Court Judge William Ingram has said the jury verdict only effects the math coprocessor that works in tandem with the 80286 chip, the 80287 chip, and doesn't necessarily mean AMD has no rights to the code in relationship to other chips.
This doesn't mean AMD has the rights, either, and makes AMD's use of the code regarding other chips a question that will have to be decided. AMD wants to come out with a 486 microprocessor clone, and the 486 includes a math coprocessor that uses the Microcode.
AMD says the meaning of one statement included in the Intel/AMD agreement, "microcomputers and peripheral products" is in dispute and the company says that dispute isn't over yet. Intel, however, has said AMD is infringing on its patents when it markets clones of Intel's popular 80386 family of chips. Both companies have been fighting see-saw lawsuits in the courts since 1990.
Intel is also under investigation by the FTC, which is looking into allegations of unfair trading practices made by other chipmakers such as Cyrix, Chips and Technologies, and AMD.
However, Intel's business in the enormous microcomputer market is growing. The company reported it will build more manufacturing capability to its existing Santa Clara California plant at a cost of $400 million.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921013/Press Contact: John Greenagel, AMD tel 408-749-3310, fax 408-749-3375; Pam Pottace, Intel, tel 408-765-1435, fax 408-765-5677)
ttace, Intel, tel 408-765-1435, fax 408-765-5677)
10/13/92
Court Ruling Opens Up AMD Chances For 486 Clone
TRENDS
New For PC: Microsoft Musical In
REDMOND, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 7 (NB) -- Microsoft and Dorling Kindersley have announced the first in a series of multimedia titles, this one being Microsoft Musical Instruments. The title is an exploration of over 200 musical instruments from around the world.
Approximately 500 photographs as well as historical and factual information with more than 1,500 sound samples is included in the new compact disc (CD) title. Microsoft says the articles about each instrument offer studio recordings and pop-up boxes with more information. Some even offer the ability to 'zoom in' on specific parts of an instrument for closer look.
The London, England-based Dorling Kindersley company is known for the "Eyewitness" series books it has produced on various subjects for international consumption.
The books are described as highly illustrated and practical reference books by Kindersley. The Musical Instruments title is the first to be offered under an agreement to produce multimedia titles Kindersley and Microsoft signed in March of 1991. No other titles have been announced to date.
Microsoft Musical Instruments is expected to ship in mid November at a retail price of $79.95.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921013/Press Contact: Karen Fry, Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, tel 503-245-0905, fax 503-244-7261)
for Microsoft, tel 503-245-0905, fax 503-244-7261)
10/13/92
New For PC: Microsoft Musical Instruments CD-ROM
UK: Intuit's Quicken Arrives
WEST DRAYTON, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- Intuit has set up a new office in the UK and begun shipping a UK specific version of Quicken, its low-cost accountancy package. The software, which sells for UKP 49-95, is a major recode of the US edition.
Quicken first appeared in the US in 1983 and claims to have taken the US financial software market by storm. Now, six updates and nine years later, the package has arrived in the UK.
The UK operation is headed by business unit manager Ian Yarlott, and is located near Heathrow Airport in the UK. Quicken 6.0 is available in the UK immediately.
According to Yarlott, Intuit was one of the first companies to start "follow me home" research for its users, actually going home with the new users of its software watching them install the package on their home systems, rather than sticking to lab conditions.
Despite the low cost of the software, Intuit is offering free and comprehensive support for Quicken v6.0. "We will offer our customer the advantage of an 0800 (toll-free) phone number for orders and advice," he explained.
Yarlott is also offering users a 60-day money-back guarantee on Quicken. "We will take as much time as a user needs and we want to make it as easy as possible for people to buy things from us just as we want to make our products easy to use," he said.
Yarlott told Newsbytes that Quicken is not aimed at the same market as Daceasy and Paciola 2000, two of the most popular low end accountancy packages. "It's aimed even lower than that - at the kind of user who doesn't even need double entry ledger systems and who probably only uses a book to enter his or her accounts in. Quicken does the same, but faster and more reliably," he told Newsbytes.
NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- One of the biggest problems with alpha-numeric radiopagers -- often referred to as message pagers -- is that text messages need to be entered by a human operator or, if the caller has the facility, by keyboard and modem. Now Vodapage has introduced touch-tone pre coded messages for such pagers.
The Vodapage system relies on the caller inputting a specific sequence of keys, each beginning with two stars (**) which tells the Vodapage touch-tone computer system that a text message should be transmitted. Thus, by entering **11, a message is transmitted for the pager to display the message "please call the office."
Traditionally, touch-tone data entry has been restricted to numeric messages. Using the pre-coding system, text and numeric messages can be input using a numeric phone keypad. For example the instruction **451700 will show up as "meeting rescheduled for 1700 hours" on a pager.
To send a message, callers simply dial their usual Vodapage numeric input number, which begins with 0399, and can then input a text code plus up to 20 numbers. A hash (#) symbol signals the end of the message.
One side-effect of the pre-coded message system should be that subscribers can opt not to have human bureau input services which are usually quite expensive. Instead, they can reply on the tone and data entry facilities.
Vodapage is the name of Vodafone's radiopaging division. The company supplies a wide range of tone, numeric and number/text radiopagers.
WAN CHAI, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- One of Hong Kong's leading construction companies, Gammon Construction Ltd., has awarded a $1.5 million contract to Digital Equipment Corporation to implement a network connecting 450 users in its new office premises.
By implementing an integrated network and structured cabling system from Digital, Gammon will be able to accommodate virtually any number of users, and handle office changes easily, inexpensively, and without disruption to its operations, the company claims.
"We need a network and cabling system for our new office in CitiCentre, Quarry Bay, where IBM 3270 terminals and departmental PC LANs will be located on three floors," said Alfred Wat, Gammon's data processing manager. "The system has to be flexible, expandable managable and perform well," he added.
"Gammon selected Digital because of its reputation in network management systems and the expertise it has demonstrated at various sites in Hong Kong. Digital's ability to provide good local support and services was a decisive factor," he said.
Under the contract, Digital will install six Chipcom Online concentrators as the network backbone devices, together with the Open DEC-connect cabling system. The resulting network will be fault tolerant and will include provision for central administration and maintenance.
"This contract, won against stiff competition from other vendors confirms Digital as the leader in designing and supporting open multivendor network solutions," said Navin Mehta, networking manager for Digital Asia.
Chipcom Online concentrators employ a tri-channel architecture enabling each concentrator to support up to three logical channels which can be any combination of Ethernet and Token Ring. Each concentrator has 17 slots and can provide Ethernet connections to more than 150 users.
The concentrators provide interface and functional modules to meet customer's requirements for both media -- UTP, STP, ThinWire ThickWire and optical fibre -- and functional requirements -- bridge router, transceiver, repeater, terminal server and network management modules -- are available. Assignment of modules to each channel is performed under software control.
The concentrators provide per-port switching, which allows the user to assign different ports of the same module to different channels. This makes the system very cost effective in a multi-department environment.
The backbone concentrators will be coupled with the OPEN DECconnect cabling system, which is independent of both the equipment and the applications it serves. Open DEC-connect can interconnect many different communications devices such as data terminals, analogue and digital telephones, personal computers and host computers irrespective of manufacturer.
"Cabling infrastructure is a crucial part of any local area network," said Mehta. "Proper planning and execution of building topology mapping is critical to its success. Structured wiring ensures properly designed pathways and its importance cannot be over-emphasized."
(Brett Cameron/19921013/Press Contact: Walter Cheung, Digital, Tel: 852-805 3533;HK time is GMT + 8)
eung, Digital, Tel: 852-805 3533;HK time is GMT + 8)
10/13/92
Hongkong: Gammon Picks Digital To Build HQ Network
BUSINESS
OnTime For Networks To Use Banya
Australia: Exhibition Includes G
UK: Samsung Intros 2 New Laser P
Optus Claims It Has Been Good Fo
Kodak Donates Equipment For Budd
UK: BT Offers Reuters Textline G
HP To Intro 2 New Printers
Local Phone Update
Rabbit Mobile Phone Service Goes
Radius, IBM Sign Graphics Card D
Japan: Microsoft Enters Multimed
UK: Mercury Claims 20,000 Subscr
New For PC: PC Tools 8.0
FCC Moves on PCN, Foreign Compet
WordPerfect Offers Dual-Language
Digital Delivers Distributed Uni
TAIKOO SHING, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- Digital Equipment Corporation has announced DEC FullSail software, the first comprehensive application on the market for managing distributed Unix systems.
The product incorporates an easy-to-use, Motif based graphical user interface that simplifies day-to-day system management of user accounts, file systems and system performance.
"DEC FullSail software is designed to help systems personnel manage systems more efficiently," explained Kaizad Heerjee, Digital Asia's open systems manager. "For example, by automating management chores they can cut the time ordinarily required for system set-up tasks."
With the DEC FullSail application, system managers can be pro active in identifying and preventing potential system problems affecting end users.
According to the company, system managers can conveniently access any of the DEC FullSail component functions from any workstation or X-terminal on the network. The application maintains a database of management and configuration information that is used for batch processing management requests, preventing configuration errors and adding new systems to a network.
A fully customizable front end groups the systems in a network into management sets according to criteria and policies determined by the system manager. Systems can be grouped arbitrarily by functional area, system type or location.
For example, a group might contain all systems on the second floor or all systems in the design department, or all diskless workstations. The DEC FullSail database mirrors actual computer resource utilization for an easy fit into existing environments. The front end also provides security mechanisms that permit system managers to control access to the management sets and management functions.
The DEC FullSail Account Manager module enables system managers to easily add, modify, delete and review individual user accounts and groups of accounts.
"The module is used to set up or modify user disk quotas, log-in shells, home directories and group memberships," explained Heerjee. "If one or more machines in a management set is down the account manager updates the database immediately and automatically updates other machines as they come back online."
Custom routines can be executed when adding users, and large numbers of users can be added using DEC FullSail's batch capabilities. Also supported are NFS mounted home directories, local password files Network Information Service, and the Berkeley Internet Name Domain (BIND)/Hesiod service.
The Filesystem Manager module is designed to configure and manage filesystems easily. New disks can be accessed quickly by many workstations. Space problems are avoided because every filesystem on the network can be monitored from an operator-friendly display.
The Performance Manager module provides comprehensive, interactive screen displays and management report data for monitoring activity on one or more machines. Performance factors that can be monitored include load average, swap rate, free memory, memory usage, disk throughput, buffer cache utilization, and NFS statistics and error rates.
Data may be monitored graphically in real time or archived for export to spreadsheets and other analysis tools. Customized actions can be invoked and alarms can be set to notify the system manager to take action when specified conditions occur.
DEC FullSail software incorporates a client-server architecture and uses industry standard communication protocols, including TCP/IP and remote procedure call (RPC) mechanisms.
(Brett Cameron/19921013/Press Contact: Walter Cheung, Digital, Tel: 852-805 3533;HK time is GMT + 8)
er Cheung, Digital, Tel: 852-805 3533;HK time is GMT + 8)
10/13/92
Digital Delivers Distributed Unix System Mgt Technology
Synon Appoints Philippines Distr
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- Synon Corporation has appointed Ayala Systems Technology Inc. (ASTI), as its distributor in the Philippines. The agreement gives ASTI the sole rights to market Synon's CASE products throughout the country, as well as providing support services.
"Synon is convinced that the Asia/Pacific region possesses a tremendous, but largely untapped, market for CASE tools," said Synon Corporation's Vice President John de Wit. "The appointment of ASTI as our Philippines distributor, the recent appointment of our Indonesian distributor and the opening of our Hong Kong office will give us a firm base from which to exploit this potentially huge market."
ASTI is an established provider of software services in the Philippines, with clients including the San Miguel Corporation Caltex Philippines Inc., Procter and Gamble, Toyota, Ciba-Geigy and IBM Philippines. One of ASTI's primary business objectives is providing IBM mainframe and mid-range oriented systems development application systems conversion and contract programming services.
"We want to produce quality applications based on an established methodology and in the shortest possible period of time," said Rose Banzon, project manager for ASTI. "The obvious way to achieve these objectives was by using IBM's recommended CASE tool, so we decided to work towards a business relationship with Synon."
ASTI's first step will be training its personnel in the use of Synon's CASE products. "This will enable us to provide an extremely high level of support for these sophisticated products to customers throughout the Philippines," she said.
(Brett Cameron/19921013/Press Contact: Sharon Williams, Synon, Tel: 852-529 0356;HK time is GMT + 8)
n, Tel: 852-529 0356;HK time is GMT + 8)
10/13/92
Synon Appoints Philippines Distributor
BUSINESS
New Hitachi HDS Semiconductor Di
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) has announced a new model of its 7900 semiconductor disk subsystem (SCD), and enhancements to its 7490E 36-track cartridge tape subsystem designed for use with the whole range of HDS and IBM mainframes.
According to the company, the new 7900-6 SCD is designed to optimize the use of data center resources by economically providing consistent high speed access to the most active information. It accesses and transfers data at electronic speeds and features the latest RAID-3 backup and recovery system which gives it improved fault tolerance.
"The 7900-6 is the latest and most advanced version of the 7900 Semiconductor Disk Subsystem family," said Geoff Kennedy, HDS's Hong Kong manager. "It provides a cost-effective solution for customers who need high-speed data storage," he added.
"The architectural enhancements and improvements in reliability combined with reduction in floor space and power consumption, place this new model at the forefront of high-performance storage development," he said.
According to Kennedy, the new SCD efficiently complements the capacity and throughput capabilities of traditional cached disk drives as well as expanded storage. Adding a 7900-6 can give customers greater throughput, a reduction in online response time, and a significant improvement of "batch windows."
The 7900-6 incorporates four megabit dynamic random access memory (DRAM), giving customers up to eight gigabytes of capacity per subsystem. The configuration of each subsystem can be tailored to meet each customer's capacity, connectivity and throughput requirements.
The 7900-6 provides up to eight directors, 64 logical volumes and 32 channel connections. Additionally, the 7900-6 emulates industry standard 3390 and 3380 disk drives. This capability simplifies data migration between existing disk drives and the 7900-6.
To provide even greater performance and flexibility, the 7900 can be upgraded to use HDS's Extended Serial Adapters (ExSA) for a 10 megabytes per second (Mbps) data transfer rate. ExSA is compatible with ESCON which allows the placement of the 7900-6 up to nine km (5.6 miles) from the host processor. In addition, parallel channels are supported at data transfer speeds of 3, 4.5 and 6 Mbps.
The fail-safe features of earlier models have also been refined in the 7900-6. These enhancements include an intelligent battery back-up system that automatically downloads the information stored in the SCD memory to the RAID-3 array of 3.5-inch disk drives in the event of unexpected power loss. This RAID-3 backup design also ensures fault tolerance when the data is reloaded to the DRAM.
To assure maximum systems availability, the 7900-6 supports HDS's proprietary Hi-Track computer based diagnostic system. Hi-Track constantly monitors subsystem components and once it identifies a potential problem, it automatically alerts HDS service personnel to take corrective action before customer operations are affected.
In order to streamline subsystem support operations for the 7900-6 HDS has provided Synthetic Channel, a support tool that emulates System 370/390 channel protocols. According to the company, the Synthetic allows HDS customer service representatives to ensure trouble-free installation and conduct a wide range of installation and support activities without using the customer's valuable mainframe resources.
HDS simultaneously announced enhancements to its 7490E Cartridge Tape Subsystem which now gives customers greater operational flexibility and improved environmental specifications. The new design will allow both 18-track 7480 and 7490 tape drives along with 36-track 7490E tape drives to be intermixed behind the 7490E controller. This preserves customers' existing investments in 7480s and allows them to take advantage of HDS's ESCON-compatible Extended Serial Channels.
New individual power and pneumatic supplies for each tape transport will improve reliability by isolating any component failure from other transports. The enhanced 7490E will begin shipping next month.
Kennedy added that in Hong Kong, HDS is supporting a customer base of 20 customers. IBM's customer base is about 120.
(Brett Cameron/19921013/Press Contact: Geoff Kennedy, HDS Tel:+852-521 6275;HK time is GMT + 8)
f Kennedy, HDS Tel:+852-521 6275;HK time is GMT + 8)
10/13/92
New Hitachi HDS Semiconductor Disk, Cartridge Tape
GENERAL
AT&T Releases Hobbit Chips, Sett
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- AT&T released its new Hobbit processors, which it plans to put into a line of "personal communicators" in conjunction with designer Eo and two Japanese firms, Mitsubishi and Marubeni.
In parallel with the announcement of the Hobbit, AT&T revealed it had settled its pending lawsuit with Mitsubishi over a hacker's intrusion into the private phone switch, or PBX, at Mitsubishi's New York offices.
Mitsubishi had sued for $10 million, charging that since AT&T made the switch and was its default long distance carrier, it should have taken responsibility for the fraud. The settlement wins Mitsubishi no money, only a promise AT&T will work closely with it to prevent future fraud. The company has also worked with other customers in the same area since the case came up however. The people responsible for the crime, meanwhile, have not been caught.
Back at the Hobbit launch, meanwhile, AT&T said that it plans that the new chipsets will form the basis of a series of Personal Communicators due to be announced at the Comdex show next month. These are seen as small, mobile devices that accept pen input and which will be used primarily for communications. Personal communicators will allow users to exchange voice, fax and electronic mail messages via landline and wireless telecommunications media. Eventually, they will incorporate graphics and full-motion video capabilities.
The new chip family is led by the ATT92010 chip, which works at 3.3 volts and runs at 13.5 million instructions per second according to AT&T. This give it more power for the voltage than the competing Intel 486DX, again according to AT&T.
Also released were a system management controller chip, a peripheral controller, and a PCMCIA controller, as well as a low power modem chip set which observes the V.32bis modulation standard of the CCITT, which can work as fast as 14,400 bits/second. The modem chip set can be used with the PCMCIA controller to produce credit-card sized modems which plug into the same slots used for memory cards, AT&T said.
AT&T said both hardware and software vendors will announce products based on the Hobbit family at the Comdex show. That show will also be the forum for the first showing of its personal communicators.
The chips are based on an AT&T Bell Laboratories' technology called the C-Language Rational Instruction Set Processor (CRISP). AT&T said this combines the best features of RISC chips like the Sun SPARC and CISC chips like the Intel 80386. A technical paper describing the chip set will be delivered October 14 at the Microprocessor Forum in Burlingame California.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921013/Press Contact: AT&T, Kevin Compton 408/522-4099)
1013/Press Contact: AT&T, Kevin Compton 408/522-4099)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- Faxing becomes more and more complicated, as recent corporate announcements from Dialogic, Bell Atlantic and OAZ prove.
Dialogic, best known for call processing components, announced a four-channel fax board which can work with its voice store-and forward products. The FAX/40 allows makers of call processing gear to offer both voice mail and fax mail easily, combining voice and fax response systems, on-demand publishing fax gateways, and voice/fax mail systems.
The board is based on Rockwell fax technology, and also offers low prices -- $270 per port in quantity. The fax feature runs at 14,400 bits/second, meaning it can send 6 blank pages per minute and also supports conversion of text and graphics to the fax format, as well as proposed data formats for Group IV fax.
Bell Atlantic, meanwhile, is expanding its FeatureFax fax service throughout its region, most recently in the Washington, D.C. area. The service includes fax mailboxes and fax waiting services, which pick up faxes for later delivery when the line is busy. The service was first introduced in Philadelphia, and costs $19.95 per month plus toll charges for the mailboxes, $9.95 per month plus toll charges for the fax waiting service.
Finally, OAZ Communications announced a new version of its Document Director fax board, adding downloaded ASCII fonts and wide fax capabilities. The capability allows for the easy creation of cover pages, using fonts, which are especially important in high-volume applications. OAZ ships 10 fonts with Document Director, based on Letter Gothic fonts, formatted for 80, 100 and 132 columns and 62, 88, 100 and 104 rows in different resolutions and weights.
ROY, UTAH, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- Iomega Corporation financial results for the third quarter show the company as reporting sales of $36.9 million, and net income of $2 million, or $0.13 per share. That's up considerably from the second quarter, when sales were $31.7 million, and net income was $800,000 or $0.05 per share.
Earnings per share are down from the same quarter last year, and also down from the first quarter this year. Iomega spokesperson Paul Slack told Newsbytes that for the second quarter last year, the company reported sales were $31.5 million, and net income was $2.7 million or $0.16 per share. Net earnings per share for the first quarter this year was $0.11 per share on sales of $33.1 million.
Slack said pre-tax income for the third quarter of 1992 was $2.7 million, compared to $6 million in the third quarter of 1991. Pre-tax income for the nine months ending September 27, 1992 was $6.1 million, compared to $11.5 million for the same period last year. The company reported gross margins of 47.3 percent and 47.9 percent respectively for the quarter and the nine-month period compared to 49.6 percent and 49.7 percent for the same two periods last year.
The Iomega statement attributed the decline in gross margins to lower prices on the company's 5-1/2 inch 90 megabyte drives. Prices on those units were reduced to meet competitive pressures.
Operating expenses were up 14 percent for the third quarter over the same period last year. Iomega said the higher operating expenses are primarily related to increased investments in research and development and sales and marketing to support the recently announced tape products, as well as removable storage products based on Floptical technology. Iomega also increased its investment in its European operations, and began to invest in thin film head development technology during 1992.
Iomega says that its balance sheet is strong, with cash and temporary investments totalling $21.5 million, and working capital at $34.8 million. The company reports a ratio of current assets to current liabilities of 1.6 to 1. Cash and temporary investments have declined by $10.1 million during 1992. Slack said that's primarily due to the purchase of common stock treasury shares, purchases of equipment and leasehold improvements, and prepayments of royalties related to Floptical technology.
Floptical drives can store more than 20 megabytes (MB) of data on a single floppy disk, and can also read the high density floppy disks currently used by most desktop and laptop computers.
4 JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- You say you want to add a scanner to your office but there's no place to put it because you already have a PC, laser printer, fax, and modem? If that scenario describes your crowded office, a Jacksonville Florida company called Digital Designs has the solution you've been looking for.
Digital Designs has announced the Gateware 3370, a single desktop device about the size of a laser printer that combines a PC, laser printer, plain paper fax, scanner, digital copier, and modem.
All six devices come in one box not much bigger than a laser printer. In addition to the 3370, all you need on your desk is a monitor and keyboard. The PC uses an IBM 486 PC At compatible controller, supports MS-DOS and MS Windows, has 4 AT bus slots, 8 megabytes (MB) of RAM (random access memory), a mouse, and a 120MB hard drive.
Digital Design President William Meadow told Newsbytes that the fax is 100 percent software based, uses the same paper and paper tray that the laser printer uses, includes a phone book and can generate reports of faxes received and sent. Meadow said the photocopier is a multi-bit gray scale model that can make multiple copies and can merge copy.
The scanner is also software-based and can product 300 or 400 dots per inch (dpi) resolution. The laser printer can emulate most popular laser printers, can print six pages per minute, and can handle resolution up to 600 dpi. The modem is a 9600 bps internal card. Meadow said several types of LANs are supported, including Ethernet and Appletalk.
Meadow told Newsbytes that the 3370 took about two years to develop. The company is gearing up its production line now, and expects to be producing about 100 units per month by December. Meadow told Newsbytes he expects to be producing several thousand units by March 1993. The Digital Design 3370 literature says the AT bus transmits data at rates "hundreds of times faster" than it can be transmitted via a port to another device. The 3370 also emulates a 3270 or 5250 terminal.
Meadow added that the price of the Gateware 3370 starts at $3,995 and is dependent on the PC options such as more memory, a larger hard drive or an optional monitor.
(Jim Mallory/19921013/Press Contact: William Meadow, Digital Design 904-737-0908; Reader contact: 800-733-0908)
HIAWATHA, IOWA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- While other software publishers are writing applications for Windows, Parsons Technology hasn't forgotten that there are hundreds of thousands of IBM-PC ATs and XTs still in use in businesses across the country. The company has announced it's shipping MoneyCounts Payroll for DOS-based machines.
MoneyCounts Payroll performs the usual payroll functions of calculating payroll, printing checks, producing W-2s at the end of the year, generating tax statements, and creating reports for analyzing payroll data.
The program carries a $49 price tag, and can perform wage, hour, and deduction calculations including 401K retirement plans, shift differentials, bonuses, commissions, cafeteria/125 health plans, and union dues. Default values can be established for each employee, and a list of pay rates, raises, and bonuses can be stored for easy selection when changes take place.
MoneyCounts Payroll adjusts paychecks for federal and state tax deductions, and allows for up to eight withholdings for user defined city, county or local taxes. Annual updates for federal, state and FICA withholding tables are available. Parsons spokesperson Anne Rawland-Warner told Newsbytes an annual update subscription costs $45, and includes the federal tables plus tables for any two states. Each additional state table costs $10.
Rawland-Warner said a company can start using Payroll at any time during the year, since the program allows wages and withholdings starting balances for previous periods to be entered. Payroll automatically determines the employer share of items such as unemployment and FICA. The program can also assign payroll costs to user-designated departments, and records miscellaneous information such as hiring/termination dates and emergency contacts.
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- IBM and Digital may have had dismal fiscal quarters, but Microsoft says it's doing just fine. So well, in fact, that it plans to open four wholly owned subsidiaries in Eastern Europe.
The software giant announced that it closed the first quarter with net income of $209 million, or $0.70 per share on revenue of $818 million. For the same period last year profits were $144 million, or $0.50 per share. Last year's first quarter sales were $581 million.
According to the chief financial officer, Frank Gaudette, the results can be credited to the continued success of the Windows operating system. "Microsoft Word for Windows (a word processing program) and Microsoft Excel for Windows (an electronic spreadsheet) both attained record revenues during the quarter, and total revenues from Microsoft applications for Windows were 118 percent greater," he said.
Microsoft has also announced that it will open four wholly owned subsidiaries in Eastern Europe. The company said the subsidiaries, scheduled for Moscow, Prague, Warsaw, and Budapest are part of its long-term plan to expand its international software market.
The facilities in Moscow, Prague, and Warsaw are scheduled to be open by the end of 1992, while the Budapest office is expected to open in the spring of 1993. Microsoft said the offices will be staffed by citizens of the respective countries, and will aid in the development of products that fit Eastern European markets.
The company said that its Eastern European division in Munich Germany will provide consultants and support to the new offices and oversee Microsoft business in Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Slovenia. Microsoft said it plans to introduce 16 products in the first quarter of 1993 that are localized for European markets, including Excel 4.0 in Czech Hungarian, Polish, and Russian. Other products are expected to be Windows 3.1, Word 2.0 for Windows, and Works Productivity Tools for Windows 2.0. The company said it will also offer terms for upgrading software users from English language products to the newer, local language versions.
(Jim Mallory/19921013/Press contact: Marty Taucher, Microsoft 206-882-8080; Reader contact: Microsoft,800-426-9400)
t 206-882-8080; Reader contact: Microsoft,800-426-9400)
10/13/92
Microsoft 1Q Profits Up 45%, Plans 4 European Offices
BUSINESS
New For Macintosh: PowerPoint 3.
Ungermann-Bass & Novell In OEM D
Wordperfect Acquires BeagleWorks
CORRECTION: Microsoft Hosts 2 De
Micro Component Files Suit Again
Gandalf Intros Wide Area Network
Software Vendors Support IBM's D
Ericsson-GE To Re-Sell Spectrum
Kodak Demos Multidimensional Pic
Software Execs Back Clinton
Court Ruling Opens Up AMD Chance
Miniscribe Executive Settles Wit
New For Macintosh: ClarisWorks T
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- Personal Training Systems and Claris have introduced tutorials for the ClarisWorks integrated software for the Macintosh. A cassette tape player and the desired software application are required, with each tutorial retailing for $99.95.
ClarisWorks integrates word processing, graphics, spreadsheet with charting, database, and communications capabilities in one software program.
According to the companies, the Personal Training products are available through Merisel, all 24 CompUSA stores and 99 BizMart stores, Micro Warehouse, PC Connection, Corporate Software Software Spectrum, and other authorized dealers.
Personal Training Systems claims it was the first company to provide software training for the Macintosh market in 1986. It also provides tutorials for the Windows applications.
Personal Training Systems offers audio training packages for such Windows and Macintosh applications, as: Aldus PageMaker Persuasion, and FreeHand; Microsoft Excel, Word, and Works; Lotus 1-2-3 and AmiPro; Claris FileMaker Pro and HyperCard; Borland's Quattro Pro for Windows; Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop; QuarkXPress; and Apple System 6 and System 7 and Performa.
Personal Training Systems has also received $1 million in equity financing from Sigma Partners of Menlo Park, California. As part of Sigma Partners' investment, Lawrence Finch will join Personal Training Systems' board of directors.
(Ian Stokell/19921013/Press Contact: Ronald Conway, Personal Training Systems, 408-286-0142, Steve Ruddock, Claris Corp. 408-987-7202)
286-0142, Steve Ruddock, Claris Corp. 408-987-7202)
10/13/92
New For Macintosh: ClarisWorks Training Tutorials
APPLE
Telecom Companies Push Products
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY, 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- The Europa Telecom '92 show opened in Hungary Monday and, almost immediately, threw up a storm of controversy. Show-goers were treated to the latest in telecoms electronics while, out in the real world, business phone users struggled to connect calls through Hungary's antiquated phone system.
Sponsored by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) the show is expected to attract more than 15,000 visitors and will give many Hungarians their first chance to take a look at the latest telecom technologies on offer from the West.
Sadly, many Hungarians will probably not be able to use any of the new technology until the end of the decade, by which time the Hungarian post and telecommunications body will have sufficient hard currency to buy products from the West. In the meantime Hungarians, particularly in the more remote areas of their country, will have to make do with step-by-step (Strowger) rotary exchanges and even manual systems pre-dating the second world war.
ITU officials estimate that Eastern Europe will need more than 90,000 million dollars worth of investment over the next eight years if East Europeans can begin to enjoy the levels of phone penetration -- not even digital service -- that the West has at the moment.
Currently, ITU officials estimate that there is one phone line for every 2.5 people in the West. This contrasts sharply with a 1 in 100 ratio in parts of Russia to 1 in 24 in Bulgaria.
The solution is not to simply slap in whole new exchanges -- the economies of most East European countries simply cannot afford that prospect. Most economists believe that the current strategy of installing old technology phone networks is poor -- according to the ITU, 97 percent of Romanian phone lines experience faults every year.
Perhaps the best solution lies with joint partnerships, such as the one that Deutsche Bundespost Telecom (DBT) of Germany has set up with Telekom Denmark and Telecom Nederlande in the Ukraine, to install old-technology cellular phone networks, observers suggest.
DBT claims its analogue cellular network makes good sense for the Ukraine as it allows rapid deployment of phones in the region without the expense of landlines. Even better for DBT is the fact that the analogue cellular equipment is rapidly becoming outdated in the West, as mobile phone users migrate to digital cellular.
(Steve Gold/19921013)
rate to digital cellular.
(Steve Gold/19921013)
10/13/92
Telecom Companies Push Products In Eastern Europe
TELECOM
UK: Mercury Slams Warring Mobile
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- Cable & Wireless, the parent company to Mercury in the UK, has slammed Cellnet and Vodafone for its "low cost" tariffs to lure new customers on to its analogue cellular networks.
Speaking in London, to promote the planned Mercury Personal Communications (MPC) digital network, which is scheduled for launch next spring, Richard Goswell, MPC's managing director said that cutting subscriptions and loading call usage rates was not the best way of winning new subscribers.
"We believe that penalizing customers for making frequent calls or using their phones at certain times of the day is not a strategy designed to win over new consumers to the benefits of mobile communications," he said.
Goswell said that the bulk of the new subscribers would be phone users who only need the phone for emergencies and/or who will make very few outgoing calls.
There is also a risk, he said, of customers on the existing tariff structure moving to the new rates, so losing the cellular service providers overall income.
Goswell is clearly displeased with the new marketing strategy of the two cellular phone network operators, as it takes the wind out of the sails of MPC's planned low-cost digital mobile phone system, which gets its first airing early next year.
Although reluctant to reveal details of how the MPC service will be priced, Goswell said that call rates would be cheaper than the existing networks all of the time, rather than during off-peak times as Cellnet and Vodafone's "low-cost" tariffs are.
"For us, encouraging customers to use their phone makes more sense than discouraging them," he said.
(Steve Gold/19921013)
ouraging them," he said.
(Steve Gold/19921013)
10/13/92
UK: Mercury Slams Warring Mobile Phone Companies
TELECOM
Triumph-Adler To Shed 1,000 Jobs
NUREMBERG, WESTERN GERMANY, 1993 OCT 13 (NB) -- Germany may have one of the strongest currencies in Europe, but that hasn't prevented companies in the country from experiencing the ravages of the recession. Triumph-Adler, a division of Olivetti, is said to readying pink slips for 1,000 employees at its computer production facilities in Nuremburg.
The news comes from Peter Schloenlein, the mayor of the town, who earlier this week said that only the sales division of the company -- around 250 staff - will remain at the TA facility in the town. The reason for the cut-backs, he said, was that the plant was costing the company DM 15 million a year.
Triumph-Adler has declined to make any comment on the matter details of which were broadcast on West German satellite television news on Tuesday afternoon this week.
(Steve Gold/19921013)
fternoon this week.
(Steve Gold/19921013)
10/13/92
Triumph-Adler To Shed 1,000 Jobs In Germany
BUSINESS
IBM Warns Of Miscarriage Risk Fr
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- IBM has warned employees worldwide that exposure to two chemicals used in its chip-making operations may increase the risk of miscarriages. IBM issued the warnings after preliminary data from a university study showed high miscarriage rates at two of its factories.
Health researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore have been studying workers at IBM plants in Burlington, Vermont, and East Fishkill, New York. They found that of 30 women working with the chemicals who became pregnant over the past 10 years, 10 had miscarriages. That 33.3-percent miscarriage rate exceeds the norm by enough to be significant, said IBM spokesman Jim Ruderman.
The chemicals, diethylene glycol dimethyl ether and ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, are both used in etching away material deposited on a silicon wafer as part of the chip manufacturing process. IBM uses the chemicals in factories around the world Ruderman said. Other chipmakers also use them, as do several other industries, including the aerospace and printing businesses.
In the last few weeks, IBM has held group meetings with all employees who work in its chip-making clean rooms around the world and individual meetings with the workers most directly affected, to discuss the risks. Ruderman said the company is encouraging employees to discuss their concerns with company medical officers and on request will transfer employees out of jobs where they are exposed to the chemicals.
IBM has also notified the United States' Environmental Protection Agency, other chip manufacturers, and "anyone else that we thought needed to know" of the preliminary study findings, Ruderman said.
Full results of the Johns Hopkins study are expected early in 1993.
IBM has been reducing its use of the two etching chemicals since 1989, Ruderman added, and has made it a policy not to use them in any new process. Eventually the company hopes to phase the chemicals out entirely, he said, but no target date has been set. IBM is using 40 percent less of the chemicals now than in 1989, he said.
(Grant Buckler/19921013/Press Contact: Jim Ruderman, IBM 914-765-6631)
Press Contact: Jim Ruderman, IBM 914-765-6631)
10/13/92
IBM Warns Of Miscarriage Risk From Chemicals
TRENDS
UK: Husky Completes Major Order
TI Earns $57 Million In 3Q
Autodesk Buys MES To Enter 3D Su
Hongkong: Microsoft Mail For Wor
Australia: Brisbane Firm Mincom
Information America Info Firm Co
Lithuania, Germany Cooperate On
New For Networks: Dolphin Networ
Denver Firm To Acquire SecaGraph
New For Macintosh: Microsoft Wor
New US Services Internationally
New For PC: Automatix, Sharp Rel
Spanish Telecom Market Unaffecte
Borland Lowers Quattro For Windo
DEC Breaks Ground For Semiconduc
PC Fortunes Up As Mainframes Go
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- Intel the manufacturer of the microprocessor chip for IBM and compatible personal computers has announced it had another record quarter.
Motorola, meanwhile, which makes the microprocessor for Apple Computer's Macintosh, says its earnings are up nearly 40 percent.
However, all this downsizing appears to have taken a toll on mainframe computer manufacturer Amdahl, which says sales are down and layoffs of 9 percent of its workforce, or 900, are coming next month.
Intel's President Andy Grove says that the company has had another record quarter with net income up 19 percent, although the company's stock dropped after the earnings announcement. Reports are analysts expected even better earnings for Intel.
Strong PC sales, especially the 486, is what Intel credits for reported revenue for the quarter ended September 26, 1992 of $1.43 billion, up 20 percent from $1.19 billion one year ago.
The company's net income amounted to $241 million or $1.12 per share, compared with $202 million or $0.96 per share for last year's third quarter, or a 19 percent increase. Sales of the 486 microprocessor have surpassed 386 PCs and Intel says that means the 486 is the new standard.
The company has announced plans to add 250 jobs in a new $400 million manufacturing addition to an existing plant to produce more microprocessor chips.
Motorola is reporting a 38.7 percent increase in its third quarter earnings and is crediting increased sales in the Asia Pacific region outside Japan. The company reported earnings increased to $129 million, or 97 cents a share, from $93 million, or 70 cents a share in the same quarter a year ago. Third quarter sales were up 24 percent, to $3.4 billion from $2.75 billion last year.
While Motorola is crediting the increases to more than just its personal computer-workstation business, it did say that segment of the company lead the way followed in order by communications, distribution, industrial, consumer, and the automotive segment.
However, mainframe computer manufacturer Amdahl says it will lay off 900 or 9 percent of its 9,700 employed worldwide in November of this year. Of that number, 600 layoffs are slated for the company's 5,700 employed in Northern California operations. A one-time charge of between $15 and $20 million against third-quarter earnings will be taken as well.
While third quarter earnings aren't out yet, the company already announced earlier this month it expected to post a third quarter loss of between $11.3 million and $22.6 million due to slower than expected sales. Last year the company showed earnings of $5.5 million, or 5 cents a share, on revenues of $419.2 million in the third quarter last year.
Amdahl isn't blaming downsizing, but is blaming the economy for cuts in its customer's capital expenditures and deferment of buying decisions.
The stock market appeared to reacted favorably to the company's action. Amdahl was the most active stock traded on October 12 the day of the company's announcement, and trading ended with the stock up 1/2 at 8 1/4.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921013/Press Contact: Howard High, Intel tel 408-765-1488, fax 408-765-1402; George Grimsrud, Motorola 708-576-2346; Bill Stewart, Amdahl, tel 408-746-6076, 408-746 6468)
t, Amdahl, tel 408-746-6076, 408-746 6468)
10/13/92
PC Fortunes Up As Mainframes Go Downhill
BUSINESS
New For PC: Sound Editing Softwa
BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 13 (NB) -- Digital Soup, a start-up company, has launched sound editing software for PCs running Microsoft Windows. Digital Soup Sound Professional will let users edit and mix as many as 16 sound tracks, the company claims.
Mike Henkle of Digital Soup marketing said the software could be used for creating business presentations, courseware, or games among other things. The company has received one order from a speech therapist who wants to use its three-dimensional spectral analysis feature in working with people with speech impediments, he added.
The $99 software requires a 386- or 486-based PC and works with any sound board compatible with Microsoft Windows, Henkle said. It also needs Microsoft Windows 3.1, a pointing device, at least two megabytes of memory, and a minimum of five megabytes of free disk space.
According to the company, the editor can import and export files in the Windows standard WAV format, and can function as an Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) server.
Sound effects available include fade out, fade in, modulate compress, reverse, repeat, and delay. The spectral analysis feature and a four-band parametric equalizer let users view and modify the frequency content of sound.
Editing effects include the usual cut, paste, copy, and delete, as well as "non destructive formula-based editing" that the vendor said will cut editing time and let users do "what-if" auditioning of effects.
The software will ship with an audio compact disk containing 100 professionally product sound clips from Hollywood Edge. Digital Soup also distributes other sound clips from that company.
The six-person company is concentrating on the United States market initially, Henkle said, relying mainly on direct sales but talking with distributors at the moment. International distribution will come later; Henkle said the company has talked tentatively with a German distributor.
(Grant Buckler/19921013/Press Contact: Mike Henkle, Digital Soup 802-254-6812, fax 802-254-7356; Public Contact: Digital Soup 800-793-7356)
2-254-7356; Public Contact: Digital Soup 800-793-7356)
10/13/92
New For PC: Sound Editing Software From Digital Soup
Rohm, AT&T To Make Telecom Chips
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- Kyoto-based semiconductor chip maker Rohm and AT&T have agreed to jointly develop and sell semiconductor chips for telecommunications. Under this agreement both firms will sell the products under their own brand names. The actual agreement was signed between Rohm's subsidiary in California and AT&T Microelectronics in Pennsylvania.
Both firms will develop ICs (integrated circuits) for digital telecommunication based on the CCITT standard. The ICs for data transmission will be designed and developed by Rohm's subsidiary while the ICs for receiving data will be created by AT&T Micro Electronics. The first ICs will be made at both companies' plants in November. Sales of the products will be in Japan, Canada and the US.
AT&T Micro Electronics believes the agreement enhances its ability to effectively compete against rival firms such as Northern Telecom in Canada.
Rohm's subsidiary gained $140 million for fiscal 1991, which ended in March 1992. The company belongs to the Semiconductor Industry Association in the US.
TAIKOO SHING, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- Digital Equipment Corporation has announced Pathworks X.25 (DOS) software which, together with a network interface card, turns a single, remote DOS-based PC into a client on any open, standard X.25 packet switched data network.
The software works in conjunction with an AT-bus X.25 network interface card from Eicon Technology Corporation, which is available from Digital.
"Companies are constantly seeking faster and more reliable ways to give their remote offices access to the strategic data they need," said Krishnan Raghuram, software marketing manager for Digital Asia. "This latest Pathworks networking option provides a simple economical solution that brings distributed network services and client-server computing to remote PC users."
The Pathworks X.25 (DOS) option is intended for users who need to tie individual remote PCs into corporate wide-area networks (WANs). Industries that need such capabilities include banking, retail insurance, and service industries typically deploying 100 or more PCs in remote offices over a large geographical area.
The key benefit is the fast, reliable and cost-effective transfer of data on X.25 equipment, which enables the remote offices to share all corporate network services. The highly reliable X.25 protocol has been widely adopted around the world.
The Pathworks X.25 product, as an add-on component of Digital's Pathworks for DOS versions 4.1 and 4.1A client software, enables the DOS client to connect to any Pathworks VMS, ULTRIX or OS/2 server that runs the DECnet network transport.
Using the Pathworks X.25 (DOS) option, the PC client can take full advantage of network file and print services, terminal emulation and file transfers across a wide area network.
The PC client can also use client-server applications and other Windows and DECnet-based applications, such as electronic mail (Pathworks Mail and DEC MAILworks for Windows software), X Window servers (PC DECwindows Motif and eXcursion software), database access (SQL Services and DECquery software), distributed transaction processing (DECtp Desktop for ACMS software), Pathworks Conferencing software and third-party applications.
Pathworks X.25 (DOS) runs on 286, 386 and 486 PCs with a minimum of 640KB of memory, using DOS 3.3 or higher and Microsoft Windows 3.0 or 3.1.
Pathworks X.25 (DOS) is part of Digital's growing family of Pathworks products designed for organizations that depend on networks of personal computers. Pathworks creates an environment in which multi-vendor PCs, different communications protocols and networks, and different applications are integrated.
(Brett Cameron/19921010/Press Contact: Walter Cheung, Digital, Tel: 852-805 3533;HK time is GMT + 8)
ital, Tel: 852-805 3533;HK time is GMT + 8)
10/12/92
Digital X.25 Software For PC-Server Links
IBM Takes Equity In Synon
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- Synon Corporation, a supplier of computer automated application development software for IBM midrange computer systems, recently announced that IBM has acquired an equity position in the company.
Synon will continue as a member of IBM's International Alliance for AD/Cycle - IBM's framework to speed and simplify the development of business applications. Development and worldwide marketing agreements between the two companies will also continue.
"IBM has finally chosen to focus on IBM mainframe and LAN generators, leaving AS/400 automated applications generation tools to Synon," said Synon Vice President John de Wit. "We remain as committed as ever to AD/Cycle and are happy to assist IBM in the completion of our joint vision for inter-tool communications within AD/Cycle."
Since 1989, IBM and Synon have marketed the company's flagship product, Synon/2E - the AD/Cycle application generator on the AS/400. The two companies also market Synon/CSG, the client/server generator which produces applications to run jointly on AS/400 and PS/2 computers. In addition, Synon/CEF and AS/Interface are Synon products which assist in the migration of applications, and which are sold jointly by Synon and IBM.
"IBM and Synon have enjoyed a successful relationship in providing tools that meet customers' needs in the midrange environment," said Earl F Wheeler, IBM senior vice president and general manager programming systems. "Today we're strengthening the relationship to pursue opportunities that are emerging in the requirements of our customers."
(Brett Cameron/19921010/Press Contact: Sharon Williams, Synon, Tel: 852-529 0356;HK time is GMT + 8)
29 0356;HK time is GMT + 8)
10/12/92
IBM Takes Equity In Synon
BUSINESS
HDS Names New President And CEO
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- John Staedtke has been appointed the new president and chief executive officer of Hitachi Data Systems.
Staedtke, 51, joined HDS in October 1991 as executive vice president of marketing. Before that, he was director of strategic planning for Electronic Data Systems (EDS), which owns HDS jointly with Hitachi Ltd.
HDS's new chief has more than 25 years' experience in management marketing and planning for the data processing industry, including 14 years with EDS. He played a key role in the formation of HDS in 1988 and 1989.
Stadetke succeeds Gary B. Moore, who will return to EDS as chairman of EDS Japan. Moore, 43, will be responsible for all EDS relationships with Japanese companies worldwide. He will continue to play an active role in the Hitachi/EDS relationship and will join the board of directors of Hitachi Data Systems.
"Gary Moore's contribution to HDS's success is immeasurable," said Dr Makoto Endo, chairman of HDS. "He played a critical role in Hitachi's and EDS's decision to buy National Advanced Systems in 1989 and worked closely with Hitachi for nearly 10 years.
"Under Gary Moore's leadership, HDS has grown from more than $870 million in sales since we were founded in 1989 to $1.4 billion. We have added more than 670 new customers and expanded our reputation for quality and customer satisfaction.
"John Staedtke brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new position and is committed to continuing to build on our reputation for providing the highest quality products and customer satisfaction."
(Brett Cameron/19921010/Press Contact: Geoff Kenneddy, HDS Tel:+852-521 6275;HK time is GMT + 8)
+852-521 6275;HK time is GMT + 8)
10/12/92
HDS Names New President And CEO
GENERAL
Australia: Microsoft Launches Wi
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- Although Windows NT now appears to be delayed until at least the second quarter of '93, Microsoft is on track with its other member of the Windows trinity.
At a large-scale industry and media event in Sydney, Microsoft launched Windows for Workgroups (WFW).
The product is due to ship around the first of November in the US and a week later in Europe and Australia. The official launch events are scheduled for October 15th (this Thursday) in Europe and on October 27th in the US, in New York.
Microsoft's Australian launch was conducted by the vice president of Microsoft's Workgroup Division, Daniel Petre, an Australian who was promoted to the head office from running Microsoft Australia 16 months ago.
Windows for Workgroups is Windows 3.1 but with extensive networking and work group productivity tools built in. It uses most existing network cards, replacing other network operating systems. And if you don't have any network cards, Microsoft will sell you those too. It's bundling Intel Ethernet cards with the software so there's one fewer decision you have to make.
Microsoft claims this is the easiest-to-install-network yet. Being peer-to-peer, at its simplest it just requires the user to open two PCs, install network adaptor cards, install the software then drag and drop a few menu choices to share printers and disk space and install mail and scheduling software.
Daniel Petre said surveys had shown users rated ease of installation and use above anything else. "And it is easy because we had a competition in our sales force and the record was 6 minutes for a full installation."
How well does Microsoft expect it to sell? It expects WFW to be 30 percent of Windows sales immediately, and the majority within a year.
Petre responded to suggestions that Microsoft is locking users into Microsoft applications and hardware by saying that although WFW comes with a number of networking applications, LAN Manager and Novell Netware client software, the file is open to any vendor to use the extended facilities offered by WFW.
The applications bundled with WFW include: Microsoft Mail; Schedule +, a graphical scheduler for personal and workgroup use. It allows one user to seek an open slot for one or more other users then send e-mail to them requesting a meeting; Network DDE, or Dynamic Data Exchange, a feature of Windows since version 2.0, is now supported between machines. Files can be maintained on one machine only for linking to applications and files on other machines; Security -- users can decide how much of their machine and its resources will be available to other network users. There are different access levels including password protection. Single files can also be tagged for access. There's also a WinMeter to show what proportion of a user's resources are being used by other network users. They can nominate maximum CPU usage rates where overuse is a problem.
At present WFW doesn't differentiate between users and machines for naming and access purposes. This may present problems where two or more people use a single machine such as in job-sharing situations.
There are several packages available. 207-050AV310 is the basic software. It consists of Windows for Workgroups 3.1 and the following applications: Mail; Schedule+; Peer-to-peer file and printer sharing; Chat, WinMeter and NetWatcher utilities; Network dynamic data exchange.
207-150AV310 is the starter kit for connecting two PCs. It consists of the software for two machines, a Read Me First card, a Watch Me Second video tape, a genuine Microsoft Screwdriver, two Intel Ethernet network adaptor cards, a cable, two T-connectors and two terminators.
207-251AV310 is the add-on kit. This is designed to add more users to the starter kit. It consists of the software for one machine, one extra Ethernet card, a cable, a T-Connector and a terminator.
207-850AV310 is the MS-Dos Connection software that allows DOS-based machines to connect to a Windows for Workgroups network.
Daniel Petre told Newsbytes that the US prices weren't firm yet and "Bill Gates would kill him if he spilled the beans." So, US prices given below are based on Australian retail pricing and the usual Microsoft Australia uplift from US prices.
Package Australian Price Estimated US price
207-050AV310 AUS$390 US$230
" upgrade AUS$185 US$115
207-150AV310 AUS$1400 US$770
" upgrade AUS$960 US$530
207-251AV310 AUS$700 US$390
" upgrade AUS$490 US$270
207-850AV310 AUS$155 US$99
All upgrade prices in Australia are further discounted by $30 for members of Microsoft's Communique club.
The system requirements for basic use are 286 processor and 2M of RAM. For file and printer sharing (and that means most users) the minimum is a 386sx with 3M or RAM (4 suggested), and 9.5M of hard disk (14 suggested).
(Paul Zucker/19921012/Contact Roy Brady, Microsoft Australia on tel +61-2-870 2200 or fax +61-2-805 1108)
Australia on tel +61-2-870 2200 or fax +61-2-805 1108)
10/12/92
Australia: Microsoft Launches Windows for Workgroups
Japan: New Color LCDs Developed
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- Japan's Sharp and Fujitsu have developed large liquid crystal color displays for computers that produce quality images comparable with those produced by Braun tubes, the companies report.
Sharp has developed a 17-inch color liquid crystal display (LCD) which is the largest in the world, according to Sharp. This color LCD can be connected to workstations. Currently, there are two versions -- one is back-lit and is based on the VGA standard. It has 1,280 by 1,024 pixels. According to Sharp, the screen is extremely crisp and light, just as a Braun tube.
Another version conforms to the XGA standard and has 1,024 x 768 pixels. The size of this screen is 10.4 inches.
Sharp will release sample products in December and sales are due to start in June, 1993.
Meanwhile, Fujitsu will ship its 21-inch plasma display in January 1993. It has a 64-color gradation, supports 260,000 colors, and is based on the Japanese PC screen resolution standard, which is 640 by 480 pixels. It is 3.2-cm thick and weighs 4.8 kg.
The price is Fujitsu's plasma display is a whopping 900,000 yen ($7,500). The firm is considering the release of another model for high definition TV in the near future. Fujitsu plans to ship 6,000 units of the plasma display in 1993.
Japan: New Color LCDs Developed By Sharp & Fujitsu
TRENDS
Japan: Fujitsu Cuts Investment,
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- Fujitsu says will drastically cut its budget for facility investment and research and development for fiscal 1993. The firm will also relocate its employees rather than lay them off. The plan is to assign most of them to the sales divisions. The moves are due to the rapid appreciation of the Japanese yen and a general slump in the industry.
According to Fujitsu's plan, facility investment will be reduced by 30 billion yen. Fujitsu was initially planning to spend 140 billion yen ($1.2 billion) on this area, but it will reduce its expenditure to 110 billion yen ($0.92 billion). The budget was cut for new facilities for semiconductor chips, information systems and telecommunication systems.
Fujitsu's research and development budget will also be cut by 10 billion yen ($83 million) from 345 billion yen ($2.9 billion). The reduction of the R&D budget is a big move for Fujitsu which has maintained a high percentage of its income in R&D, even during past financial slumps. Fujitsu will also reduce its inventory.
Since April of this year, Fujitsu has moved 100 system engineers into sales jobs. Fujitsu says another 50 to 100 engineers will be moved to sales divisions in the next six months. Other Japanese firms are also taking similar measures to ride out the slump in the industry.
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- SynOptics Communications has announced a new network management system that enables managers to monitor and diagnose problems across the entire fabric of their network.
Called Optivity, the software can track and analyze the performance of all the intelligent hubs, routers bridges, and end-station network interfaces that are the key building blocks of an enterprise network.
Using Optivity, network managers can manage the status of even the most complex networks as a single cohesive system viewed on a single screen. This capability, which has never before been possible reduces the time invested in keeping track of the separate elements of the network and allows network managers to concentrate on other issues, Synoptics claims.
"With Optivity, managers can also diagnose a problem that may encompass more than one element of the network," said Peter Woo SynOptics' Hong Kong-based general manager for North Asia. "For example, they can trace the path a packet of information takes through the network, all the way from one end-station to another viewing network interface connections, cabling types, hubs, bridges and routers along the path."
The Optivity network management system is the first product to result from the alliance announced last year between SynOptics, Sun Microsystems' SunConnect and Cisco Systems, Inc. The new software is built on the industry leading SunNet Manager 2.0 platform from SunConnect and in conjunction with Cisco to ensure compatibility with Cisco's forthcoming SunNet Manager applications.
"These new products are evidence of SynOptics' commitment to provide integrated, easy-to-use tools to manage all the local and internetwork links that create enterprise and multi-enterprise networks," said Mr Woo, who added that until now, customers have been forced to manage their networks with as many as three or four network management products.
With the Optivity network management software, the first three layers of the Open Systems Interconnection Model can now be managed as a single cohesive system. Optivity can manage all SynOptics' Ethernet, Token Ring, and FDDI intelligent hubs and can support SynOptics' new multi-protocol router which will be available in the autumn. In addition, Optivity will manage any Cisco or other routers that adhere to the SNMP MIB II definitions as well as manage SynOptics and Retix bridges.
Among the capabilities that Synoptics claims puts Optivity ahead of other network management products are Autotopology Plus and Nodal Views.
The Autotopology Plus feature provides real-time, automatic discovery of the elements of a routed network and automatically maintains the topology map depicting the network. This ensures that all changes made to the network are immediately evident to the manager and eliminates the time-consuming task of creating these maps manually.
"This is an example of SynOptics' commitment to provide network managers with capabilities that make the system work for the manager instead of the other way around," said Mr Woo.
The Nodal View feature provides visibility up to the end-stations on a network. At the simplest level, the capability can provide a graphical representation of each of the end-station in a network and whether they are on or off. It can also provide error statistics, gauge performance and allow network managers to automate day-to-day operations by setting thresholds and alarms.
"Today network managers work very hard to gather much of this type of data manually," he said. "With the new capabilities of Optivity, they have an accurate representation of the entire network fabric. Network problems can be quickly and easily resolved, even as the network grows and changes."
(Brett Cameron/19921010/Press Contact: Peter Woo, Synoptics, Tel: 852-841 7739;HK time is GMT + 8)
ptics, Tel: 852-841 7739;HK time is GMT + 8)
10/12/92
New For Networks: SynOptics Net Mgt System
GENERAL
New For Networks: SynOptics Diag
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- SynOptics Communications has announced a new set of LattisWare Solution applications that enable network experts to diagnose problems throughout the entire network fabric.
The applications run on Optivity, the new version of SynOptics' high-end network management solution also announced today. They take advantage of Optivity's ability to manage all the intelligent hubs routers, bridges and end-station network interfaces that are the key building blocks of an enterprise network.
The new software, called RouterMan, PathMan, and BridgeMan, is designed with the same objectives as a similar set of products introduced in July. However, while the original set was aimed at network managers, these new tools have been specifically designed to provide comprehensive diagnostic help for network experts.
"The LattisWare Solutions applications simplify and automate network management -- providing simple, integrated views and making the network system do more of the work of network management," said Peter Woo, SynOptics' Hong Kong-based general manager for North Asia.
The RouterMan application enables network managers to obtain status configuration, and general health information on all the routers in the network at a glance, increasing their productivity. The product automatically identifies both the interfaces and protocols supported. RouterMan takes advantage of standards-based SNMP and X window system protocols. It was designed to take full advantage of the Cisco private SNMP MIB extensions.
The PathMan application is the only product that can trace the path that a packet of information will take throughout the entire network showing the status of every router, bridge, intelligent hub and their links from one end-station to the other. The application leverages the network management agents throughout a SynOptics network to provide this capability. With PathMan, network managers and operators can diagnose specific problems or troubleshoot the network, Synoptics promises.
The BridgeMan application automatically identifies and provides status information on all the SynOptics and Retix bridges on a network. In addition, the BridgeMan software is able to leverage information from other bridge management packages also running on the network, if they are designed on the SunNet Manager 2.0 platform. BridgeMan provides the capability to control the bridge's address filter data and other tables.
(Brett Cameron/19921010/Press Contact: Peter Woo, Synoptics, Tel: 852-841 7739;HK time is GMT + 8)
eter Woo, Synoptics, Tel: 852-841 7739;HK time is GMT + 8)
10/12/92
New For Networks: SynOptics Diagnostic Tools For Experts
GENERAL
Russia: Software Protection Bill
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- After a long battle, the software protection law has been signed by Russian President Boris Yeltsin and the speaker of the Parliament. The law takes effect right after its official publication, which is expected soon.
The law was signed by President Yeltsin and Parliament Chairman Ruslan Hasbulatov on October 7-8, and has already been passed to the official newspaper for publication, according to Leonid Malkov Paragraph software house deputy manager, and one of the members of the law lobbying group.
The Russian parliament voted on the bill at its session at May 14, 1992 but subsequent legal loopholes allowed it to be held up for president Boris Yeltsin's signature.
The special governmental agency for protection of software and integrated circuits design has been created as part of the RosPatent office, and Mr V.G. Vitaliev has been appointed the head of the new entity.
Constitution amendments, approved in the early 1992, declared intellectual property to be the subject of both federal and local legislation. The law passed the parliament hearing only after the addition of a special clause stating that "this law and subsequent legislation approved by the republics within the Russian Federation regulates the creation, legal protection, and the usage of software programs and databases."
Three other intellectual property laws -- namely a patent law, a trademark law, and a chips topology law -- are also awaiting official publication to take effect.
(Kirill Tchashchin/199201012/Press Contact: Leonid Malkov, Paragraph phone +7 095 200-2566)
Contact: Leonid Malkov, Paragraph phone +7 095 200-2566)
10/12/92
Russia: Software Protection Bill Passes The Parliament
IMM Buying SCS Mobilecom, Spread
KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 12 (NB) International Mobile Machines, which holds rights on the TDMA digital cellular technology now being introduced in the US said it will buy SCS Mobilecom and SCS Telecom of Port Washington, New York in exchange for stock.
SCS is best-known for its spread-spectrum technology and had been working with Millicom of New York on tests of the technology. According to SCS executive John Stroebele, in an earlier interview with Newsbytes, SCS believes that by sending signals within a wide area of spectrum it can create advanced phone systems that do not interfere with licensed frequency users. This would mean, for instance, that PCN microwave cellular services could be offered by small companies on the same frequencies now used by utilities and other firms for vital communications, without interference.
Spread-spectrum technology is also a feature of CDMA digital cellular technology, on which Qualcomm of San Diego holds rights and which is competing with IMM's TDMA to be the next upgrade of US cellular systems.
Present TDMA systems offer three times the capacity of today's analog cellular systems, while CDMA boosters claim it offers 10 times present capacity. In the past, IMM executives have questioned whether CDMA can work as well as Qualcomm claims.
IMM said it plans to issue restricted common stock and common stock equivalents as consideration for the two companies. Specific terms were not disclosed. It is anticipated that the acquisition, which is subject to customary conditions, will be completed on or before October 15, 1992, at which time IMM has scheduled a press conference at the American Stock Exchange Board of Governors Room in New York City, at 11 AM, both to present a summary of this transaction and to make other unrelated announcements.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921012/Press Contact: David L. Smith, IMM 215-278-7831)
21012/Press Contact: David L. Smith, IMM 215-278-7831)
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- Data Race raced to the front in PCMCIA technology by shipping modems based on the credit-card sized plug-in cards.
The RediCard line of modems includes V.22bis and V.32bis products running as fast as 14,000 bits/second, offering both data and fax services, and with a cellular telephone option.
The PCMCIA standard, now in its second version, is a five millimeter thick, credit-card sized device which plugs into a new type of socket in a PC. A PCMCIA card could hold software data storage, or a discrete device like a modem. Makers of pen based and laptop computers have been busy designing the special PCMCIA slot into their devices in recent months.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921012/Press Contact: Data Race, Garrick Colwell, 512-558-1900; FAX: 512-558-1929)
; FAX: 512-558-1929)
10/12/92
PCMCIA Modems Ship
TELECOM
Microsoft Names Chief Informatio
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- Microsoft Corporation, saying it is responding to the increasingly strategic role of worldwide information systems in use within the company, has named Neil Evans to the newly created post of chief information officer (CIO).
Evans, formerly general manager of the Information Technology Group (ITG) joined Microsoft in April 1983, and was previously MIS manager at Digital Equipment Corporation. Microsoft spokesperson Katy Ehrlich told Newsbytes he will report to Microsoft chief financial officer, Frank Gaudette.
"Over the past nine years, Neil has built our ITG group into a world-class organization," said Gaudette.
Evans holds a bachelor's of science degree and a master's in business administration from Northwestern University. He has been listed in CIO Magazine's CIO-100 for the past three years, a list representing the nation's top 100 information technology groups.
Microsoft says Evans was instrumental in developing its World Wide Sales (WWS) application to respond to the needs of Microsoft managers in tracking the company's worldwide sales information. Microsoft says it operates 24,000 network nodes in 34 countries, across 20 time zones 24 hours a day. The system uses more than 40 Windows-based applications to support mission-critical and client-server solutions. The use of WWS eliminates printing hard copy reports and provides current worldwide financial information.
In his new position Evans will also be responsible for the company's information and library services, electronic mail system, file servers, Help Desk, PC repair, telecommunications and phone systems fax, voice mail and video-conferencing.
(Jim Mallory/19921012/Press contact: Katy Ehrlich, Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, 503-245-0905; Reader contact: 206-882-8080 or 800-426-9400)
ader contact: 206-882-8080 or 800-426-9400)
10/12/92
Microsoft Names Chief Information Officer
BUSINESS
Key Tronic Closes Circuit Board
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- Carrying out a previously announced promise if it couldn't sell the facility Key Tronic Corporation has announced that it will close its printed circuit board facility on December 9.
The company said in June that it would either sell or close the operation, and provided for the cost of closure in its fiscal fourth quarter '92 projections. Attempts to sell the facility as an ongoing business were unsuccessful, said the company.
According to director of human resources, Kurt Conklin, the plant employs about 95 people. Conklin said Key Tronic would try to reassign those employees to other jobs within the company prior to the closing date. "We think we'll be able to place about half of them in other jobs," Conklin told Newsbytes.
The printed circuit board plant builds PC boards for Key Tronic's keyboards and other input devices. Conklin told Newsbytes the company would use outside firms to do that work, but said the company hasn't selected a vendor yet. "We're still working on who it will be," he told Newsbytes.
Key Tronic, maker of keyboards and pointing devices, operates facilities in Spokane and Cheney, Washington; Dundalk, Ireland; and Singapore.
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- Computer superstore operator CompUSA has announced a public offering of 3.6 million shares of common stock at $32.75 per share simultaneously in the US and overseas.
Of the total number, two million are being sold by CompUSA and 1.6 million are being sold by stockholders. The First Boston Corporation; Kidder, Peabody & Co Inc; and Robertson, Stephens & Company are the managers of the US syndicate offering 3.24 million shares. Credit Suisse First Boston Limited; Kidder, Peabody International Limited; and Robertson, Stephens & Co are the lead managers of the international offering of 360,000 shares.
The company said that certain of the selling stockholders have granted the underwriters and managers an option to purchase up to an additional 540,000 shares to cover any over-allotment.
CompUSA said it will use the net proceeds to finance new store openings, for working capital requirements, and to reduce outstanding revolving credit borrowings as well as for general corporate purposes. CompUSA said it will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the stockholders shares.
CompUSA has reported record sales and profits for the past two quarters, and said in February it plans to double the number of stores, to 48, by mid-1993. As reported by Newsbytes last month the chain opened its 30th store in Garden City, New York and said it would open store number 31 in Mesquite, Texas, a Dallas suburb. Two more stores are scheduled to open in the northeast US this month.
(Jim Mallory/19921012/Press contact: Joseph Fashano, The First Boston Corporation, 212-909-2107)
ston Corporation, 212-909-2107)
10/12/92
CompUSA Makes Public Offering
BUSINESS
Digital Appoints VP Engineering,
j MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- Digital Equipment has appointed William D. Strecker to the job of vice-president, engineering, a new position the company's new president announced in his inaugural press conference October 1. Strecker also retains the title of chief technology officer.
Digital also named Richard Poulsen president of its Digital Europe subsidiary, and Bobby Choonavala to succeed Poulsen as president of Digital General International Area (GIA), a territory comprising countries outside of the United States, Europe, and Africa. Poulsen remains a vice-president of Digital, and Choonavala has been given the same title.
On October 1, Robert B. Palmer, incoming president and chief executive of DEC, said he would shortly name a vice-president of engineering to take charge of "rationalizing" its hardware investments.
That speech focused on the need to focus Digital on its "core competencies" and make the organization more efficient. "It's time for a clear direction with a focus on meeting our customers' needs," Palmer said.
Strecker, 48, joined Digital in 1972, and later led the development of Digital's VAX minicomputer architecture. He helped define the corporation's interconnect strategy. Strecker also played a major role in the development of the Computer Interconnect (CI) technology and the Systems Communication Architecture, both of which are major elements of VAXcluster systems, DEC said.
Strecker became manager of engineering product strategy and architecture in 1984, and was named a vice-president in 1985. In 1989, he became vice-president, distributed software systems responsible for corporate software development.
As president of Digital Europe, 57-year-old Poulsen will be responsible for business in 56 countries, including the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the Middle East and Africa. Digital Europe had $6.75 billion in fiscal 1992.
As president of Digital GIA, Choonavala will be responsible for conducting business in 40 countries, including Canada and countries in South America, Asia, the Pacific Rim, and the South Pacific. Digital's GIA operation had revenues of $2.03 billion in fiscal 1992. Choonavala, 57, was most recently managing director of Digital's Asia region, based in Hong Kong.
(Grant Buckler/19921012/Press Contact: Jamie Pearson, Digital 508-493-2149)
ss Contact: Jamie Pearson, Digital 508-493-2149)
10/12/92
Digital Appoints VP Engineering, Global Bosses
BUSINESS
US Makes Commercial Software Pir
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- The United States government has elevated commercial software piracy from a misdemeanor to a felony, a move some say will help reduce the illegal copying of software.
Late on October 8, the Senate approved changes made by the House of Representative to S. 893, The Software Copyright Protection Bill sponsored by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and originally passed the Senate on June 4. The bill had passed the House by voice vote the night of October 3. S. 893 now goes to the President to be signed into law.
The law defines commercial pirates as individuals who willfully copy software for commercial advantage or private financial gain. Prison terms of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 can now be imposed on persons convicted of infringing at least 10 copies of a copyrighted software program or any combination of programs with a retail value greater than $2,500. Repeat offenses can include up to 10 years' imprisonment.
According to Ilene Rosenthal, a spokeswoman for the Software Publishers' Association which backed the bill, the law is not aimed at the individual who makes a single copy of a program to use at home or to share with a friend.
According to the SPA, piracy in the US alone cost the industry $2.4 billion in 1990. Worldwide losses that year are estimated between $10 billion and $12 billion.
Misdemeanor penalties have not been enough to deter commercial software pirates, Rosenthal said, and also have not been enough to justify the amount of effort investigators needed to put into a piracy case. Law enforcers were reluctant to make the effort Rosenthal said, when "at the end of it all you're going to get is a $500 fine or a suspended sentence."
The new law brings software piracy into the same category as the illegal copying of movies or commercial music recordings, which became a felony in 1982, Rosenthal said. Since that time, she noted, piracy of movies and recordings has dropped off substantially in the United States. The SPA expects similar results from S. 893.
"As the federal authorities get more involved," Rosenthal said "it's going to make it not worth the risk for people that thought they could play the odds and not get caught."
The Washington-based Software Publishers Association has more than 950 members, representing publishers of business, consumer, and education software markets. It has been active in fighting software piracy for several years.
(Grant Buckler/19921012/Press Contact: Ilene Rosenthal or Terri Childs, 202/452-1600)
Ilene Rosenthal or Terri Childs, 202/452-1600)
10/12/92
US Makes Commercial Software Piracy A Felony
Ericsson Gets $95M Japanese Mobi
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- Ericsson has secured a prestigious deal with Central Japan Digital Phone for the installation of a cellular phone network in the Tokai region of Japan.
This is the Swedish telecom giant's third mobile phone contract in the country and calls for the commissioning of the network which will support 50,000 subscribers, over the next two years. The slight delay in the network installation will give Ericsson a chance to prove the digital technology in a series of pilot trials in other countries.
Central Japan Digital Phone is actually an amalgam of companies with the primary shareholders consisting off Japan Telecom Central Japan Railway, Cable & Wireless, Pacific Telesis International, and Toyota.
(Steve Gold/19921012)
nternational, and Toyota.
(Steve Gold/19921012)
10/12/92
Ericsson Gets $95M Japanese Mobile Phone Contract
TELECOM
German Telecom Authority Cuts Mo
BONN, WESTERN GERMANY, 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- Deutsche Bundespost Telekom (DBT), the state-owned telecom company, has announced plans to cut the cost of making calls via its C-Net analogue and D1-Net digital mobile phone networks.
Analysts are hailing the price cuts as due to competition in the rapidly liberalized telecom market in Germany. DBT is cutting rates on C-Net by six percent and on the more modern D1-Net service, which was launched earlier this year, by 12 percent.
Recently, Mannesmann, the operator of another digital mobile phone network in Germany, announced it was cutting the cost of its service, although the cost reductions were made on both call fees and installation/sign-up charges.
Germany's phone charges are still among the highest in Europe. German companies operating telecom services claim that reflects the high cost of doing business in Germany, with its continuing strong currency. Experts suggest, however, that there is still considerable room for manoeuvre with call charges.
(Steve Gold/19921012)
euvre with call charges.
(Steve Gold/19921012)
10/12/92
German Telecom Authority Cuts Mobile Phone Rates
TELECOM
Symantec Signs China Distributio
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- Just a week after announcing its intent to acquire virus and security software developer Certus International, Symantec has signed a Chinese distribution agreement with Da Tung International Inc. The company hopes to take advantage of the virtually untapped software market in China.
The deal calls for Da Tung to exclusively sell Symantec's complete line of software products in the country, beginning in 1993.
Gordon E. Eubanks, Jr., Symantec's president and CEO, said: "China is just beginning to develop as a software market and its emergence will be strategically important in the 90s. Based on our experience of penetrating new markets and conducting business worldwide, we are confident that our association with China will be successful."
According to Symantec, there are more than 60 translated versions of the company's products available worldwide.
In July, Newsbytes reported that the company had announced a 66 percent increase in net earnings and a 39 percent increase in revenue for its June 1993 quarter.
Symantec recently acquired software development tool companies Multiscope and The Whitewater Group during the quarter. The company also recently announced an agreement with Apple for development of the Bedrock framework, a product the company says it is using internally, geared toward development of applications for Apple Macintosh computers and Microsoft Windows.
As reported by Newsbytes, Symantec plans to add Certus' technology in virus detection to its own and is also planning to move into the systems security market with this purchase.
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- Just a month after announcing the resignation of then President and Chief Executive Officer Barry James Folsom, Radius Inc., has signed a deal with IBM, whereby Radius will manufacture AT Bus XGA-2 graphics cards for IBM to resell through its sales channels in Europe. At the same time, IBM will also recommend the Radius product for sales in North America.
According to Radius, the Radius XGA-2 Graphics Card, is based on IBM's new XGA-2 graphics technology and is designed for IBM PS/2 computers, models 35 and 40.
Al Testani, IBM's Personal Systems director of subsystems operations, Entry Systems Technology, said: "Our selection of Radius as the supplier of the XGA-2 Graphics Card for our AT Bus customers is an important step in IBM's continuing effort to offer the best graphics solution. Together with our own Micro Channel XGA-2 offering, this AT Bus graphics card now brings the power of XGA to all PC users."
The companies claim that new ergonomic standards for office equipment in Europe include the requirement for high quality monitors and high refresh rates.
Michael Boich, Radius chairman, president and chief executive officer, said: "XGA technology provides Radius the performance and growth potential needed for today's graphic intensive computing on IBM and compatible personal computers."
According to the companies, in North America and the rest of the world, Radius will market a version of the Radius XGA-2 Graphics Card through its existing sales channels. IBM will be recommending the Radius XGA-2 Graphics Card to those customers that wish to upgrade IBM PS/2 models 35 and 40.
IBM says it will begin selling the Radius XGA-2 Graphics Card in Europe in October at localized prices. The Radius XGA-2 Graphics Card is expected to be available from Radius in the fourth quarter of 1992.
As reported by Newsbytes, Barry James Folsom, resigned from his position at the company but continued as a member of the board of directors.
(Ian Stokell/19921012/Press Contact: James Strohecker, Radius Inc., 408-954-6828)
trohecker, Radius Inc., 408-954-6828)
10/12/92
Radius, IBM Sign Graphics Card Deal
BUSINESS
RasterOps Cuts Large-Screen Colo
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 12 (NB) -- RasterOps is reducing the entry-level prices of its large-screen color displays in the hope of enticing users to upgrade from conventional monitors. The company has reduced the prices of its true color, 20- and 21-inch monitors by as much as 30 percent.
The RasterOps/20T Multiscan Trinitron Color Display is now $2,499, down from $3,499. The RasterOps/20 Multimode Color Display is down from $1,799 to $1,499. And the RasterOps 21-inch Color Monitor now retails at $2,999, down from $3,599.
RasterOps claims that the RasterOps/20T Multiscan Trinitron high-end, multifrequency color monitor now represents the lowest-priced Trinitron technology among major Trinitron monitor suppliers. The product provides flicker-free display and supports resolutions from 640 by 480 pixels up to 1280 by 1024.
The RasterOps/20 is a multifrequency, color display that offers a range of resolution support, from 640 by 480 to 1024 by 768.
The RasterOps 21-inch Color Monitor offers a full two-page WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get) display for graphic arts and creative services professionals. It provides 1124 by 870 resolution and includes anti-glare screen coating, automatic degaussing, and ergonomic brightness and contrast controls.
In July, Newsbytes reported that the company had signed three new distributors to one-year, renewable agreements. The companies were Access Graphics, Ingram Micro, and Tech Data.
At the beginning of September, Newsbytes also reported that Rasterops' on-again, off-again merger with Truevision was finally complete, but for less than what was expected.
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- Olivetti has extended its M series of professional PCs with the addition of two new entry level machines, the M300-02 and the M300-28. Both machines feature a number of ergonomic improvements over their predecessors and are aimed at stand-alone or small business PC users.
The M300-02 costs UKP 699, while the Model 28 costs UKP 999. These prices include a base unit, color VGA monitor, mouse keyboard, DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1. Both machines have a 300 x 375mm footprint and weigh in at 12 pounds. The base unit can be fixed horizontally or vertically.
Announcing the machines, Dominic Macey, Olivetti's product marketing manager, said that manufacturers are often guilty of seeing an entry-level PC as a cheap box with a lowest possible specification.
"This is clearly untrue and unrepresentative of user demand. The 300-02 and 28 have been designed to address all the needs of the entry-level market -- which means more than supplying an aggressively priced PC. It means supplying a high performance machine, as well as a quality and reliable system which users can easily upgrade themselves, which will respect their environment and fit into restricted office space," he said.
Both machines come with a 25 megahertz (MHz) microprocessor. The Model 2 comes with 2 megabytes (MB) of memory, expandable to 10MB internally, while the Model 28 comes with 4MB of memory with expansion for up to 20MB.
Hard disk options on both machines include 40 and 85MB, while the Model 2 tops out at 120MB and the Model 28 flagship has a 170MB hard disk.
One interesting feature of the Model 28 is the inclusion of a slot for the Intel Overdrive 25/50MHz chipset. This, Olivetti claims, can boost system performance by as much as 80 percent.
(Steve Gold/19921027/Press & Public Contact: Olivetti - Tel: 071 785-6666)
ress & Public Contact: Olivetti - Tel: 071 785-6666)
10/28/92
Olivetti Expands M Range PC With Ergonomic Designs
Pacific Telesis Continues Study
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- After leaving shareholders in suspense for a week, Pacific Telesis delayed a decision on the potential spin-off of its non-regulated subsidiaries for at least a month. Chairman Sam Ginn said the company must continue to evaluate many aspects of the potential split.
Included in what needs to be evaluated are the regulatory impact impact on future markets, impact on international operations, impact on capitalization, and what he called "the optimal structure for meeting customer needs," a catch-all meaning whether the deal would work well for customers. He added in a press statement that "No deadline has been set for a decision by the board."
Before the previous week, anticipation of a split had been high especially after the company hired investment bankers to look into it. In the week before the announcement, however, stock traders, sensing a delay or a decision not to go forward, sold PacTel heavily, bringing the price of the stock down to near $40 per share, at the low end of its recent trading range. The decision is complicated by the fact that California wants to place new regulations on cellular system operators, and the "unregulated" unit would primarily be in that business, with the bulk of its operations in California.
McCaw Cellular has asked California to reconsider those proposed regulations, preventing them from becoming effective until the middle of next year. McCaw claims that the decision, which lets middlemen buy air-time in bulk, at the cellular operators' cost and using their own phone switches, would not benefit consumers. McCaw also claims the decision amounts to rate regulation which will cause the state's information infrastructure to fall behind that of other states.
In other news involving regulated phone companies, Michigan Bell moved 450 new employees into its Detroit headquarters offices calling it a vote of confidence in the city's efforts to revitalize.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921027/Press Contact: Michigan Bell, Phil Jones, 313-223-7194; Pacific Telesis, Michael Runzler, 415/394 3643; McCaw Cellular, Bob Ratliffe, 206/828-8685)
394 3643; McCaw Cellular, Bob Ratliffe, 206/828-8685)
10/28/92
Pacific Telesis Continues Study of Complex Spin-Off
TELECOM
AT&T Establishes Network for Go
PARSIPPANY, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- AT&T continued its efforts to link portable computing to its EasyLink Services electronic mail service by signing to create a special service under Go's PenPoint operating system. A week earlier AT&T EasyLink announced a deal to provide services to users of the Casio BOSS organizer.
GO will provide a software communications link that connects users of GO Mail -- the messaging interface that is part of the new GO Message Center -- to AT&T EasyLink. Every PenPoint user in the world eventually will be tied together on the messaging network, giving them access to each other, to other information services, and via AT&T Mail gateways to other services. Over time, GO said the link will allow mobile workers to browse and retrieve information from bulletin boards and various other information sources accessed by AT&T EasyLink.
The system was demonstrated in a wireless environment at the Electronic Messaging Association conference. The two companies said their relationship goes far beyond electronic mail, and includes store and forward fax services bulletin boards, access to publication data bases, and even support for business transactions and electronic software distribution.
PenPoint's object-oriented messaging automatically "mail-enables" all PenPoint documents, and makes it easy for developers to integrate messaging into their applications. PenPoint users will receive the AT&T Mail communications link free with PenPoint and will not have to pay a monthly access fee for using the network. Charges will apply only if they send a message or access information services.
In addition to Go and Casio, AT&T EasyLink has also forged arrangements with Microsoft, NCR, RAM Mobile Data, SkyTel, and Sharp.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- MCI said it will add an automated fax-on-demand service to its range of services under the MCI Fax logo. MCI Fax Reply is due for release in the first quarter of 1993.
Until now, most fax-back systems have either been run by small companies like Worldwide Data or the Business Board, or have been created by companies directly using fax boards and software, either inside PCs or linked to their private business switches. This is the first time a commercial mail service has added fax-on-demand capability as a regular feature.
Documents may be added, replaced or deleted by the company using the services as necessary, and they may include text as well as graphics. Other features include page headers, a customized cover page, and optional call routing to operators for assistance. An optional password prompt can be added for security.
MCI Mail announced full support of the MCI Mail gateway to the Internet. This means any MCI Mail user can send electronic messages to any Internet address. The gateway has been in use on an experimental basis since 1989. Also, MCI Mail said its customer service desk is now available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921027/Press Contact: Jane Levene, MCI International, 914-934-6480)
t: Jane Levene, MCI International, 914-934-6480)
10/28/92
MCI Mail Announces Fax Reply, Internet Support
TELECOM
TI Chief Laments Hongkong Brain
Allied Telesis Enters Adapter Ma
DEC Loses $260.55 Million In 1st
UK: Elonex Unveils Office PC Ran
Japanese Firm To Supply IRS With
New For Networks: Lotus Notes Gr
Computer Associates To Put Unice
Triumph-Adler To Shed 1,000 Jobs
SPA Membership Hits 1,000
New For Windows: Claris Ships Fi
UK: Zenith Data Systems Intros 1
Fujitsu New Color LCD Offers Wid
All Change At IBM UK As 50 New P
Lucid Corp Intros Software Apps
Sony Develops World's Smallest C
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- Sony has developed an extremely small digital cassette tape, the size of a regular postage stamp jointly with Toray of Japan. Sony claims this is the world's smallest cassette tape, for which it has also developed a tiny tape recorder that uses this size tape.
Sony's latest and smallest cassette tape is called the NTC-120 which measures 3.0 x 0.5 x 2.15 cm. This is about a fourth the size of current micro cassette tapes. The tape recorder, the "NT-1," is also small -- 11.3 x 2.3 x 5.5 cm -- and it weighs only 147 grams. The tape recorder is sold at 100,000 yen ($830) and the cassette tape is sold at 1,700 yen ($15).
Sony has developed this tape in cooperation with Toray, which specializes in the creation of high-tech materials. Both firms have worked on the development of an extra-thin film, and claim the tape film in the new NTC-120 is only 4 microns thick. Sony has also worked on the development of a "smooth" motor for the tape recorder. The improved motor enables the tape to remain taut over a number of usages and to have a longer life.
One cassette tape can record 120 minutes of sound. The quality of the sound is said to be excellent due to digital recording. Sony plans to ship 15,000 units per month to start.
Sony reports that this digital cassette tape will be listed in the 1994 edition of the Guinness Book of Records as the world's smallest cassette tape.
REDWOOD CITY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- By mid November, Approach Software plans to release French and German language versions of Approach 2.0 for Windows, a highly enhanced database program that just started shipping in English, Newsbytes has learned.
In an interview with Newsbytes, Jamie Rapperport, the company's managing director for Europe, explained that the award-winning database software is really two products in one. "It's a stand-alone database for Windows applications, and also a user friendly front end to complex outside relational database management systems (RDBMS)," he commented.
Version 1.0 of the database package captured Byte Magazine's "Best Software" award at Comdex last spring, according to Rapperport. In addition, the product is currently ranked number two on the Ingram Micro Best Sellers List and number four on PC Computing's Resellers Survey.
Version 2.0 represents the product's first foray in a language other than English, emphasized the managing director for Europe.
Topping the list of new capabilities in Approach 2.0 are features aimed at international markets, along with PicturePlus fields that allow storage of graphics, sounds, charts and documents from OLE capable Windows programs and new PowerKeys for SQL Server, FoxPro and DB2.
Rapperport told Newsbytes that, like the PowerKeys for dBase 3 and 4, Paradox, and Oracle that were introduced in 1.0, the new PowerKeys allow transparent access from the user-friendly Approach GUI, while also maintaining the data integrity of the outside file formats.
Also new in 2.0 are a form letter function and a series of features, including a "sounds like" option, that are designed to make day-to-day database management more convenient, he said.
The "sounds like" option lets the user enter a term, and then search within a field for words of various spellings that sound like the entry. "This feature is especially useful if you know how to pronounce someone's last name, but don't know how to spell it. You simply enter your best guess," Rapperport illustrated.
In addition to new features, Approach 2.0 also brings greater speed, he remarked. Importing and sorting and now 10 times faster and a file can be saved 100 times faster. SQL access is also more rapid, he told Newsbytes.
One new capability, which brings support for the European mailing label format, will be offered in the new French and German editions only, according to the official. All other features, including metric rulers and European date and number formatting options, are incorporated into all three language versions.
Rapperport stressed that the PowerKeys for dBase, Paradox and Oracle SQL -- and now for SQL Server, FoxPro and DB2, as well differ from the data filters traditionally found in database software by delivering full-blown native engines.
"Because there are no intermediary files or other types of conversion, the user enjoys maximum performance," he asserted. At the same time, though, information from the outside database is displayed transparently, meaning that it looks no different from any other data shown in Approach, he noted.
Information from multiple outside file formats can be easily combined on a single form, report, letter, or set of mailing labels within Approach, he added.
The new PicturePlus fields, made possible through more extensive support for Windows OLE, enable storage of OLE objects in dBase FoxPro, Paradox and SQL formats, as well as in the Approach file format. Approach 2.0 also incorporates fuller support for Windows 3.1 dialogs and TrueType, stated Rapperport.
The new form letter function lets the user perform automatic mail merge from within the Approach menu system, which offers selections for reports, forms, mailing labels and other familiar paper items. The user can also insert names, account numbers, and other information from database fields into the body of a letter. Additionally, multiple font styles and sizes can be implemented within a single document.
New database management features in Approach 2.0 include variable fields, auto-entry of date or time, duplication of records, and removal of duplicates, Rapperport told Newsbytes.
Approach 2.0 for Windows is priced at $399. Registered users of Approach 1.0 for Windows can upgrade for $49 (or free of charge if Version 1.0 was purchased on or after August 1, 1992). Between now and January 1, 1993, users of dBase, Paradox, Q&A and other databases can upgrade for $149.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19921027; Press contacts: Jane Smith or Lisa LoVerde, Approach, tel 415-306-0649; Reader contacts: Approach tel 800-APPROACH or 415-306-7890)
contacts: Approach tel 800-APPROACH or 415-306-7890)
10/28/92
New For PC: French, German Versions Of Approach 2.0
Japan: NTT Packet Service Member
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- Japan's major common carrier NTT has announced that it has more than 400,000 members of its packet switching networks as of the end of September.
NTT's packet switching networks have gained in popularity recently. NTT introduced the service in July 1980, and over the course of 12 years, 400,000 users have been attracted to the service. However, membership skyrocketed during the last year as NTT has gained about 100,000 new members alone.
A terminal-to-terminal base digital network service called DDX-P has about 46,200 members. The integrated service digital network service (ISDN) called the "INS-P" has 39,600 members, and a terminal-to-multiple feature phone packet service called "DDX-TP" has about 317,400 membership.
The ISDN service has been particularly popular. ISDN supports multiple features with a single line. These features include voice phone call, fax transmission, and computer data transmission. ISDN membership increased by 25,000 customers during the past year, most of whom are city governments officials and firms.
DDX-TP has also been getting popular among users of multiple feature telephones. Many banks are using this service for their home banking programs.
The packet network service allows data that is stored in the packet switching computer to be dispatched to recipients. The major advantage of this service is that it's cheaper for users in distant locations than other kinds of phone services and for bulk users.
Japan: NTT Packet Service Membership Exceeds 400,000
TELECOM
Japanese Electronics Firms' Poor
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- Major Japanese firms have announced their mid-term sales for 1992 and almost all of them have suffered major setbacks in sales.
Toshiba and Mitsubishi have been suffering under a two-year sales and profit decline. Fujitsu has suffered a decline in sales and profit for the first time in the firm's history. NEC has also endured its first sales and profit decline in 21 years.
The average profit rate for eight major Japanese electronic firms in the mid-term account period ending on September 30, 1992 is minus 53.6 percent over the same term last year. Luckily, all the major firms are making a profit, albeit smaller.
The profit rates over the previous year for mid-1992 are as follows: Hitachi -59.2; Toshiba -38.9; Mitsubishi Electric 73.7; Fuji Electric -68.2; NEC -71.0; Fujitsu -86.5; Matsushita Electric -51.0; Sharp -36.2.
The expected profit rates for the latter half of 1992, which ends March 1993, will still be low but they are expected to show some recovery. The firms expect the following over last year's profits: Hitachi -30.2; Toshiba -15.0; Mitsubishi Electric -35.0; Fuji Electric -47.5; NEC -50.0; Fujitsu -50.0; Matsushita Electric 48.0; Sharp -25.0.
The economy has forced electronics firms to revise their plans for the immediate future, and to reduce their facility investment including semiconductors.
Hitachi will postpone mass production of 16-megabit dynamic random access memory chips in order to avoid facility investment. Matsushita reports it will cut salaries of its board of directors by 10 percent.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921028)
0 percent.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921028)
10/28/92
Japanese Electronics Firms' Poor Showing Continues
BUSINESS
Russia: Zyxel Modems Available
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- The Variant Company has announced appointment as the official distributor of Zyxel modems in Russia. The company claims that sales are brisk already.
Zyxel U1496 modems are among the best rated modems, providing both 14400 bits-per-second data, fax, and voice capabilities.
Modems, which required a US Department of Commerce license as long as four months ago, are now free from limitations and are available direct from Variant or its agents in the country.
According to Maksim Medvedev, sales manager, Variant offers a four-line support BBS in Moscow (in fact, it is the largest bulletin board in Russia). The company also offers a one-year, no questions asked replacement warranty, and a free firmware upgrade. BBS operators are entitled to a discount up to 50% off the regular price.
Variant claims sales of hundreds of modems since sales began this summer.
The least expensive model -- U-1496E -- retails for US$550, while the professional U-1496 is sold for US$920. The same price applies to the rack mounted version U-1496R. All modems are available immediately for both dollars and rubles, in Moscow.
(Kirill Tchashchin/19921028/Press & Public contact: Variant, Maksim Medvedev, phone +7 095 932-7601 or 420-5311; fax +7 095 932-8510; e-mail max@mechta.msk.su )
8510; e-mail max@mechta.msk.su )
10/28/92
Russia: Zyxel Modems Available
BUSINESS
New For Networks: Asante Upgrade
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- Asante has produced an upgrade to its network management software program called AsanteView. The new version is numbered 2.1 and it will replace the 2.0 version that Asante is shipping at this time.
Version 2.1 sports several new features designed to make life easier for the part-time departmental network administrator who has more to do than monitor the network full time. First, there is a dashboard-like set of gauges that Asante is calling Health Meters. These show the user the amount of good packets that go through the network per second, the amount of bad packets per second, and an aggregate measure of network health based on a simple algorithm developed by Asante. Asante based this algorithm on information that it gathers from the SNMP MIBs and on the number of collisions detected by the hub.
Asante does not have a method to detect network utilization, so that common measure of network performance is missing from the Health Meters. Company officials have hinted to Newsbytes that this is a deficiency that they intend to correct soon.
Another important feature is the ability to join up to 50 devices into a logical group and assign it a single group icon. In this way it is possible to reduce the amount of devices that show up on the screen and to make some sort of logical sense among them at the display level.
There is a difference between the Macintosh and the Windows versions of AsanteView here -- the Macintosh version can only show up to two levels of mapping while the Windows version is limited only by the amount of memory in the system. Another aspect of this feature is that AsanteView will allow the user to automatically discover the map that exists in terms of IP addresses and will configure the IP network with some default IP addresses. This helps the network administrator who is not necessarily up to speed on that aspect of networking to get the network up and operational in a hurry.
A third major change occurs only in the Macintosh version. Asante engineers have been able to figure out a way in which individual windows can be shrunk down to the size of an icon and displayed in such a manner on the screen. On the Macintosh, this involved quite a bit of effort as the Mac operating system is not set up for such displays. Asante has assured Newsbytes that its engineers have not meddled with Apple's System 7 but are operating strictly within the boundaries of what's allowed under Apple's programming standards.
Each of the windows that can get iconized can be set to display a different diagnostic or measurement of the network. A network administrator can choose to monitor many devices in several ways without completely taking up all of the screen space in his or her network node. When an interesting event occurs, that iconized window will signal the user that something has occurred.
AsanteView 2.1 will begin shipping in November. It ships with Asante's AsanteHub 1012. Current users of AsanteView can upgrade to the new version at no charge by contacting the company.
New For Networks: Asante Upgrades Management Software
GENERAL
New For Macintosh: Inline Design
LAKEVILLE, CONNECTICUT, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- Inline Design has begun shipments of version 3.0 of InitPicker. This is also the first Microseeds program to be distributed by Inline Design. As Newsbytes reported in early August, Inline Design signed an agreement with Microseeds to market and distribute its products while Microseeds concentrates on development responsibilities.
InitPicker 3.0 has a major addition -- StartUp Picker -- which will automatically open up documents and applications at start-up time from a set defined by the user. The user can define several different sets to accommodate different needs.
The rest of the InitPicker function set should be familiar to current users of the program. A feature that's been requested rather frequently by network users has been implemented. This feature calls for the program to store Extensions and Control Panels on the network server and load them from there onto the Macintosh at start-up time. Other features added to the product include better log-in capabilities, better support for the various System 7 features, and the ability for line of icons displayed on the screen at start-up to wrap around the screen. Prior to this release when the number of icons exceeded what could be displayed on the screen the rest of the icons were simply not seen.
InitPicker 3.0 lists for $79.95 and is being shipped. Current users of the program can upgrade to the latest version for $25 which includes the shipping and handling charges. Those who have purchased the program since September 1 will receive the upgrade free of charge.
CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- Expert Software has begun shipping the third and final member of its Expert Design series of Macintosh programs -- Expert Office Design.
These moderately priced programs are designed to allow almost anyone who is comfortable with Macintosh drawing tools to sit down and design their own environments. The first two titles in the series were called Expert Home Design and Expert Landscape Design.
Expert Office Design shares the same philosophy and same look and feel as the other programs in the series. In fact, all three programs are essentially the same, with different libraries of objects as the main difference. The program lets you place any of the objects from the library anywhere on a drawing in any orientation that a user wishes. One can also resize the various objects and import or draw one's own graphics in case of special needs.
The library contains the outlines of over 100 different items that are commonly found in offices: desks, chairs, filing cabinets conference tables, computers, copiers, fax machines, and electrical symbols. Data can be organized in layers so that presentations can be devised in order to illustrate why certain configurations were chosen. The user has 256 colors and many fill patterns to distinguish between various devices and to display complete measurements of all the items.
Expert Office Design is shipping now. The complete series retails for $49.95 per title.
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- Commerce Business Daily, the bible for companies wanting to do business with the federal government, is now available through the Air Force Small Business Bulletin Board on GEnie. The public domain ZIPped ASCII file can be downloaded and read or redistributed.
Commerce Business Daily is published by the Government Printing Office at a cost of about $260 per year when delivered by mail but many small businesses or just plain taxpayers who would be reluctant to shell out that much money would, nevertheless, like an occasional copy to see what is happening in government purchasing.
The Commerce Business Daily publishes, for the benefit of federal agencies, synopses of proposed contract actions that exceed $25,000 in value. Businesses large and small look to the CBD for potential jobs.
The first issue of each week contains important user information but the AFSB3 also offers other useful data for those who wish to sell their products to the federal government, the largest single purchaser of goods and services in the world.
CBD listings explain in relatively non-technical terms just what the proposed contract involves, who is offering to buy the goods or services, and when and where to submit bids on the contract.
Selling to the government isn't easy, but having the CBD readily available online should take some of the mystery out of the process even for those who just want to see how their money is being spent.
Each daily issue is ZIPped (compressed), but will still take about a half hour to download at 1200 baud - for instance, the October 17 issue was 194 kilobytes even in compressed form and expanded to more than a half-megabyte in ASCII text format.
CBD is available every evening in Library 7 of the AFSB3 RoundTable.
(John McCormick/19921028/)
3 RoundTable.
(John McCormick/19921028/)
10/28/92
Commerce Business Daily Available On GEnie
Cox Enterprises To Start 511 Ser
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- Florida gave Cox Enterprises' Palm Beach Post newspaper an experimental license to start offering information services on the number "511." In the US, local directory assistance is reached by dialing "411," emergency services and police agencies are reached at "911."
Cox has been trying for years to gain access to the three-digit numbers, called "N11" numbers in the trade, in all the 12 markets where it has newspapers. The Palm Beach Post already employs computers, software, and telephone equipment to offer information services on a 7-digit number -- things like sports scores, stock quotes, political speeches, and weather reports -- and it plans to expand the offerings and add fax services to the mix.
The experimental license represents the first commercial use of a three-digit phone number, and puts pressure on other states to offer the same access to their local newspapers. Under a deal with Florida regulators, and the tacit approval of the Federal Communications Commission, Cox Enterprises will pay Southern Bell $25,000 to get its service up and running, plus 10 cents for every call up to five minutes long, and 2 cents a minute after that. In exchange Southern Bell will handle billing on the calls.
While the license is for just two years, Cox vice president James McKnight emphasized he does not consider the system an experiment, but a viable business.
Since there are a very limited number of "N11" numbers available in each local calling area, the method for giving them out is certain to become controversial. BellSouth wants to offer the numbers by lottery, the way some cellular licenses were offered in the early 1980s. Cox Enterprises wants a "first-come, first served" system which would guarantee it licenses.
McKnight discussed the system with Newsbytes. He said that Cox has asked for the same number, 511, in every market where it does business, adding that you can't reach the number from outside the local calling zone. "This just covers the local dialing radius of Palm Beach. It doesn't cover a full area code. Dialing 407-511 won't work" from outside the calling area. "It works just like local directory assistance -- you can only reach it locally."
McKnight also discussed the services his company will provide on the number. "Voice services come first. Then we'll probably add some fax on demand services, and eventually it will migrate to some form of videotex. We intend to add quite a bit more especially fax on demand."
While the phone company will handle billing for the system McKnight said, "We have to implement all the customer premise equipment, both in terms of audiotex and fax. We also have to design the information itself and determine its sources, then update it." The idea is to turn the company's newspapers into "local information resources" which reach consumers however they want to be reached.
He added that Cox doesn't see this as similar to the notorious "900" exchange. Callers probably will be charged just 25 to 50 cents a call. "We want it to be a flat-rate call to the consumer, not like this 900-stuff where you get a bill for $25 and you don't know how or why."
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921028/Press Contact: Linda Stewart, Cox Enterprises, 404-843-5123)
tewart, Cox Enterprises, 404-843-5123)
10/28/92
Cox Enterprises To Start 511 Service
TELECOM
Franklin Offers Personal Digital
MOUNT HOLLY, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- Franklin Electronic Publishers has begun shipping what it calls the world's first personal digital assistant, called the Digital Book System. By year-end, more than 10,000 retail outlets, including Radio Shack and Sharper Image, will carry the DBS-1 at a retail price of $199, the company said.
Mike Strange, the company's executive vice president, discussed the new product with Newsbytes. The system's main chip, the 65816, is made by "Ricoh and Sanyo, among others. We source from several companies. They're all pin-compatible." Strange confirmed that the device has a proprietary operating system and its plug in cards do not follow the PCMCIA standard. "They're totally different from PCMCIA. They're Franklin Digital book cards. They're slightly thicker than a matchbook. They're unique to Franklin."
While the new system is a stand-alone system into which databases can be plugged-in through the cards, Strange said a second version in mid-1993 will have a serial port for connections to other equipment. "That will give you full connectivity to other host systems. You'll be able to communicate with a modem card. We're going after developers, with a developers kit at Comdex, so a professional developer can get, for $500, everything he needs to create applications" under the system.
Strange also defended the company's design decisions. "It's totally incompatible with everything else, by design. Two PCMCIA cards stacked on one another are the size of a single digital book" in the Franklin system. "We couldn't reach our price points with those architectures -- they're too large and costly. We can with our cards, put 10 megabytes on each card, and any mix of applications on those cards."
The initial DBS retail package will include two digital books Merriam-Webster's Dictionary Plus dictionary and thesaurus, which has over 274,000 definitions and 496,000 synonyms, and Word Games, which plays 10 challenging word games. Also immediately available is the Video Companion, a guide to 7,000 movies available on videotape, and The Medical Letter Handbook of Adverse Drug Interactions. The company hopes to add another 50 titles over the next 12 months, at prices ranging from $29 to $129.
The DBS-1 weighs 4.6 ounces, roughly .2 kg., and is about the shape of an index card. Using Franklin's data compression technology, the DBS-1 can store up to 90 MB of information in two removable, interactive "Digital Books." The DBS-1 measures 3 x 5 x 1/2 inches, or 8 cm by 13 cm by 2 cm, and is powered by lithium batteries. The company says the DBS-1 will operate up to one year of normal use on those batteries, which can be replaced. Data is viewed on a 5-line LCD flat screen, which can handle variable fonts and graphics. In addition, up to 60 lines of text can be entered into the DBS-1's built-in notepad, which is independent of the installed books.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921028/Press Contact: Franklin Electronic Publishers, Mindy Fendrick, 609/261-4800)
ic Publishers, Mindy Fendrick, 609/261-4800)
10/28/92
Franklin Offers Personal Digital Assistant
TRENDS
Bush For President? Yes, Accordi
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- The American Electronics Association has conducted a second poll of chief executive officers of electronics companies to learn who they would prefer to see as the next president of the United States. According to the results, it looks like they expect to be disappointed because, while more favor George Bush's re-election, a substantial majority expect Bill Clinton to be the actual winner.
The latest poll was held very recently and the AEA has supplied the results of both that poll and the one the association held back in May. Of the 505 responses to mid-October's poll, 40 percent of the executives favored President Bush, 33 percent replied that they wanted Ross Perot to become the next president, and Governor Clinton garnered the support of only 23 percent.
As poor as Clinton's support was in the recent poll, things were much worse a few months back.
In the poll taken five months ago Perot had a big lead with 55 percent of the votes, Bush came in a poor second with 29 percent and Bill Clinton had the support of a meager 4 percent of the executives.
The question to which the CEOs were responding was, "Who is your choice for President?"
The answer to a second question, "Who do you think will be elected?," which was added in the October survey, indicated that despite their personal choices, 72 percent of the surveyed CEOs believe that Clinton is the one who actually will be elected. Only 19 percent think that George Bush will be reelected, and a bare 7 percent think that Perot will win.
(John McCormick/19921028/Press Contact: John Hatch, AEA, 408-987 4232)
k/19921028/Press Contact: John Hatch, AEA, 408-987 4232)
10/28/92
Bush For President? Yes, According to Electronics CEOs
GENERAL
Ziff Forms Ziff Institute
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- The Ziff Technology Group has completed the purchase of Boston, Massachusetts-based Weingarten Publications, a company which sponsors a number of conferences, including the Synergy computer training conference.
To accommodate Weingarten and the recently acquired Masie Institute Computer Training and Support Conference, Ziff has formed a new company named the Ziff Institute.
The head of the new Ziff Institute is Elliott Masie, founder of the Masie Institute.
Some former Ziff insiders told this bureau about a year ago that many trade shows were run so badly that they were surprised that Ziff hadn't decided to go head-to-head with them. Apparently they now plan to do just that, at least on a limited basis.
Other Ziff divisions that specialize in training or support include: The Help Desk Institute, The Cobb Group, and Ziff Information Services.
Ziff-Davis Publishing produces Computer Shopper, PC Magazine, PC Week, PC Sources, MacUser and MacWeek.
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- ACC Long Distance has increased its Canadian customer base for the second time in less than a month. The Rochester, New York, company has purchased long-distance customers from a wholly owned subsidiary of ISM Information Systems Management.
ISM, a computer systems integrator and service bureau, took over service to customers of National Telecom, a Canadian long-distance reseller, when that firm failed earlier this year. Ray Lancashire, a spokesman for ISM, explained that ISM was renting network facilities from his company, and ISM took over the failed resellers customers "to make sure that those customers continued to receive service."
ISM is not in the retail long-distance business and thus wanted to turn the operation over to someone else, he said.
More than 5,000 customers in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia are affected. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
About a week earlier, ACC acquired One Plus Long Distance, a Toronto-based reseller. Earlier in the year, the company took over Network Optimizers, another Canadian reseller.
After the latest acquisition, ACC expects its annual revenues from Canadian business to exceed $85 million, from a customer base of more than 10,000.
Long-distance resellers lease communications capacity from the major carriers and use their own switching equipment to offer long-distance services. ACC currently has switches in Montreal and Toronto, and has just opened an office in Vancouver, said Francis Coleman, secretary and corporate counsel at ACC.
ACC Corp., the holding company for ACC Long Distance, has just recently launched a long-distance resale operation in the United Kingdom, he added.
(Grant Buckler/19921028/Press Contact: Tom Davis, ACC Long Distance, 416-236-3636; Ray Lancashire, ISM, 416-651-6301)
416-236-3636; Ray Lancashire, ISM, 416-651-6301)
10/28/92
ACC Long Distance Takes Over Customers From ISM
TELECOM
Corel, Always In SCSI Bundling D
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- Corel's CorelSCSI software will be bundled with Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) host adapters from Always Technology of Westlake Village California, under a deal just announced by the two companies.
Always will sell the adapters complete with the Corel software, a Corel spokeswoman said.
Always offers two 16-bit SCSI host adapters and has a 32-bit adapter scheduled for release early in 1993. Used with one of these adapters, Corel said, the CorelSCSI software allows connection of as many as seven SCSI peripherals to one adapter.
Supported peripherals include fixed and removable hard disk drives CD-ROM drives, Floptical drives, digital audio tape (DAT) drives QIC tape drives, write-once read-many (WORM) optical disk drives rewritable optical drives, multi-function optical drives, and optical disk jukeboxes, Corel said.
Always currently sells the IN-2000Pro, a 16-bit SCSI adapter that fits the AT bus (Industry Standard Architecture or ISA) and offers data transfer rates of five megabytes per second, and the AL-1000Pro, a parallel-port SCSI adapter for laptop and notebook computers. In early 1993, the company is due to release the AL-6200Pro, a 32-bit adapter for the Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, which will offer as much as 32 megabytes of caching and transfer rates up to 33.3 megabytes per second.
Suggested list prices for the adapters with CorelSCSI, in U.S. dollars, are: $299 for the IN-2000Pro, $249 for the AL-1000Pro, and $995 for the AL-6200Pro.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- Move over IBM: Apple Computer is gaining and will probably sell more personal computers than the industry's largest company this year. That's the projection from Kimball Brown, an industry analyst in the California office of International Data Corp., a Framingham Massachusetts, research firm.
According to Brown, Apple is having a good year in 1992 because it finally announced products based on Motorola's top-of-the-line 68040 processor, and IBM is having a poor year. He said Apple shipped more personal computers than IBM in the second quarter of this year, and widened the gap in the third quarter. IBM's personal computer shipments have been shrinking for the past six months, he added.
Technology that was once at the top of Apple's product line has found its way to the entry level, Brown told Newsbytes, making the Macintosh line very attractive. The company's new Performa computers are also likely to help Apple's sales by opening up new channels of distribution, he added.
IBM's blitz of new products in September and early October will help the company, Brown said. IBM launched new PS/1 and PS/2 models, followed by several portable machines under the ThinkPad name and a new low-priced personal computer line called PS/ValuePoint. This will help IBM regain its momentum, Brown said but the company has "dug themselves a big enough hole so far this year that I don't think they'll catch back up this year."
While not confirming Brown's figures, IBM spokesman Chris Clough did not dispute them. "Certainly industry-wide there has been a tremendous shift" in 1992, he said, describing the year as "a transition period as the entire industry moves into a branding strategy where there will be specific brands addressing different market segments."
Clough also said IBM does not expect to see the full effect of its new products on sales until year-end.
Next year, though, is another matter. Clough said the new products should "hit full stride" going into 1993. Brown agreed, saying a boost from IBM's new products means the company "might well" pull ahead of Apple in unit sales next year.
Brown's projections refer only to personal computers. IBM's unit shipments of all computers, including mainframes, minicomputers and workstations, still exceed Apple's.
Apple Likely To Outsell IBM In PCs This Year: Analyst
TRENDS
Videoconferencing: Compression L
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- Compression Labs added AT&T Tridom to its list of value-added resellers for its SpectrumSaver compressed digital video satellite broadcast television system. Tridom is a data broadcasting service, using satellites, which AT&T purchased a few years ago.
Tridom has its own large high-power satellite dish northwest of Atlanta, but customers can pick up its broadcasts using very small aperture terminals, or VSATs, which are only a few feet in diameter.
Perhaps more important, CLI announced that AT&T Tridom has selected the CLI SpectrumSaver system for use in its Skynet Global Video Service. This is a service which broadcasts one-way video over satellites and provides two-way audio capabilities for conferencing. The new service will provide high-quality full-motion video for business television, distance learning and government applications.
Skynet is designed to offer VHS picture quality and near-CD audio quality at a low cost, using VSAT antennas that until now were mainly used for transmitting data. SpectrumSaver was introduced in November, 1991, and compresses a full-motion US-standard television signal so it can be transmitted via satellite in a fraction of the bandwidth usually required.
Compression Labs also won a $2.7 million order from Westcott Communications, the world's largest business television programmer, for SpectrumSaver. The system's encoders and receiver/decoders will be installed in Westcott's Health and Sciences Television Network and Law Enforcement Television Network. This will convert both networks to digital transmission saving Westcott money, and Westcott expects to convert its other vertical-market, private television networks to SpectrumSaver in the future. Westcott said that with SpectrumSaver, his company can transmit five programs on the same transponder which previously handled just one. Like AT&T Tridom, Westcott was named a SpectrumSaver value-added reseller.
Separately CLI's arch-rival in this business, PictureTel announced it will use the Canon RE-650 Video Visualizer in its videoconferencing systems. The visualizer can display images of 3-dimensional objects and documents on a monitor, either on the full screen or inset with a picture. The system will help companies using the PictureTel videoconferencing system communicate more effectively, the company said.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921028/Press Contact: Ron Taylor, PictureTel 508-762-5178; Compression Labs Mia Bradway, 408/428-6735)
5178; Compression Labs Mia Bradway, 408/428-6735)
10/28/92
Videoconferencing: Compression Labs Makes Moves
TELECOM
Aldus 3Q Revenues Up, Earnings D
Borland Bundles Training Video W
UK: Olivetti PG400 Laser Printer
Japanese Firm Gets New US Govt P
Ford Working On Satellite-Based
CORRECTION: Australian Electroni
Legion Of Doom Connex With 911 A
MacWorld Australia Set For Novem
Pyramid Intros MIServer ES Serve
Australia: Microsoft Offers Bull
Dot Matrix Printer For Window Us
New For PC: Microsoft Multimedia
Old Nokia Cellular Goes To Uzbek
New Product: Nview Adds To Proje
loses Circuit Board
Dow Jones Makes New Moves In Bro
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- Dow Jones has made two moves aimed at competing more strongly with Reuters Knight-Ridder, and Quotron for the information needs of stock brokers and money managers.
The most important move is an increase in equity in Minex, a Japanese-backed foreign exchange transaction system, from two percent to seven percent. Minex is designed to compete with Reuters' Trading 2000 system, which has already been released. Originally, Dow Jones planned to develop its own system for foreign exchange trading, but decided last November to buy into the Minex consortium, which includes major Japanese banks and brokerages and was announced in 1991. The company plans to go live with its system next April, and Dow Jones/Telerate is the exclusive distributor of the trade matching service outside of Japan. Minex' principal shareholders include the KDD telecommunications company and Tokyo Forex, the nation's largest foreign exchange broker.
Second, the company announced a new release, version 3.2 of its Telerate Matrix system. This is a full color, PC-based service provides investors and traders with the ability to create composite pages, chart financial instruments, and perform analytics on live market data. The company's Telerate unit is adding more market coverage with easier access to itemized data new composite page displays, a range of data utilities and an optional analytics module designed for fixed income professionals, as well as more interactive analysis of live market data.
The system can also be used to analyze trades in US government bonds Japanese government bonds, mortgage-backed securities, foreign exchange, and money, futures and options markets. This is the second upgrade to Matrix made in the last year. Telerate executives credited the work of SpectraSoft, which is its partner in development.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921028/Press Contact: Dow Jones, Roger May 212/416-2601l Dow Jones/Telerate, Lisa Glover, 201/309-4606)
Dow Jones/Telerate, Lisa Glover, 201/309-4606)
10/28/92
Dow Jones Makes New Moves In Brokerage Market
TELECOM
8 b F
AT&T Unveils New Products, Hit W
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- AT&T was sued by Grupo Sistemas Integrales de Telecomunicacion, S.A. de C.V. of Mexico, known as Grupo SIT. Harris Corporation is the co defendant in a suit for over $490 million in damages, including $75 million in punitive damages, filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The suit charges that AT&T and Harris fraudulently induced Grupo SIT to purchase telecommunications equipment, which was known to be obsolete, defective and unsuitable, for use in a shared satellite communication system in Mexico and then purposefully refused to support the project or to interconnect with AT&T's Skynet satellite network.
The allegation continues that Harris used Grupo SIT's resulting financial difficulties to force the Mexican companies to place one of its executives into a position where he could use confidential information to establish a competing Harris subsidiary to sell digital switchboards in Mexico, destroying Grupo SIT's switchboard business.
Both defendants deny the charges, but businessmen who are wary of the proposed North American Free Trade Agreement may follow its progress closely. The plaintiffs suggest that if they lose the suit, the government should not approve the NAFTA agreement.
Separately, AT&T made a number of moves aimed at increasing its market share. The company bought Cincinnati Bell Telephone's residential equipment-leasing business and PhoneCenter stores in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. CBT customers will still be able to exchange equipment, drop off bill payments, talk with the CBT business office people, and pick up CBT telephone directories at the locations. About 100 people are impacted by the move.
AT&T's Network Systems business unit also joined with Frame Relay Technologies and Data General in a marketing alliance to sell systems based on Frame Relay technology, which can integrate SNA X.25, LAN, synchronous and asynchronous traffic over the same network. Frame Relay offers faster data transfer rates than the older X.25 standard most computer owners use to link with networks like GEIS, by putting all error correction into large "frames." AT&T and Frame Relay will provide equipment, while Data General will be general contractor, under the agreement.
AT&T's NCR unit announced a Simple Network Management Protocol-based network manager for AT&T's InterSpan Frame Relay Service. The NCR StarSENTRY Frame Relay Data Manager is a software application that runs on NCR's StarSENTRY Systems Manager, the company's enterprise network and systems management solution. The application will be available in November. It works with AT&T's InterSpan commercial Frame Relay service.
AT&T won a contract to upgrade Northwest Airlines' communications network. The system is designed to double the call-handling capacity of the airline's agents. Northwest has an agreement to sell some of its equity to KLM of Holland, in order to make it competitive with the three largest US carriers: Delta American, and United. Presidential candidate H. Ross Perot has attacked that deal, claiming US government policy is selling out the industry to foreigners.
Finally, AT&T connected one of its large phone switches to Kazakhstan, a formerly Soviet republic, as part of a move to improve that nation's telephone infrastructure, and it had no comment on market reports that it might acquire a major stake in McCaw Cellular Communications, a major player in the cellular phone market. The rumors on McCaw are focused on the company's $5 billion debt. British Telecom already owns 20 percent of McCaw.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921028/Press Contact: Doug Miller, Northwest Airlines, 612-726-2331; Jim Grossman, for Grupo SIT, 212-489 6900; NCR, Mark Feighery, 513/445-5236; AT&T, Kathy Coulahan 201/581-4037; Cincinnati Bell, Kyle Hill, 513/397-1240l Data General, Pat Diamond, 714/724-3990)
13/397-1240l Data General, Pat Diamond, 714/724-3990)
10/28/92
AT&T Unveils New Products, Hit With Mexican Lawsuit
TELECOM
America Online Reports Another S
VIENNA, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- America Online had another strong quarter, and said it now has over 200,000 members.
Revenues jumped to $7.768 million from $5.878 million a year ago, while operating income also rose, to $696,000, from $542,000 a year ago. The news is significant since the largest company in the field, the IBM-Sears joint venture Prodigy, says it is still not profitable after years of business and growth.
The company also announced that more than 200,000 households are now subscribing to the services, up 40 percent increase from approximately 143,000 households at this time last year. The company also crowed about favorable press coverage in "The Wall Street Journal" and "Business Week."
The company was founded in 1985, and for years ran networks primarily for owners of Apple, Commodore, and Tandy computers. The icon-based interface it created for those networks was then applied to a unified network under the America Online logo, and the company now has a joint-venture agreement with the Chicago Tribune under which it is establishing companion networks in Tribune cities under names like "Chicago Online." The company's stock is publicly traded.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921028/Press Contact: Lennert J. Leader America Online, 703-448-8700)
Lennert J. Leader America Online, 703-448-8700)
10/28/92
America Online Reports Another Strong Quarter
TELECOM
IBM, Marcam Announce Alliance
N NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- IBM and manufacturing software vendor Marcam have announced plans to form an alliance to develop, market, and support software for manufacturing companies. Under an agreement in principle just signed, Marcam would acquire worldwide marketing rights to IBM's Manufacturing, Accounting, Production, and Information Control System (MAPICS). Marcam and IBM would market MAPICS jointly along with Marcam's PRISM products.
The deal would give IBM 1,615,000 shares of Marcam common stock which is 16 percent of the company, Marcam spokesman John Cingari said. IBM may receive additional payments from Marcam based on the future success of MAPICS.
IBM and Marcam also plan to work together to form a new organization in Atlanta that would provide MAPICS development and support to Marcam for a fee. This would be a subsidiary of IBM's industrial sector division, managed by Marcam, Cingari said. IBM would make available its MAPICS expertise to the new organization.
In a press release, Edward J. Kfoury, vice-president of IBM and president of the company's industrial sector division, said the deal would "provide manufacturing companies with an expanded MAPICS organization, broader product enhancements, and continued strong product support."
MAPICS is an integrated manufacturing system for production planning, plant operations, marketing, distribution, financial management, and business control. Marcam's PRISM line provides process manufacturers with functions for production, logistics maintenance, and financial operations.
Marcam also announced its financial results for the quarter and year ended September 30. Fiscal 1992 revenue rose 42 percent to $80.3 million from $56.5 million in fiscal 1991. Net income grew 61 percent to $8.6 million or $1.02 per share from $5.3 million or 64 cents per share in fiscal 1991.
Fourth-quarter revenue rose 66 percent to $26.1 million from $15.7 million a year ago. Net income was up 62 percent to $3.1 million or 36 cents per share, from $1.9 million, or 23 cents per share, a year earlier.
Founded in 1980, Marcam has 21 offices in North America, Europe the Far East, and Latin America, and is represented in more than 30 countries.
(Grant Buckler/19921028/Press Contact: John Cingari, Marcam 617-965-0220; Elizabeth L. Arends, IBM, 914-642-5459)
h L. Arends, IBM, 914-642-5459)
10/28/92
IBM, Marcam Announce Alliance
BUSINESS
Microsoft Rolls Out Windows For
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- More than 5,000 end users, software developers and members of the press watched Microsoft roll out its Windows For Workgroups program yesterday afternoon. The show, held in New York City's Gershwin Theater, was more like a Broadway show than a computer software demonstration. The event cost about $1 million to produce.
The show was even broadcast live to an estimated 40,000 industry editors and analysts at 16 downlink sites across the country on the Interactive Information Networks. Microsoft founder and CEO Bill Gates hosted the live broadcast and even acted in the extravaganza.
Several companies, including Zenith Data Systems, Austin Computer Systems, and DFI, have already said they will bundle WFW with their PCs. Zenith said it will install WFW as standard feature on all 25 megahertz (MHz) through 66 MHz 386 and 486DX2 desktop systems, as well as on its 20 MHz and 25 MHz 386SL A-Notes portables. DFI will include the system as an option on its Premium Series PCs, which are scheduled to start shipping later this quarter. Austin Computer Systems says it will pre-install WFW on all its 386 and 486-based systems. As reported previously by Newsbytes, Australian PC maker Osborne Computers said it has also signed an agreement with Microsoft to install WFW on its machines.
Windows For Workgroups is a type of networking software which includes file sharing, electronic mail, scheduling, calendaring, and can connect to other networks such as Netware, LAN Manager, and Lanserver. A Microsoft spokesperson told Newsbytes last month that Windows users will be able to upgrade to WFW without having to buy a complete version of the workgroup software. The program also includes dynamic data exchange (DDE) allowing users to link objects across the network.
Microsoft Windows product manager, Joe Krawczak, told Newsbytes that WFW is not positioned to compete with products such as Netware, but rather to compliment them. "Its a great compliment to Netware; it does not replace Netware," he said.
Microsoft said WFW is immediately available in seven languages, with four more being added by the end of the year. According to Microsoft, at least 40 major computer makers will pre-install WFW and more than 100 software and hardware vendors are working on or already have products compatible with the program. Many DOS and Windows-compatible applications will also run under WFW.
According to Microsoft, set-up of WFW is simple, with "intelligent defaults" provided. Krawczak said the program offers an express and an expert installation procedure. Using the express process, the user doesn't have to worry about what settings to make or what cards are in use. "Just press Enter a few times," said Krawczak. He told Newsbytes the express installation takes just slightly longer than it takes to install Windows itself. A starter kit includes all the necessary software, network cards, and cables needed to connect two PCs together. That would be the most basic workgroup. Unlike networks where shared programs and files are stored on a server PC WFW connects PCs together with the data and programs stored on the PCs, with access by other WFW users.
Krawczak told Newsbytes WFW is extremely important to Microsoft's future. "It's a key first step in our strategy of information at your fingertips." System administrators may be the first ones to want to move to WFW. Krawczak said individual customers can install and maintain the program. "That was one of our major goals," he told Newsbytes. Gates predicted yesterday that WFW may eventually become the company's biggest seller. He thinks up to 70 percent of all PCs may be networked eventually. Gates said one million copies of WFW will be sold by hardware makers this month.
For users who already have a working network, software-only versions will be available. Upgrade prices for Windows users range from $99.95 to $849.95 depending on configuration. Krawczak said Windows users will feel right at home with WFW, since it looks nearly identical to Windows, except for a few minor differences such as a tool bar with buttons to perform such tasks like directory sharing or connecting to another workstation. Some additional options have also been added to the Windows Control Panel.
More than 20 third-party developers have already announced plans to introduce applications that will run under WFW. Like any operating system, specific applications are essential to the success of WFW. A Microsoft official said earlier this month that the company expects 30 to 40 percent of present Windows 3.1 users to move to WFW within as year. Other companies announcing support for WFW include Accton announcing Ethernet cards; tape backup support from Maynard Electronics; NCR, who will offer WFW on their PCs as an option; Action Plus; Banyan Systems; Teknekron, with financial applications; and AST, who will bundle WFW with two network-ready PCs.
System requirements include DOS 3.3 or higher, with version 5.0 recommended; an Intel 386SX or better PC; at least 3 MB of RAM, with Microsoft recommending 4 MB; and a mouse. You'll also need a high density floppy drive and a hard disk with 9.5 MB of available space for the program software, but Krawczak says 14.5 MB is "sort of the standard," ; a VGA or better monitor, with color recommended; and a Windows-compatible network adapter card and cabling.
Microsoft will now try to convince the buying public that WFW is better than all the other programs on the market that already do what Workgroups does. Other Microsoft product rollouts have touted the special features of the word processor, spreadsheet, or other aspects that existing products didn't have.
However, a source close to the company who asked not to be named told Newsbytes WFW is expected to be the trendsetter for groupware technology, and will be Microsoft's corporate outlook for the next 10 years. "They're betting the farm on this one," Newsbytes was told. Krawczak told Newsbytes WFW's big advantage is the fact that it integrates all its functions into one program.
(Jim Mallory/19921027/Press contact: Microsoft Public Relations 206-882-8080)
ct: Microsoft Public Relations 206-882-8080)
10/28/92
Microsoft Rolls Out Windows For Workgroups
TI Intros Four New 486-based Not
TEMPLE, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- Texas Instruments has introduced four new 486-based TravelMate notebook computers, with processor speed ranging from 25 megahertz (MHz) to 59 MHz.
Buyers will also have their choice of color or monochrome displays main memory from 2 megabytes (MB) to 20 MB, and hard disk drives from 60 MB to 200 MB. TI said prices will range from $1,999 to $4,499. Battery life is estimated to be 3-5 hours for the monochrome systems, and up to four hours for the color units.
TI says its TravelMate 4000 WinDX2 50MHz machine is the fastest lightest, and most powerful 486-based notebook computer available in a 5.6-pound, including the battery, package. In addition to 8MB of memory and a 200 MB hard drive, the 4000 also includes the Microsoft BallPoint with QuickPort connection that allows the pointing device to be snapped on and off, eliminating a mouse cable. The 4000 has a diagonally measured 10-inch VGA display with 64 gray scales, and will also support an external Super VGA color monitor. Dimensions are 8.5 inches by 11 inches by 1.8 inches. The Travelmate 4000 has a suggested retail price of $3,899.
The TravelMate WinsSLC is a 486SLC-powered 25 MHz system that, like the other new portables, will come with MS-DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1 pre-installed, as well as TI's TravelPoint pointing device. All of the new systems will also come bundled with various utilities including battery saving and a cursor control program. TI spokesperson told Newsbytes that Windows 3.1 will be optimized for each PC. The SLC system will carry a $1,999 price sticker.
TI's newest color portables are called the TravelMate 4000 WinDX2/40 and the WinSX/25. Users can choose the WinDX2 40 MHz model with 8 MB of memory and a 200 MB hard drive or the WinSX 25 MHz version with 4MB of RAM and a 120 MB hard drive. Both include the Microsoft BallPoint with QuickPort connections. The 25 MHz version has a price tag of $3,699 while the 40 MHz model carries a sticker reading $4,499.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- Zenith Data Systems announced yesterday that eight new models of its Z-Station desktop computers will be delivered with Microsoft Windows For Workgroups (WFW) pre-installed.
ZDS said the new systems will be powered by Intel's new 66-megahertz (MHz) 486DX/2 microprocessor, and will include built-in hardware and software to make them local area network (LAN) compatible.
"These new Z-Station desktop PCs are for people who need high levels of power in numerically intensive computing, such as advanced desktop publishing, engineering, or financial modeling," according to ZDS director of desktop computers, Mitchell Perlitch.
Other features include a 1.44 MB 3.5 inch floppy drive, which can be upgraded to a 2.88 MB drive when those become available. Prices start at $2,659 for a model 200 with a 200 MB hard drive and 4 MB of system memory ZDS says it expects to start shipping the new units in December.
(Jim Mallory/19921028/Press contact: John Bace, ZDS, 708-808-4848)
028/Press contact: John Bace, ZDS, 708-808-4848)
10/28/92
Zenith Data Systems New Desktops Come With WFW
Zenith Electronics Cuts Nearly 4
GLENVIEW, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- Zenith Electronics reporting a loss of $41.8 million, or $1.42 per share for the third quarter, said it would cut nearly 400 white collar jobs in the US. The 3Q results were considerably worse than analysts had expected. The company reported a loss of $15.2 million last quarter.
The company, the last US television maker, said it would also reduce its work force in Mexico, where many of its TV sets are manufactured. Zenith spokesperson John Taylor told Newsbytes that the company didn't have any specific numbers to discuss, but the reductions south of the border would be above the usual seasonal fluctuations that follow industry sales trends. "We'll have significant reductions resulting from increased efficiencies in manufacturing and streamlining of production," Taylor said. Zenith has manufacturing facilities in Matamoros, Reynosa, Juarez Chiahuahua, and Agua Prieta, Mexico.
The company said voluntary reductions started last week, and the forced cuts will begin in the fourth quarter. Employees will be offered severance packages, but the company said it doesn't plan to provide any outsourcing services.
Zenith attributed the high loss to a combination of its delay in matching industry-wide price cuts and to start-up costs at its assembly plants in Mexico. For the first nine months of the fiscal year the company has lost $85.6 million, or $2.92 per share compared to a $52.1 million loss for the first nine months last year. Nine month revenues are also down, at $821.4 million compared to $854.1 million last year. In the 91 third quarter the company reported a $1.5 million, or $0.05 per share loss. Zenith does not make projections about future quarters, Taylor told Newsbytes.
(Jim Mallory/19921028/Press contact: John Taylor, Zenith Electronics, 708-391-8181)
Taylor, Zenith Electronics, 708-391-8181)
10/28/92
Zenith Electronics Cuts Nearly 400 Jobs
BUSINESS
HP, AT&T Develop 100 Megabits/Se
BRACKNELL, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 28 (NB) -- Hewlett Packard and AT&T's Microelectronics division have announced the development of 100 megabits per second (Mbits/s) transmission technology over voice grade, unshielded twisted pair (UPT) cabling. Both companies claim this is a first in the industry.
Hewlett-Packard, which claims to be a major contributor to the IEEE 802.3 network standards committee, plans to propose that a study group be formed to examine the technology at the next meeting of the committee on 9 November. The meeting takes place in La Jolla, California.
Current technology, Newsbytes notes, requires that 100 Mbits networking use data grade UTP or shielded cabling. This, the company claims, requires the user to install new networking if such high speeds are to be achieved. Most low speed network users already have UTP cabling in place, so moving to the higher speed is relatively painless.
"Most business professionals today are interested in containing costs. The HP and AT&T approach makes more economic sense for users because they can leverage their investment in voice grade cable rather than incur the additional cost of installing new cabling," explained Mark Hollister, HP UK's network marketing manager.
"Many corporations with sizeable LAN investments are expected to save significantly as this technology becomes available. For example, as HP migrates to higher speed networks, we could save as much as $30 million by not having to recable our offices," he added.
All being well, and assuming that the IEEE 802.3 network standards group forms a study group to examine the technology how long before the computer industry sees real technology available in the market that supports 100 Mbits/s? Neither company is saying, though sources close to HP suggest that a summer 1993 timeframe is quite possible.
(Steve Gold/19921028/Press & Public Contact: Hewlett-Packard Tel: 0344-369222)
Press & Public Contact: Hewlett-Packard Tel: 0344-369222)
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Stac Electronics has announced that Stacker version 3.0, the latest edition of its transparent data compression/decompression utility for hard disks, installs from Windows or DOS and offers on-screen gauges to Windows users.
A new fast set-up option which extracts 10 percent more compression, a feature allowing compressed floppy disks to be read and written by computers without Stacker, password protection, and additional visual information in the optimization portion, have been added to the new version.
A new feature -- Stacker Anywhere -- is also featured in the product, company officials said.
Stac claims that, depending on the type of data a user has on his/her disk, as well as the type of hard disk used, Stacker can increase the amount of available disk space by as much as 50 percent, so doubling disk capacity. This is made possible by transparently compressing data written to or read from the drive as far as the user and any programs are concerned, the drive is a standard one.
The company also claims that due to the speed of its software algorithms, even the software-only version of Stacker will not degrade system performance significantly. Previously software-based data compression programs which ran "on the fly" have slowed down hard disk performance perceptibly.
Gary Clow, Stac's president, told Newsbytes at Comdex Fall 1990 that his ultimate aim was to achieve non-performance degrading software-based data compression. Stacker 3.0, judging from Newsbytes' early tests with the package, appears to have achieved this aim.
Interestingly, Stac now claims that users of Stacker 3.0 may even see an overall performance gain. It does this by offsetting the time taken to compress (and decompress) by the writer/verify time which is shorter due to the reduced amount of data recording on to the disk's surface.
Stac calls the set of Windows gauges "Stackometer" and says they show disk capacity, the compression ratio, and fragmentation levels for one or all drives. DOS users aren't completely left out as a DOS software tool offers drive statistics based on the ratios of different file types.
Express Setup, a new installation option, offers installation of the Stacker product with a minimum of interaction on the part of the user, the company said. A Custom Setup or advanced mode allows the user to tune the system, with an option for 10 percent greater compression.
The greater compression ratio might offer more space -- 40 megabytes (MB) on a 200 MB drive -- but it could cost some time in terms of system performance. Stac asserts users of faster computers might find the speed difference imperceptible.
Stacker Anywhere is a new feature which allows the compression of data on floppy disks which can be read and written to by another computer without Stacker. Stac says this is a step further than competing product Superstor 2.0 from Addstor whose similar feature only allows for the reading of compressed information by a computer without Superstor installed.
A password protection feature offers the choice of read only or read and write access to a Stacked drive, the company added. Larger drives are also supported -- up to 1 gigabyte (GB) as opposed to the 512 MB limit of the previous version, Stac added.
A visual representation of the defragmentation process has been added to the optimizer portion of the product. Defragmentation can be time consuming, so the company said it has added a quick defragmentation option to speed up the process.
When asked if Stacker would face difficulty with traditional database methods of pre-allocating a large portion of the drive, Joanne Rush of Stac said many of the database products have modernized and are now dynamically allocating disk space and the only exception she is aware of is Oracle. Regardless Stacker 2.0's better error checking solved a problem Stacker had with database data loss in version 1.0, Rush added.
As far as Windows and Stacker is concerned, Rush said Stacker disables and flushes the write-delay cache facilitated by the Windows Smartdrive device driver. This means no data is waiting to be written to the disk during critical times such as during an optimization of the drive or in the creation of another Stacker drive, Rush added. Also, Stacker works without a hitch with Windows 32-bit disk access, Rush maintains.
The company says the product works with hard disk drives floppies, Bernoulli disks, Syquest cartridges, Flopticals read/write optical drives, or any removable media on any personal computer (PC).
Stacker 2.0 is retail priced at $149, but a $49.95 upgrade will be available. However, the upgrade will only work on drives compressed with a previous version of Stacker, company representatives said. Those with a Stacker coprocessor card will find the new version works with it as well, Stacker representatives said.
Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, Stac Electronics is currently fighting with Santa Clara, California-based IIT in a suit Stac filed claiming the IIT co-processor card offered as an option for the Xtradrive disk compression product is a copy of its own coprocessor card.
Stac Electronics, tel 619-431-7474, fax 619-431-8080)
10/27/92
Stacker 3.0 For Windows/DOS Offers On-screen Gauges
Artisoft, NCR, Solectek Sign LAN
Dataquest Forecasts Multimedia G
Telecom Crime Pays for Equipment
In-Flight Scores Another Contrac
Lasermaster Sales Up, But Still
HP Sells Millions Worth Of Equip
UK: IBM Wins Air Traffic Control
Apple's Record Earnings, Despite
Australia: Comms Network Keeps T
UK: Mobile Data Interface For AS
New For PC: MoneyCounts Payroll
UK: Dataflex Signs Deal With AST
HP's New Color Printers Simultan
America Online Reports Another S
New PARTS Turns Existing Code In
New HP 600 DPI Lasers Cost Less,
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Hewlett Packard (HP) has announced a new generation of 600 dot-per-inch (dpi) laser printers, the HP Laserjet 4 and 4M series. The printers offer increased memory, are network ready, have Truetype fonts built-in, and come in configurations for mixed computing environments.
While the company's laser printers have become standard in the computer industry, HP claims it has aggressively priced this new series to be less expensive than its comparable HP Laserjet III 600 dpi series.
In addition, the company has been working with Microsoft, and under an agreement between the two companies, the Windows Truetype typefaces have been built into the new series printer eliminating time-consuming downloading and speeding the printing under Windows.
An HP bitronics parallel port capable of data transfer up to 10 times the speed of standard parallel ports, or an estimated 156 kilobytes per second, has been added to the Series 4.
The bitronics port also claims to provides bi-directional communication capabilities so printer status messages can be sent to users' computer screens when the printer needs servicing or additional paper or toner. The ability to change the printer settings is available to DOS users via a software utility the company includes with the printer called HP Explorer.
HP says the new printers have a newly designed 600 dpi engine rather than an upgraded version of the 300 dpi engine. The printers still use the company's Resolution Enhancement technology designed to smooth jagged edges for crisper images and text, the company said.
Network use of the printer is available via a modular interface slot to which users can add HP Jetdirect cards that support Novell Netware, IBM LAN (local area network) Server or Microsoft LAN Manager running on Ethernet or Token Ring; HP-UX, Sun OS and SCO Unix running on Ethernet; and an Appletalk Jetdirect card with Localtalk or Ethertalk connections.
The new HP 4M appears to be geared toward the Macintosh user with 6 megabytes (MB) of memory expandable to 22 MB. The printer also offers automatic language and interface switching for Macintosh and mixed computing environments, plus HP's own page description language HP PCL 5. The printer also comes with a HP Jetdirect Localtalk card installed.
Adobe Systems says that the 4M printer is the first from HP to incorporate its Postscript Level 2 page description language.
The HP LaserJet 4 comes standard with 2 megabytes of memory upgradable to 32 (MB) HP PCL 5, and replaces the HP LaserJet III printer.
An Intel 80960 KA-20 megahertz (MHz) reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processor is the intelligence inside the new 8-page-per-minute printers
The printers offer two trays, a multipurpose tray that holds 100 sheets or 10 envelopes and a 250-sheet letter-size tray. An output tray to which the printed documents arrive face down holds 250 sheets, HP added.
HP Series 4 users can expect to have to buy toner from HP. The new printers use microfine toner particles, which HP says are 20 percent to 30 percent smaller than particles used in typical laser printer toner. HP asserts that the microfine toner sharpens edges of text, improves photographic-quality of images, and results in less toner scatter.
The HP LaserJet 4 is retail priced at $2,199 -- that's $196 less than the HP LaserJet III printer. The HP LaserJet 4M with Postscript Level 2 is $2,999 and replaces the HP LaserJet III Postscript printer, which is $3,395. A Postscript Level 2 cartridge can be purchased for the HP 4 printer for an additional $499.
Jetdirect network cards range in price from $695 to $895 while HP Jetdirect Appletalk cards using Localtalk or Ethertalk connections are available for $275 and $695, respectively, the company said.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921027/Press Contact: Bill Hornung, Hewlett Packard, tel 619-592-4676, fax 619-487-1236; Linda Prosser Adobe Systems, tel 415-962-3840)
Linda Prosser Adobe Systems, tel 415-962-3840)
10/27/92
New HP 600 DPI Lasers Cost Less, Include More
GENERAL
Canada: Govt Breakthrough For Ps
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- The Psion Series 3 a British-made pocket-sized computer, is now being offered to Canadian government purchasers through the government's self-service stores.
Psion's Canadian distributor, Compulys Data of Montreal announced that Ottawa reseller SDS Sage Data Solutions is selling the device through the government stores along with a battery powered printer from Japanese manufacturer Citizen.
Though Compulys sells other products to the government, the Psion Series III has not made many inroads in the government market here to date, according to Patrick Taylor, vice-president of sales and marketing at Compulys. But Taylor said he expects the self service stores deal to mean a big increase in government sales for the little machine.
The Series 3 fits in a jacket pocket and comes with integrated software including database and time management, a word processor and an optional spreadsheet.
The unit will be sold in the government stores as part of a bundle with the Citizen PN-48 notebook printer, which weighs 2.5 pounds with battery and is 11.7 by 3.5 by two inches, Taylor said.
Compulys also announced that Psion's HC hand-held computer line has been given an international protection rating of IP64 by the International Electrotechnical Commission. The digits 64 indicate that the computers have maximum possible protection against intrusion by dust, and will withstand rain and being splashed with water. The 4 is the water-resistance rating, for which the highest possible rating is 8, meaning the unit can be submerged in water.
Compulys also appointed two new resellers. Horizon International of Montreal will distribute the full Psion product line in Quebec and the Maritime Provinces. A&L Electronics of Richmond, British Columbia, will sell the Series 3 palmtop and related products in British Columbia and Alberta.
(Grant Buckler/19921027/Press Contact: Patrick Taylor, Compulys 514-333-0609, fax 514-333-7063)
Canada: Govt Breakthrough For Psion Hand-held Unit
$349 Bundle Lets PC Users Try Pe
1992 Annual Convention Registrat
IBM Inaugurates US Open Systems
IBM Launches PS/ValuePoint Line
Canada: CGI Opens 3rd Connectivi
IBM Claims Full Employment Still
Cathay Pacific Moving IT From HK
Canadian Group Hooks Up W/ Brode
Japan: NTT Develops Motion Pictu
New Fax Boards, Services
Digital Commits To New X/Open Br
Corel, Always In SCSI Bundling D
PCMCIA Modems Ship
IBM Canada In Co-operative Proje
Zenith Data Systems New Desktops
Apple Changes Russian Distributo
Computervision Puts CADDS 5 On D
BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Computervision has announced that its CADDS 5 computer-aided engineering, design and manufacturing (CAE/CAD/CAM) software is now available for Digital Equipment's DECstation 5000 workstations.
The CADDS 5 for the DEC reduced instruction set computing (RISC) machines is the first new CADDS 5 version Computervision has released since announcing in the middle of 1991 that it planned to make the software available for a range of different platforms. The software already runs on Sun Microsystems workstations, and the company has said it plans a version for Hewlett-Packard workstations by early in 1993.
Running under DEC's Ultrix version of Unix, the new CADDS 5 release has essentially the same capabilities as the Sun version, according to company spokeswoman Sharon Israel. However, it uses new graphics technology, the HOOPS Graphics Development System from Ithaca Software. It is also the first version of CADDS 5 to be based on the X Window windows management system.
According to Computervision, HOOPS gives software application developers a standards-based, common graphics interface to all major workstation and personal computer platforms, thus making it easier to port software to different machines.
CADDS 5 offers a series of modules called CVware, each dealing with a specific product development or management task, Computervision said. The modules are priced from $1,495 per individual network license.
(Grant Buckler/19921027/Press Contact: Sharon Israel Computervision, 617-275-1800 ext. 5907)
ael Computervision, 617-275-1800 ext. 5907)
10/27/92
Computervision Puts CADDS 5 On DECstation
IBM May Match Microsoft Workgrou
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- IBM is working on enhancements to OS/2 2.0 that would compete with the capabilities of Windows for Workgroups, which Microsoft is to announce today, and the portability of the Windows NT operating system, which is now expected to reach the market some time in the first half of 1993, Newsbytes sources said.
A source with knowledge of IBM's OS/2 development activities said that work is under way on improved work-group computing and peer to-peer networking capabilities for OS/2.
The source also said IBM will demonstrate at Comdex/Fall in Las Vegas in November a microkernel like that to be used in Windows NT running with both OS/2 and AIX (IBM's variant of Unix) "personality modules" on a multiprocessing machine. This technology, based on Carnegie-Mellon University's Mach 3 kernel, would allow OS/2 to run on a variety of hardware rather than just machines based on Intel and compatible microprocessors, Newsbytes was told.
When it appears, Windows NT is to run on Intel systems and on computers using MIPS Computer and Digital Equipment Alpha reduced instruction set computing (RISC) chips.
An IBM spokesman declined to comment on the reports.
Meanwhile, analyst Kimball Brown of International Data Corp. said that Microsoft's delay in delivering Windows NT, which originally was to ship this fall, will help OS/2. "NT is going to be a great success when it does ship," he said, but "OS/2's here, and when NT will be here is a big question mark."
(Grant Buckler/19921027)
is a big question mark."
(Grant Buckler/19921027)
10/27/92
IBM May Match Microsoft Workgroup, Portability Moves
UK: Mercury To Open 2nd Customer
WYTHENSHAWE, MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Mercury Communications has announced plans to open its second customer assistance center. The new center will be based in Wythenshawe Manchester and will create up to 1,000 new jobs -- 600 of them in actual customer telephone service -- by the mid-1990s.
The new center, with a 110,000-square-foot floor area, is based in Concord Business Park, Simonsway in Wythenshawe. Plans are already in hand to have around 200 people, mostly drawn from the local area, to be in place when the center goes live during the first half of next year.
According to Rod Attwooll, Mercury's managing director, the new center will augment the company's existing customer service center in Birmingham. The new center will help Mercury service its quarter of million existing customers, a figure that is expanding every month.
"To support this growth and reach out target of two million customers during the decade, we must provide world class customer service. Manchester has been able to meet our requirements and I am delighted that we are able to contribute to the economy of the city in this way," he said.
Mercury's customer assistance center handles new customer registrations, customer enquiries and directory assistance plus operator services.
(Steve Gold/19921027/Press & Public Contact: Mercury Communications - Tel: 071-528-2000)
UK: Mercury To Open 2nd Customer Assistance Center
TELECOM
UK: Mercury Happy Hour Calls To
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- From now until November 20 if you make a phone call using Mercury's network between 6 and 8pm in the UK, you'll get the call at half the normal rate.
The idea of the happy hour promotion, as Mercury calls it, is to stimulate extra business in the gap between the time when business calls start to run down and the time when the cheap rates for international calls start (8pm) on weekdays. The happy hour promo does not apply to Saturdays or Sundays.
The promotion follows hard on the heels of Mercury's first promo of this type, with a happy hour period for calls to Australia. This promo, which was launched in June and finished just recently, proved to be very successful, officials with Mercury said. Further happy hours promos are planned for the future.
The happy hour promo extends to all calls from residential subscribers routed over the Mercury indirect (2300 service) networks, as well as calls placed using Mercury payphones. Further details of the happy hour promotion are available from mercury's customer assistance center which can be called toll free on 0500-500-194.
The special offer, according to Newsbytes' calculations, means that a ten-minute call to France or Germany will cost as little as UKP 1-65.
(Steve Gold/19921027/Press & Public Contact: mercury Communications - Tel: 071-528-2000)
c Contact: mercury Communications - Tel: 071-528-2000)
10/27/92
UK: Mercury Happy Hour Calls To France And Germany
TELECOM
Europe's Openforum '92 Details
UTRETCH, THE NETHERLANDS, 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Organizers of Openforum '92, the open systems event scheduled for November 23/27 in Utrecht, have released final details of the event schedule.
According to the organizers, every aspect of open systems, from business strategy to programming and standards, will be covered at the event. More than 100 speakers from 17 countries on both sides of the Atlantic and other parts of the world will give what the organizers -- the Openforum '92 Secretariat -- claim will be "a multi-faceted perspective on the present and future of open systems."
Tutorials planned for the event range from "an introduction to open systems for business managers" to "how to program Unix device drivers." User and expert panels will be debating "the protection of investments" and "distributed file system," as well as issuing papers covering topics such as "microkernel performance evaluation" and "downsizing for competitive advantage."
Announcing the event details, Dr Michel Carpentier, the director general of the European Commission, said that he "welcomes and supports the Openforum Conference as a major user-led contribution to the development and spread of open systems."
Openforum is sponsored by Europen and Uniforum, two of the computer industry's major open systems users' associations.
Full details of the Openforum '92 event, including a brochure and program information, are available free of charge from the organizers.
(Steve Gold/19921027/Press & Public Contact: The Openforum '92 Secretariat - Tel: +31-30-955-466; Fax: +31-30-955-539)
30-955-466; Fax: +31-30-955-539)
10/27/92
Europe's Openforum '92 Details
Maynard's Round-the-Clock Suppor
LAKE MARY, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Maynard Electronics has joined a small but growing list of computer industry companies that offer around the clock, seven-day-a-week technical support.
Maynard's "24 X 7" Support Plus program offers customers access to technical support in addition to its free electronic bulletin board for an annual fee of $995.
"We introduced the Support Plus program in response to customer requests for a new standard of support," explained Carl McKinley Maynard's director of customer service.
Maynard Electronics markets computer backup systems including cassette, cartridge, minicartridge, 4mm DAT, and 8mm tape drives for IBM-compatible, PS/2, RISC, DEC, Next, Sun and Apple Macintosh computer systems.
The "any time, any day" service should be welcome to businesses that perform back-up functions during non-business hours or on weekends. Maynard says a trained technical representative will return a call for help within 30 minutes. The service is also available to other Maynard equipment users who are not annual subscribers, on a $75 per call fee billable to a major credit card.
Other Maynard support includes remote diagnostics, on-site support extended warranties, and 48-hour turnaround on product service and same-day replacement for products installed in the continental US.
(Jim Mallory/19921027/Press contact: Anne Lardner,Maynard Electronics, 407-263-3500 or 800-821-8782, fax 407-263-3555)
or 800-821-8782, fax 407-263-3555)
10/27/92
Maynard's Round-the-Clock Support
GENERAL
New For PC: PC-Kwik Power Pak, S
BEAVERTON, OREGON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- PC-Kwik Corporation has announced version 3 of its Power Pak for DOS utility program and version 5 of Super PC-Kwik.
The company says the new version of Power Pak includes major enhancements to its disk caching program Super PC-Kwik; Power Disk a disk reorganizer previously available as a separate product; and KwikBoot, a program that allows the user to set up multiple DOS boot configurations.
Disk cache Super PC-Kwik stores data to be written to a disk, doing the writing during periods when the processor is not occupied with other tasks. Disk caching eliminates or reduces the delays caused when data is written directly to the floppy or hard drive.
Maynard said that Power Disk has now been integrated into Power Pak and uses a graphical interface with Windows-like screens. Power Disk allows the user to schedule disk defragmenting, file sorting, and disk testing when the computer is turned on. Disk reorganizers take the parts of files stored in various locations on the disk and places them in contiguous sections for faster access. The company claims that Power Disk can handle disks with partitions of over one gigabyte, or one million bytes, in size.
KwikBoot allows a computer to be booted, or started up, in up to 26 different configurations. The use of KwikBoot allows the user to select various configuration (Config.sys) or Autoexec (autoexec.bat) files. Those files control what resources the computer uses, such as the number of files that can be opened by the computer simultaneously, and what the computer does, such as automatically load memory resident programs or start a particular application.
Super PC-Kwik also allows the DOS user to create short commands to replace long, complicated, or multiple DOS commands, and a feature called ReView allows the screen buffer (the information on the screen) to be saved to a disk file. There's also an expanded keyboard buffer that allows a fast typist to type ahead of what's appearing on the screen.
Both programs are scheduled to ship on November 2. PC-Kwik spokesperson Lee Kufchak told Newsbytes Super PC-Kwik will have a suggested retail price of $79.95, while Power Pak, which includes Super PC-Kwik, will sell for $129.95. PC-Kwik was formerly known as Multisoft Corporation.
(Jim Mallory/19921027/Press contact: Lee Kufchak, PC-Kwik Corporation, 503-644-5644 or 800-759-5945, fax 503-646-8267; Reader contact: PC-Kwik Corporation, 503-644-5644 or 800-759-5945, fax 503-646-8267)
03-644-5644 or 800-759-5945, fax 503-646-8267)
10/27/92
New For PC: PC-Kwik Power Pak, Super PC-Kwik
New For Windows: Virtual Workspa
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Compton's Newmedia, developers of the Compton's Multimedia Encyclopedia plan to offer Windows users a new version of its compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) multimedia encyclopedia with a new feature in the user interface the company calls Virtual Workspace.
As expected the company says it is offering more sound, video and photos in the new version, but changes have been made to enhance the product for researchers. Newsbytes saw a demonstration of the Virtual Workspace and found it to be uniquely functional and innovative.
The Workspace is a visual representation of the subjects the user has open in the encyclopedia. Rather than spreading icons all over the desktop, Compton's fills the center of the screen with a large green space in which work takes place. The Workspace, or Virtual Workspace, looks like a small Window with eight white squares and one green square, which represents the central field.
If the user was working on a report, just as books would be opened and spread out, so the topics can be opened in the central field. Compton's Vice President of Marketing Tom McGrew demonstrated by preparing a report on the presidents. As each text topic for each president was opened, a small box with that president's name appeared in the workspace in the green square.
If McGrew wanted to move a president's information out of the way, he moved the mouse to the workspace, selected the box that represented that president, and moved the box with the president's name off the green square onto an adjacent white square. The movement was instantly reflected in the larger central workspace with the open information of the president moving off the screen away from view.
Using the small labels that represented the open president's files, the presidents could be grouped together and a needed president could be moved quickly from one of the outside squares to the green square, which moved it into view in the central field.
Also, by clicking the right mouse button on the Workspace, a white square could be selected as the one to be the central space -- the square would become green and the open president files in the square would suddenly fill the screen.
In this manner, a researcher can have several related topics at their fingertips, including photographs, and quickly move between them, McGrew said. Compton's says the Workspace represents an 18 by 13 foot work area.
Considerations over intellectual property issues prevent the Compton's from providing cut and paste features to users McGrew told Newsbytes, so users are still faced with copying either with pencil and paper or from another open application.
Compton's says that the Interactive Encyclopedia for Windows with Virtual Workspace will be available in November for $395. It requires a 386 or higher based PC with a minimum of 4 megabytes (MB) of memory and 2 MB available on the hard disk drive, DOS 3.1 or higher, Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions or Windows 3.1, Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions 2.2 or later, a CD-ROM drive, a video graphics array (VGA) display, and a mouse.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921027/Press Contact: Tom McGrew, Compton's Newmedia, tel 619-929-2500, fax 619-929-2555)
m McGrew, Compton's Newmedia, tel 619-929-2500, fax 619-929-2555)
10/27/92
New For Windows: Virtual Workspace In Compton's MM Encyclopedia
New For Macintosh: Lapis Board L
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Lapis Technologies has announced L-TV, an NTSC interface card that lets a Macintosh LC, LC II or Performa 400 use a television as a display device.
The device allows for a variety of applications, including QuickTime movie presentations, and recording onto video tape. Additionally, David Glickman, spokesman for Lapis, told Newsbytes that he sees the potential market for the card as "definitely education."
Said Glickman, "Educators used to have the IIgs and IIe, which could plug right into NTSC, so they could display their lessons on a television. When school districts started switching to Macintosh, there wasn't a solution -- mainly for the LC, which is (a major) platform in the education market -- to go from Mac to TV. In other words, Apple didn't build that into the product."
The accompanying TV-Show software allows for the television to be used as a presentation device while the presenter watches and controls the same action on an Apple 12-inch RGB display.
Also, Glickman explained that the L-TV, "is a card that goes in the LC, and lets you drive any television monitor. So that whatever a user does on the LC screen, the audience will see on the television. Or you can record it on videotape... (for showing at a later date)."
The company maintains that L-TV drives any television or video monitor in 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16-bit modes at a maximum of 640 by 480 resolution. No special connectors are required, and a maximum cable length of 25 feet can be used. There is a standard "VCR-style" RCA connector on the interface board.
Glickman told Newsbytes that the device would also be used for business presentations. "We've had a lot of interest from people who usually use LCD (liquid crystal display) panels or show projectors, which are anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000." Priced at $349, the L-TV is scheduled for shipment in November.
The company also says that the device comes with a socket for a 68882 math processor. Additionally, the TV-Show software includes keyboard-selectable flicker filters for adjusting the picture quality on a television.
(Ian Stokell/19921027/Press Contact: David Glickman 510-748-1600, Lapis Technologies Inc.)
tact: David Glickman 510-748-1600, Lapis Technologies Inc.)
10/27/92
New For Macintosh: Lapis Board Lets TV Operate As Display
APPLE
HP Acquires Colorado Memory Syst
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Just two weeks after announcing plans to cut 2,700 jobs, Hewlett Packard has completed its acquisition of PC tape back-up systems manufacturer Colorado Memory Systems Inc., based in Loveland Colorado. The company has declined to disclose terms.
According to HP, Colorado Memory, which had revenue of $131.5 million in its 1992 fiscal year, markets quarter-inch cartridge (QIC) tape back-up systems used primarily with entry-level and mid-range stand-alone personal computers and with entry-level network servers.
The company maintains that acquiring CMS' tape back-up product family will complement and expand its existing four millimeter digital audio tape (DAT) backup products.
Colorado Memory Systems has become a wholly owned HP subsidiary and will be managed within HP's Mass Storage Group said the company. Ed Harper, who led Colorado Memory Systems as its president and chief executive officer, continues as head of the new subsidiary.
Colorado Memory Systems employs 600 people, 12 of which are at its European sales and support office in Marlow, England.
At the beginning of October, Newsbytes reported that, with an eventual target of about 2,700 employees leaving the company by early 1993, Hewlett-Packard had begun offering a voluntary severance-incentive (VSI) program to employees in selected job categories. Two thousand of that number will be in the United States.
(Ian Stokell/19921027/Press Contact: Andrew Ould, 415-857-2367 Hewlett-Packard Co.)
ld, 415-857-2367 Hewlett-Packard Co.)
10/27/92
HP Acquires Colorado Memory Systems
BUSINESS
New For Macintosh: Multimedia Le
HUNT VALLEY, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Digital Imaging Associates (DIA) has announced Peak, a multimedia authoring system for teachers who want to develop self-paced customized classroom learning tools for the Macintosh.
Peak is an acronym for personal educational authoring kit and the software is a Hypercard application geared toward assembling color images, text, narration, and sound effects DIA said.
The company says the applications for Peak are unlimited, and says the software has already been used to develop "bloodless" biology dissection lessons for high school students.
To train teachers on building Peak applications, the company licenses the product to the entire school so teachers can share applications and offers 10 teachers eight hours of on-site training in the use of Peak, the company said. A self-paced guided tour on an included compact disc (CD) is also offered with the Peak software which walks the user through creation of an educational walk through the woods with pictures of birds and sounds.
As a separate product, DIA is also offering four CDs with digital images that can be used with Peak to develop lessons. The CDs are Volume I: The Birds of Hugh Brandenburg, Volume II: Mollusks, Seashells, & Palaeontology, Volume III: General Biology, and Volume IV: Cell Biology.
Each volume offers between 500 and 700 digitized images and are licensed to a school so teachers can share the images, DIA said.
Peak is $1,495 for the first school, and $795 for additional schools. However, the $795 figure does not include training but the company says a school district interested in the software could send 10 teachers from 10 schools if it purchased licenses for 10 schools.
Peak requires at least a Macintosh II LC or IIci with a hard disk, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive, color monitor, and System 7 with Quicktime multimedia extensions.
DIA says is has also developed Pop Quiz??? for the development of study aides and tests by teachers that runs on IBM compatible personal computers (PCs) and on Apple II computers.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921027/Press Contact: Ana Conant, Digital Imaging Associates, tel 214-437-9095, fax 214-437-2993)
Imaging Associates, tel 214-437-9095, fax 214-437-2993)
10/27/92
New For Macintosh: Multimedia Lesson Tool For Teachers
APPLE
UK: Husky Completes Major Order
TI Earns $57 Million In 3Q
Autodesk Buys MES To Enter 3D Su
Hongkong: Microsoft Mail For Wor
Australia: Brisbane Firm Mincom
Information America Info Firm Co
Lithuania, Germany Cooperate On
New For Networks: Dolphin Networ
Denver Firm To Acquire SecaGraph
New For Macintosh: Microsoft Wor
New US Services Internationally
New For PC: Automatix, Sharp Rel
Spanish Telecom Market Unaffecte
Borland Lowers Quattro For Windo
Supreme Court Upholds Symantec I
DEC Breaks Ground For Semiconduc
Sun Cuts 600MP Prices, Intros La
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Sun Microsystems is offering its largest capacity data center server for the lowest cost ever, and has also cut prices on its SPARCserver 600MP Series of multiprocessor servers.
This is the second round of cost cuts Sun has made this year as the company announced a series of cuts on its workstation and 600MP servers of up to $7,000 on some models.
This round of price cuts in the 600MP series is even greater. Sun said it reduced the entry-level configuration of the SPARCserver 670MP by $10,000, to a new price of $50,000.
Sun says it is reducing prices even though market research firm Infocorp says the company holds the largest installed base of Unix multiprocessors. Sun's aim is to take advantage of the move in the market from mainframes to Unix client/server systems, according to the company. Sun says it has shipped 7,800 units shipped in less than a year, more than any other vendor.
To further entice corporate downsizers, Sun says 690MP data is the lowest-cost data center package and doubles the storage capacity of most data centers with a 10-megabyte-per-second 2.1-gigabyte differential SCSI-2 disks per cabinet. The configuration and speed also provides improved input/output (I/O) throughput, Sun maintains.
Sun says it offers up to 25 gigabytes of disk capacity and 25 gigabyte unattended back-up in a single, space-saving cabinet.
Sun also said it is working with companies to offer software system administration tools for its servers. The company named Tivoli Management Environment (TME) from Tivoli Systems and CA Unicenter from Computer Associates as two packages available for the Sun platform. A new agreement with Legent was also announced with plans for Legent to port its system management tools to Sun SPARCservers and SPARCstations.
New prices for the 600MP series are as follows: the 690MP Model 120 with two processors, 64 megabytes of memory, 4.2 gigabytes of disk and a SunCD compact disc read-only memory (CM-ROM) is $70,000; the 690MP Model 41 with one SuperSPARC processor, 64 megabytes of memory, 4.2 gigabytes of disk and a SunCD CD-ROM is $76,000; the 690MP Model 52 with two SuperSPARC processors 128 megabytes of memory, 8.4 gigabytes of disk, a SunCD CD-ROM and 5-gigabyte tape drive is $101,500; and the 690MP Model 54 with four SuperSPARC processors, 128 megabytes of memory, 8.4 gigabytes of disk, a SunCD CD-ROM and 5-gigabyte tape drive is $119,500.
Other recent news concerning Sun was the company's exposure as the secret backer in a suit brought by tiny Unix software developer Addamax against the Open Software Foundation (OSF) which the OSF says challenges its right to exist.
While industry analysts say they don't expect the move to hurt Sun's market share or the Addamax case against the OSF, Sun's deceptive behavior shocked the Unix community.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921027/Press Contact: Laura Shuldener, Hi Tech Communications, tel 415-904-7000; Carrie Dillon, Sun Microsystems, tel 415-336-3564, fax 415-336-3880)
on, Sun Microsystems, tel 415-336-3564, fax 415-336-3880)
10/27/92
Sun Cuts 600MP Prices, Intros Larger Data Center Server
New For PC: WatchIT!TV From New
BILLERICA, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- New Media Graphics has introduced a low-cost PC video board that lets the user watch TV in a window and grab video frames for hard disk storage, while at the same time work on another program at the computer.
A company spokesperson told Newsbytes that WatchIT!TV offers many of the same capabilities as high-end frame grabbing boards from New Media Graphics, but at a price of only $349.
The new full-slot ISA (industry standard architecture) board keeps users from having to choose between watching their favorite TV shows at night or doing work brought home from the office, she said. In addition, users who must stay constantly on top of financial reports or other news sources will no longer have to bounce back and forth between the PC and a TV, she noted.
WatchIT!TV accepts single-source video from a VCR or camcorder as well as television, and can work side-by-side with either a DOS or Windows-based application. Video-in-a-window is displayed at 640 by 480 pixels resolution.
An on-screen pop-up control pad that looks like a hand-held TV remote control lets users change channels, adjust volume, color and screen size, and grab frames, without leaving the application program. A programmable timer turns on the TV at a time and channel selected by the user.
The board supports frame grabbing in several popular image formats including PCX, BMP, BMP-24, and TGA. After being grabbed and saved to the hard disk, the frozen still images can be imported into other PC applications for enhancement of reports and other applications.
The spokesperson told Newsbytes that WatchIT!TV differs from the company's more expensive boards mainly in the size of the video window and numbers plus types of video sources.
Although the window in WatchIT!TV can be positioned anywhere on the display, its size is restricted to 1/16, 1/4, or 100% of the screen. This is in contrast to the more costly boards that offer unlimited sizing, she explained.
In addition, the more expensive boards can accept output from multiple video sources simultaneously, and laser disks can be used as a video source.
Also unlike WatchIT!TV, the company's high-end products offer resolution of up to 800 by 600 pixels, and come in Micro Channel versions, she added.
WatchIT!TV can be installed inside the PC in minutes, and comes with connectors for ready attachment to an antenna, cable, VCR, or camcorder, according to the spokesperson.
The new board requires an AT-compatible PC with an 8- or 16-bit ISA slot, a VGA with a feature connector providing 640 by 480 resolution, and Windows 3.0 or higher or DOS 3.01 or higher. The product is being sold in computer retail stores.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19921027/Press contact: Jessica Solodar, Rogers Communications for New Media Graphics, tel 617-224-1100)
ations for New Media Graphics, tel 617-224-1100)
10/27/92
New For PC: WatchIT!TV From New Media Graphics
NEC Releases Multimedia PCs In J
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- NEC has released a swathe of new PCs in Japan. Amidst the five new families of machines are a selection of multimedia PCs, which company officials claim are compatible with the best-selling PC 9801 series of machines.
The new machines, according to NEC, are designed to give the company a slice of the lucrative market for the multimedia PCs in the Japanese domestic marketplace.
NEC's latest multimedia personal computer is called the PC-9821. It comes equipped with a 32-bit processor, a CD-ROM (compact disc read only memory), Microsoft Windows and the Windows Multimedia Extension. It features a dual display mode that can be switched between 640 x 480 and 640 x 400 pixels resolution.
NEC supports only 640 x 400 pixels in its current crop of PCs. By supporting the new 640 x 480 pixels resolution, the company claims that Windows users are better served.
At first glance, the PC-9821 bears more than a passing similarity to an Apple Macintosh Classic -- a 15-inch color display and the main system all come in a single box.
The retail price of this entry model is 318,000 yen ($2,650) which is about $200 more expensive than that of Fujitsu's FM Towns multimedia PC. NEC has also released a color notebook machine, the PC-9801NA/C. This features a 20 megahertz (MHz) 80486SX microprocessor and a choice of hard disks up to 120 MB in size. The overall speed of the machine is around twice that of its predecessors, despite the fact that, at 498,000 yen ($4,150), it is one of the lowest-priced PCs of its type here in Japan.
Other models in the new series include the PC-H98T, which has a dual mode color LCD (liquid crystal display) that supports 1,120 x 750 and 640 x 400 pixels resolutions. A 66 megahertz 80486 PC has also been released.
All these announcements came as something of a disappointment for individual Japanese consumers because of the prices. Many of the consumers were expecting powerful but low-cost PCs which compete with Compaq's or Digital Equipment's offerings. Also, NEC's latest multimedia PC does not have major advantage over the existing competitor the FM-Towns of Fujitsu -- the FM-Towns has hundreds of multimedia programs, and the price is cheaper.
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- Nokia has put its outdated 450 MHz cellular phone system in one more country of the former Soviet Union.
The Nokia-made MNT-450 cellular system is being put into operation in Tashkent, the Uzbek capital city, by the joint venture called Uzdunrobita. Uzdunrobita is made up of the local communications monopoly and the International Communications Group of Los Angeles, California, which has also engaged in the "media buying service. The latter also had sales last year of US$192 million.
The system is due to be available early next week, but Newsbytes Moscow was unable to obtain information about the service's pricing.
(Kirill Tchashchin/19921009)
icing.
(Kirill Tchashchin/19921009)
10/9/92
Old Nokia Cellular Goes To Uzbekistan
TELECOM
Cray Research Upgrades Unicos OS
EAGAN, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Cray Research has announced it has begun shipping version 7 of Unicos, its Unix based operating system. Unicos was first released in 1986.
According to Irene Qualters, software vice president of the company, the newest version is important because it provides the base development environment and operational support for the company's MPP (massively parallel processing) system due out next year. Unicos is based on AT&T's Unix system V with Berkeley extensions.
Qualters said that the new release is easier to install and includes several new features and support tools designed to increase the productivity of both users and system administrators.
An Autotasking feature automatically distributes and concurrently executes a program on all the central processing units (CPUs) of the system. That speeds problem solving, and is the essence of parallel processing. Cray supercomputers use from one to 16 CPUs.
Release 7 adds an application development toolset which provides tools that show program performance statistics in a visual format instead of the previously-used numerical print-outs.
One of the tools from the toolset is ATExpert, an X-Window based expert system that analyzes an application's potential parallel performance and displays performance information as an on-screen plotted graph. ATExpert interprets the data and can offer suggested actions to enhance parallel performance.
XBrowse, another toolset component, can speed Fortran source code editing and debugging. Fortran, an acronym for formula translation is a programming language that expresses computer programs by arithmetic formulas. XBrowse provides information at the routine file, or program level and includes variable tracing and parallel processing analysis information.
The company says more than 90 percent of the 350 systems installed world-wide utilize Unicos as their operating system.
(Jim Mallory/19921027/Press contact: Steve Conway, Cray Research 612-683-7133)
onway, Cray Research 612-683-7133)
10/27/92
Cray Research Upgrades Unicos OS
L v
Shiva Remote Server For Windows
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- One of the first companies to jump on the Microsoft Workgroup For Windows bandwagon is Shiva Corporation, announcing its remote networking server for WFW.
Called NetModem/E for Windows For Workgroups, the server is designed to allow WFW users to access their workgroup resources remotely through conventional telephone lines. The device is a dedicated hardware system that plugs into the workgroup's Ethernet cable and a phone line. Remote users connect to it using a standard modem. Once connected they can use all the capabilities of WFW including file sharing, Microsoft Mail, and Microsoft Schedule+ just as if they were using a workstation on the network.
Shiva President Dan Schwinn says Shiva and Microsoft worked closely during the development of NetModem/E to ensure reliable, high performance connections. "We're extending the Windows for Workgroups-based environment out to remote users whether they're traveling with a laptop, working from home or working in a remote office," said Schwinn.
NetModem/E is a stand-alone, secure device that requires no attached PC, keyboard, or display screen. It sends standard data packets using the protocol used by WFW using point-to-point protocol. The device can be attached to thin, thick, or 10BaseT Ethernet cabling using Shiv's EtherModules. A built-in modem utilizes the V.32 and V.32bis protocols to provide data transfer up to 14,400 bits per second (bps). It also utilizes V.42 error correction and V.42bis data compression, which the company says will provide throughput up to 57,600 bps.
Security features include user names, passwords, and dial-back phone numbers. The company says it expects to ship NetModem/E later this quarter. NetModem/E carries a price tag of $1,699.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Diamond Flower Electric Company announced today it has signed an OEM agreement to pre-install Microsoft's Windows For Workgroups on its new Premium Series personal computers.
Windows For Workgroups is a superset of Windows 3.1 that includes peer-to-peer networking capabilities, and is being announced formally by Microsoft in New York today.
DFI says it will offer special workgroup pricing for multiple system orders. The Premium series PCs are scheduled to ship later this quarter. The company's flagship product in the Diamond series will be a 33 megahertz (MHz), 486-based local-bus super VGA (video graphics adapter). Local-bus video sends video signals directly to the central processing unit (CPU) for faster screen redrawing.
DFI's Diamond series also includes four desktop systems and three tower models, ranging in price from $1,847 for the 386-based Model 320-SX to $4,950 for the 486-based model 433T. The company says that the Premier series is targeted at both the business and home user markets.
Standard configuration of the 486-33 includes MS-DOS 5.0, 4 megabytes (MB) of system memory (RAM), two high density floppy drives, a 200 MB hard disk, two serial ports, one parallel port, eight expansion slots, and a high resolution .28 mm dot pitch color monitor.
The fastest computer in the Diamond series will be a 66 MHz 486DX2-based system, with a price tag of $4,539. In addition to the standard configuration of the 486-33, the faster system will also include 1 MB of video RAM, a mouse, a non-interlaced color monitor and a one-year on-site warranty.
DFI's entry in the upgradable arena will be the model 420VSX, a 20 MHz unit powered by a Intel 486SX chip, which can be upgraded to 49 MHz by inserting an Intel Overdrive processor into a socket. With a price tag of $1,895, the 420VSX also uses local-bus SVGA. The 420SVX will be configured like the 486DX2 except it will have a 130 MB hard drive.
Prior to entering the PC market with the Premier series, DFI was known as a maker of motherboards, interface cards, and other peripherals, and was founded in 1981.
(Jim Mallory/19921027/Press contact: Sherri Berman for DFI 708-291-1616, fax 708-291-1758)
rri Berman for DFI 708-291-1616, fax 708-291-1758)
10/27/92
DFI To Pre-Install Windows For Workgroups On PCs
Sun Licenses Qualix's Personal P
SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Electronic mail systems are becoming an increasingly important means of communication within large companies. Along those lines, Sun Microsystems Computer Corp. has signed a world-wide site license agreement with Qualix Group Inc., for the internal use of its Personal Postmaster software.
Personal Postmaster works on Sun workstations, sorting prioritizing and forwarding electronic mail messages, and notifying users when messages are received. According to the companies, Qualix provided the software to Sun in August and it is already being used by employees.
Personal Postmaster is published by Qualix and produced by MindWork Inc., and is designed for use with the Solaris operating environment, and the standard Unix electronic mail system.
According to the company, the software organizes mail for quick review by placing messages in separate mail folders. Each mail folder can be identified by a mail tool which has its own distinctive color so users can quickly identify the importance of individual messages.
Announcing the software, Jean Kovacs, executive vice president of marketing for Qualix Group, said: "Anyone receiving more than 30 electronic mail messages a day needs Personal Postmaster. Obviously, SMCC saw the value in their employees using it to increase their personal productivity."
Qualix claims that Personal Postmaster is one of the products available under its Qualix Cheap Seats program, in which the company brings the price of networked licensed Unix software below that of PC and Macintosh software.
(Ian Stokell/19921027/Press Contact: Jean Kovacs, Qualix Group Inc., 415-572-0200)
an Kovacs, Qualix Group Inc., 415-572-0200)
10/27/92
Sun Licenses Qualix's Personal Postmaster
Apple Launches Unix VAR Recruitm
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Hoping to expand sales of its A/UX version of AT&T's Unix, Apple Computer has launched a new value-added reseller (VAR) recruitment campaign in the US.
According to the company, the new Quick Start program "was launched as Apple broadens the scope of its A/UX 3.0 marketing efforts from the open systems desktop market to include a multi-user, host-based computing environment."
Apple maintains that A/UX complies with Unix System V definitions and includes Berkeley release 4.3 extensions. The company claims that its Quick Start program features strong financial incentives for VARs to become authorized A/UX resellers.
Bruce Cleveland, senior director, Open Systems Business Unit in the Enterprise Systems Division at Apple, said: "This program is a direct result of customer response. For some time, users have combined A/UX hosts and desktop Macintosh operating system clients to give them the combination of powerful multi-user business applications and great Macintosh personal productivity applications. We are encouraging VARs to port their vertical business applications to A/UX."
Apple claims that A/UX 3.0 offers VARs an easy way to port their products to A/UX, as most applications written in the C programming language only need to be recompiled to run under A/UX. Apple is also offering one year of free technical support via a toll-free hotline for all A/UX buyers.
Apple is offering some financial incentives to VARs. The Quick Start program features a $6,000 reimbursement to VARS authorized through Apple's distributor VAR program for purchasing three specially configured Macintosh Quadra 700 A/UX systems between November 1, 1992 and January 31, 1993. The systems must be purchased from Ingram Micro, Merisel, or Tech Data.
Apple maintains that A/UX supports up to 32 Macintosh computers ASCII terminals, and PCs. These systems can be connected using AppleTalk, TCP/IP or intelligent serial communications cards.
In August Newsbytes reported that Apple had begun offering a 32-user license for A/UX 3.0. The license doubled the number of users able to access A/UX on a single CPU, which was formerly just 16.
Said Cleveland: "The Quick Start program is also designed to give traditional Unix VARs an easy way to sell Apple A/UX solutions to their customers. Additionally, A/UX versions of their products greatly expand their prospective customer base, and the huge array of Macintosh third-party add-ons substantially increases their aftermarket opportunities."
The company says that systems qualifying for credit in the Quick Start program are Apple Macintosh Quadra 700 that are ready to run A/UX out of the box. The bundle features a Motorola 68040 based CPU (central processing unit) running at 25 megahertz (MHz), eight megabytes (MB) of RAM, a 230 MB hard disk with A/UX pre-installed, a C compiler, and AppleTalk and Ethernet on the motherboard.
A/UX 3.0 was announced by Apple last fall, at the same time IBM and Apple announced Poweropen, the two companies' joint operating system. However, Apple says its implementation of Poweropen will be A/UX.
(Ian Stokell/19921027/Press Contact: Emilio Robles, Apple Computer, 408-862-5671)
Emilio Robles, Apple Computer, 408-862-5671)
10/27/92
Apple Launches Unix VAR Recruitment Program
Infonet & Telecom Finland Team U
HELSINKI, FINLAND, 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Infonet Services and Telecom Finland have taken the unusual step of teaming up to establish a joint venture company called Infonet Finland Limited.
Telecom Finland has a 90 percent share in the venture, with Infonet holding the remaining minority stake. The aim of the joint venture is to allow Telecom Finland to service, sell and install Infonet international packet switching services in its home country without worrying about any overlaps in its and Infonet's product portfolios.
For Infonet, Newsbytes notes, the joint venture will allow the company to expand its data network in the country. Currently, to access the Infonet dial-up packet data network (PDN) service in Finland, callers dial 92919, a special national access code that frequently triggers trunk call tariffs. For local access, Infonet callers must subscribe to the Danpak PDN provided by Telecom Finland. Sources suggest that a national network of Finnish Infonet nodes is quite likely in the coming months.
Newsbytes notes that Infonet already has two major customers in Finland -- Neste, the state-controlled oil firm and Nokia, the private telecom conglomerate.
(Steve Gold/19921027/Press & Public Contact: Infonet Europe Tel: +32-2-646-5230; Fax: +32-2-640-9741)
fonet Europe Tel: +32-2-646-5230; Fax: +32-2-640-9741)
10/27/92
Infonet & Telecom Finland Team Up In Telecom Venture
TELECOM
Spanish Telecom Market Unaffecte
MADRID, SPAIN, 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Telefonica has announced that it is beating the recession and plans to announce a 16 percent increase in revenues for the current calendar year.
The news has come as a surprise to industry watchers, although the Spanish telecom company attributes the surge in income to the combined effects of the Olympics and the Seville World Fair. Telefonica has upgraded its network over the past few years in preparation for these events.
According to Jesus Gimena, Telefonica's financial services director, the increase in revenue will allow the company to lessen its burden on the Spanish government. Speaking at an analysts meeting in Frankfurt, Western Germany, Gimena said that he expects the company to self-finance around 80 percent of its network expansion plans this year.
This makes Telefonica one of the most self-sufficient telecom companies in Europe in terms of its investment finance plans. It will also, Newsbytes notes, act as a positive inducement for other telecom administrations to invest for the future, while many governments are reining in plans for subsidies on their national telecom networks due to the recession.
Telefonica does have the advantage of having most of the Spanish telecom market to itself. Plans call for the country's packet data network (PDN) services to be opened up to competition next year, followed by the mobile telephony market in 1994.
(Steve Gold/19921027)
obile telephony market in 1994.
(Steve Gold/19921027)
10/27/92
Spanish Telecom Market Unaffected By European Recession
TELECOM
Microsoft UK Claims Word For Win
WOKINGHAM, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Microsoft has announced that in tests, eight of 10 DOS Wordperfect users actually preferred Word for Windows over the Windows version of their own software. This has arisen from user tests that were conducted in recent months.
The tests, carried out at the National Testing Laboratory (NSTL) in the UK, concluded that Word for Windows 2.0 was easier to learn and use, plus was quicker when it came to completing everyday tasks.
"Most people assume that they should upgrade to a Windows version of the same product they are currently using because they think it will be the easier one to learn," explained Shelagh Marsh Word for Windows product marketing manager with Microsoft. "The NSTL tests conclusively shows that Wordperfect users' found Word for Windows 2,0 easier to transition than Wordperfect for Windows," she added.
The comparative usability test, which was conducted independently by the NSTL, aimed to tests aspects of usability for Microsoft Word for Windows 2.0 and Wordperfect for Windows. In a series of blind tests, the NSTL attempted to find whether users of Wordperfect for DOS would state a preference based on a comparison of eight basic formatting and printing tasks in each of the two packages.
The results of the test were that 86 percent of test subjects said they preferred Word for Windows for DOS 2.0, with 82 percent confirming they would buy the package over Wordperfect for Windows. 78 percent said they found Word for Windows 2.0 easier to use, while 88 percent found the package easier to learn than Wordperfect for Windows.
Interestingly, the average time taken for users to complete the test on Word for Windows 2.0 was 43 seconds, compared to 71 seconds on Wordperfect for Windows.
A full set of the results is available from Microsoft on request on 081-879-7979.
(Steve Gold/19921027/Press Contact: Microsoft - Tel: 0734-270001; Public Contact: Tel: 0734-270000)
soft - Tel: 0734-270001; Public Contact: Tel: 0734-270000)
10/27/92
Microsoft UK Claims Word For Windows De Facto Standard
AST Cuts Prices In War With IBM/
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- AST has come out swinging into the IBM and compatible personal computer (PC) price war and is attempting to steal the market away from the new IBM PS/Valuepoint plus Compaq's midrange computer line with significant price cuts on its Bravo line.
Recently, IBM announced a new line of computers that falls between the PS/1 and PS/2 line called the PS/Valuepoint series while Compaq last month lowered prices on its computers geared toward the same market. These are the same market at which AST is pitching its machines.
AST says that its Bravo 486SX machines start at a suggested retail price of $895 and a 486SX Bravo with a single 3.5-inch floppy, 120 megabyte (MB) hard drive, 4 MB of random access memory (RAM), a super video graphics array (SVGA) display Windows 3.1, a mouse, a mouse pad, and one-year on-site service is projected to start around $1,400, according to Dan Sheppard AST's director of Bravo system marketing. Sheppard says that the AST prices rival those of mail order houses.
In comparison, IBM's new PS/Valuepoint 425SX with an 80 MB hard drive, 4 MB of RAM, a 3.5-inch single floppy drive, a VGA monitor, and OS/2 2.0 is listed from IBM at $1,629. A similarly configured Compaq, the 486-based Prolinea Model 120, with Windows factory installed starts at $1,259.
In additional comparisons to Compaq's line, AST notes that the Bravo is expandable to 64 MB of maximum RAM while Compaq's Prolinea expands to a maximum of 16 MB. AST claims it offers optional cache while Compaq offers no optional cache, provides up to a 486DX2/66 while the Compaq Prolinea's highest processor is a 486DX2/50, and AST has four drive bays and four slots versus Compaq's three drive bays and three slots.
In comparison to IBM, AST maintains its clock doubler models offers 256 kilobytes (K) of cache while IBM offers 128K of cache on the PS/Valuepoint models.
AST said that price cuts on the Bravo line are as high as 31 percent. Some Bravo line models have an Ethernet controller for network access built into the motherboard, Newsbytes notes.
The company was listed in Fortune Magazine's 500 top companies in April of this year, as opposed to IBM and Compaq which have both faced large losses and layoffs.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921027/Press Contact: Emory Epperson, AST tel 714-727-7958, fax 714-727-8592; John Sweney, Compaq, tel 713-374-0484, fax 713-374-4583; Public Contact, IBM, 800-772 2227)
4583; Public Contact, IBM, 800-772 2227)
10/27/92
AST Cuts Prices In War With IBM/Compaq
Microchip Prices Soar
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- Following rapidly on the US Department of Commerce's preliminary determination that Korean microchip makers were dumping (selling below cost) chips on the US market, some microprocessor and memory prices have soared.
Samsung, a major Korean manufacturer which may be hit with a tariff of nearly 90 percent, has released a statement saying that the company was surprised by the DOC preliminary determination but that it expects that no tariffs will be imposed at the final determination due in March of 1993.
Mark Miner of the Public Affairs office, International Trade Administration, DOC, told Newsbytes that while no actual tariff has yet been imposed the Department of Commerce has ordered Korean companies to post bonds based on the preliminary estimates of illegal dumping discounts.
The bonds assigned to be collected on imports from specific companies are as follows: Goldstar, 52.41 percent; Hyundai, 5.99 percent; Samsung, 87.40 percent; and an average of 61.88 percent for all other Korean manufacturers. This means that, although the companies may eventually get the money back, they are currently required to, in effect, pay a preliminary tariff on their imports which might cause them to raise prices dramatically.
Darlene Eynon at Samsung Technologies told Newsbytes that as far as she knew Samsung had not increased prices on its chips sold in the US.
When asked whether recent price increases were due to increases in import prices or distributors increasing prices in anticipation of higher costs, Lisa Croel at Samsung's PR firm Edelman Technology Communications, told Newsbytes that Samsung had not informed her of any price increases, but she could not confirm that prices had not in fact been increased.
But while the origin of price increases remains a minor mystery there is no doubt that prices are climbing daily.
Some US companies which build microcomputers are reporting to Newsbytes that end user microchip prices are already soaring and suppliers are not guaranteeing prices for more than a day or two at a time.
Michael Hansen, vice president of sales and marketing for AEC Solutions, Baltimore, Maryland, a VAR which supplies turnkey systems for architectural firms, told Newsbytes that he had been quoted prices from a source at Ingram Micro at about 60 percent higher than just last week and was told that the price was only good for 24 hours instead of the usual 60-day price guarantee.
Fortunately for its customers, AEC, according to Mr. Hansen, is not particularly affected by the increases because memory is such a small part of their total package, but he told Newsbytes that he expects prices to continue to climb on both memory and other imported chips.
Dore Perler, president of Sunrise, Florida's Bedrock Technology a clone manufacturer which sells mostly to Fortune 500 companies told Newsbytes that in the past two weeks prices on 486 DX Intel microprocessors have gone up by $85.
Mr. Perler said today that he can't predict how future 486 prices will be affected because Intel's new Pentium (formerly called in the trade press the 586) will soon be on the market.
An inside source at another manufacturer, Swan Technology, State College, Pennsylvania, confirmed that they were aware of significant price increases on foreign memory chips but said that they were experiencing no problems because Swan almost exclusively uses US-manufactured chips and the company's suppliers have told Swan that they will continue to honor previous contract prices.
Other companies, which did not want to be identified, report that some US chip makers are taking advantage of the international chip turmoil by raising the cost of domestically made chips.
The US Department of Commerce is charged with investigating accusations of dumping made against foreign companies and remedying any unfair advantage this gives them by imposing appropriate tariffs on those companies' products.
Dumping, a charge which has often been leveled against various Asian-based manufacturers, is the practice of charging high prices in their relatively closed markets, where US manufacturers are barred from competing on an even basis, and using those profits to subsidize products sold in Third World or other markets.
Recent investigations by major news organizations have shown that some Japanese companies carry this subsidization to such an extent that Japanese retailers are actually re-importing Japanese-made products which had been shipped to the US and selling them below domestic prices in Japan.
The Department of Commerce has now made a preliminary determination that most Korean-based microelectronics component manufacturers are engaged in such dumping and they now have several months to prove otherwise before tariffs go into full effect.
The bonds the companies are now required to post will be refunded if it is later determined that they are not guilty of dumping. The money will go to the government if tariffs are finally imposed next March.
(John McCormick/19921027/Press Contact: Mark Miner, Department of Commerce, 202-482-3808)
Commerce, 202-482-3808)
10/27/92
Microchip Prices Soar
TRENDS
SPA Membership Hits 1,000
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- The Software Publishers Association (SPA), a major trade organization representing software publishers, announced this week that the association's roster has topped 1,000 members.
The SPA, which acts as the industry representative to the federal government and works to stop software piracy, was begun in 1984 with only 25 member companies.
Among the SPA's other activities, the Association holds seminars to aid its members in marketing and product development and publishes important quarterly software sales numbers which show which segments of the industry are growing fastest.
In addition to the SPA's offices in Washington, DC, the Association also maintains a European presence with an office in Paris, France.
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- NTT, the Japanese electronics and telecom company, has developed a next-generation computer memory known as the hologram system. According to the company the hologram memory can store as much as 1,000 times the volume of data that current technology optical systems can take.
NTT's hologram memory uses special optical fibers which are 0.5 millimeter (mm) in diameter and 4mm in length, bound into the shape of a disk. Data is stored vertically in each optical fiber with each fiber being capable of storing 60 to 100 units of data.
According to NTT, the fiber is designed for the maximum possible data storage. Made of strontium-barium-niobium and cerium combined into a crystal format, the fibers can store data almost indefinitely.
Don't rush out and order a disk at your computer store just yet however, as NTT notes that its technology is still at the prototyping stage. Plans call for the technology to be developed to commercial levels, but this will take some years.
As well as traditional computer data, the hologram disk can store visual and audio data. This could result in the appearance of ultra-small video disks, possibly 1cm in diameter, but with a storage/recording capacity far in excess of current videodisks.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 27 (NB) -- At the Electronic Messaging Association conference here in San Francisco, a company called RadioMail announced that its two-way RadioMail gateway to RAM Mobile Data's wireless packet data service is now online. A simplex (one-way) gateway came online a year ago.
RadioMail, formerly called Anterior Technology, said that the gateway works with any DOS laptop or pen-based computer accessing the RAM network using a device like the Ericsson GE Mobidem. The network supports transparent nationwide roaming and store-and forward features, meaning you can take it on a plane from Atlanta to Los Angeles, turn it on, and automatically receive messages which were sent while you were en-route.
Subscribers are assigned a Radio Mailbox and a RadioMail address. To reach a subscriber, the sender sends electronic mail to the subscriber's RadioMail address. As mail arrives at the RadioMail gateway, it is reformatted and routed to the appropriate radio carrier or wired network for transmission.
Two-way RadioMail service is available for a one-time software activation fee of $149, which includes a $25 usage credit, plus $89 per month to send up to 100 memos. Each memo unit is 50 words. Additional 50-word memo units are 29 cents each. The one way gateway, available at a flat rate of $20 per month, operates in 220 regions across the country, and services the paging networks of SkyTel, Pac Tel, MobileComm, Metromedia, McCaw American Paging and others.
Along with Ericsson GE, RadioMail also announced a special introductory plan in the San Francisco area for the Viking Express wireless electronic mail software package. The "Jump Start" program is a 90-day trial program that offers both the Viking Express kit from Ericsson GE as well as RadioMail software and gateway services.
The kit includes a Mobidem Portable Wireless Modem, an extra battery and battery charger from Ericsson GE; an HP 95LX palmtop computer from Hewlett-Packard; RadioMail Remote software and a zipper case, all for $1995 or $500 less without the computer. In response to Motorola's announcement of a competing product, the InfoTAC, Ericsson GE reduced the price of the Mobidem with battery charger and extra battery to $1395.
Finally, Lotus Development said it formed a business partnership with RAM to develop wireless wide-area network technology. The first product to be developed will allow mobile cc:Mail users to send and receive electronic mail messages instantly, without having to access phone jacks while traveling. Lotus called it the first in a series of announcements designed to demonstrate Lotus' commitment to field computing. Lotus expects to deliver a wireless version of cc:Mail in 1993.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921027/Press Contact: RadioMail, Geoff Goodfellow, 415/328-5615; Public Contact: 415/349-5683 Internet, radiomail-info(at)radiomail.net; Ericsson, Kathy Egan 212/685-4030; McGlinchey & Paul, for Lotus, David Grip, 617/862 4514)
aul, for Lotus, David Grip, 617/862 4514)
10/27/92
Two-Way RadioMail Up And Running On RAM
TELECOM
New For PC: Modern, Color Clip A
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Zenographics says it has taken color clip art, originally designed for use by professional graphics artists, and is making it available to personal computer users in the Artpack II collection.
Over 1,000 full-color clip art images of a wide variety of subjects from Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies to Hewlett-Packard IIP Laserjet printers are included in the collection Zenographics said. The company says the eye-catching, up-to date images include backgrounds and 39 other categories from which to choose. Maps of the world alone are dived into the 50 states, Africa, Asia, Canada, Europe, the Mideast, South America, republics of the former Soviet Union, and an other category for other world locations.
The images are vector-based and offered in the popular .CGM file format used by Coreldraw! and by other graphics, desktop publishing, and word processing products. The vector-based approach allows for scaling of the image without degradation unlike bitmapped files, Zenographics said.
Artpack II is available directly from Zenographics on 3.5- and 5.25- inch disks for a suggested retail price of $195, the company said.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921023/Press Contact: Steve Puntolillo Zenographics, 908-577-8303)
Contact: Steve Puntolillo Zenographics, 908-577-8303)
10/26/92
New For PC: Modern, Color Clip Art From Zenographics
New For PC: Hyperwrite Next-Gene
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Looking Glass Software of San Diego, California says it is offering the next generation in word processing in its new product Hyperwrite. The company says Hyperwrite allows Microsoft Window users to create and play back full-color hypertext presentations as well as perform other word processing tasks.
The product is very visually oriented, according to Chris van Hemersveld, president of Looking Glass Software and developer of Hyperwrite. Hemersveld has been working with IBM on its "Illuminated Books and Manuscripts" project announced last fall and holds two patents in multimedia. He was also one of the three programers for the Supercard application on the Macintosh.
Hemersveld told Newsbytes Hyperwrite offers the functionality of high-end word processors, including a what-you-see-is-what you-get (WYSIWYG) environment, but hypertext is added so characters, words, paragraphs, and entire documents can be linked together. The visual representation to the user of the link can be a variety of symbols from underlining the word or phrase to shadowing the text or putting the text against a different background, Hemersveld told Newsbytes.
Hyperwrite also offers a feature the company calls "layers." Layers are different ways to view the same text which can be save and re-applied at will by the user. Hemersveld used the example of a group of lawyers viewing a document who might each want to make changes or additions. Using layers, each lawyer would have their own particular font in a layer designated by their name. The other lawyers could then view lawyer A's proposed additions and emphasis, including his addition of bold, italic, and underline in his Helvetica font, then switch to lawyer B's Times Roman layer and see his emphasis and additions.
The text file, once completed and linked, can be made a run-time application, so it can be given to another Windows user who does not need Hyperwrite to view and use it. Hemersveld said it is helpful if the user who is viewing the application has the same fonts as those used to create it, but if not, Windows will substitute similar fonts for the absent fonts used in the document.
The product supports the addition of Windows bitmap (.BMP) files either in the body of the document or as hyperlinks, so a click on a word can bring up a picture, the company said. Sound is supported in the same manner.
The ability to 'bookmark' and index, to annotate occurrences of specific characters is also included along with a 100,000-word dictionary and spell checker, Looking Glass said.
The product will run on any computer that will run Windows, but the company recommends use of a mouse and 2 to 3 megabytes (MB) of memory. Looking Glass says Hyperwrite is compatible with most leading word processing programs and graphics programs including Microsoft Word and Microsoft Paintbrush.
Retail pricing has been set at $149 and the product will be available directly from Looking Glass in November, the company added.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921023/Press Contact: Chris van Hamersveld Looking Glass Software, tel/fax 619-597-0665)
is van Hamersveld Looking Glass Software, tel/fax 619-597-0665)
10/26/92
New For PC: Hyperwrite Next-Generation Windows Word Processor
Dot Matrix Printer For Window Us
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Star Micronics in Australia has released a dot matrix printer it says was designed from scratch to complement Microsoft Windows applications. The Star LC24-100 is a 24-pin model that retails for AUS$649 (around US$460).
It has a "compressed data mode" that makes data transfer four times as fast. Users can select from 10 resident fonts, 13 character sizes and eight different enhancement modes. Print speed is up to 240 characters per second in draft mode and 80 in letter-quality. Printing is bi-directional in both modes.
Star says the printer has been designed for easy use, with a clear set of front-panel indicators and color codings. Functions controlled by the panel include font, pitch, paper park, paper feed, form feed, micro feed, buffer clearing and quiet mode (down to 56dBA in letter quality mode. Rather than traditional dip-switches for changing the set-up, the LC24-100 has an "electronic" dip switch set from the front panel. Settings include print direction page length, fonts and international character set.
(Paul Zucker/19921023)
acter set.
(Paul Zucker/19921023)
10/26/92
Dot Matrix Printer For Window Users
Another Internet Book Coming
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- The Internet is becoming the top online story of the year, and publishers are responding with a second book on the subject.
Following the release of "The Whole Internet User's Guide" from O'Reilly & Associates, Addison-Wesley Publishing is weighing in with The Internet System Handbook. The new book got contributions from 22 authors. A spokesman notes that John Quarterman, who authored "The Matrix," a guide to Internet resources, published in 1990, was not involved even though he does edit a series of books for Addison-Wesley on Unix-related subjects.
While the O'Reilly book, by Ed Krol of the University of Illinois, concentrated on Internet commands and the use of a system of inter-linked networks, the new book provides what the editors call "comprehensive coverage of internetworking, a collection of technologies that link dissimilar computers and software." As with other books on the subject, the book includes a section on the Internet's history, its technologies, its management, and future trends. The book is edited by Dan Lynch president and founder of the Interop Co., which puts on the semi-annual Interop conference and trade show. The next Interop show will be next week at San Francisco's Moscone Center.
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Police departments in many places are overwhelmed with data -- crime here, crime there -- but while detectives know that there may be important clues hidden in that mass of data, organizing the information is difficult. Strategic Mapping addresses this problem with the first personal computer-based crime analysis system.
We've all seen crime shows where police solve a crime using information they get from charting crimes on a wall map, but in reality only major crime waves get such intensive treatment.
Strategic Mapping's new Atlas Crime Analysis software allows police and fire departments to automatically plot all incidents on digitized maps, using data routinely collected and filed in standard databases.
Besides offering help to police and fire investigators, the software can also be used to initiate emergency response using information gathered from new automatic vehicle locator systems.
ACA uses plain English commands which make the system easy for any law enforcement worker to use, the company claims. For instance burglaries can be displayed by keying in the command "burglaries" or selecting the command from a mouse-driven menu.
Strategic Mapping's geographical information systems are already in use by thousands of government agencies and businesses around the world.
Cost for the new PC-based crime analysis system is $12,250 about one-tenth the cost of previous mini- and mainframe computer-based systems, making ACA cost-effective even for relatively small communities, the company contends.
(John McCormick/19921023/Press Contact: David Radoff, 408-970 9600 or fax 408-970-9999)
Radoff, 408-970 9600 or fax 408-970-9999)
10/26/92
Strategic Mapping Crime Analysis System
TRENDS
Chips and Technologies Again Pos
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- While microprocessor chip manufacturers Intel and Motorola are reporting strong gains, Chips and Technologies, a company which makes complementary chips for Intel microprocessors, among other components, reported net losses of $9.7 million.
The company's first quarter 1993 report said sales are down 20 percent at $26.3 million compared to $33 million last year. However, the relative loss compared to the same quarter last year is higher despite the fact that the company reports its gross margins were up 28 percent compared to the 23 percent in same quarter last year and its operating expenses were down compared to previous quarters.
Chips reported net losses of $9.7 million ($0.73 per share) this quarter compared to $9.9 million ($0.63 per share) last quarter. In the company's fourth quarter last year it reported a loss of $8.8 million ($0.58 per share). Operating expenses were reported to be $17.8 million compared to $23.4 million in the same quarter of 1992 and $24.3 million (including $2.7 million restructuring charges) in the company's fourth quarter last year.
Chips added that the net losses for first and fourth quarters 1992 include tax benefits of $5.6 and $4 million, respectively for tax loss carry-backs which are not available in fiscal 1993. However, first quarter benefits included the raising of $10.3 million in a private placement and received a tax refund of $28.5 million as a result of the carry-back of net operating losses to prior tax years, according to Chips.
Chips says the good news in the first quarter was offset by operating losses, a reduction in accounts payable, and an increase in the company's inventory.
Besides supplying computer chips, the company says it offers software accelerators, networking products, firmware, and design services. Chips and Technologies is headquartered in San Jose, California.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921023/Press Contact: Lesley Mattos, Chips and Technologies, tel 408-434-0600, fax 408-434-6452)
logies, tel 408-434-0600, fax 408-434-6452)
10/26/92
Chips and Technologies Again Posts Losses
BUSINESS
T ~ b
Fujitsu Releases 1.8-Inch Optica
UK: Cognito Packet Radio Network
Competition To Cable TV Comes Cl
Australia: Public Access To Bris
IBM Canada Launches Consulting G
Cray Supercomputer Goes To Pitts
Digital Slims Down Severance Ben
IDG Doing Personal Digital Assis
New For PC: Sigma Designs Multim
Electronic Auto Ad Competition I
Book-To-Bill Unseasonally Down,
New For Macintosh: Multimedia En
Japan: New Color LCDs Developed
New For Macintosh: ClarisWorks T
Canada: Govt Breakthrough For Ps
Dow Jones Makes New Moves In Bro
Chips and Technologies Again Pos
NTT Develops Next-Generation Hol
Conner Enters Tape Drive Busines
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Popular disk drive manufacturer Conner Peripherals says it is purchasing Archive, a developer of tape drives and tape drive subsystems. Conner appears to be positioning to take advantage of the projected $200 million market projected by analysts in the next year for portable tape back-up devices.
Conner says it will pay approximately $150.75 million for Archive ($11.35 per share for 13.4 million outstanding shares with 18.7 million shares fully diluted). Archive as agreed to cancel its planned offering of public stock, but if the deal doesn't go through Conner has agreed to buy the 1.9 million shares Archive was planning to issue at $6.75 per share. Archive reported revenues of $380 million in 1992.
The purchase is subject to negotiation, execution and final approval by the respective boards of directors of a definitive agreement, but the companies say they expect the deal to close in about two weeks.
Finnis Conner, the chairman and chief executive officer at Conner Peripherals, said the tape storage emphasis added to its hard disk drive line will make the company able to transition to a storage products company. Costa Mesa, California- based Archive has as its main business manufacture and sales of one quarter inch, one-half inch, digital audio tape, and subsystems for storage of data from minicomputers workstations, multi-user systems, and personal computers.
San Jose, California-based Conner is known for its line of hard disk drives including 1.8-, 2.5-, and 3.5-inch form factor hard disk drives.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921023/Press Contact: Kevin Burr, Conner Peripherals, tel 408-456-3134, fax 408-456-4501; B.J. Rone Archive, 714-966-7313)
Conner Enters Tape Drive Business W/ Archive Purchase
BUSINESS
Hongkong: TI Awards To Students
TSIM SHA TSUI, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- An answering machine, a modem, a graphics board, and an online system for controlling motors shared top honors at this year's Texas Instruments Design Championship '92, held at the Sheraton Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui.
The judges had a chance to preview the projects a few days before the event and the final results were judged on the day.
Students from five institutions were invited to participate including the recently established University of Science and Technology, which, having no final year students, saw no entrants this year.
This year's champion was Li Man Yiu of the Hong Kong Polytechnic whose high resolution computer graphics board won high praise from the adjudicators.
First runner-up was Chung Chi Yin from the City Polytechnic of Hong Kong for his innovative telephone answering machine. Second runner up was Li Tan Yeung of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, whose project was a high-speed digital modem.
Third runner-up Fan Wai, from the University of Hong Kong, received an additional award for best innovation in recognition of his work on a system that performs online monitoring and control of an induction motor.
The four students were presented with trophies by T.H. Barma, the Hong Kong Government's director-general of industry. Additional prizes donated by Texas Instruments included two TI TravelMate notebook PCs, a TI organizer, Thesaurus/Spell Checker and a TI printer.
"The projects presented today fully demonstrate the skill and inventiveness for which the Hong Kong electronics industry has become famous in the world market," said guest speaker Robert Li chairman of the Hong Kong Electronics Association.
The annual Texas Instruments Design Championship, now in its seventh year, provides public recognition for the best work of final-year electronics engineering students in Hong Kong's tertiary institutions. Entries are judged by a panel of eight academics and industrialists.
The Design Championship is part of TI's University Program, which includes donations of development systems, evaluation modules semiconductor samples and manuals for use in Hong Kong universities polytechnics and technical institutes. The company also provides visiting lecturers and offers technical assistance through its Regional Technology Center.
"Texas Instruments provides the best possible example of the sort of assistance that can be provided by the private sector," said Mr Li. "Its University Program is an excellent example of how industry and the tertiary institutions can work together to give our graduating engineers practical experience with state-of-the-art technologies and products."
(Brett Cameron/19921023/Press Contact: Vicky Ng, Texas Instruments Tel: +852-737 0307;HK time is GMT + 8)
+852-737 0307;HK time is GMT + 8)
10/26/92
Hongkong: TI Awards To Students
GENERAL
Hongkong: Digital Opens 1st Alph
TAIKOO SHING, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Digital Equipment Asia has opened its first Alpha AXP Resource Center, a place where customers and software partners can port their applications to the advanced, 64-bit Alpha AXP platform immediately.
The center, located at Digital's Asia headquarters in Hong Kong, is equipped with three Alpha AXP systems in deskside and departmental configurations -- the first such systems installed in Asia.
The ultra high performance Alpha AXP family, which has yet to be formally announced by Digital, comprises single and dual-processor systems supporting TURBOchannel and Futurebus + I/O buses respectively and offering up to 3.5 gigabytes of main memory. Product names and performance data will be announced next month.
"We have a number of software developers who want to be able to run their products on Alpha AXP systems from the day they are shipped," said Tony Leung, director of marketing for Digital Asia. "We also have customers who are placing upgrade orders for Alpha AXP products now, to secure their place on the delivery schedule.
"We decided that we should open the Alpha AXP Resource Centre at the earliest possible opportunity, so that developers and users alike can start migrating their software to the new platform, and to show customers that top-quality support for Alpha AXP is in place even before the products are introduced."
The Alpha AXP Resource Center in Hong Kong will be the first of several in the region, according to Bruce Dahl, general manager of Digital Equipment Hong Kong Ltd. Dahl said most countries in Asia would have similar centers.
"We will be providing resources such as equipment, software and expertise to help make the transition to Alpha AXP as simply as possible," said Graeme Bowker, Alpha AXP program manager for Digital Asia. "The centers will enable existing customers to start porting their applications before they install their own Alpha AXP systems, and they will also be available to non-Digital customers and software developers who want to migrate their software to the latest technology.
"In addition, there are many customers and prospective customers who are evaluating Alpha AXP as their future platform, and the centres will play an important role in providing them with demonstrations and information."
Nearly 1,000 software vendors and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide have stated their intention to develop products based on the Alpha AXP architecture. They include Cray Research which will use Alpha AXP for its next generation of massively parallel processing supercomputers, and workstation manufacturer Kubota.
Recognizing the importance of these vendors, Digital has shipped more than 800 development systems and has opened more than 30 Alpha AXP Resource Centers around the world.
"We are in active discussion with potential OEM partners in Asia and are already involved in serious negotiations with companies in both Taiwan and Korea," said Mr Bowker. "Support for all major Asian languages has been designed into the Alpha AXP environment from the inception of the programme."
"Our software engineers in Hong Kong are working on Asian language versions of the operating software right now and we expect to ship them within three months after the launch of the English version," Mr Bowker revealed. He added that Digital will provide Asian language migration and porting support for partners and customers.
(Brett Cameron/19921023/Press Contact: Walter Cheung, Digital, Tel: 852-805 3533;HK time is GMT + 8)
lter Cheung, Digital, Tel: 852-805 3533;HK time is GMT + 8)
10/26/92
Hongkong: Digital Opens 1st Alpha Resource Center In Asia
GENERAL
Australia: School Raises Funds T
" SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Schools wishing to raise money may want to abandon the bake sales and auctions in favor of a newer, high-ticket fundraising idea from Australia. A Sydney high school has begun holding a Sunday computer market on the grounds of a local shopping complex in Sydney's northwest.
The computermarket, comprised of about ten stalls at the Westfield shopping center, was started by the school to help raise funds and is now so successful it is one of the main fundraisers for the school.
The idea for the school came from parent Pat Cleary and Muirfield High School principal, Peter Richmond. The market was held on the school grounds until Westfield management approached the school to hold the market in the shopping center's carpark. The space is provided by Westfield free of charge, and has been complementary to Westfield's recently initiated Sunday trading. On offer are goods and services ranging from software and computer equipment through to technical advice. The stalls are hired, set up, and administered by parents of students, and they provide a relatively cheap alternative to the vendors for high exposure and a good location.
Equipment for sale from non-trade, private owners is also encouraged, and will see a special pre-Christmas sale by the school's computer club members of used software and accessories. School students have also gained valuable work experience from working on some of the stalls.
Commenting on the market, center manager Kent Buck, said, "It is a very worthwhile, well-run community venture which obviously helps the Muirfield school and has proved an attraction for Westfield's Sunday trading customer. Muirfield is one of New South Wales' technology high schools, which offers a co-educational university-style approach to education in which computer technology is one of its prominent features. The school has a much higher than average presence of computer equipment, including over 100 Toshiba laptops, two computerized lathes, a 386-based computer in each staff room, and five 486-based workstations for CAD/CAM (computer aided design and manufacture). These facilities are also available for public use on a limited basis."
(Sean McNamara/19921023/Press & Public Contact: Muirfield High School, phone in Australia +61-2-872 2244)
uirfield High School, phone in Australia +61-2-872 2244)
10/26/92
Australia: School Raises Funds Through Computer Market
GENERAL
Australia: Computerized Tab On S
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- An extensive network of sensors distributed throughout the Sydney Water Board sewerage and water network will be used to help manage the Board's three main water and sewerage networks. The sensors and computer workstations worth AUS$27M, will service the Sydney, Illawarra (south of Sydney) and Blue Mountains (west of Sydney) systems.
The system is being installed by the local subsidiary of British firm Logica UK. Its functions will not be limited to control and may include tracing pollution sources. The sensors will be used in conjunction with the computer network to provide the Board with "remote control" abilities and efficiencies which are currently impossible.
Under the IICATS (integrated instrumentation control, automation and telemetry system), for example, the board will be able to organize its electricity usage better to take advantage of off-peak rates as well as improve customer service, call-out response, and increase efficiency in such operations as water pumping.
Bob Wilson, Sydney Water Board managing director, said sensors would be placed in pipes, sewers and sites such as dams and reservoirs which would require monitoring. The system will be based on similar networks Logica has installed for private water authorities in the UK, according to Logica managing director Carmel Gray. According to Board officials, this use of a pre-developed system reduced the costs and risks of the project as opposed to commissioning a custom-built network. Logica expects to have the network fully operational in 1995.
(Sean McNamara/19921023/Press & Public Contact: Sydney Water Board phone in Australia +61-2-269 6969)
oard phone in Australia +61-2-269 6969)
10/26/92
Australia: Computerized Tab On Sewers
Wireless Dispatch of Service Tru
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Many service technicians -- plumbers, heating and air conditioning, television repair -- are dispatched by two-way radio. But computing has taken service dispatching to the next level, transmitting service orders to trucks in the field via a wireless communications data link.
Equipped with a laptop computer, the next service technician who shows up at your doorstep may have an electronic version of your service order right on his computer screen. That's the concept behind Mobile Dispatch, an innovative service dispatching system introduced by Uniquest Incorporated.
In addition to the name, address, complaint and other service information, the system also tracks the dispatch and arrival times and information for the technician's next call. Uniquest says the system should improve productivity by an additional one or two service calls per day per technician.
The wireless data transmission portion of Mobile Dispatch is handled by Racotek's RacoNet communication service, transmitting and receiving data over a local radio tower over a standard voice channel between a Unix-based host computer and the technician's laptop.
Uniquest Chief Operating Officer Fred Goldsmith told Newsbytes anyone with local trucks -- elevator repairmen, plumbers, cable TV people -- can make use of Mobile Dispatch. Racotek provides the modems and other communications equipment, and the user pays a monthly charge for the service, said Goldsmith.
(Jim Mallory/19921023/Press contact: Roy Powell, Uniquest 904-363-0103)
t: Roy Powell, Uniquest 904-363-0103)
10/26/92
Wireless Dispatch of Service Trucks
TRENDS
UK: Mercury Claims 20,000 Subscr
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Mercury Communications has announced that 22,000 residential customers are signing up for its alternative phone network to British Telecom's services. Of the 22,000, around 13,000 are opting for the indirect service (via MCI and Sprint in the US), while the remaining 9,000 are signing up through their local cable TV company.
The cable TV signups are the most significant, since they can rely on Mercury's services for all their calls, both inbound and outbound. The September figures are three times those of April which indicates -- Mercury claims -- the level of penetration the company is making in the direct-to-home telecom marketplace.
So far, around 330,000 subscribers have signed to Mercury. The company claims that it is on target to reach two million customers by the year 2000.
Announcing the September statistics, Rod Attwooll, Mercury's managing director, said that Mercury is committed to offering a wide range of products and services, as well as attractive pricing to its subscribers.
"Our recent half-price phone calls to Australia initiative was a great success and underlines our commitment to innovative pricing. With expansion in all areas of our business we believe that we are providing direct competition to BT in all areas and offering an attractive and viable alternative for telecom customers in the UK," he said.
According to Attwooll, nearly 80 percent of the population of the UK can now access Mercury's network and services. Further expansion is planned -- to date UKP 1,900 million has been invested in the network with a further UKP 1,500 million committed over the next three years.
(Steve Gold/19921023/Press & Public Contact: Mercury Communications - Tel: 071-528-2181)
ct: Mercury Communications - Tel: 071-528-2181)
10/26/92
UK: Mercury Claims 20,000 Subscribers A Month
TELECOM
UK: Dataflex Design's Low-Cost M
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Dataflex Design has released a new generation of single chip mid-range fax modems -- known as the Pocket Gem series -- at very low prices in the UK.
Two versions of the modems, which are based on the Sierra single chip modem driver set, are available: UKP 159 for the data only unit and UKP 199 for the fax and data version. Each modem is available in PC card and stand-alone formats.
Phil Benge, the company's managing director, said that the modems are aimed at the low-cost unapproved modems that are currently flooding the market.
Benge said that he estimates sales of unapproved modems in the UK are now running at 15 percent, a figure that he sees as rising of the current price differential between approved and unapproved modems is maintained.
"Modems sold in the UK have been way overpriced for too long. This has created a grey market in unapproved modems which confuse the industry. Now, thanks to integrating three driver chips into one, an industry first, we're able to bring the approved modem price down," he told Newsbytes.
The Gem series represents a back-to-roots move for Dataflex. For the desktop version, in place of the previously seen "tombstone" shape, which Benge said is now the company's standard for its desktop and high-end portable modems, Dataflex is re-introducing the cigarette box-sized casing seen on the original Stradcom modem with its Gem series.
Both modems support all speeds between 300 and 2400 bits per second (bps), excluding 1200/75 bps, together with V.42Bis and MNP (Microcom Network Protocol) Class 5 error correction.
(Steve Gold/19921023/Press & Public Contact: Dataflex Design Tel: 081-543-6417)
c Contact: Dataflex Design Tel: 081-543-6417)
10/26/92
UK: Dataflex Design's Low-Cost Modem Family
TELECOM
New Product: Nview Adds To Proje
NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Nview has added a color liquid-crystal projector to its ViewFrame Spectra line of active-matrix LCD projection products.
According to Nview, the ViewFrame Spectra C uses the latest active matrix LCD technology and the company's proprietary electronics to display images in as many as 185,193 colors, with 640-by-480 resolution.
The device acts like an electronic transparency when connected to a computer and placed on a standard overhead projector. It can be used with IBM and compatible personal computers or with Apple Macintosh machines, including the Macintosh 12-inch RGB Color Display.
Spokesman James Kirkpatrick said the new unit uses a smaller LCD panel than previous models. The 8.4-inch panel delivers just as good an image, but costs less than the previous 10.4-inch panel, he said, helping to bring down the cost of the over-all unit. The complete projection unit is the same size as previous models, he added.
Using a new, enhanced-brightness, active-matrix LCD, company officials said, the Spectra C delivers superior image quality, a wide range of input compatibilities, and ease of use.
Nview said the projector can also display full-motion video with the aid of the company's Video Adapter. Introduced last February the $595 Video Adapter is an external device that lets Spectra C display images from a VCR or laser disk player
The new unit is priced at $4,495 and is available now, Kirkpatrick said. Nview products are sold through a worldwide network of authorized dealers and distributors.
(Grant Buckler/19921023/Press Contact: Alicia Blanchard or Peter Tibbetts, Nview, 804-873-1354; Public Contact: Nview Sales Support 800-736-8439 or 804-873-1354)
Sales Support 800-736-8439 or 804-873-1354)
10/26/92
New Product: Nview Adds To Projection Line
GENERAL
New For PC: Free Uncle Sam's Bud
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Attempting to balance the Federal budget is becoming a popular activity and reports are coming from around the nation from groups who role play the decision makers on Capital Hill. Now IBM and compatible personal computer (PC) owners can try it with a new program from Banner Blue Software called Uncle Sam's Budget Balancer.
Available for download on Compuserve or America Online, the program includes figures from the Congressional Budget Office to allow the user to modify the 1993 budget with over 300 options, Banner Blue said. Pros and cons for spending and revenue changes are described and changes you make immediately update the deficit.
Banner Blue said while the user can do it on pencil and paper like a group of citizens reported by the Rocky Mountain News who spent a morning balancing the budget, the $1 trillion dollar deficit is more easily and quickly updated by a computer. Also, the program spans a five-year period so users can see how long their effect takes place; in addition, they gain an understanding of how Congress makes appropriations Banner Blue representatives said.
Educational information on the budget process is included as well as history of the US budget and the federal debt. Banner Blue says a "find" command allows the user to locate topics in which they're especially interested.
While you'll probably get the budget balanced, you might be in for some surprises. Banner Blue's founder and president, Kenneth Hess, said one fact is the deficit for fiscal year 1993 alone is projected to equal $2,044 per taxpayer. And you might find it more challenging than you expect. While the Colorado group got the budget balanced, one Denver, Colorado resident was quoted by the Rocky Mountain News as saying, "It was harder than I thought."
Banner Blue developed the program as a public service and the program is freeware, meaning the company expects no payment for it. The program is compressed and requires the shareware utility PKZIP to expand it for use. SAM.ZIP is the name of the file and on Compuserve it's available on the Public Issues Forum and the Campaign Forum. On America Online from the 'Go To' menu select 'Keyword,' type "quickfind" and from the 'File Search Dialog' type "SAM.ZIP."
Fremont, California-based Banner Blue Software offers an organizational charting program for the Macintosh called Orgplus, and PC products Family Tree Maker and the Banner Blue Movie Guide.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921023/Press Contact: Sue Watkins, Banner Blue Software, tel 510-794-6850, fax 510-794-9152)
ue Software, tel 510-794-6850, fax 510-794-9152)
10/26/92
New For PC: Free Uncle Sam's Budget Balancer
New For Windows: Claris Ships Fi
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Claiming a large pre-order total of 10,000, Claris maintains it is now shipping FileMaker Pro 2.0 for Windows.
Daniel L. Eilers, Claris president and chief executive officer, said: "FileMaker Pro 2.0 for Windows provides all the ease-of-use power and productivity that Windows users want but have never had before in a database application....(and) is the right product at the right time for the booming Windows market."
FileMaker Pro 2.0 has four basic modes: "browse," "find," "layout," and "preview." The company claims that, by switching between these four screens, users can design a database, present and format data, search for records, summarize data, print reports and print mailing labels and envelopes. The company claims that at no point is it necessary to write a single line of programming language code.
To set up a database, users define fields from a central menu either with a mouse or using the keyboard. Fields can contain text, numbers, dates, times, sound, video, graphics, calculations or summaries, and can be changed at any time.
Using a mouse, users can drag and place fields and graphics anywhere within a layout for viewing, entering, and printing information. The company also says that data, graphics, and sound may be imported into FileMaker Pro databases from a variety of DOS, Windows, and Macintosh applications.
The company claims the product is "network ready out-of-the-box," and uses dynamic link libraries to support multi-user file sharing on networks running Novell Netware or AppleTalk protocols.
Files may be password-protected. Additionaly, a record-locking capability allows for data integrity and prevents simultaneous multi-user network conflict.
(Ian Stokell/19921023/Press Contact: Kevin Mallon, 408-987 7227, Claris Corp.)
ontact: Kevin Mallon, 408-987 7227, Claris Corp.)
10/26/92
New For Windows: Claris Ships FileMaker Pro 2.0
Fujitsu New Color LCD Offers Wid
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Fujitsu Laboratory has developed a new type of liquid crystal display (LCD) which, unlike existing LCDs, enables the user to see the screen clearly at almost any angle. It is just as clear and bright as current Braun tube-type displays, according to Fujitsu.
Fujitsu has created ball-type liquid crystals instead of the current rectangular-type liquid crystals on the surface of the LCD. The prototype version of the LCD is 10.4-inches and has 640 x 480 pixels. This new LCD provides users with a six times wider view of the screen. The user can see the screen image at 60 degrees from top or bottom, or right or left.
The latest LCD is based on TFT (thin-film transistor) and the Polymer Disperse technology. At a glance, these LCDs look like trays of frog eggs -- there is a round shell in each LCD capsule. The LCD liquid is stored in these round shells. These LCD capsules are laid out symmetrically diagonally and vertically.
The prototype color LCD is seen as having great potential for computing, as well as regular television broadcast reception. Fujitsu says another advantage of the technology is that it can make displays that are larger than existing LCD displays.
Sharp and Canon have each developed different types of LCDs, which can also be made larger than existing models. These displays are expected to be used for high definition television and TVs that are slender enough to be hung on the wall.
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- California-based hard disk maker Western Digital has launched into Japan where it will market a variety of disks including those for notebook-type PCs and pen-input type PCs.
Western Digital will sell its products through Western Digital Japan. The products include 3.5-inch hard disks for desktop PCs, 2.5-inch notebook-type PCs, and 1.8-inch pen-input type PCs. These hard disks can be built into personal computers.
The 2.5-inch hard disk has a 170-megabyte memory, which is one of the largest memories for this disk size. The 1.8-inch hard disk has a 40-megabyte memory and it can be used just like an IC card. This disk was jointly developed with Japan's Shin Nittetsu.
Western Digital is currently selling hard disks through Tokyo Electron and Matsushita Electric. The firm has also been selling the hard disks to computer makers directly on an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) basis.
Currently, Western Digital Japan has only 20 employees but it is planning to double personnel by March 1993. Also, the firm will move its office to a larger building. Western Digital Japan aims to make $100-million in hard disk sales by 1995. There is expected to be a high demand for low-cost hard disks in Japan due to the PC price war -- PC makers want cheaper hard disks in order survive.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921026/Press Contact: Western Digital Japan, +81-3-3791-2001)
ss Contact: Western Digital Japan, +81-3-3791-2001)
10/26/92
Japan: Western Digital Pushes Sales Of Hard Disks
BUSINESS
Japan: Microsoft Enters Multimed
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- The Japanese office of Microsoft hopes to develop multimedia home electronics products jointly with major Japanese electronics firms. Although discussions are to start with electronics firms soon, Microsoft is not publicly discussing any potential new products coming from the alliances.
According to the Nikkei newspaper, one of the products on Microsoft's drawing boards is a hybrid small computer/fax machine. Others include an electronic notebook, game machines, and a hybrid telephone. All of these products have multimedia features which support pictures, voice, and some interactive data. Also many of these products have Modular Windows operating systems.
Microsoft is seeking alliances with major Japanese electronics makers including Sony and Matsushita Electric. The first meeting is slated for early next year, according to the published report. It is expected that these firms will talk about possible products at this meeting. If all goes well, an agreement may also include the distribution of the future products.
Apparently, Microsoft is being spurred on by the alliance between Apple and IBM. Apple has already developed a small information terminal called the Newton. AT&T and Hewlett-Packard have also linked with Japanese electronics firms and are planning to develop home electronics information products.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/1992102692/Press Contact: Microsoft Tokyo, +81-3-3363-1200)
/1992102692/Press Contact: Microsoft Tokyo, +81-3-3363-1200)
10/26/92
Japan: Microsoft Enters Multimedia Home Electronics Market
TRENDS
International Telecom Update
x ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Brazil and Kuwait continue to make international telecommunications headlines.
Brazil's Telebras monopoly announced that The Bank of New York was chosen as its depository for a new ADR facility. American Depository Receipts are the rough equivalent of shares in foreign companies, which are subject to regulation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Unlike regular shares, ADRs don't carry voting rights, which are held by the depository agency. The ADRs will trade on the over-the-counter market.
Telebras owns local and long distance telecommunication providers in each of Brazil's 28 states and the Federal District. The company's subsidiaries own about 95 percent of all public exchanges and over 90 percent of the nationwide network of local telephone lines. Telebras is the most actively traded stock in Brazil, typically accounting for over 50 percent of the total trading volume on the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange.
Companies like Telebras are seen as the big market for the 90s by equipment suppliers like AT&T. AT&T is seeing its sales rise throughout Latin America by over 10 percent each year, and anticipates it will be its largest overseas market by 1997 surpassing Europe and Asia. Latin American economies are growing three times faster than the US economy, and could help the US overcome its current economic problems, and its long distance revenues are growing there as well. AT&T has also taken a small stake, about 5 percent, in Venezuela's CANTV system -- GTE holds the largest stake there. AT&T hopes its investments can help it complete more calls from the US to Latin America, thus raising domestic profits.
Kuwait, meanwhile, moved closer to privatizing its phone network which will be called Kuwait Telecommunications when it starts offering shares in 1994. Foreigners are expected to be able to get just 25 percent of the new company, with local investors taking the majority stake and the government retaining a one-quarter interest. The nation's cellular system is already privately held.
Finally, Jordan's security agencies placed into service a network built by Northern Telecom of Canada, while France said it will make loans to aid the public network in that kingdom.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921026/Press Contact: Northern Telecom, John Callahan, 703/712-8511; Michael M. Pascale, Bank of New York 212-495-1041)
Bank of New York 212-495-1041)
10/26/92
International Telecom Update
TELECOM
Resurgens-Metromedia Merger
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- The US may have a new number-four long distance system, once regulatory and shareholder approvals are completed on the reverse-merger of Resurgens Communications of Atlanta and Metromedia Communications.
Technically, Resurgens is acquiring Metromedia Company's Metromedia Communications subsidiary. In fact, Metromedia will wind up with most of the stock in the new company, according to Resurgens chief financial officer, H. Hobart Corwin, who discussed the deal with Newsbytes. "Metromedia is not public right now. The idea is that the new company will include all of Metromedia communications. They can be public by acquiring Resurgens. The surviving company would be public." He adds, "We don't know the timing -- we have yet to finalize the definitive merger agreement."
The combined revenues of the companies are anticipated to be in excess of $500 million, which would make it larger than LDDS and Advanced Telecommunications, which are also in the process of merging.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921026/Press Contact: Resurgens Communications Group, John D. Phillips, 404/261-6190)
hn D. Phillips, 404/261-6190)
10/26/92
Resurgens-Metromedia Merger
TELECOM
Wordstar Offers Jokes, Writing B
CORRECTION: DAK Offers $199 Rola
Russian Windows Database
UK: Micrografx Photomagic
Andrew Grove Finally Names New I
Israel Featured In First Comdex
Rabbit Software Signs New Distri
AT&T Offers Information Services
Lotus Revenues Slide, But Earnin
New For Networks: SynOptics Net
Sprint Outage Headlines Long Dis
Hongkong: Digital Opens 1st Alph
AT&T Establishes Network for Go
Telxon Finishes Wal-Mart Contrac
Toshiba Intros 1.2GB 3.5-Inch Wi
Borland Devaluation Over-reactio
India: Wipro Enlists Software De
First 66 MHz 486 Computer For Un
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Lightning Computer has announced shipment of a computer billed as the first 66 MHz 486 PC to be priced at under $2,000.
Available by mail order for $1,995, the new Lightning Omnicache 486DX comes standard with a 170 MB hard drive, 4 MB of RAM (expandable to 32 MB), 64K of cache (expandable to 256K), an SVGA monitor, a Windows accelerator, and a 1.2 or 1.44 MB floppy drive among other features. For additional fees, the system can be customized with options ranging from drives and monitors to accelerators and memory boards.
In an interview with Newsbytes, Rick McCabe, president, said that the under-$2,000 base price is made possible through volume sales spurred by the recent selection of the company's 25 MHz 486DX computer for a PC Magazine Editor's Choice award and Lightning's subsequent decision to focus all efforts on the 66 MHz 486DX.
McCabe told Newsbytes that Lightning was founded in 1990 to build low-priced, high-performance PC workstations for direct sales to government users, and later branched out into mail order sales to end users and VARs.
"Larger mail order houses sell a range of 486 machines: 25 MHz SX 33 MHz DX, 50 MHz DX. They find it necessary to set spaces between the price points. But we said, `The heck with that. We'll just price of our 486DX 66 so low that users won't want to buy anything else.' In OEM quantities, there's only a $200 difference between the 486DX 33 and 66, anyway," he commented.
The SVGA monitor that comes standard with the Omnicache offers 1024 x 768 resolution. The Windows accelerator, a product of Paradise/Western Digital, offers 1 MB of RAM and operates at 10 to 13 Winmarks.
Other standard features consist of an eight-slot ISA bus motherboard with AMI BIOS, a full-sized chassis with six drive bays and a 250-watt UL power supply, a heat sink for cooling, an 101-key enhanced keyboard, and a combination card with IDE, FDD, two serial ports, one parallel port, and one game port.
A second floppy is available for an extra $60. Further options include EISA and a local bus, a 256 MB memory board, disk options to 56 GB, graphics accelerators, tape drives, CD-ROMs, fax/modems and large monitors.
Lightning Computers also claims to be the first company to have shipped a 50 MHz 486 system, with initial units delivered in May 1991.
(Jacqueline Emigh/19921026; Press contact: Rick McCabe, tel 415 543-3111)
ress contact: Rick McCabe, tel 415 543-3111)
10/26/91
First 66 MHz 486 Computer For Under $2,000
New For PC: Russian Language Too
India: Hinditron Signs Handful O
Toshiba Releases World's First 1
Australia: PC OEM Signs Up For W
New For PC: Central Point Anti-V
Japan: NEC/AT&T Create Semicondu
Datacraft Australian Sales Down,
Interpreter Intros Portable CD-R
Intel's Processors Will All Slee
Vodapage Intros Pre-Coded Paging
IMM Buying SCS Mobilecom, Spread
New Hitachi HDS Semiconductor Di
New For Macintosh: Inline Design
MCI Mail Announces Fax Reply, In
New For Macintosh: Multimedia Le
Stacker 3.0 For Windows/DOS Offe
Easel, Enfin Software Complete M
Infomart Will Open For Networld
486 Computer For Un
IBM Canada In Co-operative Proje
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- IBM Canada has announced it will help with projects to develop math and science literacy in Canadian schools. The company has announced six projects with school boards in three provinces.
IBM's contribution will be in the form of equipment, software, and employee time, not cash, company spokesman Mike Quinn said.
In honor of Canada's recent Science and Technology Week (October 16-25) IBM Canada unveiled the six projects in Quebec, Ontario, and Saskatchewan.
There will be more such projects, Quinn said, and IBM Canada is working on one involving several school boards in British Columbia at the moment.
In Quebec, IBM Canada will work with the CS Jerome-Le-Royer School Board to set up a facility aimed at promoting efficient use of personal computers in science education. With the aid of the Faculty of Education at the University of Montreal, students at Pointe-aux-Trembles secondary school in Montreal will experiment with new computer tools meant to create a richer learning environment.
Four projects were announced in Ontario.
The Durham Board of Education, near Toronto, plans a project to incorporate computers into its teaching of math and science.
The Simcoe Board of Education, in central Ontario, will work with York University's Department of Astrophysics and the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop a multimedia application dealing with space exploration.
The Wentworth Country Board of Education, southwest of Toronto will study learning outcomes in math, science, and technology, with an emphasis on student assessment of learning outcomes and literacy.
The Middlesex Country Board of Education in southwestern Ontario will take the lead in creating a Technology Leadership Centre which will also involve the Elgin County Board of Education and Roman Catholic School Board, the London and Middlesex County Roman Catholic School Board, and the Oxford County Board of Education. The goal is to create a program for learning for teachers in math and science.
In Saskatchewan, the Regina Catholic School Division will evaluate a resource-based learning system against a single textbook. The project will focus on applying technology in the Grade 10 science program.
IBM Canada is already working with the Province of Nova Scotia and the faculties of education at six universities across the country to try to promote math and science literacy and apply technology in the classroom.
(Grant Buckler/19921026/Press Contact: Mike Quinn, IBM Canada 416-474-3900, fax 416-474-3409)
Quinn, IBM Canada 416-474-3900, fax 416-474-3409)
10/26/92
IBM Canada In Co-operative Projects With Schools
Neural Net Software For Animatio
PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- The Company of Science and Art (CoSA) is working with Infinite Graphics, using technology developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to develop neural-network-based software for animation.
The software would make it possible to create a view of an object from any angle by interpolating between existing views, explained Bill O'Farrell, president of CoSA. It will use neural network technology, in which a program "learns" from examples.
O'Farrell said the technology could be applied to animation and to multimedia applications such as computer games. Probably CoSA will license it to companies that can use it in their product, he said.
Products using the technology can be expected some time in 1993 O'Farrell said, adding that CoSA cannot be any more specific than that at the moment.
Company spokesman David Tecson said more details are likely to be announced early in the new year.
The technology is based on work done by Dr. Tomaso Poggio, an MIT professor.
(Grant Buckler/19921026/Press Contact: David Tecson, CoSA 401-831-2672, fax 401-831-2675)
David Tecson, CoSA 401-831-2672, fax 401-831-2675)
10/26/92
Neural Net Software For Animation Being Developed
TRENDS
Key Tronic Sells PC Case Busines
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Key Tronic Corporation says it has sold its notebook computer division to Phoenix, Arizona-based Advent Technology Inc.
The division manufactures notebook computer keyboards and cases. Terms of the cash deal were not disclosed. Advent said it will begin immediately to manufacture and market 386 and 486-based notebook computer cases as well as other hard plastic enclosures for the electronics industry. Key Tronic had been supplying enclosures to Compaq, IBM, and Apple Computer.
Larry Thompson, Advent Technology president, says the deal gives Advent the opportunity to become a major participant in the supply of enclosure packages to manufacturers of notebook computers.
Advent spokesperson Paul Daniels told Newsbytes Advent has moved the entire facility to Phoenix, where they will eventually add about 10 employees. Daniels said the cases will be manufactured in Phoenix then shipped to Canada or Singapore for the addition of a motherboard and other components to make a complete 386 or 486SL-based notebook computer system. Daniels said Advent expects to begin shipping by the end of November. The PCs may carry the Advent name or another private label such as Insight or Fast Micro. The company also plans to market a color notebook system.
This will be Advent's first venture into notebook computer manufacturer, Daniels told Newsbytes. He said prices will be in the $2,395 range, and will be marketed through a nationwide distribution chain.
Key Tronic reported that it lost $5.2 million in the fourth quarter even though it was the third consecutive quarter of positive income. A $6.2 million non-recurring charge for restructuring was blamed for the loss. For the full fiscal year, which ended July 4, Key Tronic reported a net loss of $7.5 million, or $0.96 per share on net sales of $124 million. It lost $7.7 million on sales of $142 million the previous year.
Key Tronic also replaced its chief executive officer in March. The new CEO, Stanley Hiller, said the company started fiscal 1993 with a strong balance sheet and minimal long-term debt.
In October, Key Tronic announced it would close its printed circuit board facility on December 9, after it was unsuccessful in attempting to find a buyer. About 95 employees will be affected by the closing. The company said it expected to be able to find other jobs for about half those people.
(Jim Mallory/19921026/Press contact: Kurt Conklin, Key Tronic 509-928-8000, Paul Daniels, Advent Technology, 602-993-4184)
s, Advent Technology, 602-993-4184)
10/26/92
Key Tronic Sells PC Case Business
BUSINESS
Software Execs Back Clinton
PORTLAND, OREGON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Executives of more than 30 software companies announced today that they will endorse Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton's presidential campaign.
The announcement was made at the Clinton/Gore headquarters in Portland by members of the "Oregon Software Company Executives For Clinton/Gore." After the public announcement, a closed meeting was held by some of the CEO's with Tom Schneider, Clinton's recently appointed science and technology policy advisor; Clinton policy advisor Bill Halder; and Tom Brugerre, president of Mentor Graphics and chair of he political organization, a source told Newsbytes.
Other software industry leaders participating include Charles Boesuenberg, Central Point Software CEO; Barb Kaplon, VP, marketing and sales at Step Technology; Bill Battin, Logic Modeling president; John Calhoun, Creative Multi-media president; Blue Sky Research President Bill Hall; Dan Hammerstrom, chief technology officer at Adaptive Solutions; and Jim Hullcraft, Software Professionals president.
Also included in the roster of Silicon Forest company executives endorsing the Democratic candidate are Steve Ballmer, executive vice president at Microsoft Corporation, and Mentor Graphics senior adviser Bill Halder. The announcement was made at a press conference in Portland, Oregon today. Ballmer said it's important to realize that his endorsement is a personal one not to be construed as an endorsement by Microsoft. Microsoft does not endorse candidates or political parties. "The key priority is to get the economy moving again, manage the deficit, and create jobs. The Clinton/Gore technology policy will provide us with a good framework for the future," said Ballmer.
Clinton has already received the backing of a number of high-technology computer industry executives in California's Silicon Valley, including some who have been Republican candidate supporters in past elections.
The Democratic Party is making substantial gains in voter registration in nearly every part of the US except the south. Voter registration is considered a key indicator of political strength by political experts.
The most dramatic gains have been in West Coast states and the Rocky Mountain region, traditionally Republican strongholds. In Colorado registered Democrats now outnumber Republicans by about 3,000. In Wyoming Democratic registrations increased by about eight percent while Republican strength remained constant. In California, with 54 electoral votes, Democrats added 1.2 million new voters since early February, about twice the number of new Republicans. California Democrats now account for 49.1 percent of the electorate, while Republicans have dropped to 37 percent, according to information released by California Democratic Chairman Phil Angelides.
(Jim Mallory/19921026)
(Jim Mallory/19921026)
10/26/92
Software Execs Back Clinton
GENERAL
Hope For Linking Disparate Email
WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- X.400 is a standard that is supposed to let you link your electronic mail to anyone else in the world. The trouble is, X.400 is incredibly complicated. So not many people use it. The follow-on directory standard, X.500, is years away. But many users can't wait.
MaxCom USA, which makes private e-mail systems, and Vector Directory Services, which offers a database of X.400 addresses will join forces at the Electronic Mail Association convention this week to announce a plan for converting one's clients customers, and friends addresses, no matter how arcane, into a form that's more friendly. Maxcom is providing X.400 connectivity through Infonet Services Corporation's worldwide system.
President James Astle of MaxCom explained how it works to Newsbytes. "If you have access to X.400," and most users of public networks like MCI Mail do, even if they don't know it "just write us a note requesting our help." The X.400 address for such requests is us,infonet,vector,direquery but Astle acknowledged you may need help from your public mail service to get it to understand that X.400 address.
Astle said the company is working on bringing up access to Internet and its worldwide addressing scheme through SprintLink and that system should be online shortly. "The whole belief is to facilitate the effort of connecting to the X.400 world," he said. In MaxCom's own public service, all this is done simply by fronting the address with @x400, making the complete address for information @x400,us,infonet,vector,direquery. The company is also building a special screen in its public service to let users create their own X.400 addresses for clients and others. The result will be private directories of X.400 addresses that, when combined with others, can help build what the X.500 directory standard only promises, which is simple access to any public mail service, or private LAN mail system, in the world.
Once you make an inquiry, Vector will process it and deliver information about who to contact at other corporations to set up an e-mail connection, what kind of e-mail system they operate their gateway capabilities, and their operating policies. Vector currently has listing information on corporations with over 1.2 million users of e-mail in the US, including companies using X.400, Internet, and MHS Hubs. "Vector's directory service of corporations act as a global yellow pages that supports store and forward business applications for intercompany activities while maintaining corporate privacy and security," says Bill Wolfe director of marketing for Infonet.
The primary purpose of all this is to gain experience with query by-mail formats, and to provide e-mail system management information to the industry when X.500 is still years away. "Giving users access to Vector's database is a first!" Astle adds. "E-mail managers increasingly need to know how to connect via e-mail with new trading partners. Making Vector's database more widely available makes it easier for e-mail managers to set up inter-company communications."
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921026/Press Contact:James C. Astle, MaxCom USA, 617-890-8822)
t:James C. Astle, MaxCom USA, 617-890-8822)
10/26/92
Hope For Linking Disparate Email Services
TELECOM
Survey: Lack Of Back-up Policies
ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- A new study sponsored by 3M claims that two-thirds of US intensive business personal computer users are either unprotected by formal data safeguard policies or unaware of their existence.
The company maintains that, as a result, "Much of the nation's critical personal computer-based business information remains open to any number of prolific 'data destroyers,' from natural disasters to computer viruses, from hardware failure to human error."
The study was conducted for 3M by Austin, Texas-based research firm, IntelliQuest. More than 800 "intensive" PC users were surveyed.
Only 32 percent of those responding to the survey said that their companies had a formal data back-up policy in place. Interestingly eleven percent of those companies with policies said that safeguards were not regularly enforced.
The lack of back-up policies contrasts considerably with the importance that many users place on their data, with 55 percent of respondents claiming the files stored on their hard drives are "critical to their personnel success." Twenty-eight percent of those backing up do so as a result of an "experience" with data loss -- either their own or someone else's. In the survey, 98 percent of those responding said they believed that backing up data was at least as important today as it was a year ago.
Michael Stevens, director, 3M Data Storage Tape Technology Division, said: " The fact is, both PC usage and data volumes have seen explosive growth, but attitudes about data haven't changed. Although PCs have become repositories of absolutely vital corporate assets, companies haven't yet taken the necessary steps to stop chronic, preventable data losses."
Interestingly, he also said that, "It's telling that computer hardware is measured by MFBF -- mean time between failure. Failure is literally written into the spec sheet and assumed to be inevitable."
The study estimates that data loss is costing US businesses an "aggregate of nearly $4 billion annually, through accidents negligence, human error, or natural disasters."
The company maintains that a designated individual must be made responsible for backing up corporate data. Said Stevens "There simply won't be a corporate commitment to back-up policy without designating a responsible individual. If you haven't identified that person, you haven't got a working policy or a total commitment to protecting your corporate data investment."
Stevens concluded by saying, "The old saying has never been more appropriate -- there are two types of data: data that's been backed up, and data that hasn't been lost yet."
(Ian Stokell/19921026/Press Contact: Larry Teien, 3M 612-736-5961)
1026/Press Contact: Larry Teien, 3M 612-736-5961)
10/26/92
Survey: Lack Of Back-up Policies Endanger Firms
TRENDS
Disney Sound Source Adds Drivers
` $ BURBANK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 26 (NB) -- Walt Disney Software is gearing toward the business and home office markets with its stand-alone battery powered sound peripheral, the Sound Source, which the company announced is now shipping with support for Windows 3.1.
Geared originally to the entertainment and children's software market, the Sound Source is a low-priced $49.95 peripheral that plugs into the computer's parallel port. Company representatives told Newsbytes the Sound Source isn't trying to be the best quality sound peripheral, but was designed to offer low priced sound better than the PC's speaker to take advantage of the sound capability of games.
The Windows sound driver now included with the Sound Source will work with Windows 3.1 or Windows with Multimedia Extensions, enabling use of the Sound Source for applications which support Microsoft's WAV sound file standard and Object Linking and Embedding (OLE). In addition, the company says it is including a library of 40 sound clips for adding audio to business documents.
Those who already have the Sound Source can download the new driver for Windows from the company's electronic bulletin board if the user has a modem. For those without modems, the software driver and sound clip library can be ordered from Walt Disney Software for $9.95, which includes shipping and handling.
The emerging interest in sound for the IBM and compatible personal computer (PC) running Microsoft Windows has sparked the introduction of a number of sound products, including one from Microsoft itself. New interest is emerging in sound products that don't require the user to open the PC to add sound and that can be easily moved from one computer to another.
Media Vision has announced a pocket-sized portable sound peripheral and Interactive has announced Soundxchange, that also runs from the parallel port but is designed like an office telephone for privacy when the user wants it.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921026/Press Contact: Kirk Green, Walt Disney Software, tel 818-973-4015, fax 818-846-0454; Public Contact, BBS 818-567-4027, Sound Source Software Drivers 800 688-1520; Michael Pulizzi, Interactive, tel 605-363-5117, fax 605-363-5102; Claire Merriam, Media Vision, tel 510-770-8600 fax 510-770-8648 Public Contact 800-348-7116)
-770-8648 Public Contact 800-348-7116)
10/26/92
Disney Sound Source Adds Drivers For Windows
Apple Australia Cuts Prices Agai
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- It's new model time for Apple and in Australia the company has reduced the RRP of many models by an average of 17 percent.
The reductions apply to machines from the bottom Classics to Quadras. The Classic II 2/40 was AUS$2595 and is now AUS$1995 (around US$1430). Other models reduced include the LC II, IIsi, IIci Quadra 700 and 950, and the PowerBook 100.
Other items reduced include printers, the OneScanner, AppleCD 150, Ethernet cards, Quicktime starter kit, and System 7 group upgrade. "Reducing our recommended retail prices provides more aggressive price points across the Mac range and will enhance our competitive market position," said David Strong, managing director of Apple Australia. "This year Apple has seen solid gains in market share, unit share and overall revenue growth while many of our competitors have struggled to maintain their position. We intend to continue our offensive posture by attracting new customers through competitive pricing, excellent products and unmatched value."
Apple hasn't released the Performa range in Australia, but observers believe it will soon announce a deal with a leading Australian department store group.
(Paul Zucker/19921009)
e group.
(Paul Zucker/19921009)
10/9/92
Apple Australia Cuts Prices Again
APPLE
Everex Cash Crunch: Subsidiary S
NEC Broad-Band Four-Megabyte Vid
Client/Server Version Of MarketP
Microsoft To Host Two Windows De
Sprint, Centel Get Serious About
EMC: International Focus Credite
Review of: Amazing Universe, CD-
MCI Stock Downgraded
ALR Cuts 100 Jobs, Intros New Pr
New For Networks: SynOptics Diag
Sony Develops World's Smallest C
Russia: Software Protection Bill
Hope For Linking Disparate Email
Wireless Dispatch of Service Tru
Law Against Cellular Scanners Pa
Another Photo Stock Agency To Us
Symantec To Purchase Virus/Secur
New For Unix: Wordperfect Markup
ADDLESTONE, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- Wordperfect has announced that Markup, the company's Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) conversion program for Sun SPARC workstations running Unix, has entered the final beta test stages.
Plans call for a fourth quarter shipment of the finished product with a DOS version being readied for a first quarter 1993 release, according to the company.
So what does Markup do for computer users? In use, the package allows documents -- as well as text files -- to be converted between Wordperfect and the SGML formats. The SGML data format is fast becoming a de facto standard among SPARC workstation applications software companies.
Not that Markup stops there -- the package also allows document conversion between Wordperfect and MS-Word, Word for Windows Wordstar, Multimate, Ami Pro and Displaywrite formats, all of which can also be converted to SGML file formats.
Unlike DOS and OS/2 file format converters, moving data to and from the SPARC workstation environment means that a lot more information, including tags and special formatting commands, must be included. While some Unix applications will import ASCII files, much of the formatting information is lost. Markup gets round this problem by allowing the user to edit a file as it is converted, so as to prevent any problems occurring, once the file is loaded into an SGML format application under Unix.
Wordperfect claims that the look and feel of Markup's editing mode is very similar to that of Wordperfect. Text attributes such as bolding, underlining, and centering are maintained to preserve the documents visual appearance. Files converted from SGML format are not stripped of their Unix format codes. Instead the tags are replaced by passive function codes which are brought back to operation when the file is passed back into SGML file format.
Pricing on Markup for Unix/SGML has yet to be announced. Formal shipment details will be announced shortly, the company says.
DORKING, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- The organizers of the Astair '92 conference and exhibition, which takes place in London from November 9-11, have announced firm details of the event to the press.
As reported previously by Newsbytes, the aim of the conference is to introduce anyone involved with or interested in the air transport industry with the latest computer hardware and software systems available.
Sponsors of the event include Lufthansa, LIS (a company that offers electronic data processing systems to the air travel industry) and Symbolics Systemshaus, a German systems house.
According to Astair, other sponsors of the three-day event, which takes place at the exhibition center at One Great George Street in London, include Prolog System, which will showing applications of its software at the show; plus Swissair Cargo, which claims to operate one of the most sophisticated cargo information systems in the air travel industry.
One company that plans to show its technology at the event is Marconi Radar and Control Systems. According to the company, with the increasing amount of surveillance carried in modern times there is a growing need for automatic or semi-automatic methods of processing the resultant data.
GEC Marconi & Control Systems will be demonstrating its technology that uses this data at the Astair '92 event. Video and live demonstrations of the company's systems used with a Boeing 737 will be shown at the exhibition. The technology on show at Astair '92 will be the culmination of four years intensive research and development, the company claims.
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- Hewlett Packard (HP) says it will offer November 1 a new laser-quality printer that allows simultaneous black and color printing. The new HP printer is called the HP Deskjet 550C for IBM and compatible personal computers (PCs) and the HP Deskwriter 550C in the Macintosh version, HP added.
The new printers offer 300 dots-per-inch (dpi) resolution and use HP's thermal ink jet technology, the company said.
Two print cartridges held simultaneously allow for the printing of true black and color on the same page, HP maintains. Dual cartridges also mean printing of a text and color page is up to four times faster with a speed of 3 pages per minute for text and 4 to 7 pages per minute for color and text. Actual print speed depends on the application and the density of the ink according to HP.
Up to 16 million colors can be printed, depending on the software used, by dithering the three process-color inks (cyan magenta, yellow) in the print cartridge. A color matching system is offered for both the Macintosh and PC printers to match the colors on screen to the colors printed.
Software drivers for Windows 3.1 and 3.0 ship with the HP Deskjet 550C for PCs and for Macintosh users the HP Deskwriter 550C comes with a Quickdraw software driver that uses Intellifont font-scaling technology. The software included also allows for the screen to paper color matching, HP said.
The PC version of the software supports Windows scalable fonts and Truetype fonts. In addition, under DOS the printer adds portrait Univers, landscape Letter Gothic, and portrait CG Times sizes to the fonts available previously on the HP Deskjet 500C printer. All available fonts are offered in plain, bold italic, bold-italic in multiple sizes, HP said.
Macintosh users get the same 35 scalable fonts found in the Apple Personal Laserwriter NT and NTR printers. Time Helvetica, Courier, Symbol, ITC Avante Garde Gothic, ITC Bookman, New Century Schoolbook, Palatino, ITC Zapf Chancery and ITC Zapf Dingbats are the fonts included, the company said.
DOS users will find they can print ASCII text in red, green blue, cyan, magenta, yellow, and, of course, black. Color printing of ASCII text is a new feature in the HP Deskjet 550C HP said.
The company says both printers allow printing on wider paper than traditionally possible including envelopes and executive size ( 7 1/4-inch by 10 1/2-inch) paper. Automatic envelope feeding, as well as automatic feed of letter, legal, A4 and executive paper sizes are accomplished via a new paper handling mechanism with a tray that will hold 100 sheets of paper. The tray will also hold 100 sheets of transparency film or 20 envelopes, HP said.
The new printers are list priced at $1,099 and HP says it has lowered the price on its HP Deskjet 500C and HP Deskwriter C printers from the former $1,095 list price to $799, effective now. HP says it offers a three year warranty on all the Deskjet and Deskwriter printers mentioned.
HP has lead the industry for some time with is line of laser printers for the desktop printing market. The company has also announced a portable ink jet printer small enough to fit into a briefcase yet with a print resolution of 300 dpi also set for release in November.
Palo Alto, California-based HP boasts 90,900 employees and revenues of $14.5 billion in 1991. The company also manufacturers workstations, PCs, calculators, and a line of scientific, test, and measurement tools.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921008/Press Contact: Jeremy James, Hewlett Packard, tel 619-592-8438, fax 619-592-8129; Public Contact Hewlett-Packard Co., Direct Marketing Organization, PO Box 58059, MS511L-SJ, Santa Clara, CA 95-51-8059, tel 800-752-0900)
1L-SJ, Santa Clara, CA 95-51-8059, tel 800-752-0900)
10/9/92
HP's New Color Printers Simultaneously Print Black
GENERAL
Parallel Fuzzy Processor From Ok
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- Oki Electric says it has developed a fuzzy processor chip with a parallel processing feature. This chip has data processing power similar to that of human brain, according to Oki, which plans to release this chip, a world's first, in November.
Oki's fuzzy chip, called the "MSM91U112," has multiple processors which can process data simultaneously. As a result, the processing speed is extremely fast -- 25 kilo FLOPS (floating point processing per second) or 25,000 inference calculations per second.
Oki had the assistance of researchers from Kumamoto University in the development of this chip's architecture. The chip was created using top-of-the-line CAD (computer-aided design) and 1.2 micron CMOS processing technologies.
Oki's chip is equipped with inference and calculation features meaning that users do not need basic software or application programs according to Oki. All users have to do is to set the rules according to each usage.
This chip is expected to be applied to industrial equipment and information processing devices which require super-fast data processing.
Oki will start shipping the beta version of this chip November 1, and plans to go into mass production of the chip by March 1993. The firm is preparing to ship a whopping 120,000 units per month. The retail price of the chip will be 2,500 yen ($20).
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921009/Press Contact: Oki Electric 81-3-3501-3111)
/Press Contact: Oki Electric 81-3-3501-3111)
10/9/92
Parallel Fuzzy Processor From Oki Electric
TRENDS
CompuAdd Touch-Screen POS Termin
Portable MIDI Sound Unit For Mac
New For PC: Software For Grassro
Australia: AOTC's Chairman David
Thinking Machines Supercomputer
Australia: BHP Installs On-line
Sega CD Introduced On TV In NY's
Silicon Valley Woes Addressed At
AT&T Releases Hobbit Chips, Sett
German Telecom Authority Cuts Mo
Ziff Forms Ziff Institute
New For Macintosh: Expert Office
Australia: Federal Govt Will Not
Microsoft UK Claims Word For Win
New For PC: Speakerphone For Win
leases Multimedia PCs In J
Parallel Fuzzy Processor From Ok
First 66 MHz 486 Computer For Un
Apple Changes Russian Distributo
L MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- As earlier rumored, a new authorized Apple distributor was appointed in Russia, replacing the Intermicro joint venture. The new distributor is the RUI company, which will sell Macintoshes in Russia, Byelorussia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania and Armenia.
The contract between Intermicro and Apple expired on September 30th, and the new appointment was announced five days later.
As Newsbytes reported a month ago, RUI is a 100% Western-owned company incorporated in Moscow, Russia. It is headed by James Guidi who, in early 1990, founded Apple's Independent Marketing Company for Czechoslovakia TIS, now Apple's most successful distributor in Eastern Europe.
"The key to success in developing new markets lies in the implementation of Apple's strategy by a local team of professionals with expertise and understanding of the local market," Guidi was quoted as saying.
Guidi's deputy, sales division manager for large and institutional accounts, Nicolaj Fedoulov, was until recently vice president of Merisel Russia.
Apple is said to be using localized hardware and software made by a number of development teams in Moscow. According to the official press release, the availability of Russian language software and Apple products spurred Apple's sales in several sectors, such as car manufacturing, and business and publishing, during the first year of distribution of Apple products in the Russian market.
Another source says that first year sales made by the Intermicro joint venture were not that successful, and it probably was the reason why Intermicro lost its exclusive status, although it remains one of Apple's leading value-added resellers.
RUI said it plans to appoint distributors in other former Soviet Republics. Ukraine and Estonia were dropped from the list of countries where RUI is expected to work. Newsbytes was told that sales in Estonia will be made from the nearest Finnish outlet, and some other arrangements will be made for Ukraine, the second largest republic in the former Soviet Union.
RUI is located in downtown Moscow at 8, Moskvina Street, 103772 Moscow Russia. Contact phone +7 095 229-1136; fax 229-7411.
(Kirill Tchashchin/199201008/Press Contact: Cecilia Ghivarello of Apple Computer Europe, Paris, 33-1-4901-4901, or Jennifer O'Mahony of Apple Computer, 408-974-0643)
ny of Apple Computer, 408-974-0643)
10/9/92
Apple Changes Russian Distributor
APPLE
Japan: ASCII Announces Rationali
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- Deficit-ridden ASCII Corporation in Japan has announced a rationalization plan to improve the firm's financial situation. This plan will be backed up by six major Japanese banks.
The plan calls for the sales and scrapping of subsidiaries and pay cuts for board members. ASCII's rationalization plan, still provisional, includes other drastic measures. The firm will retreat from its satellite telecommunication business and its venture with a Chinese firm.
ASCII will sell or scrap several affiliated firms, which are currently operating in red and there is no hope of recovery in the near future. These firms include ASCII-China Software, Personal Satellite Telecommunication Network Planning and ASCII Air Network. Interestingly, ASCII Air Network is a heliport's operating firm and it has nothing to do with personal computers or telecommunication. ASCII will also sell off its real estate in overseas. Another plan is to cut the firm's 100 employees by next April. Currently, total number of ASCII's employee is 747. ASCII expects to cut 500 million yen ($4 million) per year in this reduction. Also, ASCII will concentrate its offices in Aoyama. ASCII has currently a number of offices in Tokyo and they are scattered. With this rationalization ASCII eyes to reduce the rent by another 500 million yen per year.
Meanwhile, ASCII will retain its equity in 11 firms including software firm Informix
All these rationalization plans are expected to go far in reducing ASCII's 32.2 billion yen ($270 million) debt.
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- The Information Technology Division of Intecos, a Delhi-based consultancy organization, has tied up with the United States-based Quality Assurance Institute (QAI), claimed to be the world's largest organization dedicated to quality for the information systems industry.
Formed in 1980, QAI is a service-oriented institute that shares quality assurance methods, tools, techniques among its more than 1000 member organizations like IBM, AT&T, Citibank, Coca Cola, Kodak, and Xerox. The companies hail from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.
In India, Citicorp Overseas Software Ltd. (COSL) is already a member. This tie-up will also allow Intecos to avail QAI's three volume quality assurance manual for various related formalities.
QAI also provides certification services at individual levels -- a company can get to be a certified quality analyst (CAQ) by fulfilling the necessary criteria. As a forum for quality improvement, the organization conducts conferences, seminars, video training programs and provides in-house training and support.
To mark the agreement, a series of seminars on implementation of a software measurement program and total quality management for software functions was recently organized.
With the impending possibility of a unified European market despite the current tangles, Indian companies are increasing warming to the ISO 9000 certification for quality, declared as mandatory for exports into Europe.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19921007)
into Europe.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19921007)
10/9/92
India: US-Based Quality Group Enlists Firm
BUSINESS
Another Photo Stock Agency To Us
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- Another professional stock photo agency has signed on to market its photos on Kodak's recently announced Photo CD.
Kodak recently introduced Photo CD, a technique for 35mm photos to be stored on a special compact disk (CD) for later viewing on a television or editing on a personal computer equipped with a compatible CD-ROM (compact disk-read only memory) drive.
Photo stock agencies manage huge quantities of photographs shot by professional photographers, marketing the pictures to potential users like magazines, for a percentage of the fee.
The newest agency to put its catalog on a Photo-CD is Westlight said to be one of the largest stock photo agencies in the world. Kodak is hedging its bets by marketing Photo-CD for both amateur photo storage and for professional image catalog purposes. A recent Newsbytes story reported that one commercial photo finisher, with laboratories across the country, had installed the special equipment necessary to store the photos on compact disk.
Because of Photo-CD's multi-platform capabilities, Westlight's catalog will be available for viewing on IBM-compatible or Apple Computer's Macintosh computers. Special search software will be included to search for specific types of images. Once an art director, graphic designer, or multimedia producer selects an image the original is ordered from the stock agency.
Westlight's first Photo CD catalog disk will contain 3,000 images and is expected to be available in late October.
(Jim Mallory/19921009/Press contact: John Boal, Alpern Laner & Strong for Westlight, 310-478-1877; Reader contact: Westlight 800-872-7872)
Another Photo Stock Agency To Use Kodak's Photo-CD
GENERAL
Texas Instruments Intros New Chi
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- Texas Instruments (TI) says it has started selling samples of a new microprocessor it developed jointly with Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation.
The company says the chip, which is selling in sample quantities for $500 and is expected to reach volume production in the fourth quarter, will sell for $179 per chip in 10,000-unit lots.
According to TI the chip, dubbed microSPARC, will allow computer manufacturers to product smaller commercial workstations at a much lower cost, making workstations competitively priced with advanced personal computers (PCs) but offering superior performance. The single chip reportedly combines the features usually found in companion chips with the SPARC-compatible processor currently used in the majority of workstations. More features on a single chip means smaller commercial workstations can be produced more quickly at a much lower cost, according to the TI announcement.
"In the near future, businesses desiring workstation performance will be able to choose among a variety of systems in the same price range as a high-end personal computer," said Wally Rhines, executive vice president, TI semiconductor group.
"With microSPARC, we met the challenge of workstation manufacturers who wanted reduced size, cost and chip count while maintaining workstation performance and ease-of-use," Rhines said.
The microSPARC processor sets a new standard for next generation low-cost full-function workstations, according to Mark Johnston executive vice president of Axil Workstations, a division of Hyundai Electronics America. "microSPARC will allow us to deliver low-cost systems that will be able to run the entire base of SPARC applications."
This marks the second in a series of products jointly developed by TI and SMCC. SuperSPARC, announced in May, is an advanced RISC microprocessor for the newest generation of workstations and is already in volume production. In addition, the two companies say they are developing very high-performance, next-generation extensions of SuperSPARC.
(Jim Mallory/19921009/Press contact: Rickie Rosenberg, TI 713-274-2262)
Rickie Rosenberg, TI 713-274-2262)
10/9/92
Texas Instruments Intros New Chip
GENERAL
Infomart Will Open For Networld
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- Attendees at Networld next week will have the opportunity to combine business with conviviality when they visit Infomart Tuesday evening.
Executives at the 1.6 million square foot technology center say it will open its doors to Networld attendees from 5PM to 8:30PM Tuesday, October 13th to show the latest in networking products and technologies.
Jeff Anderson, Infomart director of corporate communications, says more than a dozen vendors will be hosting hospitality receptions for Networld attendees. Anderson said the highlight of the evening will be the demonstration of true multi-vendor connectivity using the facility's own building-wide data communications network, MartNet.
Anderson said more than 10,000 person-hours have gone into the planning, development, and implementation of the MartNet since it was introduced one year ago. An advisory council representing Apple Novell, IBM, NCR, and Xerox has worked for eight months to resolve such issues as communications protocols, security, and availability of the various vendors equipment used in the network.
InfoMart spokesperson Alan Weinkrantz told Newsbytes that MartNet includes 700 nodes on its fiber optic network, connecting resident companies, trade show halls, conference rooms, and an auditorium. MartNet supports Ethernet and Token-Ring topologies, and will soon support FDDl, according to Weinkrantz.
Weinkrantz said bus transportation will be provided from Networld. A Networld badge is required for admittance, said Weinkrantz.
(Jim Mallory/19921009/Press contact: Jeff Anderson, Infomart 214-746-3605)
tact: Jeff Anderson, Infomart 214-746-3605)
10/9/92
Infomart Will Open For Networld Attendees
GENERAL
Toshiba Intros 1.2GB 3.5-Inch Wi
T IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- Toshiba America Information Systems Inc., Disk Products Division has introduced a new 1.2GB (formatted), 3.5-inch Winchester disk drive that the the company claims is one of the first of that capacity to ship in volume.
Karen Allen, spokesperson for the company, told Newsbytes that the MK-538FB is manufactured in the company's San Jose California, facility and is available immediately. She added that: "It's an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) product, but I also believe it's being sold through distribution as well."
The company says that the 90,000-square-foot San Jose facility began operation in the second quarter of 1991, and is the headquarters for all Toshiba high-capacity 3.5-inch hard disk drive design, development, and manufacturing.
Dave Tovey, vice president marketing, hard disk drives, TAIS DPD said: "The MK-538FB represents the second in our family of high-capacity, high-performance 3.5-inch Winchester disk drives. It follows the field-proven performance and reliability of our 877MB MK-438FB drive."
According to the company, the MK-538FB combines a 12 millisecond (ms) average seek time with 512 kilobytes (KB) of on-board cache memory. The eight-platter drive also features an in-built SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)-2 controller and supports a 10 megabyte (MB)/second data transfer rate.
The drive uses only 10 watts of power. The company also claims that the drive is already qualified with all major controllers and is Novell NetWare and SPARC certified.
The MK-538FB comes with a three-year warranty is priced at $2,395 in single quantities. It is available immediately both directly and from Toshiba distributors. Said Tovey: "As manufacturing volumes continue to increase, we expect the MK-538FB will be the first high-capacity drive to break the $1-per-megabyte barrier for large OEMs (original equipment manufacturers)."
In terms of target market, Allen also told Newsbytes that the drive "...would be used in workstations. In PCs, probably ones that were looking for graphics...(and)...high capacity storage. It could also be used as a file server as it is Novell certified. It is also Sparc-verified." Additionally, it could also be used for disk arrays, she added.
(Ian Stokell/19921010/Press Contact: Karen Allen, The Benjamin Group, 714-753-0755)
: Karen Allen, The Benjamin Group, 714-753-0755)
10/9/92
Toshiba Intros 1.2GB 3.5-Inch Winchester Drive
GENERAL
Law Against Cellular Scanners Pa
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- With almost no fanfare or opposition, Congress passed and President Bush is expected to sign a law banning certain types of radio scanners. The scanners in question are those which can be easily modified to listen-in on cellular phone frequencies.
Such scanners have been used in the past by electronic "peeping Toms," but also more seriously by business and political spies. The most notorious case of such a use came in Virginia, where eavesdropped conversations of Gov. Douglas Wilder about Sen. Charles Robb spurred a running feud which hurt both men. From now on such scanners will not be able to get Federal Communications Commission certification, and can't be sold.
While there have been laws against listening to cellular calls since 1986, scanners which could pick up those frequencies have not been outlawed until now. The only prosecutions under the 1986 law have involved taped conversations that became public. But now, scanners capable of picking up cellular frequencies are themselves illegal.
The law anticipates the coming conversion of US cellular networks to TDMA or CDMA digital standards by also banning digital converters which could descramble conversations on those systems. The bill also requires that operators of caller-paid 900 numbers give consumers more details on charges before demanding payment.
But 37 state attorneys general called for further action on the 900-number front. They charged that some marketers are luring consumers into calling 800-numbers, which tell the consumers to wait for the marketer to call back. The return calls may be charged to consumers at a rate of up to $4 per minute, the officials said. Pennsylvania Attorney General Ernie Preate said that, once consumers are connected by a schemer to a toll-free line, they may get the victim to hit some buttons or charge for staying on the line to get further information.
Another scam noted by Wisconsin officials is switching consumers between the toll-free 800 exchange and the caller-paid 900 exchange without their knowledge. The attorneys want the US government to ban the use of toll-free lines by pay-per-call telemarketers.
A spokesman for the FCC told Newsbytes the agency began holding hearings with the industry today. The hearings are aimed at seeing what can be done to halt those abuses.
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- The FCC granted tentative approval for three "pioneer preferences" on microwave based PCN phone systems, and moved to increase competition in the US telecommunications market from international phone companies.
American Personal Communications, which is 70 percent owned by the Washington Post, along with Cox Enterprises and Omnipoint Communications, were given the preferences. A total of 53 other applicants were turned down, and might be expected to press their cases in court. APC was named for its spectrum-sharing techniques, Cox for links to its own cable television systems and Omnipoint for new techniques that would promote still other new services and developments.
British firms are most likely to benefit from a mutual agreement the FCC proposed to let their companies into the U.S. provided they maintain open home markets. The agency said it would also ease its rules on "dominant" carriers, on a route-by route basis, if those carriers let US companies into their markets. That would mean ending discrimination between how their own outgoing calls are handled and how incoming calls from other carriers are handled. The change was requested by AT&T, which fears letting carriers like Deutsche Telekom into the US market when it can't get recipricol access to the German market.
Among the beneficiaries will be US companies like Global Net Link of Lakewood, Colorado, a service bureau which can link international offices of US companies to their home offices at claimed savings of 80 percent over using local carriers.
In other action, Fonorola and EMI Communications were authorized to sell private line and switched telephone services, using satellites, between the US and Canada, because equivalent opportunities are available in Canada. And regulators approved the setting aside of frequencies for satellite-delivered digital radio. Before Satellite CD Radio, the only applicant for the license can get into business, however, it must raise $200 million launch a satellite in 1996, and receive final approve to offer 30 channels of commercial-free music at $5-10 per month. Another small company, Afrispace, wants to use similar technology to beam commercial radio broadcasts internationally. The National Association of Broadcasters opposed that action, claiming it could put them out of business. They prefer to be given the rights to offer digital radio on a local basis.
Finally, the FCC asked AT&T to better explain how they can use credit cards on pay phones. The problem is new AT&T cards can only be used at pay phones linked directly to AT&T, unless special access numbers are used. The long distance competitors had complained about the new card. In the long run, the FCC wants to find simpler ways for consumers to use the credit card of their choice at any pay phone without entering the codes.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921009/Press Contact: FCC Press, 202-632 5050; Carl Rogers, Global Net Link, 303-988-3003)
Rogers, Global Net Link, 303-988-3003)
10/9/92
FCC Moves on PCN, Foreign Competition
TELECOM
International Telecom Update
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- US companies continue to expand their international influence.
NYNEX said it has a 13-year contract to publish the Czech Yellow Pages and White Pages. NYNEX' Mediatel subsidiary is now the "real Yellow Pages" publisher for SPT-Praha, the Czech national telephone company. NYNEX bought Mediatel from Deficom of Belgium in 1991.
Ameritech extended its control over Telecom Corp. of New Zealand by naming two of its executives to the company's board. Ameritech and Bell Atlantic hold 69 percent of the company's outstanding share capital.
Over the Atlantic, MCI turned on a VSAT satellite network for Holiday Inns Worldwide, the hotel chain owned by the Bass Group of England. The network carries data over the Intelsat VI satellite, and will be used to link the chain's US data center to reservation information in 400 Western Europe hotels. General Motors' Hughes Network Systems unit did the actual work.
In Mexico, Telmex ordered two more Ultraphone systems, for $2 million. The International Mobile Machines Ultraphone uses digital TDMA technology and a fixed base station to deliver the equivalent of wired phone service to rural areas. To date, total Ultraphone orders from Telmex are worth $24 million. Southwestern Bell, which owns 11 percent of Telmex, is a big booster of the TDMA technology over a competing standard called CDMA.
Elswhere in Latin America, Compania de Telefonos de Chile said it could take 40 percent of that nation's long distance market if allowed in . CTC, a public company which is 43.6 percent owned by Telefonica de Espana of Spain, is trying to get into a market dominated by Empresa Nacional de Telecomunicaciones, known as Entel. CTC wants Chile's Congress to liberalize its telecommunications law, claiming it could offer lower prices.
Also, Brazil said its privatization efforts will continue following the replacement of impeached president Fernando Collor by vice president Itamar Franco. Privatizing state agencies including the Telebras phone monopoly would raise capital that can lower the country's foreign debts. Still, Brazil's stock market has been falling in value since the power transfer.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921009/Press Contact: Judy Blake, Hughes Network Systems, 301-428-7113; FAX: 301-428-1868; David L. Smith IMM, 215-278-7831; NYNEX, Neil Connors, 508/762-1329; Ameritech Mike Brand, 312/750-5219)
tech Mike Brand, 312/750-5219)
10/9/92
International Telecom Update
TELECOM
DEC Breaks Ground For Semiconduc
HUDSON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- Digital Equipment has broken ground for what it said will be one of the world's most advanced semiconductor plants. The 526,000-square-foot factory will produce future generations of Digital's Alpha 64-bit microprocessor.
Scheduled for completion in 1994, the plant is currently the largest privately funded construction project in Massachusetts. Manufacturing of Alpha products in Hudson will begin in 1996, DEC officials said.
Company spokesman Richard Price told Newsbytes earlier that the cost of the plant is estimated at about $425 million.
Robert E. Caldwell, DEC's vice-president of semiconductor operations, hosted a ground-breaking ceremony. Massachusetts Governor William F. Weld, Lieutenant Governor Paul Cellucci, Hudson Board of Selectmen Chairman Joseph Durant, and Digital President and Chief Executive Officer Robert B. Palmer also attended.
In his remarks Palmer called Alpha the foundation of a sound business strategy into the next century, and said the company's investments in semiconductor technology will form the basis for leadership in open systems.
Earlier, in his inaugural speech as DEC's president and chief executive on October 1, Palmer cited the Hudson plant as an example of his company's intention to focus on "core competencies," including semiconductors.
Code-named Fab-6, designating the sixth version of Digital's semiconductor fabrication operation, the project includes a three-storey building of about 434,000 square feet, a separate utility building of 82,000 square feet, and 8,800 square feet of underground tunnels.
Fab-6 is adjacent to the current semiconductor facility which will produce the first two generations of Alpha products. The older plant will be converted for administrative purposes when the new building is complete.
Because of the complexity of making chips, Price said, "it is more cost-effective to build a new facility than to retrofit an old one."
Digital also makes Alpha chips in South Queensferry, Scotland.
(Grant Buckler/19921009/Press Contact: Richard Price, Digital Equipment, 508-493-2743)
ard Price, Digital Equipment, 508-493-2743)
10/9/92
DEC Breaks Ground For Semiconductor Plant
GENERAL
Easel, Enfin Software Complete M
BURLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- Easel Corporation have completed a merger announced in August. Enfin has become Enfin Technology Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Easel.
The deal gives Enfin shareholders 652,018 shares of Easel common stock and Enfin option holders the right to purchase 293,422 shares of Easel common stock. The total value of the transaction is about $7.8 million, the companies said. The merger is being accounted for as a pooling of interests, resulting in one-time additional expenses of $1 million to $1.5 million in the third quarter of 1992.
As previously announced, Peter Eichhorst, currently the president and chief executive of Enfin, will become senior vice-president of Easel and president of the new subsidiary. He will report to R. Douglas Kahn, president and chief executive of Easel.
Easel, based in Burlington, is the maker of Easel Workbench, a software development environment meant for creating client/server applications. Enfin, based in San Diego, offers Enfin/2 and Enfin/3, sets of visual programming tools for programming in the object-oriented language Smalltalk in client/server environments.
Easel will continue to sell and support both companies' products officials said. The company said it is committed to continued development on both product lines and the Easel and Enfin development teams will begin to work closely on the sharing of features between the products. Longer term development will focus on interoperability between the product lines.
Enfin Software employs 40 people and had annual revenues of about $3 million in 1991. Easel has about 275 employees and reported revenues of $28.3 million last year, a spokesman said.
(Grant Buckler/19921009/Press Contact: Douglas Clauson, Easel 617-221-3088, fax 617-221-3099)
, Easel 617-221-3088, fax 617-221-3099)
10/9/92
Easel, Enfin Software Complete Merger
BUSINESS
Virtual Reality Signs Financing
PLEASANTVILLE, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- Virtual Reality, Inc., has announced a financing agreement with the Staubach Group of Wiesbaden, Germany, which has agreed to raise a minimum of $4.5 million for VRI through licensing, joint venture arrangements and equity financing.
No details of the transaction terms were disclosed. Once the Staubach Group has obtained the financing, VRI officials said, the company plans to apply for listing on the over-the-counter NASDAQ stock trading system.
Virtual Reality's core technology group currently designs and manufactures high-resolution graphic displays and optics critical elements in virtual reality -- for the medical entertainment, and education sectors.
Officials said the agreement will allow VRI to accelerate and expand its high-resolution three-dimensional display work. The company will also be able to go beyond creating components and develop and market complete virtual reality systems, a spokeswoman said.
VRI expects to take advantage of the Staubach Group's international affiliations to license and market the virtual reality systems now in development. The company expects to deliver its first multi-component virtual reality prototype systems to the medical and entertainment industries by January.
VRI was launched in January, 1991. Its chief executive officer is Nelson Merritt, who was technical director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Apollo Mission Simulator Program and a pioneer in virtual reality.
The Staubach Group is headed by Dr. Rainer Staubach, an international corporate lawyer and merchant banker who has arranged more than $75 million in financing.
(Grant Buckler/19921009/Press Contact: Valerie Shields, Shields Communications for VRI, 312-489-6072; Public Contact: VRI 914-769-0900)
072; Public Contact: VRI 914-769-0900)
10/9/92
Virtual Reality Signs Financing Deal
BUSINESS
ROUNDUP: Stories Carried By Othe
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- Roundup is a brief look at some computer stories carried in other publications received here this past week.
November's Boardwatch Magazine lists nearly 500 BBS in Connecticut and explores the right and wrong way to put images online legally.
The October 5 InformationWeek looks at Digital Equipment's problems and new direction.
Software Magazine for October says that Travelers insurance is successfully reengineering old COBOL code to reduce mainframe costs.
CommunicationsWeek dated October 5 reports that users of Open Shortest Path First protocol are finding that the present crop of routers are not easy to integrate into existing systems.
October's High Tech Marketing News says that personal computer makers are combating the recession by spending a lot more on advertising. Zeos spent $18 million in the first half of 1992, up 44 percent; DEC bought 1,383 pages for $28 million, up 108 percent, and Gateway 2000 doubled its spending on ad space.
Computer Reseller News for the week of October 5 says that 486 sales are soaring so high that Compuadd and Leading Edge will both stop making 386s.
Global Telephony for October 5 looks at the problems facing those who want to migrate to broadband data transmission.
The October 27 issue of PC Magazine tests super-light subnotebook computers.
IEEE Spectrum for October explores pervasive e-mail in the office and also looks at fuzzy logic.
(John McCormick/19921009/)
ooks at fuzzy logic.
(John McCormick/19921009/)
10/9/92
ROUNDUP: Stories Carried By Other Media This Week
GENERAL
HP To Eliminate 2700 Jobs
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- With an eventual target of about 2,700 employees leaving the company by early 1993, Hewlett-Packard has begun offering a voluntary severance-incentive (VSI) program to employees in selected job categories. Two thousand of that number will be in the United States.
HP intends to take a charge of approximately 40 cents per share in the fourth quarter of its 1992 fiscal year, which ends October 31, to cover the costs of the VSI program and related facilities consolidations.
Mary Lou Simmermacher, spokesperson for HP, told Newsbytes that: "The sign-up period will be from November 30 through January 6, and most people will leave by early 1993. Some people may stay around until April if they have projects to finish."
The company says that the VSI program in the United States includes six months' pay plus one-half month's pay for each year of HP service to a maximum of 12 months' pay. That figure varies according outside the United States.
Simmermacher told Newsbytes that HP is offering the program to: "...specific pockets of jobs in all our major business organizations. It is really very focused on specific pockets." She added that she could not give specifics until all the employees eligible had been notified. She also declined to name specific US locations affected.
John A. Young, HP president and chief executive officer, said: "The VSI program is one of a number of workforce balancing and expense-control options that we've used in the past to help manage the changing needs of our business. Programs like this have proven to be successful and equitable ways to adjust our employment."
Said Simmermacher: "We have used these programs in the past and they have been very successful. We expect this one to be successful too."
In an added effort to reduce costs, many of the company's US operations will close for three working days during the December holidays. Additionally, some international operations also will close for the holidays. Employees in the United States will be required to take paid vacation December 29, 30 and 31 along with paid holidays December 25, 28 and January 1.
(Ian Stokell/19921009/Press Contact: Mary Lou Simmermacher Hewlett-Packard Co., 415-857-7794)
-Packard Co., 415-857-7794)
10/9/92
HP To Eliminate 2700 Jobs
BUSINESS
Telxon Finishes Wal-Mart Contrac
AKRON, OHIO, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- Financial markets expressed concern as Telxon completed a major project with Wal Mart Stores. Telxon, a leading maker of bar code readers linked to wirelesss LANs using spread-spectrum technology, finished installing such networks based on its Dataspan 2000 system in all of Wal-Mart's 1,804 stores nationwide. As a result, concern was expressed on Wall Street concerning Telxon's December quarter along the lines of "what can they do for an encore."
Telxon won its award from Wal-Mart in February, and has since supplied what amounts to a wireless, portable data transaction system in each store, consisting of a central processor, a spread spectrum communications controller, 8-16 Telxon terminals with bar code scanners, and spread spectrum radios from Telesystems SLW of Canada, which Telxon bought earlier this year. Wal-Mart uses the system to verify prices, manage inventory and order merchandise from anywhere in the store, linked to an in-store computer running under Unix under the TCP/IP protocol. Each wireless LAN is connected through the Unix-based systems from NCR or Hewlett-Packard to Wal-Mart's satellite data network. Telxon said it's the largest such installation in the world.
Telxon officials, meanwhile, have announced revised earnings estimates for the quarter ending in September from 30-36 cents per share to 24 to 28 cents per share. Revenues were about $66 million dollars. The price of the stock fell from $20 to $17 in advance of the revision on Thursday.
The company blamed delays in the completion of some sales, and the negative impact of foreign currency fluctuations, primarily in Italy, for the lower estimate.
Another statement from the company is due later today.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921009/Press Contact: Julie L. Ganim, Telxon 216-867-3700)
ulie L. Ganim, Telxon 216-867-3700)
10/9/92
Telxon Finishes Wal-Mart Contract
TELECOM
Miniscribe Executive Settles Wit
DENVER, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- A former executive of now defunct Miniscribe has settled his case with federal regulators and agreed to pay a $20,000 penalty. The Longmont, Colorado resident was accused of participating in a scheme to ship bricks labeled as computer parts, and is the eighth Miniscribe official to reach an agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In a suit filed last year in US District Court in Denver, the SEC claimed executives of the Longmont-based disk drive company performed a three-year charade with MiniScribe's financial statements. The commission accused MiniScribe of shipping bricks as finished disk drives and breaking into accountants' locked trunks. MiniScribe filed for bankruptcy protection in January 1990. It later was sold to California's Maxtor Corp.
This settlement, which has to be approved by federal court permanently bars him from violating certain securities laws including those against manipulation and falsifying accounting records. It also calls for him to repay $37,022, representing losses he avoided by selling the company's stock before its price collapsed. However, the court has waived all but $20,000 on the basis of the man's inability to pay."
The accused executive, formerly head of Miniscribe's in-house computer operations, neither admits nor denies guilt in the settlement. An internal report prepared by the company's outside directors identified him as one of seven employees who packed the bricks on Dec. 19, 1987. The seven other defendants have agreed to repay $139,402 in losses they avoided, plus interest, along with civil penalties of $99,885. The SEC wants the other defendants to repay nearly $250,000 in bonuses regulators say were fraudulently obtained and $2.3 million they avoided losing on MiniScribe stock.
(Jim Mallory/1921009)
iScribe stock.
(Jim Mallory/1921009)
10/9/92
Miniscribe Executive Settles With Feds
India: Tandons, Tatas Among Expo
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- The Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC), under the Indian Government's Department of Commerce, has recently honored electronics hardware and software exporters for their outstanding performance in the year 1989-90 and 1990-91.
Tata Unisys Ltd. (TUL), Ramtech Industries Ltd., Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Eastern Peripherals Ltd. (of the Tandon Group) and Weston Electroniks Ltd. were recognized for their export performance in various sectors.
TCS, the largest Indian software house, has bagged the highest exporter award for software and services category. It achieved a turnover of Rs 1.3 billion ($4.3 million) from software exports alone in 1991-92. Among the major orders was a Rs 200-million contract from Sun Life Insurance Society of UK. Ramtech Industries Ltd., a Calcutta-based 100 percent export-oriented unit was honored for highest exports in the small scale industry (SSI) sector for 1989-90 and 1990-91.
Eastern Peripherals Ltd, a member of the Tandon group, tops the list of hardware exporters in the FTZ/100 percent EOU category. Over a decade, Tandon India has emerged as the largest manufacturer and exporter of computer hardware and has exported over 15 million floppy disk drives, 8 million Winchester head stacks, 2 million switched mode power supplies and over one lakh computer systems to countries like US, Europe, Singapore and Thailand. While TUL got the distinction for software and services in the non-SSI category for 1989-90 and 1990-91, Delhi-based Weston Electroniks Ltd. bagged the credit for consumer electronics exports.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19921008)
nics exports.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19921008)
10/9/92
India: Tandons, Tatas Among Export Leaders
BUSINESS
India: Accounting SW May Go Abro
BANGALORE, INDIA, 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- Peutronics, the aggressive promoter of Tally, the codeless accounting software, is now seriously exploring markets abroad to push its single product.
According to Bharath Goenka, Peutronics's proprietor, the potential markets for Tally would be Middle East and Africa. While the marketing details are still being worked out, Goenka hopes to pick up about Rs 9 million from exports this year.
Tally, so far on DOS and LAN (Netware), is also in the process of becoming a multi-platform package. Tally release 5 would be available on Unix, OS/2 and Macintosh platforms by next year. Goenka expects those version to be ready by the end of first quarter next year, though deliveries would begin only by late 1993.
The market today is flooded with codeless accounting packages most of them priced much below Tally. "This," says Goenka, "has not made much of a dent into our market. In fact, it has helped our sales cycle" He claims there are instances where Peutronics has sold Tally to customers using E-X of Tata Consultancy Services (which is similar to Tally in many ways and costs one-third the price of Tally). TCS has been on a constant marketing blitz for E-X (E-X's byline reads: "Everything else is complex").
Still, the less-than-half-a-million-dollar-earner Petronics gives a formidable competition to the Tatas' E-X.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19921009)
E-X.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19921009)
10/9/92
India: Accounting SW May Go Abroad
BUSINESS
Radius Cuts Price On MultiView 2
Apple Computer Ships System 7.1,
Metz Task Manager Users Get Bonu
You Too Can Find Employees By Co
New For Macintosh: Swamp Gas Vis
Phone Earnings, Including AT&T,
Review of: Miracle Piano Teachin
Australia: Qantas Offers Disaste
NHK Develops HDTV Conversion Met
Mobile Phone Security Survey Res
Digital Design Combines 6 Office
New For PC: Microsoft Musical In
New HP 600 DPI Lasers Cost Less,
IBM, Marcam Announce Alliance
Japan: ASCII Announces Rationali
Microchip Prices Soar
Lotus Announces Two Notes Deals
Japan: NEC & Kodansha Develop Su
India: Accounting SW May Go Abro
India: Wipro Enlists Software De
BANGALORE, INDIA, 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- With the launch of its Software Solutions Partnership Program (S2P2), Wipro Infotech is now poised to make greater inroads into the manufacturing and commercial market segments -- two segments where Wipro is yet to establish a lead over its rivals.
The S2P2 program has been designed more or less along the same lines as Sun Microsystems' Catalyst Program (Sun is Wipro's collaborator in India). Under the program, Wipro Infotech would enter into an arrangement with software companies where the latter would develop software on Unix V.4 and Unix V.4 MP and mostly Wipro's own hardware platforms. Wipro would be providing these companies a range of services which include information services joint marketing programs, and migration services. Marketing support allows the software companies access to Wipro's own channels and migration services imply migration paths from MS DOS to Unix V.4, IBM to mid range Unix, VMS to Unix SVR4, Ultrix to Unix SVR4 and AIX to Unix SVR4.
To enable software developers to port their software on to the target platforms, Wipro Infotech has established a porting center in Bangalore at a cost of Rs 40 lakhs. The porting centre is equipped with Intel, Sun and Tandem platforms. Unix, Sun OS/Solaris, Guardian and SCO figure largely in its menu of operating systems.
A key strength of S2P2 is number of endorsements Wipro has managed for the program. Besides Unix international and SCO Wipro has got endorsements from Oracle, Unify, Ingress and Sybase which account for all the major RDBMSs available on Unix. The porting center has all the four RDBMS. The company is yet to take a decision on whether to charge its partners for the facilities at the center. "We would let our partners under S2P2 decide that," says Sudhir Sethi, marketing manager, Wipro Infotech.
Offering Wipro platforms at concessions to the partners is another aspect where S2P2 emulates Sun's catalyst program. Another major incentive for the developer is in the form of subcontracting the software portion of Wipro's own projects to S2P2 signatories. The S2P2 agreement is non-exclusive in nature.
Though the primary thrust of S2P2 would be in the areas of commercial and manufacturing segments where integrated systems are preferred, Wipro is examining a variety of other areas. "We are looking at a number of other niche segments," explains Sethi "we will venture into every segment where there is a good business opportunity."
Recently Wipro had organized a high-level presentation on the program which was attended by as many as 75 managing directors of various software companies in the country. Wipro is confident of getting a good response for the program. A similar program launched by Wipro's rival Digital Equipment India Ltd a few years ago met with a fair amount of success and the program helped the company pick up a couple of good orders. If precedent is anything to go by, Wipro must be able to leverage S2P2 to bring in big business.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19921009)
g business.
(C.T. Mahabharat/19921009)
10/9/92
India: Wipro Enlists Software Developers
Review of: What's my Angle? Educ
Runs on: IBM compatibles - 80286 @ 8 MHz or higher with 640K RAM
PUMA Rating: 3.5 (on a scale of 1=lowest to 4=highest)
Reviewed for Newsbytes by: Naor Wallach
Summary: A program that teaches geometry through the use of real life situations and miniature golf games. This program is a good tutor in geometry.
======
REVIEW
======
What's my Angle is a course on Geometry taught to 14-year-olds and older. This product cannot really be called a game as there are relatively few game-like elements. However, it also cannot be called a purely educational utility as it tends to take a somewhat light hearted approach to the teaching of this subject.
What's my Angle is really five programs in one. All of the programs emphasize certain elements that a student must achieve in order to completely learn the subject. The program's goals is to teach one full year's worth of high school geometry within the confines of the program. Does it succeed?
As a program that is intended for teenagers, this program practically overflows with little touches intended to keep interest high. For instance, in several games, you are supposed to help some of the characters achieve a desired result. Let us say that Anthony the Athlete needs your help to score a touchdown. The help by solving the problem given to you. Figuring out angles and distances on the football field is sure to draw the attention of some of the teen crowd.
The program is very colorful and there are even moments when sounds are played to increase the level of interest.
The five activities are called GeoBoard, GeoLife, GeoConclusions GeoProofs, and GeoGolf. Each of these activities has a difficulty level that can be tailored to one's level of achievement.
GeoBoard lets you draw various shapes and deduce various data from the form with the computer's help. This is a very easy way to introduce concepts encountered later on and is useful also for some theorem testing. GeoLife is the game cited above that puts day-to-day situations to the test.
GeoConclusions requires drawing and the ability to support conclusions from given data. GeoProofs requires one to unscramble the proof and establish items in their correct order. Finally GeoGolf is kind of the highlight of the program. This is a computerized version of miniature golf which proves to you how important angles and the understanding of geometry can be in a real life situation.
Even without running through windmills and other common miniature golf attractions, it quickly becomes apparent that geometry is very useful in this instance.
The program comes on both 5.25 and 3.5-inch diskettes. Both types of diskettes come with Davidson's installation and uninstall programs. When it comes time to take the program off your computer, the uninstall program goes in and completely cleans up. This is done extremely well and is a shining example of how such programs should work.
There is also a 40-page manual which goes through every detail of the program's operation and options.
At the beginning of this review, I posed the question as to the efficacy of this type of program. After playing with it for a while I've come to the conclusion that it does work. It is important to realize however that this program is not really a game. If you are discussing the use of this program with a recalcitrant teenager, I would certainly hold back on emphasizing the game aspects of the program. On the other hand, those game elements will tend to draw the student into the program and keep them interested in the program to use it some more.
This is definitely a program that emphasizes learning. The practical aspects of the subject are a bit contrived but much less than the standard types of problems that one is given in the traditional high school. All in all I think this is a useful program that fulfills its function relatively well.
===========
PUMA RATING
===========
PERFORMANCE: 3 The program ran very smoothly on my machine. However some of the "delays" are perhaps a tad too long as on occasion I found myself ready to get on with the next activity only to be forced to wait.
USEFULNESS: 3 This program focuses on its task to such a degree that I cannot see it being used "just because."
MANUAL: 4 Very well written with no typos or errors. Contains all the information that is needed to play the game. Also contains several extras that are nice to have.
AVAILABILITY: 4 I found it in several software stores and saw it advertised in some mail order firms' catalogs. There is also an 800 number of orders and a separate one for customer support.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- Los Angeles, California-based Digitalk, developer of Smalltalk/V says it has come out with PARTS Workbench, a product for object-oriented programming that can turn existing code in languages like Cobol into an object that can then be used to build an application.
Newsbytes saw the Parts Assembly and Reuse Tool Set (PARTS) technology and like most object-oriented programming applications, the programmer draws lines between icons "parts," that represent functions to build a program. The main difference between PARTS and other object-oriented languages is PARTS has parts for "wrappering" existing code, such as Cobol code on a mainframe, so it can be turned into an object and addressed by an object-oriented front end such as IBM's OS/2 or Microsoft Windows.
While none of this capability eliminates the need to know how to design a program, the need to know what the Cobol function does, and the information about where the variables in the program get their values (from user screen input or passed from another Cobol program), PARTS does allow for less technical expertise in the mechanics of program building.
Custom parts can also be built in Smalltalk/V for addressing specific needs, such as "wrappering" Fortran, Basic, or Pascal code; talking to certain types of modems or networks; or performing repetitive functions or calculations done by certain organizations such as insurance companies.
Digitalk says the parts can be built by a programmer with expertise in the particular application and then used by everyone in the organization, so code building is consistent and a function is the same across the organization. Currently code is often built by different groups in a large company who don't talk to each other and nothing is standard. When a change has to be made to a certain function, say the company alters its form design, the entire suite of programs for addressing those forms has to be rewritten by each group.
The actual PARTS Workbench itself is an impressive product elegantly designed, and it takes advantage of the object oriented environment. Newsbytes saw a dial connected to a slider on a graph and the slider and graph were both connected to an Excel spreadsheet using dynamic data exchange (DDE) under OS/2 2.0. The sample application reflected any change the user made using the mouse and sliding the slider on the graph in real time on the dial and in the spreadsheet. The reverse was true as well, meaning a change in the spreadsheet moved the slider and dial, and movement of the dial moved the slider and reflected the values of the dial in the spreadsheet.
The PARTS Workbench uses the notebook metaphor with "pages of icons and tabs to indicate the sub directories. Icons on each page can be moved to the "workbench" were they can be "wired" together or connected to form applications. The connections are intelligent and will let the programmer know if something has been left out or undone that will create an error, Digitalk said.
Digitalk offers parts with the PARTS Workbench, including the module to wrapper Cobol code and is encouraging third party vendors to build and offer parts. A search utility is included in the PARTS Workbench to find parts based on their description.
The downside of the PARTS Workbench is it is only available now for OS/2 2.0 and only in a 16-bit version. Digitalk is "married" to IBM as a partner in IBM's AD/Cycle program and so serves IBM's interests first. Company representative and founder Barbara Noparstak said a 32-bit version for OS/2 2.0 is on the way and those who purchase the 16-bit version now will be upgraded free when the 32-bit version arrives. Also, Noparstak said a Windows version is planned as well.
While the PARTS Workbench itself doesn't require Smalltalk V it does require a 386 or higher IBM or compatible personal computer with 12 megabytes of memory for development of PARTS applications. The same horsepower PC but with 8 MB of memory is required to run the finished PARTS applications.
The PARTS Workbench for OS/2 2.0 is available for a retail price of $1,995 and includes an online tutorial, sample applications, and three user manuals; a user's guide, a language guide for the scripting language, and a reference for developers currently using Smalltalk/V. The right to distribute unlimited runtime applications and deliver components or modules is included as well, the company said.
Current Smalltalk/V users can get the PARTS Workbench for $595 until the end of October, Digitalk added.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921009/Press Contact: Barbara Noparstak Digitalk, tel 310-645-1082, fax 310-645-1306)
igitalk, tel 310-645-1082, fax 310-645-1306)
10/9/92
New PARTS Turns Existing Code Into Objects
Symantec To Purchase Virus/Secur
5 CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- Symantec developers of the Norton Antivirus and Norton Desktop for Windows products, announced it is purchasing virus and security software developer Certus International. Certus is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.
Symantec says it plans to add Certus' technology in virus detection to its own, but is also planning to move into the systems security market with this purchase. Certus markets the product Novi for security and virus protection on IBM and compatible PCs.
The purchase is to be accounted for as a pooling of interest and Certus will merge with Symantec in exchange for between 394,000 to 533,000 shares of Symantec common outstanding stock. Symantec stock is selling for just over $6 a share making the purchase worth between $2.36 and $3.3 million.
Symantec has purchased several other companies lately. The company said the purchases of the Whitewater Group, who makes developer's tools, and Multiscope, which makes a debugger tool for programmers, were completed recently. A one-time charge to the company of 2.1 million was taken in its last quarterly financial announcement for the purchase of the two companies.
Symantec has had its share of problems lately. The company announced it expected substantially lower earnings and profits for its latest quarter. Its stock has fallen from an average price of $17 a share in August to the current price of just over $6 per share. Also, the company's top executives are facing criminal charges in a civil suit levied by software giant Borland International.
Gene Wang, formerly with Borland and who joined Symantec on September 1 of this year, has been accused of sending Borland's confidential trade secrets by electronic mail over the company's MCI account to Symantec executive Gordon Eubanks. Borland's aggressiveness in the affair has stunned the computer industry as Wang's private residence and office has been searched by police.
Cupertino, California-based Symantec offers software products for IBM and compatible personal computers as well as Apple Macintosh computers. The company says it was founded in 1982 and has offices in the US, Canada, Australia, and Europe.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921009/Press Contact: Brian Fawkes Symantec, tel 408-446-8886, fax 408-253-3968; Public Contact 800-441-7234)
6, fax 408-253-3968; Public Contact 800-441-7234)
10/9/92
Symantec To Purchase Virus/Security Firm Certus
BUSINESS
Borland Devaluation Over-reactio
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 9 (NB) -- Borland's stock is dropping and reports are analysts are lowering ratings for the company's performance, but some analysts think the stock market is over-reacting.
Borland stock took two major drops two consecutive days in a row this week, a drop of $6.625 on Wednesday and another $3.125 on Thursday to close at $27.625. Overall the company's stock has been falling steadily since the first of the year, however these drops account for a devaluation of nearly 25 percent.
Reports are Goldman Sachs dropped the stock from its recommended list, Kidder Peabody issued a rating downgrade as did Dean Witter Reynolds, and Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette Securities also the company's earnings estimate as well according to the United Press International.
However market analyst Dan Ness of Computer Intelligence told Newsbytes he thinks this is all over-reaction, perhaps brought on by to Microsoft's directions seminar to which it invited press and analysts last week in Bellvue, Washington. Ness sees Borland as remaining strong in many of the key areas, Quattro Pro for Windows hasn't been out long enough for anyone to really have any good numbers for sales, and there's just no fundamental reason for a 25 percent devaluation of the company, Ness maintains.
"I haven't driven by the Borland offices lately, but I don't think the place is on fire," quipped Ness.
In fact, the only preliminary figures Ness has for performance of Borland products in the retail chain show sales for Paradox are up. Ness said there's no doubt Borland is behind Excel in the Windows spreadsheet market, but Foxpro, Microsoft's new database addition has less than 10 percent of the entire database market. Borland has an extremely strong presence in that market, especially compared to Microsoft, who is just coming in, Ness added.
Borland is fighting fire with fire and has announced a corporate roll-out for Quattro Pro For Windows in a companion demonstration with Microsoft Excel 4.0. The demonstration is to be held Wednesday, October 14 at the Herbst Theater War Memorial in San Francisco and Borland is inviting the press and analysts.
Borland has made a few moves that surprised the computer industry. It was very aggressive in taking civil and legal action against former employee Gene Wang, who is accused of stealing the company's trade secrets and giving them to Symantec. Wang was hired by Symantec September 1 and both he and Symantec executive Gordon Eubanks are under fire for the alleged trade secret theft, reportedly done via Borland's MCI electronic mail account.
Also, Borland has lost a summary judgement in the case Lotus brought against it concerning the similarities between 1-2-3 and Quattro Pro. However, Borland has removed the offending menus from the DOS product and the Windows version offers no such conflict. Some industry analysts were saying the company might have to pay as much as $10 to $100 million in the suit but no monetary figures have been named by either the court or Lotus.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921009/Press Contact: Dan Ness, Computer Intelligence, 619-535-6733; Mara Stefan, Borland, tel 408-439 4704, fax 408-439-9388)
fan, Borland, tel 408-439 4704, fax 408-439-9388)
10/9/92
Borland Devaluation Over-reaction, Says Analyst
BUSINESS
Japan: Matsushita To Release CD-
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Matsushita Electric says it will release a CD-I (compact disc-Interactive) player which supports motion pictures early next year. Other Japanese electronics makers are also expected to follow suit.
Matsushita's CD-I player does not have a keyboard. Instead, it comes with a mouse, and is designed to be connected to a regular television set. All the instructions are shown on the TV screen.
The CD-I player uses a five-inch compact disc that conforms to the current world standard, meaning that any CD-I software can be played on Matsushita's device.
The retail price of Matsushita's CD-I is expected to be slightly less than 200,000 yen ($1,600). The price of software may depend on the type of software. To start, Matsushita aims to develop the programs for games, educational programs, and travel guide. The software supports color motion pictures.
Other hardware makers including Sony, Pioneer, and Kenwood are also thinking of releasing a CD-I player in the near future. They are reported to have already developed the system, but are waiting for the market to mature.
The success of the CD-I player may depend on the quality of software. Also, the cost of the hardware may have to become much lower.
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- NEC says it will interconnect with Wide Internet, which is Japan's major telecommunication network that connects universities and firms. With this inter connection, NEC's PC-VAN users will get the advantage of exchanging information with a variety of people.
NEC's PC-VAN network is one of the largest personal computer based telecommunication networks in Japan. It has about 463,000 members. Under the basic agreement with Wide Internet, PC-VAN will start testing the connection with Wide Internet on October 12. The connection is expected to cover electronic mail to begin with.
Wide Internet is the premier researchers' telecom network which connects researchers and students at 26 universities and 42 firms throughout Japan.
NEC is also thinking of interconnecting all the services of its network and those of Wide Internet in the near future. Wide Internet has up-to-date research information and data on various technologies. This interconnection may be just the beginning for NEC, as the firm is thinking of connecting with more telecom networks in the future.
Meanwhile, the Japanese Posts & Telecommunication Ministry is pushing the plan to exchange electronic mail among different telecom networks. But this is expected to take some time to implement.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921007/Press Contact: NEC PC-VAN, +81-3-3798-6511)
/19921007/Press Contact: NEC PC-VAN, +81-3-3798-6511)
10/8/92
Japan: NEC's PC-VAN Connects With Univ/Corp Network
TELECOM
Japan: NEC & Kodansha Develop Su
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- NEC, and Kodansha, a major book publisher, claim to have jointly developed a super editing system that automatically checks and corrects Japanese documents with Kanji. It can check 350 letters a second, which is extremely fast for a system involving Kanji letters.
NEC and Kodansha's latest super editing system is called "Editing Support System St. Words." The companies claim that the system can be applied to almost any type of writing, including daily conversational phrases, complete with dubious grammar.
The system has a 500,000 word dictionary, and a sentence analysis feature. The system checks about 11 kinds of points including the letters, words, phrases, and usage. With these features, the correction rate of the editing can be around 97.7 percent, according to NEC. Also, it takes only five to 10 seconds to check the document, which normally takes half an hour by a human editor.
NEC says the whole system including the hardware will be sold for around 8 million yen ($67,000). The system consists of NEC's workstation and the software. NEC is also planning to create versions for the firm's best-selling personal computer, the PC-9801. The systems are expected to be released by the end of this year.
(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921007/Press Contact: NEC 81-3-3451-2974)
" Miyazawa/19921007/Press Contact: NEC 81-3-3451-2974)
10/8/92
Japan: NEC & Kodansha Develop Super Editing Software
GENERAL
New Grid Color Notebook
Russia: Microinform, Others, Off
NY State Police Decriminalize Th
IBM Forms Worldwide Consulting G
Bell Atlantic To Test Telephone
India Comm '92: Multinational Fi
Silicon Graphics Opens Swiss Man
IBM Loses $2.8 Billion In 3rd Qt
Commerce Business Daily Availabl
Cox Enterprises To Start 511 Ser
HP Acquires Colorado Memory Syst
Computervision Puts CADDS 5 On D
AST Cuts Prices In War With IBM/
Shiva Remote Server For Windows
Pen Software Developer PenMagic
New For Unix: Xerox Unbundles Sc
Japan: NEC & Kodansha Develop Su
New For PC: PC Tools 8.0
BEAVERTON, OREGON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Central Point Software says it is now shipping PC Tools 8.0, a major upgrade to its utilities program.
Features of the new release include improved data recovery remote computing and communications features, an integrated program scheduler, a defragmenter for high-capacity drives expanded FileFox functionality, a disk editor and Emergency Disk and an easier installation process.
Central Point also says the program now supports SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface) tape drives and a suite of new features to support increased network operation as well as portable computing needs.
Tools 8.0 now features a Windows-like environment through which the user can access applications and files as well as the PC Tools features. According to the company, a task switcher allows easy movement between applications.
There are also a range of accessories, including notepad, a database, and a calculator. An anti-virus utility provides continual virus detection, removal and prevention, and can detect more than 1,300 viruses, says Central Point. The company says it is the only anti-virus product that can clean mutation engine viruses. Virus scans can be scheduled or scan on-demand using a drag-and-drop feature.
There is also a feature called RAMBoost, which Central Point says does a better job of optimizing memory by automatically loading device drivers and terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) programs in upper memory. The backup features include support for SCSI tape drives such as DAT (digital audio tape) and 8mm drives, and tape can be formatted, erased, and retensioned. A unattended backup feature is also provided.
A unique feature, called "Emergency Disk," is provided which is created during the installation process. The emergency disk contains all necessary system information, including device drivers, and allows the system to be recovered in case of a crash.
According to Central Point President Chuck Boesenberg the Software Publisher's Association reports that PC Tools has the largest installed base in the industry, with over three million copies sold. Boesenberg says users told the company what they wanted in an upgrade. "Version 8.0 is a direct response to these requests," Boesenberg said.
Present users of PC Tools can upgrade for $69.95. The program has a suggested retail price of $179 for first time buyers.
(Jim Mallory/19921007/Press contact: Deanne Berry, Central Point Software, 503-690-2650; Reader contact: Central Point Software, 800-445-4208)
nt Software, 800-445-4208)
10/8/92
New For PC: PC Tools 8.0
Gateway 2000 Intros 486SX/25 PC
6 NORTH SIOUX CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) Claiming that it is redefining what constitutes an entry-level PC Gateway 2000 has introduced two new 486-based desktop PC featuring integrated motherboards in a mini-desktop case.
Gateway's 486SX/25, a 25 megahertz (MHz) system, includes four megabytes (MB) of RAM, a 170MB hard drive, two floppy drives, a 14-inch CrystalScan color monitor, DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1, and MS Works for Windows. "It's the best value out there for less than $1,500," says Gateway 2000 President Ted Waitt. The 486SX/25 carries a suggested retail price of $1,495.
Gateway is also introducing a 486DX 33 MHz system equipped with 4MB of RAM, a 200MB hard drive, two floppies, a 14-inch CrystalScan color monitor, DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1, and a choice of applications software. Both systems are currently shipping.
Gateway spokesperson Glynnis Gibson told Newsbytes 486DX-33 buyers can choose one of the following Microsoft Windows applications: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, or Project. Other choices include Borland's Paradox and the Microsoft Entrepreneur Pack which includes Works, Publisher, Money, and some games. The final choice available is the Windows Programmer Pack, which includes QuickC, Visual Basic, and several other programming tools.
"We feel the 486SX/25 is the entry-level PC now; it's what people should be buying," said Waitt. He says the company has committed itself to the 486 processors based on over 90 percent of its customers buying habits.
Waitt says a lot of Gateway's customers want a 486 machine in a small form factor. The two new systems are contained in a 16.25 by 4.25- by 16-inch case, come with five available expansion slots, and use an integrated board design with a video coprocessor for graphics acceleration. A local bus hard drive interface utilizes Gateway's Rapid Integrated Drive Electronics (RIDE) BIOS.
Gibson told Newsbytes that RIDE, "lets the system read larger data blocks from the hard drive, providing significant improvement in the throughput and speed."
"Nothing else in the market right now comes close to them in terms of performance, features and price," said Waitt.
(Jim Mallory/19921007/Press contact: Glynnis Gibson, Gibson Communications for Gateway 2000, 312-883-2388; Reader contact: Gateway 2000, 605-232-2000 or 800-523-2000)
ntact: Gateway 2000, 605-232-2000 or 800-523-2000)
10/8/92
Gateway 2000 Intros 486SX/25 PC For Under $1,500
New For PC: Advanced Gravis Ship
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) Advanced Gravis has began shipping its UltraSound sound board for PCs, based on Intel and compatible processors. The vendor claims the UltraSound card offers a quality of sound not previously available on personal computers, thanks to a new method of sound synthesis.
The UltraSound card uses all-digital wave table synthesis rather than the FM synthesis technique other PC sound boards use. Brad Craig, market development manager at Advanced Gravis, said this approach gives better sound because "we can sample real sound."
The board uses digital samples of, for example, a flute, a piccolo or a jet engine to produce such sounds on the PC. Also, Craig said the UltraSound card can generate 32 distinct voices at the same time, versus about 22 from most competing boards.
According to Advanced Gravis, the UltraSound card is compatible with other popular sound boards, such as the Sound Blaster and Ad Lib units, and is compatible with multimedia software for Microsoft Windows. Applications for the card include multimedia games, and computer-based music, Craig said.
The suggested retail price for the UltraSound card is $199.95.
New For PC: Advanced Gravis Ships UltraSound Board
WordPerfect Offers Dual-Language
OREM, UTAH, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- With another milestone in Canada's endless struggle to mix English and French language and culture coming up -- Canadians will vote on proposed constitutional changes in a late-October referendum bilingualism and national unity questions are everywhere. It has even spread to the American state of Utah, not noted for its French culture, where software vendor WordPerfect has announced that Canadian customers can now get the right to run the popular word processor in both official languages for the price of one.
The offer applies to WordPerfect for DOS, Windows, and the Apple Macintosh, and also to other WordPerfect products that are available in both languages, including WordPerfect Presentations (formerly DrawPerfect), LetterPerfect, and WordPerfect Office.
Anyone who buys WordPerfect in Canada automatically gets a license to use both English- and French-Canadian versions on the same computer, the company said. Users who want both languages need only pay for the disks in a second language, which cost C$24. If they want reference materials, users can buy those separately as well - at C$36 for the reference manual, C$24 for the workbook and C$6 for the keyboard template.
The suggested retail price for WordPerfect in Canada is C$595 said company spokeswoman Raili Nieznanski.
Nieznanski added that the offer applies not only to new buyers of WordPerfect but to existing users. Anyone using either an English-Canadian or French-Canadian version of WordPerfect can order the extra disks and/or reference materials, she said.
The company does not currently offer such a dual-language license deal anywhere else in the world, Nieznanski said, though it has considered such an offer in parts of Europe where two or more languages are common.
WordPerfect Offers Dual-Language Licensing In Canada
GENERAL
Apple Intros AppleLink CD Info C
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Apple Computer is attempting to find new markets for the information in its AppleLink global electronic communications and information service, by offering it in the form of a compact disk. According to the company, AppleLink CD will offer regular editions of Apple and third-party product and support information for a single annual subscription fee.
One of the big attractions of the new CD, according to Apple is that anyone with a Macintosh equipped with a CD-ROM drive can access all the technical, product, program and special interest information without time limitations or added costs.
Peter Friedman, director of Apple Online Services, said: "AppleLink CD helps to create an information-rich computing environment for Macintosh users....(and) will bring together much of the high quality information from Apple and third parties that's behind AppleLink -- essentially making it the easiest and most cost-effective way to access AppleLink information without actually going on-line."
There will be a yearly one-time fee. Each edition of AppleLink CD will include a technical information library. Also included on the CD will be descriptions of Apple products, and technical marketing and support materials from more than 400 hardware and software manufacturers.
Apple says that a special software sampler section will contain 15 megabytes (MB) of Apple software updates, as well as free software and shareware for the Macintosh. Users will be able to download free software demonstrations and review new software programs.
AppleLink CD requires a Macintosh computer running System 6.0.7 or later and a Macintosh-compatible CD-ROM drive. Four MB of RAM is also required.
AppleLink CD will be available worldwide in January 1993, for a single-user cost of $299. A mutli-user version will be $649. Initially, AppleLink CD will be available through a one-year subscription which includes four quarterly editions. Apple says that pricing and availability will vary by country.
(Ian Stokell/19921007/Press Contact: Lynda Lucero, Apple Computer, 408-974-7899)
a Lucero, Apple Computer, 408-974-7899)
10/8/92
Apple Intros AppleLink CD Info CD-ROM
APPLE
UK: Zenith Data Systems Intros 1
SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Zenith Data Systems (ZDS) has announced no less than 16 new PCs onto the British market, just six months after it relaunched its entire range in Europe. The reason for the new machines is said to be downward price trends.
According to Andrew Stephens, ZDS' product manager, the new machines are no-frills PCs designed for price-conscious buyers. Stephens told Newsbytes, however, that they are not designed to compete with rock-bottom discount PCs that seem to be flooding the market at the moment.
"The Z station series we unveiled in the spring were for the corporate buyer. These new machines today are designed for the price conscious small business buyer," he said.
The new machines -- new models in the Z300 and 400 series plus new machines in the Z station series -- come with a variety of processors, ranging from 25 megahertz (MHz) 80386SX up to 33MHz 80486SX chipsets. The introduction of the 33MHz 80486SX processor to ZDS' machines is a change for the company's entry level PCs.
"Expanding our Z300/400 series and Z station desktops with this new processor will substantially increase the power available in entry-level business computing," explained Stephens.
All the new machines come with five expansion slots, three storage bays, and super VGA graphics. Other standard features include 512 kilobytes (KB) of video memory on all machines under the 486SX-based PCs, with the 486SX units featuring one megabyte (MB) of video memory to handle the high resolutions (1,024 by 786 pixels) available.
Pricing on the new machines is unremarkable by current UK standards, Newsbytes notes. The X325/SX, the entry-level machine, starts at UKP 667 for single floppy version, rising to UKP 919 for a 170MB hard disk-equipped PC. At the other end of the scale, the Z433/SX starts at UKP 1,199 for the single floppy versions, rising to UKP 1,584 for a 245MB hard disk-equipped system.
ZDS is offering some good bundling deals, however. For UKP 125 extra the buyer gets DOS 5, Windows 3.1, and a mouse, while for UKP 360, users get the same bundle plus a 14-inch flat screen VGA color monitor with their system.
(Steve Gold/19921007/Press & Public Contact: Zenith Data Systems - Tel: 0628-668588; Fax: 0628-661061)
stems - Tel: 0628-668588; Fax: 0628-661061)
10/8/92
UK: Zenith Data Systems Intros 16 New PCs
MIT Puts US Presidential Campaig
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Starting Monday, October 12, you will be able to read and respond to campaign documents from any major Presidential candidate through the Internet. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of North Carolina are offering, as an experiment, a file server containing full campaign documents.
They have asked the campaigns of Clinton, Bush, Ross Perot and Libertarian candidate Andre Marrou to participate in filling it. To get information on the program, just send mail to info@campaign92.org.
In addition, a representative of the Bush campaign told Newsbytes, he can respond directly to questions posted on the system simply by using computers and software at the Bush Quayle '92 general committee. Rich Phillips, who is an information specialist in communications with the Bush-Quayle '92 General Committee said, "We're very happy MIT has decided to do this. We think it's important that people have free access to this kind of information on the issues."
Phillips said that on-line conversations with voters represent just one of the many high-tech methods the Bush campaign has for getting its message out. "We pride ourselves on our use of technology. We're doing daily satellite feeds, and we produce video news releases as well as press releases. The fax list has actually become famous, because both sides are sending messages to the press and to key supporters." Some faxes to the media, like a series of "talking points" from Bush campaign chief Mary Matalin, have turned into news stories on their own.
Added Phillips, "We'll offer fact sheets, talking points on issues such as health care, selected speeches, and the President's 'Agenda for American Renewal,' (a detailed economic plan for the next four years.) "We will try to respond to those messages that people want to address to us directly. We understand that this is an experiment conducted by MIT, and we think it will be useful to people." He added that the needed information is already on the Internet at a variety of sites, and merely needs to be captured by the MIT group to be useful.
Eric Loeb of MIT, who set up the experiment, with help from Phil Jones at the University of North Carolina, writes that the idea is to test the reasoning behind "sound bite" politics, and give voters a chance to learn more about the candidates. Patrick Winston, head of the school's Artificial Intelligence lab, is the faculty sponsor. Loeb will survey people who use the system in hopes of learning whether they indeed read the position papers or use the electronic mail system mainly to argue on behalf of their candidates or positions, as is usually found on commercial services like CompuServe's VoteForum. "I suspect that the tendency to use 'sound bites' is a natural consequence of our processing limitations, and that efforts by participants to persuade other participants will result in the use of brief slogans," he writes.
The experiment also conforms to MIT's "human subjects rules," he adds. "People need to be able to quit at any time, give informed consent, and there are provisions for anonymity." Loeb warns that any use of the public system to leave messages for all users creates a public message which may be subject to uploading and downloading throughout the internetworked world, which includes millions of people around the world. Disclaimers are posted on all surveys, and subjects may quit their participation at any time by using the "remove" option of the program's contact module.
Speeches posted on the system can be searched by keywords, using the Wide Area Information Server, or WAIS, developed at Thinking Machines in Cambridge.
In other news from the campaign, all four candidates who are on the ballot in all 50 states can be addressed at the CompuServe network, Loeb says. Ross Perot's campaign can be reached at 71511.460, and the Internet identification would be 71511.460@compuserve.com. The Internet-style address for Gov. Clinton's campaign is 75300.3115@compuserve.com, for President Bush 75300.3116@compuserve.com, and for Libertarian candidate Andre Marrou 75300.3114@compuserve.com. The addresses listed above can also be reached from most major on-line systems including GEnie, MCI Mail, America Online, and AT&T EasyLink, at regular on-line rates.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- USA Today will put parts of its newspaper onto shopping carts through a company called VideOcart. Shoppers will be able to get electronic summaries of the day's top stories from all four USA TODAY sections -- News, Money, Sports, and Life.
The headlines are posted on displays located on shopping carts when in the checkout area. Headlines are updated three times per day and scrolled across the bottom of the VideOcart screen, which is basically an advertising medium.
Shoppers have a choice between using the VideOcart or a regular cart at most of the 200 stores offering the service. The company hopes that grocery shoppers, seeing the chance to get news while shopping, will take the ad-filled carts.
Videocart is still a development-stage company which ties the displays on the carts to a digital communication network. The network also lets manufacturers display ads on the carts as consumers reach the aisle where their products are located in the store.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921008/Press Contact: Randy S. Mueller VideOcart, 312-987-5000)
ller VideOcart, 312-987-5000)
10/8/92
USA Today On Shopping Carts
TRENDS
IBM Suing Over Modified Circuit
Compaq Doing Well, Says Price Wa
New For Macintosh: Fifth Generat
Large-Scale ISDN Demo Scheduled
More On 911 Legion of Doom Hacki
MCI Makes Voicecom Leading Voice
Apple's New Docking, Multimedia,
ROUNDUP: Stories Carried By Othe
Canada: ACC Acquires One Plus Lo
Optika Provides Document Imaging
Japanese Mac Operating System Du
Japan: Proside's Low-cost 80486
New For PC: It's Legal 3.0 Legal
Dell Intros Industry's Fastest D
IBM Warns Of Miscarriage Risk Fr
Hongkong: Gammon Picks Digital T
Apple Australia Cuts Prices Agai
Resurgens-Metromedia Merger
USA Today On Shopping Carts
India: Accounting SW May Go Abro
AT&T Joins Distance Learning Net
BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- AT&T is taking part in a distance learning network using ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) digital standards sponsored by Appalachian State University of North Carolina. Southern Bell the local phone company for the state, is also a participant in the program, which covers all grades.
The network's backbone is made up of 13 ISDN lines provided out of a Southern Bell office with an AT&T 5ESS switch, along with a remote module in nearby Blowing Rock. Three lines terminate at three public schools in Watauga County - two elementary and one high school - with four more lines at Appalachian State. Interactive voice, data, and video are transmitted at a speed of 112,000 bits-per-second. All this is taking place on regular copper phone lines.
While ISDN has been discussed for over a decade, installation of the needed software has been slow. Phone companies have been criticized for using ISDN as a lobbying club, arguing they can't afford to install it unless they get regulatory relief, or rate relief, or both, on both the national and state levels.
However, another reason for ISDN's slow acceptance has been the fact that various switch makers have implemented it differently. A new set of standards, called National ISDN, is being implemented, slowly, to address the problem. Many groups, led by former Lotus Development Chairman Mitch Kapor of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, have urged that the installation of ISDN be stepped-up. But many observers say the real reason installation has been slow is because the phone companies are not certain how they will get their money out from it.
Elsewhere, AT&T said its Universal Card credit card is now the second most popular consumer credit card, having surpassed Chase Manhattan with 10 million accounts. Chase Manhattan disputes the figures, while outside observers claim that the AT&T-Chase leader is actually in third place, behind Citibank and Sears' Discover Card.
(Dana Blankenhorn/19921008/Press Contact: Appalachian State University, Speed Hallman, 704/262-2092; BellSouth, Bob Morrow 404/529-8169; AT&T Network Systems, Mickey Noah, 404/573 7099)
rk Systems, Mickey Noah, 404/573 7099)
10/8/92
AT&T Joins Distance Learning Network
TELECOM
Australia: Federal Govt Will Not
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- The Australian federal government has stated that it will not be contracting all of its IT (information technology) work out to service providers. The statement was made by the Minister for Administrative Services, Senator Bolkus, at a local IT conference.
Recently, the government has been farming out significant amounts of IT work to private sector companies, but this will not become the norm, Bolkus said. Decisions on such contracting would be made on the merits of each case, with significant work being continued "in-house" or in conjunction with private groups, Bolkus said.
The Senator was speaking at the Australian Information Industries Association Public Sector Markets conference, which had the theme "Better Value for your IT Dollar." He also restated what he saw as the basic principles of the federal government's dealings with the IT sector - value for money, open and effective competition, and proving the best opportunity for local industry.
"Our IT industry sells goods and services to the value of AUS$10 billion a year. Of that, the government sector in Australia buys 40 percent - about AUS$4 billion. About half of that would be Commonwealth government purchases. That, of course, puts us in a fairly powerful position to influence the IT industry," Bolkus said.
The Minister also pointed out the responsibility of the government to seek value for money, to buy local goods and services, and the resultant advantages of such local purchases. Shorter supply lines, quicker response for back-up, and the requirement of Australian industry to compete on international standards were the main benefits Bolkus saw in purchasing local products.
(Sean McNamara/19921008)
purchasing local products.
(Sean McNamara/19921008)
10/8/92
Australia: Federal Govt Will Not Contract All IT Work
Australian Multimedia Program Te
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- A locally-developed multimedia program is to be installed in all Victorian schools in a bid to increase teenage awareness of safety issues. The Motorvation system is expected to be installed in Victorian schools over the next two years at an approximate cost of AUS$8 million.
The program has undergone an AUS$500,000 pilot test, and has proved so successful in Melbourne schools that students are arriving at school an hour early to use the system. Specifically targeted at the 14-16 age group, the system takes the student on a seven-stage "tour" of Victoria, with various road and weather conditions, as well as safety factors, needed to be taken into consideration.
The system was a collaborative project by the Transport Accident Commission and VicRoads (Victoria's roads, licensing, vehicle registration and traffic management body). The programming was carried out by the Computer Aided Learning Center of Victoria's University of Technology. Full-screen motion video, computer graphics and audio, laser light pens and bar coding for answering multiple choice questions, and touch screen technology, as well as a large amount of research with the target audience, has seen the program take on aspects of virtual reality.
"The research soon told us we had to engage and excite users and that it was time to take a '90s approach by embracing technology which would enthuse everybody. Books and brochures on road safety simply don't have the same pull," said Anne Randall, TAC's community programs manager. "I think we have found the right mix - text, graphics, video and sport - it's just a matter of fine tuning it now," Randall went on to say.
(Sean McNamara/19921008)
andall went on to say.
(Sean McNamara/19921008)
10/8/92
Australian Multimedia Program Teaches Road Safety
GENERAL
Australia: Wine Guide Available
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Sydney-based wine publishing company Heuristic has released the 10th edition of Robin Bradley's Australian and New Zealand Wine Vintages in software form. The AUS$19.95 program is being released primarily as a marketing tool, with company logos and names able to be incorporated within the program.
The database-style wine guide was developed using Visual Basic and the Q&E database system for use under Windows. It includes information on winemakers, wine style, vintage, maker's rating Bradley's rating, price estimate, and the advised time to drink. Also included are brief comments about the wine company, as well as "help" and "hint" screens. Users are able to search on different fields using wild-cards and Boolean operators ("and," "or," for example).
Heuristic is already planning the next version of the database which will include the 11th edition of Bradley's guide. The next version will also allow the user to enter personal tasting and cellaring notes. The program runs on any IBM-compatible computer running Windows 3 or 3.1, with four megabytes (MB) of memory VGA graphics and 3.3 MB of hard disk space. The program is supplied on one disk, and after-sales support and service is provided.
(Sean McNamara/19921008/Press and Public Contact: Stuart Bullock, phone in Australia +61-2-211 3726)
Stuart Bullock, phone in Australia +61-2-211 3726)
10/8/92
Australia: Wine Guide Available In Software Form
GENERAL
Phone Earnings Mostly Good
Germany: Third Mobile Phone Lice
Malaysia Asks To Be Included in
New For Networks: Shiva LANRover
DEC Sells Puerto Rican Plant Ass
CD-ROM Of Products For Disabled
Pioneer LDC Intros More Laser Di
Computer TV Listings
IMM Changes Name, Discusses SCS
Cray Research Cuts 650 Jobs
Synon Appoints Philippines Distr
Apple's New Sales Campaign In US
Microsoft Names Chief Informatio
Microsoft 1Q Profits Up 45%, Pla
Videoconferencing: Compression L
Key Tronic Closes Circuit Board
International Telecom Update
NEC Releases Multimedia PCs In J
Parallel Fuzzy Processor From Ok
First 66 MHz 486 Computer For Un
Australia: Wine Guide Available
Cooperative For National Multime
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC) says it is the initiator of a project that it calls "First Cities," with the stated goal of eliminating the barriers to delivering national integrated interactive multimedia service to consumers.
So far, Apple Computer, Bell Communication Research (Bellcore) Corning, Eastman Kodak, Kaleida Labs, and seven other companies including divested Bell telephone companies, have signed up for the initial phase of the project.
The MCC First Cities project sounds very much like the talk that is coming from other multimedia and technology companies in the quest to reach the average consumer.
The task is to give consumers something they do not already have. 'Video on demand' was interpreted by Bill Batino of market research company Coopers & Lybrand at the Defining the Electronic Consumer conference as "...going down to the video store and renting a tape."
Batino said companies also have a misguided notion as to what consumers are willing to pay. Batino paraphrased comments from companies as "consumers will pay extra for electronic services because they are electronic," while he quoted consumers saying "there's no middle man, it should be cheaper."
MCC says it believes it can create a marketplace for networked multimedia information and entertainment products and services, but says it requires a national infrastructure to do so. First Cities has as its main goal the creation of that infrastructure, MCC added. First Cities will reportedly become an independent company and will own the tools developed to deliver the interactive multimedia services, but not the communications system itself.
The final objective of the project is to "seamlessly" integrate technologies so users can "spontaneously" use interactive integrated multimedia no matter where they are. However, to get there MCC says three phases are involved.
The initial phase is the development of a business plan. MCC says Phase I is the "no obligation" part and no company that has signed up for Phase I has to stay for Phase II. Phase II includes implementation of the plan developed in Phase I meaning delivery of service at test sites to work out any problems. Phase III is intended to bring the system to full operation.
MCC noted that several divested Bell Operating Companies and Bellcore, which have already signed up, will have their involvement limited by the state and federal laws and regulations.
The initial set of applications being considered for implementation are multimedia teleconferencing, interactive games, entertainment on demand, shopping and transaction services, customized multimedia, distance learning, and health care. Distance learning and health care were cited as problems of particular national concern which the First Cities project hopes to help address.
MCC says its the tangible objectives are the development of software for connecting individual homes to the interactive multimedia service networks and as a gateway for communication delivery organizations to connect to consumers. Also mentioned were application servers for distribution of services through the gateway and into individual homes.
Why will companies cooperate on development of First Cities when they won't cooperate with each other? All the companies currently signed up are in the plan for Phase I - the no obligation part. MCC says the needed infrastructure requires multi-company involvement, and First Cities, as a cooperative enterprise, can remove obstacles between the companies while eliminating some of the risk and cost.
MCC is not the first to talk about a national information infrastructure or the need for cooperation among technology providers. Lots of this sort of talk is being bantered about both by technology companies and by companies interested in promoting products and services through a new distribution network. GTE, for one, has been experimenting with various methods of delivering electronic, interactive multimedia services to consumers in its Cerritos, California, project for several years now.
However, it is still talk, and according to MCC, still two to three years away. The Phase II testing of First Cities is to begin early next year and continue until December of 1994 MCC said.
Also, while some companies have teamed up in other cooperative efforts to deliver electronic multimedia technology, opposition exists within the ranks of the industries involved. GTE and Pacific Bell reported they were getting resistance to the installation of fiber optic cable for telephone service from the California cable television (TV) industry who is afraid the fiber might be laid where it could be used by competitive cable TV companies.
While MCC has an impressive list of interested parties in First Cities, it remains to be seen if the group can actually pull something workable together.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921008)
ng workable together.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921008)
10/8/92
Cooperative For National Multimedia Network Formed
GENERAL
Industry Leaders Head For Austra
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- The Australian Software Developer's Conference - to be held in Sydney on November 25 to 27 - has attracted interest from the development community around the world. Speakers are coming from major software manufacturers, and in some cases will be showing new development tools for the first time.
The ASD'92 conference was originally planned when a survey revealed that Australian developers feel left-out compared to their American counterparts. The conference is being organized by Australian distributor Microway and is being sponsored by many producers of development tools.
Microway Managing Director David Looke said: "It became clear that the Australian development community was sorely in need of a national independent event focusing on Australian development issues and playing a vital role in the continued education of developers."
Sponsors include Borland, Microsoft, IBM, Computer Associates Quarterdeck, and Symantec. Borland's Rick Schell said he will be using the event to make the most important language product launch of the year at ASD'92.
Borland's Michael Hyman is the product manager for the Borland C++ family and he is bringing other Borland speakers with him. Microsoft's Jim McCarthy and Mike Risee will also have new products to unveil as well as technical sessions to present. Subjects will include Windows OLE, C++, and Visual Basic.
IBM's Dr Mike Kogan and other IBM speakers will be covering OS/2 future directions. Symantec's Neil Goldman will speak on Zortech C++ and new products such as Actor and Multiscope. Quarterdeck will cover DESQView/X. Computer Associates will discuss object oriented programming, Clipper, dbFast, and Aspen and well as Clipper development.
The program includes more than 60 technical training sessions from more than 30 expert speakers. Some sample topics include: Extending DOS into the 21st Century; Advanced Techniques with Turbo Pascal for DOS; Version Control Systems; Windows to OS/2 Porting; OS/2 32-bit Programming; OOP with Borland C++; and Database Design.
ASD'92 costs AUS$595 (around US$440) for all sessions exhibition, morning and afternoon snack-breaks, lunches two dinners, and a conference kit. The location is Sydney Hilton and accommodation at the Hilton is available for AUS$175 a night or AUS$80 at a nearby inn.
(Paul Zucker/19921008/Contact William Theobold on phone 61-3-5801333 or fax +61-3-5808995)
am Theobold on phone 61-3-5801333 or fax +61-3-5808995)
10/8/92
Industry Leaders Head For Australian Developer's Conf
GENERAL
Phone Earnings Mostly Good
Germany: Third Mobile Phone Lice
Malaysia Asks To Be Included in
New For Networks: Shiva LANRover
DEC Sells Puerto Rican Plant Ass
CD-ROM Of Products For Disabled
Pioneer LDC Intros More Laser Di
Computer TV Listings
IMM Changes Name, Discusses SCS
Cray Research Cuts 650 Jobs
Synon Appoints Philippines Distr
Apple's New Sales Campaign In US
Microsoft Names Chief Informatio
Microsoft 1Q Profits Up 45%, Pla
Videoconferencing: Compression L
Key Tronic Closes Circuit Board
International Telecom Update
NEC Releases Multimedia PCs In J
Parallel Fuzzy Processor From Ok
First 66 MHz 486 Computer For Un
Industry Leaders Head For Austra
Australia: Wine Guide Available
Banyan Signs Two Indian Distribu
INDIA, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Banyan Pacific, based in Australia has signed two distributors in India for its enterprise-wide networking products. Sonata and Datamatic will provide full sales and technical support of the Banyan products in India.
"We see a long-term growth opportunity in India as we are the only networking systems supplier that can guarantee the legitimacy of its systems there" said Sydney-based manager of Banyan Asia Pacific, Keith van Klink. "Software piracy is a major problem in India but the security key contained within our systems means they cannot be copied."
Sydney-based Banyan Technical Manager Harry Carter addressed the recent inaugural conference of the Indian Manufacturing Association of Information Technology. "Harry's speech was based on our move into India and it was very well received" said van Klink. "We already have two sites there - local offices of multinational companies who use our systems around the world. We're confident of quickly expanding the installed base."
Banyan is based in Massachusetts, and its flagship product is Vines, a standards-based distributed network operating system.
(Paul Zucker/19921008/Press Contact: Keith van Klink 61-2-9543228)
Contact: Keith van Klink 61-2-9543228)
10/8/92
Banyan Signs Two Indian Distributors
BUSINESS
Largest Counterfeit Software Sei
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Microsoft Corporation has announced that its representatives and US Marshals have seized more than 150,000 counterfeit copies of MS-DOS 5.0.
The raids, complete with television cameras, at 10 locations in California and New Jersey, filled sixteen semi-trailers with the counterfeit software and the equipment used in their manufacture, as well as manuals, diskettes, holograms, and packaging.
Microsoft officials estimate the fake software represents a street value of more than $9 million. The seizures were made September 12 and 16, but Microsoft officials said it has taken until now to complete an inventory of the items.
Officials initially raided six locations in the San Francisco Bay area, targeting U-TOP Printing Corporation and a Berkeley commercial printer that allegedly supplied U-TOP with software manuals. Information developed from that raid led to additional seizures at four U-TOP distributors in New Jersey.
Microsoft Corporate Attorney Jim Lowe said, "U-TOP and its owners appear to be major players in an interstate, possibly international software counterfeiting enterprise." Lowe hopes that the raids will persuade Congress to strengthen the criminal penalties for copyright infringement. Currently, penalties of up to $25,000 or imprisonment up to one year, or both, can be imposed under the US Copyright Act if the infringement is deemed willful.
The US Senate is currently considering a software piracy felonization bill, S893, which had already passed the House of Representatives. If it becomes law, willful violators would be subject to a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to five years in jail.
According to estimates by the Business Software Alliance, a group representing major US software publishers, software piracy costs the computer industry more than $12 billion in lost revenues worldwide in 1991.
Microsoft has filed suit in San Francisco US District Court against U-TOP Printing Corporation of Sunnyvale, California, and its owners James and Shirley Sung, alleging copyright infringement trademark infringement, and other related claims. Also named as defendants are several other companies which Microsoft alleges were involved in the manufacture or distribution of counterfeits.
US District Judge Eugene Lynch has granted an order freezing the US and offshore assets of U-TOP and the Sungs, a tactic company officials say is relatively new in the legal war against software counterfeiting. The order is intended to insure that assets remain available to pay damages, which in this case Microsoft says could exceed $10 million. In addition to criminal penalties counterfeiters are also liable for monetary penalties of up to three times the value of the software in civil court. Microsoft has consistently said it will vigorously prosecute counterfeiting cases.
Microsoft spokesperson Katy Ehrlich told Newsbytes that the investigation had been ongoing for three to six months. Asked if the investigation was completed, Ehrlich indicated it was not.
Microsoft says the MS-DOS 5.0 counterfeits were a perfect facsimile of the genuine article, including the hologram intended to identify legitimate copies. The company cautions purchasers of counterfeit software that they may not receive product support upgrade offers, or other benefits available to registered owners of legitimate copies. They also risk acquiring defective or virus infected software. Microsoft does not distribute MS-DOS as a standalone product, except for the MS-DOS upgrade. Its licensees are allowed to sell MS-DOS only with their hardware, said the company.
In August last year agents seized nearly $1 million worth of counterfeit software, believed to be the largest seizure at that time. In March 1992 a raid in California's Silicon Valley yielded bogus DOS and Windows software with an estimated value of $180,000. Last month Microsoft investigators and US Marshals seized 2,000 copies of DOS and Windows in South El Monte California, a Los Angeles suburb.
Microsoft encourages anyone who believes they might have a counterfeit copy of MS-DOS to call the company's toll free Piracy Hotline. The company has said it would not prosecute individual users of counterfeit software, but is interested in the source.
(Jim Mallory/19921008/Press contact: Anne Rupley, Microsoft 206-882-8080; Reader contact: Microsoft, 800-662-6796)
2-8080; Reader contact: Microsoft, 800-662-6796)
10/8/92
Largest Counterfeit Software Seizure Ever Made
Lucid Corp Intros Software Apps
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Lucid Corporation has announced a suite of applications that palmtop makers can bundle with palmtop computers.
"Frontier," an application for palmtops that includes several productivity tools palmtop users should find useful, is being introduced at the Lap and Palmtop Exposition at Chicago's Merchandise Mart Expo Center today and tomorrow, Lucid spokesperson David Hayden told Newsbytes.
Included in the DOS-based applications are Lucid's (3-D) spreadsheet; a word processor with integrated outliner; a database; communications software with electronic mail support; an appointment scheduler; address book; financial calculator; and a file manager with PC Link support, for uploading and downloading from a desktop PC.
Hayden says Frontier is the first set of applications designed specifically for palmtop computers, and is optimized for the screen, keyboard or other input device, RAM/ROM limitations, and power concerns palmtop OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) have to consider. Lucid President J.Mark Lambright says Frontier represents the next generation of applications for palmtop computers.
Hayden says Frontier uses proprietary object-oriented technology and tools, maintaining a consistent "look-and-feel" across applications. He told Newsbytes that, while Frontier is currently available only for DOS-based palmtop and pen based computers the company expects to have versions for Windows for Pen, OS/2 Newton, Macintosh, and Unix. The next versions are expected in the first or second quarter of 1993.
Lucid was formed in 1983 as the Portable Computer Support Group developing a number of products for the popular Tandy Model 100 notebook computer popular with journalists. The company has also developed applications for the Hewlett Packard 95LX and the Sharp Wizard, and markets its disk caching Lightning for Windows and Battery Boost, a battery life extender program for notebook computers. Lucid 3-D and Lightning are also available for DOS machines.
HUMBOLDT, SOUTH DAKOTA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Interactive Inc., has introduced SoundXchange, a speakerphone-type device that allows users to record and playback sound on systems running Windows 3.1
SoundXchange comes in two models - A and B. Model A is designed for use with the new Windows Sound System from Microsoft while Model B includes voice recording and playback capabilities. The speaker allows applications such as appointment schedulers to verbally notify the user of appointments, and picking up the handset switches off the speaker, for privacy. Both models mount on the side of the monitor to conserve desk space.
Model A, with a suggested retail price of $149, is designed for users who already have a sound board installed, such as Microsoft's Windows Sound or a computer with built-in sound capabilities such as Compaq's Deskpro/i. Model A attaches to the sound board with 1/8-inch mini-plugs, which are included.
Model B, with a price tag of $289, has the same features as Model A, plus a built-in sound board, and can record and play sound files through the speaker or handset. since SoundXchange has the sound board built-in, it is not necessary to open the computer to install the device, says the company. Model B connects to the PC through the parallel printer port with the supplied cable, which also allows the printer to be connected. It also comes with a Microsoft Multimedia Extensions driver.
Interactive says it uses proprietary frequency doubling as well as compression to minimize the disk storage space needed for voice files.
EAGAN, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- A Japanese government review board says it has rejected an appeal by supercomputer maker Cray Research for reversal of a decision by a Japanese institute to buy a Japanese-made supercomputer.
Cray Research had claimed that the institute's selection procedure was unfair and violated a 1990 bilateral agreement on public supercomputer purchases. However, according to Dakihito Goda, a spokesperson for Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa's office the review board decided there were "no major problems with the decision process." The appeal was filed in July.
Cray's appeal claimed that its top-of-the-line C90 was superior and lost in the competitive bidding process to NEC Corporation, a Japanese firm, because the National Institute for Fusion Science had awarded more points in its evaluation to performance criteria where the NEC SX-3 was strong. With a maximum of 66 points in the evaluation, NEC's computer got 65 points, while Cray's system received a score of 56.
In the 1990 agreement, Japan agreed that public institution supercomputer procurement processes would be open, selection standards would be clearly defined, and competing computers would be thoroughly evaluated, a Cray Research spokesperson told Newsbytes recently. The pact also created an appeal process.
Cray says it won three of the four bids for Japanese public supercomputers it submitted during 1990 and 1991. Chairman John Rollwagen said only three public supercomputers were being purchased this year.
So far, Cray officials declined to comment on the decision however, Rollwagen is scheduled to hold a news conference to address the issue on Friday, October 9.
(Jim Mallory/19921008/Press contact: Steve Conway, Cray Research, 612-683-7133, fax 612-683-7198)
Cray Research Loses Japanese Computer Purchase Appeal
Compaq To Layoff 1,000 Workers
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Compaq Computer has announced that it will layoff 1,000 of its worldwide workforce and take $85 million in restructuring and other special charges in the third quarter.
The company said the layoffs would begin this month, with about 700 workers getting their pink slips. A Compaq spokesperson said some employees have already been notified, and the rest would be told by the end of the month. The company said it will offer a severance package and job placement assistance for those workers losing their jobs. The reductions were attributed to competition in the PC market.
Compaq spokesperson John Sweney told Newsbytes that about 600 of the cuts would take place in Houston, with the remainder affecting jobs worldwide. "Actually, we're adding jobs in manufacturing, marketing, and customer support," he said.
Sweney also told Newsbytes that the company would close its Sterling, Texas warranty and parts center, moving that operation and its employees to Erskine, Texas. Asked what type jobs were being affected, Sweney declined to be specific, saying, "We haven't really broken down what type jobs are being eliminated. All departments, all geographical areas are affected in some way."
The restructuring charges will be offset by a third quarter gain of about $86 million on the sale of Compaq's equity interest in Conner Peripherals. The official third quarter results are expected to be released October 20. Compaq is predicting "record revenues and unit shipments" for the quarter. The company has said it has been hard pressed to keep up with the demand for its new lower-priced PC line introduced in June.
Compaq said its operating earnings for the third quarter are "comfortably above" second quarter levels, when it earned $29 million, or $0.35 per share. It lost $70 million, or $0.82 per share, in the third quarter of 1991, and Compaq's board ousted co-founder Rod Canion. Eckhard Pfeiffer was named as president and chief executive officer. In that restructuring, 1,400 workers lost their jobs.
(Jim Mallory/19921008/Press contact: John Sweney, Compaq 713-374-1564)
ohn Sweney, Compaq 713-374-1564)
10/8/92
Compaq To Layoff 1,000 Workers
BUSINESS
Lotus Announces Two Notes Deals
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Lotus Development has signed agreements with two companies concerning its Notes work group software. Lotus and PictureTel of Danvers, Massachusetts, will work together to incorporate PictureTel's videoconferencing technology into Notes. Meanwhile EDS, the Dallas-based systems integrator, will sell, install, and service Notes worldwide.
Launched in 1989, Notes is a development environment for creating applications that support groups of people working together on networked computers. There are currently more than 250,000 Notes users around the world, according to Lotus.
PictureTel, which has been named a Lotus Notes Alliance Partner will integrate its dial-up videoconferencing technology with Notes to add live visual communications capabilities to the work group environment. Both PictureTel and Lotus have exchanged technology under the terms of the agreement.
Chris Herot, director of advanced technology for Lotus, said both his company and PictureTel have been getting requests from users for videoconferencing capabilities. A key application, he said would be the ability for users in different locations to look at and annotate video data at the same time.
For instance, Herot said, those working in businesses where video is important, such as television and marketing communications want to include video clips in their Notes databases. Lotus has been working on that capability, he added. But once the video is there, users want to share it live -- hence, videoconferencing.
"The obvious thing when people talk about this is they think about having a talking head like Captain Kirk calling Star Fleet," Herot said. Videoconferencing in Notes will do that, but "where it gets really interesting" is the ability to share video images.
Lotus expects to have prototypes of the Notes videoconferencing capability as early as the end of this year, Herot said, but commercial products probably won't be forthcoming until late in 1993.
At its newly opened Application Showcase Center, PictureTel recently showed its first phase of integration, allowing a user to dial a videoconference with a Notes application.
The EDS agreement expands on a contract the two firms announced last year, under which EDS was authorized to sell install, and support Notes in Europe and at worldwide locations of its parent company, General Motors.
Lotus will provide training for EDS' sales and technical support representatives. EDS will be responsible for installation, phone support, application services, and training for its Notes customers.
EDS has operations in 30 countries and employs more than 70,000 people. The company reported revenues of $7.1 billion in 1991.
(Grant Buckler/19921008/Press Contact: Bryan Simmons, Lotus Development, 617-693-1697; Ron Taylor, PictureTel, 508-762 5178; Nancy Scott, McGlinchey & Paul for Lotus, 617-577-8500; Pete McLaughlin, EDS, 214-301-3998; Public Contact: Lotus Development, 617-577-8500)
Lotus Development, 617-577-8500)
10/8/92
Lotus Announces Two Notes Deals
BUSINESS
New For Unix: Xerox Unbundles Sc
PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Xerox Imaging Systems is now offering the software part of its ScanWorX document recognition system separately. Previously sold only in a bundle with a Xerox scanner, the stand-alone software for Unix supports Fujitsu's M3096G scanner as well as two Xerox models.
The software has been sold in the past as part of a $17,950 hardware-software bundle with Xerox's XIS 7000 scanner. The new software version also works with the XIS 7650 scanner as well as the Fujitsu model, a spokeswoman said. No comment was available on whether Xerox Imaging may extend the software to support other scanners in future.
"There is a tremendous growth opportunity in the Unix environment for office automation applications, such as document recognition solutions, and XIS and Fujitsu are equally committed to this marketplace," said Wayne Crandall, vice-president of sales and corporate marketing at XIS, in a press release.
The ScanWorX software will sell for $1,995 for the first license and $1,450 for additional licenses. It runs under Unix with Unix Systems Laboratories' Open Look graphical user interface on Sun 3X, 4, SLC, and Sparc workstations.
The Fujitsu M3096G scanner, rated at 400 to 1,000 pages per day, sells for $7,500 with a compression board and automatic document feeder.
According to Xerox the ScanWorX intelligent character recognition (ICR) software will recognize virtually any typeface and point size, including those that are underscored, or in italic or bold face.
(Grant Buckler/19921008/Press Contact: Janet Knudsen, Xerox Imaging Systems, 508-977-2125; Laura Antonucci or Kelly Morris, The Weber Group for Xerox, 617-661-7900; Public Contact: Xerox Imaging Systems, 800-248-6550)
lic Contact: Xerox Imaging Systems, 800-248-6550)
10/8/92
New For Unix: Xerox Unbundles Scanworx Software
Pen Software Developer PenMagic
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) PenMagic, a software company set up in the fall of 1990 to develop applications for pen-based computers, has obtained its first venture capital. The money comes from two California companies: Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and Integral Capital Partners.
In return for a total investment of US$2 million, the two companies will get equity stakes in PenMagic, said Keith Wales vice-president of research and development. Doug Mackenzie, a partner in Kleiner Perkins, will also get a seat on PenMagic's board of directors, joining Wales and PenMagic President Norm Francis.
Wales said the companies are not making public what stakes the two investors are taking in PenMagic or what proportion of the money is coming from each firm. He did say that Kleiner Perkins is making the larger investment, and that the investors' stakes do not add up to a majority interest in PenMagic.
The new financing is to be used to expand marketing of PenMagic's first product, a financial work processor for Go's PenPoint operating system called Numero, and to develop and market new software. Of the planned new applications, Wales would say only that they will be designed for mobile computing.
In addition to the standard Numero product, PenMagic also sells a special edition of the product called The Executive Assistant and a software development kit intended to let programmers link other applications to Numero.
(Grant Buckler/19921008/Press Contact: Norm Francis or Keith Wales, PenMagic, 604-988-9982, fax 604-988-0035; Carol Moran, Eastwick Communications for PenMagic, 415-306-4194)
n, Eastwick Communications for PenMagic, 415-306-4194)
PARIS, FRANCE, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- While AT&T and MCI slug it out in the battle of the videophones in the US, the market for look see phones here in Europe looks like it is stabilizing with the announcement that France Telecom has settled on the British Telecom unit for its pilot trials of the new technology.
The BT videophone, which sells for around the $800 mark -- about half of the cost of the AT&T unit unveiled earlier this year was recently taken on board by MCI in the US. France Telecom says that, as part of its trialing of videophone technology, the telecommunications giant has agreed contracts with 15 major companies in Europe to field test the technology.
Perhaps more importantly, France Telecom -- long regarded as a trendsetter in the European telecoms marketplace -- has revealed it is working closely with other European PTTs, notably those in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and the UK, on establishing an international videophone standard.
If all goes well with the trials over the next few months France Telecom will contract with a manufacturer for the supply of 10,000 compact videophones during 1993. Most experts agree that the BT/MCI videophone standard looks a likely winner in this respect.
What's interesting about the French telecoms market is that, as a sole supplier of the technology, France Telecom can charge pretty well what it likes for videophones. Sources suggest that the company will sell its videophones for around the FF 80,000 mark about four times the trade price of a BT unit here in the UK.
The profits, France Telecom officials say, will be ploughed back into research and development on establishing the still fledgling videophone technology standard.
(Steve Gold/19921008)
e technology standard.
(Steve Gold/19921008)
10/8/92
Battle For European Videophone Standards Rages
TELECOM
All Change At IBM UK As 50 New P
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- IBM UK has announced no less than 50 new PCs. At the same time, company Personal Systems (PS) Director Howard Ford has said that Big Blue is undergoing a major change in the way it does business. Announcing the new product range here in London, Ford said that IBM is not only changing its product line, but is also changing itself.
The new machines, which range from home and small business PS/1 and PS/2 machines up to corporate heavy-duty systems, are all priced at, what IBM calls, competitive prices. Ford was quick however, to dismiss suggestions that Big Blue is starting a price war.
The changes come as IBM in the US has announced plans to phase out its 80386DX-based PCs by the end of the year, owing to heavy competition in the PC marketplace. Analysts suggest that the revamped UK range of computers takes the US lead into account in this respect.
According to Steve Walker, head of IBM's PS division, the new PCs are "IBM's response to the increasing segmentation of the PC marketplace."
"But even more significant than the products themselves is the way in which today's announcements represent a dramatic shift in the way IBM takes part in the personal computer marketplace," Ford commented.
The changes in IBM's strategy with its PS/1 and PS/2 machines mean that Big Blue, for the first time in the British computer marketplace, has publicly admitted to being forced to cut prices. Previously, Big Blue officials have maintained that IBM has been a trend setter, rather than a trend follower.
While the prices on IBM's revamped range of PCs are nothing to write home about, they will make potential buyers of the company's direct-sell Ambra range of machines think twice. Sources in the British computer industry have suggested that the Ambra range has failed to take on the Compaq Prolinea family of low-cost PCs and, as a result, will be phased out before the end of the year.
IBM, for its part, has strenuously denied such suggestions. Newsbytes notes that, only a few months ago, however, the company denied suggestions that it would phase out 80386DX based machines owing to increased competition in the PC marketplace.
(Steve Gold/19921008)
the PC marketplace.
(Steve Gold/19921008)
10/8/92
All Change At IBM UK As 50 New PCs Unveiled
Wang Shuffles Management
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Continuing its efforts to emerge from Chapter 11 of the US bankruptcy laws Wang Laboratories has shuffled management and announced plans to cut costs in its Office 2000 systems business.
Wang said three executive vice-presidents -- Donald P. Casey Michael F. Mee, and Joseph M. Tucci -- will join Chairman and Chief Executive Richard W. Miller in an operations group which will oversee Wang's restructuring programs.
Casey continues as chief development officer but will also take on the job of establishing Wang's new open software business. Under its Office 2000 strategy, Wang is developing advanced office productivity software for open systems.
The company also announced first shipments of Open/image for AIX the first product in the Office 2000 stable. The image processing software runs on Wang reduced instruction set computing (RISC) systems, which are relabelled IBM RS/6000 machines. Additional products are in final stages of testing and development, officials said, with announcements scheduled over the next few months.
Wang said Casey will oversee the addition of new channels of distribution and industry alliances and partnerships to help sell the Office 2000 products. He will also take on corporate planning and corporate MIS functions.
Chief Financial Officer Mee will assume operating responsibility for the company's service business, plus its manufacturing purchasing, and real estate operations.
Tucci will continue to have responsibility for the company's field sales, services, and marketing activities, which include reporting relationships from Wang's regional and country managers worldwide. Tucci and Mee will coordinate closely on all customer services matters.
The company is also consolidating its PC systems and Office 2000 systems business with the field operations headed by Tucci. Officials said this will permit significant cost reductions and will provide increased coordination for Wang's product and service offerings.
James J. Hogan, senior vice-president, US commercial operations will retain responsibility for personal computers while adding responsibility for supplies and the Wang Express telemarketing operation, alternate channels marketing, AS/400 conversions and some of the installed base of Wang's older, proprietary VS minicomputer line.
William P. Ferry, senior vice-president, marketing operations will have worldwide responsibility for field marketing support the development of new value-added service offerings, and the further implementation of Wang's Office 2000 strategy.
(Grant Buckler/19921008/Press Contact: Frank J. Ryan, Wang 508-967-7038; Ed Pignone, Wang, 508-967-4912)
gnone, Wang, 508-967-4912)
10/8/92
Wang Shuffles Management
BUSINESS
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Wang Shuffles Management
Supreme Court Upholds Symantec I
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- The struggle in a "look-and-feel" suit brought by Brown Bag Software against Symantec in 1988 is finally over. The Supreme Court has upheld the decisions of two federal courts, the last being the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, that Grandview from Symantec does not violate copyrights on Brown Bag's PC-Outline package.
The entire computer industry is watching this case as well as the Lotus/Borland, the Apple/Microsoft/Hewlett-Packard, and the Sega/Accolade suits to see how the US legal system will interpret pre-existing copyright law in the new area of software copyrights.
Symantec's Attorney Mitchell Zimmerman said in a prepared statement: "The Brown Bag decision is part of an important emerging trend, limiting the scope of copyright protection for computer programs. The decision makes it easier for defendants to dispose of baseless 'look and feel' infringement claims."
However, the Symantec/Brown Bag suit never went to trial. Judge Robert P. Aguilar of the Federal District Court in San Jose granted Symantec a motion for a summary judgement on August 24,1989, claiming: "No reasonable jury could find that the screens (for the two programs) are substantially similar." Brown Bag appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals where Judge Aguilar's decision was upheld, and then to the Supreme Court where it just recently lost.
Borland has lost a summary judgement recently in the "look and feel" suit Lotus brought over the similarities between Borland's Quattro Pro spreadsheet and Lotus' 1-2-3 spreadsheet.
Newsbytes asked Tom Lemberg, Lotus vice president and general counsel, how similar the Symantec/Brown Bag suit is to the Lotus/Borland suit. Lemberg asserts the two suits are totally different, because Borland has duplicated a menus from Lotus 1-2-3 in Quattro Pro, and has advertised that Quattro Pro is like Lotus 1-2-3.
Federal Judge Robert E. Keeton of the United States District Court in Boston said in a 45-page memorandum July 31, 1992 that Lotus 1-2-3 is copyrightable, that Borland did copy 1-2-3 and that Borland is liable. Judge Keeton said: "I conclude that no reasonable jury could find for Borland, that Borland did not take the menu commands, menu command structure, macro language, and keystroke sequences substantially as they were."
In the Apple/Microsoft/Hewlett-Packard suit, a summary judgement has placed Apple in the position of having to define specifically what items are able to be copyrighted.
In the Sega/Accolade suit, an August, 1992, ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has dissolved an injunction by the Federal District Court that game producer Accolade could not sell or develop new game titles for the Sega Genesis game system. The injunction was lifted so Accolade could continue marketing compatible game titles for the Sega Genesis game system. However, the extensive paperwork in such a landmark decision outlining the reasoning of the court has yet to be released.
What appears to be clear in these decisions is that they are being decided on a case by case basis. Apple has expressed a strong interest in getting before a jury, but isn't expected to do so.
(Linda Rohrbough/19921008/Press Contact: Terri Sammonds Symantec, tel 408-725-2752, fax 408-253-3968; Sandra Hawker Borland, 408-439-1659, fax 408-439-9273; Richard Eckel, Lotus Development Corporation, tel 617-693-1284, fax 617-693-1779; Cindy McCaffrey, Apple, tel 408-974-1578, fax 408-967-5651; Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, 503-245-0905; Charlotte Skeel Accolade, tel 408-985-1700, fax 408-246-0885)
Accolade, tel 408-985-1700, fax 408-246-0885)
10/8/92
Supreme Court Upholds Symantec In Look & Feel Suit
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Apple Intros AppleLink CD Info CD-ROM
Apple Australia Cuts Prices Again
Apple Changes Russian Distributor
New For Macintosh: ClarisWorks Training Tutorials
New For Macintosh: Multimedia Encourages Beginning Readers
Japanese Mac Operating System Due In November
Apple's Record Earnings, Despite Recent Layoffs
Apple's New Sales Campaign In US And India
Lotus To Unveil 1-2-3 For Mac v1.1 In 2 Weeks
MacWorld Australia Set For November
New For Macintosh: Microsoft Word 5.1
Apple's New Docking, Multimedia, and Powerbook Macs
New For Macintosh: Swamp Gas Visits Europe Game
Merisel Offers VARs A Deal
Apple Computer Ships System 7.1, Quicktime 1.5
New For Macintosh: MacGlobe 1.3
New For Macintosh: PowerPoint 3.0 Presentation Graphics
Apple Computer Japan Releases Mac Duo & Lowers Prices
New For Macintosh: Fifth Generation Maintenance/Recovery
Kodak Donates Equipment For Budding Film Maker Use
Apple UK Launches Educational Marketing Campaign
Review of: Image Club New Faces Summer '92 Font Pack
Wordperfect Acquires BeagleWorks For Macintosh
New For Macintosh: Multimedia Lesson Tool For Teachers
New For Macintosh: Lapis Board Lets TV Operate As Display
Apple Likely To Outsell IBM In PCs This Year: Analyst
Sony Develops World's Smallest Cassette Tape
NAUTILUS is pleased to provide the following
industry reports from the Newsbytes News Network..S`
Subjects are listed on the left (Apple, Business, etc.). Click a subject button to display a list of Newsbytes for that subject. Click on any item in the list to go to that story.
ujcGlobe 1.3
New For Macintosh: PowerPoint 3.0 Presentation Graphics
Apple Computer Japan Releases Mac Duo & Lowers Prices
New For Macintosh: Fifth Generation Maintenance/Recovery
Kodak Donates Equipment For Budding Film Maker Use
Apple UK Launches Educational Marketing Campaign
Review of: Image Club New Faces Summer '92 Font Pack
Wordperfect Acquires BeagleWorks For Macintosh
New For Macintosh: Multimedia Lesson Tool For Teachers
New For Macintosh: Lapis Board Lets TV Operate As Display
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