/// CPU Status Report Late Breaking Industry-Wide News
-----------------
DELPHI TAKEOVER ANNOUNCED!
NEW YORK, September 1, 1993 -- The News Corporation Limited (NYSE: NSW; ASX;
NCP; LSE: NEWCP) announced today an agreement in principle to acquire Delphi
Internet Services, Inc., the fifth largest online service in the United States.
Based in Cambridge, MA, Delphi is the largest provider of full Internet access
to home PC users. It is also the fastest growing of the industry's "Big 5"
consumer online services including Prodigy and CompuServe. Delphi will become
a part of News Corporation's News Technology Group, which is headed by Stanley
K. Honey. Terms of the agreement were not released.
"Delphi's leading technology will enhance The News Corporation's role in the
rapidly evolving worldwide interactive media marketplace. It will provide a
series of additional products and services, including an electronic newspaper
unlike any other and an electronic version of TV Guide, which will empower
consumers to deal with the ever-increasing number of channels," said Rupert
Murdoch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The News Corporation.
With the acquisition of Delphi, News Corporation, for the first time, can give
consumers a convenient and practical way to enjoy and use the wealth of
information and services available to them, including resources within News
Corporation's global media empire," said Gus Fischer, Chief Operating Officer
of News Corporation.
Delphi offers home PC users an easy and inexpensive way to access and utilize
the Internet -- the data superhighway connecting an estimated 20 million
people and nearly two million computers. With the guidance of Delphi's 300
online experts, or moderators, even the novice computer user can easily
browse through the world's largest electronic "community" and information
resource. These Delphi moderators also act as online librarians by
cataloging valuable Internet databases onto an easy-to-use menu system.
"We have gained a tremendous competitive advantage in joining the News
Corporation global media family," noted Daniel J. Bruns, President and CEO of
Delphi. "In turn, because of our leading state-of-the-art technology, we
provide a key part of the strategic interactive media marketplace for News
Corporation as it expands its information network on a worldwide basis."
"Consumers will soon have an unlimited number of choices for accessing
information because of the many changes in the industry," said Robert A.
Young, Delphi's Vice President of Business Development. "Delphi can give
consumers ease of use, whether it's interactive cable TV, PCs or hand-held
computers, coupled with the innovation and scope of News Corporation's media
offerings."
------------------------------
SOFT-LOGIK ANNOUNCES TYPESMITH VERSION 2.0
TypeSmith is described in the new August 1993 issue of DTP World.
Version 2.0 of the font creator and editor adds these new features:
1. Create Bitmap fonts for both Adobe Type I fonts, Soft-Logik
DMF fonts, Amiga Bitmap and Windows PostScript (.FON). You can
also load in bitmap pictures and save them as bitmap fonts.
2. Automatic hinting. TypeSmith will load hints created by other
programs and will save them without changing them.
3. Auto Tracing. Just select a picture and TypeSmith will autotrace
it quickly turning in into an outline font.
4. Screen redraws are up to 100% faster.
5. Rulers, draggable guides, improved Print Preview, clipboard
support, version tracking and more ARexx commands.
Upgrade for existing TypeSmith customers is $50. TypeSmith 2.0 Retail
price is $199.95. Available September, 1993.
Requires AmigaDOS 2.0, 2 MB Ram and Hard Drive or 2 floppy drives.
TypeSmith supports Adobe Type I, Soft-Logik, CompuGraphic intellifont
and Amiga Bitmap font formats.
To order, call Soft-Logik at 800-829-8608.
Kevin Davidson, Asst. Moderator AmigaZone Vendor Support - PORTAL
<soft-logik@cup.portal.com>
SOFT-LOGIK BBS (PCP MOSLO) (314) 894-0057
------------------------------
WARNER BROS. TO PREMIER NEW ANIMATED TV SERIES AT WOCA
GVP's ImageFX used in Creation of a
New Animated TV Series called Animaniacs!
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, August 31, 1993 -- GVP and Warner
Bros. are pleased to announce a world premier for Animaniacs, Warner
Bros. new animated TV series at GVP's booth during the Pasadena World of
Commodore Amiga trade show. Rusty Mills, an animation director for
Warner Bros., will be presenting a clip of Animaniacs in a seminar that
explains how Warner Bros. has been using GVP's ImageFX image processing
software to create portions of the exciting and technically advanced
animation program.
The seminar will be held on Saturday, September 11th at 11:00am
and is open to all trade show attendees; seating is limited to 300. The
animated series is scheduled to begin airing on national TV during the
week of September 13th, 1993.
"This is an exciting opportunity for GVP to showcase its cutting
edge ImageFX image processing system and related peripherals to an
audience keen on seeing real life uses for their Amiga and GVP add-ons,"
said Steve Peoples, Marketing Manager for GVP.
Rusty Mills will also be at the GVP booth throughout the day on
Saturday and will be answering questions about his use of ImageFX.
GVP is a privately held company that was founded in 1988. Today
it is the world's largest developer of peripherals for the Commodore Amiga.
Kermit Woodall
Nova Design, Inc.
__________________________________________________
INTEL LOSES ULSI APPEAL, AMD NEW TRIAL SCHEDULED
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA -- In the court battle saga between Intel and its
microprocessor chip rivals, two milestones have been announced. A date for a
new trial in the microcode case between Intel and Advanced Micro Devices
(AMD) case has been set and the United States Court of Appeals in Washington
DC has declined Intel's petition to rehear the Intel versus ULSI patent
infringement suit.
In the battle with AMD, Intel claims AMD does not have a right to use microcode
for its 80C287 processor. The battle is over whether or not the statement
"microcomputers and peripheral products" in a 1976 agreement renewed in 1982
gives AMD the right to Intel microcode. However, there is concern in the
computer industry that if AMD loses here, it could mean the end of clones of
Intel microprocessors.
It appeared late last year that AMD had lost until the company convinced the
court that Intel had withheld documents that would have proven AMD's assumption
that the original intent of the statement included the microcode. Intel calls
the documents "press releases" which have no bearing on the case. AMD calls the
documents "key" to the case and claims the jury may have decided differently
had it seen the documents. The new trial date has been set for November 1,
1993.
In the ULSI case, Intel lost in its claims that a former Intel employee, who
became an employee of ULSI, brought over documents that were Intel's private
property. In the trial that ended in June, a jury ruled the documents were not
private property but were public documents, vindicating ULSI. However, ULSI
also denies the documents were used in the development of its math coprocessor
products.
Intel announced at that time it would take the case to the United States Court
of Appeals, but has now been denied. ULSI's Vice President of Sales and
Marketing Robert O'Brien said: "The court mandate effectively slams the door
shut on Intel's attempt to restrain ULSI from selling it's Math Co family of
math co-processors for the 386 and 486-SLC/DLC systems." Intel officials said
it isn't over yet, however, as Intel has asked the US Supreme Court to review
the case. No word is forthcoming as to whether or not the Supreme Court will
agree to do so and no time frame for a decision from the highest court is
available, Intel officials said.
------------------------------
UPCOMING IDC CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON PC MARKETPLACE
FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS -- Recognizing that the PC industry has become an
increasingly global market, International Data Corp., (IDC), is planning a
one-day conference in San Jose, California, which will examine the current
status of the PC marketplace and offer a preview of where that market is
headed.
IDC's PC Market Outlook will be held September 28 and, according to the
company, will provide "comprehensive market and technology forecasts, fresh
primary research on emerging markets, access to IDC's expert analysts from
around the globe, and a forum for discussion about the hot topics in the PC
market today."
A company spokesperson told Newsbytes that the conference registration costs
$495 for the whole day. IDC clients get a break because it only costs them
$295, the spokesperson said.
The company says that Compaq's recent introduction of the home market-oriented
Presario illustrates the new strategies vendors are adopting to adjust to the
shifting topography of the PC market. According to IDC, "With Pentium chips
becoming more available in desktops and servers, and with IBM's expected new
product launches across the PS/1, PS/2, ValuePoint, and Thinkpad PC families,
this market will continue to evolve."
The ability to design, source, manufacture, deliver, and price products
competitively are the key factors contributing to success, according to the
company. It also says that PC Market Outlook will offer "reliable, accurate,
worldwide expertise to help identify and target opportunities for growth."
In announcing the conference, John Gantz, IDC's senior vice president for
Personal Systems and Workgroup Applications, said: "One of our goals is to make
the conference as interactive as possible. PC and peripheral hardware
manufacturers, software vendors, marketing executives, channel partners, end
users, and anyone else who wants access to the latest expert analysis of the PC
market should attend."
More information about PC Market Outlook can be obtained from Mike Ault at
800-343-4952.
------------------------------
APPLE SHIPPING NEWTON MESSAGEPAD IN QUANTITY
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA -- Apple Computer has announced that its Newton
MessagePad personal digital assistant (PDA) is shipping in quantity to
dealers, computer superstores, campus resellers and K-12 institutions
nationwide. The product is expected to be available by the Labor Day
weekend, priced from $699 to $949, depending on configuration.
The company says that the nationwide introduction follows a a sell-out
introduction in the New York and Boston areas, after its introduction in Boston
on August 2, 1993.
Apple claims that the Newton MessagePad's communications capabilities - faxing,
wireless messaging, electronic mail, beaming, and printing - allow users to
send, receive and share information through telephone lines, wireless networks,
and computer networks.
In announcing the quantity shipments, Ted Briscoe, general manager of PIE
Sales, Apple USA, said: "The MessagePad is the fastest-selling new product
Apple has ever offered. Our resellers in the Northeast have been inundated with
orders for the MessagePad. We have ramped up our manufacturing and are excited
about extending shipments to all areas of the US."
MessagePads were first sold on the trade show floor at Macworld Boston and then
by resellers in the New York and Boston areas.
Apple says that the Newton products and accessories will carry Apple's standard
one-year limited warranty on parts and labor along with mail-in service. The
company also says that "built-in up-and- running support is also provided for
as long as the customer owns their product." Up-and-running support includes
set-up and installation, Newton operating system support, and assistance with
configuration, compatibility and troubleshooting.
The company plans to provide all service and support through the Apple
Assistance Center at 800-SOS-APPL during the hours of 6 am to 6 pm Pacific
Time, Monday through Friday.
As reported extensively by Newsbytes previously, the Messagepad is 7.25-inches
high by 4.5-inches wide by 0.75-inches deep and weighs 0.9 pounds. It is
powered by a Advanced RISC Machines reduced instruction-set computing (RISC)
610 processor running at 20 megahertz (MHz), has 4 megabytes of read-only
memory (ROM), 640 kilobytes (KB) of RAM, and offers Apple's own custom system
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
The PDA has a low-power, reflective liquid crystal display (LCD) display at a
resolution of 336 by 240 picture elements (pixels) covered by a transparent
tablet with passive pen for handwriting input. For communication and
translation of data between desktop machines the unit offers a Localtalk
compatible serial port; a single Personal Computer Memory Card International
Association (PCMCIA) 2 card slot; and a low- power, half-duplex, infrared
transceiver which can transfer data from one Messagepad to another at 9600 baud
from a distance of no more than 1 meter.
------------------------------
INTUIT & CHIPSOFT TO MERGE
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA -- Intuit Inc., and ChipSoft Inc., have announced the
signing of a definitive agreement to merge.
The companies maintain that the merger is expected to be completed by December,
1993. However, it is subject to approval by the stockholders of each company
and other "customary conditions."
Samantha Lagerlof, spokesperson for the companies, told Newsbytes that the two
companies thought it would be a "perfect merger" because their product lines
were "very complimentary." The companies have been doing business with each
other for some time.
Intuit's products include the Quicken personal finance software, and the
QuickBooks small business bookkeeping software. ChipSoft markets the TurboTax
and MacInTax individual tax preparation software products and the TurboTax
ProSeries tax preparation software.
Lagerlof also told Newsbytes that the two companies have "been bundling
TurboTax and MacInTax with Quicken for sale during tax season for four years."
According to the companies, ChipSoft will become a wholly owned subsidiary of
Intuit, with operations continuing in San Diego, Tucson and Boca Raton. Intuit
operations will continue in Menlo Park, Palo Alto and London, England.
Under terms of the deal, the holders of ChipSoft common stock will receive on a
tax-free basis .446 of a share of Intuit common stock for each share of
ChipSoft common stock in a transaction valued by the companies at about $225
million. Approximately 7,250,000 shares of Intuit stock will be exchanged for
ChipSoft stock representing approximately 39 percent of the combined company on
a pro forma basis. Intuit will also assume all outstanding ChipSoft options.
The transaction will be accounted for as a purchase.
In announcing the deal, Scott D. Cook, CEO and president of Intuit, said: "We
are excited about creating a complete financial software and services company
with this merger of equals. ChipSoft's strengths in tax preparation software
are extremely complementary with Intuit's strengths in personal finance and
accounting software and related services."
Charles H. Gaylord Jr., chairman and CEO of ChipSoft, said: "We now have the
opportunity to develop seamlessly integrated products which marry tax with
personal finance and accounting."
According to the companies, Cook will continue as CEO of Intuit, and Gaylord
will continue as chairman of ChipSoft, remaining responsible for ChipSoft's new
business operations. He will also become executive vice president of Intuit.
William H. Harris Jr., currently president and COO of ChipSoft, will assume the
title of executive vice president of Intuit and general manager of the ChipSoft
subsidiary.
The plan is for Cook to remain chairman of the Intuit board of directors, which
will consist of three of the current Intuit directors and two of the current
ChipSoft directors.
The companies say that the holders of approximately 38 percent of the
outstanding ChipSoft common stock and about 48 percent of the outstanding
Intuit common stock have agreed to vote their shares in favor of the merger.
ChipSoft has also granted Intuit an option to purchase newly-issued shares
equal to approximately 19.9 percent of its currently outstanding stock.
Lagerlof told Newsbytes that the companies do not expect any products to be
discontinued as a result of the merger. Also, she added that they do not expect
any layoffs. On the contrary, she said, they expect "they will require in the
future more technical support staff."
------------------------------
COMPAQ TO HOST INDUSTRY TECH SUMMIT
HOUSTON, TEXAS -- Compaq Computer Corporation will host a conference and
exhibition this month that it says will offer "the broadest and most unique
array of technical programs to take place at an industry gathering."
Called Innovate '93, the show will take place at the George R. Brown Convention
Center in Houston from September 13 through 17. Compaq says more than 300
technology specialists, many from major corporations, consulting firms, and the
media will conduct the seminars and tutorials. "The impressive line-up of
technology sessions offered at Innovate '93 truly demonstrates the spirit of
this worldwide technology summit - a gathering of the industry to share
thoughts, insight and information on the trends of today, which are fast
becoming the computing standards of tomorrow," says Joe Nahil, Compaq VP of
corporate communications.
The 125 technical sessions will be divided across four tracks, including
enterprise and corporate strategies; operation, service and support; technology
development, and technology integration. Compaq says some of the highlights of
the event include a discussion of mobile companion products, the engineering
issues and marketing impact of low energy, or "green" computing, and a
roundtable discussion of wireless computing issues. The implementation of
multimedia technologies on local area networks and future trends in server
technology will also be discussed.
Compaq spokesperson Mike Berman told Newsbytes Innovate '93 will feature four
keynote speakers. Compaq President Eckhard Pfeiffer will be speaking at 9AM on
Tuesday. Microsoft Executive VP Steve Ballmar will speak Tuesday afternoon at 3
PM. Ballmar will discuss the role partnerships play in Microsoft's strategic
direction. On Wednesday morning Intel President and CEO Andy Grove will talk
about how companies can re-engineer their corporations with advanced PCs and
microprocessors. Thursday morning Novell Chairman and CEO Ray Norda will share
his thoughts on how to survive in the decade of the 90s.
Berman said registration for the complete conference, including keynote
speeches, seminars, and exhibits costs $600 if the registration is made prior
to September 10. At the door the cost will be $700. If you just want to attend
the keynote speeches and view the exhibits the cost is $10 for pre-registration
and $20 at the door.
(Jim Mallory/19930902/Press contact: John Sweney, Compaq Computer Corporation,
713-374-0484; Reader contact: Compaq, 713-374-1459, 800-345-1518 (general
information) or 800-235- 2133 (800-932-0804 in Texas only) for show info or
registration)
------------------------------
NEW IBM GROUP TO FOCUS ON EASE OF USE
SOMERS, NEW YORK -- By a combination of pulling together existing work and
launching new initiatives, the IBM Personal Computer Co. is creating a Center
for Natural Computing that will focus on making computers easier to use.
The center, which starts its formal life with a staff of about 36 people,
according to company spokesman Michael Corrado, will explore ways to let
computing build the innate and cognitive aspects of human behavior, the company
said. In other words, it will try to make computers work more the way people
naturally expect them to work.
An example of the kind of thing the center will do is the Trackpoint, a
pointing device that IBM introduced a few months ago for some of its notebook
computers, Corrado said. It consists of a tiny lever mounted in the middle of
an ordinary computer keyboard, and serves the purpose of a mouse while allowing
the user to keep his or her fingers on the keyboard.
The new center's function will be not only to do its own research but to pull
together research from a variety of sources and help turn it into IBM products,
Corrado added.
He would not say how much money IBM plans to put into the effort, but "it's a
big push here and it's coming from Bob Corrigan's office down." Robert Corrigan
is president and chief executive of IBM Personal Computer Co., a business unit
of IBM.
The center will investigate a variety of hardware and software including mice,
keyboards, touch screens, and pen computing.
------------------------------
NEC SUPPLIES COLOR LCDs TO APPLE COMPUTER
TOKYO, JAPAN -- NEC will supply Apple Computer with color TFT (thin film
transistor)-type LCDs in what amounts to the largest color LCD shipment to
a third party firm for NEC.
NEC will ship 9.4-inch-type multi-color TFT LCDs to Apple Computer in the US
this October. This is a 640 x 480 pixel-type LCD. NEC expects to ship 30,000
units to Apple's plants in the US including the Fountain plant in Colorado. The
color LCD costs 120,000 yen ($1,200) per unit.
Apple Computer will use this LCD on its new color notebook-type personal
computer. Currently, Apple Computer obtains a supply of color LCDs from Japan's
Sharp. The units are shipped to Apple's Irish plant.
NEC has been expanding its LCD business and has already announced plans to set
up additional LCD production lines at its plant in Northern Japan. According to
the firm's business plan, NEC aims to gain 40 billion yen ($400 million) in
sales in fiscal 1994. This is 2.5 times more than what it expects to make this
year.
NEC currently sells only 10 percent of all its LCDs to third party firms, but
will increase this percentage to 30 percent by the end of this fiscal year. NEC
hopes its Apple deal will go a long way toward achieving that goal.
NEC is also planning to manufacture the color LCDs at its US plant in
Roseville, California, in the near future. One plan is to convert semiconductor
chip production lines to LCD production there.
------------------------------
SEVEN MILLION US TELECOMMUTERS PREDICTED BY 1997
WASHINGTON, DC -- According to some statistics pulled together by telephone
equipment maker PhoneMate, the number of home offices is growing at a steady
rate due both to telecommuting and new businesses.
BIS Strategic Decisions reports that the company's latest data shows 4.5
million people in the United States now telecommute at least part-time, a 15
percent increase from last year and the research firm sees 7 million
telecommuters by the end of 1996
Telecommuting improves productivity, cuts commuter driving time and consequent
air pollution, and reduces office space requirements, according to BIS
Strategic Decisions' Jon Hulak.
The research firm also claims that there are now about 39 million home office
workers in the United States, including both owner- operated businesses and
telecommuting installations.
More than 12 million of those workers were either fired or encouraged to leave
companies under early retirement plans and opened up their own businesses
either to tide them over until permanent positions opened up or as permanent
careers.
Unsurprisingly, the PhoneMate sponsored report quotes Noramae Munster, owner of
a small home-based, San Pedro, California graphic design firm as saying that
the basic tools for a home office include a good telephone, an answering
machine, and fax capabilities.
Jim Oblak, vice president of marketing for PhoneMate, which makes telephone
answering machines and portable phones, says: "Home office workers really don't
need to spend a lot on business equipment, with a little research, outfitting a
modern home office can cost as little as $2,200."
Of course most home office experts also say that the average home business will
also need at least a basic computer.
------------------------------
JUDGE DENIES MICROSOFT INJUNCTION AGAINST STAC
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA -- Stac Electronics is gloating over the denial of
Microsoft's motion for a preliminary injunction against its compression
product Stacker 3.1.
Judge Edward Rafeedie in US District Court in Los Angeles, California, said the
issues in the case need to be decided at trial.
The battle began when, spurned by Stac Electronics, Microsoft made a deal with
Verisoft to include a modified version of its software compression product, now
called Doublespace, in the MS-DOS 6.0 operating system. Stac filed suit when
pre-release copies of the DOS 6.0 operating system were distributed in January
of this year, claiming the compression product is in violation of two of its
patents.
Microsoft filed a countersuit against Stac and company president and chairman
of the board, Gary Clow, for patent infringement, breach of contract,
conspiracy to commit fraud, and other claims. Microsoft claims both Stacker 3.0
and the new Stacker 3.1 products are in violation of its copyrights, but sought
only to enjoin Stacker 3.1 as the 3.0 version had been on the market for some
time. Stac officials claim Microsoft timed the injunction to coincide with the
release of Stacker 3.1, but Microsoft officials deny Stac's allegations.
Stac has reported losses, layoffs, and lower earnings and is vocal in blaming
Microsoft for its woes. Gary Clow, president and chief executive officer of
Stac said, concerning today's announcement: "We are very pleased that Judge
Rafeedie agreed with us, ruling in our favor against Microsoft's motion, and we
now look forward to going to trial in December on our original complaint."
John Mason, senior corporate attorney for Microsoft said: "The ruling is not a
determination of the merits of our case. It means only that the court declined
to enjoin sales of Stacker v. 3.1 prior to trial. We will continue to
aggressively pursue all aspects of our case, including issues not covered by
our motion for preliminary injunction. We look forward to presenting our entire
case at trial."
The trial date is currently scheduled for December 14, 1993.
------------------------------
SEGA ORDERS FRAM CHIPS FOR GAMES
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO -- Electronic games maker Sega Enterprises has
placed a multi-million order for ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM)
chips from Colorado Springs, Colorado-based Ramtron International
Corporation. The chips will be used in Sega video game cartridges.
Sega says it selected the FRAM chips to replace its present non-volatile
memory method, a combination of a lithium battery, a controller chip, and a
static RAM (SRAM) chip.
The new order is the second from Ramtron, following a 100,000-chip order about
three months ago. It's the largest FRAM chip order for Ramtron to date. Jack
Morgan, Ramtron's marketing VP, says FRAM will be the next generation of
semiconductor memory. "We expect FRAM memory to be included in additional SEGA
game titles as well as in countless other consumer products as Ramtron moves
forward."
FRAM chips retain the information stored in them when the power is turned off
or interrupted, and holds promise for non-volatile personal computer system
memory as larger capacity chips are developed.
Ramtron spokesperson Lee Brown told Newsbytes that the agreement with Sega
precluded him from disclosing the total value of the deal, but did say the
order is for about two million units. Brown said the chips will be used in
games that have not been introduced to the market yet. "We are building the
chips now and plan to ship them before the end of the year."
------------------------------
BBS OPERATORS PONDER ADULT IMAGE ISSUE
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO -- When more than 2,000 BBS system operators
(sysops) got together at the prestigious Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs
recently for the second annual ONE BBSCON trade show, one of the issues they
discussed was user access to and downloading of adult images.
About 100 sysops and other interested parties attended a panel discussion about
adult images online, trying to find out how to walk the fine line between
making a service available that their customers obviously want and staying
clear of the police.
Panelists for the workshop, which was chaired by EXEC-PC Vice President of
Operations Greg Ryan, included Jim Maxey, founder and president of Event
Horizons Inc., and operator of Event Horizons BBS, a board specializing in
graphic images; electronic frontier Foundation's Shari Steele; Larry Wood,
forum administrator of CompuServe's Graphics Forums; and Lee Noga, owner of
Lion's Den International, Inc., a worldwide distributor, producer, and
publisher of CD-ROMs, many of which include adult images.
Sysops are concerned about the adult image issue because the stakes are high.
Law enforcement officers have swooped down on several board bulletin board
locations across the country, confiscating all of their hardware, software, and
business records. In Des Plaines, Illinois a board operator was arrested
recently in what is believed to be the first prosecution of its kind in that
state's history
More and more boards are including the X-rated material for a simple reason -
their subscribers want it. The question is how to offer what users desire and
still stay clear of the law. The panelists, some of whom have had close up and
personal encounters with federal and state law enforcement agencies, said there
are still a lot of questions unanswered. However it appears that more boards
will add adult images to their offerings, but are looking for ways to keep it
legal.
It's also a source of big money. With thousands of users accessing the
estimated five percent of the nation's boards that offer adult material at
annual fees of $25 to $50, hundreds of thousands of revenue dollars are at
stake.
Suggestions from the panelists included doing everything possible to assure
that subscribers accessing the adult material area over 18 years of age. Users
accessing adult material on BBS systems can expect to be asked to mail in a
copy of a document that establishes age, such as a driver's license. If they
aren't already, they can also expect to start paying for connection to boards
that carry adult material with a credit card. Jim Maxey says both Secret
Service and FBI agents have told him that if a board user has a major credit
card, there's a good probability he or she is over 18.
What can you, the board users, expect in the future? Look for dazzling
graphics, faster data transfer, and continued access to adult theme material.
But you better be over 18 years of age, and be able to prove it. We've come a
long way since Playboy Magazine came in a plain brown wrapper.
------------------------------
BELLSOUTH APPEALS MTel NWN AWARD
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI -- BellSouth filed an appeal of
a Federal Communications Commission order which gives Mobile Telecommunications
the right to build what it calls a nationwide wireless network, or NWN.
The NWN would use Mtel's proprietary messaging technology and software and
enable people to both send and receive messages on notebook and palmtop
computers, or devices like the Apple Newton. In addition, the system enables
subscribers to confirm receipt of messages, using pocket-sized acknowledgment
receivers currently under development.
BellSouth owns MobileComm, which like MTel's SkyTel, has a nationwide
satellite-fed paging service. Its appeal of the FCC order, based on a
"pioneer's preference" given because MTel risked money proving its NWN
technology, was filed in the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
BellSouth was joined in the appeal by Freeman Engineering Associates Inc.,
which also wants to create something like the NWN.
Separately, Freeman and Global Enhanced Messaging Venture, filed petitions with
the FCC asking that it reconsider the award. Both assert they meet the
standards which MTel met when it was given its "pioneer's preference." That
designation was created under the guidance of former FCC chairman Al Sikes, now
with Hearst Corp., to encourage risk-taking by technology firms. Under the
rules, companies which prove they have pioneered the creation of new technology
get first crack at licenses.
In a press statement, MTel stated that these filings would not impede the
company's plans to develop, construct, and operate NWN. The company won its
preference in June, and intends to file a formal license application to
construct NWN as soon as permitted under the FCC's rules, and commence
commercial operations once it gets the license. "These filings are not
unexpected and unfortunately are a common response to unsuccessful applicants
in the regulatory process," said Chairman John N. Palmer, in a press statement.
"We will continue our efforts to make NWN a commercial reality within two
years."
The preceding stories are (c) 1993 by NewsBytes.
Reprinted with permission.
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