Newsbytes - Internationa…ews 1983 May to 1994 June/Newsbytes - International Computing Industry News 1994 Edition - May 1983 - June 1994 - Wayzata Technologies (5045) (1994).iso/mac/Text/Mac Text/1989/NB890206.293

Text File | 1991-10-02 | 119KB | 2,813 lines

(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00001)

APPLE SUED BY SHAREHOLDERS
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 3 (NB) -- Apple Computer has
been hit with a shareholder lawsuit which charges the firm failed to
disclose in a timely manner its disappointing second quarter financial
figures. The lawsuit, filed by shareholders Marc W. Vraciu,
Michael Zeid and Jane Zeid, in behalf of all who bought Apple stock
between January 17 and January 27, contends that Apple Computer
violated federal securities law by allegedly withholding bad financial
news during the period between release of first quarter and second
quarter financial results. The suit names Apple Chief Executive
John Sculley as a defendant and seeks to recover losses which occurred
on the day of the second quarter announcement as Apple stock
plummeted ten percent in value.

An Apple spokeswoman said Apple would have no comment on the lawsuit
until it was reviewed, but believed that the suit was without merit.

(Wendy Woods/19890203/Contact: Carleen LeVasseur, Apple Computer, 408-
974-2671)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00002)

APPLE'S NEXT A THREE-SLOTTER
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 3 (NB) -- Apple Computer
will introduce a three-slot Macintosh IIx one month from now
in simultaneous announcements in the U.S. and at Hanover Faire,
a West German trade show, according to MacWeek magazine. The
Macintosh is expected to be based on the Motorola 68030, as
will all Apple's new Macintoshes, have a 1.44 Mbyte SuperDrive
and three NuBus slots, and be priced at around $6,000, says
the report. Apple is not commenting on the story.

(Wendy Woods/19890203)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00003)

APPLE AND STANFORD JOIN TO PROMOTE COMPUTER TECH
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- Apple Computer
has joined Stanford University in a project to accelerate the
use of computers as instructional and research tools at the
university. Apple will donate Macintosh II and SE computers
and assign a technical support team to the prestigious
institution, while Stanford will involve four major schools and
departments in the development of Macintosh courseware and
research tools. Participating are the Freshmen Writing Program,
Stanford's School of Undergraduate Studies, the School of
Engineering, the Graduate School of Business, the Law School and
the University Library System.

(Wendy Woods/19890204)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00004)

NEW VERSION OF HYPERCARD SHIPS
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- Apple Computer
is shipping HyperCard Version 1.2.2, which provides users with
improved display and printing of Japanese, Arabic, and other
non-Roman languages. It provides international users with
support for compact disc, read-only memory [CD-ROM] drives
and incorporates improvements in sound handling, low-memory
situations, as well as fixes a few bugs. Apple says HyperCard
1.2.2 is compatible with A/UX version 1.1. The product is
available from Apple U.S. resellers, licensed Macintosh
user groups, and the Apple Programmers and Developers Association.
Stand-alone versions are available for $49.

(Wendy Woods/19890204/Contact: Cynthia Macon, Apple, 408-974-5448)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00005)

DELUXE MUSIC CONSTRUCTION SET FOR MACINTOSH II
SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- Electronic Arts
is shipping Delux Music Construction Set version 2.5 for the Macintosh
II, 512, and SE computer systems. The new version offers more
staves -- from 8 to 32 -- allowing up to 64 musical ideas at once.
The program's designer Geoff Brown says, "Musicians can now
write a symphony instead of an octet." The program also offers
improved text handling for lyrics or score notes. Owners of the
2.0 version can upgrade for $30. The product is $129.

(Wendy Woods/19890204/Contact: Nicole Noland, EA, 415-571-7171 x590)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00006)

NEW BOOK LISTS BEST PUBLIC MACINTOSH SOFTWARE
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 4 (NB) -- The Public
Domain Exchange has announced publication of a new book The Best
Mac Deal, Edition II. The book describes more than 5,000 programs
in 15 categories such as productivity, business, education, graphics,
desktop publishing, and games, that are available from the Exchange's
library. The Public Domain Exchange, a Macintosh equivalent of
PC Sig, also offers hints and tips on how to use specific software,
as well as provides an index to a product by subject or application
name. The Best Mac Deal, Edition II is available from bookstores
or through the Exchange for $9.95 plus $2 shipping at 2074C
Walsh Avenue, Dept. 70, Santa Clara, CA 95050. Toll free phone
is 800-331-8125, or in California or outside the U.S. call 408-
496-0624.

(Wendy Woods/19890204)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00007)

LEARN THE MACINTOSH II ON AUDIO TAPE
GLEN ELLYN, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 4 (NB) -- The Macintosh II
has the same intuitive interface as its less-endowed siblings, but
requires formal training for mastery of its more sophisticated
functions.  Fliptrack Learning Systems has introduced audio tapes
to take the user step-by-step through each Macintosh II procedure.
How to Operate The Macintosh II covers keyboard, windows, mouse,
hierarchical file system, MultiFinder, and Font/DA Mover, as well as
desk accessories, Easy Access, and HyperCard.  The four interactive
audio cassettes are available from Fliptrack by calling 800-222-FLIP
or 312-790-1117.

(Wendy Woods/19890204)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(TYO)(00008)

YHP RELEASES PRINTER INTERFACE KIT FOR MACINTOSH
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- Yokogawa Hewlett Packard, or
YHP, has released an interface kit which connects Apple
personal computers, including Macintosh Plus, Macintosh SE, and
Macintosh II with Hewlett Packard's color graphics printer, the
PaintJet. The kit, called HP 17305A, consists of a driver, a
printer font, a special cable, and a manual. The driver can
convert the color image on the Macintosh into a printer control
language. The interface kit can print as many as 256
colors when used on Macintosh II. The interface kit costs 23,000
yen or $180.

(Ken Takahashi/19890202/Contact: Yokogawa Hewlett Packard,
03-331-0111)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(TOR)(00009)

INFORMIX SEMINARS TO HIGHLIGHT WINGZ, OTHER PRODUCTS
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA, 1989 FEB 2 (NB) -- Informix Software
has launched a series of free one-day seminars across Canada.
Topics will include Wingz, Informix' graphic spreadsheet for the
Macintosh, as well as the company's integrated package Smartware.
The seminars will also discuss Informix' database and
applications development software. The road show started in
Winnipeg on February 2, and will proceed to Halifax, Nova Scotia
on February 6; Ottawa, Ontario on February 7; Montreal, Quebec on
February 8; Mississauga, Ontario on February 9; Vancouver,
British Columbia on February 13; Calgary, Alberta on February 14;
and Edmonton, Alberta on February 15. Ottawa, Montreal and
Mississauga will get repeat performances on March 7,8 and 9
respectively.

(Grant Buckler/19890202/Contact: Informix Software, 800-387-7024)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(BRU)(00010)

INTRA ELECTRONICS TO SERVE BELGIAN MACINTOSH COMMUNITY
DEURNE, BELGIUM, 1989 FEB 2 (NB) -- Intra Electronics has been
appointed a Belgian dealer for Apple Mac products. The company
originally dealt in IBM kit but made the switch when sales of the
Apple Macintosh series made large gains recently.

Intra has also announced it will sell third-party products
especially designed for the Macintosh including hard disks and
local area networks.

(Peter Vekinis/19890202/Contact: Intra Electronics, Bosuil 80 B1,
                 2100 Deurne, Belgium,
                 Tel: [phone].
                 Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00001)

BUSINESSLAND WON'T CARRY EISA COMPUTERS
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 2 (NB) -- Businessland will not
carry computers made by a group challenging IBM's new PS/2 line,
so says David Norman, president of Businessland, one of the nation's
largest computer retailers. Norman told analysts that his firm
will not carry rival extended industry standard architecture -- EISA
computers -- now being created by a consortium headed by Compaq,
because IBM's Micro Channel Architecture in its PS/2 line is
already the de facto standard. "There are three million Micro Channel
computers out there," he reportedly told the gathering, "and with
[add-in] boards now available, there is no question that it will
be the industry standard."

Businessland is the first retail chain to declare loyalty to IBM
in an apparently escalating dispute between IBM and followers of
the MS-DOS system, with which the EISA computers will be upwardly-
compatible.

(Wendy Woods/19890203)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00002)

MEDIAGENIC SALES UP 62 PERCENT
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 2 (NB) -- Mediagenic,
formerly Activision, reports sales for the third quarter ending
December 31 were $19.6 million, a 62 percent increase over
net sales of $12.1 million for this time in 1987. For the first
nine months of fiscal year 1989, sales are up 43 percent compared
to $32.1 percent a year ago. Bruce Davis, Mediagenic president,
attributes the strong showing to the Christmas buying season
and to the company's shipment of new Nintendo, Sega, and Atari 7800
video game titles. Particularly strong sales came from the
"Last Ninja II," "After Burner," and "SDI" titles.

(Wendy Woods/19890204)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BOS)(00003)

LEADING EDGE LAYS OFF WORKERS
CANTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- Leading
Edge Hardware Products has laid off approximately 25 percent of its
workforce. The supplier of a line of low-priced personal
computers and peripherals has also been slow in filling orders for
months, sources told Newsbytes. A company spokesman wouldn't
answer questions from Newsbytes directly, but said he would call
back after checking with officials.

Some resellers have complained that they have paid for shipments
which have yet not received, and are considering legal action.
Though Leading Edge first denied they are in any financial trouble, a
story in the Feb. 3rd Boston Globe indicated that the company might
be sold.

(Jon Pepper/19890203/Contact: Dan Rottenberg, Leading Edge, 617-
969-4248)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00004)

IBM STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING SET FOR PITTSBURGH
ARMONK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 31 (NB) --IBM has announced plans
to hold the annual stockholder's meeting in Pittsburgh this year on April 24.
The meeting will kick off at 10 a.m., with a keynote speech by IBM
Chairman John F. Akers. A company official said that there are 800
employees and about 6,700 stockholders in the Pittsburgh area.

(Jon Pepper/19890203/Contact: Cynthia Stevens, IBM, 914-765-4344)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00005)

HONEYWELL BULL CHANGES NAME TO BULL HN INFORMATION SYSTEMS
BILLERICA, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 31 (NB) -- Honeywell
Bull has changed its name to Bull HN Information Systems in
order to distinguish a "new era," according to company officers.
The H in "HN" stands for the 19.9 percent interest Honeywell of
Minneapolis has in the company, and the "N" reflects the
15 percent interest of NEC of Japan. To publicize the new
name, Bull HN will spend $20 million in advertising on television
and in print, beginning February 8 in The Wall Street Journal.
Bull HN's products range from desktop to mainframe computers
using both open and proprietary systems. The firm has 18,000
employees worldwide.

(Wendy Woods/19890203)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00006)

REMOTE-ACCESS SOFTWARE ADOPTED BY SOFTSEL
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 9 (NB) -- Norton Lambert
has announced that the company's Close-Up remote access
software has been selected by Softsel Computer Products for use in a
remote order-entry system. The program allows a remote computer's
resources, including software, to be used as though they were on the
local machine.

Softsel's Dial-Up SalesNet system serves its dealer network
throughout North America. Dealers use Close-Up to access the on-
line system and place orders for merchandise, view pricing or check
inventory levels.

Other firms using Close-Up include Ashton-Tate, Borland, IBM, Lotus,
Microrim, Novell, and 3Com. Each selected the product to support
its customer-service program. Two versions of the program are
required for support operation, the $245 Close-Up Support and the
$195 Close-Up Customer.

(Wayne Yacco/19890202/Contact: 805-964-6767)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00007)

PRICE REDUCTIONS FOR TOSHIBA PRINTERS
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 20 (NB) -- Toshiba America's
Information Systems Division [ISD] has announced price reductions
for three printers. The P351SX has been reduced $100 to $1499; the
P321SL and P341SL each drop $50 to $749 and $999 respectively. The
reductions for the 24-pin dot matrix printers take immediate effect.

(Wayne Yacco/19890112/Contact: 800-457-7777, 714-541-1062)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00008)

REAL-ESTATE SOFTWARE TO BE SOLD AT RADIO SHACK
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- Good Software Corp. has
entered into an agreement with Tandy for the distribution of
three of Good's real estate software products. Over 5,000 Radio
Shacks will now offer REMS investor 2000, REMS Lessor 2000, and REMS
Appraiser URAR through their Express Order Service. Five other Good
titles are already available through Radio Shack stores nationwide.

REMS Investor 2000 is endorsed by the National Association of
Realtors and provides real-estate investment analysis. REMS Lessor
2000 can be used to analyze consolidated property cash flows for up
to 20 leases with varying terms and conditions. REMS Appraiser URAR
prepares a Uniform Residential Appraisal Report [Form 1004] and
includes automatic calculations and a glossary for entering standard
phrases with a single keystroke.

Bill Mitschrich, Good's senior vice president, was quoted in the
firm's official announcement as saying that the company feels "good"
about having the programs distributed by Tandy. The firm's software
is also distributed by Ingram Computer, Kenfil Distribution and
Micro D.

(Wayne Yacco/19890202/Contact: 214-239-6085)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00009)

PROJECT-MANAGEMENT-TRAINING VIDEO RELEASED
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 16 (NB) -- Template Techniques, Inc.
is offering a video-based training course to teach the fundamentals
of project-management software. The 68-minute PC Planning Principles
features computer graphics, animation, and live talent. A workbook
is included.

(Wayne Yacco/19890202/Contact: 800-648-3475. 713-251-4851)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00010)

SPANISH DISTRIBUTION DEAL FOR CMS
TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 31 (NB) -- CMS Enhancements
[NASDAQ:ACMS] has signed a $6 million agreement for distribution of
its computer peripherals in Spain. Acro Hardware S.A., of Madrid,
Spain, will distribute CMS' entire line of hard-disk drives and
subsystems, floppy disk drives and subsystems, cartridge tape drives
and subsystems, and accessories. The computer peripherals are
available for computer systems made by IBM, Apple, Compaq, Digital
Equipment Corp., Nixdorf, Olivetti, NEC, Toshiba and others.

The Acro Hardware deal is the most recent of four signed in the last
two weeks for a total of $18 million in new business. The $150
million company has facilities in Southern California and Singapore
and currently ships in excess of 60,000 drives per month to more
than 1,500 computer dealers in 39 nations worldwide.

(Wayne Yacco/19890202/Contact: 714-259-5812)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00011)

SANYO TO SPEND BIG ON CHIPS
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JAN 31 (NB) -- Sanyo Electric will give a
big financial boost to its chip-making operations this year,
spending an estimated 80 trillion yen or $6.4 trillion --
33 percent more than last year. 1.2 trillion yen or $9.6 million
will go to research and development of large-capacity memories,
such as four megabit dynamic random access memory chips, and 1.8
trillion yen or $14.4 million will be spent to beef up factories.

(Ken Takahashi/1980202)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SYD)(00012)

MORE U.S. INVESTORS SOUGHT FOR HIGH-TECH AUSTRALIA
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 FEB 2 (NB) -- Australia is an ideal site for U.S.
companies seeking to invest in Southeast Asia, according to
Australian Minister of Industry John Button. "We speak the same
language, we have the same business culture and the investor can
use us to get access to the rest of the region" he said at a
briefing held Thursday at the new Australian investment office in
New York.

According to the office, Australia is ranked 20th in world
trading power; is a major exporter of minerals and primary
produce; and leads the world in exports of aluminum, coal, wool
and live sheep. Wage restraint and assertive economic policies
have stabilised the economy and produced a AUS$5 million annual
budgetary surplus.

The country is attempting to balance international investment.
Japan, currently the largest investor, is pouring huge amounts
into tourist projects such as resorts. The U.S., as second-largest
investor, is financing industry -- $31 billion from U.S. investors
has gone into automobiles, computers, biotechnology and similar
endeavors.

IBM has its SE Asian manufacturing centre in Wangaratta,
Australia, one of only three centres in the world producing PS/2
machines. Other U.S. companies with manufacturing or research
facilities in Australia include Gillette, Ford Motor, Eastman
Kodak and Apple and Digital Computer. Richard Seddon of the
investment centre explained that the centre's job was to match US
investors with Australian companies.

(Paul Zucker/19890204)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SYD)(00013)

MOTOROLA TO BADGE SCITEC PRODUCT LINE
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 JAN 31 (NB) -- Australian high-tech
company Scitec has signed a deal with Codex, a division of
Motorola, in which Codex will sell Scitec's complete product line as
the Motorola 6281 series. The line includes Scitec's Maxima
Integrated Network and communications resource manager.
Scitec's Moshe Yerushalmy explains that the deal, worth "tens of
millions" and will lead to further research and development
between the two companies. "It's a bulk-buy, bulk-pay deal -
there's no commitment for any set amount," he said.

(Paul Zucker/19890203)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00014)

IBM CANADA PRESIDENT ADDS CHAIRMAN'S TITLE
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JAN 30 (NB) -- John M. Thompson,
president of IBM Canada Ltd., has been elected chairman of the
company as well. He replaces Lorne K. Lodge, who has retired as
chairman but will continue on the board of directors. Thompson
has been with IBM Canada since 1966.

(Grant Buckler/19890202/Contact: IBM Canada Ltd., 416-474-3900)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00015)

SUN CANADA GETS NEW PRESIDENT
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JAN 30 (NB) -- Everett Anstey has
been named president of Sun Microsystems of Canada. He
replaces Dave Black, who is moving to Europe. Anstey was vice-
president of sales for Sun Canada for the past year, and before
that held the same title at Digital Equipment of Canada Ltd. in
Toronto.

(Grant Buckler/19890202/Contact: Janice Murray, Sun Microsystems
of Canada Inc., 416-477-6745)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00016)

STM SYSTEMS STRIKES OIL WITH CONVERSION CONTRACT
CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA, 1989 JAN 30 (NB) -- STM Systems Corp.,
of Markham, Ontario, has a year-long contract to convert
PanCanadian Petroleum Ltd. from Honeywell to IBM systems.
PanCanadian is a crude oil and natural gas producer, with about
1,500 employees. STM is Canada's largest computer services
company and a subsidiary of International Semi-Tech
Microelectronics Ltd., also of Markham.

(Grant Buckler/19890202/Contact: Ray Lancashire, STM Systems
Corp., 416-979-3900)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00017)

FUJITSU TO BUILD CHIP PLANT IN EUROPE
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 FEB 04 (NB) -- Fujitsu, the Japanese
electronics company, has announced it will build a major
microchip manufacturing plant in Europe. The plant is expected to
cost around $100 million to build, and be ready for chip
production in about eighteen months.

To date, Fujitsu has declined to say in which European country it
will build the factory. According to the London Financial
Times, however, Fujitsu has selected a site in Sunderland, in
Northeast England, as the location for the new plant. Fujitsu
representatives have declined to comment on the FT's news story.

Industry sources in the U.K. have suggested that the move by
Fujitsu may in preparation for a possible DRAM chip levy, which
the European Economic Commission [EEC] is looking into at the
moment. The EEC has already imposed anti-dumping levies against
Japanese printer companies. Similar levies on DRAM chip
production and even PC production from the Far East have been
rumoured for some time.

(Steve Gold/19890204)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00000)

CONTROL DATA SECURES WEST GERMANY SUPERCOMPUTER ORDER
AACHEN, WEST GERMANY, 1989 FEB 04 (NB) -- Control Data Corporation
[CDC] has secured a major order for one of its ETA-10-G
supercomputers from the University of Aachen, West Germany. The
$18 million computer will be cooled by liquid nitrogen and will
be designed, developed and installed by ETA Systems, a wholly-
owned subsidiary of CDC.

CDC has revealed that the computer will consist of six central
processor units, combined with six banks of 128Mbytes of memory.
The supercomputer will be installed during the third and fourth
quarters of this year, and is the second such computer to be sold
to West Germany. The first installation was made by CDC last year
at the West German weather service headquarters,

(Steve Gold/19890204)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BRU)(00001)

SIEMENS MOVES OUT OF GALLIUM ARSENIDE
MUNICH, WEST GERMANY, 1989 JAN 30 (NB) -- Siemens AG, the West
German-based electronics giant, has moved out of the Gallium
arsenide [GA] business citing high development costs and low
industry interest. Gallium arsenide is the material used by
ultra-fast integrated circuits.

Siemens has invested $50 million in GA technology over the past
three years, a sum it may never fully recover. Siemens' departure
from the GA industry means leaves just two US firms - Vitesse
Semiconductor and Gigabit Logic -in the market for GA sales.

(Peter Vekinis/19890130)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00002)

BIGGEST CONNECTIVITY DEMONSTRATION SLATED
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 4 (NB) -- The world's
largest demonstration of applied networking among disparate systems
is slated to take place at Connectathon '89, a round-the-clock
connectivity marathon that tests interoperability among various
implementations of the Open Network Computer/Network File System,
NeWS and X11. NeWS and X11 are windowing technologies from Sun
Microsystems and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Connectathon '89, scheduled for February 13-17 at the Santa Clara
Techmart, will feature IBM, DEC, Hewlett-Packard, Sun, Apple, and
Cray all trying to achieve complete interoperability among
all vendors. Well in excess of 2,000 connections is scheduled to
occur.

The keynote address, by Mark Stahlman, senior research analyst
with investment research firm Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., will
discuss network computing on February 14 at 11 a.m. The event
is open to exhibitors, customers, press, and industry analysts.

(Wendy Woods/19890204/Contact: Kate Quackenbush, Hi-Tech PR, 415-
864-5600)


(CORRECTION)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00002)

XANADU HYPERTEXT PROJECT UPDATE
SAUSALITO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 4 (NB) -- Xanadu, a
division of Autodesk, does not have a product called "hypergrid,"
contrary to a report which appeared in a late-1988 edition of
Newsbytes. Spokeswoman Gayle Pergamit says Ted Nelson's
Hypertext project is proceeding but there is no "hypergrid"
product nor is release of such a product planned. Newsbytes
regrets the error.

(Wendy Woods/19890204)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00003)

MULTIFUNCTION FAX MACHINE FROM NEC
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JAN 27 (NB) -- NEC has begun marketing a
multifunction facsimile machine, NEFAX SIGMA 5000. When
connected with a personal computer, the machine will be a printer
which prints out two sheets of A4 size paper per second and can
also double as a data receiver for PCs in a remote area. Also,
it performs as an image scanner for a PC. Insert documents,
pictures or drawings, and it will read the data into a computer. The
price of this multifunction fax machine is 997,000 yen or
$7,670.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890202)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00004)

WANG SHIPS NEW HIGH-END MINICOMPUTER
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 26 (NB) -- Wang
Laboratories has introduced a new high-end minicomputer that
the company claims is the most powerful in its class. The new
computer, the VS 10000, is designed to go head-to head with Digital
Equipment's VAX 8810 and Data General Corp.'s MV 40000. A
Wang official said that the new super-minicomputer runs at up to
three times the speed of the competitive offerings.

Prices for the VS 10000 will range form $395,000 to approximately
$700,000, depending upon the configuration. Analysts said that
despite the claimed speed advantage, the main task for the new
Wang machines will be attracting sufficient applications software.

(Jon Pepper/19890203/Contact: Margaret A. Spillane, Wang, 508-967-
3574)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00005)

APOLLO COMPUTER INTRODUCES 3D GRAPHIC WORKSTATION
CHELMSFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- Apollo
Computer has introduced a fast workstation that has been
optimized to display three-dimensional images. The Series 10000
Visualization System, which is priced from $94,900, is aimed for
applications like finite element analysis, image processing, electronic
design, and molecular modeling. A company spokesman said that
production units should begin shipping in May.

The computer uses a RISC, or reduced instruction set computing,
chip to help speed up the operation of the graphics.

(Jon Pepper/19890203/Contact: Jim Barbagallo, Apollo, 508-256-6600)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00006)

LUNDY RELEASES 1600 BY 1200 PIXEL COLOR DISPLAY SYSTEM
GLEN HEAD, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 20 (NB) -- Lundy
Electronics & Systems has announced the Lundy 1612 color
graphics display system. The system offers 1600 by 1200 resolution
display for IBM AT, PS/2, and compatible computers.

The Lundy 1612 uses the new 50Mhz Texas Instrument TMS 34010
32-bit Graphic System Processor, which operates at six million
instructions per second, providing very fast drawing speeds. Up to 256
simultaneous colors can be supported, and more than 100 applications,
including AutoCAD, Harvard Graphics, and WordPerfect 5.0, will work
with the system.

(Jon Pepper/19890203/Contact: Jeffrey S. Leibowitz, Lundy, 516-671-
9000)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00007)

CURTIS INTRODUCES PLOTTER PEN ORGANIZER
JAFFREY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 31 (NB) -- Curtis
Manufacturing Company is now offering the Curtis Plotter Pen
Organizer. The product is designed to organize, protect, and store
plotter pens, and is one of twenty new products the company plans
to ship in 1989.

Company President Tom Judd said the product is designed to help
keep workspaces more efficient and organized. The product retails for
$14.95, and has a lifetime warranty.

(Jon Pepper/19890203/Contact: Greg Snarski, Curtis, 603-532-4123)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00008)

CD-ROM BEST SELLERS ANNOUNCED
UPPER MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 3 (NB) -- The Bureau
of Electronic Publishing, a firm which has the largest selection of
CD-ROM titles, drives, and accessories for the PC and Macintosh,
says its top selling CD-ROM disk was Groliers Electronic
Encyclopedia in 1988.  The $395 disk, says Barry Cinnamon, president,
"is simply a well-done product with very usable search techniques."
The encyclopedia outsold the McGraw Hill Science & Technical Reference
Set, which got second place, Microsoft Bookshelf, which got third
place, and DDRI CD-ROM Sourcedisk, in the fourth slot.  Still,
the disks aren't selling like hotcakes, says Cinnamon, they
move in quantities of "one or two a day," he told Newsbytes.

The Bureau's current 100-page Product Guide is available for
free by contacting them at PO Box 43131, Upper Montclair,
New Jersey, 07043, ph: 201-746-3031.

(Wendy Woods/19890203)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00009)

CORPORATE TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORY AVAILABLE
WELLESLEY HILLS, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 4 (NB) -- For
those in need of comprehensive information about U.S. computer,
software, peripheral, and information companies, there's an
exhaustive set of volumes, called Corporate Technology Directory 1989,
now available.  The four-book set lists 30,000 companies, 5,000
newly-listed companies, 100,000 products, 90,000 key executives,
including a comapny's size, ownership, products, subsidiaries, and
general business description.  The material is also indexed by
company name, geographic location, non-U.S. parent company, and
technology. The 5,000-page set costs $395. Newsbytes News Service
uses an earlier edition regularly and has high marks for the volumes.
We find it useful for compiling news reports.   Available from
CorpTech, PO Box 81281, Wellesley Hills, MA  02181.  Or call
toll-free at 1-800-843-8036.

(Wendy Woods/19890204)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(ATL)(00010)

CREDIT CARD PROCESSOR BUYS BANK TO JOIN CREDIT NETWORKS
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 2 (NB) -- First Financial
Management System, which handles one in 10 credit card
authorizations in the U.S., will buy Georgia Federal Bank, a
large savings and loan, from Fuqua Industries for $242 million
cash. FFMC has been growing fast by acquiring other credit card
authorizers, but felt squeezed by Visa and MasterCard, which are
both owned by member banks and are trying to take on all such
authorizations themselves. By buying Georgia Federal, which
currently contracts for credit card services, FFMC should
eventually become a member of those groups and, as an insider,
have some say in whether it gets squeezed out. The bank may also
help it finance other computer services acquisitions.

While some computer services firms start in computing, like EDS,
while others are the outgrowth of operating firms, like American
Airlines' Sabre reservations system, this may be the first time a
computer services firm bought into the industry it was serving.
As the size and importance of computer services to business
increases, analysts anticipate more such deals.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890203/Contact: Don Sharp, 404-321-0120)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00011)

SEYBOLD SPEAKERS SCHEDULED
MALIBU, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 26 (NB) -- The ninth annual
Seybold Seminars will be held March 13 - 17 at the Hyatt Regency
Embarcadero Hotel in San Francisco, California. The conference's
opening reception will be held on Sunday, March 12 in the Hyatt
Regency Palm Court.

The publishing seminars hosted by Johnathan Seybold are scheduled to
include key-executive speakers representing many of the industry's
leading vendors. Among those listed to appear in a preliminary
program are Adobe's John Warnock, Aldus's Paul Brainerd, Apple's
Jean-Louis Gassee, Bitstream's Rob Friedman, Interleaf's Dave
Boucher, Microsoft's Steve Ballmer, Sun Microsystem's Scott McNealy
and Bill Joy, and Ventura Software's John Meyer.

(Wayne Yacco/19890202/Contact: 213-457-5850)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00012)

PROJECT-MANAGEMENT-TRAINING VIDEO RELEASED
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 16 (NB) -- Template Techniques, Inc.
is offering a video-based training course to teach the fundamentals
of project-management software. The 68-minute PC Planning Principles
features computer graphics, animation, and live talent. A workbook
is included.

(Wayne Yacco/19890202/Contact: 800-648-3475. 713-251-4851)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00013)

SEIKO-EPSON CHALLENGES NEC
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 FEB 2 (NB) -- Seiko-Epson has announced new
NEC-compatible laptop and desktop computers. The "luggable" laptop
PC286LS features the world's first all-in-one type removable
hard drive with a controller. The laptop can be attached with
optional boards to work with NEC's PC9800 series, and its
main memory can be extended to 8.6 megabytes when a memory card
is inserted into the machine. With a 12 megahertz 80C286 central
processing unit [CPU] included, the 8.6 kilogram -- 18 pound -- laptop
is twice as fast as its predecessor, the V30-based 286LE.
The machine measures in millimeters 364 wide by 420 deep by 123 high,
or 14 by 16 by 4.8 inches, and it has an eight-gradation black-and-
white liquid crystal display with 640 by 400 pixels. The price range
of the laptop machine is from 478,000 yen or $3,800 to 703,000
yen or $5,600, owing to the variation of attached disk drives. The
shipping date is scheduled for the middle of next month.

The company spokesman confessed that the laptop-configured machine
is a miniature version of a desktop computer and its heavy weight
makes it awkward for travelling.

Meanwhile, Seiko-Epson is shipping the 16-bit desktop PC286VS, which
is equipped with a 16-megahertz 80286 CPU, thus realizing about
the same data processing speed as a 32-bit personal computer.
The main memory is expandable to 14.6 megabytes. The price ranges
from 388,000 yen or $3,100 to 603,000 yen or $4,800, depending on the
attached disk drives.

(Ken Takahashi/19890202/Contact: Seiko-Epson, 0266-52-3131)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00014)

NEC ROLLS OUT NEW PCS
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JAN 31 (NB) -- NEC will ship and release
a laptop personal computer on February 30th. The PC9801LV22 will
come with an eight gradation black-and-white liquid crystal display
with 640 by 400 pixels, and a 10 megahertz central processing unit
V30 compatible with the company's PC9800 series machines. The new
laptop measures 33.9 by 31.5 by 9.8 centimeters, or 13 by 12 by 3
inches, weighs 6.5 kilograms or 14 pounds, and is priced at
378,000 yen or $3,000. NEC is aggressively trying to surpass
Seiko-Epson selling NEC-compatible laptop computers.

Furthermore, two high-end models of its 32-bit personal computers
were rolled out from NEC. The PC98RL series, with a 20-megahertz
80386 central processing unit, has achieved a 30 percent higher
processing speed than its predecessor PC98XLL. PC98RL can display
two screen resolutions of 640 by 400 pixels or 1,120 by 750 pixels,
the same as PC98XLL. The 32-bit machines can run X Window on the Unix
PC-UX/V for PC9800 series. The Model 2, with two built-in 5.25-inch
floppy drives, is priced at 735,000 yen or $5,900, and the Model 5,
with a 40-megabyte hard drive is 970,000 yen or $7,800. NEC is
scheduled to ship the machines on February 20th.

(Ken Takahashi/19890202/Contact: NEC Corp., 03-451-2974)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00015)

HITACHI TO ADOPT POPULAR JUST SYSTEMS SOFTWARE?
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- According to the Nikkei Industrial
newspaper, Hitachi has signed an agreement with Japan's major software
vendor Just Systems to market a personal computer which comes standard
with the vendor's best-selling word processing program Ichitaro and
graphics program Hanako. The new machine, slated for release soon,
is expected to be a desktop computer with a built-in telephone unit
added, according to the news report.

The versions of Ichitaro and Hanako that Hitachi will use on the new
machine have yet to be released, but word is they will have
several new features, including the ability to perform multitasking.
The Hitachi unit is expected to sell for 500,000 yen or $4,000.
Newsbytes was told by a Hitachi spokesman that the company had
no comment.

(Ken Takahashi/19890202/Contact: Hitachi, 03-258-2057)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00016)

YHP LAUNCHES LOW-END ENGINEERING WORKSTATIONS
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JAN 26 (NB) -- Yokogawa Hewlett-Packard [YHP] has
launched six types of model 340 engineering workstations as
low-priced versions of its EWS HP9000. The model 340 has
the Motorola 32-bit microprocessor 68030 and is said to
perform twice as fast as its predecessor, processing four
million instructions per second.

The low-end model 340 is amazingly low priced, only 917,000 yen or
$7,075, which includes computer, basic software, four megabyte
memory and 17-inch monochrome monitor. The high-end model
340SRX is priced at 2,573,000 yen or $19,800 which is the lowest
in the Japanese workstation market. YHP estimates it will sell
5,000 of the new workstations in the first year.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890202)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00017)

DEFENCE PROJECTS DELAYED FOR WANT OF 200 ADA PROGRAMMERS
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA, 1989 FEB 01 (NB) -- The $500 million
over-the-horizon radar project, Jindalee, is in trouble because
of a shortfall of about 100 ADA programmers in Australia.
Jindalee is only one Australian defence projects threatened by
the shortfall - the $3.6 billion Anzac Warship project requires
another 100 ADA programmers.

ADA, the high level programming language developed by the US
Defense Department, isn't taught by any Australian educational
institutions, though Adelaide University is about to start. Those
ADA programmers needed might have been available, but for the $4
billion Australian submarine project. So, anyone want a working
holiday down under?

(Paul Zucker/19890203)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00018)

SINGLE DATABASE HOLDS DATA AT MULTIPLE SECURITY LEVELS
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 FEB 01 (NB) -- Sybase Secure SQL Server is the
world's most secure database manager available to business users,
according to distributor Sybase. The product is capable of
storing data with differing levels of security access in the
same database.

David Ward from Sybase explained to Newsbytes that his company's
product overcomes the problem of other systems in which someone with
a high clearance must log onto the system to extract trivial data
because the database also holds high security information. Two
versions of the product are available - one with B1 level
security to run under B1 Secure Unix and the other with B2 level
security for directly secured hardware.

(Paul Zucker/19890203/Contact: Sybase, Australia [61-2]9593999)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00019)

INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION STANDARDS GROUP WANTS HELP
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JAN 30 (NB) -- Canada's national
standards committee on industrial automation wants volunteers to
help develop international standards. The Canadian Advisory
Committee for Industrial Automation Systems wants qualified
individuals to help draft, critique and vote on standards for
robotics, numerical control, manufacturing languages, data
exchange, systems and communications. The group works with the
International Standard Organization [ISO] under the auspices of
the Standards Council of Canada. Interested parties should
contact Dr. Vince Thomson at the National Research Council, 613-
993-9461.

(Grant Buckler/19890202/Contact: Lesly Bauer or Pierre Charland,
Standards Council of Canada, 613-238-3222)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00020)

ARTRONIC RELEASES MULTIGAME PACKAGE FOR THE ATARI ST
HARROGATE, ENGLAND, 1989 FEB 04 (NB) -- Artronic, the budget
games specialist, has released a 15-game package for the Atari ST
on its Cascade label. The package, dubbed Disk 15, retails
for UKP19-95.

According to Andrew Tuley, Artronic's product support manager,
all the games on the disk have been developed and/or modified in-
house to take account of the ST's graphics capabilities. "We even
surprised ourselves how much we managed to pack into one disk,"
he said.

(Steve Gold/109890204/Artronic - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00021)

FRONTIER SOFTWARE SHIPS ST HARD DISK UTILITIES PACKAGE
HARROGATE, ENGLAND, 1989 FEB 04 (NB) -- Frontier Software, the
sole U.K. supplier of Supra's Atari ST products, has released the
Supra hard disk utilities as a UKP49-95 package. The package was
previously only available when bundled with Supra's hard disk
systems for the ST.

Martin Walsh, Frontier's marketing manager, said modestly that
the package was now being made available to all Atari hard disk
users, on account of it being the best on the market.

"We are make the Supra utilities, which have been widely
acclaimed as being the best, available separately, so that hard
drive owners who don't own a Supradrive, can experience the
benefits this software offers," he said.

(Steve Gold/19890204/Frontier - Tel: [phone]
                Email on Dialcom 72:MAG40240)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00022)

TWO TRADE SHOW EXHIBITIONS MERGE INTO ONE SUPER-EVENT
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 FEB 04 (NB) -- Database Exhibitions and
Montbuild have announced that their two computer trade shows -
the Computer Trade Forum and the European Computer Trade Show -
are to merge under the latter's title. The combined show will be
held in London on 16/18 April, 1989.

According to Mike Blackman, Montbuild's director of computer
shows, the event merger was made due to confusion over the two
shows, which were scheduled to take place within days of each
other during April.

"It really was a bit confusing, both for exhibitors and the trade
generally," he told Newsbytes. "We decided to combine the two
shows into a super-show for the European computer industry, which
makes life a lot easier for everyone concerned," he added.

The cosponsors of the original two shows - the British MIcro
Federation and Computer Trade Weekly - will now join forces to
become cosponsors of the combined show, which will be held at
London's Islington Design Centre.

(Steve Gold/19890204/Montbuild - Tel: [phone]
           Database Exhibitions - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00023)

KONIX POWERS IN WITH SPECIALIST GAMES CONSOLE
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 FEB 04 (NB) -- Konix has unveiled its new
games console, the so-called Multisystem. The unit, which will
retail for UKP199, was unveiled last week at the London Toy Fair,
and centres around a 6MHz 8086 microprocessor and a 12MHz custom
blitter/sprite video chip set. Amazingly, the machine has only
128K of memory, since most of the video processing power is taken
care of by the custom chip set.

The Multisystem comes in a horseshoe-shape console box, with a
central control yoke that can be swivelled into a flying or
motorbike-style configuration. The yoke can folded to take a
standard full circle steering wheel unit, in classic car-driving
format.

Unlike existing games console systems, the Konix Multisystem has
a tactile feedback unit in the control yoke itself. This allows
added realism by feeding 'shakes' and 'blasts' back to the player
through the yoke. Plans call for Konix to release a range of
hardware add-ons to exploit the tactile feedback, including a
Power Chair which swivels and bobs by up to ten degrees in almost
any direction. The Power Chair's operation is similar to the
full-swivel chairs seen on the latest coin-op arcade games.

The Power Chair will retail for UKP149, with a deluxe version
available at UKP199. Several other hardware add-ons, ranging from
a helicopter stick to a light gun will also be available when the
games system reaches the shops during the summer. To promote the
unit, Konix is planning a UKP2 million media blitz in the pre-
Christmas run-up period.

(Steve Gold/19890204)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(ATL)(00024)

LOTTERY COMPUTER SAVES FAMILY IN NICK OF TIME
HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 2 (NB) -- At age 68,
Fred Blankenhorn faced a crisis no human being could help him out
of. Simon's Lock & Safe in Fullerton was talking bankruptcy, in part
because of problems with Fred Blankenhorn's computer. Acting
on the advice of his son, a journalist, he'd computerized years
before, first with a Kaypro, then with a PC clone. When the
computer wasn't down completely, his software's documentation was
giving him a headache. Too much time with the computer left him
with no time for business.

So he did what millions of desperate people do every day. He
bought five California Lottery tickets. On most of the $1 tickets,
he picked his own numbers, hoping his kids' birthdates might
bring some magic. On one ticket, he let the computer pick a
number, a process called a "quick pick." He said later he thought
the computer terminal smiled at him as he left, but memories play
tricks.

Two days later, the same computer which gave Fred Blankenhorn his
"quick pick" gave him a surprise. The "quick pick" was a winner,
sharing in an $800,000 pool. After the champagne settled into a
hangover, California Lottery officials told him he'd won
$189,000, plus some change. Enough, after taxes, to get both his
home and his house out of hock, with enough left over for some
computer help and, maybe, a visit to his grandaughter in Georgia.
The author of this story didn't believe it, either, but we have
to trust the source. You see, Fred Blankenhorn is a Newsbytes
bureau chief's father. Besides, his mom confirmed it.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890203/Contact: Fred Blankenhorn, 714-962-
4894)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SFO)(00001)

NINTENDO AND ATARI COUNTERSUE
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 31 (NB) -- Shots are
flying as fast as Mike Tyson's knock-out punches in the battle
between Nintendo and those who would unseat the reigning home
video game king. Atari Corporation has joined Atari Games,
an unrelated company, in suing the Japanese giant for allegedly
monopolizing the video game market by selective licensing its
video game technology to other companies. Nintendo game players
will only play game cartridges designed with the firm's own
proprietary technology, and Nintendo controls the lion's share of
the world's $2.3 billion video game market. Atari Corporation seeks $250
million in damages in the antitrust suit, filed in U.S. District
Court in San Jose. "Developers are faced with the choice
between selling games only to Nintendo customers or not selling,"
the court papers state.

No sooner was that suit filed that Nintendo dealt another legal
blow to Atari Games, and its Tengen subsidiary, which it sued January 5
for breach of contract. Now Atari Games is charged with patent
violation for selling Nintendo-compatible cartridges. Also
early in January, Atari Games sued Nintendo, charging it with
monopoly in the video game market.

(Wendy Woods/19890203)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(BOS)(00002)

MOSAIC LAWSUIT STILL AT ISSUE WITH LOTUS
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 3 (NB) -- Mosaic
Software's "look and feel" lawsuit with Lotus Corporation is not
expected to have any effect on the release of the new
Twin Level III product. Lotus sued Mosaic, claiming the company
illegally violated the "look and feel" of 1-2-3, and Mosaic countersued
for $25 million, saying that Lotus' copyright was procured by
"committing a fraud" on the U.S. Copyright Office, since it knew
announced ship dates wouldn't be met.

Mosaic claims it lost a bundling arrangement with several
microcomputer makers as a result of the lawsuit, which is still in
litigation. However, the company is moving ahead with plans to ship
Twin Level III, which it claims will share most of the features of
the still-unreleased 1-2-3 Release 3.

(Jon Pepper/19890203/Contact: Cathy Conway, Mosaic, 617-491-2434)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SFO)(00003)

APPLE SUED BY SHAREHOLDERS
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 3 (NB) -- Apple Computer has
been hit with a shareholder lawsuit which charges the firm failed to
disclose in a timely manner its disappointing second quarter financial
figures. The lawsuit, filed by shareholders Marc W. Vraciu,
Michael Zeid and Jane Zeid, in behalf of all who bought Apple stock
between January 17 and January 27, contends that Apple Computer
violated federal securities law by allegedly withholding bad financial
news during the period between release of first quarter and second
quarter financial results. The suit names Apple Chief Executive
John Sculley as a defendant and seeks to recover losses which occurred
on the day of the second quarter announcement as Apple stock
plummeted ten percent in value.

An Apple spokeswoman said Apple would have no comment on the lawsuit
until it was reviewed, but believed that the suit was without merit.

(Wendy Woods/19890203/Contact: Carleen LeVasseur, Apple Computer, 408-
974-2671)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SYD)(00004)

WATER BOARD DP 'IN AT DEEP END' OVER POLICIES
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- An announcement is
expected soon regarding an inquiry into computer purchasing
irregularities within the Sydney Water Board. Last year,
questions were raised about the board's relationship with
its supplier, IBM.

Critics say there was a lack of proper management practices
[including the double payment for some items through reportedly
lax accounting controls], purchase of equipment without tender
and taking delivery of equipment before tenders were even
arranged. The board was even accused of paying for equipment that
IBM had no intention of charging for as it was only on loan.

(Paul Zucker/19890203)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SYD)(00005)

DEFENCE PROJECTS DELAYED FOR WANT OF 200 ADA PROGRAMMERS
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA, 1989 FEB 01 (NB) -- The $500 million
over-the-horizon radar project, Jindalee, is in trouble because
of a shortfall of about 100 ADA programmers in Australia.
Jindalee is only one Australian defence projects threatened by
the shortfall - the $3.6 billion Anzac Warship project requires
another 100 ADA programmers.

ADA, the high level programming language developed by the US
Defense Department, isn't taught by any Australian educational
institutions, though Adelaide University is about to start. Those
ADA programmers needed might have been available, but for the $4
billion Australian submarine project. So, anyone want a working
holiday down under?

(Paul Zucker/19890203)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SYD)(00006)

FAT CATS GET UP OFF THEIR PADDED SEATS
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, 1989 FEB 01 (NB) -- Government data
processing directors got in shape as they heard about their
country's computing future when attended a one-day data processing
[DP] conference in Canberra recently.  Held at the Australian
Institute of Sport, the conference featured exercise,
nutrition counselling, and swimming, while the following
points were pondered:

*Australia must plan on a global scale if it wants to take
 advantage of the breaking down of the world's political and
 economic barriers. Collaboration at the research and development
 stage is easier than at the commercial product stage and so
 should be the starting point for Australian DP industry to "lift
 its game."

*The Australian public sector is not about to convert to open
 systems architecture [OSI], as the existing SNA architecture
 offers equivalent functionality. Additionally, OSI conversion
 would be difficult and expensive.

*Resignation rates of computer systems officers [CSOs] have
 increased around 50 percent since 1981. High grade staff
 turnover was around 8 percent but junior staff turnover was
 closer to 13 percent per year.

*Despite the adoption of the X.400 electronic mail standard by
 all computer suppliers to the Australian public sector, fax is
 far and away  the most popular method of electronic text
 transmission used.

(Paul Zucker/19890203)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SYD)(00007)

COMPUTER-AIDED COIN PRODUCTION DOESN'T COST THE MINT A MINT
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, 1989 JAN 31 (NB) -- The Australian Mint has
converted from a manual system of manufacturing control to a
Wang-based information system, using only two full-time computer
executives. Limits on the creation of a new group were
apparently not a problem to Aked and Booth, the two men who
implemented the system.

Hardware for the 300-employee mint includes an 8-Mbyte Wang VS
7120 processor with 500-Mbytes of fixed disk, two laser printers,
two high-speed line printers, tape backup and distributed dot
matrix printers, as well as 37 terminals and 17 Wang PCs. One of
the first coins to be produced under the control of the new
manufacturing system is Australia's new $5 coin.

(Paul Zucker/19890203)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SYD)(00008)

FEDERAL COPS GET 'COMPUTER-BROKEN'
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, 1989 FEB 01 (NB) -- Computer criminals may find
the going tougher as the result of a new internal two-month
course developed by the Australian Federal Police Force. Eleven
officers attended the first course, which was held late last
year. The course is designed to overcome any sense of inadequacy
or apprehension when a police officer is confronted with evidence
contained in a computer.

As a finishing exercise the students 'raided' a government
department where computer fraud by staff had cost $200,000 over a
period of six months. The students had to find and prosecute the
offenders using electronic evidence, rather that the written
evidence with which they were more used to dealing. Topics covered
in the course included encryption systems and current uses of
computers for international crime.

(Paul Zucker/19890203)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(BRU)(00009)

EUROPEAN COMMISSION ACCEPTS R&D SCHEME FOR THE U.K.
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 FEB 3 (NB) -- The European Commission
[EC] has decided to approve a U.K. scheme for aid to the EC-
sponsored EUREKA project designed to aid the electronic and high-
technology industries in Europe.

The scheme has a budget of UKP 13 million for 1988/89 and aims to
promote the participation of U.K. companies in R&D projects with
other European partners.

(Peter Vekinis/19890203)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(BRU)(00010)

EUROPEAN COMMISSION APPROVES DUTCH R&D SCHEME
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- The European Commission
[EC] has decided to approve the Dutch 'Programmatische
Bedrijfsgerichte Technologie Stimulering' program.

The program aims to promote research and development in
Information Technology [IT] for The Netherlands. The aid will be
granted to feasibility studies, basic industrial R&D and
demonstration projects. The budget approved for this scheme is in
the region of HFL 108 million [about $55 million].

(Peter Vekinis/19890203)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(BRU)(00011)

EC STARTS ANTI-SILICON METAL DUMPING ACTION
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- The European Commission
[EC] has announced it will begin anti-dumping proceedings against
manufacturers based in China and Hong Kong that market silicon
metal in Europe. Silicon metal is the basic element of the
majority of semiconductors and chips used in the computer
industry.

The proceedings began as a result of a complaint filed by
European manufacturers of ferrous metals. The allegations stated
that, since China does not have a free market economy. it is
necessary to appraise silicon metal pricing from the region in
the light of prices in the West.

As its base, the EC used silicon metal prices charge to computer
manufacturers in the US. Initial findings indicate that
China/Hong Kong-originated silicon metal is being sold at lower
prices in Europe than in the U.S.

During 1987, China and Hong Kong sold almost 7,000 tons of
silicon metal to the EC. During that year, European producers
experienced a fall in market demand from 50 to 44.7 percent. The
Chinese and Hong Kong producers, meanwhile, increased their
market share from zero to 3.5 percent.

The EC is awaiting further information on the case, before
proceeding further. Interested parties have been asked to contact
the EC, and submit any data they feel relevant, before the end of
the month.

(Peter Vekinis/19890201/ Contact: EC, Division IC1,
                 Rue de la Loi 200,
                 1049 Brussels, Belgium)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(BRU)(00012)

EUROPEAN COMMISSION APPROVES R&D ASSISTANCE FOR MADRID
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 FEB 2 (NB) -- The European Commission
[EC] has approved assistance totalling PTS 100 million to the
Madrid region of Spain to aid research and development for small
and medium-size enterprises. The assistance available will range
from 18 to 50 percent, depending on the status of the projects
concerned.

(Peter Vekinis/19890202)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00001)

FINAL DETAILS OF EISA BUS DETERMINED
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 16 (NB) -- Local computer
vendors AST Research and Epson America have joined with
other members of an international consortium to announce a final
specification for the EISA [extended industry standard architecture]
bus. EISA includes full 32-bit address and data-bus extensions, 32-
bit direct-memory access, and 32-bit bus-master support. The
standard also provides programmable board setup for automatic
configuration of EISA boards and software aided configuration of
existing switch-programmable boards and future EISA boards.

The standard is being offered as an open 32-bit bus alternative to
IBM's MCA [Micro Channel Architecture]. EISA-standard boards offer
manufacturers more board space than MCA boards and the consortium
also claims that EISA will also provide faster data transfer rates
and more available electrical power.

Another feature that the EISA group promotes as an advantage is
its compatibility with early adapters for the PC. However, there
does not seem to be very much evidence, based on present upgrade
patterns, that users will actually use this feature. Rick Khan,
owner of Micro Trends International, a 5,200 square-foot storefront
computer showroom in Pasadena California, sells both IBM's MCA
systems and Compaq and other AT-compatible machines. Khan tells
Newsbytes that most of his customers don't use their old boards in the
new '386 systems they buy even though they could. Instead they "want to
use the most advanced boards available." Most of his computers are
sold as complete systems even when they are sold to replace old
equipment.

Physical connection to the EISA bus uses a two-level design which
prevents existing cards from being inserted more than half way into
bus-connector sockets but allows EISA cards to seat to the bottom.
Standard cards rest on stops which allow their connectors to engage
only the top row in the EISA socket. EISA cards have two rows of
connections arranged one above the other along the card's edge
connector. Top row EISA connections are positioned just as those on
existing cards. The bottom row has cut-outs into which the socket's
stops pass allowing the card to seat fully. The card's connections
are therefore able to engage both the top and bottom rows in the
socket.

Computer systems incorporating the EISA bus are not expected to
appear before the second half of 1989.

(Wayne Yacco/19890112)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00002)

EISA SPECIFICATIONS DISTRIBUTED TO MANUFACTURERS
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 16 (NB) -- All key
electrical, mechanical, and system configuration details of the non-
proprietary EISA [extended industry standard architecture] have been
distributed to the member companies which participated in its
creation. Original members of the EISA consortium include AST
Research, Inc.; Compaq Computer Corporation; Epson America, Inc.;
Hewlett-Packard Co.; NEC Information Systems, Inc.; Ing. C. Olivetti
& Co.; Tandy Corporation; Wyse Technology and Zenith Data Systems.
The group formally began development of the EISA specification on
September 13, 1988. Over 100 other manufacturers and developers
worldwide have also obtained the EISA specification.

EISA is a 32-bit superset of the current 16-bit, PC-AT bus
architecture. Bus connector sockets for the new standard will
accommodate both existing 8- and 16-bit adapter cards and EISA cards
designed for the new bus.

EISA silicon components from Intel are expected to become
available in limited quantities in the second quarter. Volume
shipments of the EISA chip set should commence in the second half of
1989 and complete products which incorporate EISA are expected by
year end. EISA bus connectors will be available to manufacturers
from Burndy Corp., AMP, Inc. and other major connector vendors.
Production quantities of the connectors are expected in the second
quarter.

(Wayne Yacco/19890202)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00003)

BUSINESSLAND WON'T CARRY EISA COMPUTERS
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 2 (NB) -- Businessland will not
carry computers made by a group challenging IBM's new PS/2 line,
so says David Norman, president of Businessland, one of the nation's
largest computer retailers. Norman told analysts that his firm
will not carry rival extended industry standard architecture -- EISA
computers -- now being created by a consortium headed by Compaq,
because IBM's Micro Channel Architecture in its PS/2 line is
already the de facto standard. "There are three million Micro Channel
computers out there," he reportedly told the gathering, "and with
[add-in] boards now available, there is no question that it will
be the industry standard."

Businessland is the first retail chain to declare loyalty to IBM
in an apparently escalating dispute between IBM and followers of
the MS-DOS system, with which the EISA computers will be upwardly-
compatible.

(Wendy Woods/19890203)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SYD)(00004)

IBM ADMITS TO CONCERNS OVER EISA
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 JAN 31 (NB) -- "Resolution of the Micro Channel
versus EISA bus dispute is critical, absolutely critical. Any
uncertainty about a product's usability is absolutely
counterproductive," says IBM managing director in Australia
Brian Finn. Speaking in an interview in Australian Computerworld
newspaper, Finn said that the issue will be resolved this year,
suggesting that IBM's machines will be the winners. "Users are
just not going to wait [till EISA machines ship]."

He also predicted that IBM's fortunes will lie in the AS/400 line
of machines -- already the company has sold 300, with four-fifths
being new installations, not upgrades. He feels that his company
will consolidate its presence in the midrange area, with its
PS/2 models becoming more distanced from the "commodity-priced,
single-box market."

(Paul Zucker/19890203)


(EXCLUSIVE)(IBM)(BRU)(00005)

IBM EXPECTED TO ANNOUNCE LAPTOP AT HANOVER NEXT MONTH
FRANKFURT, WEST GERMANY, 1989 FEB 01 (NB) -- IBM is said to be
readying a high-end laptop for release at the Hanover CeBit Fair
next month. Sources suggest that machine - dubbed the PS/2
Model 90 - will include an 80386 microprocessor running at
20MHz and feature a 170Mb hard disk.

Unusually for a laptop, the Model 90 will feature Micro Channel
Architecture [MCA] and a VGA-compatible screen. The technology
used in the screen has not been revealed, but Newsbytes' sources
suggest that a colour screen is a strong possibility.

Recent discussions by Newsbytes with several Japanese companies
have revealed that full-size colour LCD screen technology could
be available to IBM by the third or fourth quarter of this year.
Production quantities of such screens are, however, at least one
year off, said one source.

The same source - who wishes to remain anonymous - suggested that
IBM may release the Model 90 laptop with a monochrome VGA option
at Hanover, with a colour version following on next year.
Another option, although less likely, is that IBM may opt for
flat-screen video technology. Either way, the colour screen option
is likely to prove highly expensive.

The CeBit Hanover fair runs March 8 to 15, 1989.

(Peter Vekinis & Steve Gold/19890201)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00006)

HYUNDAI REDUCES PC PRICES
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 27 (NB) -- Hyundai PCs,
monitors, and file servers have all been reduced in price and are
24 to 28 percent cheaper. The price of the AT-compatible Super-286C
is now $1,195 compared to $1,645. A single floppy drive system
with a 30 Mbyte hard disk drive is $1,745 compared to the previous
$2,295. And a 40 Mbyte hard disk version is $1,945 compared to
$2,545. The Super-286C has an EGA graphics card as an option; it
was previously bundled with the system. The EGA card is $295.
A monitor does not come with the package, but must be purchased
separately.

The new suggested retail price of a Hyundai Super-16TE 10MHz XT
is $995 compared to $1,125. The prices on monitors, Hyundai's
file server, the Super-286, and local area networks are also
lower.

(Wendy Woods/19890204/Contact: Hyundai, 408-473-9200)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00007)

MOSAIC TO RELEASE NEW VERSION OF TWIN SPREADSHEET
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 26 (NB) -- Mosaic
Software is set to release next week a new version of the Twin
spreadsheet which the company claims is comparable to the still-
unreleased Lotus 1-2-3 Release 3. The new product, Twin Level III,
includes several features that are promised in the new Lotus release,
including three-dimensional views, the ability to keep multiple spreadsheets
active, selected recalculation for increased speed, linked files, and
more. However, the product will not include Lotus' Extended
Application Format, called LEAF, meaning that not all Lotus
compatible add-in software will work with Twin Level III.

The new product is priced at $249, and needs a minimum of 384Kbytes of
random access memory. A Unix version will be released in about six months,
according to a Mosaic spokeswoman.

(Jon Pepper/19890203/Contact: Cathy Conway, Mosaic, 617-491-2434)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00008)

CORRECTEXT GRAMMAR CORRECTION NOW ON VOLKSWRITER 4
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 20 (NB) -- Houghton
Mifflin's 's CorrecText Grammer Correction System [GCS] is now
available as part of a PC-based word processor software. Volkswriter
4, from Lifetree Software, is using a version of CorrecText that's
called Perfect Grammer. CorrecText analyzes sentences for errors
in grammar, syntax, style, punctuation, capitalization, hyphenation,
and spelling. The software is more sophisticated than other grammar
checkers, according to a company official, and was developed by
a team of linguists at Brown University.  Volkswriter 4 with
CorrecText is $199 and shipping now.

Other PC-based word processors may incorporate the CorrecText
product in the near future, though a Houghton Mifflin spokeswoman
wouldn't release the names of the agreements that are currently being
negotiated.

(Jon Pepper & Wendy Woods/19890203/Contact: Denise Widman, Houghton
Mifflin, 617-725-5000)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00009)

IBM STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING SET FOR PITTSBURGH
ARMONK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 31 (NB) --IBM has announced plans
to hold the annual stockholder's meeting in Pittsburgh this year on April 24.
The meeting will kick off at 10 a.m., with a keynote speech by IBM
Chairman John F. Akers. A company official said that there are 800
employees and about 6,700 stockholders in the Pittsburgh area.

(Jon Pepper/19890203/Contact: Cynthia Stevens, IBM, 914-765-4344)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00010)

MAPINFO SHIPPING VERSION 3.0
TROY, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 30 (NB) -- MapInfo is now shipping
version 3.0 of its desktop mapping product. According to a company
spokesman, MapInfo 3.0 is the only desktop mapping product for under
$10,000 that can work with street address maps. The software has direct
ties to dBase, and has more than 30 features and improvements over
the earlier version, according to company President Sean O'Sullivan.

(Jon Pepper/19890203/Contact: Sean O'Sullivan, MapInfo, 800-FAST-
MAP)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00011)

CD-ROM SUPPORT ADDED TO CONCORDANCE
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 30 (NB) -- Dataflight
Software has begun shipping Concordance 4.30 text-retrieval software.
The new release adds support for CD-ROM and WORM disk drives and
provides improved performance. Search files are reduced in size by
up to 20 percent; reindexing speed is improved by 600 percent;
search and retrieval is performed up to 700 percent faster.

Dataflight claims that Concordance is the first text-retrieval
software available for 0S/2 as well as DOS environments. Users can
can access the same files from either environment on fixed disks,
CD-ROM, or WORM drives. However, the OS/2 version can index a
database twice as fast as the DOS version and it incorporates full
network multiuser support with file and record-locking for all
modes. Furthermore, users can query, browse, and report with
records that are locked by others.

Concordance includes text-information management for both free text
and fixed-length fields. A report writer; search-management system;
facilities for importing, loading, and unloading text; text editor;
database and stop-word dictionaries; and online help are integrated
into the $495 program.

(Wayne Yacco/19890202/Contact: 213-785-0623)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00012)

DESIGNER 2.0 ANNOUNCED
RICHARDSON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 30 (NB) -- Micrografx has
announced an upgrade of its $695 Designer "professional-
illustration" tool. Designer 2.0 adds compatibility with the OS/2
Presentation Manager, automatic gradient fills, autotrace, Bezier-
curve editing, a new freehand tool, spot-color and process-color
separations, import and export filters for PCX, TIF, CGM and DXF
file formats, context-sensitive help and other new features. The
program supports over 150 graphics cards and printers including
laser printers, plotters, and dot matrix printers. Support for
Micrografx Color Postscript and Matrix and VideoShow film recorders
are also included.

Upgrades of Designer 2.0 are free to Micrografx Extended Technical
Support Service subscribers and to users who purchased Designer
after February 1, 1989. Other users will be able to upgrade for
$99.

Separate version of Designer 2.0 will be provided for DOS and OS/2.
Designer 2.0 PM will make use of OS/2's multitasking, extended
memory, and protected mode operation. The PM version will be
provided free of charge to registered Designer 2.0 users. However,
Micrografx will require proof of an OS/2 purchase.

(Wayne Yacco/19890202/Contact: 214-234-1769)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00013)

HARD DISK ON A CARD AVAILABLE WITH SCSI INTERFACE
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 25 (NB) -- Franklin
Telecommunications Corp. has introduced a SCSI [small computer
system interface] version of its WinCARD hard disk on a card for the
PC. Data transfer rates for the SCSI WinCARD can reach 7.5 mbps
[million bits per second], up to 90 percent faster than the rate found on
the standard ST-506 WinCARD. The WinCARD features a 3.5-inch
Seagate hard disk and SCSI host adapter combination. Software
bundled with the card includes a backup utility and a disk cache
program.

(Wayne Yacco/19890202/Contact: 805-373-8688)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00014)

MICROSOFT TRIES TO MAKE OS/2 THE JAPANESE STANDARD
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JAN 26 (NB) -- Japanese major personal computer
makers and software houses have been asked by Microsoft's Japanese
subsidiary to join together to create a standard operating system.
Currently, each company has its own versions of MS-DOS which are
unique to its own machines, and Microsoft wants all the firms
to create a single operating system based on OS/2. Some PC makers,
including Fujitsu and Hitachi, have expressed a positive attitude
toward the proposal.

Meanwhile, the main force in the Japanese PC market, NEC, has its
own OS/2 version called MS-OS/2, which is compatible with MS-DOS
applications. There are expected to be over 100 MS-OS/2 applications
by March, so Microsoft may have a hard time convincing NEC to
change.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890202/Contact: Microsoft 03-221-7071)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00015)

MICROSOFT TO RELEASE JAPANESE EXCEL 2.1
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JAN 27 (NB) -- Microsoft, a Japanese subsidiary
of the U.S.-based leading software company, has announced plans to start
marketing the Japanese version of Microsoft Excel ver. 2.1 for MS-DOS
in early April. The integrated program, which includes spreadsheet,
database, and graphics functions, is to be priced at 98,000 yen
or $755. Microsoft says a Japanes OS/2 version will not arrive
until 1990.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890202/Contact: Microsoft 03-221-7071)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00016)

TRANSLATION SYSTEM SOFTWARE FOR AX
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JAN 31 (NB) -- Tokyo-based software development
company Spirit has released English-Japanese translation
software for IBM-compatible personal computers with the Japanese
language feature, AX. The software, called X-EJ, converts English
sentences into Japanese word-for-word. The price is 98,000 yen or
$780. The program is expected to used for translation of technical
manuals.

(Ken Takahashi/19890202)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00017)

CASE TOOL FOR DOS, WORKSTATIONS
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 FEB 5 (NB) -- Multiprocessor
Toolsmith will announce a computer-aided software
engineering package and a U.S. distribution agreement this week.
The two-year-old startup is to unveil CASEworks/RT, application
development software that works under MS-DOS and on more powerful
workstations. And, according to company President Kim Rowe,
Toolsmith will also announce an agreement with Ironics of Ithaca,
New York, which will distribute the software in the United
States.

CASEworks/RT will sell for roughly $6,000, Rowe said. He expects
the package to get a good reception in large organizations.

(Grant Buckler/19890202/Contact: Kim Rowe, Multiprocessor
Toolsmith Inc., 613-727-8707)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00018)

IBM CANADA PRESIDENT ADDS CHAIRMAN'S TITLE
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JAN 30 (NB) -- John M. Thompson,
president of IBM Canada Ltd., has been elected chairman of the
company as well. He replaces Lorne K. Lodge, who has retired as
chairman but will continue on the board of directors. Thompson
has been with IBM Canada since 1966.

(Grant Buckler/19890202/Contact: IBM Canada Ltd., 416-474-3900)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00019)

NEW HP VECTRAS LAUNCHED IN CANADA
MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- Hewlett-Packard
[Canada] Ltd. joined its U.S. parent in launching three new
Vectra personal computers. The Vectra RS/20C, a desk-side
machine with a 20-megahertz 80386 processor, costs C$11,295 with
a 103-megabyte hard disk drive, 1.2-megabyte floppy and a
megabyte of memory. With a 155-megabyte hard disk, it costs
C$12,195. Add three more megabytes of memory to that, and you'll
pay C$15,125. The Vectra RS/25C, with a 25-megahertz 386, costs
C$15,345, C$16,245 and C$19,845 for the same three
configurations. With a 310-megabyte hard disk and four megabytes
of memory, the RS/25C sells for C$23,445. The new Vectra LS/12
laptop costs C$7,295 with a 20-megabyte hard disk and C$8,195
with a 40-megabyte drive. Both of these models have one megabyte
of memory. All models are available now.

(Grant Buckler/19890202/Contact: Robert McDevitt or Pat Farrell,
Hewlett-Packard Canada, 416-678-9430)


(EXCLUSIVE)(IBM)(LON)(00020)

EUROPEAN VERSION OF PROCOMM PLUS COMMS PACKAGE NEARS COMPLETION
TONBRIDGE, ENGLAND, 1989 FEB 04 (NB) -- Shareware Marketing, the
U.K. shareware specialist, has announced preliminary specifications
for the long-awaited full European version of Procomm Plus,
Datastorm Technologies' communications package for the IBM PC and
compatibles.

The European version of the package is under active development
by Dortec, the Danish software house. According to Steve Townsley
of Shareware, the package will have a limited redial software
switch facility [to conform to certain European telecommunication
regulations], include support for semi-intelligent modems, and a
European ASCII/8-bit data translation facility. A full-colour
viewdata option is also in progress.

"We should have the package out later this year. Pricing has yet
to be decided," said Townsley in an exclusive interview with
Newsbytes. He declined, however, to be more specific on release
dates for the package. Newsbytes will keep readers informed of
this important development in PC communications terms.

(Steve Gold/19890204/Shareware Marketing - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00021)

LOTUS MAGAZINE SPONSORS 1-2-3 LONDON SEMINAR
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 FEB 04 (NB) -- Lotus Magazine has sponsored
'The Power of Lotus,' a one-day seminar, to be held on the 9th of
February at the Barbican Centre in London.

The seminar is organized by Quadrilect, and aims to provide users
of Lotus' 1-2-3 spreadsheet with help in macro tips and
techniques, as well as training in better spreadsheet design. The
seminar costs UKP210 for Lotus User Group members, and UKP235 for
non-members.

(Steve Gold/19890204/Quadrilect - Tel: [phone])


(REVIEW)(IBM)(ATL)(00001)

Review of: NAMETAG

Runs on: IBM PC/XT/AT/PS2 and compatibles with 256K internal
memory

From: Mastersoft, 4621 North 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85016,
602-277-0900, 800-624-6107

Price: $39.95

PUMA RATING: 3.25

Reviewed by: T.Bass & Dana Blankenhorn

SUMMARY: NAMETAG is a point and shoot memory-resident program
which attaches a 40 character comment to a filename
and allows a file to be reviewed, copied or deleted from
within another application.

REVIEW
-------
Here is a piece of easily applied software that does as it promises.
Its installation program was easy to follow and did
nothing weird. What changes it made to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file were
annotated where they were made, and once installed the program
acted as described in the literature. It is easy to use, simple
to follow, and may get you out of a bind someday, especially if
you are bound to a floppy system. This last statement is not to
understate its uses with a hard disk. The manual warns that
NAMETAG can not be use with WINDOWS operating environment and may
conflict with other memory-resident programs depending on what
order they're loaded in.

I might add that Mastersoft's staff was friendly and helpful when
I called them to ask a question.

PUMA RATING
-------------

PERFORMANCE: 3 It was easy and simple to use; quick; and did
what it advertised it would do.

USEFULNESS: 4 It is effective for those of us who have enough
files to not be able to remember what is in them
from a cryptic 8-character description or
sometimes need more disc space while trying to
save a document.

MANUAL: 4 The manual seems to be clear and concise with a
short, effective index.

AVAILABILITY: 2 Order direct from the company. Queries from
distributors are accepted.

(Contact: Sally Landau at Mastersoft, 4621 North 16th Street, Phoenix, AZ,
85016, 800-624-6107)


Review of:  Northgate OmniKey 102 Keyboard

Runs on: IBM PC compatible desktop computer

From: Northgate

Price: $99.

PUMA Rating: 4

Reviewed by: Dana Blankenhorn and T. Bass

SUMMARY:  The Northgate OmniKey 102 is a replacement keyboard for
IBM PC compatible desktop machines.

REVIEW
--------
When was the last time a friend descended on you one evening to
show off a new peripheral? When was the last time you felt the
experience worth it? If someone you know uses an IBM PC
compatible clone and touch-types here's a gift which you know
will be used. It has that old-fashioned, true blue IBM feel, with
a spring-and-post system which lets you know when your finger
comes up that you've made command contact with your screen.

Plus, there are all the things IBM should have done in the first
place, and all the changes it made later which worked. Added
buttons on the "f" and "j" keys, which on a Qwerty keyboard are
the home keys of your index fingers. An extra-large "enter" key,
a double-wide "backspace" key, an "esc" key on the upper-left
corner instead of down-under God knows where or, worse, on the
upper-right.  There are two "ctrl" keys, and a "Caps Lock" key
off to the left side. Lights for all those key lock keys, too.
And the 12 function keys are where IBM first put them, to the
far-left of the keyboard, and not where they later moved them, to
the top row, where you have to hunt for them.  On the same keypad
accountants get a full adding machine key-pad including a large
"=" key in gray, as well as separate cursor keys.

Plugs right into any old XT-compatible through a 5-pin din plug.
The only problem is it has to be ordered from Northgate so you
can't go to the store and try it out. And, of course, it won't
help the trade balance. It's made in Taiwan.

PUMA RATING: 4

PERFORMANCE: 4. Heaven for the fingers.

USEFULNESS: 4. Touch-typists of words and/or numbers will find it
heavenly.

MANUAL:  4. What manual? We didn't need it. You probably won't
either.

AVAILABILITY: 4.  Order direct from Northgate, through their 800
number.

(  )


(REVIEW)(IBM)(WAS)

Review of: PC-Write 3.0

Runs on: IBM-PCs, clones, and PS/2 machines, running DOS 2.0 and
 later.

From: Quicksoft, 219 First Ave. N, #224, Seattle, Wash., 98109,
 206-282-0452.

Price: $89 for the full package, including printed manual. This
 is shareware.

PUMA Rating: 4

Reviewed by: Ken Maize, 1/17/89

Summary: The best gets better with the latest version of the
popular, powerful shareware word processor.

REVIEW
-------
Anybody who does a lot of writing for transfer over modem and
telephone line loves PC-Write, because it produces plain-vanilla
ASCII files. What's more, PC-Write is blazingly fast, and has
virtually every feature anyone could want in a word processor.

The new version fixes many of the limitations in the older
versions. From my standpoint, the most significant is the 59
kilobyte limitation on file size in the prior versions. Version
3.0 now allows a file as large as available memory.

Another fix is the spelling checker. The old one worked fine, but
the dictionary was extremely quirky and would hardly ever guess
right when asked how to spell a word. The new one works far
better.

PC-Write is NOT easy to learn, but neither are any other heavy-
duty word processing programs in the DOS world.

PUMA RATINGS
------------

PERFORMANCE: 4. PC-Write can do it all, and generally faster
than any other word processor on the market.

USEFULNESS: 4. PC-Write has been my word processor of choice for
more than two years, and now it is even better. I use it in both
my desktop computer and my Spark laptop, loaded along with
Sidekick and Superkey.

MANUAL: 4. Quicksoft's manual is a dependable reference source,
and the company has an excellent telephone support service at
additional cost.

AVAILABILITY: 4. Because it is shareware, PC-Write is widely
available from user groups, computer stores, other users, and the
like. Use it a bit. If you like it, send Quicksoft the money
needed to become a registered user. Quicksoft also has the best
site licensing and multiple copy policies in the industry.

(  )


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00001)

PRODIGY NAMES DETROIT AS ITS FOURTH MARKET
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 2 (NB) -- Prodigy
Services, the IBM-Sears joint venture in videotex, announced
Detroit and Southeastern Michigan will be the first of its new
markets for 1989. The company already operates in Connecticut,
around Hartford, Northern California and San Francisco, and the
Northern Georgia suburbs of Atlanta.

While Prodigy President Theodore C. Papes indicated this will be
the first of many expansion announcements for Prodigy in 1989,
observers say it could also be the last. The firm has not had a smashing
success in any of its original markets, despite its low $9.95 per month
price tag. Many regular users of online systems call Prodigy slow,
because it must repaint screens each time a user seeks new
information. Computerphobes have not taken to it in droves,
either.

As a test market, Detroit has many advantages. It's Middle
America, and thus provides an accurate gauge of consumer
acceptance. It's the sixth largest market in the U.S., big enough
to give the system a fair test. Besides, Papes is a University
of Michigan graduate. If Detroit takes to Prodigy, expect the
service to be rolled out nationally later this year.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890203/Contact: Brian Ek 914-993-8843)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00002)

MULTIFUNCTION FAX MACHINE FROM NEC
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JAN 27 (NB) -- NEC has begun marketing a
multifunction facsimile machine, NEFAX SIGMA 5000. When
connected with a personal computer, the machine will be a printer
which prints out two sheets of A4 size paper per second and can
also double as a data receiver for PCs in a remote area. Also,
it performs as an image scanner for a PC. Insert documents,
pictures or drawings, and it will read the data into a computer. The
price of this multifunction fax machine is 997,000 yen or
$7,670.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890202)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SFO)(00003)

NEW VERSION OF TBBS AVAILABLE
AURORA, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 17 (NB) -- eSoft is now shipping
a 32-line version of its popular bulletin board software TBBS 2.1
Called The Bread Board System, TBBS 2.1 will allow up to 32 phone
lines to be handled by a single 640Kbyte IBM PC/AT, PS/2 or compatible
machine under PC-DOS without need for additional networking
hardware or multiuser software. To operate with more than two
incoming lines, however, the configuration requires EMS memory and special
multiport serial cards, available from eSoft and computer equipment
stores. Lines may be connected to Hayes-compatible modems,
hard-wired to local terminals, or connected to data PBX or other
data networks at speeds up to 19,200 bits per second.

eSoft promises TDBS [an acronym for The Data Base System] will
be shipping in the third quarter of 1989. TDBS is a dBase III+
compatible compiler and integrated run-time system that adds
full multiline transaction processing and database capability to
TBBS/TDBS systems.

32-line TBBS 2.1M costs $1,495.00; users of the 16-line version can
upgrade for $600.

(Wendy Woods/19890204/Contact: eSoft, 303-699-6565)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SFO)(00004)

VOICE MAIL SHOW SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 6-8 IN SANTA CLARA
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 4 (NB) -- Voice '89, a showcase
for voice information products, services, applications and
technologies, is slated for March 6-8 at the Santa Clara
Convention Center in California. Some 60 companies are slated to exhibit.
There will be a beginners tutorial session as well as sessions
devoted to changes in the technology and issues surrounding
voice mail products. For information call 1-800-888-2188 or
713-974-6637.

(Wendy Woods/19890204)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00005)

CODEX IMPROVES NETWORK MODEM WITH DIAL RESTORE
CANTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 FEB. 2 (NB) -- When the
leased line a networked modem is running on goes down, the
network operator is usually out of luck, unless you have a
special $10,000 piece of equipment. No more. Codex has announced
an optional dial restoral capability to its 2400 bit per second,
leased-line network modems, so if the line it's attached to goes
down, the network operator can get onto the regular phone network
and continue in operation. The enhanced product lists at $2,000
in its own box, $1,800 for a rack-mounted version. List prices
without the enhancement are $1,450 and $1,330. Ask for the 2510
with Dial Restoral.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890203/Contact: Chris Carroll, 617-364-2000,
ext. 5355)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00006)

CRAY AND MCI LINK UP FOR SUPERCOMPUTER DATA NETWORK
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1989 JAN. 31 (NB) -- Cray Research
selected MCI Communications Corporation to provide it with a
high-speed data network linking Cray's 40 domestic offices and
its international offices in the United Kingdom, France, West
Germany and Japan. The new network, using fiber, digital
microwave and satellites, will improve Cray's supercomputer-to-
supercomputer data communications.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890203/Contact: John Swanson, Cray Research,
612-334-6451)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00007)

IBM GETS ITS INFORMATION NETWORK, EDI SERVICES INTO JAPAN
TAMPA, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 30 (NB) -- IBM announced January
30 all aspects of its IBM Information Network -- both mail and
electronic payments, or EDI -- will be available both in Japan
and between Japan and the U.S. The services will be available
under IBM's Systems Network Architecture [SNA] rather than V.32
-- a treaty signed last November between the U.S. and Japanese
governments cleared the way for such "foreign protocols" to enter
the Japanese market. IBM's press announcement stated
specifically that "e-mail and EDI services will be based on IBM's
Distributed Office Support System [DISOSS], Professional Office
System [PROFS] and Information Exchange [IE] products, and
related architectures."

Syd Heaton, general manager of the IBM Information Network, in
Tampa, Florida, said both e-mail and EDI services will be
available, based on IBM's Distributed Office Support System
[DISOSS], Professional Office System [PROFS] and Information
Exchange [IE]. An IBM spokesman emphasized to Newsbytes that the
rule changes which got it into Japan could also be used on behalf
of other companies with proprietary protocols, so that DEC, Wang,
and Apple are now free by treaty to bring their e-mail systems to
Japan.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890203)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00008)

BBS OPERATORS TRY TO ORGANIZE ON CONNECTICUT SYSTEM
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- The Unicorn Inn BBS,
a $20/year subscription service accessible via PC Pursuit, is the
home board of the new National Association of Bulletin Board
System [BBS] Operators. The new organization hopes to provide
legal referrals, technical support, and eventually lobbying
support to the roughly 50,000 BBS operators of the U.S. and
Canada. In a press release, President Bill Griffin noted, "The
changes sought by the telephone operating companies, the packet
switch networks, the FCC and others who would regulate us out of
existence, require us to face some simple facts," Curtis
Sahakian, who had tried and failed to organize sysops a few years
ago, said the industry is just now "growing out of the realm of
just hobbyists into a real industry." NAABBSO, he predicted,
"will fulfill what Fidonet could have but for its factionalism
and internal fighting."

Newsbytes called Unicorn Inn at 203-623-7727, and also talked
with Sysop Dave Burke about his board and the NABBS. As with many
state-of-the-art boards, Unicorn's TDBS software offers graphics,
terminal emulation and a choice of error-checking protocols. It
also has hundreds of files for download, and 32 nodes so there's
almost never a busy signal. By charging $20/year for use of the
board and selling computers, peripherals and software on the
side, Burke also makes a fine living from his hobby. He told
Newsbytes that few of his callers stop to chat, or to leave mail.
Many stay to upload not just public domain software, but
gigabytes of copyrighted material, too. Burke checks everything and
dumps hundreds of programs a month, so he knows some of the bad
press BBS users get is deserved. Previous attempts to organize
BBS sysops died from apathy and infighting, and Burke seems more
worried about the former. He says most successful BBS sysops,
like him, don't have time to call other systems.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890203/Contact: Dave Burke via modem at 203-
623-7727)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00009)

FCC PUTS OFF PRICE CAP PLAN ON AT&T
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 JAN 31 (NB) -- The Federal
Communications Commission decided January 31 to put off
consideration of its price-cap on AT&T until March, but analysts
think its certain rate-of-return regulation of long-distance
charges will disappear soon. Rep. Edward Markey [D-Mass.] has
scheduled hearings for February on the idea, which MCI bitterly
opposes because it would let AT&T drop prices for big or little
customers as fast as MCI can. As the cost of Reaching Out and
Touching Someone by phone, modem or fax continues to decline, and
new capacity comes online from satellites and fiber, it becomes
clear that putting a ceiling on AT&T prices, rather than
regulating the rate-of-return it can earn, in effect lifts all
price regulation from it. For the record, analysts figure FCC
Chairman Dennis Patrick has been told to stick around a while
under President Bush, and wants to line up his allies before
proceeding.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890203)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00010)

GRAND JURY PROBES CRIMES OF VIOLATING BELL BREAK-UP ORDERS
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 JAN 31 (NB) -- The Washington Post
reports that a federal grand jury is probing whether Nynex and its
Telco Research subsidiary of Nashville may have violated the Bell
break-up decree by working on electronic publishing services from
which Bells are banned.

Scott Rafferty, a former employee of Telco, apparently claimed to have
been fired after pointing out work Telco did MCI might be
illegal after Nynex bought it. Telco's business is analyzing
communications software. The idea that criminal, rather than
civil, lawyers might get involved in policing the decree is
curious at a time when the Justice Department wants the whole
thing scrapped, but Charles F. Rule, assistant attorney general
for antitrust at the Justice Department, recently warned the
industry that he was prepared to press criminal charges for
certain violations of the decree. For its part, MCI spokeswoman
Kathleen Keegan says MCI stopped doing business with Telco after
Nynex bought it, and MCI itself is not the object of the
investigation. Nynex and Telco won't discuss the subject, saying
it's "in litigation."

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890203)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00011)

JUDGE GREENE THROWS BELL GATEWAYS INTO SOUP
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 JAN 31 (NB) -- Lawyers who have seen
Federal Judge Harold Greene's latest order against Bell Atlantic
say it's even more restrictive than it appears at first glance.
Not only can't Bell Atlantic use one central computer to link
customers with information services, it can't even use its own
lines to place calls between computers in different calling
areas, even if it serves both. The judge, who oversees the
Bell break-up, said such services would violate the ban on
Regional Bell companies providing long-distance services.

Besides hurting Bell Atlantic, the order could also hurt
BellSouth, which wants to open its Transtext Universal
Gateway [TUG] in Atlanta later this year. While the TUG Gateway
could provide access to Atlanta-produced services, and connect
Atlanta computer owners with national services like The Source,
it could not expand its coverage into adjacent markets or even
link, say, a node in Macon directly with the Atlanta system.
Such calls would have to go through a separate "inter-exchange
carrier," namely a long-distance service like AT&T or Telenet.

Analysts contacted by Newsbytes predicted the ruling will force
all the Bells to take a second, harsher look at gateways, and
tempt them to cancel existing programs out of pique with Judge
Greene.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890203)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00012)

ALINE CLAIMS 5,000 U.S. MAILBOXES ON MINITEL SYSTEM
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- Newcom Link, the New
York-based subsidiary of French videotex giant La Nouvelle
Observateur, claims it already has 5,000 mailboxes on its Aline
system in the U.S. after seven months of operation. In France, La
Nouvelle is both a large publishing concern and Minitel's largest
Information Provider, with $20 million of a $40 million market.
Aline provides U.S. users a gateway to its French system, and to
its French customers, which can be valuable if you know French.

Even more important, spokesman Caroline Camougis told Newsbytes,
is a September agreement with Infonet which puts Aline online
throughout the U.S. for less than it costs in New York. New York
Telephone was the first to offer Aline billing services, at 30
cents per minute for local customers tacked onto local phone
bills. Infonet will bill Aline customers at 20 cents per minute
through their Master Card or Visa charges. The new price comes
out to $12 per hour, the same price as CompuServe.

For Aline, success has come at a price, namely a heavy marketing
program in New York magazines, on buses, and through an audiotex
line on New York's 540 exchange. Aline features graphics and
requires special software, which you can order with a call to
212-826-3894. Aline's services include messagery, which is a
chat-like service, classified ads, games, and some French
financial information, as well as news from the BBC. All the
French data, except the BBC news, is in French. Camougis says
most U.S. Aline users are in the financial services and
communications industries, along with some teleworkers, home
consultants and high-tech people.

If Aline is to break out of its "early adopter" niche, observers
suggest it may be with the sexually-frank "pink" services with which
it made its name in France. While the system is closely monitored, those
who like to type dirty aren't immediately thrown off.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890203/ Contact: Caroline Camougis, 212-826-
3894)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00013)

CHICAGO MERC'S GLOBEX WINS REGULATORS' APPROVAL
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 FEB 2 (NB) -- In a major victory for
computerized stock exchanges, the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission has unanimously approved Globex, a worldwide futures
trading scheme designed by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and
Reuters. The system, which will cut over in October, received
another boost when the Sydex. The Chicago Board of
Trade, which competes with the Merc, had objected to Globex,
calling it susceptible to manipulation, but recent allegations of
fraud in the trading pits now used by traders made that objection
seem silly, since computerized

Spokesman Julie Jacobs told Newsbytes that Globex will only be
active in Chicago between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Central Time, with
terminals only in the exchange's 82 clearing members' officers.
Other exchange members will have to get their late-night trades
handled through the clearing members, she adds, and traders will
continue to scream in their pits from roughly 7:20 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Central Time. Other member exchanges will follow similar
schedules, so while the online trading floor will be open 24
hours each day, it won't be open 24 hours per day in any one
place.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890203/ Contact: Julie Jacobs, 312-930-3435)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LAX)(00014)

TELEBIT INAUGURATES INCENTIVE PROGRAM
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- Telebit Corp. has
begun a discount incentive program to introduce its high-speed
modems to the TCP/IP [transport control protocol/Internet protocol]
user community. Telebit's discount offer, the Internet Domain Name
Discount Program, allows any autonomous U. S. or Canadian
organization participating on the Internet, a worldwide collection
of research networks, to purchase up to two Telebit TrailBlazer Plus
modems at a discount of 45 to 50 percent off list price.

The TCP/IP family of protocols was developed by the U.S. Department
of Defense's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency [DARPA]. It
allows users to transfer files, exchange mail and access services on
remote hosts across the ARPANET wide-area network. These protocols
are widely supported in Unix-based systems and serve as the
foundation for heterogeneous communications on the Internet.

Telebit claims that its 19,200 bits-per-second TrailBlazer Plus is
the only high-speed modem specifically designed to support the Unix
environment. The modem supports error-free asynchronous
communications over ordinary telephone lines at transmission speeds
up to 18,000 bits per second without data compression and 19,200 bps
with compression.

(Wayne Yacco/19890202/Contact: 800-TELEBIT or 415-969-3800)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00015)

CNCP ANNOUNCES DECENTRALIZATION PLAN
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JAN 26 (NB) -- National Canadian
data communications carrier CNCP Telecommunications will spread
its decision-making across Canada. The company has announced a
decentralization plan intended to make it more sensitive to
customer needs -- and perhaps to its chief competitors, the
regional telephone companies. CNCP President George Harvey said
in a press release that a "policy of stable employment" will be
pursued in the shuffle, and that the company will spend more than
C$4 million retraining employees.

(Grant Buckler/19890202/Contact: Earle Weichel, CNCP
Telecommunications, 416-232-6334)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00016)

BRITISH TELECOM CLOSES DOWN PHONE CHAT LINES
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 FEB 04 (NB) -- In the face of a growing
storm, British Telecom [BT] has announced it will close down all
telephone chat line services in England this week. The chat line
shutdown takes effect from noon on Monday, 6 February, and will
affect all chat lines on the BT 0836 and 0898 value-added prefix
numbers.

Firms operating the chat line services, which allow up to ten
people to have a multiple conversation, have been told that,
unless they voluntarily suspend their activities, BT will
forcibly shut down their services on Monday.

The shutdown comes in the wake of a growing number of complaints
from irate parents, whose children have racked up thousands of
pounds on their quarterly phone bills. In Altrincham, a 12-year-
old girl attempted suicide last month after her parents received
a phone bull for UKP2,400. One Liverpool teenager recently
received a bill for UKP6,394. His parents will take until the
year 2015 to pay off the bill at UKP5 a week.

BT says that between 15 and 20 companies will be affected by the
closure. The companies all pay a UKP100 licence fee to the U.K.
government to operate, with BT splitting the 25 to 38 pence per
minute charges with the chat line companies concerned.

Several companies - all members of the Independent Telephone Chat
Lines Association - have stated their intention to pursue their
contracts with BT through the courts, in order to have service
reinstated. One company - Chatterbox U.K. - says it has spent more
than UKP1 million on new equipment in the past few months, and
intends to take legal action against BT.

BT, for its part, is referring the chat line companies to a clause
in their contracts which allows immediate closure of the system
if any subscriber's activities brings BT's name into disrepute.
BT says that the furor over the chat line services has caused
this to happen.

(Steve Gold/19890204)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SFO)(00001)

COLOR FAX MACHINE DEBUTS
CAMPBELL, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 30 (NB) -- The world's first
color fax machine has been introduced by a small start-up firm
StarSignal, Inc. The Colorfax system, aimed at desktop publishers,
graphic artists, and anyone else who needs to see documents
instantly in 256,000 color combinations, will ship in March at a
cost of $20,000 per unit. But, Michael Widergren, assistant
marketing manager told Newsbytes, that's a bargain. Considering
the unit consists of a color scanner, color printer, and color
copier, "its nearest competitor, a color copier made by Canon,
costs three times more -- $75,000!" As well as pricey, however,
the color facsimile unit is big -- about the size of a washing machine.

The color fax machine transmits a color copy at 19,200 bits per
second, scans up to 300 dots per inch [dpi] but prints out at 240
dpi, and transmits a picture in four to five minutes.
Widergren says his firm has no plan to license the technology,
there is no competition on the market at this time, and that
the company is working to integrate various types of printers
to work with the Colorfax system.

Chevron Corporation and Lockheed are among the firm's first
customers, expecting delivery shortly.

(Wendy Woods/19890203/Contact: Michael Widergren, 408-866-7100)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SFO)(00002)

DESKTOP CD-ROM PRODUCTION THE NEWEST FRONTIER
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 3 (NB) -- People who want
to create their own CD-ROM disks can now do so on a desktop workstation
attached to a PC. Optical Media International has unveiled the
TOPiX Spectrum, a $150,000 CD-ROM factory consisting of a PC/AT-
compatible computer, a 1.52 gigabyte hard drive, a nine-track
tape drive, proprietary CD encoding board, a digital audio
interface, system software, and the Yamaha PDS compact disk recorder,
which can record data to blank CDs in either in CD-Audio, CD-ROM
or CD-I format. "We're the only ones that can deliver a complete
system," Optical Media Chief Executive Officer Allen Adkins
told Newsbytes.

Normally, a CD-ROM publisher had to prepare an intermediate
master tape and then send it to a CD factory for standard pressing.
The pressing process is expensive, costing as much as $1,000 for
factory set-up and low-quantity disk replication. With the
TOPiX system, "a user can easily prepare their CD and then
record CDs immediately, right on the desktop, in a matter of
minutes at a cost less than $100," says Adkins.

The TOPiX system is slated to ship in March. Each disk it
creates can run on any microcomputer equipped with a CD-ROM drive,
and will store 530 megabytes of data. Optical Media expects
to have a European distributor soon.

(Wendy Woods/19890203/Contact: Optical Media, 408-395-4332)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(BOS)(00003)

KURZWEIL PATENTS SPEECH RECOGNITION SOFTWARE
WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 27 1989 (NB) --
Kurzweil Applied Intelligence has recently been granted patent
approval for a software program that can recognize up to 5,000
spoken words. The patented approach to recognizing the words
reduces both processing time and storage needs, according to the
company. Unlike other systems, to store each word pattern, the
Kurzweil software stores patterns as single symbols.

Using the software, a computer can learn unusual pronunciations and
be trained to recognize the pronunciations of an individual speaker.

(Jon Pepper/19890203/Contact: Arlene Figman, Hill & Knowlton, Inc.,
617-894-3100)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00004)

POWER GLOVE REPLACES JOYSTICK FOR COMPUTER GAMES
HAWTHORNE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JAN (NB) -- Mattel has adopted
the technology from a sophisticated $9,000 input device and
introduced an inexpensive version for playing computer games. The
Power Glove is similar to the DataGlove used in robotics, simulation
and CAD/CAM applications and should become available, for under
$100, in two sizes, this fall.

Power Glove will be sold for use with all Nintendo joystick-directed
games. The glove plugs into the Nintendo Entertainment System and
replaces the joystick. For example the action of a clenched glove
is used to direct blows in Mike Tyson's Punch Out. In Rad Racer the
glove translates hand motion into steering-wheel movement in the
program. Braking is initiated by pushing forward with an open hand.

Included with the glove is a keypad which contains a computer
controller for the device. It allows the player to customize the
glove's output for various games by entering an identification
code. It is also possible to change playing speed or customize
gestures and hand movements using the keypad.

In addition to existing Nintendo joystick games, Mattel is
developing a series dedicated to the glove which will take full
advantage of its capabilities. The first, titled Bad Street Brawler
is scheduled for a fall introduction.

(Wayne Yacco/19890202/Contact: 213-987-6635)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00005)

25 MEGABYTES ON A SINGLE 3.5-INCH FLOPPY
ROY, UTAH, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 31 (NB) -- Iomega Corp. and Insite
Peripherals of Santa Clara, California, have signed an agreement
giving Iomega the right to use Insite's Floptical data-recording
technology. The nonexclusive agreement gives Iomega an option to
manufacture and sell products developed by Insite after an initial
period of evaluation. It further specifies that Iomega will have
the right to use Floptical technology with its own proprietary
Bernoulli Technology.

Disk drive products using Floptical technology blend Insite's
proprietary optical and magnetic recording technologies to provide
25 megabytes [20.8 megabytes formatted] of removable disk storage in
a standard 3.5-inch microdiskette. The unit uses existing floppy
disk drive technology and hardware to maintains the low cost of
floppy technology. Insite is working to make the same drive work
with standard 3.5-inch microdiskettes at 720Kbyte and 1.44 megabyte
densities.

Track density of media in a Floptical drive is up to more than twice
that found in drives by Bernoulli and Konica; it's more than three
times as dense as Kodak's 10 Mbyte floppies. Bit densities are also
somewhat higher.

(Wayne Yacco/19890202/Contact: 801-778-3605)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00006)

EXTRA-DENSE FLOPPY DISKS DUE
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JAN 26 (NB) -- Kasei Verbatim, a joint
venture of Mitsubishi Chemical and U.S.-based Verbatim, one of
the divisions of Kodak, has developed 3.2 megabyte, high-capacity
floppy disks which could be used in high-end word processing
systems such as Fujitsu's OASIS 100 HXII, FXII-L, FX-L, and 300A.
The price of the floppy disks are not fixed and therefore each retail
shop will have to determine its own price.

The floppy disks are said to have a 20 percent improvement in the
signal-to-noise ratio based on a newly-developed magnetic process.
The company says the disks' durability has also been improved by
a newly-developed coating technology.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890202/Contact: Kasei Verbatim 03-542-6334)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00007)

AI TO BE USED ON UNIX PROGRAMS
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JAN 30 (NB) -- Software development company SG
Engineering and Jordan Information Service have jointly developed
an artificial intelligence [AI] program which can be easily connected
to several programs for Unix-based personal computers or
minicomputers. With a brand name "Kangaeru," a pun of "intuition
frog" and "think" in Japanese, the software has been packaged as
an inference system extracted from AI software. With the new
program integrated into such applications as accounting procedure
or production control programs, the software can partially conduct
inference procedures.

The two companies will market the software at 98,000 yen or $780
by the end of this month, and will provide it to software
development companies, collecting 5 million yen or $40,000 from these
companies as software access fee.

(Ken Takahashi/19890202)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00008)

NEC CREATES THE WORLD'S FASTEST 32-BIT PROCESSOR
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- Japan's largest semiconductor
maker NEC has come up with the world's highest performance
32-bit microprocessor V80, which has a cache memory included. It is
an enhanced complex instruction set computer, or CISC version,
of the company's 32-bit V60 and V70. It can operate as many as
16.5 million instructions per second, or MIPS, at 33 megahertz
clock frequency. NEC says sample will be delivered this April at
the price of 150,000 yen or $ 1,200 per unit. NEC will start
manufacturing the microprocessor next January.

Furthermore, NEC is planning to develop a 45 megahertz 22.5 MIPS
32-bit microprocessor by next year.

(Ken Takahashi/19890202)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(SYD)(00001)

PYRAMID TO LAUNCH BREAKTHROUGH UNIX MACHINES
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- Pyramid is
set to launch its hot new range of high-speed, multiprocessor
machines on February 13. The 'Miserver' range is built on Pyramid
Technology's 9800 machines and will sell against IBM 3090s,
according to observers.

The first model has "more than four" processors, runs at 40 MIPS,
or million instructions per second, and has a list price of
$650,000, according to Newsbytes sources. The top model runs
at a respectable 140 MIPS. Worldwide Pyramid distributors
saw the machines two weeks ago at a sales incentive conference
in Mountain View, California. The press roll-out will start
with a film, shown at a Century 10 Theater, which Pyramid created
to showcase the new line of Unix machines.

(Paul Zucker & Wendy Woods/19890203)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(BOS)(00002)

APOLLO COMPUTER INTRODUCES 3D GRAPHIC WORKSTATION
CHELMSFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- Apollo
Computer has introduced a fast workstation that has been
optimized to display three-dimensional images. The Series 10000
Visualization System, which is priced from $94,900, is aimed for
applications like finite element analysis, image processing, electronic
design, and molecular modeling. A company spokesman said that
production units should begin shipping in May.

The computer uses a RISC, or reduced instruction set computing,
chip to help speed up the operation of the graphics.

(Jon Pepper/19890203/Contact: Jim Barbagallo, Apollo, 508-256-6600)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(BOS)(00003)

UNIX INTERNATIONAL RELEASES OPERATING PLANS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 31 (NB) --Unix
International has released information on its organization and
relationship with AT&T. Donald J. Herman, the organizing chairman,
explained that the charter and purse of the organization is to ensure
the integrity of Unix System V and help plots its future development.

Unix International is expected to manger the definition process of
Unix System V, while AT&T will actually develop the product and
strike license agreements with the Unix community. Member firms
include Amdahl, AT&T, Concurrent, Control Data, NEC, Phoenix
Technologies, Prime Computer, Sun Microsystems, Texas Instruments,
Toshiba, and Unisys.

(Jon Pepper/19890203/Contact: Victoria B. Glazer, Daniel J. Edelman,
212-373-1722)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(LAX)(00004)

386/IX OPERATING SYSTEM RUNS WORDPERFECT
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JAN 30 (NB) -- INTERACTIVE
Systems Corporation and WordPerfect Corp. have issued a joint
announcement that WordPerfect 4.2 has been ported to the 386/ix
operating system [release 1.0.6]. A new version developed for
386/ix, release 2.0, will be demonstrated at UniForum at Moscone
Center in San Francisco, February 27 to March 2, 1989. There are
also plans for porting WordPerfect 5.0 to 386/ix.

WordPerfect word-processing software is produced and marketed by
WordPerfect Corp. of Orem, Utah. INTERACTIVE Systems developed and
markets the multiuser, multitasking 386/ix operating system.

(Wayne Yacco/19890202/Contact: 800-346-7111, 213-453-8649)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TYO)(00005)

UNIX INTERNATIONAL OUT TO DEFEAT OPEN SOFTWARE FOUNDATION
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 FEB 1 (NB) -- Thirteen companies, including three
Japanese firms, Richo, Fuji Xerox, and Tateishi Omron, have
formally chosen to side with Unix International, which now has 45
member companies. The three Japanese newcomers bring to seven the
number of Japanese firms belonging to Unix International.
They include Fujitsu, NEC, Toshiba and Oki. Meanwhile, Hitachi is
the only Japanese member of the rival Open Software Foundation.

In a related story, Unix International has revealed a plan to standardize
AT&T's Unix System V at its worldwide headquarters in North New
Jersey, U.S.A., at its European headquarters in Brussels, and at
its Asian-Pacific headquarters in Tokyo.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890202/Contact:Unix International 03-457-2100)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TYO)(00006)

OSF TO OPEN RESEARCH CENTER IN JAPAN
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JAN 27 (NB) -- The vice president of the Open
Software Foundation [OSF], Donald O'Shea, visited Japan January 26
and announced that the OSF will establish a research center in Japan.
OSF has a research center in France and provides funds for
corporate research. O'Shea discussed the proposal with top
university professors, but details of the discussions are not
expected until the end of the summer.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890202/Contact: OSF 03-221-9770)


(EDITORIAL)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00001)

W Y S I W Y G - Wayne Yacco's Gazette

IT'S JUST OUR POLICY
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 FEB 2 (NB) -- A guest column
appears here this week. It comes from Random Walker, a writer who
has written for The Inputer and Computer Currents in the past but
who hasn't eaten any ink for about a year. He has his own sources
of information so I can't vouch for anything he says. However,
there is a certain ring of truth to this. At first it even seemed
that I once read about a subscription policy just like the one mentioned
below . . . but now I'm not so sure . . .

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WAS REPORTEDLY FOUND IN THE TRASH BEHIND THE
OFFICES OF A MAJOR PUBLISHER OF COMPUTER PERIODICALS. IT HAD
APPARENTLY BEEN REJECTED BY THE COMPANY'S NEWSPAPER BECAUSE THEY
WERE TOO SENSITIVE TO ITS SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES. THOSE UNHAPPY READERS
WHO HAVE BEEN PATIENTLY WAITING FOR A QUALIFIED SUBSCRIPTION TO THAT
PUBLICATION WILL PROBABLY RECOGNIZE IT THROUGH THE VEILED MENTIONS
IN THE ARTICLE.

THE PUBLICATION THAT NEVER WAS.

It has recently come to our attention that a form of mass hysteria
is affecting a growing segment of the data-processing community.
This affliction manifests itself as a form of memory disturbance
that seems to affect only those in our industry. It appears that
thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of EDP professionals have
mysteriously become obsessed with obtaining a non-existent computer
publication.

The infection is apparently spread by rumors and innuendo. Sadly,
the rumors fostered as a result of this perplexing malady are
legion. Everyone with the illness seems to know someone who knows
someone else that is a subscriber. Many will swear to have seen it
on the desks of colleagues. Some claim to have actually read it.
There are tales of pages filled with the prose of renowned experts:
pages bursting with all of the latest industry news, hype, and
gossip. It is an almost irresistible seduction into the fever.

The passion to subscribe soon becomes overwhelming. But there can
be no relief for the sublime publication simply does not exist and
probably never could exist in such perfection. Thorough research
into the phenomenon has failed to disclose a single writer that has
ever contributed to such a periodical. The few writers that
professed to have written for it were unable to substantiate their
statements.

Those who suffer from more advanced symptoms seem to believe that
they have applied for controlled subscriptions. They can even
describe the fantastic application forms and convoluted
qualification procedures. Some of the accounts claim that the
publication, which is widely thought to be some sort of weekly
computer newspaper, employs so called "negative affirmation" to
verify that the applications have been received. This scheme
supposedly relies on a lack of confirmation to confirm that the
document is being processed. If the applicant is notified, then the
document is not being processed. The depths of the delusion know no
bounds.

Despite all of the known cases, and their exponential rate of
increase, there is hope. It seems that an effective treatment
consists of repeated exposure to emphatic denial and dissuasion.
Ironically, the printed word has proven most efficacious in
remedying the delusions. For some, it is probably too late but, for
the rest of you, pay close attention to these prophylactic words.
There is no such newspaper. It simply does not exist. It never has
existed. No one has ever really seen it, let alone read it. You
are not reading it now!

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE:

Random Walker is a xenobiologist specializing in silicon-based life
forms with a practice in the San Fernando Valley. His fields of
interest are cloning and breeding. Since 1980 he has assisted
clients in the care and feeding of the electronic critters. He
eventually also took to writing these occasional zoological
monographs.

(Random Walker/19890203/Contact: Newsbytes News Services, Post Office
Box 269; Burbank, CA 91503)