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/NB890523.308

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(EXCLUSIVE)(APPLE)(SFO)(00001)

PORTABLE MACINTOSH FROM NEXSYS
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- NexSys is
offering a lightweight, 10 pound portable Macintosh that you
can make yourself, using parts from a Macintosh 128K, Plus,
SE or SE/30, for $1,795. And the firm is also making available
the same kit, minus the case and with a different monitor, called
the Boomerang, for $800 less.

Available the first week of June, the TravelMac kit consists of
a logic board with 2400 baud modem, video interface, and power supply
on a card, as well as a supertwist, black and white LCD display with
cold cathode back-light that has a 512 by 342 pixel resolution.
Also included is a rechargeable battery capable of running the unit
for four hours between charges, a built-in speaker, indicators,
a case, a carrying bag, and interfaces for high-resolution monitors,
and Kodak Datashow overhead projectors. You provide the
cannibalized Macintosh for the motherboard, disk drive, keyboard
and mouse.

The Boomerang, which NexSys President Peter Kilcommons refers to
as a "hacker's version," has a blue and white 640 by 400 pixel
LCD display, no case, and a $995 price tag. The LCDs on both
configurations display the traditional Macintosh graphic interface,
but do exhibit some minor "ghosting," he says.

Kilcommons tells Newsbytes that the TravelMac will take only 15
minutes to put together, or can be done by the retail store that
sells it to you. Retailers include Softsel outlets, as well as
Computer Selection stores in Sunnyvale and San Francisco. In
addition, the product can be ordered by calling NexSys at 415-
255-2293. The cost is at least half what Apple is expected to
charge for its portable, being prepared for an August debut.

As far as Apple is concerned, all this is perfectly legal, says
Kilcommons, since a customer provides the Macintosh parts. Even
though taking apart a Macintosh voids its warranty, most owners
of older Macintoshes have expired warranties anyway, he says.
There is a warranty on the TravelMac and Boomerang kits. NexSys,
by the way, is a Certified Apple Developer.

(Wendy Woods/19890519/Press Contact: P. Kilcommons, 415-255-2293)


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

TOKEN RING TALKS MACINTOSH
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- Apple Computer is
preparing its most significant connectivity announcements in years. The
computer firm will unveil software and hardware which allows Macintoshes
to hook up to IBM Token Ring networks. The product is slated for a June
12 introduction in New York. Reports indicate that the TokenTalk card
will cost $1,000 to $1,300 and will fit NuBus architecture Macs.

Also said to be rolled out will be connectivity products which enable
Macintoshes to exchange files with DEC VAXes, an X-Window server
for the Macintosh, a card to allow Macs to connect with IBM System
Network Architecture networks, and software which enables the
machine to support the X.25 standard on packet-switching networks.

AppleTalk 2.0 is also expected to be introduced, and this version
is said to break the 254-node barrier allowed on previous AppleTalk
networks.

(Wendy Woods/19890519)


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

TANDEMS LOOK LIKE MACS
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- Apple Computer's
neighbor Tandem has announced two software products which
provide the Macintosh graphical user interface to Tandem terminal-based
applications. The new software should come in handy for firms
wishing to install more powerful, Tandem systems, but not wishing
to tie up employees by training them to operate different software.

Employing a Macintosh installed with HyperCard software,
the Lighthouse package of software manages interactions with
Tandem systems, translating HyperCard data into Tandem Guardian 90
operating system and system application commands. There is no need
to change system applications which already run on Tandem machines.

Available in the third quarter of this year, Lighthouse and Lighthouse
Keeper cost $295 per Macintosh or $9,800 per Tandem system.

Meanwhile, Apple and Tandem have joined forces to bring California
into the computer age. The two firms will design the "Personell
Management Information System," at Sacramento's Stephen Teale
Data Center, part of the Department of Commerce. The project is
set to design an easy to use computer interface that can
access, acquire, and locally manipulate information, regardless
of its origin or resident location. The system will use a Macintosh
front-end to a Tandem NonStop computer system.

(Wendy Woods/19890519/Press Contact: Sally Smith, 408-725-7515)


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

ADOBE TURNING JAPANESE
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- Adobe has
announced three developments that strengthen its presence in Japan --
its fonts have been licensed to Japan's leading type supplier, a
Japanese version of Illustrator is now shipping, and the first PostScript
Kanji typesetter has been developed.

Morisawa has licensed Adobe's proprietary PostScript font technology
to produce new Kanji typefaces for Kanji laser printers. Altogether
there are now five type foundries licensing Adobe fonts.

Adobe Illustrator, Japanese Version, is shipping. The product has all
the features of the English version, adds Kanji text support, and runs
on any Macintosh with KanjiTalk 6.0 operating system and at least
one megabyte of memory.

And finally, Adobe and Linotype AG will start shipping PostScript Kanji
versions of the Linotronic 200, 300, and 500 imagesetters in the
fourth quarter of this year.

(Wendy Woods/19890520/Press Contact: Brenda Hansen, Adobe,
415-961-4400)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00005)

DAYNA COMMUNICATIONS SHIPS DAYNATALK FOR LOCALTalk
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- Dayna
Communciations has begun shipping its DaynaTalk line of
network accelerator products for LocalTalk. DaynaTalk is a small
box for the Macintosh and a full size network interface card for
PCs. It supports a variety of network communications speeds.

The company also has announced its SpeedGuard Collision Avoidance
System that helps eliminate data collisions on multiple speed
LocalTalk networks DaynaTalk is the first LocalTalk network
accelerator that incorporates the technology to eliminate
collisions on multiple speed networks.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519/Press Contact: David Pascoe, Dayna
Communications, 801-531-0600)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(BOS)(00006)

SYMBOLICS' MAC ADD-IN PROCESSOR
BURLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 18 (NB) -- Symbolics has
announced two enhanced symbolic processing products: MacIvory
model 2, and a color version of the XL400 development workstation.

MacIvory model 2 is a much faster add-in that converts a Mac II or
IIx computer to a symbolic processing system. The color version of
XL400 is targeted at the company's 6,000 customer sites.

MacIvory 2 will be available in volume in 90 days, and includes
Symbolics' object-based operating environment, Genera. The product
is offered as an add-in board and software for $15,900 or as a fully
configured Mac II for $30,000.

The high resolution color XL400 high end development workstation
had no price announced at press time.

(Jon Pepper/19890519/Press Contact: Susan Rohrer, Symbolics, 617-
221-1021)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SYD)(00007)

APPLE BEATS IBM IN AUSTRALIA
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- Latest Compass research
figures on the Australian PC marketplace show that IBM is still
behind Apple in units shipped. Last year's 42,200 Apple machines
versus 36,500 market [estimate] appears to be continuing this
year. Compass' analyst Carolyn Chown said, "So far this year
Apple's sales have been steadily increasing while IBM drops. We
expect that trend to continue but it does depend on IBM's new
products and the recent pricing drops. We're still waiting for
more clarity on the level of acceptance of MCA [Micro
Channel Architecture]."

(Paul Zucker/19890519)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LON)(00008)

APPLE RESHUFFLES U.K. DISTRIBUTION
STOCKLEY PARK, ENGLAND, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- Apple Computer U.K.
has undergone a major reshuffle of its distribution network,
resulting in the formation of four new distribution divisions and
two consumer product divisions.

The major reshuffle comes after the sudden departure of John
Smith, Apple's sales director. Smith, one of the longest serving
[six years] Apple U.K. members of staff, is rumoured to have left
after irreconcilable difficulties with the company. PC Dealer, a
U.K. trade newspaper, quoted one senior dealer as suggesting that
Smith was unable to see 'eye to eye' with Philip Chauveneau,
Apple's U.K. boss.

John Leftwich, Apple's director of marketing, told Newsbytes that
the management changes will have little effect on the way the
dealers and the public trade with Apple U.K. "The changes are
purely internal, and take account of Apple's recent growth [in
the U.K.]," he said.

No replacement for Smith is being sought. Instead, senior
managers within Apple U.K. have had their responsibilities
widened, with Harold Bierne, the company's former financial
director, taking command of regional sales teams, dealer
development, specialist resellers and product distribution.

(Steve Gold/19890519/Press Contact: Frank O'Mohoney, Press
Manager, Apple Computer U.K. - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LON)(00009)

ADOBE AND SCANGRAPHIC SIGN CONTRACTS
HAMBURG, WEST GERMANY, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- Scangraphic, the
Hamburg-based typesetting manufacturer, has signed a major
contract with Adobe Systems. The contract gives Scangraphic
licensing rights to Adobe's Postscript interpreter for inclusion
Scangraphic typesetters.

The first products to gain Postscript compatibility are the
Scantext 2000 RIP 2, a 2532 lines per inch typesetting machine
for IBM PCs, Apple Macintosh and similar typesetting computers.

(Steve Gold/19890519/Press Contact: Ingrid van Rossum, Adobe
Systems Europe [Amsterdam] - Tel: Amsterdam 575-3193)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SIN)(00010)

APPLE'S NEW ASIAN INTEREST
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- The recent restructuring of
Apple Computer has given the Far East region more attention, which
officials admit they have neglected far too long.

Apple Far East has plans to translate both system and application
software into local languages such as Chinese, Thai and Urdu. It is
increasing the number of staff in its Hong Kong software development
office from six engineers to about 20 to handle the task.

Apple Pacific President Del Yocam was here recently to attend a
meeting and discussions were held on Apple's recent restructuring
which will provide the basis for renewed rapid growth.

He also announced plans to unveil the long-awaited portable Apple
computer either at August's Macworld Expo in Boston, or during
America's largest computer show, Comdex, to be held in November
in Las Vegas.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890517/Press Contact: Apple
Computer Far East P/L, Ph:[65] 481.5511)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(ATL)(00001)

AT&T MULLS GENERAL CREDIT CARD
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- Total Systems
Services Inc. of Columbus, Georgia had no comment on reports that
it will join an AT&T joint-venture to turn the AT&T Calling Card
into a general credit card. Total Systems handles credit card
processing for 14 million accounts nationwide, and handles credit
checks for 300,000 merchants.

AT&T is looking for new ways to make money off its sophisticated
billing computer systems, which handle millions of calls per day.
Checking a buyer's credit for a merchant through a terminal
usually costs about 3-5 cents, but many systems can process
hundreds of transactions each second so the nickels add up.
Buying a bank and offering credit directly to consumers is
another route AT&T could use to make a profit, earning three
percent fees from merchants and up to 20 percent in interest from
unpaid consumer balances.

There is precedent for a phone company getting into the
credit card business directly -- Southern New England Telephone
issues MasterCards through a bank in Connecticut.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890519)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BOS)(00002)

DAEWOO TO BUY LEADING EDGE
CANTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- The strange saga
of Leading Edge could finally be drawing close to a happy ending.
After weeks of rumors, litigation, and other problems, Daewoo
Telecom Co. Ltd., which manufactures the Leading Edge nameplate,
has agreed in principle to buy the bankrupt Leading Edge Products.

Daewoo is agreeing to pay Leading Edge creditors and will attempt to
reestablish what was a popular brand of IBM-compatible clone
products.

Leading Edge was sued by six computer dealers, who claimed that
they had advanced almost $800,000 for products that were never
delivered. This latest move looks to resolve the acrimonious dealings
that have surrounded the company recently, and could finally put
Leading Edge back on firm footing.

(Jon Pepper/19890519)


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

HOWTEK'S $1.59 MILLON LOSS
HUDSON, NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 16 (NB) -- Howtek
has announced a first quarter loss of $1.59 million on net sales of
$3,816,000 for the first quarter of 1989. However, the company also
indicated there were improves in the overall gross product margin
resulting from increased sales of both the company's Pixelmaster
and Colorscan product lines.

No announcement was made as to when the company expects to
return to profitability.

(Jon Pepper/19890519/Press Contact: Connie Webster, Howtek, 603-
882-5200)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00004)

COMPUTERMANIA SOLD TO HOLOGRAPHIC SYSTEMS
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- The board of
directors of CopmputerMania, a chain of three rent-to-own computer
hardware and software firms, has agreed to be acquired by
Holographic Systems of Campbell, California in a deal which
involves the transfer of 2.1 million shares of Holographic Systems
stock to ComputerMania shareholders.

Holographic Systems, which recently sold $2.1 million in laptops into
the Soviet Union, is also involved in a joint venture to sell computers
at the retail level in Moscow, which starts June 17.

The acquisition will bring Holographic the retail expertise of
ComputerMania, as well as ComputerMania's proprietary computer
system which tracks inventory and sales, changes prices as needed, and
can create new bar codes instantly, according to Holographic President
Glenn Smith.

The acquisition is subject to the results of a May 27 shareholders
vote and a Holographic board of directors vote June 1.

(Wendy Woods/19890519/Press Contact: Russ Fons, PR, 818-994-4332 or
Glenn Smith at 408-370-3910)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00005)

MICRON TECHNOLOGY CO-FOUNDER RESIGNS
BOISE, IDAHO, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- Ward D. Parkinson, co-
founder, vice chairman and director of Micron Technology, Inc.
has tendered his resignation. Parkinson served as chairman of
the board from the company's incorporation in 1978 until January
1986 when he became vice chairman. He also served as company
president until mid-1980.

Micron Technology manufactures DRAMs, fast SRAMs, VRAMs and
enhancement products for workstations and personal computers.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519/Press Contact: Kipp Bedard, Micron
Technology, Inc., 208-389-4400).


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

COMPAQ REORGANIZES TO REFLECT WORLD POSITION
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 18 (NB) -- Compaq Computer is
making some internal organizational changes to reflect the
company's growing presence in world markets, appointing Eckhard
Pfeiffer president of the Europe/International Division
headquartered in Munich, West Germany.

Pfeiffer who joined Compaq in 1983 is credited with starting the
company's European and Intoperations. Most recently
he has served as senior vice president, International Operations.

In a related move, Michael Swavely has been named president of
the North American Division headquartered in Houston. Swavely
has been with Compaq since 1982.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519/Press Contact: Bob Beach, Compaq
Computers, 713-374-1560)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(OOO07)

DATAPRODUCTS RESTRUCTURES
WOODLAND HILLS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 18 (NB) -- In
keeping with previously announced plans to maximize shareholder
value, Dataproducts Corp. is restructuring with respect to some
of the company's assets and operations. The company will sell
certain real estate holdings and distribute the net proceeds to
shareholders.

The Board of Directors has endorsed the search for a joint
venture partner for or equity participation in Dataproducts
proprietary solid ink technology. Additionally, the company is
exploring the possibility of recapitalization as a whole and the
potential sale, leveraged recapitalization or spin-off of its
various business segments. Dataproducts is also open to selling
the entire company.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519/Press Contact: Jack C. Davis,
Dataproducts Corp., 818-887-8355)


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

COMPUTER PEOPLE ACQUIRES STARLEX
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 10 (NB) -- Computer People,
an international computer resourcing firm, has acquired Starlex Systems
Services of New York. By adding the 90 consultants from Starlex,
Computer People will now have 1400 consultants.

Under the terms of the agreement, Starlex's New York and New
Jersey offices will be renamed "Computer People, Starlex
Division." Computer People's Domestic division New York offices
will continue operating independently serving clients in the
Northeast.

Computer People, based in Los Angeles, is a subsidiary of Computer
People Group PLC of London, England. In August 1988, Computer
People acquired the U.S. Professional Services Division of Sterling
Software, Inc.

Computer People offers a wide range of professional services
including contract programming, training, project management and
software development to major companies.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519/Press Contact:Computer People,
213/551-2647)


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

RED INK FOR PRINTRONIX
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 18 (NB) -- Printer manufacturer
Printronix reported a fourth quarter loss of $3 million. For the year,
Printronix lost $6.4 million as the printer market remained soft.

Revenue in the fourth quarter was $31 million, off 11 percent.
Annual revenue showed an increase of 8 percent reaching $134.7
million. The loss in the fourth quarter included a $2.9 million
operating loss due to the factories operating at less than
capacity.

The company also closed two production facilities, one in the U.S.
and one in the Netherlands. This resulted in a $2.4 million tax
gain.

The company has also announced its intention to buy back and
retire 500,000 shares [about 10 percent] of its outstanding
stock.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519)


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

TANDON FINANCIAL REPORT MIXED
MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 12 (NB) -- Reporting its
financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, Tandon
Corporation showed a 15 percent gain in net income coupled with a
loss of $9,863,000 [$.16 a share] compared with a profit of
$7,159,000 [$.12] earned in the same period a year ago.

Eighty-nine percent of overall first quarter revenues were
attributed to sales of personal computer systems and subsystems
in Europe, the company's predominant market. During the quarter,
the strengthened value of the U.S. dollar against European
currencies compared to the first quarter last year translated to
approximately $6 million less in revenue and $5 million in
earnings.

Tandon announced back in early April that the company is scaling
back its U.S. operations in order to concentrate on the European
market.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519/Press Contact: Ranjit Sitlani, Tandon
Corporation, 805-523-0340)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(OOO11)

MAI/PRIME DEAL STILL ON ROLLERCOASTER
TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- The will it or
won't it happen pursuit of Prime Computer by MAI Basic Four took
several turns between May 15 and May 19.

On May 15, Prime announced it would set aside its poison pill
defense if MAI could produce financing for its $20 per share cash
bid by June 20. Then on May 19, MAI announced that it was
temporarily withdrawing its action against Prime's poison pill
plan. A hearing on this action had been scheduled to take place
May 24.

There was no comment from MAI regarding whether this latest move
meant the company is moving closer to or farther from a deal with
Prime. A company lawyer did say that MAI can always request
another hearing on the plan at a later date.

Prime Computer has been the object of a $966 million hostile
takeover bid from MAI Basic Four since November 1988.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00012)

SEIKOSHA LEAVES COMPUTER BUSINESS
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 MAY 12 (NB) -- Last November, Seikosha announced
that a multi-compatible computer would be its premier machine
in the microcomputer arena this spring. But something happened on the
way to the factory. The machine has been cancelled.

Seikosha, which made 30 percent of its 1988 income from printers,
had claimed its computer would be compatible with NEC's PC9800
and the IBM PC/AT and compatibles. The basic input/output system
[BIOS] of the multi-compatible was to be based on virtual system
logic [VLS], and created in cooperation with Tomcat Computer.
Seikosha had claimed the BIOS was not a copyright infringement.

The reason why the company abandoned the project, however, is
most likely due to problems with the VSL, Newsbytes sources say.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890518)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00013)

MINOLTA EYES LASER PRINTER MARKET
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- Leading camera and photo copier
company Minolta will diversify its product line to include laser printers.
Minolta says it will offer its first laser printer this fall, now that strong
market demand has been established. Surveys show the market for
laser printers is jumping 50 percent a year.

Minolta will also receive Sanyo AX computers and word processors
on an original equipment manufacturing [OEM] basis. The company will
ship these computers with its laser printers. Minolta is in negotiation
regarding OEM product with other AX group members, as well

Meanwhile, the company is developing desktop publishing systems
which consist of a word processor, a personal computer, a
document scanner with laser printer, and an optical disk unit.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890518)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00014)

MINEBEA BUSINESS POLICY CHANGES AS LEADER DIES
TOKYO, JAPAN 1989 MAY 16 (NB) -- As his last act, the chairman
of Minebea Co. Ltd., Takahashi Takami, did what he does best -- try
to orchestrate a corporate takeover. On the 10th of May, Takami,
known as the God of Takeover in Japan, nearly got his way, but
a higher will intervened.

Takami, known for having built a once-small company into a huge
empire, has died.

However, his death has influenced company policy in Minebea,
which announced an end to the takeover attempt of American
hard disk drive parts maker Hutchinson Technology. The U.S.
firm had been eyed as Minebea's ticket to the production of its
own complete line of hard disk drives. Minebea had previously
established a joint venture with Tool Products for production of
hard drives in Thailand. The takeover of Hutchinson had been seen
as Minebea's way of rounding out its storage product line.

However, Hutchinson's technology , which produces suspension
assemblies with an etching method, was determined to be out-of-date,
while the next generation of the suspension assemblies will involve
precision presses, the company says.

The company has stopped the negotiation with Hutchinson and will
pursue U.S.-made press machines in order to produce hard
drives in Thailand.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890518)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00015)

OMRON CHANGES NAME
KYOTO, JAPAN, 1989 MAY 16 (NB) -- Omron Tateishi Electronics
has decided to change its company name to simply Omron next January.
Omron Tateishi has registered the trademark of Omron on all its
products since 1959, and now hopes to cement its popularity by
matching the company name to the trademark.

The name change is a part of its long-range "Golden Nineties" plan,
targeted at the 21th century. The total cost of this name change
is estimated at a whopping 1.5 to 2 billion yen or $11.5 to 15.4 million.
Omron was named after its head office location, Omuro in Kyoto.

(Ken Takahashi/19890518)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00016)

NEC AND FUJITSU VIE FOR HOME MARKET
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 MAY 16 (NB) -- NEC and Fujitsu, the two Japanese
computer giants, are trying to steal each other's limelight with
competing products here at the International Business Show '89.
Fujitsu has displayed its latest -- the FM-TOWNS -- the first
microcomputer to come standard with a CD-ROM drive. Fujitsu
has an eye-catching exhibit with over 400 units of the machine stacked in
a wall at its booth. Inside the partition of the FM-TOWNS wall,
other FM-TOWNS machines are running a variety of its applications.

NEC, meanwhile, has launched the PC-98DO against Fujitsu. It
runs both PC-9800 series and PC-8800 series software, making it
capable of running a staggering 8,500 existing software packages in all.
The PC-98DO is aimed at the same market as Fujitsu's FM-TOWNS --
the home-use market. The price for the PC-98DO is 298,000 yen or
$2,130, which is generally considered very reasonable for the home-use
market. NEC expects to sell 50,000 units in the initial year.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890518)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00017)

CA BUYS BEDFORD ACCOUNTING BUSINESS
BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1989 MAY 12 (NB) -- Computer
Associates [CA] has bought the accounting business of Bedford
Software, based here. The purchase includes the Bedford
Integrated Accounting and Bedford Toolbox packages for IBM and
compatible computers, Bedford Simply Accounting software for the
Apple Macintosh, and the Bedford name. Most employees of Bedford,
which up to now has been almost entirely an accounting software
company, will move to Computer Associates. The purchase price is
C$15.65 million.

About 10 Bedford employees, including senior management, will
stay on to continue developing a new online information product
called Suzy. The new product has been in development for 18
months and is undergoing testing, said Kristin Keyes, corporate
communications coordinator at Bedford, but probably will not
reach the market for another 12 to 18 months. Bedford will have a
new name, not yet chosen, since rights to the current name have
been sold to CA.

Bedford has no comment on reasons for the sale, but the company
did say part of the proceeds would go to its shareholders in an
extraordinary dividend, while the remainder would help pay for
development of Suzy.

Suzy is to be an online information service aimed at small
business and consumers, with a focus on financial data but also
including travel and other information.

Norm Francis, vice-president of Canadian operations at Computer
Associates, said the merged company will probably continue
selling all of Bedford's products as well as CA's Accpac line of
accounting software. CA has traditionally been a market leader in
the mid-range and high-end of PC accounting, he said, while
Bedford's strength has been entry-level packages. Francis said CA
will "bring Bedford customers fully under the umbrella that we
offer for Accpac customers."

(Grant Buckler/19890516/Press Contact: Kristin Keyes or Terry
McDonald, Bedford Software, 604-294-2394; Norm Francis, Computer
Associates Canada, 604-733-2343)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00018)

HARRIS-LANIER SELLS OGIVAR LAPTOPS
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- Harris-Lanier Corp.
of Atlanta has begun selling MS-DOS laptop computers from
Montreal-based Ogivar in the United States through 35 distributors and
its own 350-strong direct sales force. Ogivar, perhaps Canada's most
established maker of IBM-compatible PCs, has usually been toward
the front of the pack with new technology. Ogivar introduced a 386-
based PC just weeks after Compaq unveiled the first one. Jim Munch,
director of commercial operations at Harris-Lanier, said his company
conducted extensive product evaluations in looking for a laptop to
complement its office equipment line. The Ogivar model "performed
as well or better than all the products that we were looking at," Munch
said.

For its part, Ogivar will be selling superminicomputers built by
Harris-Lanier in Canada. The two companies will probably form a
development and marketing joint venture, said Paul MacIntosh,
managing director of Ogivar's Harris-related operations. Harris-
Lanier is also expected to start selling Ogivar's desktop PCs.
Ogivar has been selling its PCs in the U.S. through other
distributors for more than a year.

The deal is not Lanier's first link with a Montreal technology
company. In the early 1980s, the company distributed word
processing equipment from Montreal-based AES Data Inc. in the
United States.

(Grant Buckler/19890516/Press Contact: Jim Munch, Harris-Lanier,
404-270-2000; Marie Bisson, Ogivar, 514-737-3340; Paul MacIntosh,
Ogivar, 613-234-5460)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00019)

COGNOS EXPECTS QUARTERLY LOSS
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- Software developer
Cognos Inc. expects to lose money in the first quarter, which
ends May 31. The maker of application development software said
quarterly revenues will be about the same as in the corresponding
quarter last year. Meanwhile, the launch of a new distributed
database management system and Unix products has been costly and
"has detracted from our selling efforts during the quarter,"
Michael Potter, chairman and chief executive, said in a
statement. Cognos also has traditionally had weak first quarters,
but this is only the second time the company has recorded a
quarterly loss.

Cognos stock traded heavily on the Toronto Stock Exchange during
the week, but closed May 18 at C$7-5/8, down only slightly from
the previous week's close of C$7-7/8.

(Grant Buckler/19890519/Press Contact: Bonnie Perrigard, Cognos,
613-738-1440)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00020)

HELIX, ATI TO MERGE
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- ATI Technologies
has agreed to merge with Helix Circuits Inc. under the name ATI-
Helix Inc. ATI is best known for its video adapters for IBM and
compatible PCs, including the EGA Wonder and VGA Wonder cards.
Helix is a manufacturer of printed circuit boards and is listed
on the Toronto stock exchange. Its parent, Helix Investments, is
also the company that bailed out Geac Computer Corp., the
Canadian maker of computer systems for libraries and the
financial services sector which went into receivership in 1987.
The transaction is expected to bring about C$15 million in
financing to the merged company, with investors including Helix
Investments as well as Gordon Capital of Toronto. The deal is
expected to close in July, subject to regulatory and shareholder
approvals.

(Grant Buckler/19890519/Press Contact: Henry Quan, ATI
Technologies, 416-756-0718)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00021)

KENFIL TO DISTRIBUTE COREL DRAW
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- Corel Systems has
signed Kenfil Distribution of Van Nuys, Calif., to distribute
its desktop publishing products in the United States. The non-
exclusive agreement covers the Corel Draw graphics package and
the utility programs Headline, Newfont, Ventura Utilities, Tabin
and Loader. The announcement follows close on the heels of last
week's distribution agreement with Softsel, and one more U.S.
distribution agreement is said to be in the works.

(Grant Buckler/19890516/Press Contact: Arlen Bartsch, Corel
Systems, 613-728-8200)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00022)

CALGARY COMPANY SIGNS CONTRACTS
CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA, 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- Willowglen Systems,
a Calgary-based electronics design and manufacturing company, has
signed contracts to design control and data acquisition systems
for three buyers in the United States and the Soviet Union.
Willowglen will supply equipment and software design for the
Tenquiz Oil and Gas Field in Kazakhstan, U.S.S.R., under a
contract with the Soviet Ministry of Oil. The company also
announced a one-year contract to design and supply a system to
CNG Transmission Corp. of Clarksburg, W. Va., and its fifth
contract with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern
California in Los Angeles.

(Grant Buckler/19890519/Press Contact: Dorothy Earl, Willowglen
Systems, 403-272-1800)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00023)

MINITEL TERMINAL MAKER PROFITABLE
PARIS, FRANCE, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) --Telic-Alcatel, the French
telecommunications firm, has posted profits of FFR 587.5 million [$90m]
on sales of FFR 10,140 million [$1,560m] for its year to 31
December, 1988.

Although the company says the figures are not comparable with
last year's figures [1987] it did reveal that its profits/sales
percentage ratio had risen from 4.0 per cent in '87, to 5.8 per
cent in 1988. The company is particularly well-known in France
for its range of Minitel online terminals that the French
government distributes free to households throughout France.

(Steve Gold/19890519)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00024)

VIRGIN GETS SEGA DEAL
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- The Virgin Group, Richard
Branson's diverse empire which started in the U.K. with record
merchandising in the 1970s, has landed a UKP 100 million with
Sega Electronics of Japan. Terms of the deal call for Virgin to
distribute Sega's video games systems and software throughout
Europe.

The contract, which runs for five years, allows Virgin to
distribute Sega's games systems and software under the Virgin
Mastertronic label. For the past year, Sega products have been
distributed by Virgin in several European countries, under the
original Sega brand name.

(Steve Gold/19890519)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00025)

EXCELAN OPENS WEST GERMAN OFFICES
MUNICH, WEST GERMANY, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- Excelan, the U.S. local
area network [LAN] specialist company, has opened an office in
Munich, West Germany. The new facility joins the existing office
in Basingstoke, England, as part of Excelan Europe.

The Munich office will be headed by Hans Flock, Excelan's country
manager. Flock has more than ten years of computer-related
experience, according to Ernst Gemassmer, Excelan's international
vice president.

During 1988, Excelan's international sales accounted for 25 percent
of the company's income. Gemassmer said that the opening of
the West German office would push this percentage still higher,
thereby increasing worldwide sales as a whole.

A merger between Excelan and Novell, the Provo, Utah-based
networking company, is pending. Final approval by shareholders of
Excelan is expected next month [June], when Excelan will become a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Novell.

(Steve Gold/19890519/Press Contact: Georgina Kilgore, Excelan
Europe Limited - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00026)

MICROPROSE CONFIRMS TELECOMSOFT ACQUISITION
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- Microprose, the U.S. software
house, has confirmed it is acquiring Telecomsoft, the British
Telecom games software house. Terms of the deal have not been
disclosed, but trade sources have mentioned a figure of around
1.5 million pounds as being likely.

Telecomsoft's games will be marketed by Medalist International, a
division of Microprose, under the Microplay label in the U.S.,
and by Microprose Europe in Europe, excluding the U.K. The
Telecomsoft name is expected to remain for U.K. sales purposes.

According to 'Wild' BIll Stealey, the president and cofounder of
Microprose, the deal is the biggest in the company's history, and
probably the biggest software acquisition since Activision bought
out Infocom in 1986.

"The addition of Telecomsoft from British Telecom will double the
size of Microprose Europe, making it the second or third biggest
entertainment software publisher in Europe. It also has the
potential to increase the growth of Microprose U.S.A. by 40 per
cent - and that's over and above the normal growth we've
projected for this year," he said.

(Steve Gold/19890519/Press Contact: Kathy Gilmore, Microprose
[US] - Tel: [phone] x217)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SIN)(00027)

IBM SINGAPORE GIVES CREDIT
SINGAPORE, SE ASIA, 1989 MAY 11 (NB) -- IBM Singapore has launched a
new financing scheme to help its customers buy its products.

IBM [SC] Singapore Credit will offer leasing and credit facilities for
buyers of IBM machines and software as well as services like systems
integration, maintenance and training.

Customers who wish to purchase non-IBM equipment can also get
financial help from SC provided the equipment is linked to an IBM
system.

(Michael Worsley & S. Roowi/19890512/Press Contact: IBM Singapore,
Ph:[65] 320.1000)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SIN)(00028)

HP INVESTS $50M MORE IN SINGAPORE
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 11 (NB) -- Hewlett-Packard has made
Singapore its Asia-Pacific headquarters responsible for two of its main
product divisions -- PCs and peripherals.

With this move, Koh Boon Hwee, HP Singapore's managing director,
becomes the American multinational's Asia-Pacific chief. Believed to
be the first Singaporean to be appointed to such a position in a
multinational company, his responsibilties will cover Japan, China and
nearly 20 other countries in the region, including Australia and New
Zealand.

Two new divisions, Asia Peripherals [APD] and Asia-Pacific Personal
Computer Division [APPCD] have been created. Koh will take direct
charge of the first while Steve Cakebread, an American who will be
arriving soon, the second.

Koh says the changes are part of the company's action in trying
to meet rising demand in the region.

He said that the two divisions are expected to have a sales revenue of
about S$582 million [US300 million] next year, excluding Japan's sales
of about US$800 million.

These two divisions will handle HP's R&D activities, budgeted at US$30
 to 40 million over the next 5-6 years, and the marketing of HP's PC and
peripherals products in this region.

APD will be responsible for the manufacture of thermal ink-jet [TIJ]
printing products here and establish a new R&D activity in ink-jet
printers, with one program for the development of future TIJ printers
already established. Discussions are already on for developing
printers with Asian language capabilities.

The APPCD will consolidate and emphasise on R&D, manufacturing and
marketing activities presently conducted in Hong Kong and Taiwan as
well as those here. It will be responsible for current manufacturing
and R&D activities in Singapore, including the manufacture of
keyboards and other input devices. HP's other Asian PC operation,
based in Taiwan, will report to it. With APPCD's formation, new R&D
and manufacturing initiatives within the PC field, such as high
resolution monitors and video cards are being considered.

A further US$50 million will be invested in HP Singapore over the next
five years in machinery, tooling and especially automation equipment.

(Michael Worsley & S. Roowi/19890512/Press Contact: HP Singapore
Ph:[65] 271.9444)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SIN)(00029)

SINGAPORE'S GES GOES TO JORDAN
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 3 (NB) -- Singapore computer
manufacturer GES Singapore has entered into a joint venture with two
Jordanian national institutions, the Royal Scientific Society and the
Jordanian Technology Group, to set up a plant to produce personal
computers. The initial investment for the joint venture, to be located
in Amman, and called Jordan Computer Industries [JCI], is around S$1
million [US$0.55 million]. GES' stake is 40 percent, while each of its
partners are taking 30 percent.

The Jordanian facility will also serve as a regional distribution
center for GES products, which carry the brand name Datamini. The move
will enable the company to increase its share of the Middle East [ME].
"With this venture, we can actually ship to the ME in container
loads," said Mr. Daniel Yeong, marketing manager of GES.

Started in 1975, GES began an export drive in late 1985 when annual
sales were about S$16 million [US$7.8 million then]. Now, it is
expecting a turnover of about S$80 million [US$44 million] for the
current year, approximately 60 percent of which is exported. GES is also a
leading distributor of peripherals.

Jordan was chosen because, besides having technical talent and labour,
it offers GES a chance to "Arabise" its products. To "Arabise" a product
involves not only translating manuals into Arabic but adding an interface
into PCs to enable them to run Arabic software, and also requires
redesign of the keyboard.

According to Mr. Talib Shakir, general manager of JCI, production will
be in phases, beginning with assembly of primarily Singapore-supplied
components. The second phase, expected to be reached by the end of
1989, will involve the local production of some of the components. The
end result is planned to be a PC almost entirely being produced in
Jordan, which will come about in the final phase. The number of
employees is expected to rise from the present 25 to 60 or 80 by
year's end.

Initially, not only will all the parts come from Singapore, but so
will much of the equipment that will be needed during the start-up
period. However, gradually, local sourcing will increase, and by the
third phase, it is hoped that many of the parts will be obtained from
Jordan.

Mr. Yeong said that the first Datamini units will be ready for sale
in June and that the company had secured an order for 5,000 units, the
bulk of which will be to the institutional sector. However, he says
another objective is to re-export much of the local production from
Jordan to regional countries, as well as other destinations. In fact,
re-exports will make up for some reduction in local sales expected to
occur in the short term, due to the current unrest in Jordan.
[Jordanian Prime Minister Zeid al-Rifa'i resigned last week following
riots over sharp price increases.]

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890508/Press Press Contact: GES,
Ph:[65] 732.9898)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SIN)(00030)

JAPANESE EPSON WANTS ITS IMAGE AS PC MAKER ENHANCED
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 4 (NB)-- Japanese computer peripherals
maker Epson has just spent S$1.3 million [US$0.7 million] on a
marketing campaign in Singapore to change its image from that of
computer printer maker to that of PC maker.

The campaign was timed to coincide with the Epson Singapore Super
Tennis tournament sponsored by the company at a cost of S$500,000
[US$255,000]. One of its TV advertisements in the campaign showed a
man fighting his way across a desert to find an Arab in a tent working
furiously on an Epson computer. Epson will spend more than S$5 million
[US$2.55 million] this year on promotion in the region.

Asian countries as well as India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangadesh
are covered by the Singapore operational headquarters.
Besides printers and PCs, Epson Singapore also distributes
floppy disks, liquid crystal displays [LCDs], integrated circuit [IC]
chips and oscillators.

Mr. Jun Kaito, managing director of Epson, believes Epson
should be able to get a 10 percent increase on its current share of the local
PC market within the next two years. He estimated that about 25,000
PCs a year have been sold for domestic use. Last year, Epson
Singapore had a record S$100 million [US$55 million] in sales, an
increase of more than 68 percent over 1987. The Epson Group's
worldwide sales were more than S$7 billion [US$3.6 billion] last year.

Mini-printers, used for printing out athletes' timings at the 1964
Tokyo Olympics, were pioneered by Epson. Some 20 years later, the
firm launched its IBM-compatible range of personal computers which,
competing on lower prices, has quickly secured Epson some
15 percent of the multibillion-dollar U.S. printer market in four years,
according to company officers.

(Michael Worsley/19890508/Press Press Contact: Epson, Ph:[65] 533.0477)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SIN)(00031)

CONNER TO INVEST FURTHER US$ 33 MILLION IN NEW SINGAPORE PLANT
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 4 (NB) -- U.S. multinational Conner
Peripherals plans to more than double its investment in Singapore this
year, making its latest Singapore plant the flagship plant of the
group, complete with the latest fully automatic robotic assembly
operations, as well as a new product research and development facility.

This plant, the third being operated by Connors in Singapore, is located
at the Singapore New Tech Park, and was officially opened
yesterday by Mr. Finis Conner, Conner's founding chairman, and
Mr. Philip Yeo, chairman of Singapore's Economic Development Board
[EDB]. Yesterday was also the second anniversary of Conner's presence in
Singapore, and the company announced new expansion plans in view of
the growing worldwide demand for its products.

The planned new extensions, which will bring the investment total
here to about S$110 million [US$60 million], will be made over the
next twelve months. During the same period, the workforce will
increase to about 4,000 with the hiring of another 1,400 employees
to handle the increased production.

Mr. Conner said that the company's three Singapore plants currently
account for around 80 percent of its global production, which is an
increase of 20 percent during the past year. Since May 1987 when it
first began operations here, Conner has produced S$237 million [US$120
million] worth of disk drives.

He outlined how the Singapore operations plays a vital role in the
groups activities. Currently, most research and development work is
done in the group's Colorado, U.S. research facility. This is followed
by the initial manufacture and product launch done at its San
Jose, California, U.S. plant. Once volume production has been
established, the high volume production facilities of Singapore are
brought into play to capture the major markets for their products.

Worldwide sales of Conner products are expected to reach
US$660 million by the end this year, with Singapore planned to
manufacture S$1 billion [US$550 million] worth of disk drives in its
three plants.

Mr. Yeo commented that Conner Peripherals has "the reputation of being
the fastest-growing start-up company in the history of the computer
industry" and that its sales, expected to triple this year, will put
it in "the ranks of legendary start-ups like Compaq and Apple."

Mr. Connor explained, "We have been able to grow very fast because of
our partnerships with our customers. We work with customers from the
time they think up of new personal computers. We design our products
around their new machines." This was the reason, he said, why his
company not only withstood the recent global over-production of disk
drives, but also expanded during the downturn period.

The company operates a fourth plant in Italy, where it has a joint
venture with Olivetti to manufacture 3.5-inch drives for the
European market.

Worldwide, the U.S. is the largest market for Connor, with Compaq taking
around 60 percent of its output, and perhaps reflecting the close
relationship between the two companies. Compaq has a 40.4 percent
holding in Connors.

The next largest buyer is Japan, with a 30 percent share of total
output, the largest customer there being Toshiba.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890509/Press Contact: Connor Peripherals
P/L, Ph:[65] 296.2803)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(KUL)(00032)

KUALA LUMPUR GETS SCRIPLESS TRADING
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, 1989 MAY 9 (NB) -- Malaysia is to implement
its scripless securities trading system [SSTS] from next year.
Bank Negara, its national bank, has proposed that the SSTS, together
with the inter-bank funds transfer system [IFTS] be implemented from
January 1, 1990.

Under the system, there is no need for brokers to handle physical
scrip, thus reducing the amount of paperwork, storage and handling
costs. The danger of loss, theft, destruction and counterfeiting of
scrip is reduced. It also facilitates the handling of large
transactions.

The SSTS will connect securities dealers by linking the computer
systems in their offices to a central computer via a communications
network.

The IFTS is an online electronic interbank funds transfer
communications network that connects participating institutions to a
central computer system. It allows online processing of same-day
credit and debit transfers of funds in Malaysian currency between
participating member institutions. Such transfers will arise from
interbank dealings, international transaction instructions, money
market transactions and customer instructions.

The implementation period is eight months, according to Bank Negara.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890512)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(KUL)(00033)

MALAYSIA TRADES BY COMPUTER
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- The Kuala Lumpur Stock
Exchange [KLSE] today began its computerised trading system, SCORE,
which it hopes will recoup some of its business recently lost to
neighbouring Singapore's computerised Stock Exchange [SES].

The KLSE's share of the combined volume has fallen to
below 20 percent on certain days since Singapore implemented its
computerised sytem CLOB [Central Limit Order Book] on March 10 this
year. Presently, the KLSE accounts for only about 25 percent of the
combined daily turnover, compared to around 35 percent in the past.

SCORE [System on Computerised Order Routine and Execution] will
initially be confined to finance issues but will later be extended to
the other sections. The KLSE had planned to implement SCORE in two
stages, beginning with a semi-computerised system, but the second
stage has been brought forward six weeks, and both stages will begin
today.

Market observers believe the move is aimed at reducing further loss of
trading activity to the SES. The two exchanges are still closely
connected although they formally separated in 1973, one main reason
being the numerous Singapore and Malaysian companies listed and
trading on both sides of the Causeway.

There are 182 Malaysian companies out of 334 listings on the SES while
only 53 Singapore companies out of 296 listed in the KLSE.

(Michael Worsley & S. Roowi/19890519)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(KUL)(00034)

MALAYSIAN CHIP INDUSTRY GROWTH
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- Sixteen U.S. electronic
companies in Malaysia say that the semiconductor industry in Malaysia
will grow by 10 percent within the next two years.

The sixteen companies, grouped under the Malaysian-American
Electronics Industry [MAEI], reported a 6.7 percent increase to M$4.8
billion [US$1.566 billion] in export earnings last year.

The MAEI companies, which have invested more than M$5.5 billion
[US$1.79 billion] in the last 16 years, are expected to invest a total
of M$1.5 billion [US$0.489 billion] during the next five years
compared to the M$1.9 billion [US$0.619 billion] for the preceding
five years.

Analysts said that Malaysia's electronics industry flourished partly
because of tax-free holidays, government rules allowing 100 percent
foreign ownership and a 15-year ban on unions in the industry.

The industry's workers were recently allowed to unionise after labour
groups in the U.S. petitioned Congress to strip Malaysia of trade
privileges for allegedly violating workers' rights. Wages in the
industry have increased by an average of 11 percent a year and
according to analysts, a fresh round of workers' demands could dampen
the industry's growth prospects.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890519)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SIN)(00035)

PHILIPPINES EXPORTS UP 19%
PHILIPPINES, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 11 (NB) -- Philippines electronic
exports rose 19 percent in the first two months of 1989 to US$209.3
million to remain the country's top dollar earner, the Manila National
Statistics Office [NSO] announced yesterday.

The country's export earnings totalled US$1.14 billion in the two
months.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890512)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SIN)(00036)

NATIONAL IRON PUMPS INTO ASIA
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 10 (NB) -- National Iron & Steel Mills
[NISM] is planning to strengthen its business presence in the
region, particularly in Malaysia, according to Yeo Seng Teck, its
chairman.

NISM has singled out its electronics companies as another area for
growth and development. During the last financial year, it invested
about S$10 milion [US$5.5 million] to establish an electronics group
represented by Century Data Inc's Singapore subsdiary CAST, Sino-
Technic, a Singaporean manufacturer of printed circuit board
assemblies and Techna Telesis, another Singapore company. It believes
that these companies will form the base of an electronic service and
product within the group.

CAST, acquired by NISM last year at a cost of US$200,000, undertakes
the manufacture of high-performance disk drives and other clean room
assembled components.

Sino-Technic, purchased for S$1 million [US$0.55 million] , will get
another S$3 million to equip it with new facilities to surface-mount
PCB assemblies.

NSIM has so far invested S$4.3 million [US$2.4 million] in Techna
Telesis, which was set up last year to undertake precision machining
for the electronics and aerospace industries.

NSIM is also involved in construction products and services,
engineering activities, properties and trading, in addition to its
core steel business and its technology and venture capital activities.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890517/Press Contact: National Iron
& Steel Mills Ltd, Ph: [65] 265.1233)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SIN)(00037)

SINGAPORE TOLD TO BEFRIEND ARABS
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 12 (NB) -- Singapore computer
companies have been advised to seize business opportunities in Saudi
Arabia as its government is committed to increased office and factory
automation.

In its newsletter Tradespur, Singapore's Trade Development Board
[TDB], identified Saudi Arabia as the biggest buyer of computers and
related products in West Asia. A recent trade mission by the TDB to
Riyadh learnt that demand for computer-based systems and services this
year is estimated at S$1.02 billion [US$530 million].

The market for medium and large computers is especially good, with
sales expected to grow by 16 percent to US$167 million.

The Saudi government last year approved a US$10.8 billion allocation
for education of the country's students, estimated at 1.25 million.
According to Tradespur, once schools and colleges are built, the bulk
of future budgets will be on training and supplies of computers and
school equipment.

Hamad Saleh Al-Humaidan, Deputy Secretary General of the Riyadh
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that all types of software
programs are in demand in addition to the hardware.

However, there is a need to convert software and training programs
into Arabic in order to effectively capture the Saudi software market.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890515/Press Contact: Trade
Development Board, Ph:[65] 271.9388)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00001)

THE COMDEX OF THE U.S.S.R. SEEKS EXHIBITORS
CAMPBELL, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- Those seeking to
get a foot in the Soviet door are invited to exhibit at the
Moscomputertrade Show June 17-23 and booth space is still
available. However, unlike your average Comdex, exhibitors need only
spend a total of $5,000 to exhibit in the U.S.S.R. -- and that includes
airfare from the U.S., hotel, exhibit space, visas, and export license
assistance. Commitment deadline is June 1.

Organizer Glenn Smith, whose firm Holographic Systems recently
announced a joint retail venture in Moscow with the Soviets, called
Radiotekhnika, and who won a contract to supply laptops to the
Tass News Service, tells Newsbytes, "This is a rare opportunity for
American manufacturers to display their wares and discuss trade with
qualified Soviet buyers. You still need personal contacts!"

At this point, he is seeking makers of consumer-oriented electronics
goods and office automation and productivity systems. "Some of the
exhibit participants from the U.S. will be suppliers for the
Radiotekhnika store," says Smith.

(Wendy Woods/19890519/Press Contact: Russ Fons, PR, 818-994-4332 or
Glenn Smith at 408-370-3910)


(EXCLUSIVE)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00002)

WINNER IN ALPS PRINTER DESIGN CONTEST
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- Nigel Gray of Randolph,
New Jersey not only has a new LPX-600 ALPS laser printer to brag about,
he also got it for free -- and will have another printer named after him.
Gray is the winner of ALPS' "Design Our Next Printer and We'll Name It
After You" contest, which was launched at Spring Comdex, 1988. Five
runners-up in the contest received dot matrix Allegro 24 printers.

The printer manufacturer received over a thousand entries, including
designs for wall-mounted and waterproof units, suggestions for
improving ribbon life, adding copier functions, and adding non-Arabic
fonts. There was even a design which allows a user to have direct
access to the printer via a computer keyboard -- similar to the
way a typewriter works.

ALPS won't say why Gray's was the winning entry -- his designs have
now become "proprietary" until they are implemented. But, as Marketing
Communications Manager Miriam Deeth tells Newsbytes, "His name
in some form will be the name of a printer," as the firm makes good
on its promise to provide the winner's moniker on the hardware.
"ALPS' philosophy is 'built by popular demand,'" she adds. "We like
to listen to our users and this proves it."

(Wendy Woods/19890519/Press Contact: Lisa Figlioli, Franson and
Associates, 408-453-5220)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00003)

SPREADSHEET SHOOT-OUT SLATED
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 20 (NB) -- Adam Osborne,
chief executive officer of Paperback Software, Terry Schussler, his
director of product development, and representatives of Lotus,
Borland, Microsoft, and Computer Associates, will take part in a
"Spreadsheet Shootout" at the Contra Costa Board of Realtors
Auditorium on June 7 at 7:30 pm. The address is 111 North Wiget Lane,
corner of Ygnacio Valley.

The participants will match their wares for speed and features, providing
an expected crowd of 400, including the publisher of PC Magazine,
with some lively entertainment. According to Steve Israel, vice
president of the Diablo Valley User's Group, the event sponsor, when
Lotus heard that Adam Osborne would be speaking they almost
pulled out.

(Wendy Woods/19890520/Press Contact: Steve Israel, 415-376-7174)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00004)

SCANNER KIT FOR WORDPERFECT USERS FROM MITSUBISHI
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 12 (NB) -- Scan Kit from
Mitsubishi Electronics America, Inc. Information Systems Division
is an image scanner targeted toward the WordPerfect user.

The kit features the hand-held Mitsubishi scanner and sheet
feeder, scanner utility software, PC-compatible controller, an installation
user's guide, "WordPerfect 5.0 Image and Text Integration Notes,"
and a sample files diskette.

The Scan Kit is the result of research into the needs of
"real world" users of word processing and desktop publishing. In
response to end-user complaints that scanner hardware and
software were too hard to interface to favorite word processing
programs. Mitsubishi developed application notes to guide the
user. The company plans to target other popular word processing
programs in the future.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519/Press Contact: Amy White, Mitsubishi
Electronics America, Inc., 213/527-7655)


(EXCLUSIVE)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00005)

TI SATELLITE SEMINAR A HUGE SUCCESS
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 16 (NB) -- A seminar on computer
aided software engineering [CASE] technology broadcast around the
world via satellite from Dallas was a much bigger success than
host Texas Instruments expected.

Bob Bledsoe, media relations manager for TI, told Newsbytes that
TI had expected around 200 on the downlink and the total
was actually 475. "We had sites in Amsterdam and London as well
as Canada and the United States. When we did a survey of the
sites after the broadcast, we discovered that our total audience
had totaled 17,000. Everyone seemed to find the seminar extremely
informative and beneficial."

In his interview with Newsbytes, Bledsoe mentioned that
excitement was so high that even when a severe thunderstorm at
the seminar's opening moment delayed transmission for about 15
minutes, there were no complaints. The three hour program
addressed the potential of CASE technology through the
perspective of independent industry authorities, descriptions of
TI's experiences, and on-scene interviews with companies using
CASE. There was also a live question and answer session.

"We feel the seminar was extremely successful," commented
Bledsoe, "and we plan to hold more in the future."

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519/Press Contact: Bob Bledsoe, Texas
Instruments, 214-997-3857)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(ATL)(00006)

IBM MANUFACTURING CONFERENCE
CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 14 (NB) -- IBM announced
it will hold the first meeting of its Computer Aided Manufacturing in
Higher Education Alliance at Chattanooga June 7-9. The alliance is a
consortium of 50 colleges and universities dedicated to improving
U.S. manufacturing productivity.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890519/Press Contact: Pam Evans, IBM, 404-238-
3643)


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

RADIATION-SAFE VDT ANNOUNCED
NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- Safe
Computing Company has announced a computer monitor that emits
no radiation, according to the Needham, Mass.-based firm. The
company says the terminal is for pregnant women and others who
might be at risk from the alleged radiation emissions from computer
displays.

Company President George Lecthure told the Associated Press
that the Safe Monitor will sell for $995, or about four times the
price of a conventional monochrome display. Radiation is controlled by
use of a low-radiation LCD display and four radiation shields. Strong
backlighting is used to compensate for the strong dimming effect
caused by the shields.

(Jon Pepper/19890519)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00008)

LOTUS NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENT
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 18 (NB) -- Lotus
will hold a Network Support press conference Tuesday, May 23, in
Cambridge. The press conference will be hold at 10:30 a.m. at the
Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge.

Participants will include Frank Moss, vice president of Workstation
Applications and Systems Technology division, and several others from
the Systems Technology group.

(Jon Pepper/19890519/Press Contact: Bryan Simmons, 617-225-1697)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00009)

SUPERCOMPUTER INTRODUCED
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- Thinking
Machines Corp, the second largest U.S. supercomputer manufacturer,
introduced two new parallel supercomputers. The 4096-processor CM-
2a Model 4, has a peak hardware performance level above 1
gigaflops, and is priced starting at $500,000. The 8192-processor CM-
2a has a peak hardware performance level over two gigaflops, and is
priced, fully configured, at $1,060,000. Deliveries are scheduled for
June of 1989.

The new systems are completely software compatible with Thinking
Machines current line of CM-2 supercomputers, and provide a
upgrade path to the fully configured 64,000 processor CM-2.

The Cambridge, Mass.-based company now has 10 percent of the
world's installed base of supercomputers.

(Jon Pepper/19890519/Press Contact: Alison Holland, Thinking
Machines, 617-876-1111)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00010)

NCR'S BIG BURGER KING DEAL
DAYTON, OHIO, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 16 (NB) -- NCR has landed a
whopper of a contract from fast food giant Burger King. The two
have signed what is potentially a multimillion dollar contract for the
installation of the NCR 2760 Food Service System in almost half of
the Burger King company-owned restaurants in the United States.

The point of sale terminals, manager's workstations, and software
from NCR are designed to provide efficient and comprehensive
management of Burger King's individual restaurant operations.

Terminals are connected via a LAN, and can detect power failures to
save critical data that is stored in memory. The system will be made
available to Burger King franchise restaurants in the near future.

(Jon Pepper/19890519/Press Contact: Patricia Dan, NCR, 513-445-5236)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00011)

PC SHORTAGE HIKES PRICES
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 MAY 18 (NB) -- It's getting harder and harder
to find a discounted PC in Japan. The reason is that demand for PCs
leaped in March, before a sales tax increase of three percent went
into effect in April. The buying frenzy didn't stop, however, and now
there is a shortage of personal computers. The largest electronics
stores are capitalizing on the shortage by keeping prices high.

PC sales in some of the large shops in Akihabara, the famous shopping
district for electronics goods, increased more than 30 percent just
before the sales tax went into effect. NEC, which has more
than 60 percent of Japan's mainstay 16-bit PC market, recorded its
largest monthly sales in history during March. The company
shipped 75,000 PC-9800 series -- a 44 percent increase over
May, 1988.

To make matters worse, computer manufacturers are threatening
to curb supply if discounting falls 20 percent below list price.

The situation is similar for software, for which prices have
dropped five percent for each of the last six months. Software
vendors have raised wholesale prices as demand for their
products surges.

(Ken Takahashi/19890518)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00012)

TRON ASSOCIATION AT COMDEX FALL
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 MAY 11 (NB) -- The TRON Association is preparing
a frontal assault on those who would declare the TRON operating
system an isolated Japanese phenomenon. It will exhibit at Comdex
Fall in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A., and has already done so at the CeBit
show in West Germany, the Flanders Technology show in Belgium last
month, and has slated many other public forums to explain the project.

The TRON Association has won the support and participation of
foreign-affiliated firms, including IBM Japan, and foreign makers such
as Motorola and Siemens.

(Ken Takahashi/19890518)


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

TOKYO'S INT'L BUSINESS SHOW
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- For the 40th year in a row, the
International Business Show '89 opened in 17 May at the Tokyo
International Trade Fairgrounds in Harumi, Tokyo. Sponsored by Nippon
Administration Management Association, formerly Nippon Office
Management Association or NOMA, and the Tokyo Chamber of
Commerce and Industry, the show dates back to 1949, when
the first one was staged in both Tokyo and Osaka.

The four day show's theme is "In Quest of the Best Human-Oriented
Offices" and it has attracted a record number of exhibitors --
311 -- compared to last year's 295. As part of the theme, office
furniture manufacturers are displaying their latest wares, along with
the latest in computer technology.

Prominent this year are 32-bit laptop computers and AX machines,
which are IBM-PC compatibles with Japanese language functions.
A dramatic leap of technology has also been achieved in the color
liquid crystal display, on display from several manufacturers.
Also, full-function, upgraded, dedicated Japanese word
processors were on exhibit.

The change over the years in office equipment is featured in a
special 40th anniversary exhibit.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890518)


(NES)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00014)

COLOR LCDS HIGHLIGHT LAPTOPS
TOKYO, JAPAN 1989 MAY 16 (NB) -- Despite the lack of "news" at
the International Business Show '89, being held now in Tokyo, crowds
are coming to get first-hand looks at products which have already
been announced, especially the new color liquid crystal displays.

Epson and Hitachi announced that they have successfully developed
a color liquid crystal display [LCD] , and at the show, NEC and Sharp
had color LCD units available with their 32-bit laptop computers.

NEC's, in all other respects similar to its 32-bit laptop computer,
the PC-9801LS, has a color liquid crystal screen with cathode ray
tube [CRT]-like quality.

Sharp unveiled its color LCD units on a so-called "portable
personal workstation," which is said to be available in sample
quantities. The model comes with a 14-inch color LCD and measures
15-inches wide [385 mm] by 7 inches deep [180 mm] by 15 inches
in height [385 mm]. The weight is about 10 kilograms, or a hefty
22 pounds. The machine has half the footprint of an average
desktop unit, and is armed with a 20 megahertz 80386 central
processor.

Sharp says the unit will be sold overseas as an IBM-compatible.
It will be sold here as an AX machine. Shipment is slated for the
fall. The company says it will develop smaller, 10 and 11 inch LCDs
that will fit onto its 32-bit laptops.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890518)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00015)

MANDARIN LAUNCHES NEW GAMES CREATION SOFTWARE
MACCLESFIELD, CHESHIRE, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- Mandarin Software
has announced a number of add-on modules for STOS, its games
creation system for the Atari ST series. The new modules include
a compiler, sprites and sound effects system.

The STOS Compiler allows STOS-created games to be compiled as
machine code, executing at up to twice normal speed. The package
sells for UKP 19-95. The STOS Sprites 600 module, meanwhile,
contains more than 600 animated sprites for use in STOS games
creation. The module costs UKP 14-95.

STOS Maestro retails for UKP 24-95 as a software only package. A
sound sampling cartridge for the ST is available for UKP 35
extra. The software package allows sampled sounds and effects to
be incorporated into any STOS-created program. The sound sampling
cartridge allows users to create their own sound effects, as well
as including a drum machine as an interesting extra.

According to Chris Paine, the new software adds considerable
value to the original STOS package. "STOS has been a tremendous
success, and these three packages are just what users have been
waiting for," he said.

(Steve Gold/19890589/Press Contact: Mike Cowley - Tel: 061-480-
9811)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SIN)(00016)

SINGAPORE TOP CONVENTION HOST
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 12 (NB) -- An annual study by
Brussels-based Union des Associations Internationals [UAI] has voted
Singapore the top convention destination in Asia for the sixth
consecutive year.

The statistics are based on information collected by the UAI Congress
Department. The UAI, an association founded in 1907, grades all
countries and cities hosting international and regional meetings.

Last year, 1,933 events involving more than 300,000 overseas
participants, a 24 percent increase over the previous year, were held
in Singapore. There was also a 23 percent increase in the number of
overseas delegates.

The divisional director [convention] of the Singapore Tourist
Promotion Board [STPB], Mrs. Chia-Lim Kay Keng, attributed Singapore's
success to its geographical position, infrastructure and its trade and
local associations.

Another two conference centres, the S$90 million Singapore Indoor
Stadium and the Singapore International Convention and Exhibition
Centre, are in the offing. The first will be completed by year's end
and the second by 1994.

(Michael Worsley & S. Roowi/19890516/Press Contact: Singapore
Convention Centre, Ph:[65] 339.6622)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SIN)(00017)

HP SINGAPORE TO BE A THINK-TANK
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 13 (NB) -- Researchers at Hewlett-
Packard Singapore will soon be responsible for the creation of new
product ideas, in addition to designing and developing some of the U.S.
Hewlett-Packard's products, which have won them acclaim.

Koh Boon Hwee, HP Singapore's managing director, said that HP's R&D
unit, to be 120-strong in five years' time, will concentrate on
creating new products such as keyboards, electronic drawing boards
and monitors.

Singapore will be the centre for research on PC products and
peripherals which can work in Asian languages like Chinese, Thai and
Kanji printers and keyboards. HP will spend S$58.2 to S$77.6 million
[US$30 to US$40 million] over the next five to six years in R & D to
be carried out here.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890516/HP Singapore, Ph:[65] 271.9444)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SIN)(00018)

UK CONSULTANCY DECLARED SINGAPORE PIONEER
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 13 (NB) -- KBC Process Technology Ltd
[Singapore] has been granted pioneer status by the Singapore
government. This meant that the company will enjoy a tax-holiday, the
length of which it did not disclose.

KBC Singapore is a subsidiary and regional HQ of U.K.-based KBC Advanced
Technologies Ltd which specializes in stategic business planning in
oil refining and other process industries such as pharmaceuticals and
chemicals. One of its specialties is an oil-refining simulation model,
a software system that allows oil-refining firms to maximise margins
and improve yields.

The managing director of KBC Singapore, John Brice, said that the
aim of the branch was to develop a client base in the Asia-Pacific
region. Brice, one of the founding members of the parent company,
added that if plans went well here, it might set up R&D facilities in
Singapore as well within a few years.

Last year, its group sales reached about S$25.76 million or 8 million
pounds sterling [US$13 million] and this is expected to increase to 9
milion pounds this year. About 10 percent of its annual revenue is put
back into research.

KBC was set up in the U.K. in 1979 and presently has more than 160
employees, servicing over 150 clients in 42 countries. Last month it
was awarded the Queen's Award for Export for export sales that were
exceptional for its industry.

(Michael Worsley & S. Roowi/19890517)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SIN)(00019)

TOUGH SINGAPORE COMPUTER PREMIERS
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- A Singapore company,
Microtronics Systems, will launch a locally-made industrial computer
which can be used in harsh environmental conditions next week at a
local exhibition, ChemAsia/Instrument-Asia/AnaLabAsia '89 [CIA].
Called Symation IC-286, it can be used for process control and data
collection.

Microtronics spent approximately 18 months to research and improve on
the design before production of the first unit. It is now developing
an improved version which will even better facilitate heat dissipation
and resistance to vibration, usually the major 'killer' environmental
effects that disrupt standard technical equipment.

The CIA show, which opens on May 23rd for four days, offers the latest
developments in the chemical, petrochemical, medical and refinery
industries, as well as various products of interest to the educational,
instrumentation, anlaytical and scientific communnities. It is expected
to attract over 10,000 visitors.

Associated with the Exhibition will be two 3-day conferences, with
over 30 keynote speakers bringing details of the latest developments
in their fields.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890517/Press Contact: Singapore Exhibitions
Services P/L, Ph:[65] 338.4747)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SIN)(00020)

ASEAN WORLDWIDE EXPO '89 IN SINGAPORE
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 9 (NB) -- An educational computer show,
Asean Worlddidac Expo '89 was held here from May 9 to 13. Below are
some of the items that attracted Newsbytes attention: robots, a Macintosh
clone, and a new language-teaching PC.

ROBOTS
Eshed Robotec, of Princeton, N.J., U.S.A., has recently developed a new
advanced control functions and smooth movement of table-top robotic
equipment -- SCORBOT ERV -- to cater for the machine visions education
and technological training as well as small manufacturing industrial
applications.

Based on the Motorola 68010 microprocessor, the SCORBOT-ERV controller
provides full multi-task, simultaneous operations of several programs,
independent process control and much more.

The ERV Robot together with the basic controller and the software is
priced at US$8,000 and is available now in the market, with Mazda
Electronics of Singapore being the local representatives here.

MACINTOSH CLONE
Equipped with NEAT 68000 system and big size 14" flat screen monitor,
a new Taiwan-made Apple Macintosh compatible computer called JC68000
Jonathan computer will be available in Singapore market. The Jonathan
computer is designed to offer good window displays and graphics
presentations for educational learning, and comes with a ROM socket
for the installation by the buyer of the Macintosh ROM chips. The
price quoted was about US$1,000 FOB Taiwan, by the distributors K & H
Mnfg Co Ltd & Happer Joiner Co Ltd of Taipei, Taiwan.

Also, announced concurrently by the same distributors was a new
standby U.P.S. square wave, super-slim uninterruptible power systems
for personal computer - the Power Guard UPS 501. Claimed to provide up
to 50 minutes of backup for a single PC, it was priced at about US$210
FOB Taiwan.

LANGUAGE-TEACHING PC
The Study Box model 1500 is an educational computer system combining
colour images, studio recorded sound and realistic animation for
educational learning. With the handy controller and colour Monitor, it
is particularly suitable for teaching the basics of the Japanese
languages.

Consisting of a digital cassette player and detachable keyboard,
and incorporating a 64K of RAM with battery back-up, it's powered by
a separate mains adaptor. The unit, which weighs around 2kg, plugs
into a standard TV, and is designed for home or school use, and has
provision for the installation of a Study ROM, which contains the
operating system. The model demonstrated provided output to the NTSC
standard, but we understand that other standards will be available
upon request.

For each Study Course, one or more DAT cassette tapes are played
interactively with the Study Box. The first 150 Study Courses have
been prepared for release, covering Japanese Languages, Social
Studies, Natural Sciences, and Mathematics.

An optional graphics tablet can be purchased to replace the keyboard
for some applications.

Released with the Study Box is the companion Study Box Software
Development System, consisting of an NEC PC-9801 microcomputer, with 1
floppy disk drive [either 5.25-inch or 8-inch is specified]; CRT
display, mouse or graphics tablet for image creation; a memory
expansion board; interface board for DAT tape drive; and a simulator.
Software provided is the Image Creation Tool, and the Programming
Tool. Bundled in are some seven manuals and trouble-shooting video,
and up to three months training on the production process may be
provided.

The product is distributed by Fukutake Publishing Co Ltd, and is
available from its Tokyo Head Office, the New York branch,
or worldwide through a chain of dealers currently being put
together. They claim 1987 total annual sales of US$530 million, making
them the largest Japanese education-related publishing company, and
fourth amongst all publishing companies in Japan.

(Michael Worsley-Joseph Ming/19890517/Press Contacts:R.M. Ghadiali,
Mazda Electronics, Ph:[65] 336.3922; Johnson Gau, K & H Mnfg-Happy
Joiner Co Ltd, Ph:[886-2] 981.7722; Gan Yam Seng, Fukutake Publishing
Co Ltd, Ph:[81-3] 230.2131 or [1] 212-935.6200)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SIN)(00021)

SINGAPORE'S HIGH TECH TRANSPORT STILL PENDING
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 10 (NB) -- Further to our report in
Newsbytes #305 it was learned that the tender for the supply of the
3,000 ticketing machines which would form the crucial link in the
integration of Singapore's Mass Rapid Transport [MRT] and bus network
has not been awarded yet.

Newsbytes understands that competition has been keen, with tenderers
being asked to resubmit proposals. The tenders are being
analysed by Transit Link, the company set up to handle the MRT-bus
project by Singapore MRT and the two major bus companies, Singapore
Bus Service [SBS] and Trans-Island Bus Services [TIBS]. However, two
suppliers, Sanyo and Crouzet-SEEL, are believed to be in the final lap
of the race to win the tender for the project worth at an estimated
S$20 million [US$11 million].

Sanyo -- in this case not the maker of electrical and electronic
products but its namesake, a Japanese trading house with manufacturing
capabilities -- appears to be in the lead. Sanyo's bid appeared to have
been made on its behalf by its Singapore representative, indenting
company Indamerica, a subsidiary of local company United Motor Works.

Sanyo has been supplying SBS with bus parts for sometime now and the
ticketing machines when SBS introduced the One-Man-Operator system.

Crouzet-SEEL is a collaboration between the French high-technology
equipment and system manufacturer Crouzet and the government-owned
Singapore Electronic and Engineering Pte Ltd. If it gets the contract,
the machines will have a 30 percent local content as some of the parts
will be manufactured here.

Two other tenderers are Japan's Toshiba and France's CGA-Alcatel. The
result of the tender will be announced later this month.

In the meantime, the Singapore Bus Services' latest annual report
described plans to carry out a trial run of the through-ticketing
system which allows a passenger to use a common ticket for both the
MRT train and buses.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890512)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SIN)(00022)

SINGAPORE'S SISIR PRAISED BY WEST GERMANY
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 10 (NB) -- The Singapore Institute of
Standards and Industrial Research [SISIR], has gained recognition as a
test center for West Germany after Singapore manufacturers gained
German quality marks for their products based on its recommendation.

TUV-Bayern, a German approval authority responsible for safety,
energy, transport and environmental protection, recently awarded, for
the first time, two prestigious West German quality marks -- the GS
Mark for equipment safety and the TUV-Bayern Quality Mark for
technical standards -- to three Singapore manufacturers based on
SISIR's recommendations. The awards meant that SISIR's recommendations
met the stringent German quality standards.

Two of the Singapore manufacturers gained the GS Mark while the third
the Quality Mark. Both Micaltronic Industries, a Japanese-owned
company and Magpower Manufacturers, a local company, received the GS
Mark -- Micaltronic for its electronic calculator and Magpower its
linear power supplies.

Nemic-Lambda, a leading Japanese-American firm manufacturing switching
power supplies, received the Quality Mark for three series of its
switching power supplies made in Singapore.

SISIR has been TUV-Bayern's inspection agent in Singapore since July
1983, conducting precertification and routine factory inspections,
and testing products before submitting its findings to TUV-Bayern for
approval.

In a statement yesterday, SISIR said that the German awards were
recognition of SISIR as a test center for German-bound made-in-
Singapore electrical and electronic products including parts and
components. According to SISIR, this meant that local exporters can
now save time and costs because they need no longer send their
products to Germany before they can gain their approval. In the past,
some Singapore exporters bypassed SISIR and sent their products direct
to Germany for approval.

This is SISIR's second success in seven months. Last October Nachi-
Industries, a Singapore-based Japanese plant manufacturing drill bits
was awarded the Japanese Industrial Standards [JIS] mark by Japan's
Ministry of International Trade and Industry [MITI], based on SISIR's
report. This was the first time the JIS mark had been awarded anywhere
in the world without MITI sending its own inspection team over.

(Michael Worsley & S. Roowi/19890515/Press Contact: SISIR,
Ph:[65]778.7777)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SIN)(00023)

EXAM LINKS FOR SINGAPORE, BRITISH AND U.S. COMPUTER BODIES
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 11 (NB) -- Professional computer
examinations will soon be held jointly by the Singapore Computer
Society [SCS], the British Computer Society [BCS] and the American
Institute for Certification of Computer Professionals [ICCP].
Singapore will be the first country to award certificates jointly with
the prestigious British and American organisations.

The SCS had recently taken over the examinations previously conducted
by the local National Computer Board [NCB], and have announced
plans to hold the first series of the two new joint examinations, the
ICCP-SCS this November and the BCS-SCS in April next year.

At a ceremony, Lim Swee Say, NCB's General Manager, said
that as Singapore moves into the 1990s, the continuing education of
professionals will become a key issue. He hoped that the SCS, as the
national body representing industry professionals, would spearhead
professional development.

(Michael Worsley & S. Roowi/19890515/Press Contact: Singapore Computer
Society, Ph:[65] 778.3901)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00001)

ADAPSO OUTRAGED AT I.R.S.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- At the 70th
Management conference of ADAPSO, the oldest trade association
serving the computer software and services industry, members
expressed outrage at the Internal Revenue Service's lack of enforcement
of misclassified workers supplied by underground brokers.

ADAPSO defined these underground brokers as companies that
classify a worker as an independent contractor when in fact he is
a client corporations employee, thus allowing the corporation to
evade payroll withholding taxes. An IRS survey of 1196 companies
showed that more than 90 percent owed additional tax money for
misclassified employees.

The problem is in all industries but more widespread in the
computer industry than elsewhere. Business leaders attending the
ADAPSO meeting decided they must make the first moves to
encourage IRS enforcement.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519/Press Contact: Chris Wildermuth,
ADAPSO Federal Tax Overview Committee, 213-451-4870)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00002)

TANDY SUES TOSHIBA OVER LAPTOP PATENT
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 18 (NB) -- Tandy Corporation's
Grid Systems division has filed suit against Toshiba America Information
Systems and its parent company in Japan in U.S. District Court in
San Francisco for allegedly stealing its fold-up screen design.

The issue revolves around how a laptop manufacturer combines the
various elements of a laptop computer. Tandy contends that Grid
owns the patent on how a computer's flat panel screen folds over
the keyboard. Ed Juge, Tandy's director of marketing, says there
are three patents that cover most facets of laptop computer
design. Grid filed for patents on its design in the early
1980s. As a result, Tandy is seeking royalties on the sale of
all laptops using the screen-keyboard design.

Juge pointed out that Tandy has been negotiating for royalties
with Toshiba and others, and while Talks with most manufacturers
are going well, the lack of progress with Toshiba prompted Tandy
to file suit.

Toshiba manager of corporate communications, Bob Wittenburg, told
Newsbytes that while Toshiba had received the complaint, there
could be no comment until the corporation had time to review
the documents. As of Thursday night [5/18], Wittenburg said: "I
haven't been told officially that a suit exists but I've read
about it in the paper like everyone else. Unofficially, I know
the company is reviewing the situation but at the moment, I can't
even guess what the timetable is for response or comment."

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519/Press Contact: Sean Fitzgerald,
Berkemer, Kline, Golin/Harris, 213-620-5711)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00003)

ARBITRATION DECISION IN ARCHIVE/CIPHER DATA DISPUTE
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 18 (NB) -- An arbitration
panel denied claims by Archive Corporation, Costa Mesa, Ca., that
Cipher Data Products broke a licensing agreement covering rights
to computer tape drives that are the same size as 5.25-inch disk
drives.

At the same time, the panel denied Cipher's claim for $200,000 in
punitive damages from Archive.

In May 1988 Archive had filed a lawsuit against Cipher for breach
of contract, unfair competition and misappropriation of trade
secrets related to the tape drives. The companies agreed to
arbitration as am alternative to court.

Cipher is still seeking a court order to stop Archive from
selling tape drives until after a patent-infringement case
between the two companies comes to trial later this year. A
hearing on the injunction request is scheduled for June 12.

(Janet Endrijonas, 19890519)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(ATL)(00004)

COMPUTER SMUGGLING RING BROKEN
MIAMI, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- U.S. Customs agents
arrested four people and seized $1.8 million worth of computers
in breaking up a ring of smugglers selling VAX computers to
Eastern Europe. Customs spokesman Michael Sheehan said that
among the nations involved in trying to get VAX systems illegally
were Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Libya, Iran and
Iraq.

Arrested May 16 in Houston were Steve Smylie, his wife Carole,
and Jerry Blalock. Rick Parish was arrested in Dallas. Seized in
Colorado Springs, Colo., were two Digital Equipment Corp. VAX
8820 Computer Systems. An arrest warrant was issued for Warren
Wetstein of Toronto, Canada. Still unidentified is the ring-leader,
reportedly a Belgian citizen living in Europe.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890519)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(ATL)(00005)

FBI TRAINS 500 TO FIGHT HACKERS
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- FBI Director William
Sessions told a Senate committee his agency has trained over 500
agents to fight computer crime, calling it "the most elusive"
crime to investigate. Sessions also told a panel headed by Sen.
Patrick Leahy of Vermont he'll submit proposals for new laws
against those who create computer viruses or worms, which can
cause destruction of records and disk space.

Clifford Stoll, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for
Astrophysics, said a "burglar alarm" he put on his computer in
Berkeley, California helped alert him that some West German
hackers were trying to hack into his system. There were three arrests
made in that case about a month ago, and authorities in Bonn said
the suspects had infiltrated 40 different systems on behalf of
Soviet intelligence. Stoll suggested other operators put
similar alarms in their systems, which will notify them quickly
if someone tries to break in.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890519)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(BOS)(00006)

CHINA ASKED TO SIMPLIFY HI-TECH IMPORT PROCESS
MANHASSET, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- The United
States has asked Chinese authorities to relax their procedures for
exportation of high-technology products to China, according to a
report in Electronic World News.

The Chinese have yet to officially respond to the proposal, but a U.S.
official said that, chances are good the new system would be
implemented, "in the near future."

Representatives of major U.S. hi-tech firms have welcomed the
proposal, according to the report, which would replace a case-by-case
licensing approach with a bulk-licensing procedure.

In 1988, 6,000 export licenses for $2.2 billion worth of high-technology
sales to China were issued. Only half or one-third that number
would be necessary under the new bulk-licensing system.

(Jon Pepper/19890519/Press Contact: Eric Lundquist, Electronic World
News, 516-562-5607)


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

HI-TECH GOVERNMENT SCANDAL
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- The Victorian
Investment Corporation has been accused of spending almost a
million dollars hiding the pending collapse of one of its major
investments from voters in the recent Victorian state elections.
ITC software was just one of a number of start-up technology
companies being assisted by the corporation and according to
observers "too many of these have turned out to be bad risks and
perhaps even cons."

The cover-up is alleged to have occurred between June and
November last year, leading up to the state election. Suggested
mechanisms include falsified company budgets, contracts and
planned projects.

(Paul Zucker/19890519)


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

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- In a sequel to the Canadian
story reported earlier this year by Newsbytes' Grant Buckler,
Commodore in Australia has entered a plea of guilty on a number
of counts of breaching trade practices legislation, some
involving price fixing and unfair dealings with computer
retailers. The company has admitted to each of 19 counts and will
be sentenced soon. The maximum fine is AUS$250,000.

(Paul Zucker/19890519)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SYD)(00009)

SIMPLE THEFT STILL OUTCLASSES FANCY COMPUTER CRIME
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- A report from the
Australian Computer Abuse Research Bureau says that computer
hardware theft is the fastest growing form of computer abuse. A
recent theft of AUS$247.000 in PCs from just one company shows
the potential magnitude of offences. Still, it's computer fraud
that tops the list, with reported offences costing AUS$2.3
million last year -- experts believe this is only a minute
percentage of the real amount because victims don't want to admit
their vulnerability.

Other problem areas include losses incurred by computer external
consultants, hacking and [last on the list at only $2000] damage
caused by computer viruses.

(Paul Zucker/19890519)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00001)

IBM UNVEILS GRAPHIC NEW SOFTWARE
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- IBM has
unveiled what many believe is its most significant software
configuration to date -- OfficeVision -- an integrated set of
programs with a consistent graphical interface not unlike the
Macintosh, designed to work across multiple hardware and
operating system platforms.

IBM's OfficeVision brings electronic mail, filing, document
preparing, calendar scheduling, and other office functions across
all major IBM computing environments. Available in 20 different languages,
OfficeVision is designed to be IBM's software productivity platform
for the future. The company plans to roll out OfficeVision/2 for the
OS/2 environment, OfficeVision/MVS for the Multiple Virtual Storage
environment, OfficeVision/VM for the Virtual Machine environment,
and OfficeVision/400 for the OS/400 operating environment.

The OfficeVision family is based on SAA or Systems Application
Architecture, which was announced two years ago to provide a
framework that will allow applications to run over IBM's various
platform architectures. The overall goal of OfficeVIsion is to
provide a seamless, graphical user interface across all of IBM's
hardware and software platforms, and to allow software
developers to write to the SAA architecture so that
applications can be easily integrated into the OfficeVision family.

The first parts of OfficeVision are not expected to be available until
September, and the entire package will be rolled out over a period of
18 months. However, while the software price per workstation is
approximately $750, there are some potential drawbacks to the
system. The prime two are IBM's poor track record as an software
company and the minimum of eight megabytes of random access
memory per workstation that is required.

"This is an integration solution, not an application solution," analyst
Nancy McSharry, of International Data Group, told Newsbytes. "I
don't expect it to be wildly popular."

However, Krystyna Filistowicz, an analyst at Dataquest, told
Newsbytes that, "we think it is a viable offering since it comes up
with some of the solutions they promised two years ago with SAA."

Filistowicz said that despite the high cost of entry, "we are at the
stage now where to go to the next state of office implementation, the
cost is not out of line."

Ultimately, analysts feel that OfficeVision could be a critical path for
IBM. If successful, it will cement its role as the market leader at all
levels of computing, and will help sales of PS/2s and the OS/2
operating system. However, there is ample competition from many
other platforms like HP, DEC, and Apple, and many feel the price is
too high for all but IBM's most true blue customers.

(Jon Pepper/19890519/Press Contact: Tim Brueur, IBM, 914-642-5447)


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00002)

TAMGRAM'S SAA VERSION OF PEER SERVICES
CARY, NORTH CAROLINA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 1 (NB) -- Tangram Systems
has announced it will ship version 2.1 of its Peer Services
software by September. Peer Services lets PCs work together when
they're separately linked to the same IBM mainframe. It supports
both the Systems Application Architecture -- SAA -- and Logical
Unit 6.2 -- LU 6.2 -- specifications of IBM, and offers an OS/2
type interface on MS-DOS machines.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890519/Press Contact: Jonathan Hirshon, G.S.
Schwartz, 212-696-4744)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00003)

CONSUMERS SOFTWARE'S IBM DEAL
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1989 MAY 16 (NB) --
Consumers Software played a part in IBM's new office automation
software, announced today. Jack Grushcow, president of the
Vancouver software firm, said a highly customized version of his
company's Network Courier software forms the base of the MS-DOS
electronic mail component of OfficeVision, the grand strategy
for unified office automation functions across IBM hardware from
the PC to the 3090 mainframe. The product's user interface
complies with IBM's Systems Application Architecture [SAA]
strategy for applications common to all IBM's hardware platforms.

Grushcow added that IBM will be selling Network Courier itself
through its own sales force and distributors in the United States
and Canada. IBM representatives will be able to order Network
Courier for their customers and IBM Credit Corp. will provide
term lease financing for the software when a customer acquires it
along with an IBM computer.

Network Courier operates on DOS and OS/2 LAN servers.

(Grant Buckler/19890516/Press Contact: Michael Shandrick or Jack
Grushcow, Consumers Software, 604-688-4548)


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

LOTUS TO DEVELOP 1-2-3 FOR OFFICEVISION
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 18 (NB) -- Lotus
Development Crop. has announced that it will develop a graphical
version of 1-2-3, its best-selling spreadsheet, for IBM's newly
announced OfficeVision/2. The company plans to adapt its as yet
unreleased graphically-based version of 1-2-3, 1-2-3/G, for users with
the IBM software.

1-2-3/G is being designed to take advantage of the graphical interface
and multitasking abilities of OS/2 with the Presentation Manager.
Analysts told Newsbytes that the additional development to write to
the SAA specification that underlies OfficeVision involves little
additional work.

No timetable or pricing was announced by Lotus for the release of
either 1-2-3/G or 1-2-3 for OfficeVision.

(Jon Pepper/19890519/Press Contact: Betsy Kosheff, Lotus, 617-225-
1292)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00005)

STERLING SOFTWARE NEW IBM PARTNER
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 18 (NB) -- Sterling Software is one of 12
major software companies IBM has selected as business partners to
launch its new generation of software called OfficeVision.

Sterling and IBM jointly have unveiled Presentation/Answer, new system
software that enables simple and quick access from desktop computers
to data residing in mainframe computers within IBM's Systems Application
Architecture [SAA]. Presentation/Answer will augment the usefulness of
SAA by facilitating data bridging from both relational an non-relational
databases.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519/Press Contact: Ray Hannon, Sterling
Software Inc., 214-891-8600)


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

MICROSOFT SUPPORTS OFFICEVISION
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 16 (NB) -- Microsoft
Corporation is standing firmly behind IBM's new OfficeVision software
environment, saying it is committed to developing applications for it,
including a version of the Excel spreadsheet.

Also, Microsoft's LAN Manager supports 13 categories of local
area network application programming interfaces.

And the company also announced version 1.2 of MS OS/2 with
Presentation Manager. Microsoft says the new version features a new
higher-performance file system and other user enhancements
including an improved Presentation Manager shell. The product is
due to be shipped in September by IBM.

(Wendy Woods/19890520/Press Contact: Marty Taucher, 206-882-8080)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00007)

SUPERDOS 5.0 RELEASED BY BLUEBIRD
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 17 (NB) - Bluebird Systems
has announced a new release of the SuperDOS multiuser operating
system.

SuperDOS 5.0 has a number of major new features including
protected mode operation for PS/2 users, RAM Disk which,
depending upon application, can increase speed by over 50 percent
and BIOS independence, which allows SuperDOS to run on an
extended list of IBM AT bus and Micro Channel platforms. Like the
previous release, SuperDOS 5.0 can support up to 66 users on a
single PS/2 Model 80.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519/Press Contact: Rebecca Gribbs,
Bluebird Systems, 619-438-2220)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00008)

FRAMEWORK III FROM ASHTON TATE NOW IN ARABIC
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 8 (NB) -- Ashton-Tate's
integrated software package Framework III is now available in
Arabic. This is the first Ashton-Tate product to be released in
Arabic.

Framework III combines word processing, spreadsheet, database
management, business graphics and outlining into one integrated
environment. It is the first PC software to offer full graphic
display in Arabic with contextual analysis -- the correct display
of Arabic character displays. Framework III users can mix Arabic
and English in the same document.

Framework III in Arabic was jointly developed by Ashton-Tate and
International Computer Systems of London, a leading expert
in bilingual computerized systems for the Arab world. The first
order for Framework III in Arabic is being shipped to the
Jordanian secondary school system.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519/Press Contact: Linda Duttenhaver,
Ashton-Tate, 213/538-7011)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00009)

XEROX EXPANDS PC INTEGRATION
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- Xerox Corporation
has expanded the scope of its PC integration announcing an 80386
PC/AT coprocessing capability for its 6085 computer system and
an enhanced local area network [LAN] capability for MS-DOS
personal computers.

When attached to a Xerox 6085 workstation, the new Xerox
Companiom 386 allows the user to process both data and complex
documents on the same system. The MS-DOS and Xerox ViewPoint
operating environments process simultaneously with no performance
degradation.

Also new from Xerox is XNS PC Plus 2.0, an Ethernet-based LAN
package that allows the integration of PCs on an XNS network.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519/Press Contact: Barry Sulpor, Xerox
Corporation, 213/333-3427)


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00010)

INFORMIX SHIPS SMARTWARE II
LENAXA, KANSAS, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- Informix has begun
shipping SmartWare II, a new version of its integrated software
package for the IBM PC. The new version features a user interface
with menus, a better application development language, and
full PostScript support. The major modules of the SmartWare
system are a database a spreadsheet, a word processor, and
communications software.

All SmartWare modules include Project Processing, a
development language which lets you change the user interface,
create customized data screens, generate new functions that work
like they were built-in, and combine commands into a single
keystroke. It also has a "remember mode" like the record keys
found on many communications packages, which enable you to go
through a list of commands and save them for later use. Finally,
data files created in SmartWare 3.10 are completely compatible
with SmartWare II.

Upgrade pricing for the SmartWareII System is $199, or $99 for
single modules. Suggested retail pricing for the full system
$699, with modules selling at $249 for the word processor, $349
for the spreadsheet, $449 for the database, and $249 for each
additional node on a local area network.

Informix also announced it will counter Microsoft's Excel upgrade
offer on behalf of Informix' Wingz, a graphic spreadsheet. In an
ad campaign launched May 19, the company allows any current
Excel user to purchase a shrink-wrapped copy of Wingz for $99,
with a $20 rebate going to authorized Wingz dealers. The regular
suggested retail price of Wingz is $399.

"Our upgrade enables customers to move up to the advanced
features found only in Wingz, for the same price as Microsoft's
upgrade, and still gets dollars to the dealer," said Douglas Edwards,
executive director of marketing.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890519/Press Contact: Donna Paprota, Informix
Software Inc., 913-599-7355)


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00011)

COMSHARE SOFTWARE FOR PS/2 MODEL P70
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 16 (NB) -- Comshare has
announced a self-contained, portable version of Commander
Executive workstation software for the IBM PS/2 Model P70, that
company's new portable computer. The new Comshare software
includes a complete electronic briefing book of reports and
charts, and for the first time, workstation-based information
models. These models, accessed through Commander's Execu-View
application, allow executives to perform ad hoc investigation and
analysis without an online connection to a host computer.

Comshare also announced the renewal of its Cooperative Software
Program agreement with IBM for two years, through April 1991. The
agreement lets IBM resell Commander EIS/SQL, which combines
executive reporting, ad hoc analysis, and office automation with
the addition of two new applications, Redi-Mail and Reminder.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890519/Press Contact: Ricia Hughes, Comshare,
313-994-4800)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00012)

ALLWAYS FOR SYMPHONY IN THE WORKS
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- Funk Software
and Lotus Development have jointly announced that Allways,
The Spreadsheet Publisher, will be available for Symphony.
Previously the product was only available to 1-2-3 users. The new
version will allow Symphony users to prepare typeset-quality
documents with mixed text and graphics directly from within
Symphony's spreadsheet module.

Lotus is planning a special promotion that will allow participating
authorized Lotus resellers to bundle Allways with Symphony at
Symphony's current suggested retail price of $695. Sold separately,
Allways will have a retail price of $150. The promotion begins
immediately.

Lotus has also purchased the rights to Allways, and will incorporate
the product into 1-2-3 Release 2.2 and across its entire spreadsheet
product line. Funk will be licensed by Lotus to sell Allways as an
add-in to 12-2-3 Release 2.01 and the installed base of Symphony
users. No other details of the agreement were disclosed.

(Jon Pepper/19890519/Press Contact: Philip Greenough, Lotus, 617-
577-8500)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00013)

AX COMPUTERS SOAR IN POPULARITY
TOKYO, JAPAN 1989 MAY 16 (NB) -- Unlike last year, AX machines
are now growing in appeal. Sanyo, for instance, says 20 percent of
its revenue comes from its information division, which produces
AX, or Japanese language, IBM-compatible computers. Sanyo showed
four new models at the International Business Show '89. And Nihon
Unisys joined several other Japanese firms exhibiting versions of this
new hybrid computer.

With a 20 megahertz 80386 central processing unit, the desk-side
model MBC-18TJ series will run MS-DOS, OS/2 and Unix operating
systems. Also, it has 10 expansion slots and is capable of connecting
with optical disk drives and digital audio tapes. The price for the
MBC-180TJF is 650,000 yen or $4,645, which will debut June 1st. The
MBC-180TJH is 980,000 yen or $7,000.

The lower-end models, the TES-100 series, have personal
computer, word processor, and telephone functions and
they will be able to use peripherals for AX machines. Those
machines will be named Gerant and the prices, while not firm,
are expected to be around 500,000 yen or $3,570 with a floppy disk
and 600,000 yen or $4,285 with a hard disk drive unit.

Meanwhile, Nihon Unisys has rolled into the AX market with
products provided by its parent company in the U.S. The new machine
features AX functions achieved with an AX expansion board
in an IBM-compatible machine. The 16-bit AX machines are PW200,
300 and 500 AX.

There are now more than ten manufacturers of AX machines,
all of which are exhibiting here, and include Acer Japan, Canon, Casio,
Kyocera, Mitsubishi, Oki, and Sony.

(Naoiyuki Yazawa/19890516)


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

32-BIT MACHINES NOW STANDARD
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 MAY 12 (NB) -- The 32-bit computer has come to
dominate the business world and manufacturers are responding with new
models almost daily.

At the International Business Show here, Hitachi announced the 32-bit
B32GX, a high-end PC-compatible capable of running both DOS
and OS/2 applications. Slated to ship June 21, the model is
also compatible with Hitachi's B16 series. Its newly developed two
set associative 32 kilobyte cache memory and 20 or 25 megahertz
80386 are said to provide a 1.6 times faster processing speed than
its predecessor, B16HX model 386.

Seiko Epson has unveiled a high-end, 32-bit version of the PC-286LS
which has been marketed since February. The new model,
PC-386LS, is equipped with a 32-bit Intel 80386SX and features
a cartridge-type hard disk drive mounted behind the machine.
Prices range from 538,000 yen or $3,845 to 763,000 yen or $5,450
and shipping is expected in June. The color LCD laptop computer of
Seiko Epson is based on this machine.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890512)


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

JAPANESE FREELANCE FROM LOTUS
TOKYO, JAPAN 1989 MAY 16 (NB) -- Among the few software packages
winning some press coverage at the hardware-dominated
International Business Show '89 is Lotus Japan's Freelance for the NEC
de facto standard PC-9800, which is expected to become available
on the market this fall. Also, a version for Fujitsu's FMR series, IBM's
PS/55 series, Toshiba's J-3100 series and Hitachi's B16 series will
appear by the end of this year.

Lotus says it has already sold one million copies of Freelance,
a charting and drawing program, worldwide. The software can be
used with and import data from Lotus 1-2-3, Multiplan, dBASE II
and dBASE III.

Also, files are exchangeable between Hanako and Kaede, two popular
Japanese graphic packages.

Release 3J will be the first integrated business graphic software
package for the Japanese market, according to the company. New
features added to the product for the Japanese market include chart
types that are specific to Japan, four types of kanji fonts, and over
200 new Japanese symbols and maps specifically for the Japanese
market. Optional peripherals, such as a mouse, an image scanner,
and a tablet, will be available to operate with the software. The
company expects 30,000 packages to be sold in the first year at
98,000 yen or $700 each.

(Naoyuki Yazawa & Jon Pepper/19890518)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SYD)(00016)

KEYBOARD-SIZED PC
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- Micro Byte Systems, an
Australian computer developer, has released its latest product - a
PC-less PC. The unit is just a keyboard with everything built
inside it. It's a 10MHz XT-compatible based on the NEC V20 CPU
chip.

There is 512 kilobytes of random access memory on board [expandable
to 768 kilobytes] and a single half-card slot and there are parallel, serial,
mouse and joystick ports. The big feature is that the PC has both its BIOS
[basic input-output system] and DOS in read-only memory [ROM]. That means
that the machine can be self booting and truly diskless.

The company originally approached Microsoft for a license to put
MS-DOS into ROM but the company declined. Digital research was
then approached and jumped at the chance to have its DR-DOS
used. "DR-DOS is smaller, more flexible and can be better
integrated with our product, as we found out, anyway!" said Greg
Watson, managing director of Micro Byte.

The unit measures 62 by 290 by 475 mm and weighs just 3.5 kg. In
American units that's 2.4 by 11 by 18 inches and 7.7 pounds.

The company has developed some unusual purchaser incentives. The
full replacement warranty is for three years and the company will
buy the unit back for a guaranteed 70 percent of purchase price
if another of the company's product is being bought as a
replacement. The price is AUS$999 with monochrome monitor and
AUS$1299 with CGA monitor [US$760 and US$990].

(Paul Zucker/19890519/Press contact: fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00017)

APRICOT READIES TITAN LAUNCH
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- Apricot Computers will
launch a range of new machines -- code-named Titan -- at the end of
this month. The machines, which will ship during the third
quarter of 1989, are expected to slot in between Apricot's
existing 'Qi' range of 80286 and 80386-based PCs, and the VX
minicomputer series, badged from Sequent Computers in the U.S.

Jes Dorrell, Apricot's communications manager, remained tight-
lipped on the subject of the Titan series, asking journalists to
wait until the official launch on 31 May. He did reveal, however,
that the Titan series was developed by a team led by Peter Horne,
the managing director of Apricot's systems technology division.

Horne was responsible for the development of the original Apricot
PC series in the early 1980's. He is scheduled to be present at
the launch later this month. Industry sources suggest that the
Titan series will be an advanced server platform, based around a
33MHz 80386-based series of machines running an Apricot version
of Microsoft's LAN Manager software.

(Steve Gold/19890519/Press Contact: Jes Dorrell, Apricot
Computers - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SFO)(00001)

VIDEOTEX INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION MEETS JUNE 19
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 20 (NB) -- The Videotex
Industry Association will hold its annual conference at the Fairmont
Hotel in San Francisco, June 19-21. The event will feature 32 hours
of informational sessions with some 60 speakers in the online
service industry. Exhibitors will include those seeking online distributors,
I}eMA+uoas well as the distributors themselves. Regina O'Hare, the
association's membership director, says conference-goers
will be able to try out thousands of online services for free.

Registration is $545 for members and $745 for non-members
if done before June 16. After that, it will cost $625 for a member to
get in, $825 for a non-member. Information providers get in for
rates under $180 and admission to the displays only is $5.

For more information call 703-522-0915.

(Wendy Woods/19890520)


(EXCLUSIVE)(TELECOM)(SFO)(00002)

SOVIET DATABASE TO COME ONLINE THROUGH TYMNET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- Businesses seeking
information about and partnerships with the Soviets should soon be able
to find it online. SovData, currently in the final stages of development,
is a specialized database accessed through Tymnet nodes, and hosted
by the NWI $2 million VAX system. It is to be devoted exclusively to
those doing business with the Soviet Union, and promises to have a variety
of information online as early as September.

Specifically, readers will be able to access news, general travel
information, the latest financial and investment reports, services
designed to aid joint ventures, a "matching" service where Soviet and
U.S. businesses can come together, and electronic mail and
conferencing directly with their Soviet or U.S. counterparts.

Creator Shiva Vencat of Business Marketing Expert Systems tells
Newsbytes that there is no place one can find the variety of
information he'll offer in one place. He plans to open a bureau in
Moscow where information will be entered online, put the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republic's Directory, and the Tass News Agency
wire online as well.

The proposed cost, however, is steep -- $1,000 for sign-up and $280
per hour online. Vencat figures there are some 1100 firms, seeking to
do or currently doing business with the Soviet Union which are potential
customers, even at this price.

The service will be advertised to members of the U.S./U.S.S.R. Trade
Council, an association set up to promote trade between the two
countries.

(Wendy Woods/19890519/Press Contact: Shiva Vencat, 212-941-8100)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00003)

CONNECTICUT BANS JUNK FAX; CONGRESS CONSIDERS
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 16 (NB) -- Starting
October 1, it will be illegal to send someone an unsolicited fax
message in the state of Connecticut, with violators subject to a
penalty of $200 or the actual damages of their victims, whichever
is greater. Connecticut thus becomes the first state to act on a
"junk fax bill" just a few weeks after Connecticut Republican
Rep. Christopher Shays introduced a junk fax ban in the U.S.
Congress.

Shays' bill, while not a total ban, would require that the junk
fax industry keep lists of people who don't want such messages
and that senders identify themselves and their phone
numbers on each page of a message, leaving themselves open to
counterattack by irate junk fax recipients. Shays' bill is
cosponsored by Rep. Edward L. Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat and
chairman of the House' Energy and Commerce subcommittee on
telecommunications. The House bill, along with a Bell company
deregulation bill, will likely not be acted upon until after
President George Bush appoints three new members to the Federal
Communications Commission, which oversees telephone issues as
well as TV and radio.

Other states considering junk fax bills include California,
Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Florida, Washington, New
Mexico, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890517)


(CORRECTION)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00004)

CORRECTION TO ROB AARON STORY
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- Information broker
and consultant Rob Aaron wants to correct an impression conveyed
in a Newsbytes report on his appearance before the National
Online Meeting. While he acknowledges there's a chance gateways
sponsored by the Regional Bell companies could fail, he thinks
it's more likely they'll achieve at least modest success, and
could totally rearrange the online universe. In tests sponsored
by the Bell companies, new information providers have been
"coming out of the woodwork." Local groups such as newspapers,
hospitals, and arts groups which never considered becoming
information or service providers on a national level are jumping
at the chance to reach local customers through gateways sponsored
by the Bell companies, he said.

Aaron adds that most analysts think the Bell gateways will fail
either because the Bells won't get enough legal authority to do
the job or because they'll do a bad job through bureaucratic
inertia.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890517/Press Contact: Robert S. Aaron, Aaron-
Smith Associates, 404-330-2100)


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

PRODIGY AND SABRE BRIEFLY OFFLINE
TULSA, OKLAHOMA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 12 (NB) -- A software glitch
knocked out Sabre, the huge American Airlines online reservation
system, for 12 hours Friday. Spokesman John Hotard told Newsbytes
it wasn't a hacker or a virus that knocked the system out of
action, but a bug caused by old code running into new, improved
code which corrupted Sabre databases. Sabre's problems on the
Tulsa mainframe were costly, coming as partners American Airlines
and Delta Air Lines were trying to sell pieces of the system to
other airlines at $13 million per share point, and expand it into
car and hotel reservations against tough competition.

Prodigy' glitches were spread out over a number of weeks, and the
causes again were not malicious in nature. But these problems
come just as the IBM-Sears joint venture is swimming upstream
against a tide of derisive reviews from analysts and journalists,
who consider it slow, top-heavy, and needlessly limited. ASCII
files can neither be uploaded nor downloaded through Prodigy, for
example, and only large firms with limited online experience are
being asked to become information or service providers.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890517/Press Contact: American Airlines, John
Hotard, 214-963-1234)


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

IBM SETS NEW CONFERENCING RULES
ARMONK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 8 (NB) -- IBM has launched a
crackdown on users of its internal computer conferencing system
after finding that even people in Blue Suits will become anarchic
if offered the tools of anarchy. Among the new rules: no cussing,
no slurs, no talking about unannounced plans, no talking about
non-business issues, and the use of sarcasm and irony is strongly
discouraged.

Perhaps the most telling new rule is one that the system is intended for
peer-to-peer communications, and not a substitute for official
communications channels. Jumping over hierarchies is one of the
major advantages of conferencing in large organizations, studies
suggest, and the new IBM rules lead some to wonder whether Big
Blue wants conferencing at all.

Essentially, the IBM rules on computer conferencing are identical
to its rules governing other forms of communications, and the
rules guarantee that informal communications among IBM employees
will continue to be done informally, without benefit to or
knowledge by IBM.

Tom Davenport, an associate professor at the Harvard Business
School, told a magazine reporter that the idea of organizational
change from communications systems, which is big among academics
and consultants, just hasn't reached business leaders' heads yet.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890519)


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

VIDEO JUKEBOX SERVICE LAUNCHED
MIAMI, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- A self-programmed
music video service called The Video Jukebox Network has opened
in Philadelphia and Minneapolis, with hopes of going national
over cable. Here's how it works in the 543,000 homes which have
it, as explained to Newsbytes by VGN spokesman John Robson.

"The user calls a local toll line and is connected directly to the
local jukebox. He hears a digitized phone message then makes a
selection with a three-digit code on his touchpad. As he does that,
the number appears on everyone's screen. It costs $2 to select
one video, $5 for 3." The money is divided between the cable
operator and the network, and different programs can be on
each network. Essentially, the cable operator has a jukebox and
an audiotex computer through which viewers pay to program the
service.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890519/Press Contact: John Robson, Video
Jukebox Network Inc., 305-573-6122)


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

MINITEL SOFTWARE GIVEAWAY
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- Via modem, through
the mails and in person, France's Minitel network has launched a
major effort to give its access software to the American public,
in hopes they'll dial in to Minitel and Minitel-compatible
information services. Minitel Services Co., a joint-venture
between France Telecom and the Infonet packet switch network, is
giving away PC-compatible Minitel emulation packages to the press
and trade show visitors for months. U.S. Videotel, which runs
Southwestern Bell's Sourcelink gateway in Houston, has been
giving away the software for a few weeks.

Now Minitel is offering its Teletel software free just for the
time it takes to dial a toll-free number with your computer. Just
call Minitel's toll-free BBS number: 1-800-999-6163. Set your
parameters to 1200-8-N-1, and enter "Minitel" at the login
prompt. Along with the software you'll get a directory of
Minitel services, including listings for the French Aline
service, at no charge.

Similar gateways will be provided in Belgium, Italy, Spain, Germany,
and Finland, by the end of 1989, according to Minitel.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890519/Press Contact: Sarah Stambler,
TechProse 212-222-1713)


(EXCLUSIVE)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00009)

BBS CHALLENGES PC PURSUIT
VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- Virginia
entrepreneur and bulletin board system [BBS] operator Max
McArthur says his Starlink service gives users access to high-quality BBS
systems for less than the cost of PC Pursuit, Minitel or the
Bell gateways.

McArthur's Galaxy Telecom Corp. works by charging individual,
professional bulletin boards an average of $2,000 per year
for a place on a "menu" that users can access at a single keystroke.
From users, he wants $25 up front, a $10 per month service charge,
and $1.50 per hour for off-peak access between 7 PM to 6 AM,
Eastern Time, or on weekends. While BBS system operators can add their
own charges on top of Starlink's charges, as with PC Pursuit boards,
the $1.50 per hour charge includes unlimited use of Galaxy's own BBS,
including its chat system.

McArthur hastens to add he's not affiliated with Tymnet at all.
"We use their facilities but we're not a part of Tymnet. We have
a master account with them, and users use our master account," he
said. His company has published BBS Telecomputing News, an
electronic publication for BBS operators, for three years. He adds
that the charges to BBS' depend on the size of the board. The
service has been around since January, and while he admits it
works like a gateway, he doesn't use the term himself, leery of
being caught in Bell Operating Company definitions of the term
which were created by the U.S. court overseeing the Bell break-
up.

So far, he adds, all the marketing of Starlink has been done
online, through other BBS systems, and insists there are
thousands of professional boards in the U.S. which could join his
system. "Every city in the country has some professionally run
multiline systems. New York City has 35-40 pay systems that do
very well." He predicts both the Bell and Minitel gateways now
being touted will fail because they charge too much to system
operators. International access to Starlink, he adds, will begin
soon.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890517/Press Contact: Max McArthur, Starlink,
modem line 800-321-0156, phone [phone])


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

COMMERCIAL LISTING SERVICE OPENS
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 12 (NB) -- An online
network for the listing of commercial real estate called the Real
Estate Investment Network RSVP DialService has finished technical
trials in Philadelphia and is now available nationwide.

RSVP includes listings on both buyers and sellers, who can control the
depth of inquiries about them through the system. That makes it
radically different from the Multiple Listings Services offered
by real estate brokers, which are a database of ads on properties
open to anyone who wants to buy. The system also matches sources
of debt and equity financing, as well as electronic mail, and
charges users a monthly fee of $375. RSVP is being marketed
through trade groups such as the National Apartment Association, but
regional and international franchisors are also being sought.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890517/Press Contact: Barry Cole, Butcher,
Price & Co., 215-988-9905)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00011)

INET RATE INCREASES APPROVED
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 MAY 12 (NB) -- The Canadian Radio-
television and Telecommunications Commission [CRTC] has given
permission for increased rates to information providers on
iNet2000, Telecom Canada's electronic information service
network. The CRTC gave Telecom approval to increase charges to
information service providers from C$6.60 to C$8.40 per hour in
prime time and from C$4.95 to C$6.00 per hour in off-peak hours.

The application also proposed to add a charge of 30 cents per
minute for access to iNet through toll-free lines. The regulators
cut this charge to 15 cents per minute. The new rates take effect
June 5.

Large Canadian bulletin board systems and other online
information service provide access through iNet as an option for
subscribers not in their local calling areas. Jud Newell, system
operator at Canada Remote, told Newsbytes earlier his board would
pass on the increased charges to iNet subscribers, and added that
others would probably do the same.

(Grant Buckler/19890519/Press Contact: Darell Fowlie, Telecom
Canada, 613-560-3026)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00012)

INFO GLOBE ADDS DATABASES
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- Info Globe, the
electronic publishing division of the Toronto newspaper The Globe
and Mail, has announced a deal with Micromedia of Toronto to
offers several Micromedia databases through the Info Globe
service. The Canadian News Index, Canadian Statistics Index,
Canadian Education Index and Microlog: Canadian Research Index
will be available through Info Globe this summer.

The Canadian News Index indexes seven major Canadian daily
newspapers: The Globe and Mail, the Vancouver Sun, the Calgary
Herald, The Winnipeg Free Press, the Toronto Star, The Gazette in
Montreal and The Chronicle-Herald in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The
Canadian Statistics Index covers statistical data from hundreds
of sources. The Canadian Education Index is a reference to
education-related articles from more than 200 publications as
well as reports and monographs. Microlog is a database of
government publications.

(Grant Buckler/19890519/Press Contact: Phil Faughnan, Info Globe,
416-585-5299; Frank Gagne, Micromedia, 416-593-5211)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00013)

TRACKING SYSTEM FOILS HIJACKERS
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- A hijacked lorry, containing
more than UKP 300,000 worth of cigarettes, was successful
intercepted in North London last week, after police and its
owners had tracked its progress after the hijack with a radio
tracking system.

The radio tracking system - Datatrak - uses twin radio
frequencies to pinpoint a lorry's location on a national basis
within the U.K. The system was jointly developed by Securicor
and the Wimpey Group, and went live late last year. Since then,
several hundred fleet operators use the UKP 10 million network to
keep a close watch on their vehicles, for varying reasons.

The lorry itself was hijacked last Friday on the A40 road in
London. After ejecting the driver, the robbers were unaware that
their progress across London was being monitored automatically by
the Datatrak control centre. As soon as the hijack was reported,
police were quickly able to locate the lorry using a radio-linked
helicopter, and arrest the robbers.

The Datatrak system operates using 11 long wave radio
transmitters which cover the U.K. Lorries linked to the system
plot their position relative to the transmitter, and feed this
information back on Ultra High Frequency [UHF] wavelengths to one
of 80-plus receivers dotted around the U.K.

Information on location, speed and direction is then made
available to vehicle owners, who can dial in to the system and
monitor each vehicle's progress on a monitor, overlaid with a
1/50,000 scale Ordance Survey map. Datatrak is currently used by
more than 300 companies in the U.K.

(Steve Gold/19890519)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00014)

ARIANE TO LAUNCH SATELLITE
PARIS, FRANCE, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- The European Space Agency
[ESA] has secured a major contract with the U.S. government for
the launch of a U.S. telecommunications satellite during 1991.
Two options for later launches have also been reserved, French
officials revealed in Paris last Friday.

The cost of the launch, to be made aboard one of ESA's Ariane
series of space vehicles, has not been revealed. Sources close to
the ESA have suggested a ballpark figure of FFR 300 million
[$46m] is involved. The ESA has announced that the U.S.
government contract pushes the Ariane firm order book to FFR
15,100 million [$2,300m] for the launch of 36 satellites and
similar space projects.

(Steve Gold/19890519)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00015)

BRITISH TELECOM COMPUTERISED ENQUIRIES PLANNED IN U.K.
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- British Telecom [BT] has
announced plans to extend the computerisation of its directory
enquiry [DQ] service in the U.K.The DQ systems are being
computerised at the moment, moving staff over from paper and
microfiche systems to keyboard enquiry positions.

The eventual aim is that DQ operators will still take the enquiry
details from the subscriber, but play the caller a recording of
the number required. This will, say BT chiefs, save time and
money, freeing the staff to deal with other calls more quickly.

In a related story, BT has announced plans to sell computer-
accessible records of its subscriber data. The disks and tapes
will allow major companies instant access to BT's 30-odd million
subscribers, and allow computerised advertising campaigns to get
under way.

To prevent its subscribers being bombarded with computerised ad
campaign calls, as is the case with some U.S. presidential
campaigns, BT is calling for the establishment of a code of
conduct for its information customers. BT currently has 237
third-party firms online to its test DQ computer service.

(Steve Gold/19890519)


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

CT-2 NETWORK IN WEST GERMANY DELAYED
BONN, WEST GERMANY, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- The Deutsches Bundespost
has reluctantly announced unspecified delays on the introduction
of the West German CT-2 cordless phone system. The reason? U.K.
cordless phone manufacturers have reportedly failed to set
shipment dates on the hardware.

CT-2 technology works on the same principal as existing [non-
cellular] cordless phones. The '2' signifies second generation
technology, allowing digital interworking and the ability to use
public phone points. The West German telecommunications authority is
reported to be embarrassed by the delays. It had hoped to
introduce its own CT-2 network in May of 1990. Until the U.K.
hardware manufacturers - Ferranti Creditphone and Shaye
Communications - quote a firm hardware delivery date, Deutsche
Bundespost cannot quote an opening date for its CT-2 network.

The delays could have wide-ranging effects, according to
Communications Week International [CWI], a European telecommunications
publication. CWI asserts that the U.K.'s Department of Trade and
Industry [DTI] is currently campaigning to have the CT-2 standard
adopted all over Europe. The West German hardware supply
embarrassment is hardly a feather in its cap.

In the U.K., some industry analysts are beginning to express
doubts about the potential success of the CT-2 domestic networks,
which were planned for a Spring '89 roll-out. No network has
officially been launched, and even the call tariffs on the system
have not been formally announced. Sources close to British
Telecom, one of the U.K. CT-2 network providers have indicated
that call charges will be 'slightly above' normal pay phone
tariffs, despite the fact that users will be using their own UKP
200-plus portable phones on the network.

(Steve Gold/19890519)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SIN)(00017)

SINGAPORE E-MAIL SYSTEM TO RECEIVE S$3 MILLION UPGRADING
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 5 (NB)-- Singapore Telecom has invested
S$3 million to upgrade its electronic communication system, Telebox,
to allow businesses here a faster and more efficient in-house transfer
of electronic mail by July.

The system has more than 1,200 users, mostly in the government, banks
and multinational corporations. A new message handling system,
operating on a super-minicomputer from Prime Computer and based on the
international CCITT X.400 standard, will allow Telecom to sign up more
subscribers and give users new facilities. These will include the
sending and receiving of telex and facsimile messages, and
transferring of files through PCs.

Mr. Hygin Fernandez, Telebox product manager, said, "With the
upgrading, Singapore's e-mail will be one of the most advanced in the
Southeast Asian region, and comparable to those in the developed
Western countries and Japan today."

(Michael Worsley & S. Roowi/19890509/Press Press Contact: Derek Tan,
PRO, Singapore Telecoms, Ph:[65] 734.3344)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SIN)(00018)

SINGAPORE TELECOM JOINS MTEL FOR PAGERS
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 13 (NB) -- Singapore Telecom [ST] has
taken a S$20 million [US$11 million] stake in U.S.-based Mobile
Telecommunication Technology Corporation [MTEL] through Singapore
Telecom International [STI], its foreign consultancy firm.

A memorandum of understanding documenting the two companies' joint
venture was signed yesterday by STI's Chairman Sung Sio Ma and John
Palmer, chairman of MTEL. The venture is to develop and market MTEL's
international paging system in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mississippi-based MTEL operates the largest nationwide paging
network, Skypaging, which covers more than 100 cities in the U.S. It
also hopes to introduce the system, which operates on a 931-MHz
frequency, to Canada and Mexico within six to nine months.

Singapore, to be the first country in Asia to have an international
paging system, will spend more than S$4 million [US$2.2 million] to
set up the system. Subscribers will be able to purchase the pagers from
ST when the system is ready in 1990. They will then be able to be
paged from Singapore while anywhere in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and
vice versa.

ST Chairman Koh Boon Hwee, also Hewlett-Packard's chief of
Asia-Pacific operations, said that the international paging system
would widen the range of telecommunications services available to
businesses here. This would help not only Singapore's foreign
investors but also local companies to be more internationally
competitive.

In January STI took its first equity stake in a foreign company by
paying Infonet, a company which provides global communication
services, S$6.5 million [US$3.5 million] for a five percent stake.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890516/Press Contact:Derek Tan,
PRO, Singapore Telecoms, Ph:[65] 734.3344)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SIN)(00019)

JAPANESE AIRLINE JOINS ABACUS
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 13 (NB) -- Japan's All Nippon Airways
[ANA], has entered into an agreement to access ABACUS, the Asia-
Pacific computer reservation system [CRS]. [See Newsbytes Issues #304
and 305 for earlier mention of ABACUS].

ANA is thus the first airline to link up to ABACUS, formed by a
consortium of five of the region's airlines, namely, Singapore
Airlines [SIA], Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, Malaysian
Airlines and Philippines Airlines at a cost of S$190 million [US$100
million].

This move will enable users of ANA's able-1 CRS to access the full
range of ABACUS' facilities which will include better and more
accurate information on airline, rental car and tour bookings outside
Japan.

According to the latest issue of Outlook, SIA's monthly publication,
the agreeement to incorporate ANA as an ABACUS partner will be
finalised next month. It quoted an ANA spokesman as saying, "ANA-
ABACUS cooperation is poised to provide an attractive CSR alternative
for the travel agent serving the international travel market in Japan.
We regard this development as synergy in the partnership of some of
Asia's most dynamic carriers."

Tan Chik Quee, ABACUS' vice-president of marketing said that full
ABACUS functionality will be delivered to the Japanese users by
September. He also said that ABACUS and ANA may share resources to set
up an alternative CRS to Japan Airlines' Axess.

(Michael Worsley & S. Roowi/19890516/Press Contact:SIA-Outlook, Ph:[65]
541.4730)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00001)

U OF TEXAS' NEW CHIP-FORMING PROCESS
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- Researchers at the
University of Texas have announced a new process that lowers by
several hundred degrees the temperature at which thin layers of
crystalline silicon, used to form microchips, can be grown.

The low temperature process is expected to lead to the
development of chips that hold significantly more data than
existing chips. These chips should be able to handle the large
amounts of data at supercomputer speeds.

The U.T. project was in conjunction with a team at the Research
Triangle Institute in North Carolina. The new process is called
remote plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition [RPCVD]. The
process will not be on the market for about six months but it
will have significant effect on electronics by the year 2000.
According to EE professor, A.F. Tasch of UT's Microelectronic
Research Center, this breakthrough will lead to electronic
devices so tiny that they will be measured by the number of
atomic layers they contain. One atomic layer is equal to 20
billionths of an inch.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00002)

CD-I DEVELOPMENT WILL IMPACT COMPUTERS
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- Three
consumers electronics giants, Sony, Matsushita and Philips are
joining together to promote the development and marketing of
Compact Disk-Interactive. While the technology is currently
being developed to handle entertainment titles, computers, which
already use CD technology in CD-ROM will benefit from advanced
applications available when CD-I technology is fully developed.

CD-I is a new multi-media product invented by Netherlands-based N.
V. Philips. The technology allows audio, video and text to be
stored simultaneously on a compact disk. According to Gordon
Stulberg, chairman of American Interactive Media, a company that
is currently developing titles for the consumer electronics
applications of CD-I, this technology will be the hottest thing
in consumer electronics in the 1990s.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519/Press Contact: Emiel Petrone, American
Interactive Media, 213/473-4136)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00003)

BIGGER IN TEXAS-BICMOS FROM TI
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- Researchers from Texas
Instruments claim to have developed the world's largest BiCMOS
gate array.

In a paper presented at the Custom Integrated Circuits Conference
in San, Diego, CA, they announced a 100,000 gate array device
designed using TI's leadership submicron BiCMOS process with
features as small as 0.8 micron in length.

BiCMOS, a process used to fabricate semiconductors, is a
combination of bipolar and complementary semiconductor processes.
The process accelerates the performance of a gate array, a device
that combines into one chip the functions of hundreds of logic
chips that are required to transmit and manipulate information
in a system.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519/Press Contact: Sheree Fitzpatrick,
Texas Instruments, 214-997-5470)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(ATL)(00004)

EQUIFAX DIGESTS COMPUTER SCIENCES
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A, 1989 MAY 16 (NB) -- Equifax, one of the
nation's top two credit reporting agencies along with TRW, said
it has completed conversion of all Computer Sciences Corp. credit
files to its own system, which now includes 65 different credit
reporting agencies nationwide. Equifax now holds a single
database with purchasing information on 150 million consumers in
all 50 states and the Caribbean. Using the system, the company
said, over 170 million credit checks will be done this year.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890519/Press Contact: John Ford, Equifax,
404-885-8302)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(ATL)(00005)

FAX PAPER SHORTAGE PREDICTED
NEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 11 (NB) -- International
Resources Development warns there's a looming shortage of fax
paper, caused partly by the rising popularity of fax. The study,
by Leslie Townsend, adds the shortage is made worse by fears over
the long-term viability of the coated paper market. It can cost
$20 million to build a coated paper plant, and analysts expect a
switch to plain-paper fax machines in the early 1990s, under the
Group IV standard. Most fax machines today run under the Group
III standard.

Worse, Townsend says, bad fax paper can damage thermal printing
mechanisms and cause the entire machine to catch on fire as wax
builds up on the print heads.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890519/Press Contact: Elizabeth Hanscom,
International Resources Development, 203-996-2525)


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

TOSHIBA/MOTOROLA EXCHANGE TECHNOLOGY
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- Toshiba and Motorola will
become even closer manufacturing buddies by exchanging their most
advanced technology for the production of four megabit dynamic
random access memory [DRAM] chips. The two firms already coproduce
one megabit DRAMs.

Toshiba has already started volume production of 4-megabit DRAM
chips. The company will soon extend monthly output to one million units
and will supply the technology for mass production to Motorola.
Motorola will then produce the four-megabit DRAM chips in its
U.S. and European factories and also in Tohoku Semiconductor in
Sendai, which Motorola and Toshiba jointly established.

In turn, Toshiba receive next generation microprocessor or reduced
instruction set computer [RISC] microprocessor technology from
Motorola. Thus, Toshiba will be able to develop chips of American
and Japanese parentage, based on the Motorola technology.

(Ken Takahashi/19890518)


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

3.5-INCH FLOPPY LIKE A HARD DRIVE
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 MAY 11 (NB) -- Y.E.Data has developed a 3.5-inch
floppy disk drive [FDD] with the largest memory capacity for
its size, 27.8 megabytes -- an amount which nearly equals the
memory capacity of an average hard disk drive [HDD]. The magnetic
recording material for the disk is metal powder. And the magnetic
head can transfer five megabits of data per second. The new FDD
revolves the disk 1,800 times per minute and at the same time
automatically controls the balance of the disk revolution, achieving
an average access time of 50 milliseconds.

Y.E.Data plans to further improve the recording material density to
develop 42 megabyte and 60 megabyte FDD units.

(Ken Takahashi/19890518)


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

NEC RE-IMPORTS U.S. MEMORY CHIPS
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 MAY 16 (NB) -- NEC is reimporting to Japan
256-kilobyte dynamic random access memory [DRAM] chips which the
company has produced in its Roseville, California factory.
NEC has shipped ten percent of the factory's current monthly output
of five million units to Japan, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

Increasing production at the U.S. factory has met U.S. demand for the
256K chips, so NEC is sending the rest of its output overseas. No other
Japanese firm has ever reimported semiconductor chips from the U.S.

Excessive export of Japanese-made memory chips to the U.S. had
been being discussed as one of the causes of U.S.-Japan semiconductor
trade friction, so NEC's reimportation is clearly an effort to
improve the U.S.-Japan trade imbalance.

Hitachi, Mitsubishi Electric, and Fujitsu are rushing to be ready
for full-scale production of memory chips in the U.S., so some industry
analysts foresee that more and more U.S. -made memory chips will
be exported.

(Ken Takahashi/19890518)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00009)

4-MEG DRAM PRICES PLUMMET
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- Prices for the most advanced
semiconductor memories available, four-megabit dynamic random
access memory [DRAM] chips, have been cut to 30,000 yen or
$215 per unit -- one third what they were six months ago. When Japan's
major chip makers Toshiba, Hitachi, NEC, Mitsubishi Electric, and
Fujitsu started shipping their commercial samples last fall, the price
was near 100,000 yen or $715. Hitachi has the lowest price -- 20,000
yen or $140.

Though each Japanese chip maker is currently in test production
with monthly output of 20,000 to 30,000 units, they are now
scheduled to establish volume production with monthly output of 200,000
to 300,000 units this fall. The rapid decline in price has prompted
some analysts to predict that four-megabit DRAM prices will be
under 10,000 yen or $70 by the end of the year.

(Ken Takahashi/19890518)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00010)

COLOR LCDS HIGHLIGHT LAPTOPS
TOKYO, JAPAN 1989 MAY 16 (NB) -- Despite the lack of "news" at
the International Business Show '89, being held now in Tokyo, crowds
are coming to get first-hand looks at products which have already
been announced, especially the new color liquid crystal displays.

Epson and Hitachi announced that they have successfully developed
a color liquid crystal display [LCD] , and at the show, NEC and Sharp
had color LCD units available with their 32-bit laptop computers.

NEC's, in all other respects similar to its 32-bit laptop computer,
the PC-9801LS, has a color liquid crystal screen with cathode ray
tube [CRT]-like quality.

Sharp unveiled its color LCD units on a so-called "portable
personal workstation," which is said to be available in sample
quantities. The model comes with a 14-inch color LCD and measures
15-inches wide [385 mm] by 7 inches deep [180 mm] by 15 inches
in height [385 mm]. The weight is about 10 kilograms, or a hefty
22 pounds. The machine has half the footprint of an average
desktop unit, and is armed with a 20 megahertz 80386 central
processor.

Sharp says the unit will be sold overseas as an IBM-compatible.
It will be sold here as an AX machine. Shipment is slated for the
fall. The company says it will develop smaller, 10 and 11 inch LCDs
that will fit onto its 32-bit laptops.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890518)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SYD)(00011)

MODEM CONTROLS BILLBOARDS
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- Sydney-based electronic
billboard company Display Systems Technology has discovered
another use for leading edge computer technology. The company now
controls a number of billboards around the country by remote
control using TrailBlazer modems and dial-up phone lines.

Now it's not every day that you hear of a billboard with its own
phone but these boards can be updated at any time with a simple
phone call. The TrailBlazer is known for being the fastest data
modem available for PCs and dial-up communication, capable of
speeds of almost 20,000 bits per second.

(Paul Zucker/19890519)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SIN)(00012)

ELECTRONICS VS. BANKING LAW
SINGAPORE, S. E. ASIA, 1989 MAY 11 (NB) -- A banking law expert,
Professor E P Ellinger from the Law Faculty of the National University
of Singapore [NUS], said that the electronic revolution and the
emergence of multinational banks have created new problems in modern
banking law.

Professsor Ellinger, speaking at a talk organised by the Singapore
Academy of Law, said that the changing face of banking and the
developments in the industry's related technology have given rise to
new problems affecting both litigation and documentation.

He defined electronic banking as the use of electronic messages in
money transfer and forex transactions. He said that in the absence of
the traditional documents covering transactions, cases of fraud are
difficult to sort out. Lawyers have to fall back on grounds such as
negligence or breach of duty in actions against banks.

Professor Ellinger, who has been lecturing at NUS since 1986 and has
written several books on banking law, said that the emergence of
multinational banks had started a set of very different problems.

He said, "In particular, these problems manifest themselves in
disputes over jurisdiction resulting from the making of extra
territorial orders by administrative authorities and by courts. Banks
are often caught between the anvil of obeying the foreign order or the
peril of proceedings at home and disobeying it at the risk of contempt
proceedings in the country of issue."

According to him, bank documentation, too, has been affected by the
two developments. The existence of modern facilities for drafting has
made it posssible for law firms to pool resources. However, he warned,
"The fact is that, in the present era, documentation has become
stereo-typed to a surprising extent. Unfortunately, though, virtually
each transaction has some individual or even unique features which are
not easily accommodated by tinkering with unsuitable precedents."

(Michael Worsley & S. Roowi/19890515/Press Contact: Faculty of Law,
National University of Singapore,Ph:[65] 772.6666)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(SFO)(00001)

SUN DROPS PRICES, IMPROVES LANS
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- Sun Microsystems
has lowered the price of its Sun386i workstation while enhancing its
features. Prices are down 10 to 15 percent; prices now start at $8,990.
New features include faster performance for the mouse, DOS
keyboard and screen. In addition, Sun has announced that it has
added PC local area network [LAN] support to the Unix and DOS
workstation. The Sun386i now can be linked to more than 60 percent
of existing PC networks, including Nevell's NetWare and 3Com's
3+ LANs.

(Wendy Woods/19890520/Press Contact: John Loiacono, 415-336-6424)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(SFO)(00002)

TELEVIDEO CUTS PC PRICES 22%
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 16 (NB) -- Crediting the recent
drop in the cost of dynamic random access memory chips, Televideo
has slashed the prices of its 386/16 family of personal computers.

Effective immediately, the cuts bring the price of the firm's TelOAS IIIZ
Model NHZ, to $3,000 while the Model 4OZ is $3,500.

The TelOAS series supports most popular operating systems,
including MS-DOS, OS/2, Unix System V.3, NetWare and SCO Xenix.

(Wendy Woods/19890520/Press Contact: John DiMatteo, 408-8333 x 444)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(LAX)(00003)

SOLBOURNE COMPUTER UNVEILS SUN-COMPATIBLES
LONGMONT, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- Solbourne Computers has
taken the wraps off a new line of Sun-compatible products including
new multiple server models and expanded storage for the company's
existing servers.

The company has added new features to both its workstations and
servers. At the same time, Solbourne has reduced prices on its
series 4/600 deskside models and on peripheral products for the
entire line.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890519/Press Contacts: Brian Doyle, Solbourne
Computers, 303-678-4303 and Ellen Vineski, Solbourne Computers,
303-678-4739)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(ATL)(00004)

CRAY SPLITS TO REDUCE RISK
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 15 (NB) -- The stock
market reacted negatively to a move by Cray Research Inc., the
world's largest maker of supercomputers, to reduce risk by
spinning out its development under founder Seymour Cray into a
separate company, Cray Computer Corp., in Colorado Springs.

Cray Research Inc. will focus on its current product lines, the Cray
X-MP EA, Cray-2, and Cray Y-MP, and on completion of the C-90
project, a follow-on to the Cray Y-MP that is under development
in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.

Cray Research said it would distribute 90 percent of the new venture's
shares to current Cray shareholders on a tax-free basis, subject
to receipt of a favorable tax ruling from the Internal Revenue
Service; a fairness opinion from investment banker Morgan Stanley
& Co., and finalization of other paperwork. Cray Research will
give Cray Computer about $50 million in facilities, equipment and
inventories, roughly five percent of its assets, as well as $100 million in
operating funds spread over two years. The two companies also
will enter into cross-licensing and technology transfer
agreements involving both hardware and software.

Cray Research also signed a reseller agreement with Control
Data, which closed its ETA Systems supercomputer operation a few
weeks ago. These two events coming back-to-back, observers have
suggested, could spell the eventual death of America's supercomputer
industry, and a takeover by Japanese makers such as NEC, Hitachi
and Fujitsu, unless Cray or former associate Steve Chen of
Supercomputer Systems in Eau Claire, Wisconsin can come up with
a major breakthrough.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890519/Press Contact: Robert Gaertner,
Cray Research, 612-333-5889)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(BOS)(00005)

DEC, ACCESS GRAPHICS SIGN PACT
MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 18 (NB) -- Digital
Equipment Corp. and Access Graphics Technology of Boulder, Co.,
announced signing a major distribution agreement. The agreement
names Access as a National Authorized Distributor of DEC's
workstation products into the graphics and computer-aided design
and engineering, CAD/CAE, reseller markets in the United States.

This agreement marks the first time that DEC will use a vertically
focused distributor to serve resellers in the engineering markets.
Unlike most of DEC's existing distributors, Access sells exclusively
through resellers.

ACCESS plans to offer a line of powerful desktop graphics
workstations to users, including the DECstation 3100, VAXstation
2000, and VAXstation 3520 and 3540 products, as well as software,
training, and education to the resellers.

(Jon Pepper/19890519/Press Contact: Patrick Ward, 212-643-8980)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(BOS)(00006)

NEW NETWORK SOFTWARE FIRM
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- A new
software development company, Transarc Corp., has been announced
by its president, Alfred Spector, formerly the director of
the Information Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon University.

Transarc will specialize in systems software for local and wide area
networks of distributed computers, according to Spector.
Headquarters will be at the Gulf Tower in Pittsburgh.

Transarc's products will enable a wide range of organizations that
use networks, like banks, aerospace companies, and universities, to
share their data and resources, even among geographically disparate
locations.

The company's initial products will focus on Unix-based systems,
including IBM's Advanced Interactive Executive [AIX] operating
system.

IBM, which has a number of support arrangements with Carnegie
Mellon, will have significant equity in Transarc.

(Jon Pepper/19890519/Press Contact: Philip Lehman, Transarc, 412-
338-4400)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(BOS)(00007)

MAC-VAX STANDARD ANNOUNCED
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- Datability, a
leader in PC to VAX communication software and hardware, has
announced MacRAF, a Mac to VAX integration software package.

MacRAF enables Apple users to access and use the processing power
of a remote VAX without having to know any VAX commands. The
product will offer file service, print service, and automatic log-on to
Mac users, similar to the facilities that Datability's RAF offers to PC
users.

MacRAF consists of a Mac software module and a VAX software
module. Pricing is set as $295 per Mac on the Mac side, and $395
per Mac user per host on the VAX side. Unlimited host licenses are
available.

(Jon Pepper/19890519/Press Contact: Datability, 212-807-7800)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(BOS)(00008)

FOUR NEW OSI MEMBERS
BERNARDSVILLE, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 16 (NB) -- OSI/Network
Management Forum has announced the addition of four
new associate members, bringing the total membership up to 63
telecommunications and computer companies.

New members are: McDonnell-Douglas Network Systems Col, Stratus
Computer Inc., Teknekron Communications Systems, Inc., and
Ungermann-Bass, Inc.

The OSI/Network Management Forum was formed last July, and
includes such voting members as AT&T, MCI, Hewlett-Packard, and
Unisys. The Forum is an open consortium of information network
equipment vendors, service providers and users worldwide.

Its stated goal is to speed the use of international standards for the
interconnection of network management systems.

(Jon Pepper/19890519/Press Contact: Leighs Church, OSI, 408-746-
6890)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TYO)(00009)

CANON TO SELL NEXT COMPUTERS IN JAPAN
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 MAY 18 (NB) -- Reports say
Canon will import and sell Next computers in Japan. The Nihon
Keizai Shimbun says Canon will begin shipments this summer and
has set the price of the new machine at around two million yen
or $14,285.

Canon is the Japanese sales agent for Apple Computer, but it has
also established relations with Next of the U.S. through the supply of
optical disk units. Any potential rivalries between the two firms,
however, should be avoided by different marketing tactics,
according to the report. Canon will sell the Next workstations to
universities and laboratories for computer-aided instruction and
research work.

Canon will organize its own sales team for the Next machines,
according to the newspaper.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890518)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TYO)(00010)

SONY DEVELOPS SUPER-FAST RISC WORKSTATION
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 MAY 17 (NB) -- Sony has broken the workstation
speed barrier with a new RISC, or reduced instruction set computer
workstation called RISC NEWS. A high-end version of Sony's
NEWS series workstations adopts a 20-megahertz R3000 RISC chip
developed by MIPS Computer Systems in the U.S. The speed is 20 million
instructions per second [MIPS], much faster than the high-end model of
Sun Microsystems' SPARCstations, capable of 16 MIPS, and Digital
Equipment's DECstation3100, with 14 MIPS. The RISC NEWS has a
16-megabyte main memory expandable to 32-megabytes, and a 68030
microprocessor.

The new NEWS workstation runs the NEWS operating system, which is
based on both the Unix 4.3 Berkeley version and X Window System.
Sony has not announced a price or ship date for the RISC
workstation.

Also, Sony has developed peripheral units which meet the
high-performance of the RISC NEWS, such as an audio interface kit
capable of recording, editing and transcribing voices, and an
adaptive differential pulse code modulation [ADPCM] audio real-time
encoding board which ensures lengthy recordings of audio data,
through a technique involving data compression.

(Ken Takahashi/19890518)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TYO)(00011)

NEWS WORKSTATIONS RUN MS-DOS WITH XDOS
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 MAY 12 (NB) -- Sony has started selling XDOS
software in the U.S. which enables its Unix-based NEWS and popNEWS
workstations to run MS-DOS applications. The XDOS allows
MS-DOS software to run under the Unix operating system, in a way
such that it mimics the multitasking and multiwindow capabilities
of Unix.

XDOS is an original product of Hunter Systems in California,
U.S., from which Sony has obtained a worldwide distribution
license for its NEWS and popNEWS workstations. A Japanese version
of XDOS, meanwhile, is expected to be available sometime this year.

(Ken Takahashi/19890518)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TYO)(00012)

OKI TO SELL SUN WORKSTATIONS UNDER ITS BRAND NAME
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 MAY 16 (NB) -- Oki Electric Industries will
receive engineering workstations from Sun Microsystems on an
original equipment manufacturing basis. Under the brand name OKITAK S,
Oki will sell the S3 series, which are equipped with a Motorola 68030
microprocessor. They currently retail for a base price of 1.25 million
yen or $9,000, and the S4 series, with reduced instruction set computer
[RISC] technology, costs 1.87 million yen or $13,300. The data processing
capability ranges from seven to 16 million instructions per second [MIPS]. The
OKITAK series run Sun's original Unix operating system which
includes the features of System V and Unix Berkeley Software
Distribution version.

Meanwhile, Sun workstations will come with four-megabit dynamic
random access memory [DRAM] chips made by Oki, and Oki plans to
begin volume production of these powerful memory units at the newly
established semiconductor production factory in Miyagi prefecture.
To start, Oki will produce 20,000 to 30,000 units per month, which the
company expects to expand to 100,000 units per month within this year.

(Ken Takahashi/19890518)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TYO)(00013)

FUJI XEROX INTEGRATES SUN WORKSTATIONS
TOKYO, JAPAN 1989 MAY 12 (NB) -- Fuji Xerox will buy Sun
workstations and resell them along with its own J-Star document
processing system, thereby enabling the Sun workstations to
mass process documents.

The company plans to offer ability to read drawings from Sun's
workstation into its J-Star, to combine files, or use Sun's workstation
as mass-processor in the network.

The joint venture of both companies, dubbed Unisol, will also
develop applications that will run on both machines and port
existing software to the combined systems.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890518)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TOR)(00014)

UNIX, DTP SHOWS SHARE TORONTO STAGE
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 MAY 19 (NB) -- Canada's second
annual Multi-User Computer Show combined Unix '89 and the
desktop-publishing-oriented Comgraph '89 at the Metro Toronto
Convention Centre May 17-19. About 250 exhibitors and an
estimated 14,000 visitors made the show larger and livelier than
last year's version.

Toronto-based HCR Corp. used the occasion to launch a nationwide
value-added reseller program in Canada. The company said its
MultiVAR program will provide products, support and technical
service to some 600 Canadian resellers. A similar program will
start in the United States in the third quarter, the company
added. HCR also announced a self-paced Unix training course
called InterTRAIN.

Choreo Systems of Ottawa gave the first Canadian demonstration of
the Open Desktop from Santa Cruz Operation. Choreo will sell and
service the integrated software product for desktop Unix systems
in Canada.

On the desktop publishing side, Toronto-based software vendor
Delrina Technology showed Version 2.0, its forms processing
software for MS-DOS machines. New features include additional
form creation and form fill capabilities, including support for
Postscript fonts, circles bar codes, picas and points, line art,
text import and dBASE file lookup, import and export. An undo
feature and online help have also been added.

(Grant Buckler/19890519/Press Contact: Brian Eisenberg, HCR, 416-
922-1937; John Lugsden, Choreo, 613-238-1050; Martin Herzog,
Delrina, 416-423-0456)