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/nb890808

Text File | 1991-10-02 | 139KB | 3,373 lines

(EXCLUSIVE)(APPLE)(SYD)(00001)

AUS: TIMBUKTU GOES OUTBACK
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- The Queensland state government
has adopted Timbuktu/Remote, a long-distance Macintosh screen sharing
application distributed by NetComm Australia from U.S.-based
Farallon Computing, to link students living in remote areas Down
Under. The object of the project, which also has the involvement of
Apple's Australian operation, is to offer a greater range of subjects
to students where there are limited teaching resources. The project
involves two schools on the Gold Coast and three schools in the
remote Northern region.

Greg O'Grady of the Queensland Dept of Education said, "This project
is unique because it allows interactive communication between the
teacher and students. Up to now, other remote teaching programs have
been based on faxing material to students or sending material via a
modem. So far we've applied it to teaching Japanese and German and it
has been working extremely effectively."

Through dial-up modems, a guest can operate a host computer
interactively at any distance over telephone lines. Timbuktu/Remote is
a flexible application that works on Macintoshes with varied
applications and systems software.

Tom Reilly of Farallon tells Newsbytes, "A teacher can work individually
with the students even if they're 2000 miles away. The Mac has
a built-in remote gesturing device -- the mouse -- and the teacher
can use it as if pointing to a piece of paper. We have audio and
visual, but we still need the richest data channel -- the person's
face. But we're working on that!"

"Farallon has identified remote education as one of the most interesting
new opportunities presented by Timbuktu software. There's an
incredible need in Canada and Australia, and rural areas of the U.S.
like Utah and Kentucky to bring scarce resources -- teachers -- to these
remote areas."

(Gavin Atkins & Wendy Woods/19890801)


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

FARALLON TAKES MODEM TO TIMBUKTU
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- Ever wish you could
talk to your Macintosh back home but don't have it configured as
an online terminal? Farallon has come up with all the tools to do
it in a package called Timbuktu/Remote Access Pack.

Consisting of Timbuktu/Remote access software, a 9600-baud
V.32 modem, and a Macintosh-to-modem Remote/WakeUp cable,
the package, $1,295, will be available in September.

Farallon says the connections allow Macintosh users to view and
operate each other's computers over a variety of connections: dial-up
lines, ISDN links, digital PBX data lines, or serial connections.
Users in two different cities can work together on any Macintosh
document by sharing control of the mouse. Timbuktu/Remote also
features a "chat window" for exchanging messages and has a file
transfer utility for exchanging files.

Remote/WakeUp is a cable that connects between the modem, the
Macintosh modem port, and the Apple Desktop Bus (ADB). The cable
can start up any Macintosh with an ADB turn-on feature (Macintosh
II, IIx, or IIcx). With the cable you can turn on your Mac from a remote
location, then operate it with the Timbuktu/Remote software
from another Macintosh.

Farallon foresees a whole new range of uses for dial-up data
communications. For instance, one could access an office computer
from home or a hotel room, or it could allow people to collaborate
over long distances. The product is already in use in the Australian
outback to link schools.

The Remote/WakeUp cable will be available separately for $50, as
will the Timbuktu/Remote software for $295. The software will
work with slower-speed modems.

(Wendy Woods/19890802/Press Contact: Wendy Keough, 415-849-
2331)


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

APPLE WINS POSTAL CONTRACT
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- Apple Computer's years
of networking through its Federal Systems Group in Washington, the
nation's capital, has finally paid off. Apple Computer has won
a contract to supply the U.S. Postal Service with an estimated
$30.2 million worth of computers, peripherals, software, support, and
services, over the next five years. Some 25 subcontractors
providing third party products are also involved in the bid award.

Apple will supply IIx systems as part of the Microcomputer Acquisition
for the Postal Service (MAPS) procurement. The computers will be used
in a variety of departments, including information processing and host
terminal emulation, and stand-alone applications.

The MAPS contract will be used on an as-needed basis, meaning that the
Postal Service is not committed to buying a specific number of systems.
Known as a requirements contract, the legal agreement also exempts the
Postal Service from spending a specific dollar amount on new systems.

Apple's Federal Systems Group is headquartered in Reston, Virginia.
Apple's bidding partner on this deal was Falcon Microsystems of Landover,
Maryland, an authorized federal government reseller.

(Wendy Woods/19890803)


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

RIVAL PORTABLE MACINTOSH FROM WALLABY
BOULDER, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 3 (NB) -- Wallaby Systems promises
to ship a Macintosh-compatible laptop in November that will be far
cheaper than Apple's laptop, which is expected to be unveiled in
September.

The Wallaby Laptop System will be a fully functioning Macintosh
in a portable case, only missing the ROM (read-only memory) chips
which a user must obtain from an SE or a Plus and place on the
Wallaby motherboard. The $2,995 machine will come with one megabyte
of memory, a 3.2-inch floppy drive and a back-lit liquid crystal display.
There is a battery good for three hours of operation, and other features.

The company expects to be legally in the clear, immune from Apple
copyright infringement, since it's advertising its product as an "add-on"
for the Macintosh.

There are no firm plans to distribute the computer abroad at this time.

Mike Higgins, Wallaby's marketing manager, tells Newsbytes that a Macintosh
SE/30 version, based on the 68030 microprocessor, will be available
later in 1990.

(Wendy Woods/19890803/Press Contact: Wallaby Systems, 303-444-4606)


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

MICROSOFT CD-ROM MAC PROGRAMS
MILLBRAE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- Microsoft is providing
Macintosh owners a reason to buy a CD-ROM drive for work, rather than
fun -- the company has put its four biggest Macintosh business software
programs on one disk and has called it The Macintosh Office. This is the
first general business software for Macintosh systems to be made
available on CD-ROM disk.

On-board The Macintosh Office, which ships in September, are Microsoft
Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Microsoft Mail. Also included are a variety
of third-party offerings, including the U.S. and European versions of
the thesaurus program WordFinder and the search-and-retrieval program
Gofer, both from Microlytics. Also on the single disk Microsoft has
DocuComp, a document comparison program from Advanced Systems;
MacDaisy Link for expanded printing; Excel templates from Heizer
Software; "What's Best?" a linear programming program; Clip Art
from GEnigraphics, T/Maker and Multi-Ad services; SuperPaint
from Silicon Beach Software, and GeoQuery from Odesta, an
interactive map interface to sales and marketing data.

The product runs on a Macintosh with at least two megabytes of
memory running System 6.02 or higher and HyperCard 1.2.2 or
higher.

The price is $949 -- a bargain compared to the price of all the
products if purchased separately.

(Wendy Woods/19890802)


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

MAC SE PRICE CUT/SUPERDRIVE STANDARD
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- Apple Computer
has slashed the price of the Motorola 68000-based Macintosh SE
by $300 in the U.S., and has decided to make the FDHD SuperDrive
standard in all Macintosh models.

Apple's decision to drop the price of its most popular Macintosh
comes in lieu of an expected September unveiling of new models,
a portable Mac and a powerful upgraded IIcx. The price of a SE
with two FDHD SuperDrives is now $2,869 for the one megabyte
version, $3,469 for the version with a 20 megabyte hard disk and
$4,069 for the two megabyte version with a 40 megabyte internal
hard disk.

The SuperDrive allows greater 3.5-inch floppy disk storage -- 1.4
megabytes of data compared to the previously standard Macintosh
800K-byte floppy storage. With the use of a file transfer utility,
the drive will also read and write MS-DOS or ProDOS format.
It also reads 800K-byte and 400K-byte floppy disks.

An upgrade to a FDHD SuperDrive will be available to current SE
owners this fall.

(Wendy Woods/19890802)


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

TOPS APPLETALKS ON MICRO CHANNEL
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- The TOPS Division
of Sun Microsystems has a bunch of new networking products designed
to link up mail systems, as well as Macintosh and Micro Channel
Architecture-based PS/2 model computers.

TOPS has announced FlashCard/MC, a network interface card for
PS/2s and compatibles that allows them to communicate on an
AppleTalk network of Macintoshes at a speed three times faster than
the Macintoshes -- 770 kilobits per second. TOPS says this alternative
is easier to install and cheaper than comparable Ethernet or Token
Ring connections.

TOPS has also unveiled a way Macintosh and PC users with TOPS'
InBox electronic mail package can also talk to users of Unix
systems and PROFS, IBM's mainframe-based electronic mail system
found in many corporate installations. The way is software
called a "gateway" called SMTP for simple mail transfer protocol,
which will create the link to Unix systems . The gateway to the
IBM systems is under development in an agreement with Soft-Switch,
Inc. The gateways are still vaporware, but are promised for a
fourth quarter, 1989 delivery.

(Wendy Woods/19890802)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00008)

CLARIS UPDATES SMARTFORM
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- The Apple
software spin-off Claris Corporation is offering the first update to
SmartForm Designer and SmartForm Assistant since the product's
introduction earlier this year.

Version 1.1 of the Assistant offers such new features as the ability
to gorup form sets into a file. Users can then perform database-
like searches within a form set, such as "find all forms completed
between January 1 and January 31." Users can also export entire form
sets to SYLK, DIF, DBF and WKS formats in order to use them in
programs such as FileMaker, Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, or dBASE.

The new version of Smartform Designer, 1.1, $399, allows users
to designate entry fields in an electronic form to be filled
with pictures, instead of words or numbers. There is also more
flexibility in drawing effects, based on support of Encapsulated
Postscript (EPS).

Claris says its products are in use at Blue Cross and Blue Shield in
Washington, D.C., where some 3,000 forms have been created and
updated using SmartForm Designer. 8,000 forms have been created
by 3M Company's in-house forms management department,
according to Claris.

(Wendy Woods/19890731)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(WAS)(00009)

NEW MACMAINFRAME SOFTWARE
HOPKINTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- At the
upcoming Macworld Expo in Boston, Avatar Corporation will
introduce two new software packages for its MacMainFrame (MMF)
software series. One program, MMF 3287, provides printer
emulation support and macro key facilities.

MacMainFrame, as the name implies, is a product that allows
Macintosh computers to communicate with mainframe computers,
specifically providing both hardware and software support for IBM
3278 and 3279 terminal emulation.

One feature of the 3287 printer emulation program is the ability
for mainframe users to route print jobs through the Macintosh to
a Mac printer, especially an Apple Laserwriter printer, which is
far less expensive than a dedicated mainframe printer.

Avatar has also reached a joint marketing agreement for its
MacMainFrame product series with San Mateo, California-based
Mariette Systems International.

Product information is available in the U.S. by calling Avatar at
1-800-289-2526.

(John McCormick/19890801/Press Contact: Heidi A. Palmer,
508-435-3000, ext. 362)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00010)

ACCTNG PROGRAM FOR ADMEN
SAN LUIS REY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- Working
Computer has released an updated version of its Macintosh
Clients and Profits accounting program for advertising agencies.

Clients and Profits 4 includes enhanced financial accounting,
custom invoices, estimates and purchase orders, and multiuser
support for Ethernet and Netware users. The program is now
compatible with MultiFinder.

The program lets three users work simultaneously over any AppleTalk
network. The number of potential users is limited by system
memory. The program requires a Mac Plus or higher with 1 MByte
of memory, a hard disk drive and an ImageWriter or LaserWriter
printer.

The price is $3795. Additional workstations cost $295. The
single user version is priced at $2495.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890804/Press Contact: Working Computer, 619-
721-0501)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(BRU)(00011)

RASTER OPS 24-BIT COLOUR BOARD
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 02 (NB) -- Raster Ops has
released a 24-bit colour graphics board for the Apple Macintosh
II. A version of the board, which costs $1,295 for the Mac II, is
also available at $1,495 for the Mac SE/30 series. The card is
the first 24-bit graphics product for the SE/30.

In use on the Mac, the board can display either 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24
bit colours on a 13-inch monitor at resolutions ranging from 640
x 480 pixels upwards.

Classified as a Class B-emitting device by the FCC, the board can
be used within office or residential environments. The board uses
the Raster Ops 264 chip set, developed by the company, and which
replaces up to 30 integrated circuits. According to Raster Ops,
"What Chips and Technologies did for the IBM PC with its invention of
the VGA chip set, we have done for the Apple Mac."

(Peter Vekinis/19890802)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LON)(00012)

APPLE TALKS TO IBM IN ARABIC & HEBREW
STOCKLEY PARK, ENGLAND, 1989 AUG 02 (NB) -- Apple Computer
Europe's Africa, Mediterranean and Middle East division has
contracted with Avatar Corporation in the U.S. for the development
of a Mac-to-mainframe series of software for use in Arabic and
Hebrew-speaking countries. Announcing the deal last week, Avatar
said the Mac-Mainframe series will be the first products to allow
Macintosh-to-IBM mainframe communications in those languages.

Converting existing applications software into Arabic and Hebrew
is not be as simple as it sounds. This is because these languages are
written and read right to left, and use a completely different
alphabet than that used by Western languages.

MacMainFrame will be available in Hebrew in the fourth quarter of
this year, with the Arabic version following in the first quarter of
1990. Pricing on the packages has yet to be decided.

(Steve Gold/19890802)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(TYO)(00013)

JAPAN: MACS FOR ELDERS
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- One of the members of Mitsui group
of companies, tank gun manufacturer Japan Steel Works, has become
one of 17 authorized dealer for Apple Computer Japan, and is designing
Apple-based systems that will primarily be used by senior citizens.

For the past five years, Japan Steel Works has been developing
computer-aided design and artificial intelligence software for the NEC
PC-9801 series computers. Its current project is to build a network
for high-level managers -- a group which is primarily elderly in Japan.
Elders normally occupy the highest positions of power here due to
the amount of time it takes to climb the corporate ladder. Consequently
these are people who generally are not computer-literate nor have
even typed on a typewriter.

The choice of the Macintosh was due to its simple operation. "We have
 decided to introduce Macintosh for the network terminal because
of the excellent man-machine interface.  And keyboard operation
is not necessary with mouse control," says a Japan Steel Works
spokesman.

Japan Steel Works says the network will be used by the Mitsui group and
its large business clients, and the Japanese Defense Agency. Both
markets will be new for the Apple Computer Japan.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890803/Press Contact: Japan Steel Works, 03-501-6168)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(TOR)(00014)

NEWBRIDGE MAC ACCELERATORS
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- Newbridge
Microsystems, a division of Newbridge Networks, has announced the
Ultramax family of Macintosh enhancement products. The line
consists of the Ultramax 68030 series of accelerator products,
the Ultramax memory upgrade series and Ultramax hard disk drives.
All are available immediately.

Lincoln Henthorn, general manager of Newbridge's Data Products
Division, said the accelerator and memory upgrades fit over the
68000 processor in early Macintoshes, using soldered pins or a
special CPU clip.

The 68030 accelerator series includes a 16-MHz version priced at
C$1,495, a 25-MHz version at C$1,995, and a 33-MHz version with
extendable high-speed memory cache for C$6,195. A cache extender
for the 33-MHz version costs C$1,995, and a math coprocessor
costs C$800. The base price for a memory upgrade board with a
SCSI port is C$495. A version incorporating a video adapter that
supports a multiscan monochrome monitor at resolutions up to
1,024-by-1,024 costs C$895. Newbridge's hard disk drives, which
come with a SCSI interface and can thus be used with IBM PCs and
compatibles with a SCSI adapter, range from an C$895 30-megabyte
unit to a 180-megabyte drive for C$1,995.

Henthorn said the company is selling its products predominantly
in Canada at the moment, but added that Newbridge will be
promoting the accelerator and memory enhancement cards at the
Boston MacWorld show this week. He said optical disk drives and
color display cards will be offered in the future.

(Grant Buckler/19890801/Press Contact: Lincoln Henthorn,
Newbridge Microsystems, 613-836-1073)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(TOR)(00015)

APPLE CANADA COVERS DRIVES
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 AUGUST 3 (NB) -- Apple Canada has
said it will replace 40-megabyte 3.5-inch hard disk drives in a
group with a "slightly higher than normal" failure rate. The
drives, with serial numbers from 335507 to 1023016, may refuse to
start up properly, Apple said. Failure usually occurs in the
first few months of use, and thus is covered under Apple Canada's
AppleCare Warranty Program. Apple is telling dealers to replace
the drives and return them to the company.

When the problem occurs, the usual whine of the drive booting up
is missing and the CPU does not recognize the drive's existence.
"In most cases," Apple said in an announcement in its vendor
information area on the Computing Canada On-Line bulletin board,
"it is possible to restart the drive, and therefore data loss
does not occur."

(Grant Buckler/19890803/Press Contact: Dan Wojdylo, Apple Canada,
416-477-5800)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00001)

AT&T ANNOUNCES RECORD PROFITS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 02 (NB) -- AT&T earned
record profits of $699 million, or 65 cents a share, for its second
quarter of 1989 -- up 18 percent from same period in 1988.
Revenues, meanwhile, rose to $9,200 million -- a 5.1 percent rise
from $8,8 million in 1988. For the full six months, net income
was $1,293 million, or $1.20 per share, on revenues of $17,900
million. This represents an increase of 5 percent over 1988.

AT&T Chairman Robert E. Allen said: "It was an excellent
quarter with revenues and profits reaching record levels. And we
are making definite progress towards our objective of achieving
business growth in tandem with expense control."

AT&T has enjoyed considerable success lately with the introduction
of its PRO WATS promotion and hopes to attract even more
customers now that its international 800 service, a toll-free line
intended to offer international users free access to US telephone
numbers, is available.

(Peter Vekinis/19890802)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00002)

TRANSLATION FIRM FOR IBM JAPAN
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- IBM Japan has established
a translation company, ITAS (International Translations And Services
Co., Ltd.) to be operated by its retired employees aged 55 and older.

The translation company will open for business on 18th September,
backed six million yen or $42,850 of capital, which will be shared
35 percent by IBM Japan and 65 percent by the retired employees.

The major business of ITAS will be translation of manuals and
other technical documents into Japanese with the English-Japanese
translation system called Shalt, developed by IBM Japan to increase
productivity.

IBM Japan, like other Japanese firms, sets retirement age at between
55 and 60. The new company has set retirement at the age of 65.

There are only 450 over-55-year-old employees among the 23,000
employed by IBM Japan. But the ratio is expected to increase, and
this is one of several spin-off companies with which IBM hopes to
stretch the productive years of its loyal workers.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890803)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00003)

FUJI XEROX WELCOMES LOWE
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- Fuji Xerox has given the title
of director to IBM veteran William C. Lowe, who defected from Big
Blue in 1988 following a distinguished 26-year career with the
firm. Lowe has been serving as vice president of development
and production at U.S.-based Xerox.

Fuji Xerox and Xerox are said to have evolved well together in
terms of production and development, and Lowe's promotion is seen
as evidence that his success at making things run smoothly should
be continued in Japan.

(Ken Takahashi/19890803)


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

BIG STAFF CUT: SUPERCOMPUTER PIONEER ELXSI
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- A major developer
of parallel processing computers, Elxsi, Ltd., formerly Trilogy
Systems, is on a rapid downward spin -- the firm has laid off half its
staff, sees a major second quarter loss, and will restructure.

Established in 1989 to make high-performance parallel processing
computers, Elxsi was a high flyer in the military market, selling
into engineering, scientific, and business applications.

But hard times has whittled the revenues and staff, leaving the
company now at some 75 workers from a one-time high of nearly
250. All manufacturing activities in San Jose are being
terminated and hardware development, some sales and administrative
support activities will be curtailed.

Elxsi officers report revenues for the last quarter were $2.8
million, which will result in a "substantial net operating loss."The company is looking for cash from the sale of assets.

Elxsi says its Singapore-based affiliate, Tata-Elxsi, will continue to
meet customer needs.

(Wendy Woods/19890802)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(WAS)(00005)

CCA HAS RECORD SALES
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- Computer
Corporation of America has announced record annual sales in
excess of $28 million for the recently ended fiscal year, the
first since it became an independent company.

CCA develops and markets corporate information management
software and further details of its finances are not available
because it is a closely held private company, not required to
disclose any financial information. Formerly owned by Crowntek,
Corp., in October of 1988 the company went private with 45 percent of
the stock going to employees.

One of CCA's major new products is Horizon, the first LU 6.2
(Advanced Program-to-Program Communications protocol or APPC)
development facility for IBM mainframe programs. This software is
important for those wishing to integrate mainframe and desktop
computers.

CCA's customers include Hughes Aircraft Company, First Interstate
Bank, and the New York State Board of Education.

(John McCormick/19890801/Press Contact: Doug Black, Miller
Communications, 617-536-0470)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(WAS)(00006)

WHITNEY EXTENDS PRIME OFFER, AGAIN
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 3 (NB) -- J.H. Whitney
has announced that DR Acquisition Corp. has extended its purchase
offer for nearly 50 million shares of Prime Computer at $21.50 per
share, until 12 midnight, Tuesday, August 8, 1989 from August 4.

Whitney also announced its intention to negotiate a reduction in
the tender offer price of $21.50 saying that financing at that
level may be difficult to obtain.

Approximately 25 million shares of Prime common stock had been
tendered by August 2.

(John McCormick/19890803/Press Contact: Robert A. Schwed
212-841-5700)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(WAS)(00007)

XEROX EARNINGS GROW
STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- Xerox
Corporation has announced that its net income was up 7 percent to $179
million or $1.67 per share for the second quarter and $337 million or a
gain of 5 percent for the first half of 1989.

Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center or PARC was the birthplace of
many of the modern computer industry's basic innovations,
including graphical interfaces, Alan Kay's idea for the Dynabook,
and the mouse.

Xerox had fallen on hard times when it failed to respond
aggressively to the influx of foreign-made copier machines a
decade ago, and the company never did make much use of all of the
innovations that came out of the PARC think tank.

In other Xerox news, Charles E. Buchheit has been elected a vice
president of the company, assuming responsibility for its systems
reprographics (copying) marketing worldwide. Mr. Buchheit was
with IBM for 26 years, where his last assignment was as group
director of systems marketing at IBM's Enterprise Systems unit in
Somers, New York.

(John McCormick/19890801/Press Contact: Thomas C. Abbott of
Xerox, 203-968-3378)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(WAS)(00008)

LOWER KODAK EARNINGS
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- Eastman Kodak
announced lower earnings on higher sales for the second quarter
and the half-year, while spokesmen placed the blame on
restructuring costs and the adverse effects of the rising value
of the U.S. dollar.

For the information systems division, second quarter worldwide
sales grew 13 percent to $989 million, compared with $878
million in 1988 for a loss of $144 million vs. earnings of $92
million for the same period last year. Without the restructuring
costs, the second quarter earnings for the IS division would have
been $6 million.

(John McCormick/19890803)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(WAS)(00009)

WANG STOPS DIVIDEND
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- With $375
million in losses for last year, Wang Laboratories has announced
suspension of dividend payments on its stock. Fredrick A. Wang,
president and CEO of Wang Labs and son of founder An Wang, said
today that $234 million of the loss was due to a one-time corporate
restructuring.

The corporate shake-up at Wang included more than 3,000 layoffs,
10 percent of the total worldwide workforce, and a change in marketing
direction to a more vertical market-oriented structure, with
sales efforts concentrated on financial services, government,
manufacturing, and professional services, as well as the
horizontal marketing of Wang office imaging systems.

On July 11, Standard and Poor's financial rating service
announced that Wang Laboratories Inc. and Wang Laboratories NV's
subordinated debt rating had been lowered to triple-'C'-plus from
single-'B'-plus and Wang and Wang Credit Corp's commercial paper
to 'C' from 'B'. S&P's ratings are widely used as a measure of a
company's credit-worthiness, and a lower rating raises the cost
of raising funds as well as lowering existing financial instruments'
value.

Computerworld this week reported rumors that An Wang, founder of
Wang Laboratories and a major IBM stockholder, made some
extraordinary financing moves with his stock, reportedly pledging
it as security for bank loans.

(John McCormick/19890801/Press Contact: Paul Henning of Wang
Laboratories, Inc., 508-967-1090, or Lisa Jenkins, S&P,
212-208-1598)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(ATL)(00010)

INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS' SMALL PROFIT
NORCROSS, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- Intelligent
Systems Master, Limited Partnership, which despite its name is
traded publicly on the American and Pacific Stock Exchanges,
earned $251,000, three cents per unit, on revenue of $16,796,000 for
the second quarter, which ended June 30. The decline in revenue
is the result of the sale of most of its divisions, most notably
the JT Fax line of PC fax boards to Hayes Microcomputer Products.

The company continued to lose money, however, on Brier Technology,
a development stage company now starting to manufacture a high
capacity floppy disk drive.

Proceeds from the sale of the company's Quadram subsidiary to
National Semiconductor will come out in the third quarter, which
ends September 30.

J. Leland Strange, president of Intelligent Systems, built the
company and later dismantled it. He said of the sales, "In each
case, we believe the sale proceeds have exceeded the return we
would have realized by continuing to own and operate the asset.
These transactions have lowered our revenue base but have
contributed, on the whole, to a stronger bottom line performance.
We believe that the company is now better positioned to take
advantage of new microcomputer-related opportunities."

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890803/Press Contact: Bonnie Herron,
Intelligent Systems, 404-381-2900)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(ATL)(00011)

COLOROCS SELLING OUT OF SAVIN
NORCROSS, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- Colorocs, which
has developed a color copier and bought the old Savin Co. a few
years ago for its marketing expertise and tax losses, sold 20 percent
of Savin to HCS Technology of the Netherlands for $16.2 million
cash, and has options to sell the rest by the end of 1990.

Savin originally had a deal to resell Ricoh copiers, and went under
the waves when Ricoh took back the rights. It's still a marketer
of mid-range black and white copiers, and sells the Colorocs
model as the Prism I.

HCS had a joint-venture with Savin to market its products
worldwide, starting in Europe.  E.P. van den Boogaard, president
of HCS, called it "part of our plan to aggressively develop
international markets by expanding in Europe and establishing
strategic, long-term relationships in the United States."

Charles Muench, the chairman of Colorocs, said the $16.2 million
will be used to produce more color copiers. HCS recently acquired a
significant position in Colorocs and currently holds or has
under option about 29 percent of Colorocs' common stock.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890803/ Deborah Cox, Colorocs, 404-448-9799)


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

WESTERN DIGITAL PROFITS DOWN
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- Fourth quarter
earning for Western Digital showed a steep drop with overall
earnings for the fiscal year off 21 percent.

The company blamed the decline on what it called a ho-hum
personal computer market, continuing difficulties in its disk
drive and motherboard business and problems in the division that
makes graphic controllers.

In the fourth quarter, earnings dropped 71 percent to $4.3
million and revenue was down 12 percent at $243.5 million. For
the fiscal year, earnings of $34.3 million represented a 21
percent drop while revenue climbed 29 percent to $992.1 million.

Western Digital has indicated that officials have been in contact
with the City of Irvine regarding the recent municipal ban on the
use of chlorofluorcarbons. Western Digital uses methyl chloroform,
one of the substances to be banned in producing semiconductors and
says there is no known substitute for the chemical. Earlier,
Western Digital had indicated the company would abandon the $100
million plant being built in Irvine if the ban takes effect as planned
next July. In the meantime, the Mayor of Irvine has indicated a
willingness to discuss a possible exemption for Western Digital.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890804/Press Contact: Lynda Orban, Western
Digital, 714-757-4234)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00013)

GENERAL AUTOMATION EXPECTS GAIN
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- General
Automation is expecting to post a moderate operating profit for
the fourth quarter.

This would be the company's second money making quarter in
succession. Company President Douglas J. Tullio has attributed
General Automation's return to profitability to improved gross
margins.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890804)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00014)

TEXAS INSTR. 2ND QTR RESULTS
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 21 (NB) -- Texas Instruments has
announced the financial results of the company's second quarter
activity.

Net sales billed for the quarter were $1563 million compared with
$1558 million for the same period a year ago. Net income was
$106 million, up from $92 million. Earnings per share of common
stock rose from $1.02 to $1.14.

TI has reported second quarter orders of $1325 million, down 5
percent from last year. Orders were down 9 percent in
components, unchanged in defense electronics, up 3 percent in
digital products and up 10% in metallurgical materials.

Profit from operations during the quarter were $72 million (5
percent of net sales billed) as compared with $105 million (7
percent of net sales billed) for second quarter a year ago. The
primary contributors to the reduction in profit from operations
were lower operating margins in components and in defense
electronics, a stronger US dollar relative to other currencies,
and an additional profit sharing accrual of $10 caused by higher
royalty income.

For the first six months of 1989, net sales billed were $3125
million, up 3 percent from the same period in 1988. Profit from
operations for the first six months was $141 million compared
with $159 million for the first half of 1988 mainly due to lower
margins in the defense electronics segment and the stronger US
dollar in worldwide currency markets.

Net income for the first half of 1989 was $191 million compared
with $177 million for the same period a year ago. Earnings per
common share were $2.04, up from $1.97 in the first half of 1988.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890804/Press Contact: Stan Victor, Texas
Instruments, 214-995-2984)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00015)

IOMEGA TO OEM FOR KODAK
ROY, UTAH, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- Iomega has announced an
original equipment manufacturer (OEM) agreement with Eastman
Kodak under which Iomega will supply its 5 1/4 inch, 20 MByte
removable mass storage Bernoulli drives for use in Kodak's
Ektaprint Input Processor.

The Ektaprint Input Processor is the front end used in Kodak's
Ektaprint 1392, Model 34, electronic printing system which at 92
pages per minute is used by service bureaus, direct mail
advertisers, commercial print shops and government agencies.

Bernoulli drives are primarily used to store information that is
of a sensitive nature and needs to be secured. They are also
used as an aid in performing system backups.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890804/Press Contact: Linda Casey, Iomega,
801-778-3345)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00016)

SOLBOURNE IN EUROPE
LONGMONT, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- Solbourne
Computer has announced the opening of its first direct subsidiary
in Europe. Located in Swindon, Wiltshire, U.K., the office will
serve as Solbourne's European headquarters.

Solbourne will develop direct sales operations in the U.K. and
will provide sales and marketing support to a number of
distributors to be established elsewhere in Europe. Barrie
Murray-Upton, formerly of Cadnetix Corp., will serve as the new
subsidiary's managing director. Paul Robinson, who has been
affiliated with both Sun Microsystems and Apollo Computer, will
serve as OEM and distribution manager.

As the company establishes a presence in the European market
through its distributor network, plans call for opening
additional subsidiaries in key European countries.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890804/Press Contact: Brian Doyle, Solbourne
Computer, 303-678-4303)


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

TANDEM SECURES INDIAN CONTRACT
BANGALORE, INDIA, 1989 AUG 02 (NB) -- Tandem Computers has signed
a representative agreement with Wipro Information Technology
Limited (WITL). Terms of the deal call for WITL to be Tandem's
commissioned agent in India, marketing its hardware, as well as
providing full service and support for the machines.

Announcing the deal, Roger Wyser, Tandem's area manager for
marketing and sales, said: "India's business community has a
growing interest in online transaction processing and fault-
tolerant computing, both areas of strength for Tandem."

WITL is the third-largest data processing company in India, and
has a similar existing deal with Sun Microsystems for the sale
and support of its hardware in India.

(Steve Gold/19890802/Press Contact: Jeri Flinn (US) - Tel: 408-
865-4753)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00018)

GEC/SIEMENS TALKS RESUME
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 AUG 02 (NB) -- The British government has
given its permission for talks between the General Electric
Company (GEC) and Siemens of West Germany to resume their
takeover bid for Plessey, the U.K. electronics company.

In an announcement last Wednesday, a spokesman for the U.K.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said: "everything is hunky
dory." The announcement means that the final barriers to a take-
over bid for Plessey are now down, and that the $2,800 million
deal is likely to go ahead.

Plessey and GEC's bid for Plessey has had a troubled path. GEC
originally bid on its own for Plessey some three years ago,
resulting in a blocking move buy the British Ministry of Defence.
Last November, with the support of Siemens, GEC renewed its
takeover pledge, a move which Plessey fought. In January, 1989,
Plessey counterbid $13,600 million for GEC, backed by an American
consortium. The GEC takeover failed when AT&T, one of Plessey's
backers, pulled out of the deal.

(Steve Gold/19890802)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00019)

CROWN EXPANDS INTO EUROPE
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, 1989 AUG 02 (NB) -- Crown Computer
Products, the U.K. mail order company, has set up a wholly-owned
subsidiary in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The new company will
trade throughout Europe, Scandinavia and some Eastern Bloc
countries.

Malcolm Jamieson, Crown's managing director, said that the
Amsterdam offices will be headed by Edwin Schouten, a multi-
on lingual computer salesman with considerable experience.

"We see Compuropa as our preparation for 1992. To survive the
marketplace of 1992, we feel that high volume trade is essential
and this is the philosophy behind our export division," he said.

(Steve Gold/19890802/Press Contact: Malcolm Jamieson, managing
director, Crown Computer Products - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00020)

MCDONNELL DOUGLAS ACCORD WITH SIEMENS
PARIS, FRANCE, 1989 AUG 02 (NB) -- McDonnell Douglas and Siemens
have announced a joint agreement designed to offer Douglas'
Parasolid modelling program to the West German marketplace.

Parasolid was developed by Shape Data Ltd., which has since
become a subsidiary of McDonnell Douglas. It is distributed by
McDonnell Douglas Manufacturing and Engineering Systems Co., a
division of the McDonnell Douglas group.

Tom Curry, vice president of M-D, said: "Parasolid is not just a
modelling program but also allows direct connection to systems
designed to construct sample models." McDonnell Douglas realised
$1,240 million in 1987, whilst its subsidiary - which created the
software - had revenues totalling $13.1 million.

(Peter Vekinis/19890802)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00021)

VICTOR REVENUES & PROFITS UP
PARIS, FRANCE, 1989 AUG 02 (NB) -- Victor, the European PC
manufacturer owned by a Swedish consortium, announced a 31 percent
rise in revenues for January to April 89 to KR (Swedish Kroner) 524
million while profits went up by 27 percent to KR 26.4 million. The
new results change the year-end figures to KR 1,555 million in
revenues and KR 142 million for profit before taxes. Victor had a
revenue increase of 50 percent from 1987.

(Peter Vekinis/19890802)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00022)

MAXTOR RESULTS UP 11%
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 02 (NB) -- Maxtor Corporation
announced revenues up by 11 percent to $108 million for its first
quarter ended 25 June, 1989. Profits for the quarter were $2.2 million,
up 57 percent on the same period last year. Earnings per share were 11
cents with 20.7 million shares outstanding, up from 7 cents reported in
the fourth quarter of 1989. Maxtor closed at $9.375.

Before October 1987, Maxtor's shares traded at around $22. ESDI
and SCSI products are shipping in production quantities. Based on
this, financial analysts predict that the shares will rise
back above the $22 level over the next six months.

(Peter Vekinis/19890802)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SYD)(00023)

AMSTRAD SPECIALTY SHOPS
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- UK-based PC manufacturer
Amstrad is to foster the growth of Amstrad-only dealerships in
Australia. The machines are already aggressively marketed and priced,
and the company feels that the brand can command enough loyalty to
support the businesses.

The first, Logic Micro Systems, is steering clear of the consumer end
of the market and is only stocking 286 and 386 models. "We want to hit
the buyers between the eyes," said dealer John Venema. He said he
isn't tied to Amstrad and is building up a full inventory of add-on
hardware. Observers feel that this plan goes against current trends in
Australia where one-brand dealers are being forced to diversify for
economic reasons.

(Paul Zucker/19890803/Press Contact: John Venema, 61-3-326 6477)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00024)

SYSTEMHOUSE PLANS BUY
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- SHL Systemhouse hopes
to close by September 1 its purchase of ComputerGroup, the
largest ComputerLand franchisee in the United Kingdom.

ComputerGroup, based in Manchester, England, owns 14 of the 24
ComputerLand System Centres in the U.K. According to Systemhouse
spokesman John Owens, the British company's business is very
similar to that of ComputerLand Canada, which the Ottawa-based
system integrator acquired a year ago.

The purchase price will be about C$21 million, in the form of an
offer to all ComputerGroup shareholders. The agreement stipulates
that Systemhouse could pay as much as C$2.4 million less if
ComputerGroup fails to earn pretax net income of C$3.7 million in
calendar 1989. Owens said ComputerGroup is expected to earn C$16
million in revenue this year.

Systemhouse now has 12 full-time employees in London, and will
move its European headquarters from Geneva to London this month.

(Grant Buckler/19890802/Press Contact: John Owens, Systemhouse,
613-236-9734)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00025)

GANDALF SHUFFLES
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JULY 31 (NB) -- Gandalf
Technologies has reorganized into three groups reflecting its
major businesses. The Enterprise Networks Group will develop and
market enterprise, local-area and wide-area networks and network
management products. The Component Products Group will
concentrate on modems, terminal adapters and other discrete
products. The existing Gandalf Systems Group will continue
handling taxi dispatching and manufacturing communications
systems. All three groups will report to James Bailey, Gandalf's
president and chief executive.

(Grant Buckler/19890803/Press Contact: Janice Drummond, Gandalf,
613-564-0183)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00026)

ORACLE PROMOTES EXECS
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- Oracle Corp. has
promoted Brian Courtney, formerly president of Oracle Corporation
Canada, to become vice-president, The Americas. His
responsibilities will now include Mexico, Central America and
South America as well as Canada. Richard Crutchlow, formerly
vice-president of sales, federal government and Eastern Canada,
has replaced Courtney as president of Oracle Canada.

(Grant Buckler/19890802)

(EXCLUSIVE)(GENERAL)(LON)(00001)

ATARI: UNIX PC ON 25 AUGUST
DUSSELDORF, WEST GERMANY, 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- Atari is scheduled
to launch a 68030-based computer that is designed to run the Unix
operating system on the 25th of August. The European launch will be held
in Dusseldorf, West Germany at an Atari-specific show.

The Atari TT, as it is called, will run both Unix V.3 and the TOS
operating system from Atari.  Initially, the machine will have only the
TOS operating system available but the Unix software should be ready
one or two months later, Atari Systems Engineer Art Morgan tells
Newsbytes. The machine should be ready for shipment in September, pending
FCC approval, according to Atari spokesman Jim Fischer.

The TT will have a 68030 microprocessor running at 16 MHz, as well
as a floating point 68881 math coprocessor.  Onboard will be four megabytes
of random access memory, and a variety of video modes, including a
640 by 480 pixel and 1280 by 960 monochrome mode.

While Atari will not discuss prices, Newsbytes sources say the machine
could retail for UK 1,200, or about US$1,900. The TTP will be pitched
at Unix users on a very tight budget.

The Atari TT is not to be confused with the ST-Plus, a still-unannounced
machine based on the 68020 microprocessor.  "That's very close to
being done," Morgan told Newsbytes, "It will be introduced later
this year and shipped in the fall." He confirmed there were some
problems obtaining analogue sound from the ST-Plus earlier this year,
but the problem has since been corrected.

(Steve Gold & Wendy Woods/19890802)


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

ATARI BUYS DRIVES FOR STACY
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- Atari Corporation
is buying a supply of low-profile 20 and 40 megabyte 3.5-inch
disk drives from Conner Peripherals for its coming Stacy laptop
portable computer, so says the company. Conner Peripherals makes
Winchester-type disk drives for 32-bit and 16-bit computers and
workstations.

Atari's Stacy laptop is essential an ST-type computer in a smaller
box with one megabyte of memory, an optional 20 megabyte hard disk, an
eight megahertz 68000 microprocessor, a single 3.5-inch floppy drive,
a standard LCD, a built-in track ball, and a price of $1500 for the
base model, $2000 for the 20 megabyte hard drive unit. The machine
will run the TOS operating system.

Atari spokesman Jim Fischer tells Newsbytes the machines are expected
to ship in late October, but have not yet been manufactured.  The
most likely manufacturing site will be in Taiwan, he says.  The FCC
must also approve the portable's emissions.

Announced at Fall/Comdex in 1988, the laptop was originally due
for a Spring '89 shipment.

(Wendy Woods/19890803/Press Contact: Kevin Burr, Conner,
408-954-3134, Jim Fischer, Atari, 408-745-2000)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00003)

12 OCTOBER VIRUS DISCOVERED
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 AUG 02 (NB) -- Sophos UK, an English data
security company, has discovered a new virus program called
Datacrime. The virus, allegedly created on 1 March, this year,
has been primed to begin its destructive activities on 12
October, 1989.

Speaking with London's Computergram International newsletter, Dr.
Jan Hruska of Sophos is quoted as saying that the virus adds
itself to .COM files on MS-DOS systems. When the 12th of October
rolls around, the virus is triggered to begin formatting the PC's
hard disk.

Peter Sommer, better known as Hugo Cornwall, the author of the
Hacker's Handbook, is sceptical that Datacrime is a new virus,
and believes that the virus is simply a rework of previous date-
triggered virus programs. "There an awful lot of these viruses
doing the rounds. They can't all be new," he said when contacted
by Newsbytes.

Newsbytes has a simple -- but effective -- solution to deal with
date-triggered viruses. When the trigger date gets near, the user
simply sets the PC's date back by a year. This solution then
allows the virus to be eradicated from the PC without any fear of
the user running out of time.

(Steve Gold/19890802)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00004)

MORE SHARP WIZARD SOFTWARE TITLES
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 AUG 3 (NB) -- To boost sales of its hand-held
organizer The Wizard, Sharp is promising more programs for the little
machine, which reads only software on integrated circuit or IC cards.
Sharp has provided its proprietary software technology to 30
Japanese developers.

By July, Sharp had sold 2.3 million of the hand-held personal
organizers, easily dominating the market for the devices with a
70 percent share. The company expects to release over the next
few months, 13 different kinds of programs on the read-only memory,
or ROM cards, and 50 different cards that can be customized with
use of the Basic programming language, for business applications.

Sharp is considering similar liaisons with North American software
firms in order to create a larger selection of programs for the Wizards
there.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890803)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00005)

USED CRAYS FOR JAPAN SCHOOLS
TOKYO, JAPAN 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- In an effort to sell more of its
supercomputers into Japanese universities, Cray Research is fighting a
Japanese custom -- Japanese firms, such as NEC, offer the higher
education institutions massive discounts -- up to 70 percent -- from
the cost of a new supercomputer.  In order to compete, Cray is
offering those same universities used computers. Cray tried the
technique already on U.S.-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
which purchased a used Cray-2 in April.

The first battle will be Tohoku University, a large client for
Japanese computer giant, NEC. Cray will strongly recommend the
institution buy a second-hand Cray for a price competitive with NEC's
new offerings, arguing that despite the fact that the machine has been
used before, Cray has excellent maintenance and end-users will
see no compromise in performance.

Cray expects to see its Japanese academic sales increase due to its
aggressive used-computer campaign.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890803)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00006)

BUSINESSLAND OFFERS TRAINING
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- Tapping into the
lucrative market for computer literacy training, worth an estimated
$800 million this year along, Businessland, a computer retailer, has
announced a division to provide software and hardware instruction
to corporations and smaller businesses.

Some 75 new instructors should bring Businessland's teaching force
to 225 by next year. Its retail visibility should aid the firm in the
battle to win teaching dollars which corporations generally spend on
consultants and small training firms.

Businessland expects the new division to account for 20 percent of
its revenue by 1992.

(Wendy Woods/19890802)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00007)

MULTIMEDIA PRO GOES TO MICROSOFT
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- Electronic Arts has
lost a key programmer and creative talent to Microsoft. Greg Riker,
formerly vice president of technology at Electronic Arts, a man who
was spearheading EA's CD-I (compact-disk interactive) program,
has joined Microsoft as director of development for the multimedia
systems group.

Riker's primary responsibility is to manage the development of
systems software and develop tools to foster a new generation of
multimedia PCs.

Riker joined Electronic Arts in 1983 and managed such projects as
the first Artist Work Station, a cross-development system for the
Commodore 64, hosted on the IBM PC.

The multimedia division is a recently formed product group at
Microsoft which the firm promises will help create "a radically
new type of personal computer that will combine high-speed
processors, high-resolution displays, and optical media. The
research is primarily centered around development of PC rather
than Macintosh-based systems.

(Wendy Woods/19890802)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00008)

COMPUTER FIRE HAZARD
GAITHERSBURG, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- Do
computerized offices pose special fire hazards? This question is
explored in a National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST, formerly the National Bureau of Standards) study of the
May 4, 1988 fire at the First Interstate Bank in Los Angeles.

Among the study's conclusions is that open offices, densely
packed with electronic equipment such as computers and flammable
materials such as office furniture and paper, constitute a major
fire hazard.

The May 4th fire blazed through the 12th to 16th floors of the
62-story building, resulting in the death of one person. Computer
models showed that flashover occurred within 11 minutes of the
start of the fire.

Flashover is the condition that occurs when heat from a fire has
caused enough flammable gasses to be boiled out of solid and liquid
materials that an entire room or other enclosed area suddenly is
engulfed in a blanket of flames. Another result of the computer
simulation of the fire is the report that if the fire had gone a bit
longer it would have been unstoppable.

The report, entitled An Engineering View of the Fire of May 4,
1988, in the First Interstate Bank, Los Angeles, California
(NISTIR 89-4061), can be ordered for $13.95 by writing to NTIS,
Springfield, Virginia 22161. Specify PB#89-183222/AS.

(John McCormick/19890802/Press Contact: Jan Kosko, 301-975-
2762)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00009)

COMMODORE EXPANDS
WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- Commodore
Business Machines says Robert Larsen has joined its sales team.
Larsen is known as an industry dynamo, having headed Casio's push
in the music business, where it grew from zero to a $200 million
division under his management.

Mr. Larsen's assignments at Commodore will include new sales and
merchandizing for the Amiga 500, Commodore 64, and Commodore's
MS-DOS compatible computers.

(John McCormick/19890802/Press Contact: Jonelle Birney of
Fleishman-Hillard, 202-659-0330)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00010)

COMMODORE UK'S UKP 8 MILLION AD SPREE
MAIDENHEAD, BERKSHIRE, 1989 AUG 02 (NB) --- Commodore UK has
earmarked eight million pounds to advertise the Commodore PC and
Amiga over the next year, according to Jeff Earl, the company's newly
appointed marketing manager.

Earl's marketing idea is that the company's products are split
into two distinct divisions: retail, for the Commodore 64 and
Amiga A500, plus the PC-10, 20, 30 and 40 series; and business,
based on an as-yet unreleased range of 80386-based PCs, plus the
A2000 and A2500 Amigas.

Earl remained noncommittal on the subject of the rumoured A3000,
when asked by Newsbytes. He hinted, however, that the machine is
likely to be based around a 25MHz 68030 microprocessor. He
revealed, however, that Commodore will not release Unix for the
Amiga until such time as Unix v5.4, with OSF (Open Software
Foundation) and Posix compliance, becomes available.

(Steve Gold/19890802/Press Contact: Tim Rafferty, Spire
Communications - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00011)

AUS: COMMODORE 1-YR WARRANTY
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- In Australia, Commodore is to
offer 12-month warranties on all its PC products as part of a drive to
capture the corporate, government and education sectors.

Edwin Huang, Commodore's general manager of marketing in the
Asia-Pacific region, said he was developing an overall marketing
strategy for the region. "We need to take Commodore into the next
stage of development," he said. "We are almost starting from the ground
up but I think we will carve a good niche out there."

Huang said Commodore would appoint a number of up-market dealers and
start a strong promotional push next month. "We don't want to be seen
as just a low-priced alternative. Our products can stand on their own"

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19890802)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00012)

SCAN-OPTICS OFFERS PICK-BASED SYSTEM
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- Scan-Optics has
entered the PICK-based system market with a fully integrated,
modular and upward compatible computer family, the Sabre Series
including Models 20, 40 and 60.

The 68000- and 68020-based family includes desktop, tower and
low-boy enclosures designed to support between 4 and 128 users in
a multiuser, multitasking environment. All systems are
equipped with the PICK Open Architecture Operating System and
word processing (JET), spreadsheet (CompuSheet+) and graphics
(ACCU/PLOT II) applications. An agreement reached between Scan-
Optics and VIA Systems allows any Sabre system to interface with
an IBM or compatible PC.

Prices start at $11,850 for the Model 20/200 and $16,850 for the
Model 20/300. The Model 40 is in a 10-slot tower package and
sells for $19,800. The low-boy 15-slot Model 60 is priced from
$55,950. Shipping is 30 days after order receipt.

All Sabre System models can be field upgraded and expanded as
required. The Sabre family provides fully integrated
compatibility to all other Sabre system products.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890804/Press Contact: Jeff Swartz, Daly-
Swartz Public Relations, 714-361-6888)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00013)

MAI UNWRAPS ADVANCED SERIES 20
TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 15 (NB) --MAI Basic Four
has unveiled an entry-level addition to its Advanced Series line
of computers, the Advanced Series 20.

The Advanced Series product line features high speed CPUs and is
the latest generation built on the architecture of the MPx Series
of 32-bit, multiprocessor, supercomputer systems.

The Advanced System 20 is available for new users or as an
upgrade for older systems. Advanced Series 20 buyers who require
additional power and capacity can upgrade to the Advanced Series
40 and 60 systems while retaining their original investment in
software and hardware.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890804/Press Contact: Gary Brenkman, MAI
Basic Four, 714-731-5100)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BRU)(00014)

IBM PS/2 TOP-SELLER IN GERMANY
MUNICH, WEST GERMANY, 1989 AUG 02 (NB) -- Chip magazine, a highly
regarded computer publication, has listed the IBM PS/2 model
30 as the number one seller on its monthly best-seller lists.

Trailing the PS/2 Model 30 is Compaq's Deskpro, closely followed
by the Tandon PCA, then Commodore's PC40, Apple Mac II,
Commodore's PC10, IBM XT286 (still in the top 10), Commodore's
Amiga 2000, Amstrad's PC 1640 and Schneider's Tower AT.

On the home computer front, Commodore holds the top two positions,
with the Amiga 500 first and the 64 second. The Atari 1040 ST,
meanwhile, trails in 5th place after Schneider's Euro PC1 and
Commodore's Amiga 1000.

(Peter Vekinis/19890802)


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

JAPAN: ICHITARO SOFTWARE REVERSION
TOKUSHIMA, JAPAN, 1989 AUG 3 (NB) -- Just Systems, in turmoil
following the public outrage concerning its bug-ridden Ichitaro Ver. 4.0
word processing package, has decided to revive an old favorite --
Ver. 3.0. This is the first time a software company has ever reissued
a previous version of a product when an update is available.

Just Systems had stopped producing Ver. 3.0 with the release of
Ver. 4.0. The unprecedented decision to republish the earlier version
was due to public outrage at both recurring bugs and at new operating
requirements.

Just Systems is trying to put a pleasant face on the fiasco by
explaining that Version 3.0 has been revived in order to meet a
strong demand from users whose laptop personal computer cannot
runs the newest version. The software house says the price of old
Ver. 3.0 is unchanged at 58,000 yen ($420).

Ichitaro is the best-selling Japanese word processor, with 370,000
packages sold. The decision to reverse gears on the product's
evolution has cost Just Systems the revenue from 10,000 packages
since April.

(Ken Takahashi/19890803)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00016)

AUS: HP TO TEST EXPORT IDEA
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- A concept likely to interest
Australian exporters is under trial by Hewlett-Packard's Australian
Software Operation (ASO). The ASO has spent the past four years
developing its HP ALLBASE/4GL and associated products. The company is
now targeting customers in the U.S. directly from Australia using TNT's
Mailfast system and the US-800 free call system extended to cover
Australia via OTC.

Direct mail invitations to sample the product were prepared and then
couriered to the US. They were then posted within the US to prospects
isolated by HP market research. According to ASO Marketing
Communication Manager Peter Westhorp, the response has been dramatic
so far.

"Initially, the biggest problem was the time difference," he said. "We
have to have qualified engineers to man the phones 24 hours a day.
However, our staff have responded magnificently by accepting many
night shifts for the duration of the trial period which ends in
another six weeks." Interested parties receive manuals for the product
and a time-bombed copy of the software which gives a three month trial
period.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19890802)


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

AUSTRALIAN COMPAQ VS. HOMEOWNERS
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- Compaq Australia is still
encountering stiff opposition to a proposed $AUS15 million development
in Sydney.

The plan for a warehouse complex in suburban Cherrybrook revolves
around the rezoning of land to allow development and has sparked huge
opposition from residents in two neighbouring local government areas.
Residents believe that if the development goes ahead, then other land
owners in the region would apply for rezonings and destroy the area's
residential quality. Compaq insiders believe that the company may soon
decide to forget the idea and build elsewhere.

(Gavin Atkins/19890802)


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

AUS: SHAGGY DOG STORY
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 JUL 29 (NB) -- Australian computer newspaper
Pacific Computer Weekly has reported on what it believes to be the
computer installation of the not-to-distant future. The installation
will have extended redundancy, built-in diagnosis and faulty component
swap-out and should be capable of remaining in service for years,
almost unattended. In fact, the only flesh-and-blood anywhere near the
machine will be a man and a dog. The man is there to feed the dog, and
the dog is there to stop the man from touching the machine.

(Paul Zucker/19890803)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(KUL)(00019)

MALAYSIA: MOTOROLA MAKING NEW CHIPS
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, 1989 JUL 25 (NB) -- Motorola, one of the
world's leading electronics companies, expects to begin production of
its new reduced instruction set computer (RISC) or 88000 chip in its
Petaling Jaya plant here early next year.

The new chip is designed to integrate features required by computer
makers to reduce system design time and cost while markedly increasing
performance. At present it is manufactured at Motorola's headquarters in the
U.S., and Malaysia will be the first overseas facility to manufacture
it.

"The chip is one of the most complete microprocessors ever offered to
computer manufacturers," said Mr H.F. Lee, an operations
manager at Changkat Pavilion in Kuala Lumpur, as he prepares for the
Internepcon/Semiconductor International Malaysia 89 Exhibition which
begins today.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890801)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00001)

MORRIS PLEADS NOT GUILTY
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- "I plead not guilty,"
Robert T. Morris told U.S. District Court Magistrate Gustave DiBianco
during his 11-minute arraignment Wednesday. Morris is the Harvard
graduate and Cornell graduate student who was indicted last week
by a federal grand jury in last year's virus attack on the ARPAnet
computer network.

U.S. Attorney Frederick Scullin Jr. says that Morris faces a five-year
prison sentence and up to a $250,000 fine if convicted. Morris, who
was released on his own recognizance, could also be ordered to pay
restitution which could run into the millions of dollars.

Cornell University, which has placed Morris on suspension, claims
that Morris created and spread the computer "worm" last November
2, which paralyzed over 6,000 government and university computers.
The Cornell report called the worm's creation, a "juvenile act that
ignored the clear potential consequences."

The Cornell study also says that technically the small program
was a "worm" rather than a "virus" because it was an independent
program rather than attached to other programs or the operating
system.

A virus is a program that attaches itself to other programs and
replicates itself, spreading through a system, just as a biological
virus attaches to cells and spreads. A worm is an independent program
that replicates itself without help from other programs. The difference
may prove important in the court case, because, while a virus often is
designed to damage data and programs, a worm merely grows so much
that it clogs up a system, much like the tribbles of the famous
Star Trek TV episode, which multiplied until they jammed up the
works.

For his part, Morris has reportedly said that his program mutated,
cycling faster and faster until it crashed computers thousands of miles
away. He says the program he created was relatively benign.

A quarterly hacker's journal titled "2600 Magazine" regularly describes
techniques for breaking into systems (destructive hacking) and creating
virus and worm programs, both from the hacker's viewpoint and from
the side of systems security personnel. Further information can be
obtained from 2600 Enterprises, Box 752, Middle Island, New York
11953, phone [phone].

(John McCormick & Dana Blankenhorn/19890803)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(ATL)(00002)

HOME SHOPPING LOSES BIG SUIT
TAMPA, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- The Home Shopping
Network, which had sought $1.5 billion from GTE Corp., claiming
its bad phone lines cost it business in 1986 and 1987, not only
lost that suit, but was ordered to pay GTE $100 million in libel
damages in the countersuit. GTE charged that the whole lawsuit,
first filed in 1987, was nothing but a plot to hide its own
failings, and the jury evidently agreed. The entire award is not
expected to withstand an appeal, but legal experts said it was
the largest such award ever.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890803)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(ATL)(00003)

HARRIS TO DESIGN FAA NET
MELBOURNE, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- Harris Corporation has
been awarded a $20.4 million contract to develop a data-communications
network for the Federal Aviation Administration.

The National Airspace Data Interchange Network is part of the FAA's
National Airspace System, a modernization of air traffic control in
the United States. Additional contracts could bring the total value of
the NADIN program to $50 million over the next several years.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890803/Press Contact: Peter Carney, Harris,
407-727-9272)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00004)

ABCD SEEKS WARRANTY HELP
SCHAUMBURG, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- ABCD, The
Microcomputer Industry Association, has begun an industry-wide
survey for the creation of a standardized warranty claim form.

Originally ABCD has sent ballots to its membership to vote and
comment on the proposed form. Now, ABCD has extended the invitation
to comment and vote to all members of the microcomputer industry.

Through use of a standardized warranty claim form, resellers hope
to minimize the problems they face having to use as many as 44
different manufacturer claim forms. ABCD's toll free number,
800-333-9532, can be used by anyone in the microcomputer industry
who wishes to request a survey and ballot form in order to
participate in the warranty form design.

In a related announcement, ABCD has signed on its 1,000 reseller
location. It was only seven years ago that five resellers met to
form ABCD as the Association of Better Computer Dealers.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890804/Press Contact: Kerry Spaedy, ABCD,
800-333-9532)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LON)(00005)

INDONESIAN PIRATES SCUPPERED
JAKARTA, INDONESIA, 1989 AUG 02 (NB) -- Indonesia, once a
software pirates paradise to rival the infamous shopping arcades
of Hong Kong, has gone legal. As of 1 August, 1989, it is a criminal
offence to sell pirate software in the country.

According to the Jakarta Daily News, a local newspaper, the price
of a copy of Lotus 1-2-3 shot up overnight from $1-50 for a
pirate copy, to $422 for a genuine copy, complete with manuals.

Reports from the region suggest that computer stores were packed
in the days preceding the piracy ban, with computer users anxious
to stock up on all the packages they needed. On Tuesday, when the
ban came in to force, most computer stores were deserted, with
many stores admitting they had ceased to sell software, and now
only stocked hardware.

"We were packed out (yesterday). You could not move in here. The
ex-patriates were more panicked than the local people," one
computer store manager is quoted as saying.

According to the UPI news wire, U.S. manufacturers lost some $45
million in 1988 to pirated goods, ranging from software to fancy
goods. The bulk of the losses were related to pirate music cassettes,
which, incidentally, were outlawed last year.

(Steve Gold/19890802)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SIN)(00006)

SINGAPORE PIRATE RAID
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 JUL 21 (NB) -- Fake computer products and
software worth about S$3 million were seized yesterday in raids
conducted by the police and investigators hired by the Business
Software Association (BSA). The BSA is a US-based group formed last
year for the collective representation of Aldus Corporation, Autodesk
Inc., Lotus Development Corporation, Microsoft Corporation and
Wordperfect Corporation.

Pirated material seized included some 3,000 computer manuals,
thousands of manuals of recent releases such as Microsoft Word and
Lotus 1-2-3 Release 3 launched in the U.S. just about a month ago, and
500 diskettes.

According to a BSA spokesman, the pirated versions can cost as low as
S$100, far below the S$500 to S$5,000 for the originals. He said the
glossy books look authentic "on the outside," but on turning the
pages, the difference in quality became clear. The copies were in
black and white, and the pages resembled photocopies.

"The real version will usually be ring bound and have full colour
pages," he said.

Earlier raids in April this year unearthed a multimillion dollar
international mail order operation dealing in pirated software and
netted about S$1 million of computer products. The international
network was said to have caused losses of several million dollars to
the computer industry annually.

Singapore's Copyright Act states that offenders can be fined up to
S$10,000 for each illegal copy or S$100,000, whichever is lower, or
jailed for up to 5 years, or both.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890801)


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

AUS: EDI REP AT U.N.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- Australasia will be sending its
first representatives to the United Nations edifact rapporteur meeting
in Geneva in September.

The Australasian representatives, who are being sent by the Australian
and New Zealand governments, will have the same voting power as both
North America and Europe on matters of electronic data interchange, or
EDI. Australasia's rapporteur includes two representatives from each
country's government, EDI Councils and Standards Associations.
Rapporteurs meet twice a year to vote and pass Edifact document
standards.

A spokesman for the EDI Council of Australia said it was expected that
most Australian industrial groups would be using Edifact standards
within two years. Australia was already a world leader in the
application of EDI to ticket processing systems in the travel
industry, and would take a total business approach to EDI, allowing
Australasia to reap benefits in a much shorter time than for larger
nations.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19890801)


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

AUS FEDS USE SPIES TO BUST RING
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- Activities of an Australian
intelligence network have come to light following reports of a US
government network allegedly foiling an Eastern Bloc computer
smuggling ring. Several industry sources in Australia have reported
suspicious activities to the U.S. Federal Defence and Customs
Departments, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security
Intelligence Organization over the past few years.

The revelations follow the arrest of three businessmen in New York for
an alleged scheme to illegally sell computer equipment to the USSR.
One of the three men, John Townsend, is a British national who worked
in Australia for around eight years.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19890802)

(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00001)

IBM CANADA FIRST WITH 4MB
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JULY 31 (NB) -- IBM's first four-
megabit memory modules will come from Canada. IBM Canada has
announced that its plant in Bromont, Quebec, will package and
test four-megabit memory modules for IBM's Personal System/2
80383 Memory Expansion Option. The card itself, capable of
holding as much as 16 megabytes of memory, will be manufactured
at IBM Canada's Toronto plant for the North American market. The
four-megabit chips themselves are to be made in an IBM plant in
Burlington, Vermont.

(Grant Buckler/19890803/Press Contact: Karen Grant, IBM Canada,
416-474-3900)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00002)

TANDY DESKMATE GETS 1-2-3
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- Lotus
Development has developed a special version of the Lotus 1-2-3
Version 2.01 spreadsheet for Tandy's DeskMate Graphical User
Interface or GUI, operating environment.

DeskMate, a powerful GUI with many interesting features, is
included with all Tandy MS-DOS home computers and therefore has
an enormous installed base among home and small business users.

The special version of Lotus 1-2-3 will not include macros or
support for expanded memory, but will have mouse support, and
will require a minimum of 512 kilobytes of memory. The new
software will sell for $219.95 and be available at 7,000-plus
Radio Shack stores in the U.S.

(John McCormick/19890803)


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

LOTUS CANADA SHIPS 2.2
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- Lotus Development
Canada has begun shipping Release 2.2 of 1-2-3, the popular
spreadsheet program. Release 2.2 is designed to run on all MS-DOS
PCs, and requires a minimum of 320K memory and two diskette
drives (512K of memory is recommended). Thus it will appeal to
users who don't have a 286 or 386 machine with a hard disk and a
minimum of one megabyte extended memory, the requirement to run
1-2-3 Release 3.0.

Lotus Canada has released only the U.S. price of the software:
US$495. That works out to a little more than C$600. Registered
users who bought Release 2.01 between Sept. 6, 1988, and August
31, 1989 can upgrade free to either Release 2.2 or Release 3.0.
Other registered users can upgrade for C$185. Server and node
editions of Release 2.2 are available for local-area networks. A
French-language version is to be available in the fourth quarter
of 1989, Lotus said.

Lotus Canada also announced it is participating in a joint
promotional program with Plus Development. In a plan similar to
one announced in the United States, buyers of Plus's Hardcard 20
and Hardcard 40 expansion-card hard disks will get a free demo
disk of Lotus's Magellan disk management software, and the offer
of a C$25 rebate on the purchase of Magellan. The promotion will
run until the end of the year.

(Grant Buckler/19890801/Press Contact: Cathy Browne, The
Communications Group, 416-447-8591)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00004)

LOTUS DISCOUNTS FOR SCHOOLS
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 JULY 26 (NB) --In order to
win their hearts and minds -- and their computers -- a product
has to reach business minds early -- even when the MBAs are still
in college. Lotus has done just that a new pricing schedule for education
markets, including college bookstores, which will now obtain
specially discounted versions of Lotus products through The Douglas
Stewart Co., of Madison, Wisconsin.

Student versions of the products are important to insure continued
growth and acceptance of Lotus products in the business community,
according to a Lotus spokesman. The student version of Lotus 1-2-3
Release 3 is only $129.

Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Inc. of Reading, Massachusetts
will continue to distribute the student version of Lotus 1-2-3.

(John McCormick/19890801/Press Contact: Bryan Simmons, 617-
225-1697)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00005)

HEADLAND INTROS VGA UPGRADE
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- Headland Technology
claims to have created hardware which provides true 16-bit text
throughput and has the fastest 16-bit graphics throughput available
today on any memory-based VGA adaptor.

The creation of the VGA 1024i, built around the GC208, second-
generation Video Seven V7VGA chip, is aimed at users of graphics-
intensive applications, such as Windows/286 and /386, Presentation
Manager, VersaCAD, P-CAD, AutoCAD, AutoShade, Ventura Publisher,
and GEM/3, among others. "It isn't for the high-end computer-aided
designer, but it does make a better picture," says a Headlands
spokeswoman to Newsbytes. "It competes with the coming 8514
boards IBM will be announcing shortly."

The 1024i adaptor, which fits into an IBM or compatible internal
slot, supports up to 1024 by 768 resolution in 2, 4, or 16 colors,
and offers up to 256 colors in 640 by 400 resolution.

Headland says the adapter, which will come in both 256K and 512K
configurations, ships in September and costs $397 or $497
respectively.

(Wendy Woods/19890731/Press Contact: Glynnis Sears, Miller
Communications: 415-962-9550)


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

EVEREX SHIPS 0S/2 SYSTEMS
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- Everex Systems has
become the latest to repackage Microsoft's OS/2 operating systems
for its machines. Everex has announced that its version for the
STEP line of computers is shipping and costs $340. Upgrades to
current STEP owners are $74.

Version 1.1 of OS/2 has Presentation Manager graphical interface and
removes the 32 megabyte fixed disk partition limit. Like its earlier
version, it also provides multitasking and can address 16 megabytes
of random access memory.

(Wendy Woods/19890803/Press Contact: Joe Davis of Everex,
415-683-4183)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00007)

QUARTERDECK VAR CONFERENCE
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA U.S.A., 1989 AUG 3 (NB) -- Quarterdeck
Office systems, the software developer that markets the MS-DOS
compatible DESQview operating environment, is holding a developer
and value-added reseller conference August 21 through 24 at the
Lowes Santa Monica Beach Hotel.

The conference, which will provide information for both beginning
users and advanced DESQview applications programmers, will
feature many speakers with development experience, as well as
technical representatives from QuarterDeck, including Gary Pope,
the creator of the recently patented DesqVIEW.

For further information about the conference call 213-392-9851.

(John McCormick/19890803/ Claudia Jaker, Miller Communications,
213-822-4669)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00008)

AOX SHIPS BUSMASTER
WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- Aox has begun
shipping its MicroMaster 386 Micro Channel processor card. The board,
which operates as a separate processor when installed in a Micro
Channel-compatible computer, will either upgrade an 80286-based
computer like the IBM PS/2 model 50 or 60 to a 20/25 megahertz
80386 without removing the old processor, or provide parallel
processing capabilities for 80386-based Micro Channel machines.

MicroMaster 386 comes in either 20MHz or 25MHz versions, with the
20MHz version selling for $1495, and fully supports Windows 386,
PC-MOS/386, VM/86, VP/ix, Unix, Xenix, and MS-DOS operating
environments with up to 8MB of onboard 32-bit memory. On 16-bit
80286-based machines, Aox cache software makes use of the old 16-
bit memory to speed processing.

According to a spokesperson for Aox, software that will take
advantage of the multiprocessor capabilities of the MicroMaster
are currently under development at AoX.

The MicroMaster is one of the very few accessory boards actually
on the market that take advantage of the IBM Micro Channel
Architecture's ability to allow accessory boards to take over the
computer's bus. This capability not only makes it possible to
upgrade computers with no major modifications -- it also allows
separate processors to exist on the same bus, providing massive
processing power in desktop and tower microcomputers.

AOX, Inc. can be reached at: 486 Totten Pond Road, Waltham,
Massachusetts 02154, U.S.A., 617-890-4402.

(John McCormick/19890801)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00009)

IBM CHANGES SOFTWARE PRICES
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- IBM has adjusted
prices of some S/370 software in a move that a company spokesperson
says is intended to bring price and value more into line. Some costs
will go up and others down, and licensing agreements will be modified
to make installation and testing easier.

Changes in mainframe software prices involve changing products
from Monthly License Charges to Graduated Monthly License
Charges, increasing prices of selected programs and eliminating
most Initial License Charges. Increases will mostly be at the
high end and decreases mostly for low-end products.

The typical software for a low-end Enterprise System/3090 Model
120S will drop about one percent in price while the same software
installed on the ES/3090 600S, IBM's largest computer, will go up
about 13 percent. The new price schedule will go into effect on
January 1, 1990.

The new licensing schedule will go into effect August 1, 1989,
but its main impact will be to ease restrictions and lower costs
for those running multiple versions of a software product.

(John McCormick/19890802/Press Contact: David Harrah, 914-
642-4618)


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

PALINDROME RELEASES ARCHIVIST 2.0
NAPERVILLE, ILLINOIS, U.S.A. ,1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- Palindrome
released Version 2.0 of its PC Archivist and Network Archivist
programs. The new versions feature an improved the user interface
The program is marketed as "The backup system that knows what
it's doing."

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890803/Press Contact: Jim Gast, Palindrome
Corporation, 312-357-4600)


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

ASHTON-TATE SHIPS TRADING PLACES
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 18 (NB) -- The Tate
Publishing arm of Ashton-Tate has announced that it is now
shipping Trading Places, a microcomputer software package that
enables users to transparently swap dBASE III PLUS and dBASE IV
in and out memory.

The product priced at $99.95 is available through Ashton-Tate's
authorized resellers or direct from Tate Publishing.

Trading Places is designed to improve productivity for dBASE
users who frequently access other applications programs. It
lets users swap dBASE III PLUS or dBASE IV out of memory onto
disk with a few keystrokes, freeing up nearly 100 percent of
previously occupied memory. The program also trades up to 32
Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) programs between disk and
memory, eliminating the need to exit an application and to
uninstall, reload and reboot a TSR.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890804/Press Contact: Brad Stevens, Ashton-
Tate, 213-538-7348)


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

DELL INTROS NEW COMPUTER
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- Dell Computers has
introduced a small footprint 80286-based personal computer,
System 210.

The company has also brought out an optional Ethernet network
card that enables the System 210 to be used as a network
workstation.

System 210 is available in several configurations. With a 20
MByte hard disk, system pricing begins at $1,699. With a color
monitor and a 40 MByte disk, the system sells for $2,199. System
210 is also available as a diskless personal computer with a
network card. Prices for each configuration are about $500 below
similar configurations of Dell's earlier System 200.

The network card, which is available for all configurations,
sells for $199.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890804/Press Contact: Brian K. Fawkes, Dell
Computer, 512-338-4400)


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

FUJITSU PC-BASED RETAIL MANAGEMENT
NEW YORK NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- Fujitsu of
America has announced the first PC-based retail management system
built on the Microsoft OS/2 platform.

The Atrium9000 is a complete hardware and software point-of-sale
(POS) system. The system can handle up to 64 terminals and is
multitasking to allow numerous simultaneous tasks to be
executed. Atrium9000 terminals and controllers are AT-compatible
at both hardware and software levels.

Fujitsu's industry-standard development tools eliminate
proprietary codes and facilitate POS application development,
ensuring quick implementation of user-specific solutions.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890804/Press Contact: Maura Smith, Fujitsu
Systems of America, 619-481-4004)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00014)

DEVELOPMENT TOOLKIT FROM NSA
LAGUNA HILLS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 31 -- Network
Software Associates (NSA) has unveiled what it calls a first-of-
its-kind development toolkit to help users of the company's
AdaptSNA connectivity software generate DOS-based graphical user
interfaces that conform to the Common User Access (CUA)
specifications of IBM's Systems Application Architecture (SAA).

Called, AdaptSNA CUA Toolkit, the software brings OS/2-consistent
screen displays and mouse support to the world of DOS. It
allows implementation of interfaces to new or existing DOS-based
connectivity applications which then have the same look and feel
as IBM's OS/2 Presentation Manager.

The AdaptSNA CUA Toolkit is priced at $695 and will be available
in the fourth quarter of this year. According to company vice
president of sales and marketing Raymond Chan, this product was
developed to allow users to remain with DOS as long as possible
while taking advantage of the cost-savings advantages of the
standard CUA interface. This also provides a transition to
future OS/2 use by providing an OS/2 user interface learning
opportunity.

In a related announcement, NSA is now offering a 22-page brochure
describing the company's range of connectivity solutions for PC-
to-host, PC-to-mini, PC-to-PC and LAN-to-host communications in
an IBM Systems Network Architecture (SNA) environment. The brochure
is free of charge to interested PC and PS/2 users.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890804/Press Contact: Alice Topping, Network
Software Associates, 714-768-4013)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00015)

ATHENA'S HARD DISK ORGANIZER
BOULDER, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- From Athena
Software comes Disc Director, a new tool for reorganizing and
reclaiming hard disk space.

Disc Director eliminates wasted disk space by finding unused
duplicate files, empty and inefficient directories and orphan
files. The program is specifically designed to help users
analyze, plan and implement a hard disk reorganization strategy.

The program is said to be easy-to-use, menu-driven with online
context sensitive help. It is available in MS or PC DOS, 2.0
through 4.01. It can be used on PC/AT, PS/2, laptop, clone and
compatible computers. The program is not memory resident and
requires at least 512 RAM. It comes with a manual and 5.25 and
3.50 inch diskettes that are not copy protected.

The price of Disc Director is $79.00 and site licenses are available.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890804/Press Contact: Gayle Payne, Athena
Software, 303-530-0693)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00016)

TERMINAL EMULATION FROM FUTURE SOFT
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 14 (NB) -- Future Soft Computing has
released DynaComm 3270 Synchronous Edition communications software
to bring Microsoft Windows to IBM3278/3279 terminal emulation.

DynaComm 3270 Synchronous Edition is a Windows-based
communications and terminal emulation package that blends the
power of an advanced script language with the graphical user
interface of Microsoft Windows. The package is priced at $295.

DynaComm requires Microsoft Windows/286 or Windows/386 and will
run on IBM PCs, PS/2s or compatibles having an IBM or IRMS 3270
Emulation adapter. DynaComm also supports IBM's IND$FILE file
transfer protocol.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890804/Press Contact: Beverly McDonald,
Alexander Communications, 404/876-4482)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00017)

AST INTROS 286 ENHANCE BOARD
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- AST Research has
introduced a new model of its RampagePlus 286 board with 2MB of
memory.

The RampagePlus 286 can be upgraded to a total of 8MB of memory
and features full EMS 4.0 support, SuperPak utility software for
creating large RAM disks and buffered output of print data. The
board lists for $1,445.

In a related announcement, AST has lowered the price of its
Premium FASTboard/386 accelerator board for the AST Premium/286
personal computer from $2,195 to $1, 595. AST's I/O Pak 286-SP
designed AST's RampagePlus 286 that offers a serial and parallel
port has been reduced from $245 to $95.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890804/Press Contact: Deborah Paquin, AST
Research, 714-756-4984)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00018)

JAPANESE NEW WAVE
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- A Japanese version of the New Wave
user interface software for personal computers will be announced
this October. The version, under joint development by Yokogawa
Hewlett-Packard and Canon, is being supported by 10 software houses and
20 computer makers. Many of them are AX, or Japanese IBM-compatible
computer firms, which will be members of a new New Wave
consortium. Hewlett-Packard and Canon are expected to complete and
release the Japanese version as soon as this spring.

New Wave is graphical interface software developed by Hewlett-
Packard which boasts high-quality image processing based on AI
(artificial intelligence) technology and MS-Windows, from Microsoft.
New Wave presents a consistent user interface across multiple
software applications.

(Ken Takahashi/19890803)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00019)

TOSHIBA MAKES MORE DYNABOOKS
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- Toshiba will soon double production
of its breakthrough notebook computer DynaBook due to unexpectedly
heavy orders. The manufacturing plant in Oume will shift to volume
production of Dynabooks.

The DynaBook, which an IBM-compatible, measures at 31 centimeters
wide by 25.4 deep by 4.4 high and is what the firm claims is the world's
smallest personal computer with a built-in 3.5-inch FDD (floppy disk
drive) unit. The most popular feature, however, is the surprisingly low
price of 200,000 yen ($1,400) for the 16-bit processing machine.

Soon after the release on June 26, Toshiba received a rush of
orders. As the DynaBook is compatible with Toshiba's laptop J-3100
series, users of the J-3100 series been among the early big buyers.
Sales are now up to 15,000 units per month, compared to Toshiba's
initially planned 7,500 units.

In order to meet the heavy demand, Toshiba plans to increase
production to more than 120,000 units, up from the expected 60,000
units in the first year.

(Ken Takahashi/19890803)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SIN)(00020)

MITAC HOSTS DISTRIBUTORS IN SINGAPORE
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 JUL 22 (NB) -- Mitac International
Corporation, a Taiwan-based multinational computer company, has
shown its Paragon family of small-footprint computers at the
latest computer show at the Funan Centre, a local computer centre.
The event coincided with Mitac's worldwide distributor conference
in Singapore.

Mitac currently holds five percent of the computer market in Singapore
and the area is of particular interest the company as it is the "feeder
route" for shipment of the computers to Malaysia, and Indonesia. Its
Paragon line, gaining popularity due to state-of-the-art workmanship
and low price, consists of compact XT, AT and 386-based systems with
both standard AT and Micro Channel (IBM PS/2 Series) architecture.
The machines feature highly integrated motherboards with I/O ports,
real-time clock, floppy disk controller and graphics controllers.

As a winner of a Best Industrial Design in Singapore award, and with
its 14 years of experience in the area, Mitac machines are targeted
at the computer-aided-design, engineering, and manufacturing sectors,
as well as military and business environments.

Mitac computers are given the moniker Paragon only in Southeast Asia;
trademark conflicts in the U.S. and Europe have prompted the firm to
sell its products under its own brand name, Mitac. The line of machines
is distributed worldwide in 100 countries and by ACS Computer Pte. Ltd.
in this region.

(Michael Worsley & Joseph Ming & Wendy Woods/19890801/Press Contact:
Alice Soh, DECA Systems Pte. Ltd., Ph: (65) 338.1379)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SIN)(00021)

SINGAPORE: NEW DATAMINI TOWER
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 JUL 21 (NB) -- The Datamini AT Mini Tower
is the newest machine from a local PC manufacturer.

Datamini's AT Mini Tower computer is supported by a high speed
80286-12 central processor running at either 8 or 12 MHz with
an optional 80287 math coprocessor. It comes in a surprisingly small
case -- 40 percent smaller than conventional AT towers. The most unique
feature is its foldable stand which can be used as a tower neatly
tucked under the desk or as a conventional desktop with a small
footprint.

The new Tower PC offers two storage options -- a 40MB 3.5-inch hard
disk, a 3.5-inch floppy drive and one 5.25-inch floppy drive. The
5.25-inch floppy drive can be also be replaced with an internal tape
back-up system. The other option is a 40MB 5.25-inch hard disk and
two 3.5-inch floppy drives.

The price of AT Mini Tower Computer is suggested at about S$3,500 with
EGA display card at no extra cost and it is available now.

Also, Datamini still offers other desktop computers such as the
Datamini Compact AT, the Enhanced Compact XT Turbo and Standard XT
Turbo.

(Michael Worsley & Joseph Ming/19890801/Press Contact: Ms Sandy Lee,
Data Design Pte. Ltd., Ph: (65) 337.1075.)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00022)

COMMODORE PC30-III HITS CANADA
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JULY 31 (NB) -- Commodore Business
Machines has introduced the 80286-based PC30-III microcomputer to
the Canadian market. As it has done before, Commodore launched
the IBM-compatible machine here before introducing it to the
United States market. Commodore has said in the past that its
Canadian distribution channels, like those in Europe, are better
suited to selling PC-compatibles than its U.S. dealer network.

The PC30-III is able to run at three different clock speeds: six,
eight and 12 megahertz. Standard equipment includes 640K bytes of
memory, a 3.5-inch diskette drive, 20- or 40-megabyte hard disk,
a 101-key keyboard, one serial and one parallel port. There are
three 16-bit expansion slots and one eight-bit slot. Although
some units are in dealers' hands, a company spokesperson said,
pricing has not yet been announced.

(Grant Buckler/19890803/Press Contact: Stan Pagonis, Commodore,
416-499-4292)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00023)

NEVIS LICENSES JETFORM
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 AUG 3 (NB) -- Indigo Software has
licensed components of its JetForm forms processing software to
Nevis Technologies of Culver City, Calif. Nevis will include a
version of JetForm data merge software, callable from a Microsoft
Windows application program interface (API) in its Nevis
Automated Branch Automation Software (NIBAS). NIBAS is a
client/server branch automation package for banks, to be
distributed worldwide by Wang and Nixdorf Computer.

Indigo, founded in 1982, launched the JetForm software line in
October, 1988.

(Grant Buckler/19890803/Press Contact: Barry Gillespie, Indigo
Software, 613-594-3026)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00024)

ADP AND IBM SIGN AGREEMENT
ROSELAND, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- Automated
Data Processing and IBM today announced a multi-year agreement for
IBM to provide ADP's Brokerage Services clients with computer
support formerly supplied by ADP.

(John McCormick/19890803/Press Contact: Arthur Weinbach, ADP 201-
994-5820 or John Clark, IBM, 914-642-5409)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00025)

DATA GENERAL 386 WORKSTATIONS
WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 3 (NB) -- Data
General has announced three new Intel processor-based
workstations for high, middle, and low-end markets.

The $2,995 Dasher/286-12c, $3795 Dasher/386sx, and $8,495
Dasher/386-25 are ISA or AT-compatible bus design systems and all
come with hard disks, serial and parallel ports, and built-in VGA
graphics controller at the prices listed.

Data General also announced a new revision of the MS-DOS
compatible ICOBOL programming language, which now features
complete program and file compatibility with ICOBOL applications
running on Data General's AOS/VS and DG/RDOS operating systems.
Revision 2.0.1 of Interactive Systems Corp.'s VP/ix, DOS-under-
Unix, 386i operating system was also announced, which supports
the TCP/IP communications protocol letting 386i workstations
communicate with Data General MV and 88000 RISC-based computers.

(John McCormick/19890803/Press Contact: Brent Bluth, 508-
898-4074)


(EXCLUSIVE)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00001)

BIG AT&T ONLINE SERVICE DUE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 3 (NB) -- One week after
winning its regulatory freedom, as of August 24, AT&T is planning
a massive online service offering for this fall, to be sold
through its AT&T Calling Cards, according to Newsbytes sources.

Newsbytes sources indicate the new service will include the best
features of Dow Jones News Retrieval and Compuserve, directly
competing with those services as well as GEnie and MCI Mail.
AT&T has reportedly discussed the new offering with executives
from Dow Jones and Nintendo, which claimed it would joint-venture
a game network with AT&T earlier this summer

AT&T Mail will provide the electronic mail and fax functions for
the new service when it gets underway this fall, Newsbytes
sources added. Although AT&T hasn't discussed pricing, and won't
confirm anything about its new services, word is pricing will be
competitive with Compuserve, Genie, and even conferencing
services such as PeopleLink. Sign-ups will be amazingly simple: the
4-digit personal identification number, or PIN, on an AT&T
Calling Card will be the password and charges go right onto
an AT&T long distance bill.

On August 2 AT&T also made a major move in the related field of
audiotex. It turned American Express' FDR Interactive division,
an audiotex service bureau based in Omaha, Nebraska using AT&T
lines, into an Amex-AT&T joint-venture called Call Interactive.

An AT&T spokesman would not confirm the report.

(Wendy Woods & Dana Blankenhorn/19890803/Press Contact: Bryant
Steele, AT&T, 201-221-5017)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00002)

AT&T HAS ITS FREEDOM
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- U.S. District
Judge Harold Greene will let AT&T enter any electronic publishing
businesses it wants, as scheduled, August 24. That's seven years to
the date after the company entered into the historic consent
decree which divided it eight ways in exchange for just such liberty.
The Bell Operating Companies, created in January, 1984 as a
result of the decree, still may not own information concerns.

In issuing the order, Greene indicated that as of August 24 the
burden of proof for keeping AT&T out of electronic publishing
belonged to the publishers, and they failed to meet it. Among the
online publishers today are Knight-Ridder, Citicorp, Dow Jones,
Reuters, Dun & Bradstreet, TRW Inc., as well as General Electric,
IBM and Sears, the Judge indicated -- plenty of competition. AT&T
could not use its position in long-distance services against
competitors, Greene added, because it now has just 68 percent of the
market.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890803)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00003)

BRITISH TELECOM BUYS TYMNET
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 AUG 02 (NB) -- British Telecom spread its
wings further with the surprise cash acquisition of the online ventures
of the McDonnell Douglas Corporation. The deal, conditional on U.S.
regulatory approval and a full purchase investigation by both
companies, is worth $355 million.

One of the companies in McDonnell Douglas Information Systems
is Tymnet. The Tymnet acquisition gives BT access to one of the world's
largest public and private data networks, with primary links into
11 countries including the U.S., and private links to 30 more
countries spanning the world.

British Telecom has also acquired McDonnell Douglas' 25 percent
stake in the Network Information Service Company (NISC) of Japan, as
well as ownership of EDI*Net, a leading North American electronic data
interchange (EDI) company.

While Information Systems has been a money loser for McDonnell
Douglas,  the company as indicated this move is actually the
final step in a plan announced in October 1988 to concentrate on
commercial and military aerospace.  The company's 10 years in
computers generated large revenues but little earnings.  During
the past year, revenues for the Information Systems unit were
$1.3 billion but the division recorded an operating loss of $76
million.

McDonnell Douglas will keep its St. Louis-based integrated
systems division that designs software for computer-aided design
and manufacturing for the company's aerospace business and also
sells these packages to other companies.  The North American
field service organization will be sold later this year.  Telecheck will
also be sold.  The computer systems division will be merged into the
international division and spun off into a public company at some
as yet undisclosed future date.

It was not all smiles at BT's headquarters in London last week,
however. Only hours after the McDonnell Douglas deal was
announced, the Hong Kong broadcasting authority announced that BT
had failed in its bid for a $6,500 million contract for the
colony's cable TV franchise. The HKBA has awarded the contract to
an independent consortium headed by Sir Yuekong Pao's wharf
transport and hotel group.

(Janet Endrijonas & Steve Gold/19890804)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00004)

GLOBAL SATELLITE NET BUYS GEAR
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- An international
consortium planning to provide continuous voice, data and
facsimile communications on airplanes has named EB-Nera of Norway
as a supplier. The consortium will buy C$22 million worth of
aeronautical satellite communications controllers for six earth
stations from EB-Nera. The system is to link aircraft almost
anywhere in the world into global communications networks via
satellite. It is expected to go into service late next year. The
participants are Teleglobe Canada, France Telecom, OTC Ltd. of
Australia and the Societe internationale de telecommunications
aeronautiques (SITA).

(Grant Buckler/19890801/Press Contact: Jacques-Alain Lavallee,
Teleglobe Canada, 514-289-7490)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00005)

JAPAN: ISDN PHONE DEBUTS
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- Japan's telecom giant NTT has
released a digital phone for its value-added service called Step 2
for its ISDN (integrated services digital network) INS Net 64.

The phone, called NTT Netmate D64, enables three people to speak
with each other at the same time, and forwards call to another
person. Personal computer communication or voice conferences are
also possible by connecting personal computers and data terminals with
the ISDN phone. The digital phone has two input jacks, one with a data
transmission speed of 300 to 9,600 bits per second, and another
capable of 64 kilobits per second.

It is priced at 198,000 yen or $1,400. Hitachi and Oki Electric
Industries will manufacture it. NTT is aiming to sell 10,000 units
annually.

(Ken Takahashi/19890803)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00006)

NTT ADOPTS CTRON
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 AUG 3 (NB) -- Japan's telecommunications giant NTT
has adopted the CTRON (Communication TRON) operating system for its
telecommunication equipment. This is the second time the firm
has employed CTRON -- the first was when NTT adopted CTRON on its
ISDN (integrated services digital network) telephone exchange units
last year. Unlike most communications equipment with different
operating systems, the CTRON-based units are expected to be
compatible with each other.

Furthermore, NTT will adopt CTRON on its exchange units and
telecommunication computers exported to overseas.

(Ken Takahashi/19890803)


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

TELENET, INFONET INTRODUCE FAX NETS
RESTON, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1989 JULY 31 (NB) -- Telenet has opened
Telenet Fax, its international fax network, and promised prices
competitive with other services to Europe and Asia. It's a PC-to-
Fax service, like MCI Mail for fax, rather than a fax-to-fax service like
MCI Fax. It works with just a modem, and doesn't require a PC fax card.

Infonet, a rival in the business of supplying packet switch
services, introduced Notice-Fax, The Infonet product lets you set
up mailing lists, and has a forms-building function so you don't
have to store inventories of pre-printed forms.

John Sherburne, director of Telemail services, told Newsbytes
there is no major marketing push planned for the service. The
largest portion of Telemail's customers are large corporate
clients served by Telenet's own direct sales force, he said,
although the company is planning a direct mail piece on its new
offering.

Sherburne says Telenet Fax will continue trying to deliver a
message up to 10 times over two hours. That can be important in
places such as Spain, where most fax machines still share lines with
phones. Sherburne added Telenet Fax will charge users per
thousand characters. Other services from AT&T and MCI Mail use
schemes based on the number of pages you're sending or connect
time, he said.

In terms of pricing, Sherburne said, "In the international market
we are super-good. We're the lowest-price way of sending a fax,
bar none. The new rates overseas are down 70 percent in some cases,
47 percent below MCI Mail rates internationally and on the order of
37 percent below straight voice rates."

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890803/Press Contact: Robin Carlson, Telenet,
703-669-5664)


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

TELENET PUSHES E-MAIL PACKAGE
RESTON, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- Telenet is
planning a major market push for its PC Telemail product, which
runs on a PC and automates Telenet's mail function, Telemail. PC
Telemail's Steve Layne told Newsbytes volume discounts can bring
the $150 retail price down to $75 per copy. The product will
also be pushed to small companies and consumers through agents
like Bell Atlantic, which is reselling Telemail.

PC Telemail lets you upload and address many letters at once,
and download all your incoming mail, by using menus to help you
create a set of commands which the program activates online.
"Telenet has been misportrayed as the King's E-Mail service,"
Layne added. " That's not fair. Telemail, through a number of re-
sellers, has actually offered tele-mail capability to a number of
small and medium-sized business concerns. It's a little known
fact, because of our marketing efforts, but anyone who wants to
subscribe can for as little as $20/month, with credit card
billing."

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890803/Press Contact: Robin Carlson, Telenet,
703-669-5664)


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

APPLE EXTENDS GEIS CONTRACT FOR APPLELINK
ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- Apple Computer
and GE Information Services (GEIS) extended their agreement to
run AppleLink on GEIS. AppleLink offers electronic mail, bulletin
boards, alert notices, and databases to the company's developers,
resellers, major accounts, third parties and employees.

Terms of the agreement, including its length, were not disclosed.
A spokesman for GEIS called it open-ended. The new version of
AppleLink, 5.0, runs faster than the old version and has new
features like MultiFinder compatibility, data-compression,
graphics integration, and personalization features. The new
version goes online in mid-August.

Apple's AppleLink is not related to the AppleLink being offered
by Quantum Computer Services in Vienna, Virginia.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890803/Press Contact: Jacelyn Swenson, GEIS,
301-340-4485)


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

DIALCOM BUYS ESI STREET
ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, U.S.A. 1989 JULY 31 (NB) -- British
Telecom's Dialcom subsidiary took another step toward vertical
integration in the online business by buying Entertainment
Systems International, creators of the EsiStreet service on
Dialcom.

EsiStreet, geared toward the music industry, was founded in 1983 as a
reseller of Dialcom services. Its products include Billboard's retail
sales and summary airplay charts, posted up to six days before
they're published in Billboard Magazine; box office charts and production
charts from Pollstar; The Hollywood Reporter, with insider news,
international feature articles, artist signings, and international listings
of potential song purchases from The Leadsheet. Other Dialcom-resident
services include the Official Airline Guide, news, mail and fax services.

Combined with the purchase of Tymnet, BT's U.S. holdings now
include transmission services, online services and information
products. The question for the future is whether Dialcom can
digest all these acquisitions and create synergy among them.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890803/Press Contact: Richard C. Adler,
Dialcom, 301-881-9020)


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

RECRUIT OPENS AISHITERU 2
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- The Recruit Company has told its
executives to go online, after a two-year trial was judged a success,
according to Hiro Nakamura of The Teleputing Hotline, a newsletter
covering telephone-computer connections worldwide.

Nakamura reports the 60-line Aishiteru 2 system has computer
conferencing, e-mail, bulletin boards and corporate files. It
runs on a Sony NEWS workstation. 500 managers have laptop PCs and
are being told to access it daily. Since 1987, Ajinomoto, JR, and
Fujitsu have copied the idea of building private corporate networks, but
none so aggressively as Recruit.

Recruit, which started as a job placement outfit, now sports a
fax network and other online products, by reselling domestic and
overseas lines leased from NTT and others. Despite recent
scandals involving its real estate division, which helped bring
down the government of Prime Minister Noburo Takeshita, the
company remains stable, with a workforce averaging 25 years of
age. The name Aishiteru translates literally as "I love you," and
Aishiteru 2 as "I Love You, Too."

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890803)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(WAS)(00012)

NEW MICROCOM MODEM
NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- Microcom,
Inc., the modem manufacturer known for its MNP error-correction
and file compression program, has recently started shipping the
QX/3296c modem.

The new modem, listing for $1199, provides full compatibility for
Bell 103 & 212A, V.22bis, and CCITT V.32 operating standards (300
to 9,600 baud) as well as actual throughput of up to 19,200 bits
per second on regular telephone lines. The higher throughput is
provided by the MNP Class 5 data compression protocols and
requires that the remote modem also use the MNP protocol.

The special protocol speeds transmission by monitoring error
rates and upping transmission speed when line quality is best, as
well as compressing files. Other manufacturers also use the MNP
protocol, which Microcom makes available to the industry.

The new modem also has password security, auto-dial, auto answer,
UUCP (Unix) and Kermit protocol support.

Microcom is a leader in communications hardware and offers
numerous network, modem, and other specialized mainframe/PC link
hardware.

(John McCormick/19890801/Press Contact: Marsha Miller, 617-551-
1954)


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

ILLINOIS GIVES DEAF ACCESS TO UTILITIES
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A. 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- Through its
Illinois Telecommunications Access Corp., a non-profit
corporation, the state has installed terminals in all utility
company offices statewide so deaf customers can reach customer
service people. These Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf let
deaf people interact over regular voice lines. There is no charge
for the devices.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890803/Press Contact: ITAC, Box 64509,
Chicago, IL 60664. 800-855-1155)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00014)

US SPRINT'S BRAILLE PHONE CARD
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- US Sprint
has introduced a Braille telephone credit card to make it easier for
blind people to place long distance calls. It's believed to be the first
credit card specifically designed for blind people. The company will
also offer directory assistance and review bills over the phone at no
charge to blind phone users.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890803)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00015)

UNISYS BUYS BROADBAND
WOODCLIFF LAKE, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- Unisys'
Timeplex subsidiary will acquire Broadband Telesystems of
Pleasanton, California, which is developing T-3 minihub
technology. T-3 mini-hubs would tie together high capacity trunk
lines running at up to 45 million bits per second, roughly 28
times the speed of T-1 signals.

Timeplex said a single T-3 system can be cost-effective when
replacing as few as 5-10 T-1 links, and make it easier to
integrate separate voice, data, and image networks. The chief
buyers of this equipment are telephone companies and long-
distance outfits building backbond networks.

Broadband Telesystems, formerly known as Sequential Systems Inc.,
was founded in 1987.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890803/Press Contact: Lynn Derfus, Timeplex,
201-391-1111)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00016)

YANKEE GROUP PRAISES TI FOR EDI
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A, 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- Texas Instruments
was named "Electronic Data Interchange User of the Year" by the
Yankee Group for its leadership in setting standards for electronic
invoicing and its clever internal use of the technology. TI trades about
30 different types of documents electronically with more than 1,000
customers, suppliers, banks, and carriers.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890803)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00017)

TELECOM GOLD AT 2400 BAUD WITH MNP
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 AUG 02 (NB) -- Telecom Gold has upgraded
its London access ports to operate at 2400 bps (bits per second),
as well as introduced the benefits of MNP (Microcom Networking
Protocol) Class 5 error-correction and data compression. The
upgrade also means a new number for London access, which is 01-
203-3033 for all speed modems, from 300/300 bps to 2400/2400 bps,
with or without MNP.

The changes, which have been under beta test this past month,
mean that it is now possible to access Telecom Gold at effective
speeds approaching 4,800 bps, when the benefits of MNP's data
compression system are taken into account.

Unlike previous direct-dial numbers, which will be gradually
phased out over the coming months, the new single-number access
port supports 8-bit file transfers, permitting the use of X- and
Y-Modem on most Gold systems and Kermit on other systems.
Previously, subscribers had to access via an X.25-compatible data
network such as BT's Packet Switch Stream (PSS) or Telenet to
use file transfer protocols.

(Steve Gold/19890802/Press & Public Contact: Telecom Gold
Helpline - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00018)

BIX'S NEW MANUALS/DISK USER GUIDE
PETERBOROUGH, NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 02 (NB) -- Byte
Information eXchange, better known as the BIX online service, has
announced a redesigned user manual, plus a new innovation -- a
disk-based tutorial for PC and Apple Mac users. The combined
package retails for $19-95 plus $3 postage an packing.

The BIX command manual has been completely rewritten and expanded
to cover new features available since the original BIX manual
was printed. New features covered include: CBix, BIX's CB-style
chat system; mass mail deletion; and the listings area conference.

(Steve Gold/19890802/Press & Public Contact: BIX - 603-924-7681)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SYD)(00019)

NTWT SPONSORS YACHT RACE
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- The international
telecommunications company Northern Telecom World Trade will sponsor
Australia's premier yacht race, the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, this
year.

The $US4.5 billion company's Australian subsidiary NorTel will make a
cash payment to the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia and supply the
vital communications facilities. The two-year agreement also includes
the biennial Southern Cross Cup series.

American yachts competing in the 1988 Sydney to Hobart race are
expected in Hobart any day now.

(Gavin Atkins/19890802)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SYD)(00020)

PACKET DATA NETWORK FOR NZ
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND, 1989 JUL 29 (NB) -- New Zealand's military
packet switched data network Modnet, has been opened by the country's
ministry of defence. The system has been designed to be vendor
independent. By the end of next year, there will be some 1900 nodes on
the system.

(Paul Zucker/19890803)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SIN)(00021)

INFOLINK LINKS HONG KONG/AUSTRALIA
HONG KONG, ASIA, 1989 AUG 5 (NB) -- The fast-growing Infolink Group,
Australia's only private sector provider of value-added packet-switched
network services, is in the final stages of negotiations with Cable
& Wireless and other parties to include Hong Kong in new Asia-wide
network services which will link the region to Australia as never
before.

OTC Ltd., a company formed by the Australian government's Overseas
Telecommunications Commission which controls all international
telecommunications, recently purchased 50 percent of Infolink
Network Pty Ltd, the data network arm of the Infolink Group. In
line with Prime Minister Bob Hawke's stated desire to bring Asia and
Australia closer together, the new company offers a regional data
communications facility which can start the ball rolling.

At the present time, establishment of private telecommunications
across the greater region requires independent negotiations and
agreements with each country's telecommunications authority.

The technical talent required is rare in this region and it
is also very expensive. As a result to date, only those corporations,
such as the major banks and airlines, have been able to afford to
establish comprehensive private networks.

Many companies in Hong Kong have affiliated companies in other parts
of the region, including Australia and New Zealand, but do not
necessarily control those affiliates. Each separate operation could
not possibly afford the investment necessary to build a private
international network, but they can participate in a network managed by
experts. The advent of the Infolink joint venture opens the
telecommunication door to all those companies.

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), the much-touted aid to international
financial and trade transactions, is just one of the value-added
services provided by Infolink Network. And an electronic mail system
is another feature.

(Keith Cameron/19890804)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SIN)(00022)

FIBER OPTICS LINK SINGAPORE BANK
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- The Development Bank of
Singapore (DBS) today became the first Singapore bank to use the
latest fibre-optic technology for data communication networking.

DBS will use the technology to link its head office and 34 branches to
its two computer centres via Singapore Telecom's Diginet service.
According to a bank release, the application of the technology with
its high-speed data communication would further enhance its level of
service and provide better continuity of its online banking services,
as well as give greater data protection and security.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890801/Contact: Development Bank of
Singapore, Ph: (65) 220.1111)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(WAS)(00001)

DTP INVADES RUSSIA
MOSCOW, U.S.S.R., 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- The Soviet-Italian-French
"Interquadro" enterprise will begin selling Xerox Ventura Publisher
in the Soviet Union, the Soviet news agency TASS has reported.

Rank Xerox, a British firm which has worked with the Soviet
Russian language Progress software, will supply the software.
Ralph Lend, general director for Rank Xerox's Eastern European
division, said that there are more than 200 major publishers with
8,500 newspapers and 5,000 magazines in the U.S.S.R., and that
total demand for PCs in the Soviet Union is in excess of 20
million.

(John McCormick/19890803)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(WAS)(00002)

AT&T BANS CFCS
BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- In an
important environmental move, AT&T has today announced a new
corporate policy aimed at eliminating all chlorofluorocarbon or
CFC emissions by the year 1994. CFCs such as freon, widely used
in industry, particularly the electronics and computer industry
for cleaning critical parts, are blamed for reducing the earth's
ozone layer, causing increased ultraviolet levels at the earth's
surface, which in turn causes increased skin cancer rates.

AT&T, the first U.S. corporation to adopt such a CFC-ban policy,
has set a goal of a 50 percent reduction in CFC use by 1991 and has
already extended its CFC ban to all packaging manufactured using
CFCs, which includes most foam plastic containers. Under the
policy, AT&T will not accept any packaging or packing materials
created using CFCs.

Because of AT&T's strong position in the marketplace, this
corporate policy could have a dramatic impact in the worldwide
struggle to reduce industrial pollution. Widespread adverse
economic impact is not likely since alternatives to CFC use are
already available.

Last year, AT&T and Petroferm, Inc., announced BIOACTR EC-7, a
replacement for circuit board cleaner CFC-113, which is made from
oranges and wood pulp, while IBM is concentrating on a processing
using deionized water to replace CFC-113.

(John McCormick/19890803/Press Contact: Lydia Whitefield of AT&T,
201-771-3260)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LON)(00003)

AT&T/OLIVETTI SMART CARDS IN ITALY
IVREA, ITALY, 1989 AUG 02 (NB) -- AT&T and Olivetti have announced a
joint initiative under which AT&T's smart card technology will be
marketed in Italy. The move marks the first time that U.S. smart
card technology has been marketed in Europe.

Smart cards are ordinary plastic cards (debit/credit cards )
with microprocessors built in, The result is a computer on a
card that is capable of completing transactions by interacting
with online and offline EFTPOS (electronic funds transfer at
point of sale) machines, as well as ATMs (automated teller
machines).

Initially, Sixcom, an Olivetti subsidiary, will market the card
technology for use as a non-stop means of paying road tolls. As
drivers approach a toll point, they slow down to about 35 miles
per hour, and insert their smart cards into car-mounted
transmitters. The transmitters signal the toll booth with the
card details.

AT&T's smart card system differs from competing systems in that
its card can have several different functions, including the
ability to store data for use as a medical card, for example.
AT&T received its first smart card patent in the U.S. in 1984.
Since then, the technology has been marketed successfully
throughout the U.S..

(Steve Gold/19890802/Press Contact (US): Bryant Steele - Tel:
201-221-5017)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LON)(00004)

SMART CARD 2000 IN AMSTERDAM
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, 1989 AUG 02 (NB) -- Smartcard 2000
has announced that a conference of the same name will be held in
Amsterdam from 4-6 October, 1989. The three-day conference aims
to cover all aspects of the use of smart card in today's society.

Registration for the conference cost NG (Nederland Guilders) 675
per day, or NG 1,450 for the full three days. The organizers have
also arranged hotel accommodation in range of hotels, with daily
rates ranging from NG 100 to 295.

(Steve Gold/19890802/Press & Public Contact: Smart Card 2000,
Paulus Potterstaar 40, 1071 DB, Amsterdam. Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00005)

FUJITSU: LAP & BOOK-SIZED PCS
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- Fujitsu is developing its smallest
computers -- one is a color-LCD laptop, the other is book-sized --
in a trend toward miniaturized systems started by NEC and Toshiba
recently.

The color laptop computer, which is expected to be released next
year, will have an Intel 80386 central processing unit and a whopping
ten megabytes of main memory in order to run the OS/2 operating
system. Fujitsu will further enhance its little powerhouse with
networking capability, and the so-called DSTN (double super twisted
nematic) LCD, which will enable it to display 16 colors.

Fujitsu is not releasing specifications for its book-sized computer
but promises that it will weigh less than one kilogram (2.2 pounds).
The pocket-sized machine will be developed with technology from
U.S.-based Poqet Computer Corp., a company in which Fujitsu has
heavily invested.

The Japanese market's interest in laptops has been rekindled with
the development of color displays and lighter weights for the machines.
Toshiba is capitalizing on the interest by doubling its output of
DynaBooks, the first book-sized laptops in the Japanese market.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890803)


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

SUPER FAMICON UNVEILED
KYOTO, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 29 (NB) -- Nintendo has unveiled a prototype
Super Famicon, the next generation for its popular video game machine.
Equipped with a 16-bit central processing unit developed jointly by
Nintendo and Ricoh, the machine's display is capable of inverting,
magnifying, or reducing an on-screen image. The machine also has
digital sound. But the higher quality display and sound come at a
price -- the prototype is incompatible with current Nintendo game
playing machines and software.

Nintendo publicly blames the shortage and high cost of 256-kilobit
static RAM (random access memory) chips and mask ROM (read only
memory) chips for its intention not to ship the Super Famicon for
another year. The delay is actually the second for the machine, which
when first announced had been destined for stores shelves in July.

But industry analysts believe the larger reason for the delay in
shipping the game machine is that Gameboy, Nintendo's portable game
player, is enjoying better-than-expected sales in Japan, and Nintendo's
Entertainment System is selling well in the U.S. Consequently Nintendo
does not want to confuse buyers nor stem its own flow of dollars by
introducing a new product at this time.

The price has not been decided, but Nintendo promises to set it below
30,000 yen or $215, so that the new game is affordable for children,
the product's main customers. Nintendo plans to market the Super
Famicon only in Japan.

(Ken Takahashi/19890803)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LON)(00007)

MITSUBISHI'S LAPTOP POWER INVERTER
HATFIELD, ENGLAND, 1989 AUG 02 (NB) -- Ever noticed how many of
the power powerful laptops around today are mains-powered only?
This is often due to the power drain that the machine's hard
disk has on internal batteries. Mitsubishi Electric believes it
has the answer, aimed at users of its MP286L laptop, but available
for all users of PCs with a standard IEC power plug.

The UKP 210 power inverter has an IEC Mains connector at the
computer end, and a cigar lighter attachment at the other.
According to Mitsubishi, the power from an average car's battery
is sufficient to power its MP286L laptop PC for up to three hours
without flattening the car battery.

(Steve Gold/19890802/Press & Public Contact: Bryan Martyr,
Mitsubishi Electric UK - Tel: [phone])


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

NEUROCOMPUTER READS HANDWRITING
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- Mitsubishi Electric claims to have
successfully developed a neurocomputer which will read handwritten
alphabetic characters by combining a neural network program with
optical character reading technology.

The basic system consists of luminous elements and optical fiber
which transform character patterns into optical signals, as well as
liquid crystal elements which capture and portray the patterns.

Though the basic optical neurocomputer does not distinguish
handwriting characters run together, as in normal handwriting, it
discriminates individually handwritten letters with great accuracy,
Mitsubishi claims.

(Ken Takahashi/19890803)


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

LAPTOP CRAY COMING?
TOKYO, JAPAN 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- Supertek Computer, the only a
maker of a Cray-compatible minicomputer, and recipient of a major
capital investment from Yokogawa Electric in June this year, is
planning to develop a Cray-compatible laptop size computer, S-3,
the Nikkei Industrial Daily reported.

The report says the company has an on-going project to develop a
desktop size computer, S-2, based on its Cray 1-compatible
minicomputer, S-1. To realize a laptop-sized supercomputer, Supertek
will integrate 1.5 million of transistors or four central processing
units for the S-2 onto one chip.

Further, the two sides are reportedly planning to manufacture the
S-3 at and to make it compatible with Cray's C90, which will be a
successor to the Y-MP series.

Both Yokogawa and Yokogawa Hewlett-Packard are on holiday so
Newsbytes could not confirm the report.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890803)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00010)

HITACHI'S FAST CACHE MEMORY
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 AUG 2 (NB) -- Hitachi will start marketing a high
performance ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) that
integrates interface, latch or other logic circuits onto its SRAM
(static random access memory) chips in next year.

Hitachi says this will allow ASICs to catch up with the fast processing
speeds of current microprocessing units by avoiding the delays which
occur in logic circuits with cache memories. The integration of logic
circuits and SRAM will increase performance over other ASICs by
20 to 40 percent, according to Hitachi.

Hitachi is working hard to increase its share of the world ASIC
market, since until now this segment has been insulated against the
price fluctuations in other sectors, particularly the general-purpose
memory market.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890803)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00011)

TI TO MAKE 256K SRAM
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- Texas Instruments in Japan has
developed its own 256 K-bit SRAM (static random access memory) chip
and will start manufacturing it early next year.

A TI spokesman told Newsbytes, "We have successfully developed
our own high performance 256 k-bit SRAM and we will introduce an
8-inch wafer to produce the chips. The production will be take place in
our Hiji plant early in 1990."

TI Japan is the second company to introduce 8-inch wafers on which
the chips are produced, following IBM Japan.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890803)


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

UNIFORUM SPEAKERS LINE-UP
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 31 (NB) -- Uniforum
in Boston August 22 to 24 at the Hynes Convention Center
promises to be an event featuring dueling organizations, all of which
have representatives in strategic luncheon spots.

The Open Systems Foundation, a group of companies aiming to create a
single, open Unix standard operating system, gets its spot in the sun
when Digital Equipment Vice Presdient Donald McInnis takes the
podium at the luncheon keynote address August 22. The goal of this
organization is to provide users with Unix applications that feature
portability and interoperability in distributed, integrated
networks that include computers, software, and other resources from
different vendors. Toward that end, he'll suggest that the pace of
open systems development will quicken over the next 18 months.

Key Open Software foundation members stand behind the
new OSF/Motif, which presents a consistent, palatable front-end
graphics display to Unix program users, and which is under development
by a variety of companies.

Larry Dooling, president of AT&T's Unix Software Operation, a separate
business operation of AT&T responsible for the development, marketing
and licensing of Unix System V software, will talk about the advanced
features of System V release 4.0 during his luncheon address August 23.
He represents Unix International, a group devoted to making System
V the standard, and boasts an expansive array of 85 member companies.

Uniforum/Boston, sponsored by /usr/group, will present 20 half-
day and full-day tutorials, free introductory workshops, and exhibits by
major vendors.

(Wendy Woods/19890731/Press Contact: Ed Palmer, 408-986-8840)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TYO)(00002)

JAPAN: SUN-COMPATIBLE WORKSTATION DUE
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- Seiko Denshi Kogyo will take on
Sun Microsystems for a share of the Japanese workstation market by
producing a Sun Microsystems-compatible RISC (reduced instruction
set computer) engineering workstation as early as October of this year.

The Sun clone, made possible by a licensing agreement for Sun's
RISC chip, the SPARC, last fall, will be aimed at the CAD/CAM (computer
aided design/manufacturing) market. The new machine will have
an original high-speed graphics processing board. Seiko is scheduled to
release more information soon. Industry analysts speculate that
the graphical engineering workstation will be based on Sun's new
operating system, SunOS Ver.4.0, soon to be incorporated into AT&T's
System V.

To date, the only firms under license to create Sun-compatible
workstations in Japan are Seiko Denshi and Toshiba. Toshiba will
announce its Sun-compatible workstation in mid-1990.

(Ken Takahashi/19890803)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TYO)(00003)

ZAX RESELLS SUN WORKSTATIONS
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 AUG 3 (NB) -- Tokyo-based microcomputer
development support machine maker, Zax Corporation, says it is
receiving engineering workstations on an OEM (original equipment
manufacturing) basis from Nihon Sun Microsystems. Zax has become the
ninth OEM supplier of Sun's workstations in the Japanese market.

The principal business of Zax is the development and manufacture
of microcomputer development support systems, such as The Box-
ER ICE (in-circuit emulator) debugger with microcomputer development
environment integrated systems for engineers.

But, since computer-aided software engineering now requires bigger
systems, Sun has been chosen as Zax's new system supplier.

The company expects to sell 120 Sun units, amounting to receipts
of 800 million yen or $5.7 million, in the initial year.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890803/Press Contact: Zax Corporation, 03-392-3331)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TYO)(00004)

SONY DISCOUNTS NEWS
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- In an effort to make its Unix-
based workstations more competitive, Sony has discounted the
NEWS workstations by up to 25 percent. For example, the high-end
model NWS-1850 with two CPUs (central processing units) went from
4.75 million yen to 3.55 million yen ($34,000 to $25,000), and the
low end NWS-711 with one CPU has been discounted from 575,000
yen to 450,000 yen ($4,100 to $3,200).

NEWS, released in January 1987, has rapidly taken a lion's share
of the workstation market, but is threatened by Sun Microsystems,
NeXT, and others. The latest threat has come from Digital Equipment
Corporation Japan which has just released a low-priced
workstation.

Sony sold 6,000 NEWS computers in 1988, and expects to sell
20,000 this year, which will come, says Toshitada Doi, director of
Sony, from the price cuts.

(Ken Takahashi/19890803)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(SIN)(00005)

BIG VAX ORDER FOR SINGAPORE
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 JUL 20 (NB) -- Sembawang Holdings (SH), a
local leading marine and engineering corporation, yesterday awarded a
S$3 million contract to Digital Equipment Singapore (DES) to supply it
with an integrated computer system that will link its companies in a
network of more than 100 terminals and personal computers.

DES will supply SH with a VAX system centred on the VAX 6340 mid-range
computer and running the Ingres database software distributed by
Singapore Computer Systems.

Hamid Jinnah, SH's administration director, said, "With this system
in place, we will be able to link the various parts of individual
companies within the group, thereby facilitating faster and smoother
information flow."

According to Mr. Jinnah, the group's operations had experienced a
considerable growth over the past few years and its present computer
system is no longer adequate.

DES' Managing Director Eric Lawrence said that the award was of
some significance to his company, as it underscored the fact that DES
is the leading supplier of networked computer systems here.

"The system that SH has purchased represents state-of-the-art
technology and as far as I know, it is the first marine company in
Singapore that has acquired such sophisticated technology," he said.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890801/Press Contact: Hamid Jinnah,
(65) 336.3588)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TOR)(00006)

EMPRESS ADDS GENERATOR
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 AUG 1 (NB) -- Empress Software has
announced The Applications Generator, a new applications
development tool for its Unix-based Empress fourth-generation
language. The menu-driven software allows programmers to develop
complex applications much faster, company President John
Kornatowski said in a prepared statement. According to Empress,
50 to 70 percent of a typical application can be developed with
The Application Generator.

The software performs six major functions automatically. It will
create complex applications with multiple tables, choose which
columns from a table will appear in a screen or form, and create
applications with multiple records on one form. It will also
control edit patterns or fields, configure function keys
dynamically at run time, and choose applications or operating
system functions from a menu.

Empress also announced that its Empress database management
system is now available for Sony's NEWS family of Unix
workstations.

Empress has its research and development operations in Toronto,
with sales and marketing offices in Greenbelt, Maryland.

(Grant Buckler/19890802/Press Contact: Robyn Sachs, Empress
Software, 301-231-9393)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TOR)(00007)

NEW GENAMATION PRINTERS/TERMINALS
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JULY 31 (NB) -- Genamation, a
Toronto-based distribution and maintenance company, has launched
a line of printers and terminals bearing its own name. Dermot
Begley, executive vice-president of sales and marketing at
Genamation, said the ProVAR hardware line will be offered to
Genamation's value-added resellers and to the market in general.

The ProVAR printer, built by California-based Advanced Matrix
Technology, is a heavy-duty 24-pin dot matrix unit with a 17-inch
carriage. It is prices at C$2,399. Two terminals, intended mainly
for use with multi-user Unix systems, are priced at C$699 and
C$899.

Initially Genamation will sell the ProVAR products in Canada,
Begley said, but the company is considering a move into the
United States market in the next 12 to 18 months.

(Grant Buckler/19890803/Press Contact: Dermot Begley, Genamation,
416-475-9434)