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/nb890926

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

APPLE CLAIMS 20,000 PORTABLES BACK-ORDERED}
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 22 (NB) -- Despite a
variety of complaints about the new Macintosh Portable's heavy
weight, non-backlit screen, and wallet-aching price, Apple claims
the machine is in demand with 20,000 orders valued at 100
million dollars. Even though Apple says delivery is immediate in
the U.S. and Canada, and by October in Australia and the Pacific,
various reports indicate most people will wait to receive their
Portables, as there is an uncertain delivery schedule for
the innovative active-matrix screens being purchased from Japan.
Meanwhile Apple is reportedly capable of producing only 10,000
per month when production is in full swing, according to MacWeek.

(Wendy Woods/19890922)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00002)

WHEN APPLE INTRODUCES, A GOOD TIME IS HAD BY ALL}
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- At
the Universal Amphitheater, located between Jaws and the Miami
Vice stunt show at Universal Studios, Apple treated some 5,000
invited guests (corporate customers, school district
representatives, Apple resellers and the press) to the
introduction of the company's first Mac portable computer and a
new Mac II, the IIci.

The event was a spectacle in itself--a multimedia presentation
starring the two new Macs with a supporting cast that included
John Sculley, Apple chairman and CEO, Alan Loring, president of
Apple USA, and Jean-Louis Gassee, president of Apple products.
Sculley welcomed everyone including the 25,000 guests viewing the
presentation over satellite hook-ups in locations across the US
and in Canada as well as the 300 universities known to be tuned in.

Throughout the presentation, all three Apple executives
continually stressed the fact that Mac technology is designed for
the individual, to make people enjoy getting things done and as a
result to make people more productive. Sculley commented: "The
best computing experience is only possible for the individual
when he or she can focus on what they are doing, not how to do
it." Sculley added that this can best be done when the computing
experience is consistent throughout the product line. The
introduction program's theme, "Power and Motion," was reinforced
by Loring as he quoted the late humorist Will Rogers who said:
"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you
just sit there."

The laser lights and mist used to introduce the Apple products
may not have been fully appreciated by those viewing via
satellite but they were quite a three dimensional eyeful for the
audience at Universal. Three larger-than-life video screens were
used to show vignettes of actual users and their applications --
one shouldn't be surprised if these form part of an Apple
advertising campaign in the future. Perhaps the most fun was
watching Gassee assemble a portable Mac piece by board right on
stage while explaining the system to the very enthusiastic and
receptive crowd.

Everyone was given an opportunity not only to see the new
products but also to get their hands on them. Many attendees who
had commented before the program that the portable was too heavy
(13.7 lbs., 15.7 lbs with 40 megabyte hard drive and battery), the
price too high (between the price of a 286 and a 386 in the IBM
world) and the size wrong (for an airplane tray) were heard later
expounding on the fact that the full functionality of the unit
was worth the extra size, weight and money. Even those who
complained before the show that the portable was about a year
late for the market seemed to decide that perhaps the wait wasn't
wrong considering the nature of the machine.

None of the Apple executives would comment on sales or production
projections (when asked if 100,000 portables in fiscal 1990 was a
high or a low estimate, Sculley replied "yes") nor would they
speculate on features and upgrades planned for the future.
Gassee did, however, admit that it will be a long time before
active matrix LCD technology accommodates a color screen and
wryly suggested everyone buy the portable with black and white
screen now rather than waiting.

Along with the two major products, Apple also introduced a 2400
bits-per-second (bps) modem card for the portable and product
updates including A/UX 1.1.1 AppleTalk for A/UX 2.0, system
software 6.0.4, Hypercard version 1.25 and MacTerminal 2.3.1.
Twenty-nine third party products were also unveiled.

Apple certainly knows how to introduce products -- it proved that
at the Universal Amphitheater 2 1/2 years ago and again
Wednesday. The nice part is that it looks like the products
it has introduced will probably prove to have been worth all
the hoopla.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890920/Press Contact: Cindy McCaffrey, Apple,
408-974-1578)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00003)

APPLE INTRO'S FIRST PORTABLE AND MORE}
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 20 SEP (NB) -- Amid much
fanfare, Apple has introduced a portable and a new Mac II.

The portable introduced is a fully functional Macintosh that can
handle everything a desktop Mac can do. It is totally
portable due to both heavy duty material (polycarbonate plastic)
used in construction and a different type of battery (lead
acid).

The portable features an Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Display
screen that has transistor under every pixel to produce a sharply
defined image. Reaction time is fast so the cursor is not lost
in a graphics application. Contrast is very high and does not
require backlighting. Therefore, power consumption is relatively
low and the screen can be viewed in any light and from wide
angles.

The portable's power system is a Motorola CMOS 68000 chip that
runs at 16 MHz and has a low power requirement. The unit
contains one megabyte of SRAM (static random access memory), chosen
over DRAM (dynamic random access memory) because it consumes less
power and retains the contents of memory when the computer is in
the "sleep" (the computer is completely off but RAM contents are
preserved) mode. The unit's lead acid batteries last from 6 to
12 hours (depending upon usage and configuration) and are fully
rechargeable. Gassee indicated these batteries were chosen over
NiCads because NiCads have too steep a power consumption curve.
With these special batteries, the portable is able to give four
levels of low power warning and put the unit to sleep before
power runs out, thus preserving memory.

Apple's portable also comes with a separate power management
microprocessor.

Other features include a keyboard that can be set up for either
left- or right-handed use by putting the track ball (used in
place of a mouse for travel) on either side of the "qwerty"
keyboard. If desired, the track ball can be replaced by an
optional numeric key pad.

The system has expansion connectors for additional RAM (when
System 7 is released it will require a minimum of 2 megabytes RAM)
and ROM, an internal modem (a 2400 bps Apple modem card for the
portable was also introduced today) connector and a slot,
connected to the microprocessor bus that will support an
expansion card. Any Apple SCSI device can be connected to the
portable but the user does have to watch the amount of power
consumption.

Also the Apple portable has an optional 40 megabyte hard disk,
SuperDrive, all the standard Macintosh ports (including LocalTalk
networking support) and stereo sound capability. With 1 megabyte
RAM and SuperDrive floppy, the suggested retail price of the
Apple portable is $5,799. The configuration that has 1 megabyte RAM
and 40 megabyte hard disk lists for $6,499. The unit is already
available.

According to Apple, the Macintosh IIci is the highest performance
personal computer the company has ever shipped delivering up to
55 percent higher performance compared to the Mac IIcx and IIx.
The Mac IIci has combination of a Motorola 25 MHz 68030 chip and
68882 floating-point coprocessor. The system has burst-mode RAM
that allows the microprocessor to read blocks of memory faster
and more efficiently. To match the fast clock speed and burst-
mode RAM speed, the system uses an 80 nanosecond DRAM. The unit
comes with a built-in cache connector so that users can install a
cache card to further increase performance.

Mac IIci has a built-in video capability to drive a 640x480 or
640x870 pixel screen so users can connect a monitor system
without using a monitor card. The system has 512K ROM which,
when used with System 7 (Apple's next operating system software),
will be able to address up to 4 gigabytes of memory. The ROM
besides supporting all the new hardware features also includes
support for 32-Bit QuickDraw.

The unit has a small footprint and is designed with the same
features as the Mac IIcx. The system can be configured from 1
megabyte up to 8 megabytes of RAM on the logic board and handles either
40 megabyte or 80 MB 3.5-inch, half-height hard disks from Apple
as well as even larger disks from third party vendors. Mac IIci
can be preconfigured with A/UX (Apple's implementation of AT&T's
Unix). Each Mac IIci comes equipped with a mouse, System
Software 6.0.4, Hypercard 1.25 and SuperDrive.

Suggested retail prices for various configurations of the Mac
IIci include $6,269 for system with 1MByte RAM/SuperDrive, $6,969
for 1 megabyte RAM/40MByte hard disk, $8,669 for 4 megabytes RAM/80
megabyte hard disk and $9,152 for 4 megabyte RAM/80 MB hard disk
(A/UX installed).

Mac IIci is available immediately. Coming soon for Mac IIcx
users is an upgrade kit consisting of a Macintosh IIci logic
board and a new case for the computer bottom to accommodate the
video connector to be priced at $2,399. Already available for
IIci buyers are IIci-specific DRAM memory expansion kits in 1 and
4 megabyte configurations. The 1 MB DRAM kit is listed at $499;
the 4 megabyte kit sells for $1,999.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890920/Press Contact: Cindy McCaffrey, Apple,
408-974-1578)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00004)

THIRD PARTY PRODUCTS ABOUND AT APPLE INTRO}
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- While Apple
undoubtedly held the full attention of the audience
at the introduction of its new portable and Mac IIci, twenty-nine
other manufacturers were able to announce related products at the
same venue.

It was like Christmas in September -- many third party products
introduced were designed to enhance the new portable while some
were offered specifically for the Mac IIci and others professed
to be useful enhancements for the entire Mac line.

If Apple's own new 2400 bps modem card was not enough, Abaton
introduced a 2400 bps card that is also a 9600 bps fax modem.
There were products from various manufacturers to enable the
portable to be used as part of a network wherever it is taken.

From a company called Farallon Computing, there was a zippered
canvas bag containing two copies of Timbuktu 3.0, two copies of
Timbuktu/Remote, two PhoneNET StarConnectors, two RJ-11 seven
foot cables, two Y-splitters, one PhoneNET to LocalTalk adaptor,
one modular cable extender, one set of alligator clips and one
Phillips/Flathead screwdriver -- everything one might need to use
their Macintosh portable on the road. And there was also LapLink
MAC III if that solution is more familiar or appealing.

Yes, there were scanners and software to link a Macintosh
portable with properly equipped IBM mainframes, a portable
Bernoulli Box from Iomega to provide never ending storage on
rugged, virtually crash-proof Bernoulli disks, time management
programs, travel information programs and a system for operating
a remote Macintosh from the Macintosh or portable you happen to
be using.

In the potpourri were a CD ROM suitable for office use as well as
travel, DayStar's Fast Cache IIci board that plugs into the
IIci's cache connector and therefore does not use up an expansion
slot, even software to emulate all the hardware elements of an
IBM PC/XT. And the most expected items, a battery recharger, an
automobile power adapter, an attache style carrying case for the
portable and a combination attache/transport case for times when
the portable needs added protection in travel were also part of
the third party vendor list.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890920)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LON)(00005)

APPLE UNVEILS MAC PORTABLE, IICI IN UK}
STOCKLEY PARK, ENGLAND, 1989 SEP 23 (NB) -- In parallel with
similar events around the world, Apple UK formally launched its
much-reported Mac laptop and IIci series of computers on
Wednesday last week.

As expected, the Mac laptop is a no-compromise portable version
of the Mac, available in two UK configurations, both with 1MB of
RAM and a single 3.5-inch floppy drive. The UKP 3,995
configuration does not feature a 40MB hard drive, which is
available as an optional (UKP 895) extra. The UKP 4,495 unit
comes with the 40MB hard drive already installed.

As expected, the laptop weighs in a hefty 13.7 pounds (15.5
pounds with the hard drive installed), and measures 18-inches
square. Apple is clearly pitching the machine as a desktop Mac
with added bonus of its being free of trailing wires and also a
battery-powered 'mobile.'

The Mac IIci, meanwhile, is a 25MHz 68030-based flagship product
from Apple. The UKP 5,450 machine comes with 4MB of RAM and an
80MB 3.5-inch hard drive. Each Mac IIci bundle in the UK comes
with a mouse, System Software 6.0.4, Hypercard 1.2.5, a
Superdrive and all documentation.

Announcing both new machines at Apple UK's new purpose-built
offices in Stockley Park, near Heathrow Airport, London, Phil
Chauveau, Apple UK's managing director, and vice president of
worldwide operations, said they will push Apple in the 1990s as
a latest generation technology company.

"Our new introductions firmly establish Apple's product line as
the only comprehensive product family in the computer industry
which offers users a consistent personal computing environment,"
he said.

"Macintosh computers have a broad range of hardware and software
applications, all running in a single unified software
architecture," he added.

(Steve Gold/19890923/Press Contact: Frank O'Mahony, Apple
Computer UK - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(TOR)(00006)

APPLE CANADA JUMPS INTO PORTABLE MARKET}
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- The Macintosh
Portable will cost just over C$9,000 in Canada. Apple Canada
introduced the machine September 20, simultaneous with its
unveiling in the United States. With a 40-megabyte hard disk
drive, the portable costs C$9,056 in Canada. A basic model with
only a floppy disk drive costs C$8,080. The hard drive can be
bought separately for $1,822. The 2,400-bit-per-second modem,
priced at C$682, and the numeric keypad, priced at C$105, are
also options.

Apple Canada sought to make an impression at the launch with film
of a professional skydiver leaping from an airplane with the new
portable computer. The parachutist opened and used the machine in
midair. Sadly for Apple, the projector at the launch failed just
in time for the highlight of the video -- but it worked on the
second try.

Reaction to the new machine was mixed. The lack of backlighting
in the portable's display disappointed many of those present at
the launch, although most admitted that in adequate lighting the
screen was quite readable. The high price and the machine's size
-- too big to fit on the standard fold-down table in an airline
seat -- also drew criticism.

(Grant Buckler/19890921/Press Contact: Nancy Field, Apple Canada,
416-477-5539)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(HKG)(00007)

HONG KONG: NEW MAC PORTABLE IMPRESSES THE PRESS}
HONGKONG, ASIA, 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- Today, with one of the slickest
presentations ever witnessed in Hongkong, Apple announced two
new products to the market - the Macintosh IIci and the long-
awaited Macintosh Portable.

It was obvious that it wasn't an IBM product announcement,
every member of Apple's staff looked completely relaxed in neat
open-neck black T-shirts garnished with a tiny Apple logo.

Complete with Yuppie braces, black T-shirt and cream slacks,
regional technical man Louis Woo snapped a transparent acrylic-
cased Mac Portable together as if he had done it a thousand
times, duplicating Apple Vice President Jean Louis Gassee's similar
theatrics before the Los Angeles audience. Every press person
attending was left with a clear impression that this new Mac product
was one even a hack could put together.

Then came the hands-on demo. A Mac Portable was placed before
each journalist, along with someone suitably Apple clad to
guide each through the new features.

The new Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Display (AMLCD), the left
or right-handed keyboard, the nifty back-up 9 volt battery, the
smooth trackball and the speedy hard-disk convinced everyone
present that this was a real computer for the business person.

The Mac Portable almost upstaged the equally impressive Mac
IIci, but not quite. When everybody realized that the entire
presentation, including sound, voice, brilliant video and
remarkable response, had been run on the Mac IIci, not one
forgot to take copious notes for publishing at an early date.

(Keith Cameron/19890921)


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

NEW MACTERMINAL, A/UX, APPLETALK, HYPERCARD}
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 21 (NB) -- A number of
software upgrades for Macintosh machines will be available in
October from authorized Apple dealers, including version 2.3.1 of
MacTerminal, its Macintosh terminal emulation program. The new
version has one difference over the previous incarnation -- it
works on the new Apple IIci personal computer.

A/UX version 1.1.1 is an upgrade of Apple's Unix System V
implementation that for the first time supports the Macintosh
SE/30.

Appletalk for A/UX will also make its public debut in October. Like
A/UX version 1.1.1, this Appletalk also supports the SE/30.

Apple has also announced System Software 6.04 which supports
the Portable and the IIci and Apple does not recommend that owners
of other Macintosh machines upgrade to this new software.

Hypercard 1.2.5 now supports System Software 6.04.

(Wendy Woods/19890922)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00009)

FARRALLON SLASHES TIMBUKTU/REMOTE PRICE}
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 22 (NB) -- Farrallon has
slashed the price of its Timbuktu/Remote screen sharing software
from $295 to $195 to coincide with the introduction of the Apple
Macintosh Portable.

Timbuktu/Remote, when used in conjunction with a modem, allows a
portable computer owner to not only communicate with, but
actually drive a remote Macintosh via the phone lines. The software
allows Mac users to operate and observe another person's computer
as if it were their own, on their own screen. Files can also
be exchanged between the two computers, and a "chat" can be
carried on in a window on the screen.

(Wendy Woods/19890922/Press Contact: Wendy Keough, Farrallon,
415-849-2331)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00010)

MICROSOFT/APPLE CHALLENGE POSTSCRIPT}
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- Microsoft
and Apple have buried their legal hatchets long enough to raise new ones
against a stellar industry success story -- Adobe Systems. Microsoft
and Apple have agreed to exchange technology to create their own
version of Postscript -- a page description language created by
Adobe which has become the industry standard for laser printing
and desktop publishing.

Microsoft will make its Postscript clone available to Apple for use in
its future hardware and software, freeing the Cupertino computer
maker from having to pay royalties to use Adobe's Postscript. In
exchange for the language, Apple will trade the software it uses
to outline fonts, which Microsoft will also employ in its PC system
software. The end-result will be that PCs running MS-DOS programs
and OS/2 with Presentation Manager will be able to share font
technology with Apples.

Neither company has actually released either product and it may be
months before the seeds planted by this alliance bear fruit. But
it clearly signals the end of Adobe's dominance of the page description
language market, where it ruled with an iron hand, charging stiff
fees to printer manufacturers and software developers.

(Wendy Woods/19890922)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00011)

BACKED INTO A CORNER, ADOBE OPENS POSTSCRIPT}
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 22 (NB) -- Adobe
President John Warnock, on the verge of tears, lashed back at the
alliance between Microsoft and Apple designed to create an alternative to
Postscript, charging the two firms with perpetrating "the biggest
bunch of garbage and mumbo-jumbo I've ever heard in my life."

Warnock called the Postscript clone of Microsoft and the font scaling
technology of Apple "vaporware" but took the threat seriously enough
to make what probably was the hardest decision of his life. Warnock
announced that the technical specifications behind the Postscript page
description language, until now proprietary and accessible only
by the purchase of a high-cost license, would be made public and
free of charge. In this way, Warnock hopes to establish Postscript
firmly as the printing standard by its sheer ubiquitousness.
At the speech before the Seybold Computer Publishing Conference,
Warnock reportedly told the audience, "This industry has been
built by all of you. It certainly hasn't been built by Bill Gates.
It's important that we defend this thing against getting corrupted."

Warnock found his staunchest ally in Steve Jobs, whose company
Next has a Postscript laser printer and whose black workstation
also runs the new Adobe Font Folio and Adobe PlusPack typeface
software on a single optical disk priced at $14,200.
Jobs spoke to the Seybold audience about the emergence of
the Microsoft/Apple clone, "This is not a technical battle. The problem
is that it's a political battle."

Within days after the announcement (by Friday, 9/22) Adobe had
also taken steps to restore the value of its battered stock, which
lost almost half its value during the week as panicky investors
unloaded it faster than you can say "Postscript." Adobe announced it will
purchase up to $15 million worth of its own stock, estimated at
about 4.8 percent of outstanding common stock, leaving 19.9 million
shares outstanding. Early in September, Adobe shares had been worth
$25 each. By Friday, September 22, they were down to $15.

Having let go of Postscript, Adobe is expected to make its
money from the sale of software tools, meaning its
days of high growth are over. Commented Stewart Alsop, editor
of PC Letter, "It means they are no longer going to grow at 150
percent per year or become a billion dollar company like Microsoft."

(Wendy Woods/19890922)


(EXCLUSIVE)(APPLE)(SFO)(00012)

POSTSCRIPT GOES PUBLIC 1ST Q 1990}
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 22 (NB) -- Newsbytes has
learned that the specifications for Type 1 "hinted" and encrypted Adobe
fonts, the technology used in the Adobe Postscript Interpreters licensed
to hardware manufacturers, will be released in the first quarter of
1990.

Adobe spokesman Russ Fujiyoka tells Newsbytes, "We will open the
technology so people can write to the specifications."

Asked whether Adobe's software tools would then become the firm's
primary source of income, Fujiyoka said he could not comment, but
added that the font-building and creation tools will be an important
source of income, since even after the release of the technical
specifications for Postscript, there would be a "learning curve,"
that would require use of Adobe tutorial and programming tools.

Asked whether current Postscript licensees, such as Qume, IBM, Apple,
Hewlett-Packard, Jasmine and others, will have their license fees
waived, Fujiyoka said, "That is undetermined at this time,
the licensing fees will be evaluated (from separate vendors) as
they come around."

Hewlett-Packard, one vendor with a new Postscript product, has
yet to hear what Warnock's announcement means in regard to the
steep royalties it pays to license the language. "Adobe hasn't said
anything. But the bottom line is the consumer will be the real
winner," Kathy Lyons, head of Laserjet product marketing told
Newsbytes, indicating a price drop may be in the offing for all
Postscript and Postscript-compatible equipment. "The bottom line,"
she said, "is that Postscript will be cheaper and Postscript
clones will be better."

(Wendy Woods/19890922/Press Contact: Adobe Systems, Brenda
Hansen, 415-961-4400; Russ Fujiyoka, x4834)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00013)

APPLE SYSTEM 7.0 RELEASE DATE SET}
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 23 (NB) -- A published
report says we will see System 7.0 for the Macintosh, operating
software which will allow the machine to multitask, among other
new features, released in March, 1990. Macintosh News says the
information comes from an internal document it obtained from
Apple. The trade weekly also claims the document details a
33 MHz Macintosh will be released at that time. The powerful
computer will have six NuBus slots, an 8-bit video chip, and a 120-pin
direct slot.

(Wendy Woods/19890923)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00014)

CLARIS BUNDLES MAC PRODUCTS}
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 22 (NB) -- Claris
Corporation is bundling MacWrite II with McDraw II, and MacWrite
II with Filemaker II, in two separate bundles priced $150 below
the price if both products were purchased individually.

The MacWrite/Filemaker bundle will cost $399 and the MacWrite/
MacDraw bundle $499 through January 31, 1990. The bundles
also carry a rebate coupon worth $50 toward the purchase of
the third product -- either MacDraw or Filemaker.

The program will be launched in a print campaign in The Wall
Street Journal, other newspapers and computer magazines.

(Wendy Woods/19890923)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(WAS)(00015)

ATLANTIC RESEARCH ANNOUNCES TEMPEST MAC IICX}
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEPT 15 (NB) -- Atlantic
Research has developed a Tempest, radio frequency secure,
Macintosh IIcx for sale to government and industry users who are
required to use secure computers due to the classified nature of
their work.

Tempest computers feature complete RF shielding and removable
hard disk storage media. The 26-pound computer includes a mouse
and 68882 math coprocessor.

No price was available, but further information can be obtained
from Atlantic Research Corp, 5390 Cherokee Ave., Alexandria,
Virginia 22312, 703-642-4280.

(John McCormick/19890922/Press Contact: Linda Lofstrom, ARC, 703-
642-4131)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00016)

APPLE CHOOSES WANG EXEC FOR YOCAM'S SHOES}
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 21 (NB) -- Apple Computer
has appointed Ian W. Diery head of its Pacific group. Diery is generally
regarded as an energetic and enthusiastic marketer who was last
seen at Wang Laboratories being blamed for that company's recent
$375 million quarterly loss. Whether he became the fall guy unfairly
or not from his optimistic financial projections at Wang, Diery's
aggressive reputation won him the job immediately at Apple. Yocam
himself was quoted as saying of the Australian native, "In order
to be successful at Apple you've got to be aggressive, know your business,
and get air time with Sculley. He fills that bill."

Diery's dedication to a firm also won him points in Cupertino. He
stayed with Wang 11 years before resigning recently.

Diery, 39, will be in charge of Apple's sales and support in Australia,
the Far East, Canada, and Latin America.

Del Yocam retires on November 27 from Apple, on the occasion of his
tenth anniversary with the firm. Yocam says he may write a book
or may take up one of the many offers he's received to head new
companies.

(Wendy Woods/19890922)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00017)

NANAO INTROS 14-INCH MONITOR FOR IBM AND APPLE}
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 19 (NB) -- A
monitor designed to handle a wide variety of applications for IBM
PS/2, PC/XT/AT, compatibles and Apple Macintosh II computers has
been introduced by Nanao USA.

The FlexScan Model 9060S is a 14-inch, super high-resolution,
multiscanning color monitor. The monitor displays text, data and
graphics on IBM and compatibles in resolutions up to 800x600,
non-interlaced, and 1,024x768 interlaced. For Mac II users, the
full color resolution is as high as 640 by 480.

Suggested retail price for this monitor is $1,059.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890922/Press Contact: Ted Fukada, Nanao USA,
213-670-5202)


(EXCLUSIVE)(APPLE)(HKG)(00018)

APPLE FAR EAST LEAPS FORWARD IN FISCAL '89}
HONGKONG, ASIA, 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- William James, Apple Far East
managing director, was all smiles when he announced a 60 percent
revenue growth this financial year over 1988. He told Newsbytes
that even in Hongkong, where mobility of technical staff is
rife, the corporation had been able to maintain stability with
its current personnel and also recruit high calibre staff
during the year.

James said that a number of milestones had been reached in
1989 and the corporation was well-placed top further its growth
in 1990. A third Hongkong dealer, Tricom Systems, had been
appointed; a new distributor had been appointed is Bangladesh;
six Apple Centres are now established in China, Hongkong,
Singapore and Taiwan; and a Singapore subsidiary will be opened
in early October to support channel development.

One major achievement which Mr James believes will contribute
substantially to further growth in 1990 is the complete Chinese
language desktop publishing system earlier this year.

He told Newsbytes that Apple Far East would be focusing on
education in 1990. The comprehensive education plan included
the establishment of more Macintosh laboratories in leading
universities. To ensure that customers continued to be well
supported, development and training of distribution channel
personnel will form a major part of the program.

(Keith Cameron/19890921)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(HKG)(00019)

TAIWAN APPLEWORLD CALLED A SUCCESS}
TAIPEI, TAIWAN, 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- In August the Taiwanese
public was exposed to the might of Apple and its supporters.
AppleWorld proved to very popular with a vast array of localized
hardware and software on display.

So enthusiastic about their localized offerings, the one
fact for which the organizers could be criticized was the lack of
traditional Macintosh application demonstrations. One visiting US
businessman was heard to comment: "The show was very
impressive, but I couldn't understand most of it because it was
all in Chinese."

Bill James, Apple Far East managing director, told Newsbytes
that the incident was just a symptom of too much enthusiasm and
next year a greater variety would be on show. Without
exception, all exhibitors at this year's event had booked extra
space for next year, he said.

The two Apple Centres in Taipei were also reporting robust
sales, and revenues had increased by 50 percent over 1988.

(Keith Cameron/19890921)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(HKG)(00020)

APPLE HONGKONG REVENUES BEAT THE PACK}
HONGKONG, ASIA, 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- With more than a 50 percent
increase in revenues over 1988, Apple Hongkong soundly beat the
local industry average of 20 percent. The key contributor to
revenues in Hongkong was reported to be Gilman Office Machines
(GOM) which sold over half of the total Apple products in the
territory.

GOM has been selling Apple products for six years, and was
originally the Apple sole distributor for Hongkong. The
company, a subsidiary of the multinational Inchcape
conglomerate, has been beefing up its user training facilities
to cope with an ever-increasing demand.

Mr John Zinkin, chief executive of GOM, told Newsbytes that the
trend in the market was for complete solutions -- hardware,
software, implementation and training -- all to the customer's
requirements. "Not many companies in Hongkong are structured
to provide the all-round offerings, and because of the general
nervousness in the market caused by the troubles in China, only
the strong will survive. Inchcape and Gilman have been in
Hongkong through many troubled times over the past hundred
years or so, and we are here to stay."

Bill James, Apple Far East managing director, told Newsbytes
that the most encouraging sign was the growth in sales to small
to medium businesses and the increase in networked Macs. He
felt that Tricom, the recently appointed dealer, would
contribute to more sales successes in 1990.

Despite the confidence of all the Apple vendors in Hongkong,
local industry watchers are concerned that Apple might be
trying to cut the revenue cake into very thin slices. One
local analyst commented to Newsbytes: "First a single
distributor who invested a great deal of money in establishing
the market, then the distributor was stripped its role and
relegated to one of two dealers, now there is a third dealer
and the suggestion of more. Doing it the US way has often
proven to be a costly mistake for other companies and I hope
that Apple is not about to fall into the same trap."

(Keith Cameron/19890921)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(HKG)(00021)

A LARGER BITE FOR APPLE IN SINGAPORE}
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- Business has been so good for
Apple in Singapore that from October, a new subsidiary of Apple
Far East will be established. The new company will provide
sales, marketing and service support to the channel dealers in
Singapore.

Bill James, Apple Far East managing director, stressed that
Apple would not become involved in direct sales, in keeping with
its established policy in the region. He told Newsbytes that
MacWorld Asia, held in Singapore in July, had been an
outstanding success with more than 25,000 visitors.

The two Apple Centres were reporting strong sales and the
highlight of the year was an order for 450 Macs for the
National University of Singapore's campus network. All in all
Apple will finish the year with a 45 percent growth in revenue
over 1988.

(Keith Cameron/19890921)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(HKG)(00022)

THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC FAVOURS APPLES}
BEIJING, CHINA, 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- While many other companies are
running for cover in the wake of China's problems in June, Apple is
striding confidently forward.

In May the corporation staged the first AppleWorld in China
which attracted 10,000 visitors. This was followed in July by
the opening of an Apple Centre in Beijing.

The development of Chinese PostScript fonts and ChineseTalk
version 6.0.3 has enhanced Apple's position in the country and
its positive attitude looks sure to reap rewards in the short
term.

Although a trifle premature to make a valid comparison,
revenues grew 70 percent over 1988. "It is the next two year's
growth that will be dramatic," according to Bill James,
managing director of Apple Far East.

(Keith Cameron/19890921)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(HKG)(00023)

HANGUL SOFTWARE WORKS FOR MAC IN KOREA}
SEOUL, KOREA, 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- The burgeoning PC market in Korea
has not ignored Macintosh during 1989. Revenues doubled the
1988 figures.

Bill James, Apple Far East managing director, reported to
Newsbytes that the localization work undertaken by Apple's
local distributors contributed greatly to the year's success.
Word processing, desktop publishing and the database product
4th Dimension had all been converted to run in Hangul, Korea's
idiomatic language.

As a result Apple was an easy leader in the desktop publishing
business in Korea, he said. Key orders were received from Sang
Yung Motors and KAIST, the highly successful technical
institute in Seoul.

(Keith Cameron/19890921)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SYD)(00024)

MACS HELP TRAIN SOLDIERS}
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- The Australian Defence
Forces Academy uses Macintosh computers as the basis of its
academic program, it was revealed last week. Most staff members
use Macs and students have access to the information systems
laboratory which is equipped with Mac SE machines, an Appletalk
network and a link to the department's two Pyramid minicomputers.
Software used includes More, Hypercard and Excel. A time-tracking
modelling package Stella is used for simulations. "We can examine
the effects of the food riots in 1770s France," said a
spokesperson.

(Paul Zucker/19890922)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(TOR)(00025)

PROGRAPH 1.2 ABOUT TO SHIP}
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA, 1989 SEP 21 (NB) -- TGS Systems
will begin shipping Release 1.2 of ProGraph, its object-oriented
application development software for the Apple Macintosh, on
October 1.

Mark Szpakowski of TGS said release 1.2 is essentially
the finished product, while release 1.1 was an early version
without complete documentation. This release remains an editor
and interpreter only; Version 2, with a compiler, will be
released next spring, Szpakowski said. The new release also gives
developers more capabilities for creating their own primitives in
the C programming language, he added.

ProGraph 1.2 carries an introductory price of US$195 or C$235.
Szpakowski said that price will probably stand until the end of
the year.

(Grant Buckler/19890921/Press Contact: Mark Szpakowski, TGS
Systems, 902-429-5642)


(EXCLUSIVE)(APPLE)(SFO)(00026)

APPLEFEST: THE SMALLEST OF ALL}
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 23 (NB) -- Rumors
abound that the Apple II is a dead machine and the 1989 San
Francisco Applefest did nothing to change this notion. There
was a lack of excitement everywhere from the half empty exhibition
floor to the totally empty press room. Two years ago, Brooks Hall, the
site of Applefest, was brimming with exhibitors on two floors.
This year, not even all of the main exhibition hall was used.

The exhibits themselves showed the malaise in the Apple II world.
There were many booths selling discount software and hardware while
other booths were dedicated to selling non-computer items including
encyclopedias and large wooden pencils. Among the major no-shows
were Mediagenic, Claris, CompuServe, and GEnie.

About half the software publishers were exhibiting software for
the school market. Many of the major consumer software publishers who
were in attendance, including Sierra On-Line, Broderbund, Accolade,
WordPerfect, Britannica Software, and The Learning Company, had small
booths. At least a third of the exhibits, including Apple's own
booth, were demonstrating Macintosh hardware and software.

On the opening day of the AppleFest, many of the attendees
appeared to be adult hobbyists and school teachers. Exhibitors were
expecting a large attendance by students over the weekend.

(Saul Feldman/19890923/Press Contact: Nancy Thayer, Public
Relations Director, Cambridge Marketing, 617- 860-7100)


(EXCLUSIVE)(APPLE)(SFO)(00027)

APPLEFEST: CMS INTROS APPLE II REMOVABLE CARTRIDGE DRIVES}
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 23 (NB) -- CMS
Enhancements introduced a removable hard drive system for the
Apple IIGS and IIe at the San Francisco Applefest here. The compact
unit weighs seven pounds and consists of the removable cartridge
and an interface card. The removable cartridges weigh about 8
ounces and can hold 44 megabytes of data.

Additional cartridges cost $100. The cartridges look much like a
floppy disk and eject easily from the unit.

The hard drive system, (A2S Series Removable) may be
daisy-chained with other SCSI device. The system lists for $1,625 but
was being sold on the floor by CMS for $799.

The same unit can be used by a Macintosh. The Macintosh unit,
without the interface card, sells for $1,525. Since cartridges can be
removed, there is no reason why the same unit could not be shared by
both an Apple II and a Macintosh. Cartridges can be reformatted for
use by either computer.

(Saul Feldman/19890923/Press Contact: August Steurer, Apple
Product Manager, CMS Enhancements, 714-259-5946)


(EXCLUSIVE)(APPLE)(SFO)(00028)

APPLEFEST: SOFTWARE USES SKINNER METHOD OF DISCIPLINE}
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 23 (NB) -- In a show
filled with me-too software, one program stood out for its unique
use of computers. Positively Rewarding bills itself as "an
effective program for reinforcing positive behavior." The program,
based loosely on the behavioral theories of B.F. Skinner, was designed
by Glenn Thomas, a clinical social worker. It is intended to alter
the behavior of children from four to high school age.

There are two parts of the program, one maintained by an
authority figure such as a parent or teacher and one by the child.
The authority figure enters the type of behavior that he or she would
like to reward. You can use your own or use some of the program's
suggestions such as, "I ate with my mouth closed," "I hung up my towel
in the bathroom," and "I played alone for 20 minutes." Point values
are assigned to each behavior and a total point goal is listed. When
that goal is reached, the child is given a reward.

Children use their own disk to monitor their behavior. Each day
the child responds "Yes" or "No" to whether he or she carried out the
contracted behavior. Both children and parents can examine charts to
discover how many points are needed to attain the goal.

According to Thomas, this program was inspired by a family that
he counseled. They monitored their children's behavior on a
spreadsheet. Unlike classical Skinnerian theory, Thomas's program
rewards positive behavior but does not punish for negative behavior.
Positively Rewarding, for the Apple II, is being sold by mail by the
publishers for $49.95.

(Saul Feldman/19890923/Press Contact: Glenn Thomas, President,
Thomas Software,408-867-9323)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00029)

APPLEFEST: VIDEO CONTROLS ON IIGS}
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 23 (NB) -- Apple
Computer is working with Video Production Controls, a Boston-
based video production house, to develop a toolkit for the Apple
IIGS computer that will allow software developers to incorporate
videotape controls into their computer programs.

Bernard Gifford, Apple's vice president of education, demonstrated
a desk accessory that uses the toolkit during his Saturday morning
presentation.

The VidClip IIGS Developer's Toolkit is a software and cable package
that allows the software developers to create programs that
allow videotape to be searched, logged, organized, assembled, and
played directly from the Apple IIGS. The toolkit uses the control-L
and Control-S protocols found in most Sony consumer VCRs and
camcorders. The cable connects the VCR to the serial port of the
Apple IIGS.

The toolkit is expected to be available later this fall through the
Apple Programmers and Devleopers Association (APDA), which
can be reached in the U.S. by calling toll-free 800-282-2732, or
directly from Video Production Controls in Boston.

(Wendy Woods/19890923)


(EXCLUSIVE)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00001)

TDK ENTERS MAGNETIC MEDIA CONSUMER MARKET}
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 21 (NB) -- TDK, long
known in the consumer market for audio and video tapes, has
opened a new U.S. plant to make 3.5-inch floppy diskettes in an
effort to become more well-known to end-users.

The 36,000 square foot fully automated diskette facility is
located just down the street from TDK's audio cassette plant in
Irvine. It is being run by the same man, TDK Executive Vice
President and Plant Manager Hisashi Takei who says he will be
making as many as three million disks per month when the plant
reaches full capacity in December.

Despite the fact that the diskette market is currently flooded
and the products are selling at rock bottom prices, TDK's vice
president/consumer sales, Koyo Yokoi, insists that the company
will continue to gear up and will be able to maintain current
production levels and growth. "We see the 3.5-inch disk market
as growing and as a good area for TDK growth," said Yokoi. "TDK
is not looking for short term profit. We are in this for the
long run. We are also fortunate to be basing our consumer
expansion on a strong OEM (original equipment manufacturing)
base."

On a tour of the new facility, Newsbytes saw the TDK's strong
verbal commitment to quality in action. The facility is as
automated to state-of-the-art levels including the TDK-invented
production line called M-CAT (micro-cassette auto transport)
system that is a modification of a system the company has
perfected for audio cassette manufacturing. Throughout the
manufacturing process, each and every diskette is tested and re-
tested to make certain that no defective disks are shipped. If a
disk fails to exceed ANSI standards by 44.4 percent, it is
discarded. Dust-free conditions are maintained with the latest
equipment from process start to finish.

While TDK is still importing the disk "cookie" from Japan, the
rest of the manufacture (disk shells) and assembly are being done
in the US facility. The new facility, while ostensibly the focus
of a new consumer awareness campaign, is also no surprise in light
of the anti-dumping legislation passed earlier this year that
effectively puts a 50 percent tax on assembled floppy disks
imported from Japan.

TDK seems proud of the new operation and proud of the new
facility. Takei hastened to apologize to Newsbytes for the fact
that the landscaping around the building had not been completed
as he had wanted the total effect of the new TDK venture to be
perfect.

In a related announcement, TDK has announced the introduction of
color floppy disks in both 3.5- and 5.25-inch formats. Yokoi says
that color disks are leading market growth since they enable the
user to quickly find files. He also predicts color disks will
eventually account for as much as 60 or 70 percent of all
diskette business. The color floppies are manufactured to the
same specs as other TDK diskettes using exclusive ultra-fine
magnetic particles and on the 3.5-inch disks, a new bonding
technique called Electron Beam Curing (EBC) that allows TDK disks
to withstand 40 million passes -- twice the average durability of
other diskettes.

The 3.5-inch color disks are produced at the new Irvine facility
while the 5.25's continue to be made at TDK's facility in Mexico.
There are no plans at this time to add 5.25-inch manufacturing
capability to the new California plant.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890922/Press Contact: Peter Dobbin,
Dobbin/Bolgla Associates, 212-807-1400)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00002)

TI FORMS NEW BUSINESS UNIT--ITG}
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 21 (NB) -- Texas
Instruments (TI) has announced the formation of a new business
group, the Information Technology Group (ITG).

ITG is aimed at the emerging market need for more advanced
information and automation systems in the 1990s. The new group
will include a combination of software, computing and automation
technologies developed at TI over the past few years. Included
in ITG will be computer-aided software engineering (CASE),
artificial intelligence (AI), knowledge-based systems, real-time
industrial automation (IA) and control, and enterprise-wide
information systems.

A joint office of three TI managers will head the new group.
President of the new group will be John W. White who also becomes
a TI vice president. Jodie N. Ray will continue to be
responsible for the Industrial Automation Division and Peter van
Cuylenburg will remain as head of the Computer Systems Division.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890922/Press Contact: Stan Victor, Texas
Instruments)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00003)

ELECTRONIC ARTS GOES PUBLIC}
SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- Electronic Arts
is now trading under the symbol ERTS on the NASDAQ market.
The initial public offering sold at $8 per share and more than 2
million shares traded hands. Electronic Arts currently markets
and distributes more than 100 software titles and distributes
another 250 from other software firms.

(Wendy Woods/19890923)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(ATL)(00004)

GEIS NAMES HELLENE RUNTAGH PRESIDENT}
ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 15 (NB) -- General
Electric named Hellene S. Runtagh, 41, an officer of the company
and president of GE Information Services, effective October 2.

Runtagh had been president of Decimus Corporation, a San
Francisco-based unit of General Electric Capital Corporation
involved in financing computers.

Runtagh will be charged with finding more profit in a division
which employs 2,300 but is facing increasing competition from
giants such as AT&T, British Telecom, and General Motors' EDS
unit. Ms. Runtagh was formerly senior vice president of Calma, a
former GE computer-aided design subsidiary now owned by Prime
Computer.

Insiders suggest Runtagh could be headed straight to the top of
GE. She joined the company in 1970, after graduating from Penn
State, and has worked in employee relations with GE's
Nuclear Control and Instrumentation division, and in product
support in 1984. She also headed international operations for
Calma before becoming president of Decimus following the sale
of Calma to Prime in 1988.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921/Press Contact: Bruce Bunch, GE, 203-
373-2039)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00005)

NKK TO BUILD SUPER LSI CHIP FACTORY}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- One of the world's largest
steelmakers Nippon Kokan (NKK) will begin construction of
a factory and laboratory for super LSI (large-scale integrated
circuit) chips next spring. The firm is currently hurrying to find
a location for the new facility in major metropolitan areas of
Japan. NKK promises to invest about 10 to 15 billion
yen ($69 to 103 million) for it.

NKK will set up a technologically advanced production line for
4-megabit DRAM (dynamic random access memory) chips in the new
factory, and will design and make ultra LSI chips using next-
generation manufacturing processes next year.

NKK established an electronics headquarters last summer, and
since then has been working hard to expand its LSI
business. The headquarters has a design center where LSI chips are
custom-designed for customers. The chips are then made on a test
line in NKK's Toyama steel factory. NKK's current facility, however,
is limited to manufacture chips no larger than 64 megabits.

(Ken Takahashi/19890921)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00006)

MITSUBISHI CREATES 4-MEG CHIP PRODUCTION LINE}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- Mitsubishi Electric will
introduce a new production line for 4-megabit DRAM (dynamic random
access memory) chips in its semiconductor memory production
factory in Seijo of Ehime prefecture. Mitsubishi will start
construction this year in order to begin production late next
year. The total investment is expected to be 20 to 25 billion
($138 to 170 million) for the new line.

Mitsubishi is now mass-producing 256-kilobit and 1-megabit
DRAM chips in the Seijo factory. The firm is making 4-megabit DRAM
chips in its Kochi factory where monthly output is some 100,000
to 200,000 units, and is limited to a million units per month.
Mitsubishi, therefore, has decided to integrate 4-megabit
facilities into its Seijo factory for further volume production.

The new volume production line will initially output one million
units per month but production levels are expected to eventually
be higher.

(Ken Takahashi/19890921)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00007)

INTEL TO SHIP i960 IN JAPAN}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- The world's fastest 32-bit MPU
(microprocessing unit), i960, developed by U.S.-based leading
semiconductor maker Intel, will be shipped in Japan this October.

Three types of i960 CA MPU -- 16, 25 and 33 megahertz i960 -- are
going to be sold a bit higher than the price in the U.S., 42,000 yen
through 58,000 ($285 - $395) here. Intel has its Japanese arm, Intel
Japan, but the subsidiary will not produce the chips here and it will
receive a supply from the U.S. to distribute the chips in the Japanese
market.

The new MPU is expected to be used for industrial robots,
image processing, LAN (local area network) controllers and medical
equipment.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890921)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00008)

OKI SHIFTS DRAM TO SRAM & VRAM}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- To stabilize its income from the
semiconductor business, Oki Electric will start SRAM (static random
access memory) and Video RAM production.

These chips will be produced in its Miyagi plant which currently
produces one megabit dynamic RAM. Oki is trying to lessen its
dependence on one-megabit DRAM or general purpose memory
which is too reliant on the whims of current market conditions.

The firm will start production with 256 kilobit and one megabit
SRAM, however, the access time of the chips will be varied to gauge
customer demand.

The production quantity of SRAM and VRAM will be 100,000 units a
month. Oki is investing 15 billion yen or $102 million for the
replacement of the facilities.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890914)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00009)

TI TO INTRODUCE HDTV TECHNOLOGY FROM NHK}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- As part of its world market
strategy, U.S.-based leading semiconductor maker Texas
Instruments will receive technical support on the development of
HDTV (High Definition Television) from NHK (Nippon Hoso Kyokai) or
Japan Broadcasting Corporation.

The formal contract will be signed between two firms soon, and
will be valid for one year. TI Japan will receive technical
advice from the subsidiary of NHK, NHK Engineering Service, to
develop key elements for HDTV, a chip for a decoder and a
decoder itself. With the development of a decoder, TI will
integrate general purpose ICs for ASICs (application specific
integrated circuit).

TI intends to develop HDTV products for the U.S. and Europe.

Japanese HDTV has now reached the practical level by NHK
and other Japanese makers with the MUSE (multiple sub-Nyquist
encoding) method, but the U.S. and Europe are seeking to develop
their own method.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890921)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00010)

MATSUSHITA/UNGERMANN LAN JOINT VENTURE}
OSAKA, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- Matsushita Electric Works and
a U.S.-based major LAN (local area network) firm Ungermann-Bass
will set up a joint venture at the end of this month, according
to Nikkei Industrial Daily paper.

Matsushita Net One will develop, make, and sell LAN equipment with technology
supplied from Ungermann-Bass. The capital investment
is 400 million yen (US$2,760,000) owned 51 percent by Matsushita,
24 percent by Ungermann-bass, and 25 percent by the Japanese
subsidiary of the U.S. firm. The new venture will have its
headquarters located in the Tokyo branch office of Matsushita
Electric Works, with 20 employees to start.

Matsushita Net One will first produce Ungermann-Bass' device called
Access One, and will ship it to the Japanese market as early as
next spring. Access One allows different computers and data
terminals to connect to a LAN, and also can combine LANs
which have different communication protocols for data communication.
The joint venture will develop new devices enhanced with
Japanese-specific functions in the future, and expects sales of 50
billion yen ($350 million) in five years.

(Ken Takahashi/19890921)


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

OKI PREDICTS INCREASED PROFIT}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- Oki Electric Industry expects
to earn 23 billion yen ($160 million) this fiscal year ending
March -- a 29 percent increase over the last fiscal year and
15 percent higher than expected. Oki expects sales this year to
be 555 billion yen ($3.8 billion), which is about a 10 percent
increase over last year.

Oki credits the good news to higher-than-expected sales of computers,
chips, and communication devices.

(Ken Takahashi/19890921)


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

FUJITSU TO RECORD HIGHEST-EVER PROFIT}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 19 (NB) -- Fujitsu predicts it will
earn 130 billion yen ($900 million) this fiscal year ending
March, its best profit ever and a 22 percent increase over
last year. Fujitsu is confident that it will attain two-digit
growth in computer sales, and expects its semiconductors to earn 10
percent higher profits than last year. Moreover, a weak Japanese
currency will help Fujitsu's profit.

Fujitsu is likely to rake in sales of about 2,180 billion yen ($15
billion) this year, which is a 9 percent increase over last year.

(Ken Takahashi/19890921)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(HKG)(00013)

PREMIER PROJECT GOES TO NCR TOWER}
HONGKONG, ASIA, 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- Building services specialist
Drake & Scull (Hongkong) Ltd. has installed an NCR Tower Model
32/450 to help it in the tendering and management of large
mechanical and electrical engineering projects.

The NCR system will run a package called Premier, from the UK
form Multisoft, which will provide such applications as
purchase order management, contract costing, sales ledger and
stock control.

(Keith Cameron/19890922, Press Contact: Euan Barty 852-5-290356)


(EXCLUSIVE)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00014)

COMMODORE BELGIUM IN TROUBLE?}
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- Although Commodore
International announced revenues amounting to almost $1,000
million, the company seems be going through a problematic time.

Commodore's Belgian subsidiary, has just changed its general
and marketing managers, and is trying very hard to improve
its image. Profits are low and the company's Belgian advertising
activities have decreased considerably.

Newsbytes notes that it was only last year that Commodore
gave a party and beamed with support for its Whitbread 'Round the
World' yacht race. Today, the Commodore-sponsored entry has been
responsored by Ricanor yacht.

Commodore Belgium's sales have decreased as well. An anonymous
company source told Newsbytes: "We seem to have mounting problems
with this subsidiary. Most have to do with the fact that Belgium
is a bilingual country and there is always rivalry between the
two sides."

Problems relating to the duality of the Dutch and French
languages cause problems for many Belgian companies, most
notably in Brussels. Most companies are forced to spend twice as
much on their paper-based administration systems to accommodate
the needs of both languages.

Even the mentality of the two languages are different. The Dutch
think the French speakers are arrogant, whilst the French treat
the Dutch-speakers as people with lower than average
intelligence. In a bid to sort out the mess, the Belgian
government once suggested that the country adopted English as its
primary language!

The problems that Commodore now face in marketing its products
are therefore not new to Belgian industry, but they are making it
very difficult for the company to succeed.

(Peter Vekinis/19890923)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00015)

ISRAELI HI-TECH FOR SALE SAYS KOOR}
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL, 1989 SEP 22 (NB) -- Koor Industries, the Israeli
industrial giant, has placed its electronics division up for
sale in a bid to fend off the red ink from its current year
balance sheet.

Koor Industries will announce its half-year figures at the end of
this month, when the company expects to announce major losses.
The sale of its Taridan electronics division would pull the
company back into the black during the second quarter.

Officials with Koor suggest that half year loses could be as high
as $75 million. The sale of Taridan, a company representative
said, would more than offset the losses in terms of trading
profits, as well as going a long way towards reducing Koor's'
total debts of $1,250 million, possibly be as much as one third.

Koor's shoving off of its Taridan electronics division comes in
the wake of a liquidation suit, filed last year by the Bankers
Trust Group of New York.

(Eric Dauchy/19890922/Press Contact : 972-3-926-2455 in Israel
or 516-621-4980 at Washington Port, NY, USA)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00016)

GENERAL SIGNAL CONSOLIDATING EURO-ACTIVITIES}
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 SEP 22 (NB) -- General Signal and Olin Hunt,
two US chemical companies, have announced plans to build a $10
million technology centre in Belgium. The European centre will
specialize in the development of semiconductor products.

Olin Hunt already has a technical service centre at Saint
Niklaas, about 55 km from Brussels, Belgium. Despite this, Alan
Routledge of General Signal's semiconductor equipment division,
told Newsbytes that the joint project was not as unusual as it
might first appear.

"Both companies have an annual turnover of about $2,000 million,
are headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut and operate in the
same market sector, the production of semiconductors," he said.
"It's an ideal partnership," Routledge acknowledged, "We need the
chemicals in order to offer a total solution and Olin Hunt needs
our products for their R&D."

Phillipe Gouby, business director for Olin Hunt's micro-
electronics division, said that the deal is a logical way to cut
costs for both companies. "Research and development costs amount to
millions of dollars and, alone, we cannot handle this. The cooperation
between our two companies is, I believe, quite unique," he said.
If the joint venture is successful, Gouby added, both companies
will create a similar operation in the United States.

The new European centre will be ready in 18 months and will be
used to implement production hardware used in semiconductor
manufacture, as well as new processes to make wafers. General
Signal said it will bring parts of its British and West German
engineering division, including personnel to Saint Niklaas,
Belgium to start up.

(Eric Dauchy/19890921)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00017)

INGRAM MICRO D BUYS SOFTEUROP}
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 SEP 23 (NB) -- Ingram Micro D has acquired
Softeurop, a major Belgium computer products distributor, in an
effort to gain market share in Europe.

Ingram Micro-D is itself part of Ingram Industries, the
Nashville, Tennessee-based technology group. Ingram took a
majority stake in Micro D in 1986.

Softeurop and its Dutch and French subsidiaries, Softeurop and
Info, are part of the deal. Ingram Micro D said, that with the
acquisition, it wants to build a dominant position in the European
marketplace.

Softeurop was founded in 1983 by Jean Walravens of Belgium and is
a major reseller of computer products. It had a turnover of 500
million Belgian francs ($12 million) in 1988 and currently
employs 30 people.

(Eric Dauchy/19890922)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00018)

MATRA TO SHED 50 PER CENT OF CHIP SUBSIDIARY}
PARIS, FRANCE, 1989 SEP 22 (NB) -- Matra, the French defense and
electronics group, is to sell a 50 percent stake in MHS, its
semiconductors subsidiary, to Telefunken, the West German
electronics company.

According to Jean-Luc Lagard, MHS has been suffering heavy losses
following the departure of Harris Corporation, the US company
which took a 50 percent stake in MHS in 1979.

The alliance with Telefunken, an offshoot of AEG and part of the
Daimler-Benz group, itself a Matra shareholder, is expected to
give MHS new outlets for its chips in the automotive industry
besides its existing defence, space and telecommunications
markets.

MHS made an operating loss of 82.6 m French Francs ($12.5
million) last year, but restructuring provisions made the total
negative contribution to Matra's earnings closer to 200 m FF.
This year, the company hopes to break even with sales expected to
be up one third to FF 500 million.

Matra said the company will remain under French management and
continue to specialize in CMOS and Bi-CMOS IC (integrated
circuit) technologies.

(Eric Dauchy/19890922)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00019)

MANNESMANN TAKES MINORITY STAKE IN TI}
FRANKFURT, WEST GERMANY, 1989 SEP 23 (NB) -- Mannesman, West
Germany's large engineering group, has taken a five percent stake
in the Tube Investments (TI) group in England. The move is designed
to cement a better relationship between the two companies in
preparation for the free European trading market of 1992.

After news of the deal had broken, TI's share prices closed up 9
pence to 488 pence on the London Stock Exchange.

Both companies said that their long term goal is to cooperate in
technology and marketing and jointly to explore acquisition
opportunities. A joint company, headed by Mannesmann Chairman
Werner Dieter and TI chief Chris Lewinton, is being set up to
study areas in which the two groups might work together.

Lewinton predicted there will be more cross-border deals in
engineering as the liberalised European market approaches. "The
domestic appliance industry had gone this way, as have the
aircraft and the automotive industries. Everything is turning on
the clout you have. This theme is going to go through
engineering," he said.

(Eric Dauchy/19890922)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00020)

FIFTH GENERATION SETS UP IN EUROPE}
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 SEP 23 (NB) -- Fifth Generation Systems
(FGS), the software utilities company, has opened an office in Brussels,
and announced ambitious plans to greatly boost its market share
in Europe over the coming year.

Barry Bellue, FGS's president and chief executive officer, told
Newsbytes that, although the company's product were already being
sold in Europe, and particularly the UK, there was no point of
contact for users and dealers to go to for support and advice.

"Our products will continue to be handled by our UK, French and
West German distributors and dealers, but the point of focus for
our retailers will be Larry Fels, our European business manager,"
he said.

"Over the last few years, our sales in Canada have increased to
account for ten percent of total sales. Since the European
market is some four times larger than that of Canada, we plan to
dramatically expand our sales on this side of the Atlantic in a
similar fashion," he added.

"We don't plan to change the user-dealer-distributor chain of
command in any way. We're looking to encourage dealers and
distributors to contact Larry at our Brussels office, either by
phone or by fax. If Larry can't answer their questions
immediately, then we'll have a fax waiting on their desks the
next day," he added.

Bellue said that FGS's sales increase will be spearheaded by
the recent acquisition of the sales rights to Paul Mace's Mace
Utilities range of software, and White Crane Systems' Brooklyn
Bridge data transfer package. He said that FGS has the first
right of refusal on future products from Paul Mace and White
Crane Systems

"The aim of our product range expansion over the past few months
has been one of acquiring the sales rights, rather than outright
take-over. That way, we can rely on the future development of the
utility packages by their original authors," he said.

Bellue also revealed that he has plans to develop a series of
Microsoft Windows-compatible versions of FGS's packages for
release during the summer of next year. The company is also
considering the release of OS/2 versions of its software.

(Steve Gold/19890923/Press & Public Contact - Larry Fels,
European Business Manager, Fifth Generation Systems - Tel:
Brussels 771-7038)


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

NORTEL TO EXPAND LAB}
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 SEP 19 (NB) -- Northern Telecom
will expand its downtown Toronto laboratory, rather than closing
it as earlier reports suggested. The company has announced it
will rename the facility a Customer Applications Centre, and
permit it to hire 20 more employees. There are currently 115
people working at the lab (not 151 as Newsbytes reported
earlier).

The lab is also being given a global mandate to develop products
suggested by Northern Telecom customers. It will continue its
work on voice messaging and call distribution technology.

As Newsbytes reported earlier, Northern Telecom considered
several options for the laboratory, including closing it and
transferring its activities to other Northern facilities.

(Grant Buckler/19890921/Press Contact: John Lawlor or Helen
Sawick, Northern Telecom, 416-238-7000)


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

CHANGES IN COGNOS EXECUTIVE SUITE}
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- Cognos, the Ottawa
based maker of application development software, is shuffling
management after two quarterly losses. Thomas Csathy has resigned
as president of the company, to be replaced by Michael Potter,
formerly chairman and chief executive. About 20 employees are
being cut from Cognos' Ottawa headquarters staff, and another 20
will be reassigned. Cognos has about 1,300 employees worldwide,
said company spokeswoman Wendy Rajala.

Cognos has also hired two new vice-presidents, both from Cullinet
Software, the Massachusetts software vendor recently acquired by
Computer Associates International. They and two other senior
managers will report directly to Potter in a reorganized
management structure.

In the quarter ended May 31, Cognos lost C$4 million. That
compared with net earnings of C$476,000 in the first quarter last
year. The company said preliminary results for the second
quarter, ended August 31, indicate a loss of about C$1.5 million,
excluding restructuring costs.

(Grant Buckler/19890921/Press Contact: Wendy Rajala, Cognos, 613-
738-1440)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(WAS)(00023)

PRIME NAMES NEW CFO}
NATICK, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 SEPT 18 (NB) -- Prime
Computer announced today that Harvey A. Wagner has been selected
as the company's new chief financial officer.

(John McCormick/19890922)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(WAS)(00024)

PHOENIX TASTES ASHES}
NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 12 (NB) -- Phoenix
Technologies, the company responsible for the basic code used by
many PC compatible computers, announced today that it expects a
substantial loss in both the fourth quarter and for the year,
despite an increase in total revenues over last year.

(John McCormick/19890915)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00025)

MAI COMPLETES $55 MILLION EQUITY INVESTMENT}
TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 18 (NB) -- An investor
group headed by Bennett LeBow, chairman of MAI Basic Four, has
completed the previously announced $55 million equity investment.

The investment is necessary to shore up MAI's financial position
in the wake of that company's unsuccessful bid to acquire Prime
Computers. In the equity investment, Brooke Partners in New York
will give MAI $30 million in cash and the return of some
preferred stock and will guarantee some loan payments. In
exchange, LeBow and Brooke Partners will receive common stock
that equals 54 percent of shares outstanding.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890922)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00026)

COMPUTER AUTOMATION SELLING TEST BUSINESS}
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 21 (NB) -- Computer
Automation has agreed to sell its automatic test equipment
business to Technology Marketing for about $4 million.

The test equipment business has accounted for about 60 percent of
revenue for financially struggling Computer Automation which lost
$1.3 million in the fiscal year ended June 30, 1988 on revenues
of $17.2 million. Results for the fiscal year ended June 30,
1989 have not been reported, however, the company has shown a
loss of $2 million during the first nine months.

By selling the test equipment unit, Computer Automation will be
able to concentrate on manufacturing computers.

The sale is still subject to definitive agreement, financing, and
the approval of Computer Automation shareholders and the
company's major lender. The final purchase price will be
determined by the value of selected assets at the close of the
sale expected to take place in December.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890922)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00027)

EMULEX WARNS QUARTER WILL BE LOW}
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 21 (NB) -- Looking
ahead to the release of its quarterly report for the period
ending September 30, Emulex Corp., makers of storage and
networking products for use with Digital Equipment computers, has
warned that results will be lower than expected.

The company has blamed this on slow sales, especially a soft
business climate during July and August. The overall results for
the first half of fiscal 1990 will be below the earnings and
revenue for the same period in fiscal 1989.

Emulex has indicated that orders are currently beginning to
increase.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890922)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00028)

WESTERN DIGITAL LICENSES TO CODENOLL TECHNOLOGY}
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- Western
Digital has announced a licensing agreement under which Codenall
Technology will use three of Western Digital's Ethernet adapter
designs to produce a series of high performance fiber optic
Ethernet adapters.

This agreement follows a similar agreement concluded in August
with Chipcom Corp. Chipcom plans to produce a compatible fiber
optic adapter.

The Codenoll agreement also includes use of four of Western
Digital's new Ethernet LSI (large-scale integration) devices and
rights to its SuperDisk set of software drivers for all major
network operating systems.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890922/Press Contact: Lynda Orban, Western
Digital, 714-757-4234)


(EXCLUSIVE)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00001)

COMDEX: NO HOTEL ROOMS LEFT FOR INT'L ATTENDEES}
NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, 1989 SEP 22 (NB) -- Comdex Fall may mean
sleeping in the park for many overseas delegates due to a change
in the number of rooms reserved by show organizer The Interface
Group (TIG). Invitations and registration forms for the
mid-November show have just reached international attendees
and although the booklets list hotel accommodation available
through TIG, the organization tells Newsbytes it has already taken
bookings for every single room.

A spokesperson told Newsbytes that "we decided to block-book
fewer rooms this year -- we sold out almost immediately and have
long cancellation lists for US delegates, let alone anyone
else."

(Paul Zucker/19890922)


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

POSTSCRIPT ADVOCATES LAUD ADOBE'S DECISION}
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 22 (NB) -- An organization
set up to promote a set of standards in page description languages,
with Adobe's Postscript as the centerpiece, is cheering Adobe
President John Warnock's decision to put Postscript in the public
domain. However "there is work yet to be done."

David Holtzgang, a member of the SPS Association, tells
Newsbytes that the 70-member group which met at the Seybold
Computer Publishing Conference, was established to prevent
fragmentation of Postscript to standardize its features, lower
its price, and broaden its availability. At one point earlier this
year, he says, there were four page description languages competing
for the end-user's dollar, including one from Hewlett-Packard and
Apple's Quickdraw. "How was a person to pick one? Most of us have
tremendous investments in font technology."

The members of the SPS, which include Apple and Microsoft but not
Adobe, are "real happy," about Warnock's announcement, but that it
doesn't mean the mission of the SPS is over.

"There is still work to be done on advanced color standards. There
is also no device-independent color operations in Postscript,"
says Holtzgang, also author of "The Postscript Reference Guide."
But Adobe's decision to reveal the technology behind its popular
desktop publishing standard is "a tremendous step forward."

(Wendy Woods/19890922/Press Contact: Bruce Harrison, chairman SPS
Association, 617-438-5607; David Holtzgang, 415-626-7205)


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

SEYBOLD PACKS 'EM IN}
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 22 (NB) -- A
lively Seybold Computer Publishing Conference has wrapped up at
San Francisco's Moscone Center, producing more than the
usual share of dramatic news and offering a peek at current leaps
in the use of color in computer publishing.

While the talk of the show was the Apple/Microsoft alliance to
promote a Postscript clone and Adobe's subsequent promise to release
Postscript into public domain, incremental advances in printing
resolution and color fonts were evident on the show floor where some
250 companies showed their wares and some 20,000 spectators
came to see them.

Among the color breakthroughs was a calibrator for Radius and
Apple color displays which allows them to attain industry-standard
Pantone Color simulations. The Radius PrecisionColor calibrator,
hardware with a suction-cup attachment that is placed on the
screen, ships in November for $695. The device allows colors on-
screen to be adjusted to that they perfectly simulate final output with
unprecedented accuracy.

Optronics introduced a high-resolution, Postscript-compatible
imagesetter which produces four-color separations eight to ten times
faster than Linotronic at a fraction of the cost, according to the
company. Output on the Colorsetter 2000 can be in text, line
art and color graphics, as well as to color photographs,
presensitized films, papers, plates, or proofing materials. The
Colorsetter 2000, in beta test, will cost $12,500. Optronics is a
division of Intergraph, Inc.

(Wendy Woods/19890922)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BRU)(00004)

COMPUTER VIRUS INFECTS SCANDINAVIAN NETWORK}
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, 1989 SEP 23 (NB) -- Post Giro, one of
Scandinavia's largest PC networks,  has been infected with a
computer virus. Bjarne Wind, the director of the banking network
revealed last week that had the virus not been discovered in
time, it could have wiped out the network control programs along
with customer data.

Wind says that the virus, a special set of instructions inserted into
a computer program, had been designed to reproduce itself in other
programs but lie dormant until 13 October. The virus would then
have come to life and begun erasing programs and data files on
all 260 PCs linked to the Post Giro network.

Wind added that 20 experts had worked for several days to
eradicate the virus and were now checking Post Giro's store of
200,000 floppy disks to see whether they were infected as well.

(Eric Dauchy/19890922)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00005)

AUS: VIRUS FORCES SOFTWARE QUARANTINE}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 SEP 18 (NB) - The Australian national
distribution house Imagineering recently sealed off its software
production and demonstration areas in Sydney to test its Lotus
Agenda master copies, plus approximately 6,000 production copies
after a user claimed to have found the "marijuana virus" on a
demonstration disk.

An Imagineering spokesman said that no other copies of the virus
were found at Imagineering, which suggested it had come from
somewhere else.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19890920)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00006)

COMPTON MULTIMEDIA ENCYCLOPEDIA ON CD-ROM}
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 21 (NB) -- Britannica
Corporation has today announced that its Compton Multimedia
Encyclopedia, incorporating text, graphics, and sound, will be
available for MS-DOS computers, starting in October 1989, on a
single CD-ROM disc.

The encyclopedia, which follows years after the text-only
Grolier's Encyclopedia pioneered by On-Line of MD, is aimed at
elementary through high school students and, at $895, will
actually cost about $100 more than the printed version despite
the fact that reproduction costs for a CD-ROM, once mastering is
complete, is only about $4/disc as opposed to the hundreds of
dollars involved in printing, binding, storing, and shipping a
shelf full of printed encyclopedias.

Industry observers welcome this multimedia CD-ROM-based
encyclopedia but generally decry its high price, which is more
than double that of the Grolier encyclopedia.

(John McCormick/1989921)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00007)

NEW SIEMENS FAX FOR US MARKET}
CHERRY HILL, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- With a
new line of facsimile machines, Siemens Information Systems, a
major worldwide telecommunications company, has shown its
intention to penetrate the U.S. fax market.

The $2,595 HF 2203 has a 30-page document feed bin, will delay
sending a fax up to 24 hours, operates as a copier, and weighs in
at 28 pounds. The HF 2205 has the same features plus a memory of
512 kilobytes to store numbers and instructions.

(John McCormick/19890922/Press Contact: Susan Gauff, Siemens,
407-994-7232)


(EXCLUSIVE)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00008)

HI-TECH HOTEL OPENS IN HONGKONG}
HONGKONG, ASIA, 1989 SEP 21 (NB) -- The opening of the sparkling
Grand Hyatt Hotel, which adjoins Hongkong's impressive
convention and exhibition centre inaugurated earlier this year,
completes an unusual double for General Automation (GA)
subsidiary Maxial Hotel Systems.

The convention centre is sandwiched between two hotels, the
Grand Hyatt and the New World Harbour View. A 50/50 joint
venture company between the New World Group and Hyatt
International manages the two properties, but the hotels are
individually operated by the two hotel companies.

Carlton J. Parker, regional director of GA, described some of
the unique features to Newsbytes. "There are a number of firsts
with this installation. The two partners have fully exploited
the close proximity of the hotels."

"The 600 room Grand Hyatt has the Maxial front and back office
system installed on a GA 8830 mid-range computer system. The
900 room New World Harbour View is running its front office
applications on a GA 7820 which interfaces, via a Novell
network into a PC-based back office system developed by CIF, a
local Hongkong company. I believe it is the first time that a
Maxial system has been attached to a Novell network," says Mr
Parker, "Simon Poon of CIF has been a great help with the
development of the interface."

Both GA systems are directly connected to a Norshot in-room TV
system which utilizes radio frequency (RF) communications. "RF
eliminates the need for extra cabling throughout each
building," explained Mr Parker, " and it reduces the up-front
cost of installation and improves maintenance."

When both Maxial systems are fully implemented, all food and
beverage outlets will be cross-connected via an ARCNET link.
"This will enable patrons to put any meal or purchase on their
room account regardless of which hotel they are staying at."

The ARCNET link will also provide a limited back-up in the
event of either system failing. "This gives a resilience that
is not often seen in hotel systems," says Mr Parker. "The joint
venture is also negotiating with the convention centre with the
view to adding all food outlets to the network."

Other interesting economies are that the New World is operating
the laundry and servicing both hotels, and the Hyatt is
operating a centralized bakery for both.

(Keith Cameron/19890922)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00009)

AUSSIE MARKET RESEARCH UNDER FIRE}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 SEP 18 (NB) - The reports from Compass
Research, one of Australia's most prominent PC market research
organizations, have once again been challenged by firms in New
Zealand and Australia. The controversy has arisen after Compass
released its quarterly MicroStoreboard report which covers the
market shares of PCs, printers and software.

New Zealand's Imagineering hardware marketing manager, Raj Sharma,
described Compass' latest Micro Storeboard report for New
Zealand as a "sham and a disaster," and that he would "stake his
life" that the results were wrong. Mr Sharma claimed his top five
dealers had not been approached by Compass, and that they sell 80
percent of the subsidiaries' Ultra PCs.

David Walters, the general manager of printer supplier Star, said
that his company sold 25 percent fewer laser printers in New
Zealand than Compass reported, and questioned the rankings of his
competitors in the overall printer market.

Meanwhile in Australia, accounting software publisher Sybiz
has questioned Compass' claim that it had the best-selling
software package in Australia. Sybiz marketing manager, Kerry
Proctor, said, "While I'm convinced that Sybiz Elite is leading
the accounting software sales and outselling Attache as Compass
reported, I'm not quite so sure we would outsell Microsoft Word -
particularly in the month when they ship a new version."

Compass Research managing director, Jennifer Adelstein, defended
the report, saying vendors took the results far too personally:
"We don't have an axe to grind, so why would we report false
information?"

In a separate incident, Apple Australia's general manager, David
Strong, has described a national computer ranking table as being a
"shoddy masquerade." The table, compiled by Auscor International
Pty Ltd, excluded Apple Computer from the list of the top 20
computer vendors in the nation despite Apple Australia's retail
sales of AUS$211M in 1988.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19890920)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00010)

DIGITAL HONORED BY CASA/SME}
MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 19 (NB) -- Digital
Equipment Corporation announced today that its Storage and
Information Management Group was the winner of the 1989
Leadership and Excellence in the Application and Development of
Computer Integrated Manufacturing award. The award will be
presented at the AUTOFACT conference to be held in Detroit,
Michigan, October 31-November 2.

The award, which is given annually by the Society of Manufacturing
Engineers, is being given for Digital's development of the RA90
disk drive.

(John McCormick/19890922)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00011)

NATA REPORTS BIG LAN SALES}
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 SEPT 19 (NB) -- The North American
Telecommunications Association has announced that its members
have reported rapid growth in the number of local area networks.
The complete report will be the focus of NATA's UNICOM'89 Expo
and Conference held at the Dallas, Texas Infomart on December 5-
7.

According to NATA spokesperson, UNICOM is the only industry trade
show devoted to joint marketing of computer and communications
products and services.

(John McCormick/19890922/Press Contact: Susan Ryba, NATA, 202-
269-9800, X229)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00012)

LOTUS ANNOUNCES CD-ROM-BASED FINANCIAL DATA}
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- Already
marketing other expensive compact disk read-only memory or CD-ROM
products for the financial industry under the One Source product
line, Lotus Development Corp. and IDD Information Services Inc.
announced today that they will market a new CD-ROM service
containing financial data covering the mergers and acquisitions
area.

Called CD/M&A, the new product will be issued on a monthly basis
and will be of interest to large businesses, bankers, and the
general Wall Street crowd. The product will be based on IDD
Mergers and Acquisitions Database which contains data on more
than 30,000 transactions such as buy-backs acquisitions, and
merger activity among both publicly traded and private companies.

Strictly for big investors, CD/M&A is available now for a yearly
subscription of $20,000, $15,000 when purchased as part of a
package of One Source CD-ROM financial data products which range
in price from $7,000 to $20,000 per year. The price also includes
a CD-ROM player.

(John McCormick/19890914/Press Contact: Pamela Cay, Lotus, 617-
577-8500 x7087)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00013)

XEROX TARGETS NY LAWYERS}
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- Manhattan-based
Xerox Business Services has said that it has organized a team to
provide on-site facilities management to the metropolitan New
York legal community. The services provided would include fax,
mailroom, electronic publishing, and equipment rental.

(John McCormick/19890914/Press Contact: Stephen D. Wallach,
Xerox, 212-561-6700)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00014)

EMA CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER}
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- The Electronic
Mail Association has announced that CompuServe's President
Charles W. McCall, Tymnet's Chairman Warren F. Prince, and MCI's
Senior Marketing Manager Carla Cotterill will be among the
speakers featured at the two-day Electronic Messaging '89
conference scheduled for October 5 and 6 in Chicago.

Interested parties can contact the EMA at 1555 Wilson Blvd.,
Suite 555, Arlington, Virginia 22209, U.S.A., or telephone 703-
528-4251.

(John McCormick/19890914)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00015)

NEWS AGENT MAKES CUTTING REMARK}
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- A recent edition of the
ACADS quarterly journal in Australia contained the following
story. An ACADS member went into his local news agent and asked
for a copy of UnixWorld magazine. The puzzled bookseller said,
"No!" he had Playboy, Penthouse, gay magazines and all the rest,
but he'd never heard of "Eunuchs' World!"

(Paul Zucker/19890922)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BRU)(00016)

IBM DIRECTOR DIES IN CAR CRASH}
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 SEP 22 (NB) -- Rene Jacqmin, the director-
general of IBM Belgium, has died in a car crash whilst returning
from business meeting in Paris. He leaves a wife and two
children.

Jacqmin started with IBM in 1965 and later became commercial
director for IBM Belgium in 1983, followed by the position of
director of channel marketing in Europe a year later. In 1985 he
became director of operations for IBM Europe before returning as
head of IBM Belgium in 1986.

(Eric Dauchy/19890922)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00017)

ATARI READIES FOR PC SHOW}
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 SEP 23 (NB) -- This week sees the Personal
Computer Show (formerly the PCW Show) taking place at Earls Court
in London. The show will open on Wednesday 27 September, and
close at the weekend. Atari, however, has preannounced several
of its new products.

Atari will unveil a new range of 80286-based PCs along
with the 68030-based TT series of workstations announced
late last month in Dusseldorf, West Germany. In addition,
Atari will begin shipping its Stacy portable ST with 20MB
hard disk at UKP 1,299-99.

(Steve Gold/19890923/Press Contact: Susan Turner, The Fitzroy
Company - Tel [phone])


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

HP WINS BIG DOT CONTRACT}
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- Hewlett-Packard
has won a contract worth $7.5 million to supply desktop workstations
and Series 1000 personal supercomputers to the US Department of
Transportation for use in an air traffic management system.

HP's Apollo division has already shipped more than 60 personal
workstations and RISC-based Series 10000 personal supercomputers
to the DOT's Transportation System Center in Cambridge,
Massachusetts.

The contract is an extension of a deal won two years ago in which
Apollo has already installed $2.6 million worth of desktop
machines and graphic workstations to the DOT.

The Apollo workstations are part of a network which evens the
flow of aircraft traffic coast to coast, and which allow air
traffic managers to view on a single computer screen every in-route
FAA-monitored airplane nationwide. The workstations gather
live flight information, including aircraft position reports and
flight plans, from computers in the 20 regional Air Traffic Control
Centers across the country.

(Wendy Woods/19890923/Press Contact: Jim Barbagallo, HP/Apollo,
508-256-6600 x7749)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SFO)(00002)

BROWN BAG APPEALS SYMANTEC DECISION}
CAMPBELL, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 23 (NB) -- Brown Bag
Software is making a second attempt to win a copyright suit
against Symantec Corporation. Brown Bag President Sandy Schupper
tells Newsbytes that the appeal has been filed in U.S. District
Court, Northern District of California, in connection with its
lawsuit against Symantec and programmer John Friend.

Brown Bag Software filed copyright and other claims in a lawsuit
against Symantec after the company released GrandView, a
product which Brown Bag claims is substantially similar to its
own PC-Outline. Both were written by John Friend who admitted in
deposition that he called GrandView "PC-Outline II."

Last month Judge Robert Aguilar, who is under investigation for
alleged wrong-doing in high office, ruled against Brown Bag's claim.

"Aguilar's decision is outrageous," Schupper had told Newsbytes about
the case. "We believe Judge Aguilar, with all his other pressures,
wanted to get us out of the way."

(Wendy Woods/19890923/Press Contact: Brown Bag Software at
408 559 4606)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00003)

BUSH JUMPS ON OPTICAL W.A.N. WAGON}
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- In calling for a
fiber optic wide area network linking 1,000 research computers in
the U.S., the Bush administration has finally put forward a high-
tech proposal that would really affect the way the country can
compete in the next decade and beyond.

Similar to an earlier plan proposed in legislation drafted by
Democratic Senator Albert Gore of Tennessee, the National
Education and Research Network, or NERN, would take five years to
complete and cost almost $2 billion.

By linking supercomputers and research sites with this extremely
high speed network, computer experts hope to greatly improve the
country's ability to compete with other nations in the most
important area of computer technology as well as spur research in
other areas that utilize computers, which includes almost all
research and development.

The proposed fiber optic network would stretch miles and provide
for data transfer at rates up to 50,000 pages per second, 1,000
times the rate presently provided by existing supercomputer
networks.

At the same time, it has been reported that Commerce Secretary
Robert Mosbacher, bowing to White House pressure, is dropping his
strong support for a government role in developing high-
definition television, a technology that many feel will lead the
computer industry in the next decade.

(John McCormick/19890914)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00004)

AT&T COMMITS TO HDTV, URGES ADMINISTRATION TO PLAY ROLE}
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- AT&T/Bell
Laboratories' Executive VP Solomon Buchsbaum linked high-
definition television, or HDTV, with growth for American industry
and prosperity for the country during testimony today before the
House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.

AT&T and Zenith are already cooperating on development of HDTV
and Buchsbaum, calling for guidance from the Bush administration,
said that the financial risk to individual companies of
developing HDTV on their own is too great.

(John McCormick/19890914/Press Contact: Robert Ford of AT&T Bell
Laboratories, 201-564-4260)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00005)

XEROX PARTICIPATES IN ARMY BID PROCEDURE}
MCLEAN, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 15 (NB) -- Xerox Corporation
announced today that it has been chosen as leader of one team of
companies competing to design a procurement and maintenance
system for the U.S. Army.

The first phase of the design competition is worth $4 million,
and the total worth of the 15-year contract is placed at an
estimated $500 million.

CALS, the Army's Computer-Aided Acquisition and Logistics Support
system, will eventually be installed at 56 sites.

The field of bidders will be narrowed to two next year, and a
single contract winner will eventually be chosen to implement the
system under phases three and four.

(John McCormick/19890915/Press Contact: Peter S. Hawes, Xerox,
203-968-4416)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00006)

FRANKLIN SUES SMITH CORONA}
MT. HOLLY, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 15 (NB) -- Franklin
Computer Corp. has filed both patent and copyright infringement
suits in the U.S. District Court for New Jersey, charging the
Smith Corona Corporation and a distributor of Spell-Right Model
100 and 200 products with violating U.S. Patent No. 4,830,618
granted to Franklin Computer for its Spelling Ace(R) spelling
corrector.

The Smith Corona Spell-Right is a hand-held spelling
corrector/calculator which it calls a "dictionary," a term that
Franklin claims is false or misleading under the trademark law.

(John McCormick/19890915/Press Contact: Gregory J. Winsky, vice
president of Franklin Computer, 609-261-4800)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00007)

COUNTERSUIT FILED AGAINST APPLIED DATA}
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 21 (NB) -- A
countersuit against Applied Data was filed in US District Court
in Los Angeles by Jack Vanderweerd who is currently the defendant
in a suit filed in August by Applied Data.

Vanderweerd is cofounder of Dateline, Inc, a company which
Applied Data bought in September 1987 for $500,000 cash and a $2
million note. Under the terms of the note, Applied Data was
supposed to make semiannual interest payments and pay the note in
full by September 1990.

Applied Data sued Vanderweerd and his partner, Joseph Argento, in
August alleging that they misled Applied Data about the state of
the Dateline business in the sale. Vanderweerd's countersuit is
based on his contention that Applied Data stopped making payments
on the sale in July, thus breaching the sales contract.

Applied Data claims the two Redmond, WA businessmen lied about
the effectiveness of their products, disk-drive controllers and
other peripherals at the time of the sale in an effort to make
their business appear an attractive acquisition prospect.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890922)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00008)

IRT SETTLES INFRINGEMENT COMPLAINT}
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 19 (NB) -- IRT has
has agreed to settle its suit against Four Pi Systems that
claims infringement of IRT's proprietary rights in technology for
automated x-ray inspection of printed circuit boards.

Under the agreement, Four Pi will pay IRT a lump sum of $900,000.
IRT has granted Four Pi a limited-use nonexclusive license
covering Four Pi's products but the agreement specifically does
not license Four Pi to reproduce equivalent products.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890922/Press Contact: Vicki L. Foote, IRT
Corp., 619-450-4343 x402)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(TYO)(00009)

NEC, ZILOG SETTLE LICENSING DISPUTE}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 19 (NB) -- NEC and Campbell, California-based
Zilog have finally reached an out-of-court agreement in the
lawsuit Zilog filed in California District Court against
NEC over a second-source licensing agreement. The settlement
calls for both sides to cooperate in the exchange of technology.

This case began with the 1983 out-of-court settlement between
the two firms, in order to solve the problem of the mutual copyright
infringement regarding each firm's microprocessors. The
agreement called for NEC to second-source or license for outside
manufacture its V series chips to Zilog, and Zilog, on the other hand,
second-sourced its V80 chips to NEC.

However, the terms of the agreement were never executed because
another lawsuit got in the way. Intel sued against NEC over its
V series chips that allegedly infringed on Intel's copyright. The
year-long battle took its toll on Zilog officials' patience, resulting
in the suit against NEC which charged the firm with violation
of contract, and sought monetary compensation.

NEC won the lawsuit case against Intel in February of this year,
so Zilog called off its suit against NEC.

The settlement this time allows both NEC and Zilog to make and sell
the products created as a result of past cross-licensing contracts
but does not allow them to exchange technology in the future.

(Ken Takahashi/19890921)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(TYO)(00010)

SEIKO-EPSON ALLEGEDLY INFRINGES IC PATENT
ATSUGI, KANAGAWA, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- Japanese
semiconductor pioneer and president of Semiconductor Laboratory,
Shunpei Yamazaki, has filed a suit in Tokyo District Court
against Seiko-Epson for allegedly infringing on his IC (integrated
circuit) patent. Yamazaki seeks an injunction on manufacturing and
sales of Seiko-Epson's PC286L and PC286E personal computers.

The patent, which Yamazaki applied for in 1975 and was finally
granted in October 1988, is for technology involving the
element structure necessary for building basic IC logic circuits.
Yamazaki claims that the most advanced, profitable IC chip
cannot be made without use of his patented technology.

About 20 major Japanese electronics manufacturers, including
Fujitsu, have already signed a licensing agreement with Yamazaki
regarding the patent. Yamazaki says that he did not come to
an agreement with Seiko-Epson regarding the patent fee.

Yamazaki asserts that the IC used at the heart of PC286L and
PC286E personal computers of Seiko-Epson infringes on his patent.

Seiko-Epson refuses comment on the matter, only saying that
this suit is subject to the court.

Shunpei Yamazaki joined TDK in 1971 and set up Semiconductor
Laboratory, of which TDK purchased half in 1980.

(Ken Takahashi/19890921)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SYD)(00011)

AUS$600M CONTRACT AWARD FOR TAX COMPUTERS}
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, 1989 SEP 18 (NB) - The largest ever tender
for a computer system in Australia has been awarded to an
Australian tenderer, the Computer Power Group.

The contract involves the replacement of the Australian Taxation
Office's computer system, and will make use of more than 35
subcontractors including foreign-based suppliers Amdahl, Bull,
NCR, and IBM.

The Computer Power Group is Australia's largest computer services
company, with more than 3000 staff in 108 offices worldwide. CPG
invested more than AUS$2.5M to secure the contract and had up to
55 staff working on the project at various times. The computer
system is expected to cost AUS$600 million dollars and replace
3000 employees by 1998.

(Gavin Atkins/19890920)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SYD)(00012)

AUSSIE COPYRIGHT PROPOSALS SLAMMED}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 SEP 18 (NB) - Software industry pressure
groups have criticized recommendations by Australia's Prices
Surveillance Authority to scrap import restrictions related to
Australia's Copyright Act.

The Software and Services Industry Federation of Australia claims
that the proposed changes would be disastrous to Australia's
software industry by encouraging grey marketing. The proposals,
which were aimed at enabling the cheaper importation of books,
would also apply to imported software.

Attorney General, Lionel Bowen will look at the recommendations
with the Copyright Law Review Committee next month.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19890920)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SYD)(00013)

HALF OF AUSTRALIA'S SOFTWARE PIRATED}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 SEP 18 (NB) - Visiting members of the US
Business Software Association have appealed for urgent measures
to stop unauthorized copying and grey marketing of proprietary
software in Australia.

The BSA estimates that at least half of the software used in
Australia has been obtained illegally through unauthorized
copying, the sale of pirated versions of software, or illegal
parallel importing of proprietary software. The BSA estimates
this will cost Australian developers, manufacturers and
distributors AUS$287 million in 1990. BSA board member, Neal
Goldman, claims that in Australia, 0.82 software products are
shipped per PC compared to 1.5 in the US and 0.89 in the UK.

(Gavin Atkins/19890920)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SYD)(00014)

AUSTRALIAN COMPAQ DEVELOPMENT REJECTED}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 SEP 18 (NB) - Compaq's Australian
subsidiary has had its proposed AUS$15M Sydney warehouse
development rejected. The plan depended on a local council
rezoning the land in suburban Cherrybrook but there was
considerable public opposition to the project, including a
petition containing 3700 signatures.

The subsidiaries' managing director, Ian Penman, said that CCA will
regain its investment on the land, and that it was already
looking at alternative sites.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19890920)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SYD)(00015)

AUSTRALIAN STATESMAN'S COMPUTER BURGLARIZED}
PERTH, AUSTRALIA, 1989 SEP 18 (NB) - The Western Australian state
government was embarrassed recently after an intruder was spotted
raiding the computer system of the Premier, Peter Dowding.

The incident occurred during the evening meal recess at a late
night session of parliament. The Speaker of the parliament
discovered the culprit, who had walked into the Premier's
rarely-locked office. The raider ended up being one of
the Premier's own staffers who stood up and admitted the mistake
after it was raised by the speaker.

A government spokeswoman said it was an innocent incident and
there would be no action taken.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19890920)


(EXCLUSIVE)(GOVT)(BRU)(00016)

EC WON'T TAX FOREIGN DRAMS}
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 SEP 22 (NB) -- The European Commission
(EC) will not be imposing anti-dumping tariffs for DRAM (dynamic
random access microprocessor) chips originally sought by ICL as a
means of increasing profits derived from the marketing of
European-made DRAM chips, such as those made by ICL, Siemens and
SGS.

In a letter leaked to the press, the EC came down in favour of the
companies which were allegedly dumping chips in the European
marketplace. The Commission further explained that it would be
inappropriate to impose anti-dumping duties at this time (as ICL
had requested). Instead the Commission suggested that minimum
prices be set, which will be reviewed quarterly.

Currently, the Commission has ascertained that even the minimum
pricing suggested would be less than the prevailing prices of
DRAM chips in the market today.

The Commission further explained that since the new generation
of 1MB and 4MB RAM chips are being built using materials and
equipment similar to those currently available for the
manufacture of 256K RAM chips, and since dumping had in fact been
proved for the 256K RAMs, it would be necessary to take these new
high density parts into consideration.

Reading between the lines, however, observers suggest the EC decided
against dumping duties on DRAM chips because European
manufacturers are produced relatively few chips. If the
Commission had recommended dumping, it would have made the
product in Europe extremely expensive to market. Since most
European products use Japanese memory chips, anti-dumping would
hurt these products the most and thus make European products
uncompetitive in their home market.

(Peter Vekinis/19890923)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LON)(00017)

EUROPE: JAPANESE PRINTER-MAKERS TO PAY FINES}
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 SEP 23 (NB) -- The European Community
(EC) directorate has proposed a penalty surcharge on two UK-based
Japanese printer production plants. The directorate has ruled
that the two companies - NEC and Star Micronics - are producing
printers will less than 40 percent local EC content, as
proscribed under EC rules.

The proposal calls for the NEC dot-matrix printers to be
surcharged with a 30 ECUs (European Currency Units), and for Star
Micronics' printers to be surcharged with levy of 14 ECUs. The
level of the surcharge is based on the original anti-dumping
levies applied last year.

The seven other companies investigated by the directorate -
Brother, Citizen, Fujitsu, Oki, Matsushita, Seikosha and Tek -
have been cleared of the non-local assembly levy, since their
products have passed the 40 percent local EC content test.

Both companies, however, have taken preemptive action to avoid
the surcharges being implemented straight away. Representatives
of both companies told Newsbytes that close discussions have
taken place between their managers and representatives of the EC
directorate, and that the offending printers now have more than
the 40 percent EC local content required.

As a result of these discussions, the two printer companies
anticipate that it will be only a very short while before the
levies on their ex-factory deliveries will be removed. In the
mean time, no price increases on their printers are planned.

(Steve Gold/19890923)


(EXCLUSIVE)(IBM)(ATL)(00001)

DAMARK LIQUIDATING ZENITH 386 MACHINES}
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 22 (NB) -- Damark
International Inc., a catalog merchant best known for liquidating
failed products quickly, has made a major deal with Zenith to
bring its 80386-based Turbo 386 machine to buyers at an
incredibly low price -- $2,999. Given that Damark is not in
business to make money, the purchase indicates Zenith may be
strapped for cash, or loaded with inventories on state-of-the-art
machines.

Damark President Mark Cohn said his company produces two 64-page
catalogs each month, with 300 to 400 products each. "Some are
discontinued or closed out, and some are convenience items sold
at a discount. We're the great deal company." The $2,999 price
is truly exciting given that it's offered in computer bargain
publications like "Computer Shopper" at over $5,000.

As to the Zenith machines, Cohn said, "I'd say this is a great
liquidation price." You'll see it on the front page of your
Damark catalogs, due to hit the mail September 27.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921/Press Contact: Mark Cohn, Damark, 612-
560-5415)


(EXCLUSIVE)(IBM)(LON)(00002)

COMPAQ READIES EISA MACHINES FOR COMDEX}
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 23 (NB) -- Compaq is readying
a blistering array of machines for announcement at Comdex Fall
this November. The machines include a clamshell version of its
popular 'lunchbox' design SLT/286 portable, an 80386SX-based
machine in the same design, and at least four EISA (extended
industry standard architecture) PC systems.

The clamshell version of the SLT/286 will weigh just eight
pounds, yet feature a 20MB hard disk plus VGA gas plasma screen
plus one megabyte of random access memory, say Newsbytes
sources. The weight savings compared to the existing popular
SLT/286 system will mean that an expansion chassis for the
unit is unlikely.

A further development on the Compaq clamshell will be an 80386SX-
based version which will ship early in 1990. Final development
work on the unit is currently being carried out at Compaq's US
headquarters, say Newsbytes sources. A prototype of the machine
is likely to be unveiled alongside the 286-based clamshell
portable at Comdex Fall.

A range of Intel 80486-based systems will also be unveiled at
Comdex. The flagship product is expected to be an 80486/80870-
based multi-processor machine fitted with an EISA bus. The
machine will ship early next year.

Interestingly, Newsbytes' IBM sources say that a similar machine,
the PS/2 Model 90, has been developed by Big Blue, which will
be launched very shortly after the Compaq announcement. These
same sources say that the machine will feature Micro Channel
Architecture (MCA) in preference to Compaq's EISA. Furthermore,
IBM is said to be secretly planning to ship the Model 90 to
dealers during October, readying for shipment immediately after
the launch. Such a move would seriously undermine Compaq's 486-
based EISA machine launch.

Three other machines feature in Compaq's 486 line-up: a non-EISA
single processor 80486-based system pitched at the stand-alone
CAD/CAM user; an EISA single processor 80486-based system; and a
multiprocessor 80486-based EISA machine.

Joe McNally, managing director of Compaq's UK operation, refused
to comment on any of the new machine's specifications, saying
that Compaq does not release details of its machines, nor comment
on any rumours, prior to their launch.

(Steve Gold & Guy Kewney/19890923/Press Contact: Compaq UK -
Tel: [phone])


(EXCLUSIVE)(IBM)(ATL)(00003)

NORTON COMMANDER ADDING COMMUNICATIONS}
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 21 (NB) -- Peter Norton
Computing will add a number of communications features to its
Norton Commander program, a DOS shell, starting in October,
Newsbytes has learned.

Product Manager Alicia Thompson told Newsbytes that foremost
among the new functions is a gateway to MCI Mail, which will let
users send fax, telex, or electronic mail messages, including
binary files, from within the program. "It can work in the
foreground or background. It can check your mail for you at
preset times," she said. "You'll be able to send files, select those
you want to send and pull down a menu. You tell who you want
to send it to, who you want to copy it to, and you can add a short
memo."

Along with the MCI Mail gateway, which will be called Commander
Mail, the new Norton Commander will feature a file transfer
program called Commander Link, Thompson said. As with Traveling
Software's LapLink, Commander Link will let you move files
between PCs using a serial cable.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921/ Press Contact: Alicia Thompson, Peter
Norton Computing, 213-319-2000)


(ADVANCE)(IBM)(SFO)(00004)

MICRO 1 - 7X FASTER THAN COMPAQ '386/33}
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 26 (NB) -- A start-again
firm in San Francisco claims to have the hottest '386-based micro
in the industry, a machine which outperforms the top-of-the-line
Compaq Deskpro 386 by seven to one, according to company officers.
It's being touted as the speed demon's demon.

The powerful Power 386-33 from Micro 1 is so speedy, says Director
of Marketing Rick McCabe, because it features an intelligent
32-bit disk cache controller with one or four megabytes of RAM
(random access memory) onboard, a transfer rate of 10 megabytes per
second, and a disk access time of 0.3 milliseconds.

The computer operates at 7.5 MIPs (million instructions per second) at a
33 MHz clock speed, has a SCSI (small computer systems interface)
peripheral bus that supports up to seven peripheral devices.
The machine's speed is also increased by the way the computer loads
video BIOS and system software from ROM (read-only memory) into
shadow RAM, providing 2.5 times faster-than-Compaq BIOS execution,
so says the firm.

If that's not enough for the power user, there's support for up to 4.5
gigabytes of disk storage, support for DOS, OS/2, Xenix, Novell
networks, and interactive Unix Version 3.2 without the need for
additional drivers. The Power 386-33 has a price tag of $9,875 --
roughly 20 to 30 percent cheaper than comparable offerings from
competitors, says McCabe. The machine is designed for use as
a high performance local area network file server and for computer-
aided design, manufacturing, engineering, artificial intelligence,
and desktop publishing applications.

Micro 1, with corporate headquarters in Mesa, Arizona and sales
and marketing facilities in San Francisco, is headed by turnaround
artists Len Levin and partner Jerry Silbert, whose previous
resurrections included Braniff Airlines. Micro 1 is currently making
a come-back from Chapter 11 proceedings. Their goal is to make an
affordable PC for power users and provide solid support with unlimited
toll-free technical support as well as a nationwide network of on-site
field service officers run by TRW Services.

(Wendy Woods/19890922/Press Contact: Richard McCabe, Micro 1,
415-974-5439)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00005)

VI-SPY IDENTIFIES AND KILLS 22 KNOWN VIRUSES}
WILLOW GROVE, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 17 (NB) -- RG
Software officers, developers and marketers of Disk Watcher, an
inexpensive memory-resident program that helps PC-compatible
computer users identify virus infestations, has told Newsbytes that
they are about to introduce a new product -- VI-spy, a stand-alone
program that analyzes all disks, floppy, hard, and local area networks,
for the 22 known computer viruses that infect MS-DOS computers.

In addition to locating any trace of the virus in any file on the
disk being tested, VI-spy also identifies the virus by name and
offers the immediate option of deleting just those files that are
infected. In addition, VI-spy also writes over the entire
infected file area on the disk to eliminate any possibility that
someone could reactivate the infection just by using a utility
that undeletes files.

This feature is far more useful than other virus detector
programs, including Disk Watcher, which locate virus infections
but offer no real help in removing them.

VI-spy runs under DOS 2.0 or higher, comes on both 5.25- and 3.5-
inch disks in a single package, and sells for $250, complete with
a tutorial manual to help users detect and remove virus
infections. Corporate or business users need buy only one copy of
VI-spy for each location because the program is meant to be run
from a floppy and used only when needed or on a regular basis by
the system guru.

In a recent test of VI-spy, one company had 285 machines on a
VAX-based Ethernet system and the virus detector was able to
locate all infected files on several of the machines in only a
couple of minutes.

The spokesperson for RG told Newsbytes that there is a lot of
confusion currently about two virus programs; one, called
Datacrime, is not the same as the Friday the 13th virus due to
strike computers in October. According to the spokesperson, the
Friday the 13th virus is the same as one called, variously, the
Israeli, PLO, or Jerusalem Virus or the Black Hole Virus, and is
not, contrary to some rumors, from the Soviet Union.

Respected anti-virus expert Raymond M. Glath, president of RG
Software, told Newsbytes that, contrary to other reports in the
media (including an Associated Press report this week), the
Datacrime virus wipes out data by reformatting a hard disk after
October 12 and is also called the Columbus Day virus. This is not
the same as the Icelandic virus which infects EXE files or the
Friday the 13th virus which infects COM files and is activated on
Friday the 13th of ANY month.

The December Fu Manchu virus is the next on the horizon, a
program which corrupts all COM files except the COMMAND.COM file
on MS-DOS computers, causing random rebooting. The virus can also
write comments to various files but apparently doesn't directly
corrupt data files.

VI-spy is available from RG Software, Inc., 2300 Computer Ave.,
Suite E28, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania 19090, U.S.A. 215-659-5300.
An upgrade service costing $150 gives subscribers free updates as
new virus programs are detected and incorporated in VI-spy.

(John McCormick/19890922/Press Contact: Beverly Ann Glath, RG,
215-659-5300)


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

ALDUS SHIPS PAGEMAKER FOR OS/2 PM}
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 23 (NB) -- Aldus has
announced shipment of Pagemaker 3.0 for OS/2 Presentation Manager.
The biggest difference between this and other versions is
that this one is capable of multitasking. It can import text,
print documents, flow text, redraw the screen, and open other
applications at the same time. Independent testers have also
reported that this version is faster than its MS-DOS counterpart,
operating at 30 to 50 percent faster.

(Wendy Woods/19890923/Press Contact: Gail Rice, Aldus, 206-
628-6594)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00007)

NEW MICROSOFT WORKS FOR THE PC}
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 25 (NB) -- Microsoft has
released Microsoft Works 2.0 for the IBM PC, an integrated software
package that combines spreadsheet, database, word processing, and
telecommunications functions. The upgrade sports such new
features as overlapping windows, WYSIWYG (what you see is what
you get) display found in many desktop publishing packages, a
print preview features, and built-in accessories including a
calculator, autodialer, alarm clock, and appointment manager.

This Swiss Army Knife-type program also offers a file management
system, a built-in thesaurus, spelling checker, macro capabilities,
mail merge, label generator, and a rudimentary forms generator.

The product is designed for the small businessperson who needs
all these kinds of programs for limited bookkeeping tasks. The
program is targeted at entry-level and intermediate-level
users.

Microsoft Works for the PC v. 2.0 requires a PC or compatible
with MS-DOS 2.0 or higher, at least 512 kilobytes of memory, and
any of the following: two 360K disk drives, one 720K disk drive,
one 1.44 megabyte disk drive or a hard disk drive. The program
also requires a CGA, Hercules, EGA, MCGA, or VGA graphics
adapter.

Available in early October, the program will carry a price of $149,
$50 for upgrades.

(Wendy Woods/19890923)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00008)

BROWN BAG SOFTWARE SIGNS DISTRIBUTOR}
CAMPBELL, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 23 (NB) -- Brown Bag
Software has struck up an agreement with Kenfil Distribution for
distribution of Brown Bag Software's PowerMenu, PC-Outline and PC-
HookUP products.

PowerMenu and Brown Bag Software's new PowerMenu LANPAK
is a menu system and file manager, PC-Outline is a "thought
organizer" and personal information manager. PC-HookUP is
Brown Bag Software's new file transfer and remote communications
system.

Up to now, Brown Bag Software sold directly to Fortune 2000
companies and the governments through its offices in Campbell
California and 5 European cities.

"Kenfil is known as the leader in distribution of productivity
and utility software, accordingly, it was a logical decision for
such a strategic partnership," said Sandy Schupper, chairman of
Brown Bag Software.

(Wendy Woods/19890923/Press Contact: Brown Bag Software at
408 559 4606)


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

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS TO MAKE SHARP PCS}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 21 (NB) -- A joint agreement has
been signed between Texas Instruments (TI) and Sharp Corporation
under which TI will manufacture IBM-compatible PCs developed by
Sharp.

It is expected that the computers will be sold under both the TI
and Sharp brand names in Europe and the United States. Sharp
Manufacturing Co. of America, a Sharp subsidiary in the US
already makes computers but is currently operating at full
capacity.

According to a Reuters report, details of the joint agreement
have not been released as certain sales and marketing matters are
still being negotiated.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890922)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00010)

KAYPRO INTROS A NEW 386 MACHINE}
SOLANA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 18 (NB) -- Kaypro has
announced the production of a new 80386-based computer
called the KC-3.

The new computer, housed in a rugged American-made chassis, is
targeted at the small and mid-sized business and the scientific
community. It features one megabyte of RAM which may be expanded
eight megabytes and one high-density 1.2 megabyte floppy disk
drive. Other features include eight expansion slots (six 16-
bit, two 8-bit) and six front-loading device bays, one serial
port, one parallel port and DR-DOS 3.41. The system also comes
with an AT-style keyboard and 12-inch monochrome monitor with
video card. The system lists for $2,095.

In a related announcement, Kaypro announced that it has been and
will continue to equip its KC series computers with DR-DOS, the
operating system published by Digital Research. The choice was
made based on what Kaypro says is a 25 percent increase in speed
over MS-DOS. DR-DOS, however, is said to be totally compatible
with MS-DOS. DR-DOS is included at no extra cost with each KC
series computer. In addition to the new KC-3, Kaypro has an
8088-based KC-1 that sells for $795 and an 80286-based KC-2 that
lists at $1,195. The most current version of DR-DOS is 3.41.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890922/Press Contact: Nancy Casey, WestCom
Group, 619-259-1288)


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

TI'S CASE TO SUPPORT IBM'S AD/CYCLE}
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 19 (NB) -- Future releases
of Texas Instruments' (TI) CASE (computer-aided software
engineering) software known as the Information Engineering
Facility (IEF) will comply with IBM's Ad/Cycle framework.

Ad/Cycle is IBM's Systems Application Architecture (SAA)
application development strategy designed to help users improve
productivity, quality and manageability of software development
efforts. Earlier this year, TI had announced its intention to
support Cross System Product in IEF. Cross System Product is an
application generator that is one component of Ad/Cycle.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890922/Press Contact: Bob Bledsoe, Texas
Instruments, 214-997-3857)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00012)

NETRON SUPPORTS AD/CYCLE}
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 SEP 19 (NB) -- Netron/CAP software
engineering systems will support AD/Cycle, IBM's new application
development framework, Toronto-based Netron has announced. Netron
made the announcement in conjunction with IBM's announcement of
the AD/Cycle strategy for its Systems Application Architecture
(SAA). Netron/CAP is a development system used to produce COBOL
applications on major IBM operating systems, including OS/2, and
on systems from other computer vendors.

(Grant Buckler/19890921/Press Contact: Bill Daverne, Netron, 416-
636-8333)


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

EXTENDED SYSTEMS CONNECTS FOUR PCS TO HP'S NEW PRINTER}
BOISE, IDAHO, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 18 (NB) -- Hard on the heels
of Hewlett Packard's introduction of the new Laserjet IIP printer
comes an enhancement product from Extended Systems that enables
users to share one Laserjet IIP with up to 4 PCs.

The printer resident product, called ShareSpool, simply replaces
the standard Laserjet IIP I/O interface plate on the back of the
printer. ShareSpool offers simultaneous inputs at full data
rates and generous buffer space to "off load" printing demands
form individual PCs. Operation is transparent to the user. Each
PC uses the Laserjet IIP as though it were dedicated to only that
user's machine.

ShareSpool is user-installable. It sells for $395.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890922/Press Contact: Scott Beltz, Extended
Systems, 208-322-7163)


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00014)

IBM GETS CASE TOOLS FROM TARKENTON'S KNOWLEDGEWARE}
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 19 (NB) -- After years
of scrambling to put software automation companies together,
former NFL quarterback Fran Tarkenton is throwing a bomb called
KnowledgeWare at the market.

His receiver this time is IBM, with which the company
announced a major marketing relationship. If he completes
the market pass, he'll have given IBM's PS/2 line a
complete line of computer-aided software engineering tools under
OS/2 and IBM's Ad/Cycle. Keep your eye on the ball, two products
called the Design Workstation and Construction Workstation tool
sets, both set to ship in the first quarter of 1990. A system for
planners and analysts is due for release in the second quarter.

In this game, Tarkenton has some teammates. Chairman James Martin
has written 30 books, including the Pulitzer Prize-nominated "The
Wired Society. Martin was with IBM 19 years. Terry McGowan,
formerly of IBM and Amdahl, is president of KnowledgeWare.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921/Press Contact: Kim Addington,
KnowledgeWare, 404-231-8575)


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00015)

ZSOFT ANNOUNCES PC PAINTBRUSH IV PLUS}
MARIETTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 12 (NB) -- ZSoft, a
division of Mediagenic, announced PC Paintbrush IV Plus, the most
powerful product in its line. The new product offers built-in
scanner control, large-scale image support and 7 special effects,
including blends, smudges, gradients, tiling, tint, brightness
and contrast. The program also works in color, works with outline
and bitmap fonts, features multi-level zooming, and supports both
TIFF and PCX file formats. New features also include enhanced
printer support with custom halftone patterns, improvement of
flawed originals with image processing, and scanner
configurations which can be saved for future use.

PC Paintbrush IV Plus offers a Windows-like user interface with context
sensitive help, and is aimed at the desktop publishing and
presentation markets. The program will retail for $199, but
current owners can upgrade for $50-70.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921/Press Contact: Carol Steier, ZSoft,
404-428-0008)


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00016)

SYSTEM ENHANCEMENT SHIPS NEW PC SORTING PROGRAM}
WAYNE, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 12 (NB) -- System
Enhancement Associates is now shipping QSort Version 4.1, a
sorting program it claims can run through 40 megabytes of data in
just 20 minutes. The program is written by Ben Baker, and can be
told not to discriminate between upper and lower case letters,
making true alphabetical sorting possible and putting deBaker in
front of Deacon, where it belongs. The program is priced at $50.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921/Press Contact: Thom Henderson, SEA,
201-473-5153)


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00017)

GEOVISION TO NEW MAPPING PROGRAM
NORCROSS, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 12 (NB) -- Geovision
will write a new mapping package under Microsoft's Presentation
Manager for Montage Information Systems of Norcross, which is a
dealer for NEC, Hewlett-Packard, Calcomp, Versatec and Novell.

The product, called the Mapping Application Resource System, or
MARS, will consist of modules supporting the Dynamic Data
Exchange protocols for data transfer and the TIGER format being
used by the Census Bureau for the 1990 census. While terms were
not disclosed, Geovision estimated the 3-year contract will be
worth $25 million. Much of the writing for the program will
likely be done by Jeff Carter, son of former President Jimmy
Carter. Carter is a Windows programming expert who joined
Geovision last year.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921/Press Contact: Ken Shain, Geovision,
404-448-8224)


(EXCLUSIVE)(IBM)(TYO)(00018)

NEC TO PRODUCE COLOR LCD LAPTOP IN U.S.}
TOKYO, JAPAN 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- Japanese computer giant NEC is
planning further expansion of the personal computer market outside
Japan, according to Newsbytes sources. The computer maker will
start U.S. production of IBM-compatible personal computers
equipped with its latest color liquid crystal display technology.

NEC will not provide further information nor has a specific plant
site been announced, the company simply states that the proposal
to build in the U.S. is still being studied. But sources say
NEC will choose a site by the end of this year.

NEC has built a stable position in the Japanese market with its
personal computer, PC-9801 series, and has retained an over 50 percent
market share in Japan. The computer giant is now seeking
further development overseas -- especially the U.S. -- and released its
strategic book-size computer in the U.S. market early in this year.

The U.S. market share of the company is reportedly about five percent
but its share is generally expected to climb since it has two
uniquely positioned products: a laptop with color LCD and a book-
sized computer.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890921)


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

NCR STARTS AX BUSINESS}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- NCR Japan has launched into the
AX personal computer market with NCR PC-AX32. AX computers
are IBM PC/AT-compatible personal computers with Japanese
function.

NCR's AX machine has a 16 megahertz clock speed, 32-bit
80386SX central processing unit and one megabyte of main memory
expandable to 15 megabytes. The operating system, MS-DOS
expanded version 3.2, bundles MS-Windows 2.1 as standard.

The firm is going to sell the personal computer as part of its
NCR 9800 series or its Tower office computer family. The price
of the AX machine is 910,000 yen or $6,200.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890914/Press Contact: NCR Japan Ltd.
03-582-6111)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00020)

IBM ORDERS BOOK-SIZE PCS FROM RICOH}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 19 (NB) -- One of the most credible Japanese
economic newspapers, Nihon Keizai Shimbun, reports that IBM Japan
will receive a supply of book-size personal computers on an original
equipment manufacturing basis from Ricoh.

Book-sized computers are increasingly popular since the
release of the DynaBook by Toshiba. Since the expansion of the market,
IBM has developed its own book-size PC and has asked Ricoh to
produce it.

The deal, if true, marks a turning point in relations between IBM
Japan and Matsushita, which up until now has exclusively supplied
PCs to giant IBM. The Ricoh OEM deal would be IBM's first outside
Matsushita.

The report says the computer will have variety of online
terminal functions in a small and light body.

IBM has supplied its office computers to Ricoh on an OEM basis and
the agreement is likely to bring a bilateral relationship between
the two companies.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890921)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BRU)(00021)

LATTICE LAUNCHES NEW C COMPILER}
LOMBARD, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 17 (NB) -- Lattice, the
company that introduced the C Compiler to the PC marketplace,
launched its latest product, the C Compiler for MS-DOS and OS/2,
with many new features and lower price.

Version 6.0 of the C Compiler runs under OS/2 and DOS and offers
Microsoft runtime library compatibility, LASM Microsoft MASM
compatible assembler, and many other utilities.

The $250 compiler package, which is a new rewrite, now supports
register variables, comes with new communications and graphics
libraries.

(Peter Vekinis/19890923)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BRU)(00022)

DATA GENERAL ANNOUNCES HYPERMEDIA SYSTEM}
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- Data General has announced two
hypermedia-based electronic document products and introduced a
CD-ROM drive for Intellibook users with a 600 MB memory - the
first applications for its new CEO Object Office environment.

The Intellibook Author and Intellibook Reader software was
developed in cooperation with OWL International of Bellevue,
Washington, U.S.A., a pioneer in Hypertext information management
technology on the PC. According to Bill Nisen, Owl's president, the
software is needed because text and numbers are no longer
sufficient for management decision marking systems.

"We must add value and knowledge to aid the decision making
process. Data General's initiative to integrate hypermedia
technology into the new CEO Object Office environment is a major
step to increase productivity in the worldwide use of
information," he said.

Intellibook Author provides a data assembly system that can
create documents or accept input files that have been converted
to the Microsoft Windows file format and other de-facto industry
standard formats. The package supports the standard generalised
mark-up language, an international standard for structured
technical publications, allowing users to convert large existing
documents (manuals, regulations, technical specs., etc.) into
hypermedia structures.

Intellibook Reader is designed for end users who need to read
large documents but do not need to create or change them. The
software 'navigates' displays and retrieves information created
by Intellibook Author in a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get)
format. It is ideally suited for CD-ROM-based distribution of
information, Data General said.

(Eric Dauchy/19890922)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00001)

BELL CANADA PLANS COMMERCIAL VIDEOTEX}
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 SEP 18 (NB) -- Bell Canada will
expand its Alex videotex trial from Montreal to Toronto, and will
apply to turn the trial into a commercial service in the two
centers. As predicted in Newsbytes earlier this month, Canada's
largest telephone company announced the service will be available
here next April. By that time, Bell also hopes to have permission
from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications
Commission (CRTC) to offer Alex as a full commercial service.

Jean Monty, president of Bell Canada, said at a press conference
the company would consider further expansion to cities such as
Ottawa, Quebec, and London, Ontario, in future. "In the long run
it should be a Bell Canada territory offering," he said. Bell
Canada provides telephone service in Ontario and Quebec, Canada's
largest and most populous provinces.

The company also announced an agreement with U.S. Videotel of
Houston, Texas, one of the largest videotex service providers in
the United States. Through a new subsidiary, Canadian VideoNet,
the Houston company will provide on Alex at least 50 of the
information services it currently offers on its American system.
Canadian information providers will also be able to get access to
the U.S. Videotel system through Canadian VideoNet.

Bell Canada made much of U.S. VideoTel's decision to adapt its
services to the North American Presentation Level Protocol Syntax
(NAPLPS) videotex standard for the Canadian market. In the United
States, VideoTel uses the French-developed Teletel standard. Alex
uses NAPLPS, which drew heavily on Canadian development work in
the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Bell Canada also created a new division, Mediatel, to run its
online information and communication services. Aside from Alex,
Mediatel's principal services will be iNet 2000, a gateway
service providing access to many information services, and Envoy
100, an electronic mail system.

(Grant Buckler/19890921/Press Contact: Joanne Stanley, Bell
Canada, 613-781-3301)


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

GENIE OFFERS ONLINE STOCK TRADES THROUGH SCHWAB}
ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 21 (NB) -- Charles
Schwab's discount brokerage and investment information services
are now available through the GEnie service. GEnie claims to have
over 167,000 individual subscribers in the U.S., Canada and
Japan, second to CompuServe's 500,000. Schwab is America's
largest discount broker with over 1.3 million active accounts.

Charles Schwab Brokerage Services on GEnie will offer investors
a commission rebate of up to $100 on their first three online
trades. That offer expires March 31, 1990. A GEnie subscriber can
start trading online with Schwab at no extra cost. All they have
to do is open an online brokerage account with Schwab by filling
out and returning a Schwab Brokerage Account application.  Once
signed to the Schwab system on the GEnie service, online connect
time is priced at normal GEnie rates.

Other services offered by Schwab on GEnie include real-time
quotes along with detailed bid, offer and last trade information,
dividend histories, P/E ratios, earnings per share, year high/low
data and detailed account and position information.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921/ Press Contact: Steve Haracznak, GE
Information Services, 301-340-4494)


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

CONNECT DUMPS MACNET FOR NEW MONIKER}
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- Connect, Inc.,
an online system offering electronic mail, news, and other
features of interest to general online users, is dropping the
name MacNet from its front-end Macintosh terminal software
package in favor of the moniker Connect Business Information
Network Macintosh Version 1.5.

The decision to change the name to Connect Macintosh Version 1.5,
and the PC version to Connect Business Information Network MS-DOS
Version 1.1, comes after too many people failed to understand that
Connect was not a Macintosh-only operation, and that the name
MacNet was simply the name of software used to access the Connect
network, not the network itself.

While the majority of the service's estimated 15,000 users are
Macintosh owners, Connect hopes to broaden its appeal to a wider
audience with the name change.

The Connect front-end Macintosh software, which allows for
unattended background operation under Multifinder, retails for
$150 and is available to current MacNet owners for $25.
Connect Business Information MS-DOS version 1.1 will be
available in October.

(Wendy Woods/19890922/Press Contact: Paul Schmidman, Connect,
408-973-0110)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(WAS)(00004)

FIRST U.S. OSI/ISDN TRIAL CALLED SUCCESSFUL}
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- The U.S.
Department of Commerce and the National Institute of Standards
and Technology have announced the results of the test conducted
in June at Mather Air Force Base in California. Calling the test
"successful," the NIST said that the test involved Open Systems
Interconnection, or OSI, messaging and file-transfer tests
running on an Integrated Services Digital Network.

The success of the trial was important because OSI standards will
enable information processing devices (computers) to be linked on
a local or wide area network at high speeds. ISDN networks use
new technology that permits voice, data, and images to be
transmitted over the same phone lines.

Participating in the trial were the U.S. Air Force; AT&T Federal
Systems, Washington, D.C.; DBM&S of Mount Laurel, New Jersey; ICL
Inc, Stamford, Connecticut; Retix, Santa Monica, California; and
Teleos Communications Inc. of Eatontown, New Jersey.

The NIST has been working with industry for years to develop and
implement communications interconnect standards for computers.

(John McCormick/19890922/Press Contact: Jan Kosko, NIST, 301-975-
2762)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(WAS)(00005)

QUANTUM SEEKS 25,000 BETA-TESTERS FOR AMERICAN ONLINE}
VIENNA, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 19 (NB) -- Quantum has
announced a plan to have up to 25,000 Apple and Macintosh
users test its new online service called America Online. These test
users will receive free software and free online time to conduct
their evaluations.

Those wishing to participate in the trial or who want more
information about America Online should contact Quantum Computer
Services, Inc., 8619 Westwood Center Drive, Vienna, Virginia
22182 or call 800-227-6364 or 703-448-8700.

America Online is the new Macintosh/Apple-oriented online service
due to debut this October 2nd from Quantum Computer Services.
For a $5.95 monthly fee, users will receive a custom user
interface program and one hour of service/month, with additional
$5/hour fee for additional time. The service will compete with
CompuServe and GEnie, offering stock quotes, access to Grolier's
Academic Encyclopedia, bulletin boards, news, electronic mail,
and the usual services.

Discounts are available until January 31, 1990, including a
special 20% lifetime rate reduction for charter members. An MS-
DOS version is planned for early 1990, but American Online is a
Macintosh and Apple II only network.

A spokesperson for Quantum said that the service uses both
Tymnet and Telenet but is only available in North America.

Quantum's spokeswoman also pointed out that, since the service
uses custom software that takes advantage of each computer's
specific features, it provides a much friendlier and more useful
service than other services.

(John McCormick/19890922/Press Contact: Nancy Beckman 703-448-
8700)


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

DCA ANNOUNCES MAINFRAME-PC LINKS WITH AT&T }
ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 19 (NB) -- Digital
Communications Associates, which has announced plans to split
into PC and multiplexing divisions, now has a strategic
relationship with AT&T aimed at linking personal computers to
mainframe computers through AT&T's Definity Communications System
and high-speed digital lines.

A software package, E78 Plus/ISDN for AT&T, has already been
developed as a result of the relationship. The software package
enables users to access mainframe computers over 64,000
bit/second lines, with IBM 3278/79 terminal emulation and file
transfers. The software will run under the Digital Communications
Protocol (DCP), AT&T's proprietary interface. The software will
be sold exclusively by AT&T.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921/ Press Contact: Sue Fleming, AT&T,
201-221-5990)


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

AIR RESERVATION SYSTEM MERGERS ON MARCH}
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 21 (NB) -- Just as
airlines have merged in recent years to create just a few strong
carriers, so air reservation networks are in the midst of a
merger war which will leave travel agents with fewer choices.

Delta Airlines, which was stymied in its attempt to gain half of
American Airlines' Sabre system, is now negotiating with PARS,
the third largest reservation system owned by TWA and Northwest
Airlines. Sabre has the largest market share in air reservations,
about 35 percent last year, while Covia, spun-off last year
by United Airlines, holds 23 percent and PARS 15 percent.

The big story, however, is word that Texas Air may sell System
One, its air reservations system, to General Motors' Electronic
Data Systems unit. The sale would bring in about $3-400 million
which Texas Air needs to make up for losses at Continental and
strike-bound Eastern Airlines. It would also bring a very
powerful non-airline company into the air reservation wars for
the first time. General Motors is the U.S.' largest company, and
EDS, founded by Ross Perot, its most aggressive division.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921)


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

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE ONLINE WITH VU/TEXT}
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 18 (NB) -- In
a move which should eventually land it on Dialog, The San
Francisco Chronicle has become available for computerized access,
starting with 1987 editions, on Vu/Text, a Knight-Ridder service.

Knight Ridder bought Dialog last year and has been steadily
moving newspaper files onto that service since June. The
Chronicle is the sixth California newspaper to go online with the
service, joining the Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee, San Jose
Mercury News, Los Angeles Daily News, and Fresno Bee. Files are
updated daily, meaning yesterday's newspaper is online today.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921/ Donna Willmann, Vu/Text, 215-574-
4406)


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

NYNEX SAYS STRIKE HURTS}
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 21 (NB) -- For the
first time the only Bell Company still on strike has admitted the
walkout is hurting its long-term future. Nynex Executive Vice
President James Hennessy said the strike by 60,000 of the
company's telecommunications workers "have a long term negative
effect." Nynex has lost new customers, and will increase its
costs. Little progress was reported in talks to settle the
strike which began August 5, and which is stalled partly by a
dispute over employee contributions for health care benefits.

Separately, the company's New York Telephone unit asked for a
rate hike of $880 million, which could double rates for
residential users. The company says its rate of return has
dropped to 9 percent from 14 percent. Getting the increase could prove
difficult in the present environment, but the request in the
middle of a strike does indicate why the last Bell is still
fighting with its workers.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921)


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

DOW JONES BUYING THE REST OF TELERATE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 22 (NB) -- Hoping
total control might bring it a return to total market share in
the business of selling market data to brokers online, Dow Jones
announced plans to buy the 33.8 percent of Telerate it doesn't already
own. The deal values Telerate at nearly $1.71 billion. Markets,
however, expect the final price to be higher, and valued it at
$20.12 per share in the days after the $18 per share bid. Dow
Jones says it's willing to haggle.

Warren Phillips, the chairman of Dow Jones, hinted in a
statement that merging some Telerate operations into other Dow
Jones computerized businesses, like News-Retrieval, might create
operating efficiencies.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921)


(EXCLUSIVE)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00011)

SW BELL STICKS TO MULTILINE BUSINESS POSITION}
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 17 (NB) -- Southwestern
Bell remains adamant. It wants all multi-line computer bulletin
boards to pay business rates, a development which some bulletin
board operators say will drive them off-line. But the telephone
company agreed to reexamine its stand in relation to boards
that take donations rather than require a fee.

The news resulted from a meeting in a Houston hotel among a
Southwestern Bell attorney, a representative of Texas' Public
Utility Commission, and about 150 system operators organized as
the Coalition of Sysops and Users Against Rate Discrimination, or
COSUARD. Business phone lines cost about $35 per month in
Houston, residential lines $16 per month.

Reginald Hirsch, an attorney who runs the Ye Olde Bailey board
and helped organize COSUARD, told Newsbytes he thinks
Southwestern Bell will back off on two points. "They agreed to
relook at the definition of requiring vs. requesting donations."
Boards which only request donations might remain amateur. The
company is also taking a second look at requirement on some
single-line boards that users upload information in order to
qualify for downloads. "They didn't show softness on the 1-line
issue, but it was certainly discussed," at the 2 1/2 hour
meeting.

Hirsch said he was very pleased with the decorum shown by his
fellow sysops. "I was very pleased. I felt the community did very
well in discussing the issues," and Southwestern Bell won
respect, too. "I think sysops and users realize there are issues
on both sides that need to be addressed," he added. Over the
next few weeks COSUARD members will meet, both online and
offline, and try to form a consensus on their position before
meeting again with Southwestern Bell.

The Texas case is important for two reasons. First, a tariff
imposing business rates on all boards has already been approved
for Oklahoma, with collection being held in abeyance pending
resolution of the Texas struggle. Other Bells will also look
closely at what happens, and probably impose a "Texas solution"
on their bulletin boards, too.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921/ Press Contact: COSUARD BBS, Becky
Larson, modem: 713-997-1301; Reginald Hirsch, attorney, 713-961-
7800)


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

INFOMART OPENS HEALTH CARE MARKET}
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- While its
Atlanta competitor, Inforum, has rededicated itself to creating
trade shows, the Infomart is going stronger into specialized
sections within its half-empty building instead of general
purpose showrooms.

Andersen Consulting of Chicago will joint-venture the Healthcare
Technology Center, a separate area within the Infomart center
featuring the latest in health care computing. Andersen Computing,
as part of the effort, will construct a "hospital of the future" as a
showcase for the technology. The American College of Healthcare
Executives is also sponsoring the new center.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921/Press Contact: Jeff Anderson,
Infomart, 214-746-3605)


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

FAX LINE RESALE BUSINESS GROWING}
OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 18 (NB) -- Companies which
began their life reselling phone lines are now doing the same thing
in the fax market. Richard Emerine, chairman of Amerifax, told
Newsbytes his company started with the idea of selling forms
businesses could use for faxing, but quickly switched to buying
telephone lines in bulk from U.S. Sprint and selling them at retail.

"We could buy 10 million minutes a month of long distance, and
so expanded the offer so any location could take advantage
of our buying power for long distance. We charge a
$25/month membership fee, for 1 or 50 offices. Any place you call
is 15 cents a minute, with intervals in 10ths. We also give you
an 800 number at 20 cents per minute. Alaska and Hawaii are 25
cents a minute for both services. "Then we entered into a buying
arrangement with Monroe, so we can get a discount on fax
machines."

Emerine presently sells through contractors, but wants to switch
to an "Amway" strategy, in which salesmen would earn 1/2 cent for
every phone minute used by one of their customers. Amerifax is a
division of American Consolidated Financial, which manages it and
22 other companies.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921/ Press Contact: Richard Emerine,
Amerifax, 913-451-1080)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SYD)(00014)

UK TELECOM FIRMS USE AUSTRALIA AS ASIAN SPRINGBOARD}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 SEP 18 (NB) - Britain's
Telecommunications Research Center has recommended Australia as a
springboard into the Asia Pacific markets, and UK firms are
taking heed of the advice. Thirty UK telecommunications companies
are known to be looking to gain a share of the single European
and Asia Pacific markets.

The UK companies are seeking collaborations with local Australian
firms. Australia is being promoted by the research center as having a
skilled workforce and a sophisticated and competitive
telecommunications market.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19890920)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SYD)(00015)

AUSSIE TELECOM FIRM LOOKS OVERSEAS FOR CASH}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 SEP 18 (NB) - One of Australia's most
successful and fastest growing information technology companies
has been forced to go looking for finance overseas because of the
conservatism of the Australian finance industry.

NetComm Australia, the international exporter of modems, is
currently negotiating with financial institutions in the United
States and UK to get the necessary capital to keep pace with its
growth. NetComm's current annual turnover is AUS$20million and it
has an estimated annual revenue growth rate of 70 percent.

NetComm general manager, Chris Howells, said the company is
looking to expand into the areas of combined cellular telephones
and portable computers, PABXs, and ISDN.

(Gavin Atkins/19890920)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SYD)(00016)

BBC REACHES AUSTRALIA WITHOUT WIRELESS}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 SEP 18 (NB) - Australians can now hear
the comforting tones of the BBC radio World Service 24-hours a
day over the telephone for 57c per minute, thanks to an agreement
between the BBC and local information supplier Intelcom.

By dialling 00555-1434, anyone can hear the radio broadcasts just
as easily as ringing any of the other dial-it services such as
the time call and Dial-an-Egg-Recipe lines.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19890920)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(BRU)(00017)

TELEKURS UPGRADES TRADING SYSTEM}
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 SEP 22 (NB) -- Telekurs (North America)
Incorporate has dramatically upgraded its ticker stocks
information system. The company has installed Standard and Poor's
trading system, as well as $1.5 million worth of Data General
equipment.

"After more than a half-century of continuous success and growth
in Europe, Telekurs has now made a firm commitment to bring a
major supplier of financial information to the North American
market-place," Bill Howard, Telekurs president, said.

"We purchased the S&P trading system because we feel that they
have the highest quality consolidated market data broadcast, and
the best ticker plant in the world," he added.

Data General systems will form the nucleus of an upgraded
system designed to process the tickers from the North American
exchanges and incorporate information from Telekurs'
international data feed. Output from the facility will be
distributed to the international financial community via Telekurs
worldwide network.

Telekurs (North America) Incorporated. is a subsidiary of
Telekurs AG, Zurich, Switzerland, a major supplier of global
financial information. The company was founded in 1930 and is
owned by a consortium of 350 Swiss banks and securities
exchanges.

(Eric Dauchy/19890922/Press Contact : Maggy Cologne, Data General
US - 322-674-8411)


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

PHONEPOINT ROLLS OUT IN LONDON}
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 SEP 23 (NB) -- After several weeks of
adverts in the national press, British Telecom's Phonepoint CT-2
public cordless telephone network has finally been launched in
the Greater London area. Plans call for the siting of several
hundred public base stations around the country by the end of the
year.

The CT-2 network, for which there will eventually be four non-
compatible networks, uses a miniature digital telephones
operating in the 864.1 to 868.1MHz band, working to 40 channels
of 100KHz each, to provide an outgoing-only telephone service
within 200 metres of a public base stations. Using a special base
station in the home or office also allows the handset to be used
as a normal cordless phone, using digital instead of analogue
signals for improved call quality.

The Phonepoint CT-2 technology does not come cheaply, however.
Phonepoint's starter kit of a phone, battery, initial sign-up fee
and three month's subscription, costs UK 245. A home/office base
station will be available shortly at UKP 195, the same price at
which the second CT-2 handsets retail.

These prices compare with UKP 100 for a current technology
analogue cordless phone base station and handset (for use on a
local basis) or UKP 400 for a portable cellular telephone.

In its promotional literature, Phonepoint boasts that its usage
costs are significantly lower than those of cellular. The sign-up
fee if UK 20, compared to UK 60 that the cellular networks are
charging. The monthly standing charge is UKP 8 instead of the UKP
25 that cellular networks pay.

The call charges are not as generous, however. Charges vary from
10 pence a minute for an off-peak local call, to a hefty 30 pence
a minute for a trunk call in peak rates. Cellular phones vary
between 10p and 25p (33p in London) for all UK destinations.

(Steve Gold/19890923/Press & Public Contact: John Inglis,
customer service manager, Phonepoint - Tel: [phone])


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

NEXT: WORLD'S FIRST ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL MIKE}
REDWOOD CITY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 18 (NB) -- Perhaps the
most unique third-party product available for the Next workstation
to date, and which is destined to be available for other computers in
the near future, is Ariel Corporation's digital microphone, the world's
first to convert analog signals to digital.

When used with the company's BUG-56 software, the Ariel Digital
Microphone can be used to develop compact disk-quality sound
applications, exploiting the Next computer system's standard digital
signal processor. That means that the user can program the incoming
sound to a precise bandwidth, eliminating background noise, normal
signal degradation, or high frequencies which are undesirable in
speech recording. Offers Stewart Alsop, an early beta tester of Steve
Jobs' new computer, "This could well become the primary
justification for a lot of people to buy the Next machine."

The microphone is based entirely on digital electronics, using
proprietary technology and two Motorola 56ADC chips which put the
power of five analog components into a single digital chip. It
provides two channels of high-quality data conversion into a simple
hand-held device. That means stereo.

The unit is available now in single quantities direct from Ariel and
costs $595. Patents have been filed on the technology.

Two other products exploit the Next digital signal processor.
Metaresearch of Portland, Oregon, is offering Digital Ear, $795, which
enables analog sound input, from CD player, stereo, tape decks, or other
sources, to be processed. Singular Solutions of Pasadena, California, has
a $995 A/D64x Analog/Digital Interface sampler which combines an
analog converter with preamplifiers for microphones. The sampler
system is designed to be the basis of a complete mixing and audio
editing system for CD mastering.

(Wendy Woods/19890922)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(ATL)(00002)

CHIP MARKET SLOWING, SAYS MOTOROLA}
SCHAUMBURG, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 18 (NB) -- The
market for silicon chips is slowing, pointing toward a recession
in the PC business next year, according to Motorola Chief
Operating Officer Gary Tooker. He told analysts in San Francisco
the semiconductor industry will grow only 10 percent this year,
and 5 percent next year. Memory chip supplies, which had been in
extreme shortage, are now ample. Motorola expects double-digit
growth to return in 1991.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921/Press Contact: Motorola, 312-
397-1000)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00003)

JAPAN CUTS ONE-MEG DRAM PRODUCTION}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- Three major Japanese chip makers
have decided to reduce production of one-megabit DRAM
(dynamic random access memory) chips by about 10
percent starting this month. The one-megabit DRAM
giant Toshiba will decrease monthly output from 9 million to
8 million units, Hitachi from 5 million to 4.5 million, and
Mitsubishi Electric from 5 million to 4.6 million.

Each maker has come to the conclusion that a temporary excess
supply of 1-megabit chips cannot be avoided, judging from the
current stocks and the amount of orders, though demand for
1-megabit chips is expected to grow for the time being.

Japan's chipmakers have made a combined, concerted effort to
manage the 1-megabit DRAM market, following the disastrous
experience in the 256-kilobit DRAM market. In 1985, the price
of the chips plummeted after supply exceeded demand, plunging
the chipmakers into a long economic depression.

As a result of their careful planning, Japanese semiconductor
makers have kept the price of 1-megabit DRAM chips over 2,000 yen
($13.8) for two years. But the price gradually came down this summer,
and now has dropped to between 1,800 and 1,600 yen ($12.4
to 11.0). The chipmakers expect the price to drop further
by the end of the year as demand decreases.

(Ken Takahashi/19890921)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00004)

COMPETITION ON FASTER SRAM CHIPS}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- It was not long ago that Hitachi
announced its latest SRAM (static random access memory) with 35
nanoseconds of accessing time. Now two more firms, NEC and Sony,
have announced their own SRAM offerings.

NEC has developed one-megabit SRAM chips with an access time
of 25 nanoseconds and will start shipping them in November. The chip was
developed based on its 0.8 micron CMOS (complementary metal oxide
semiconductor) double aluminum circuit process technology and double
words circuitry with divided 32 blocks method. The architecture
was designed as simple as possible and the chip has 6.76 million
elements on the 14.48 by 5.92 millimeter size. The sample price of
the chip is 50,000 yen or $340 per unit. NEC will ship a 35 nanosecond
version at the same time.

Meanwhile, Sony also has developed three series and 13 models of
35 nanosecond versions of the one-megabit chips and will release them
one at a time starting in October. Sample prices range from
17,000 to 33,000 yen or $115 to $225.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890921)


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

MATSUSHITA LEAPS INTO NEUROCOMPUTERS}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- One of the members of the Matsushita
group, Matsushita Research Institute Tokyo, has developed a
high speed simulator for personal computers made by Matsushita
and Fujitsu to communicate with various types of neural computers.

The simulator consists of hardware -- a master and a slave board which
emulates neural networks -- and software for controlling these two
kinds of boards. Up to 60 32-bit Transputer T800s from Inmos
can be put to work with the boards. The microcomputers in which
these processors can be used are Matsushita's Panacom M series and
Fujitsu's FMR series.

Matsushita has no plan to sell the simulator commercially, but plan
to experiment with it in the consumer electronic product and office
automation equipment areas.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890921)


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

HITACHI & KDD DEVELOP NEW OPTICAL DISK DRIVE}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 16 (NB) -- Optical disks may have just
taken a giant leap toward practicality, and ultimately, replacement
of the floppy disk. Japanese international communication
giant KDD and Hitachi have jointly developed an "overwritable" optical
magnetic disk drive unit with the five to six times larger
recording capacity than previous disks of this type.

Hitachi has combined KDD's overwrite technology, the magnetic
field modulation recording method, with Hitachi's floating type
magnetic head technology to develop the drive unit.

The optical disk is expected to be the next generation memory
device but technical difficulties have lain in the way of
practical use. Optical disk drive technologies allow optical
memory as read-only memory or write-once read-many, and even
the most advanced rewritable disks still require precious time
to erase or to rewrite information.

This drive, say officials, is the first to allow multiple overwrite
with a recording time comparable to that of as current magnetic
drives. The data transfer speed is 2.2 megabytes per second and
memory capacity is 600 megabytes on a five-inch disk.
The drive will be commercialized by Hitachi and will be priced
400,000 to 500,000 yen ($2,720 - $3,400).

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890921/Press Contact: Hitachi,03-258-1111)


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

MITSUBISHI'S BREAKTHROUGH FOR 64-MEGABIT CHIP}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 19 (NB) -- Mitsubishi Electric has
successfully developed a high-performance electronic beam exposure
technology which paves a way for creation of an ultra LSI (large-scale
integrated circuit) as highly-integrated as a 64-megabit DRAM
(dynamic random access memory) chip.

The new technology is an etching simulation technology using
a computer. An electronic beam is exposed on each part of a
circuit based on the simulation and the end-result is a circuit with a
precise line width.

With the new technique, Mitsubishi has already made a prototype
chip with a line width of 0.1 micron, using an exposure device for
0.3 micron line width. As a 64-megabit DRAM chip has a circuit with
a line width under 0.3 micron, it is likely that a more integrated
chip can be made.

(Ken Takahashi/19890921)


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

TRON REPLACEMENT CREATED}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- A program which establishes a
set of common guidelines to enable educational software programs
to be run on a variety of different computers has been developed
at the University of Tsukuba. The program is seen as filling a gap
left by the uncertain future of the TRON operating system, which
was envisioned as the means by which schools could standardize
on educational software.

Most Japanese personal computers run the MS-DOS operating system
but each hardware manufacturer has built in subtle changes in
graphics modes, special key functions, and connection with
peripherals, consequently making software written for one machine
incompatible with another.

In order to solve this problem, researchers at the university
have developed a program called "Common Driver," which is a collection
of tools that translate the variety of different commands into a
consistent format. The resulting translated software will then
run on previously incompatible MS-DOS machines with no difference
in speed or performance.

(Ken Takahashi/19890921/Press Contact: University of Tsukuba,
0298-53-2111)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(HKG)(00009)

INTELLIGENT INTERCOM LAUNCHED}
HONGKONG, ASIA, 1989 SEP 19 (NB) -- The brainchild of a Swedish
mathematician Lief Xfeld was launched in Hongkong today. The
Xfeld Communication System, hailed by the company to be "The
world's most intelligent intercom," is manufactured in Hongkong
but is also destined for international markets.

The product is a combination of the old-fashioned intercom, a
modern day facsimile machine, and a centrally located PC
database which provides instant access to all company
personnel. On the desktop it looks like a small calculator with
a paper roll.

The idea is that the telephone operator should manage, at the
PC console, all incoming calls. The system displays the status
of any executive connected to the network. At the tiny terminal
on his or her desk, the executive may enter a variety of status
messages, for example: No calls; Not in; Back at 3:30pm; Only
receiving important calls; Will receive calls from Fred, Joe
and Mary only, and the like.

The operator simply accesses the respective executive as she is
answering the call and takes appropriate action. If she enters
a message it is immediately printed out on the Xfeld terminal
paper strip.

The system can be connected to modems and thus become company
wide in operation. And internally, the device can operate in a
similar way to a personal fax machine in terms of messages.

(Keith Cameron/19890922, Press Contact: City Marketing Asia
8752-5-8580677)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(WAS)(00010)

FORD GIVES SPACY ROBOT A HAND}
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 SEP 13 (NB) -- Ford Aerospace
announced that it has begun development of the special "hands"
which will be used by the robot being designed by Martin Marietta
Space Systems for probable use in assembling the U.S. Space
Station Freedom.

The Flight Telerobotic Servicer, or FTS, will be a humanoid-
shaped robot with two six-foot-long arms, one leg, and cameras
for eyes.

(John McCormick/19890914/Press Contact: Susan Pearce,
703-685-5555, or Norman Black, 703-685-5586, Ford Aerospace)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00011)

MOTOROLA TEAMS WITH DIGITAL ON FDDI CHIP SET}
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 18 (NB) -- Motorola's
Microprocessor Products Group and Digital Equipment Corp. has
announced the formation of a partnership to design a Fiber
Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) chip set.

Plans call for Motorola to produce and market the chip set.
Digital will purchase a portion of Motorola's production for use
in its own FDDI products.

The partnership is a technology exchange between the two
companies for the design of an ANSI-compliant, high performance
chip set. FDDI is defined as a dual fiber optic token ring LAN
that can support data transfer rates up to 100 megabits per
second. This technology is needed to support high performance
distributed computer systems like those using Motorola's 68000
and 88000 microprocessors. Other uses of FDDI technology include
backbone networks connecting Ethernet, Token Bus and Token Ring
segments and back-end networks connecting high speed peripherals.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890922/Press Contact: Rhonda Dirvin,
Motorola, 512-891-2140)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(ATL)(00012)

MITSUBISHI ASSEMBLING DRAMS IN NORTH CAROLINA}
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- Mitsubishi
says it will begin the assembling its one megabit dynamic random
access memory chips in a "256K by 4" design, a more advanced
version of its one megabit memory chips, here. Shipments
will start this month.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921/ Press Contact: Molly Hilderbrand,
Mitsubishi Semiconductor America, 919-479-3333)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TOR)(00013)

GEMINI LAUNCHES VGA VIDEO CHIPS}
RICHMOND, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- Gemini
Technology has introduced two VGA video controller chips for IBM
PC- and PS/2-compatible computers. Both are based on Gemini's
proprietary VGA video controller technology and backward-
compatible with other graphics standards.

The VC-002 chip produces 800 by 600 extended VGA resolution on
suitable monitors. It can also provide 1,024 by 768 resolution
with 16 colors or 1,280 by 1,024 resolution with four colors or
grey shades. The chip supports analog and digital monitors as
well as gas plasma screens.

The VC-003 chip is similar, but designed especially for liquid
crystal VGA displays used in laptop computers. Gemini is also
offering a complete chip set for liquid crystal displays,
including the VC-003, the VP-102 monochrome LCD palette chip and
the VI-201 LCD panel interface chip.

The VC-002, now available in volume, costs C$45 each in sample
quantities. The VC-003 costs C$55 in sample quantities. The LCD
chip set costs C$75 in sample quantities. Both are sampling now
and will be available in volume in October. Gemini designs and
manufactures application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for
computer and peripheral makers worldwide. The company is listed
on the Toronto Stock Exchange and is traded over the counter in
the United States.

(Grant Buckler/19890922/Press Contact: Gemini Technology, 604-
274-1283)


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

NEXT SHIPS 1.0 KITCHEN SINK CD-ROM}
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 18 (NB) -- Next, Inc. is
now shipping Version 1.0 of its Unix-based operating system
for the Next Computer System. Also on the disk, bundled with
the $10,000 workstation, are the following: networking software,
Display Postscript, Nextstep, Digital Librarian, Digital Library
(which has dictionary, thesaurus, Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, and
William Shakespeare: The Complete Works), Edit, Mathematica,
Preferences, Preview, Printmanager, Shell, Terminal, Tex from
Radical Eye Software, Transcript, Writenow, Allegro Common LISP,
BUG-56 from Ariel, Emacs, GDB (GNU debugger), Next Objective-C,
Next SQL Database Server from Sybase, Selected Berkeley 4.3
Libraries and Utilities, Sound Kit, and Music Kit. Also on the
disk is a demo version of Framemaker.

(Wendy Woods/19890922)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(WAS)(00002)

PRIME SPARC WORKSTATIONS INTRODUCED}
NATICK, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 19 (NB) -- Three new
SPARC-based engineering workstations have been introduced
by Prime Computer. The new computers are compatible with
Prime's complete line of CADStations CADDServers, and CADDS
software.

The $22,660 WS42C workstation, a desktop engineering workstation
featuring 12.5 million instructions per second, or MIPS, speed, a
20 megahertz SPARC processor a 20 megahertz coprocessor, 12
megabytes of memory (maximum 16 megabytes) and a 19-inch color
monitor. Also included is an Ethernet controller, 327 megabyte
hard disk, a high-density 3.5-inch floppy drive, and MS-DOS
emulation.

The $89,900 WS40C is a 10 MIPS workstation with 16 megabytes of
memory expandable to 32 MB, a 327 MB hard disk, a 128 kilobyte
cache memory and a graphics accelerator.

The last new computer is the WS45S workstation server with a 16
MIPS SPARC processor, 32 MB of memory expandable to 56 MB, and a
688 MB hard disk, selling for $62,800.

All three new machines will debut at the Detroit AUTOFACT trade
show from October 31 to November 2nd.

SPARC is the proprietary reduced instruction set computing or
RISC microprocessor made by Sun Microsystems.

There is an upgrade program for those wishing to trade in earlier
Prime computers and move up to the SPARC-based workstations.

(John McCormick/19890922/Press Contact: Paul LaBelle, Prime, 508-
655-8000, X5730)


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

PROFESSIONAL PUBLISHER/2 DEBUTS}
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 21 (NB) --
Information International (Triple-I) has unveiled the Sun-based
Professional Publisher/2 for illustrated page composition in
periodicals and magazines, catalogs, and technical documentation.

The basic system is priced at $2,500 and is available with a wide
variety of supplemental options. The software runs under Unix
4.0.3 on Sun 3/60 and 3/80 workstations.

Professional Publisher/2 can be used to easily define and execute
multi-column illustrated pages. It can also be used for pages
with complex tables. The page display is WYSIWYG (what you see
is what you get) and user interface is through window displays.
A new feature of the system is its magazine-oriented custom page
capability allowing users to anchor illustrations to a specific
page(s) and then fitting text around the illustration(s) as the
document is paginated.

Professional Publisher/2 accepts text from a variety of word
processing programs and supports scanned images. The program can
be run stand-alone on the workstation or as part of an Ethernet-
based Triple-I network that includes illustration scanners,
communications servers, database managers, laser printers and
Pagesetters.

This is the first software release since Triple-I acquired
Mountain View, CA-based software developer DocuPro Inc.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890921/Press Contact: Ken Greenberg,
Information International, 213-390-8611)


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

GESCAN SUPPORTS DEC RETRIEVAL SOFTWARE}
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NORTH CAROLINA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 21 (NB) --
GESCAN International said its full-text retrieval systems
will support Digital Equipment Corporation's Compound Document
Architecture, or CDA. GESCAN systems use a hardware accelerator
to permit content-based retrieval using any word, phrase, number
or combination, without the need of an index. Compatibility with
CDA architecture will be included in the next release of the
GESCAN system scheduled for early 1990.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921/ Press Contact: David A. Morris,
GESCAN International, 919-460-3100)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(ATL)(00005)

INTERGRAPH BUNDLING UNIX GRAPHIC INTERFACE}
HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, U.S.A., 1989 SEP 15 (NB) -- Intergraph, a
maker of Unix-based workstations, announced it
will bundle Looking Glass from Visix as the user interface to
Unix with all its workstations, effective immediately.

Looking Glass, like Apple's Macintosh and Microsoft Windows,
offers a graphic interface to normally user-friendly Unix and
works with both computers and terminals under X Window.
The scheme is also in full conformance with the OSF Motif
look-and-feel standard (based on the Microsoft Presentation
Manager).

Intergraph President Jim Meadlock noted Looking Glass frees
engineers from having to learn Unix jargon, while linking
Intergraph to industry standards. "That's been a big problem
in the whole Unix marketplace, keeping it from being more
widely-accepted," added an Intergraph spokesman.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890921/Press Contact: Intergraph Corp.,
George Ralls, 205-464-8301)


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

FREE UNIX SOFTWARE HITS JAPAN}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- The dream of free software
envisioned by the original Unix developers, including Bill Joy,
inventor of Berkeley System V Unix, lives on in Japan.

Free Unix software called GNU is being distributed by SRA or
Software Research Associates here. SRA has been
distributing over 20 kinds of GNU software for AT&T's Unix
operating system in cooperation with U.S.-based FSF or Free
Software Foundation.

The FSF was established in 1985 by Richard M. Stallman, and the
philosophy of the founder was introduced to the public by Dr.
Dobb's Journal, 1985 March issue. The foundation is currently
spearheading the campaign to boycott those who seek to control
software copyright, and Lotus Development and Apple Computer
are among their most frequent targets.

In Japan, GNU users are increasing among software developers,
universities and research institutes. The SRA promotes GNU
software in its booklet called GNU Digest.

According to the SRA, Stallman is aiming to develop another operating
system in the future, rather than Unix, for his applications. His vision
starts with the GNU series, which currently consists of
over 20 applications, including GNU Emacs editor and GNU compiler.

While a gnu is an animal living in Africa, it's not the meaning of the
software name. GNU enthusiasts say it stands for "GNU is Not Unix."

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890921/Press Contact:Software Research
Associates, Inc. 03-234-2611 )


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TYO)(00007)

YHP & SEIKO TIE FOR CAD/CAM/CAE BUSINESS}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- Yokogawa Hewlett-Packard and Seiko
Instruments will join technical and sales force for a new CAD/CAM/CAE
(computer-aided design/manufacturing/engineering) business.

The aim of the alliance is to integrate Seiko's U-Graph and ME10 on a
network of HP9000 engineering workstations. U-Graph is a three
dimensional CAD/CAM/CAE system which Seiko is receiving from
U.S.-based McDonnell Douglas for distribution in Japan. ME10 is a two
dimensional CAD program.

Seiko's software and technical expertise is expected to help YHP
beef up HP9000 workstation sales.

U-Graph was developed on a DEC minicomputer and is now available
on HP, Apollo and Sun workstations.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890914)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TYO)(00008)

LAST PRODUCTS FROM APOLLO}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 14 (NB) -- Just before the transfer of its
management Yokogawa Hewlett-Packard, Apollo Computer Japan
has launched a low-priced EWS (engineering workstation) and high-speed
graphic system.

The new products, however, were developed based on the coming
integration of the machines with HP products and will be positioned
as flagship products of the Apollo Division in YHP after the
acquisition. The low-priced EWS, DN2500, is 795,000 yen
or $5,400 and has a 20 megahertz Motorola MC68030, a floating
processor MC68882, and four megabyte main memory.

The high-speed graphic systems DN3500VS and DN4500VS
perform 300,000 vectors per second in three dimensional graphics.
This high performance -- almost 30 times normal -- was achieved with
a specific processor for graphics. The price of the DN3500VS is
3,314,000 yen or $22,545, and DN4500VS is 5,269,000 yen or $35,840
and up.

The firm expects 500 units of EWSs sales in the initial year.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890921/Press Contact: Apollo Computer Japan,
03-780-5511)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TOR)(00009)

REALWORLD CANADA SHIPPING NEW PAYROLL}
DIEPPE, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA, 1989 SEP 20 (NB) -- RealWorld
Canada is now shipping Version 5.0 of RealWorld Canada Payroll
for networked and stand-alone MS-DOS machines, Xenix, Unix and
Digital Equipment's VMS operating system. The company also said
it will stop selling Version 4.0 of the software after Sept. 30.
Technical support of the older version will continue until April
1, 1990.

Version 5.0 includes the dual user interface offered in other
modules of RealWorld Accounting Version 5.0, with a choice of
regular or pull-down menus. It also provides enhanced history
and manual adjustments, simplified tax handling and new fields in
employee records.

RealWorld also announced availability of a new data base lookup
system for use with the accounting software, and that the package
is now available for AT&T's 6386 W65 computer.

(Grant Buckler/19890922/Press Contact: RealWorld Canada, 506-857-
0908)