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/nb891009

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

CLARIS LAUNCHES UNIVERSAL TRANSLATOR}
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 3 (NB) -- Claris Corporation
has removed yet another barrier to business integration of more
Macintosh computers by offering a file translation scheme that will
enable its software, including MacWrite and MacDraw, to exchange files
with IBMs and compatibles, Digital's VAX, and other Unix machines,
and other mini and mainframe systems. Claris is promoting it as the
universal file translator and licensing it free of charge to developers.

Claris' new open architecture technology, called XTND, enables
developers to extend the capabilities of Claris applications by
letting the applications access external code. The developer's job is
as easy as copying the appropriate translator file into the Macintosh
system folder. What this means is that Claris programs operating on
a network can import or export text, graphics, spreadsheets, or
charts, to programs written in A/UX, Unix, MS-DOS, PS/2 and a variety of
other operating systems.

The first Claris product to use the new technology is MacWrite II 1.1
which reads and writes in some 24 file formats, including Microsoft
Word PC, WordPerfect PC 5.0, and AppleWorks. The DataViz MacLink
Plus file translator, also announced, adds another 8 file formats,
including WordStar, XyWrite, and OfficeWriter, to the list of
programs with which MacWrite can exchange files. DataViz' MacLinkPlus
PC version 4.1 costs $199 and MacLink Plus Translators - version 4.1,
cost $199 and $169 respectively. XTND-versions of MacDraw II and
FileMaker II are due out shortly.

Among the developers licensing XTND is ON Technology, founded by
Mitch Kapor, formerly head of Lotus. Kapor's firm is implementing
XTND into its secret "future products;" Kapor makes this comment
about the software scheme, "From the customer's viewpoint, XTND
is a great solution. It helps applications communicate better. At
the same time it preserves and respects the customer's right to
choose applications he wants to use."

(Wendy Woods/19891006/Press Contact: Renee Mathews, Claris,
408-987-7202)


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

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP "PUTS SCITEX ON DESKTOP"}
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 5 (NB) -- A product
slated for release in early 1990 is, according to beta testers,
promising to put some of the image-processing and color-separating
power of a million-dollar Scitex high-end color system on a desktop.

Adobe's Photoshop, $895, a 32-bit color image-processing package
for the Macintosh, allows scanned photographs, slides, or
electronic artwork to be edited and enhanced and offers complete
digital manipulation of the image before reprinting. With a toolbox
of painting and drawing tools, users can color correct and
retouch. A special color separation feature called "automatic trap"
can be used to print separations directly from Adobe Photoshop
or save images as Encapsulated PostScript documents. These
images can be placed in page layout programs such as PageMaker
and Quark XPress.

Among the early users of the program are the Industrial Light and
Magic technicians who used it to create scenes in the movie, "The
Abyss," and Sanjay Sakhuja, founder of San Francisco's Digital PrePress.
He is quoted as saying the software "will allow people to use color
who were never able to before because of the costs involved."

(Wendy Woods/19891006/Press Contact: LaVonn Collins, 415-
961-4400)


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

MAC PORTABLE DEMAND TEMPERED BY SUPPLY}
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- Don't rush
out to your local retail store expecting to cart home a Macintosh
Portable any time soon. The supply of Macintosh Portable computers
is trickling out of Cupertino, leaving many retailers with a handful
of products -- as few as two to five units per store -- which will
have to last them through the end of the year, when Apple promises
to ship the compact units in quantity.

Connecting Point's 250-store chain, for instance, has received 100
units total, according to a published report.

At San Francisco computer retail store Computer Selection, Manager
Dave Pinkham tells Newsbytes, "We have a lot of interest, but it
would be higher if we had some to sell." He says those who are
getting the few units he has to sell were willing to pay a very high
price to get them, and everybody else is on a waiting list. He adds
Apple has promised to ship him more in January, but he thinks
spring, 1990 is a more likely date.

Slow manufacture of the active matrix screens used in the portable
by the firm's Japanese supplier is reportedly why the machines are
so scarce.

(Wendy Woods/19891006)


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

NEW WINGZ FLIES AGAINST THE WIND}
LENAXA, KANSAS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 9 (NB) -- Informix is trying hard to
capture U.S. dollars for Macintosh spreadsheets, despite the fact that
a new survey shows it a far second behind industry leader Microsoft's
Excel. The survey of 200 resellers done by Macintosh News shows 85
percent of them naming Excel as the top-selling spreadsheet package.

Informix' latest tactic to win the hearts and billfolds is to offer
a nationwide series of hands-on seminars on the use of Wingz. Four
are slated through early November, in San Francisco, Toronto, Chicago,
and New York.

Informix has also announced a new version of Wingz -- version 1.1 --
is shipping. The new version has enhanced 3-D graphics, and
expanded capabilities in Wingz' HyperScript programming language.
Informix says it has bundled QuickMail by CE Software free with
Wingz 1.1.

In a related story, Newsbytes has spoken with developers who say
Informix is having trouble chasing the bugs out of the latest
version of its IBM-compatible SMART integrates software system.

(Wendy Woods & John McCormick/19891006/Press Contact:
Corrine Smith, Informix, 913-599-7330)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(TYO)(00005)

APPLE JAPAN INVESTIGATED FOR PRICE-FIXING}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- A total of 39 Apple computer
dealers, including Apple Computer Japan (ACJ) itself and its sales
agent Canon Sales, have been raided by the Fair Trade Commission
under the suspicion of violating the Antimonopoly Act.

ACJ and its dealers have been investigated in allegations that
they have been involved in the obstruction of sales of Apple
Macintosh computers which are imported and sold by
non-exclusive trading companies in Japan.

ACJ is alleged to have kept the market price of Apple computers
high by pressured Macintosh user-oriented magazine publishers to
refuse advertising for relatively low-priced Macintosh
computers. The magazines reportedly under pressure included
Mac + CYBER, publishing by PCW Communications, HyperLib,
from Ascii Corporation, MacJapan from Gijutsu Hyoron-Sya,
and MacLife, published by Kawade Syobo Publishing.

Authorities also charge the company with pressuring some
computer repair shops to refuse to repair computers which buyers
purchased outside its dealer group at a lower cost.

The situation is said to have originated in 1972, the year after the
Japanese yen shifted to a floating exchange rate. 1971 was also the
last year that imported goods prices were controlled by general
agencies of the Japanese market. When Japanese currency
entered the floating exchange rate system, the Japanese
government allowed other distributors to open sales channels
in parallel with general agencies.

For the past five years, with the strong and stable Japanese yen value,
many traders have been independently importing foreign goods,
including foreign-made luxury products, such as watches,
handbags, liquor, or Apple computers. These luxurious foreign goods
were available from discount brokers at almost half the price of the
general agencies.

Apple Computer Japan and others, are charged with conspiring to keep
the price high, and remove Apple computers from this two-level
pricing system, by the methods mentioned. Authorities say Apple's
Computer Japan's $1,799 Macintosh Plus at 368,000 yen, was,
when you could find it, available from non-exclusive traders
for 200,000 yen.

For years, the public has been wondering why Apple prices were
so high in Japan, leading to charges that Apple Computer was
neither taking an interest in beefing up its management nor
keeping its prices competitive. The lack of a Japanese operating
system for the Macintosh also didn't help.

Only recently has ACJ has started to discount its machines to
prices equivalent to U.S. prices. For example, Apple's new Portable
Mac, $6,000 in the U.S., is priced 998,000, or about the same as in
the U.S.

The fifth president of the ACJ, Shigechika Takeuchi, responding to
the charges, explained Apple Computer's high Japanese prices by
saying, " "It is a tall order to put the same price tag
with the U.S. because there are costs for transportation and
Japanese version development, and worse, our computer has only a
small market share." Takeuchi, who took over as president in March
will now have an opportunity to show his management skill in a
trial by fire.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891005)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00006)

ASHTON-TATE SIGNS DISTRIBUTOR FOR MAC PRODUCTS}
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 2 (NB) -- Ashton-Tate
has signed Macamerica, a division of Microamerica, as a new
distributor for its Apple Macintosh software products.

Macamerica will distribute all Ashton-Tate Macintosh products
including FullWrite Professional, Full Impact and dBASE Mac. The
agreement starts immediately so Ashton-Tate Mac applications
software products are already available from Macamerica via a
toll free telephone number, 800-535-0900.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891006/Press Contact: Brad Stevens, Ashton-
Tate, 213-538 -7348)


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

MODEM FOR PORTABLE MAC RELEASED IN AUSTRALIA}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- NetComm Australia is
releasing a version of its Pocket Rocket 1234 modem for the new
portable Macintosh, that should soon be available overseas. The
miniaturized modem will also be compatible with Macintosh SEs.

The modem package includes a mains plug pack, a car accessory
adaptor, the NetComm Program for Macintosh software and a
Macintosh modem cable. It will sell in Australia for AUS$649.

(Gavin Atkins/19891006)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SYD)(00008)

APPLE AUSTRALIA DROPS AD AGENCY}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- Despite six years of
successful advertising, Apple Australia is to drop the agency,
the Campaign Palace, for an as-yet-undecided replacement. The
partnership was responsible for a number of Australian and
international award winning campaigns, including a series
involving 'Frank,' who always got things done better than his
corporate colleagues because he had his own Macintosh. Another
showed an office full of crocodile infested water, where the
manager was swamped with work, only to be saved by a boat
carrying a Mac.

(Paul Zucker/19891006)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(TYO)(00009)

JAPAN: MACINTOSH DEALER LASSOS BIG YHP PRINTER DEAL}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 2 (NB) -- One of the authorized agents of
Apple Computer Japan, Kanto Denshi, will sell the new low-cost
DeskWriter printer for Macintosh offered by Yokogawa
Hewlett-Packard (YHP).

Among the exclusive agents of Apple Computer Japan, Kanto Denshi
is the eighth firm receiving a supply of these hot-selling new
printers from YHP. The agent controls 25 to 30 percent of
Macintosh sales in Japan, therefore, it is said to be the one of
the leading agents for Apple Computer Japan.

YHP has been selling printers for its own machines, receiving a
supply from its parent company Hewlett-Packard. However, since
expanding into the Macintosh market this February, it has sold some
300 units of the Deskwriter each month since August.

YHP expects to release two more models of printers for Macintosh
next year.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891005)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00001)

BULL BUYS ZENITH COMPUTER DIVISION}
GLENVIEW, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 2 (NB) -- France's Groupe Bull,
a company which is owned by the French Government since 1983 when
it was socialized, will pay $635 million to buy Zenith's computer
business in its second major American computer firm acquisition
in as many years. Last year, the company purchased Honeywell's
computer division.

The French Government-owned Groupe Bull will not buy any other
Zenith businesses, which include the consumer electronics business
in which Zenith intends to concentrate its efforts, and
specifically, on high definition television.

Zenith Chairman and President Jerry Pearlman explained the sale
by saying, "we are a highly leveraged company in two very tough
businesses. It is a very difficult type of position to compete in
dynamic businesses we are engaged in."

Shareholders will vote on the deal in December.

Compagnie des Machines Bull will, if the agreement to buy
Zenith Electronics Corp's computer unit is consummated, become
the largest computer firm in Europe, according to a company
statement.

A Zenith spokesman told Newsbytes that the change in ownership
would be imperceptible to the public, as the Zenith product line
would continue to be sold and serviced by the same organization.

(Wendy Woods/19891007)


(EXCLUSIVE)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00002)

BULL'S ZENITH PURCHASE MEANS US-ARMY SYSTEMS ARE FRENCH}
PARIS, FRANCE, 1989 OCT 07 (NB) -- Groupe Bull's purchase of
Zenith's computer products division last week effectively makes
the French company one of the major supplier of computers and
equipment to the US Air Force.

In the early part of this year, Zenith secured a major contract
to supply personal computers to the US Air Force. The contract is
scheduled to last for five years and is worth more than $50 million.

Now that Zenith has been bought by a French company, all the
systems to be supplied will effectively be French. Newsbytes was
unable to contact the US Air Force at press time, but sources
suggest that the USAF will attempt to move the contract to
another North American computer company in the interests of
national security.

(Peter Vekinis/19891007)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(WAS)(00003)

LEADING EDGE STIRS AGAIN}
CANTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- Leading Edge
is staging a strong comeback with a distribution agreement with
Washington, DC-based ASCII Group Ltd., which has 430 dealer-
members.

This is seen as an early and important move to put Leading Edge
PC clones back in play as a major supplier of low-cost computers
in the U.S.

(John McCormick/19891006/Press Contact: John R. Sullivan, Leading
Edge, 617-828-8150)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00004)

XEROX DESKTOP SOFTWARE NAMES NEW PREZ}
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 5 (NB) -- Xerox has
appointed Larry J. Gerhard as president of Xerox Desktop
Software.

The Xerox Desktop Software business unit has been reorganized
into a wholly owned Xerox subsidiary.

Gerhard has over 28 years experience in the computer industry.
Prior to being named to this position at Xerox, Gerhard served as
president, director and CEO of Decision Data (Philadelphia, PA),
distributor of computer products and services based on the IBM
System 3/X and AS/400 product families.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891006/Press Contact: Barry Sulpor, Xerox,
213-333-3428)


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

2ND QTR EARNINGS REACH $2.1 MIL FOR INTERVOICE}
RICHARDSON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 3 (NB) -- For the quarter
ending August 31, InterVoice has announced earnings of $2,101,351
on revenues of $7,105,981.

This represents a significant increase over the same period a
year ago when the maker of interactive voice response systems had
earnings of $457,532 on revenues of $2,616,762. Year-to-date
earnings of $3,226,460 on revenues of $12,103,500 compare with
earnings of $799,665 on revenues of $4,680,248 for the first half
of fiscal 1989.

The second quarter revenues include approximately $2 million
attributable to a single contract for systems delivered to a
government agency and may not be indicative of future rates of
growth.

Two days after releasing this financial statement, InterVoice
announced the public sale of 1,495,000 shares of its common
stock. The company received net proceeds from this sale of
approximately $36, 277,800 which it plans to add to financing
inventory and accounts receivable, purchasing capital equipment,
conducting research and development and acquiring technology and
patents from third parties. InterVoice has also indicated that
it may use some of the proceeds to finance the acquisition of new
manufacturing and office facilities.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891006/Press Contact: Daniel Hammond,
InterVoice, 214-669-3988)


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

CMS ENHANCEMENTS BUYS LINE FROM GENERAL POWER}
TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 5 (NB) -- CMS
Enhancements has purchased all of the personal computer product
lines from General Power (Anaheim, CA) for less than $1 million
cash.

The products fall into three categories, surge protectors,
uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and AC line conditioners.
Annual sales for these three lines total over $2 million. The
products will continue to be sold under the current EPD name.

The agreement includes worldwide rights to all distribution,
manufacturing, engineering and licensing agreements plus current
inventory.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891006/Press Contact: Tom Merkle, CMS
Enhancements, 714-259-5897)


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

KAYPRO VENDOR OF CHOICE FOR PALONET}
SOLANA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 3 (NB) -- Kaypro
has been selected as the vendor of choice by Palonet, Inc., an
industrial and commercial parts distributor network service
planning to buy up to 40,000 Kaypro computers over the next two
years.

The contract will total as much as $40 million and be the largest
Kaypro has received to date. Palonet has established the first
computerized communications network capable of linking every
wholesaler in the country into an integrated distribution
network. The plan is to use Kaypro K-2 systems as individual
workstations on this network.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891006/Press Contact: Nancy Casey, The
WestCom Group, 619-259-1288)


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

ALPHA MICROSYSTEMS PROFITS SLIP}
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 5 (NB) -- Second
quarter profits for business computer maker Alpha Microsystems
dropped to $113,000 from $605,000 for the same period a year ago
despite a 2 percent gain in sales to $13 million.

The company blamed the reduced earnings on unfavorable foreign
currency exchange rates, higher sales of lower-margin products
and a general industry slump. The company posted earnings of
only $692,000 on sales of $27 million for the first six months
compared with $1.3 million earned on sales of $24.8 million in
the same period a year ago.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891006)


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

TOSHIBA CREATES FAX DIVISION}
TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- The fax business
has been going so well for Toshiba America Information Systems that
it has elected to separate its fax operations into a new division.

The fax machine business had been split between Toshiba's copier
and telecommunications divisions. The new division is expected
to employ about 70 people. Toshiba began manufacturing fax
machines in California in August with one model. Plans call for
ultimately making all models of Toshiba fax machines at the
California plant.

Toshiba currently ranks sixth in the US fax market with about a
5.5 percent market share according to market research firm
Dataquest in San Jose, CA. Toshiba sold in excess of 57,000 fax
units last year. The new division is seen as the latest move in
Toshiba's US expansion. Originally, the company made only laptop
computers, added cellular telephone manufacturing in January and
copiers in April.

Herbert C. Johnson, formerly with NEC, has been hired to head the
new division.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891006)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00010)

INTEL TO OPEN PLANT IN IRELAND}
DUBLIN, IRELAND, 1989 OCT 07 (NB) -- Intel has announced plans to
build a new plant in Ireland. The plant, which will cost $280
million, will eventually employ around 2,000 staff, making Intel
one of the biggest employers in the Irish Republic.

Intel's decision to site the plant in Ireland has been made after
several months of deliberation by the US chip manufacturing
company. Ireland was chosen because of the grants and tax
advantages available in the Irish Republic.

Announcing the plant's siting last week, Intel UK said that
operations are about to begin in temporary accommodation on the
site, whilst work on the 150,000 square foot building gets under
way. The permanent facility, which will employ 400 staff when the
chip production lines start in 1992, will take a year to build.

(Steve Gold/19891007/Press & Public Contact: Sarah Gregory, Intel
UK - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00011)

EPSON SETS UP IN WEST GERMANY}
MUNICH, WEST GERMANY, 1989 OCT 07 (NB) -- Epson has established a
new subsidiary - Epson Semiconductor -in West Germany. The
Munich-based company will handle the design, sales, import and
export, as well as engineering support, for Epson's semiconductor
operations in Europe.

One of the primary products from Epson Semiconductor will be ASIC
(application specific integrated circuits) chips. Epson produces
and sells electronic components in 35 locations around the world,
including France and West Germany.

Epson Semiconductor is located at Riesstrasse 15, 8000 Munich 50,
West Germany, Tel: [phone].

(Steve Gold/19891007/Press Contact: Tony Martin, Portfolio
Communications - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00012)

COMMODORE APPOINTS NEW ITALIAN MANAGER}
MILAN, ITALY, 1989 OCT 07 (NB) -- Commodore International has
announced the appointment of Werter Mambelli as general manager
of its Italian subsidiary.

Mambelli, 38, has been involved in the Italian computer industry
for 15 years. He was previously marketing manager for Compaq in
Italy, a position he held since 1986. Prior to that, he was the
general manager and co-founder of the first Compaq computer
dealer in Italy.

Irving Gould, Commodore International's chairman and chief
executive officer, said: "Mr. Mambelli has a very distinguished
background in the marketing and distribution of personal
computers to the professional market in Italy. Italy is one of
the top four European markets and has great potential for
Commodore products."

"Mambelli's mission is to expand distribution of our PC line to
business computer dealers, increase the penetration of the Amiga
2000 series in professional markets, and maintain and expand our
recognised position in the consumer market with the Amiga 500 and
the C64," he added.

(Steve Gold/19891007)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00013)

CONTROL DATA CHAIRMAN TO RESIGN - SHARES PICK UP}
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 07 (NB) -- The imminent
departure of Robert Price from the board of Control Data Inc.,
once the leader in superpowerful computers, may signal the return
of the company to profitability.

Control Data has shed much of its capacity, including the Plato
educational system, its financial services subsidiary and
recently the ETA systems division, leaving the road wide open for
companies such as Cray Research to market their supercomputers.

The departure of Price, who has been called an inefficient
manager by market analysts, has left an opening on the company's
board. Price is the latest executive to leave the company in
its struggle to find someone to pilot the company towards its
goal of being a primary competitor to IBM in the world computer
stakes.

(Peter Vekinis/19891010)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SYD)(00014)

AUS$9.5M LOSS FOR COMPUTER RETAILER}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- The latest in a string of
bad news stories for PC dealers in Australia comes from
ComputerLand Solutions Australia, which lost AUS$9.5M for the
nine months to June 30.

The report comes two weeks after ComputerLand's national
marketing manager, David Sinclair, told Newsbytes that the
company's revenue projections for the financial year ended
September 30 were AUS$100M. The US management has ordered the
local subsidiary to amalgamate its seven store operation into
three.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19891004)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SYD)(00015)

OKI MOVES IN DOWN UNDER}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- The Japanese computer giant
Oki Electronic has shown its intentions of increasing its
presence in Australia by purchasing a 10 percent equity holding
in its local distributor IPL-Datron. Products sold in Australia
include printers and facsimile units.

The IPL managing director, Stead Denton said, "We'll have moved
away from all non-Oki products within 12 months." IPL plans to
lift its profile with sponsorship of Australian golf tournaments
and a large television advertising campaign.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19891005)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SYD)(00016)

AUSTRALIAN FIRM IN LOVE TRIANGLE}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- Shareholders of Bell &
Howell Australia are expected to choose between one of two
suitors sometime within the next month.

The UK direct mail firm Fine Art Developments and the US optical
filing systems company Genesys Data Technologies are offering to
take a controlling stake in the company. The offers are a result
of the decision by Bell & Howell's US parent company to divest
itself of a 47.7 percent equity investment in the Australian arm.

Bell & Howell Australia recorded revenues of AUS$23.8M for the
year ended June 30 and a consolidated operating profit of
AUS$2.25M

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19891005)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00017)

TOSHIBA REINFORCES PC DIVISION}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 29 (NB) -- Toshiba has reorganized its
semiconductor and computer divisions as part of an effort to
build up its flagship PC business.

Two divisions, the Integrated Circuit and Semiconductor
Divisions, were divided into four: a division to handle transistors
and diodes, a division to handle LSIs (large-size integrated
circuits) such as bipolar and CCD (charge coupled device), a
division to handle industrial LSIs such as ASIC
(application-specific integrated circuit) and microcomputers, and
a division to handle memories.

Meanwhile, its computer division was divided into two parts : one for
handling office computers and minicomputers and another for
personal computers and workstations. Toshiba put
1,200 workers in the computer and workstation division to
aid in the marketing effort for its personal computer J-3100
series and the book-sized computer, DynaBook.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891005)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00018)

NEW FIRM ROLLED OUT FROM MOTOROLA AND TOSHIBA}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 3 (NB) -- The business alliance of Toshiba
and Motorola will be enhanced by the roll-out of a new
subsidiary. Nippon Motorola has joined forces with Toshiba Denshi
Device Hanbai Inc., a wholly owned Toshiba subsidiary, to create
Nippon Motorola Microelectronics.

The new business venture will sell Motorola semiconductor chips to
Toshiba group and Toshiba's affiliated enterprises. The capital
investment for the company is 100 million yen or $715,000 shared
50.05 percent by Motorola and 49.95 percent by Toshiba Denshi.

Motorola and Toshiba have previously engaged in a joint enterprise. They
established Tohoku Semiconductor which is now supplying chips in the
Japanese market.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891005)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00019)

MATSUSHITA TO BUILD FACTORY IN TEXAS}
OSAKA, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 30 (NB) -- Matsushita Electric Industrial
has decided to build a U.S. factory in Texas for the manufacture of
communication and information equipment, for which it has earmarked
100 billion yen ($714 million).

Matsushita Electric of America is now hurrying to find a
place to build the factory somewhere near Dallas, and will acquire
the land and start construction as early as next spring. IBM-
compatible personal computers and Matsushita workstations,
facsimile machines of Matsushita Graphic Communication System, and
multifunctional push-button and cordless phones of Kyushuu
Matsushita Electric will be made in the new factory.

Matsushita, in order to mediate the current trade dispute, intends
to increase its overseas production from the current 25 percent
to 50 percent by 1993.

(Ken Takahashi/19891005)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00020)

TOSHIBA MOVES UP 4-MEG CHIP PRODUCTION SCHEDULE}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 3 (NB) -- Toshiba will start serious volume
production of four-megabit DRAM (dynamic random access memory) in
March of next year, much earlier than the previously scheduled June
or July, 1990 production forecast. Toshiba plans to make one million
units per month.

As the demand for one-megabit DRAM chips has decreased and
4-megabit chips increased, Toshiba has decided to move up the
production schedule for them.

Toshiba is now producing about eight to nine million
one-megabit DRAM chips per month in its one-megabit DRAM production
factory with monthly production capacity of ten million units.
In early 1990, this production will slow and be shifted over to
the 4-megabit lines despite Toshiba's previously announced intention
to take a wait-and-see attitude before deciding next year's one-
megabit chip production numbers.

Other major Japanese chipmakers have announced their 4-megabit chip
production schedule. Japan's largest chipmaker NEC will start
monthly output of about 100,000 units in September, 1990
and Hitachi will start with monthly output of 200,000 units at the
same time with an increase to 400,000 units by the year's
end. Oki Electric Industries is scheduled to make about 100,000
units by the end of year. Mitsubishi Electric aims to produce one
million units per month by next fall. Fujitsu has not announced
any plan yet.

(Ken Takahashi/19891005)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00021)

FOUR-MEG CHIP PRICE UNDER 10,000 YEN}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- Toshiba and Hitachi will set the
price of four-megabit DRAM (dynamic random access memory) chips
below 10,000 yen ($71.40) per unit, and NEC is expected to follow
suit immediately.

Toshiba had announced plans to set the price below 10,000 yen ($71.40)
when production was up to one million units per month. But even
though it's not yet, Toshiba is lowering the price already, and plans
to set it between 8,000 and 9,000 yen ($57.10 and $64.20) -- roughly
five times the one-meg chip price which is down to between 1,600
and 1,700 yen ($11.40 to $12.10).

Hitachi, on the other hand, will set its four-meg chip between
9,000 and 10,000 yen ($64.2 and $71.4) by year's end, because
it is afraid of resistance from buyers if the price exceeds
10,000 yen ($71.4). Hitachi is now planning to produce 400,000
units per month within this year.

Toshiba believes a four megabit chip price below 10,000 yen ($71.40)
will not be below fair market value established by the
U.S.- Japan semiconductor agreement. But, the Ministry of
International Trade and Industry is afraid that the cheap price
might incur the wrath of the Semiconductor Industry Association.

(Ken Takahashi/19891005)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00022)

MITSUBISHI TO BUILD ASIC FACTORY}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 2 (NB) -- Mitsubishi Electric will build a
factory to produce application-specific integrated circuits
(ASICs) in Kyushu, in order to meet the surging demand for ASICs
in higher performance computers and communication
equipment. Mitsubishi will complete the factory in the first half
of the 1990s, where it will make high-speed gate arrays and standard
cells as well as application-specific standard products.

Mitsubishi now has two production sites for producing
semiconductors in Kyushu, but it has decided to build a new
factory for ASICs in Kyushu because each product requires its own
unique production system. Mitsubishi intends to produce custom
ICs only in Kyushu.

Mitsubishi is now building a factory for next-generation chips, such
as four-megabit dynamic random access memory, in the neighborhood of
its Seijo factory in Ehime prefecture, and when that project is done,
will start construction of the ASIC factory.

Mitsubishi is now hard at work to complete a master
plan for the ASIC factory where it has already decided to introduce
submicron complementary metal oxide semiconductor processes and
computer-integrated manufacturing systems.

(Ken Takahashi/19891005)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00023)

U.S.-JAPAN JOINT VENTURES}
OSAKA and NAGOYA, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- Two major joint
ventures between firms in the U.S. and Jaspan have been announced
on the same day, and they will start in November and December.

Japan's top polyester maker Teijin will establish a joint venture
with California, U.S.-based software development venture Mad
Intelligent Systems to market computer software starting
in November.

The new Yokohama-based joint venture, called Japan Intelligent
Systems, will be capitalized with 450 million yen ($3.2 million), and
will be owned 60 percent by Teijin and 40 percent by Mad Intelligent
Systems.

Japan Intelligent Systems will start business in April next year,
and will market Smart Data System developed by Mad Intelligent
Systems in the Asia-Pacific region.

Teijin expects the new venture will earn sales of 300 million yen
($2.1 million) in the initial year and 3 billion yen ($21.4 million)
in three years.

On the other hand, Central Leasing will set up a joint venture with
U.S.-based computer leasing firm Capital Associates by year's end
to distribute U.S.-made second-hand computers in Japan.

The Tokyo-based new venture Nihon CAI, capitalized at 100 million
yen ($715,000), will offer maintenance of computers and development
of software as well as sale of second-hand computers by Capital
Associates. The joint venture is targeted to rake in sales of
one billion yen ($7.1 million) in the first year.

Capital Associates, which deals in computers mainly made by IBM
at its 20 branches around the U.S., is also planning to expand
its business into other Asian region such as South Korea and
Singapore.

(Ken Takahashi/19891006)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00024)

NEC LOSES U.S. SUPERCOMPUTER PARTNER}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 30 (NB) -- Honeywell has abandoned a
partnership it had with NEC, HNSX Supercomputer, to sell Japanese
supercomputers in North America. NEC has taken over Honeywell's
share in a deal valued at $7 million.

HNSX Supercomputer was established in October 1986 as a joint
venture of NEC and Honeywell but since then, Honeywell has
shifting to the aerospace and defense industries and has decreased
emphasis on computers. In the spring, Honeywell expressed an
interest in dissolving the venture.

In Japan, NEC is now shipping the world's fastest supercomputer,
the SX-3, but will still have to establish U.S. and Canadian sales
channels before the SX-3 can be shipped overseas.

International Data Communications says that Cray has
57.1 percent of world's supercomputer market.  Fujitsu has 21.6
percent and NEC has 6.5%. In the United States, Fujitsu has only
sold two machines.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891005)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(HKG)(00025)

BANKING SOFTWARE SELLS BIG IN HONGKONG}
CENTRAL, HONGKONG, 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- BIS Banking Systems received its
100th contract for the Advanced Banking and Securities System
(ABS) which it released for the IBM AS/400 only a year ago. A
quarter of the sales were achieved in the Asia/Pacific region
according to Stephen Middlehurst, general manager of BIS in
Hongkong.

Not surprisingly, Hongkong with its 200 licenced banks, is a
major regional centre for banking software organizations. "The
combination of Midas ABS and the IBM AS/400 is ideal for the
Asian market, because it fits the needs of both medium-sized
local banks and the overseas branches of multinational
institutions, " said Mr Middlehurst.

The 100th sale was to the international division of Norway's
Christiana Bank which has a branch in Singapore and interests
in Japan and China.

(Keith Cameron/19891006)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(HKG)(00026)

MACAU JOCKEY CLUB BETS EACH WAY WITH TANDEM}
MACAU, ASIA, 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- The Macau Jockey Club,
a brand new horse racing facility in the region, has purchased
four Nonstop CLX processors from Tandem Computers (Hongkong) to
operate a sophisticated track management system.

The $650,000 configuration will operate the track's accounting
functions, its race information and membership databases as
well as the cafeteria and restaurant management systems.

The Macau Jockey Club, which has run only four meetings since
it opened about one month ago, is vying for a slice of the
massive fiscal cake the Royal Hongkong Jockey Club enjoys. Race
meetings in Hongkong generate world record annual betting
revenues exceeding billions of dollars.

From a technical point of view, an interesting fact about the
new system is that it is the first time in the region that the
PICK operating system has been used on a Tandem platform.

(Keith Cameron/19891007 Press contact: Media Dynamics, Paul
Baran 852-5-8383889)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(HKG)(00027)

OLIVETTI RESTRUCTURES LOCAL OPERATIONS}
HONGKONG, ASIA, 1989 OCT 1 (NB) -- Olivetti (Hongkong) has undergone
a major restructuring which is designed to better service the
local market over the next decade.

The company, which has grown worldwide over nine-fold in the
past ten years, has split it operations into two logical
groups: Olivetti Systems and Networks; and, Olivetti Office.

The Hongkong office, led by Mr Andrew Tang, serves as
headquarters for China, Hongkong, Korea and Taiwan.

(Keith Cameron/19891007 Press contact: Pauline Richards,
Medcalf & Company 852-05-419141)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(HKG)(00028)

SINGAPORE FIRM GETS BIG HP, MAXTOR ORDER}
SINGAPORE, SOUTH EAST ASIA, 1989 OCT 1 (NB) -- Datacraft
Singapore has secured orders for data PABX worth $150,000 from
Hewlett-Packard and Maxtor, the disk manufacturer.

Hewlett-Packard is upgrading its existing Instanet 6600 data
PABX to enable it to handle more than 200 additional terminals.

Maxtor, on the other hand, is installing the Instanet data PABX
to reduce its dependence on a single digital PABX system and to
reduce interruptions to voice communications whenever
maintenance or diagnostic work was necessary on the data
network.

(Keith Cameron/19891006 Press contact: Medcalf & Co. 852-5-
419141)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00029)

3COM NAMES NEW CANADIAN DISTRIBUTORS}
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 OCT 5 (NB) -- 3Com Canada is
changing direction, replacing its sole Canadian distributor with
two other companies. The company announced the change at a press
conference in Toronto.

McKenzie Brown and Parity Plus, both of Toronto, have been named
"full-service value-added distributors for 3Com Canada. They
will sell 3Com products to Canadian resellers. 3Com's own sales
force -- three people in Canada at present -- will also continue
to sell the company's products directly, said Wes Raffel, 3Com's
director of intercontinental operations and acting general
manager of 3Com Canada.

The announcement marks the end of 3Com Canada's association with
Compuserve, a Toronto firm which was formerly its sole
distributor here. "We found that we weren't able to meet our
customer needs with that distributor." Compuserve's strengths
lay in "a different direction from where 3Com was going," Raffel
said.

3Com is not doing as well here as it ought to be, Raffel
admitted. He noted that as a rule of thumb this country should
yield about 10 percent of the sales found in the U.S. market, and
3Com has not been doing that much business here.

3Com Canada, established in March 1987, is a wholly owned
subsidiary of 3Com, of Santa Clara, Calif. Based in Toronto, the
company opened offices in Montreal and Vancouver in 1988.
Canadian sales in year ended May, 1989, were approximately C$14.4
million. The Canadian operation currently employs 10 people.
Raffel said the company hopes to expand its staff to 18 by the
end of the current fiscal year, and is aiming for 100-percent
annual growth in fiscal 1990, Raffel said.

(Grant Buckler/19891005/Press Contact: 3Com Canada, 416-477-3003;
Loretta Lam, The Communications Group, 416-447-8591)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00030)

COMTERM SEEKING A BUYER}
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- Comterm, a Montreal-
based computer terminal manufacturer, is seeking a buyer. Paul
Lafreniere, the company's controller, said Comterm is talking to
about a dozen candidates about the possibility of a reverse
takeover. Comterm has a C$76-million tax credit that makes it an
attractive target. Management is "committed to the utilization"
of this tax credit, according to a statement issued by the
company. Lafreniere said one or two of the companies to which
Comterm is talking are close to a deal. However, any deal is
likely to take 60 to 90 days to close, he said.

However, he denied rumors that IBM was among the suitors. Reports
that IBM had offered to buy the firm caused trading in Comterm
stock to be halted on the Toronto and Montreal stock exchanges
October 2. A Comterm press release issued later that day said
there was "absolutely no truth" to the report.

(Grant Buckler/19891006/Press Contact: Paul Lafreniere, Comterm,
514-694-4332)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00031)

NO SALE AT WATERLOO MICROSYSTEMS}
WATERLOO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- Acquisition talks
between Waterloo Microsystems, the local-area network software
vendor based here, and prospective buyer Comcheq Services of
Winnipeg, Manitoba, came to nought. Comcheq spokesman Jim Cameron
said the discussions, reported in Newsbytes last week, did not
result in a sale. He said he did not know why the deal did not
materialize. Newsbytes was unable to reach Waterloo Microsystems
President Tom Beynon for comment.

(Grant Buckler/19891006/Press Contact: Jim Cameron, 204-261-1663)


(EXCLUSIVE)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00001)

ESTABLISHED HACKERS TO HOLD NEWS CONFERENCE}
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- The founders of
the first Hacker's Conference will hold a news conference following
the conclusion of this year's event, slated for October 13-15 in Saratoga,
California, to discuss ethics and related issues, including
implications from the release of the so-called Columbus Day,
Datacrime, or Friday the 13th virus.

The media and public are invited by Lee Felsenstein, Steve Sawyer,
and others who organized the first convention years ago, to discuss
the topic "Forbidden Knowledge in a Technological Society." There
will be clarification of issues surrounding the release of the virus,
which allegedly was made at the Galactic Hacker Party in
Amsterdam in August, and had nothing to do with the U.S.-based
Hacker's Conference.

The issues discussed will relate to a current conference on The Well,
(topic 273) for which some 60 messages have been written, including
by founder Stewart Brand. The Well is an online message and
conferencing service reached at 415-332-6106 (1200 baud).

The news conference takes place October 15th, Sunday. Doors open
at 4:30 and the event is underway at 5 pm. The event, which
includes panel discussions, will be staged at 390 27th Street,
between Webster and Telegraph Avenues, Oakland. A $5 donation
is requested at the door.

(Wendy Woods/19891007/Press Contact: Steve Sawyer, 415-849-
3730)


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

CARPAL TUNNEL STUDY UNDERWAY}
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- There are
fifty times more cases of carpal tunnel syndrome, a common affliction
of keyboard typists, than official records are showing, according
to the preliminary results of a study by California and federal
health officials.

During 1987, the most recent year in which statistics have been
compiled, there were 3,400 cases of work-related carpal tunnel
syndrome in Santa Clara County, the center of Silicon Valley
where computer operators number in the hundreds of thousands.

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs from repetitive motions of the wrist,
and has afflicted a wide spectrum of computer workers, from telephone
operators to journalists, most notably columnist Denise Caruso.

The California Health Department study, headed by Dr. Neil Maizlish,
is surveying doctors and other health care specialists to determine
the frequency with which wrist injuries among computer workers
are reported. The results indicated 7,214 cases of carpal tunnel
syndrome in Santa Clara County in 1987, and of those, 3,413 were work-
related, according to a published report. This is in sharp contrast to
a previous state estimate of only 71 cases in Santa Clara County.

Authorities hope the five-year study will determine the best
treatment methods, and best methods of preventing the injury. The
goal is also to improve case reporting methods.

(Wendy Woods/19891006)


(EXCLUSIVE)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00003)

CD-ROM EXPO BIG HIT}
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- Despite a staff at
the Sheraton Washington that mostly didn't seem aware of the
exposition in their midst, elevators that consistently went to
the tenth floor no matter what floor you wanted, signs that were
poorly placed, and other inconveniences, most of the exhibitors
that Newsbytes spoke with pronounced the EXPO an early success on
the first day it was open.

Sun Microsystems introduced a Unix CD-ROM system, while
everyone's favorite, Quanta Press's irrepressible cheerleader,
Mark Foster, brought along a jumpsuited pseudo-pilot named "Dick"
to promote one of their latest releases, "Dick's 'Some of the
World's Planes,'" a reference to "Jane's," the British publishers
of enormous compendia of military and commercial ships and
aircraft.

Dick's CD-ROM lists hundreds of NATO and East-Pack aircraft by
name, type, purpose, etc., and includes both wire-frame diagrams
of the external shape of the aircraft as well as a series of
photographs of the same plane.

A representative of Quanta said that they are attempting to
convince Jane's to join with them to produce a CD-ROM version of
"All the World's Aircraft."

Just arriving while Newsbytes was talking with Quanta personnel
was their very latest and very hot release, an encyclopedia of military
terms and acronyms called Officer's Handbook, which is now being
tested here at Newsbytes for eventual review.

IDG did little to accommodate the press, leaving them mostly to
fend for themselves and, despite the high-tech nature of the
conference, not a single computer or even a bulletin board was to
be seen in the press room.

(John McCormick/19891006)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00004)

MUSICAL CD-ROM APPLICATIONS SHOWN AT EXPO}
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- Two companies
dealing with classical music, Nimbus Records' Nimbus Information
Systems subsidiary, which produces CD-ROMs, and a relatively new
New Hampshire-based company owned by the famous former computer
magazine king, Wayne Green, were showing catalogs of CD music
disks on CD-ROM discs.

CD audio discs are the shiny digital disks that are rapidly
replacing vinyl LP records because of their far superior quality
and durability.

Nimbus was showing their well-known Nimbus Digital Compact Disk
Catalog disc (March 88 edition because it was only a demo) which
contains a database of their own records organized by type,
composer, and other criteria. This disc is intended to run on a
CD-ROM player that has audio capabilities because, in addition to
searching for the kind of music you want, you can even listen to
brief excerpts.

The complete CD Guide catalog was from Wayne Green's organization
and holds a database of more than 30,000 audio listings with
music samples and more than 4,000 complete music reviews from the
company's print publications covering the CD music industry.

Many music lovers found this remarkable compendium, which
even has album cover photos, to be extremely valuable, certainly
far more useful than the massive Schwann Catalog that has always
been relied upon throughout the music industry.

Since there are about 800 new CD audio disks published each
month, CD Guide is updated on a regular basis and is normally
sold as a subscription at a very reasonable $259, although
individuals would be more likely to want an occasional single
issue at $99.

For further information on the CD Guide disc, contact: CD Guide
Optical Edition, Forest Road, Hancock, NH 03449, 603-525-4201
or 603-525-4423 (Fax).

The Nimbus disc is only a demonstration product and is now quite
out of date, while the CD Guide is a working guide to the CD
music industry.

(John McCormick/19891006/Press Contact: Peter E. Murphy, WGE
Publishing, 603-525-4201)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00005)

AUDIO TAPES OF CD-ROM EXPO TALKS AVAILABLE}
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- Audio Archives
International will make audio tapes of 25 of the lectures
presented during this week's CD-ROM Expo here in Washington.

The service, which is provided for a number of major conferences
throughout the year, costs $10/talk, with special discount offers
available. It is an invaluable service for those unable to attend
major conferences or for whom the conference schedule presents
conflicts.

This Newsbytes bureau uses these tapes and finds them to be of
very high quality and indispensible in providing complete
conference coverage.

For further information, contact: Audio Archives International,
Inc., 3043 Foothill, Blvd., Suite #2, La Crescenta, CA 91214, or
phone [phone]. Foreign orders subject to extra shipping
charges.

(John McCormick/19891006)


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

WANG INTRODUCES VS-UNISYS SERVICES RELEASE 1.0}
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- Wang
Laboratories today became the first major vendor to offer
customers a way to access Unisys mainframe computers via terminal
and printer emulation, file transfer, and applications program
interface.

The software will cost from $2,000 to $16,000, depending on the
Wang computer system currently being used.

(John McCormick/19891006/Press Contact: Linda Volpe Kincaid,
Wang, 508-967-6425)


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

GIANT APPLES FOR DC AREA STUDENTS}
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 2 (NB) -- Giant Food Inc., one
of the two major food market chain store companies in the greater
Washington, DC area, has announced a program called "Apples for
the Students," whereby Giant will help all schools, including
public, parochial, and private, within Giant's service area,
receive Apple Computer systems and educational software through
consumers collecting Giant grocery cash register receipt tapes
for their favorite school.

Mark Roeder of Giant told Newsbytes that the program "goes into
effect October 22 and [is] scheduled until March 31, 1990." The
minimum register tapes for a complete system would be $70,000 for
an Apple IIc plus monochrome system with 128 kilobytes of memory
and complete with monitor, system software, tutorial, and
Appleworks software.

The largest system offered is the IIgs color system with color
monitor and the same software. To obtain this system, a school
needs to collect $160,000 in register tapes.

Various educational software will also be available under the
program.

(John McCormick/19891006/Press Contact: Mark E. Roeder of Giant
Food, 301-341-4710)


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

LOTUS UPGRADES ONE SOURCE WITH CD/INVESTMENT}
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 2 (NB) -- Lotus
Development will add CD/Investment: U.S. Equities to its One
Source CD-ROM based financial databases.

One Source is a professional-grade financial database published
on CD-ROM discs with subscription prices starting at $20,000.

(John McCormick/19891006)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00009)

LA DISTRIBUTOR TO HOST PRE-COMDEX SHOW}
VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.,1989 OCT 2 (NB) -- High
Technology Distributing is holding a pre-Comdex unveiling of new
products for its resellers, October 24 called "Business
Electronics Expo."

President and CEO Perry Solomon told Newsbytes that this show
will be unique in the breadth of product to be unveiled. "Our
show will cover the full scope of business electronics and will
introduce many new fax related products to computer resellers.

Many major vendors, such as Canon and Toshiba, will be offering sneak
previews of product that will be formally introduced in Las
Vegas. "By holding this show a few weeks before Comdex, vendors
are able to get advance feedback on their new products," Solomon
commented. "We are expecting in excess of 500 resellers to
attend and the vendors are very excited about this opportunity."

In the past, High Technology Distributing has held an annual
"steak and eggs breakfast" to introduce new products to resellers
but over its four year history, the event has outgrown that
format.  "We expect to repeat our Business Electronics Expo to
be held on an annual basis," Solomon told Newsbytes. "While I
realize that what we are doing is regional because we are a
regional distributor, I would be happy to talk with distributors
in other parts of the country who would like to try this idea and
want to learn from our experience."

(Janet Endrijonas/19891006/Press Contact: Perry Solomon, High
Technology Distributing, 818-994-8001)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00010)

ADVANCED COMPUTER TO OEM BRIDGE FOR NBI}
BOULDER, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- NBI, Inc. has
announced the signing of an OEM purchase and support agreement
with Advanced Computer Communications (ACC) under which NBI will
sell and support ACC's ACS 4110 and ACS 4400 bridge products.

The bridge products will link remote NBI customers into an
integrated network based on NBI's OfficeWorks product line.

The ACS 4110 and ACS 4400 are protocol independent remote
Ethernet bridges that provide flexible LAN connectivity and
support features such as the IEEE 802.1 Spanning Tree Protocol,
transmission speeds of up to 1.544Mbits/sec (T1) or 2.048
Mbits/sec (European T1), and precedence for time sensitive
protocols. Remote Ethernets bridged using the ACC products
function as a single LAN, making remote communications no
different from local.

The ACC products are available immediately from NBI. The ACS
4110 is priced at $7,500. The price range for the ACS 4400
depending on the number of ports is $8,500 to $20,500.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891006/Press Contact: Harry Pforsheimer, NBI,
303-938-2619)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BRU)(00011)

MAXTOR ANNOUNCES 1.67 GIGABYTES HARD DISK}
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, USA, 1989 OCT 07 (NB) -- Maxtor has
announced a new generation of high capacity hard disks that offer
ultra-fast access times and capacities ranging into the
gigabytes.

The Panther series of hard disks come in two configurations -
Model 1 with 1.3 gigabytes of data; and Model 2 with 1.7
gigabytes of data. Both hard disks come in a 5.25-inch form
factor, rather than the 8-inch form factor seen on other
manufacturers' very high capacity hard disks.

The Panther 1 series uses either an ESDI, SMD or SCSI interface
while the Panther 2 series uses an embedded SCSI interface,
making it ideal for Macintosh II systems.

Seek times on both hard drive systems are impressive. The
Panther 1 offers 2 millisecond (ms) track-to-track and 13ms
average seek times, while the Panther 2 has a 1.5ms track-to-track
and an average of 10.5 ms access times. Original equipment
manufacturer evaluation unit prices range from $3,300 for the
Panther 1 and $3, 650 for Panther 2 system.

(Peter Vekinis/19891007/Press Contact: Deborah Stapleton, Vide
President, Corporate Communications, 1/408/4482)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00012)

UK CONFERENCE UPDATES}
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 OCT 07 (NB) -- It's conference season again
in the UK, with Blenheim Online hosting four conferences at the
Queen Elizabeth conference centre in London over the coming
months. The conferences are:

15-16 November, 1989, Intelligent Networks, UKP 595 registration
fee; 28-29 November, 1989, Cellular & Mobile Communications,
UKP 545 registration fee; 30 November to 1 December, European
Satellite Communications, UKP 695 registration fee; 6-7 December,
1989, Electronic Messaging & Communication Systems, UKP 595
registration fee.

(Steve Gold/19891007/Press & Public Contact: Blenheim Online -
Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00013)

AMSTRAD BLAMED FOR AUSTRALIAN DEALER CRASH}
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- The owner of South
Australia's largest Amstrad dealership has blamed Amstrad for the
collapse of his company.

Hans Kroonenburg of Everything Computer said that the high
failure rate of Amstrad high-end PCs caused his company to go
broke, and he would now have to sell his Adelaide home to pay off
debts. "We had a failure rate of 90 percent, with some machines
coming back five times. The associated support-costs put us
under," he said.

"Amstrad executives advised us they were going to recall all the
286s but nothing happened. They told me the machines were faulty
four months ago," he said. Kroonenburg said he was taking legal
advice as to whether he has the right to sue Amstrad.

The Australian sales and marketing director of Amstrad, Bordan
Tkachuk, said there were no grounds on which Kroonenburg could
take legal action and said the business failure was just the
beginning of many small company collapses due to a softening of
the local PC market.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19891004)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00014)

AIRCRAFT DISASTER SOFTWARE SIMULATOR}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- An Australian-developed
software package that recreates aeroplane crashes may soon be
exported.

Silicon Graphics Computer Systems recently won a tender from the
Australian Government with its Aircraft Accident Investigation
System, and the company is now looking to sell the package
overseas. Silicon Managing Director Graham Frost said Swiss Air
and United Airlines have already been approached.

Using data from the black box flight recorder, the package
simulates the sequence of events and the pilots' view of
circumstances before an air disaster.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19891004)


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

JAPAN: NEW MICROSOFT SPREADSHEET AND LANGUAGES}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- Microsoft has upgraded its
NEC PC-9800 versions of its spreadsheet software Multiplan and
its programming languages software Quick C and Quick BASIC, and
will release them at the end of this month.

Multiplan has been upgraded from version 3.1 to 4.1, with the
addition of tools to use data in the worksheet in a database
and enhanced printing functions. Microsoft will release the
spreadsheet software early next month at the price of 68,000 yen
($500). Microsoft has shipped some 250,000 packages of
Multiplan already in Japan and plans to ship 50,000 packages of
the new version in the initial year.

Quick C version 2.0 does not come with a printed manual because
it includes QC Advisor, an enhanced edition of the online help
functions previously found in version 1.1. The new Quick C will
be priced at 20,000 yen ($140), and 30,000 packages are due to
be shipped. And Quick BASIC version 4.5 also has QB Advisor added
in it. With the price tag of 20,000 yen ($140), it will be in the
shops at the end of next month, and Microsoft expects 40,000
packages to be shipped in the initial year.

(Ken Takahashi/19891005)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00016)

AUTOTECH ASIA '89 POPULAR WITH MANUFACTURERS}
WANCHAI, HONGKONG, 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- This week the Hongkong
Convention and Exhibition Centre was teeming with manufacturers
eager to see the wide range of new productivity aids on display
at AutoTech Asia '89.

One new product launched concurrently at the show and in
Singapore was AutoMod II, a powerful simulation tool that
allows manufacturers to model the effects of manufacturing and
distribution decisions.

Michael Kelly, managing director of I3P International, the
distributors of AutoMod II, said that the product was ideally
suited to the needs of manufacturers in Hongkong because of the
diversity of goods produced here and the need to react quickly
to new orders. "AutoMod II helps evaluate new or changed
factory layouts, selecting new manufacturing equipment and
studying equipment modifications. The user can simulate
graphically almost any sequential manufacturing or
distribution operation."

In an unusual departure from its commercial exhibitions, IBM
was also at the show demonstrating the RISC-based RT system and
AIX together with the IBM 5080 interactive graphics system.
The IBM stand featured application software which included
its Professional CADAM drafting system, RT ISD 3D solid
modelling software and AES, a 3-dimensional architectural and
engineering system.

(Keith Cameron/19891006)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00017)

HONG KONG: NEW MAINFRAME FOR DAIRY FARM}
CENTRAL, HONGKONG, 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- The $1.6 billion Dairy
Farm Group has upgraded its AS/6620 with the new NAS AS/EX10
mainframe.

The Group, which operates chains of supermarkets, drugstores
and food stores throughout the territory in addition to
the Associated Dairy operation, will use the $500K
configuration to further expand its operational application
areas.

(Keith Cameron/1981006)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(HKG)(00001)

U.S. BAN ON CHINA EXPORTS HURTS HONGKONG}
CENTRAL, HONGKONG, 1989 OCT 5 (NB) -- Frank Lee, managing
director of Silicon Graphics, the local off-shoot of the US
based company of the same name, said that 50 of 100 computer
sales contracts signed with China were still awaiting export
licences from the US Government.

Mr Lee said that export licences usually took about one month
to screen, but his company had not gained licences for any
equipment since the June 4th Beijing massacre.

Hongkong computer vendors, virtually all of whom depend on the
China market, are suffering under the restrictions imposed by
President Bush. An additional worry is any long term effect the
sanctions may have in terms of COCOM's attitude to the
territory after 1997 when sovereignty returns to China.

One industry source told Newsbytes that almost any computer
these days could be used military purposes and the impact on
Hongkong manufacturers could be extreme: "Over the past decade,
many manufacturers have moved their primary manufacturing
centres to China. These factories require automation as much as
factories anywhere, and when restrictions are imposed against
China, it has a direct effect on Hongkong industrialists."

"Few people in the outside world appreciate that Hongkong
manufacturers actually employ some millions of workers in the
southern provinces of China. Most estimates indicate that
the workforce directly employed in China by Hongkong companies
exceeds the entire workforce of Hongkong," he said.

(Keith Cameron/19891006)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(TOR)(00002)

TORONTO YOUTHS CHARGED WITH BBS-LINKED CRIME}
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- Two Toronto youths
have been charged with fraud involving a Visa card number
obtained from a bulletin board system in the United States, the
local computer tabloid Toronto Computes reports. The newspaper
said William Lescano, 19, and a 17-year-old who cannot be
identified because of his age, are accused of buying a computer
monitor and software using someone else's credit card number.

The number was reportedly obtained from Dark City of Fear, a BBS
in the United States. Currently under investigation, the board is
said to post pirated software and list entry codes for data banks
belonging to the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and Central
Intelligence Agency, among others. No court date has been set.

(Grant Buckler/19891006)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(TOR)(00003)

REPORT URGES CANADA-JAPAN LINKS}
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 OCT 2 (NB) -- Canada should seek
more cooperation with Japan in scientific research, according to
a report from the Science Council of Canada. The council's
Canada-Japan Complementarity Study said six broad areas provide
the best opportunities for more cooperation between the two
countries. One of those "umbrella" areas is advanced
manufacturing, microelectronics, communications and photonics.
The others are advanced materials, biotechnology, oceanography,
space and environmental sciences.

The report urges the two countries' governments to commit money
to a bilateral research program and to set up a "small, strong
and prestigious" Bi-National Advisory Board on Science and
Technology. The prime ministers of Canada and Japan commissioned
the report in January, 1988.

(Grant Buckler/19891005/Press Contact: Gene Nyberg, Science
Council of Canada, 613-996-2822)


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

HITACHI SUES MOTOROLA -- AGAIN}
TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 3 (NB) -- Motorola
is again in court facing patent violation charges brought by
Hitachi Ltd., which this time is claiming that Motorola's RISC
88000 (RISC stands for reduced instruction code) family of
microprocessors infringe Hitachi's U.S. patent No. 4,646,271.

The specific charges relate to Motorola's MC88200 cache/memory
management unit. Motorola claims that Hitachi's H-series
microcontrollers violate its patents, while Hitachi has
previously sued over its claims that Motorola's microprocessor
MC68030 (used in the most advanced Macintosh and several
workstations) infringes its U.S. patent No. 4,646,271, at the
same time claiming that Motorola's claims against Hitachi are
groundless.

(John McCormick/19891006/Press Contact: Yasushi Sayama, Hitachi,
914-333-2900)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00005)

IBM GOES BACK TO SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA}
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- California
schools are receiving $20 million in computer products
and technical support from IBM under a two-year IBM California
Education partnership.

The program includes communications networking for statewide
linking of teachers, schools, districts, the Department of
Education and the California State University campuses. Also
included are resource centers for teacher training in how to use
technology in the classroom, joint development projects to
provide multimedia materials, teachers guides and courseware, and
vocational technical training sites for teaching programming
languages and systems operations.

IBM has a long history of supporting educational programs in
California. In 1988 alone, IBM's support for education in
California totaled $19.4 million in a variety of wide-reaching
programs.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891006/Press Contact: Suzy Lang, Office of
the Superintendent of Public Instruction, 916-322-2008)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00006)

SOUTHERN CAL PHONE DEALERS SUE}
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 2 (NB) -- From the
file entitled: "perhaps it had to happen and now it has." A
group of ten cellular telephone dealers, all located in Orange
County, CA, have filed suit in Orange County Superior Court for
predatory pricing and other abuses in selling cellular
telephones.

The defendants in the suit are Leo's Stereo, a chain that markets
audio, video and cellular telephone equipment throughout Southern
California and Pack-Cell, Inc. The suit alleges that the co-
defendants have been selling telephones for less than cost in an
effort to receive bounty-type commissions on new customers paid
by cellular network operators.

The plaintiffs have also accused the two retailers of bundling
cellular phones and cellular services as a package deal, a
practice that is illegal.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891006)


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

TI DONATES COMPUTER AND LASER PRINTER TO UN}
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- In the interest of
furthering progress on creating a worldwide standard for
Electronic Data Exchange (EDI), Texas Instruments has given a
Texas Instruments S1300 multiuser minicomputer and an OmniLaser
2115 laser printer to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

The donation is intended to help the UN's Economic Commission for
Europe maintain a database of standards and publish them
throughout the world. These standards are known as UN/EDIFACT,
EDI For Administration, Commerce and Transport. They have the
backing of most of the countries in the world. Using UN/EDIFACT
enables businesses to trade via computer with companies from
other countries.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891006/Press Contact: Steve Stibbens, Texas
Instruments, 214-997-3729)


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

JUDGE DENIES INTEL'S INJUNCTION AGAINST MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY}
CHANDLER, ARIZONA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 5 (NB) -- Intel's request
for an injunction to prohibit Microchip Technology from selling
EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) chips has been
denied by US District Court Judge William Ingram in San Jose, CA.

The injunction was requested as a result of an April 1988 ruling
by the ITC (International Trade Commission) that Microchip's
EPROMs infringed on two Intel patents. Judge Ingram stated that
the ITC ruling was not binding on the US District Court and he
therefore declined issue an injunction which would give a
determinative effect to the ITC ruling.

The original ITC ruling is currently under appeal by Microchip.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891006/Press Contact: Don Sorchych, Microchip
Technology, 602-345-3245)


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

AUSSIE EXPORT TARGET FOR 1990s}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- The Australian Government
estimates Australia will be exporting AUS$1.5B per annum in
information technology equipment by the mid 1990s.

The software sector is expected to account for more than half of
this increase. A government spokesman said Australian software
had now earned a good reputation overseas, but the biggest
problem facing the Australian information technology industry was
in marketing.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19891004)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SYD)(00010)

AUSTRALIA: MICROBEE PC MAY RIDE AGAIN}
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- The PC which dominated
Australian school purchases for many years before suffering
financial problems, may be reborn as an IBM-compatible, according
to Australian PC Week. The original Microbee was a Z80-based CP/M
machine and the new model will retain software compatibility by
using a V40 processor and Z80 emulation.

Microbee's new machine will have inbuilt network capability, SCSI
controller, all standard ports (including games) and a 3.5" disk
which will read and write IBM and Microbee formats. Local PC
developer Terran Computers has developed the PC, using only
surface-mount components. It will sell to schools for AUS$995 and
in shops for $1195.

(Paul Zucker/19891006)


(EXCLUSIVE)(IBM)(WAS)(00001)

PA COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRY HIT BY VIRUS}
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- Raymond
Glath, president of RG Software, told Newsbytes today that the
Pennsylvania College of Optometry's director of management
information services, Alex J. Anderson, called in RG Software
recently when experiencing problems with the 100-plus
computers which are linked by a Novell network.

Vi-Spy, the new virus detection software from RG Software, was
able to locate and eliminate 51 infected files, all of which held
the Friday the 13th virus.

Mr. Anderson stated that he believes the infection originated
with a public domain kaleidoscope graphics program which was
shared around.

The MIS department started noticing problems about two and one-
half weeks ago and events conspired to make it very difficult to
trace the problem. According to Mr. Anderson, "Two things
happened at once; we updated our Novell operating system and the
system started to crash, so at first we thought it was a hardware
or software problem with the new operating system."

"Eventually we realized that we had a virus problem (after $5,000
in expenses testing the Novell software," Mr. Anderson told
Newsbytes.

After a consultant accidentally transferred the problem to his
system, not on a Novell network, it was obvious that the problem
had nothing to do with Novell software and was a viral infection.

Mr. Anderson reports that he initially started clearing the
system using a brute force method of low-level formatting all
disks, but he then heard of Vi-Spy and was able to remove the
infection in a very short time at very low cost.

Mr. Anderson emphasized that there are certain characteristics of
the Friday the 13th virus that everyone should be aware of. He
told Newsbytes that a block of text or graphics about one inch by
three inches (he described it as about the size of a Lego brick)
would disappear from the lefthand side of any monitor screen in
the middle, after the system was on about one-half hour, whether
it was being used or not.

At that time the CPU speed would also usually be cut in half,
with further reductions occurring if you did not shut down the
system.

Mr. Anderson also said that, while the College thought that it
had been taking sufficient precautions against virus infections,
they had greatly upgraded their protection in the wake of this
incident.

They had been using the Flushot Plus anti-viral software but it
had no effect on this virus, and Mr. Anderson said it was just
confusing but that Vi-Spy was VERY, VERY helpful and easy to use.

While this infection caused problems with accounting programs,
the school's patient care is handled by a minicomputer system
which was never affected by the virus, so in this case there was
only a monetary loss.

IBM is reportedly getting on the band wagon this week by offering
a $35 program to kill the Datacrime virus.

(John McCormick/19891006/Press Contact: Alex J. Anderson,
Director of MIS, PA College of Optometry, 215-276-6200)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00002)

OCT 13 VIRUS THIS WEEK - PURE HYPE?}
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 OCT 07 (NB) -- The past few months have
seen a rising crescendo of stories appearing in the media
regarding the 'Friday the thirteenth' virus, so called because it
wipes the boot disk sector of hard disks on that date.

The past week has seen a rash of stories on the virus appearing
in several European newspapers, with titles ranging from
'computer virus ready to K-O defence computers' in one UK tabloid
newspaper, to 'police ready for virus program' in a Dutch
newspaper.

Police in the Netherlands have issued a statement saying that the
virus - called Datacrime in certain parts of Europe - has
infected some 100,00 PCs in the Netherlands, about ten percent
of the country's computers, and is spreading rapidly to other
countries.

To counter the threat, Dutch police are selling an anti-virus
program for five guilders ($2-50). Since the software went on
sale on Tuesday last week, more than 3,000 copies have been sold.

Although Newsbytes' sources suggest that the probability of a
virus infecting any given PC is slim, a very simple remedy is to
set the system clocks back one year on a PC for the coming week.
After October 13 has been and gone, the system clock can be reset
back to 1989.

(Steve Gold/19891007)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SYD)(00003)

COMPAQ'S FIRST LIGHTWEIGHT SHIPS OCT 16}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- High-end PC manufacturer
Compaq will unveil its new compact laptop in New York on Monday
Oct 16. Following the market success of the battery powered
Compaq SLT/286, the new machine will be smaller and lighter yet
still retain full functionality.

There has been much speculation about the new laptop and Compaq
was unable to tell Newsbytes anything other than that the launch
was indeed on. They would neither confirm nor deny that there
would be two new machines -- an entry-level version and a small
SLT. This is our 'best guess' as to the specifications:

If there is a low-end, notebook machine, it will have the 80C286
processor running at 10 MHz, dark blue on white VGA LCD display,
1.44Mb 3.5" disk, 640k RAM and an optional 20 megabyte hard disk.

If there is a high-end machine, it will have a 12MHz 80C286,
backlit VGA LCD screen, 40Mb hard disk, up to 4Mb of RAM and full
expansion capabilities via a docking module.

The question remains, if there is a new full-featured SLT, will
it replace or augment the existing model. Observers feel that
Compaq wants to get a slice of the ultralight market, yet
retaining full compatibility, although this means producing a
machine that's considerably lower in price than the existing SLT.
Also, they feel that Compaq would not obsolete the SLT so soon
after release, so they wait eagerly to see how the 'masters of
marketing' have solved the problem.

Design considerations which Compaq possible took into
consideration when developing the new machine/s include:

Disk. Using the standard 3.5" instead of the relatively untried
2" of the Zenith.

Screen. The LCD on the SLT gives excellent VGA graphics, but
suffers badly from cursor loss when used with a mouse. The Apple
cure was to go to an active switched-cell screen, but which has
no gray levels. Compaq would be unlikely to move backwards from a
screen which displays VGA gray levels. Also, backlighting
consumes more power. Will the new models have new screen types?
Perhaps the notebook will be unbacklit for power consumption and
the higher model will have an improved SLT screen.

Battery Life: As Apple found, users don't want to worry about
batteries going flat. Making smaller batteries means lower
capacity so the PC must get more efficient to maintain battery
life. Compaq will undoubtedly unveil some energy saving features
on the new models.

Keyboard and Case: The SLT has a removable keyboard and a
substantial case. Making the keyboard integral would save space
but could also cramp the keys. If there are two models, it may
well be that they share a common case, at around half the volume
and weight of the SLT. That would be a 3kg unit, which would fit
comfortably in a briefcase. (Guess: 320x230x60mm)

Market: With an estimated worldwide market for Notebook PCs of
one million units next year, Compaq must be aware that a
successful model would be a mass market machine, perhaps calling
for more availability. Will this be the first Compaq we see in
department stores? Probably not but it will have a low absolute
profit for dealers (compared to typical Compaq boxes) and will
presumably be a self-contained, almost disposable machine. The
larger SLT already has a defined market, which includes corporate
salespeople and executives.

(Paul Zucker/19891006)


(EXCLUSIVE)(IBM)(WAS)(00004)

IBM INSTALLING 486'S AT SELECTED SITES}
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- An IBM
spokesperson told Newsbytes that reports of IBM installing a
limited number of PS/2 Model 70-based 80486 computers were true;
however, arrival of a promised evaluation unit for this Newsbytes
office is still several weeks off.

The first installation, coming a full three months ahead of the
announced schedule, was at the Continental Bank Corporation in Chicago
last weekend. IBM says that it has also started shipping the
486/25 Power Platform upgrade for Model 70-A21 computers to
dealers and some customers.

Allstate Insurance, a Sears Business Center customer, and the
University of New Mexico School of Medicine have also received
Power Platforms.

The Intel 80486 provides far faster processing even at its
initial 25 megahertz speed than 33 megahertz 80386-based systems,
while running exactly the same software.

(John McCormick/19891006/Press Contact: Linda Dezan, IBM, 914-
642-5364)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BRU)(00005)

80486-BASED SYSTEMS ANNOUNCED ALL OVER EUROPE}
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 OCT 07 (NB) -- European computer vendors
are announcing 80486-based systems on a near-weekly basis. The
announcements come in the wake of Intel's decision to commit
itself to volume shipments of the 80486 microprocessor before the
end of the year.

NCR, the US mainframe specialist with its headquarters in West
Germany, has announced the NCR-PC-486. The system includes a
25MHz 80486 microprocessor, 2MB of RAM, expandable to 8MB on the
motherboard, and an ESDI hard disk controller in a tower-style
case, reminiscent of the Unix-based NCR Tower system. The machine
is expected to cost in the region of DM 30,000 (about $15,000)
when it ships from mid-1990 onwards.

Other local manufacturers, who assemble system boards from Taiwan
and other Far Eastern supply areas, have also announced 80486-
based systems. Cheetah, a subsidiary of the US corporation of the
same name, has announced the 33/486 system, which runs at 33MHz.
Supplied in a tower case, the turbo 486 machine aims to serve
those users that require the best price performance available.

In a related story, Mawi of West Germany has announced a 35MHz
performance 80386-based machine. The power machine comes with a
155MB ESDI hard disk, and has been designed for 386 users who
want even more speed and performance out of their 80386-based
machines, without upgrading to an 80486-based system.

(Peter Vekinis/19891007)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00006)

LOTS OF ACTIVITY AT PETER NORTON}
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- Peter
Norton Computing (PNCI) has sold Dan Bricklin's Demo II
software program to Sage Software of Rockville, Maryland.

Demo II is a very successful demonstration and development
program that lets programmers show how a proposed program should
look and operate, without writing the actual software.

The price will remain at $195, but starting immediately customer
support changes to Sage Software at 800-547-4000.

PNCI had purchased the prototyping tool in 1988 from developer
Bricklin. The decision to sell the program was
prompted by PNCI's decision to consolidate its product line. The
product line will emphasize the utilities software for business
and technical users for which PNCI is well-known rather than
programmer's tools. PNCI is expanding its line of utilities.
The company recently announced Commander version 3.0, a new
release of its DOS shell and plans to announce a major new
product later this fall.

In other announcements, PNCI has just concluded the company's
second international, first European Distributors' Conference, a
four day symposium on marketing, distribution and product
development for the company's leading European distributors and
resellers. Held in England, distributors from ten countries
attended. Also in attendance were representatives from the
leading hardware manufacturers and software publishers in Europe.

International sales account for 14 percent of PNCI's revenue in
1989 compared with only 5 percent in 1988.

In other news from PNCI, Philippe Goetschel has been named
director of marketing and Claudia Winkler has been tapped as
director of sales and marketing for Southern Europe. Goetschel
comes from Lotus where he also held the post of director of
marketing. Winkler has held several international marketing
positions with Ashton-Tate and was founder and director of EIS,
the largest Italian software publisher.

(Janet Endrijonas & John McCormick/19891006/Press Contact: Belinda
Young, Miller Communications, 213-822-4669, Kevin J. Burns, 301-
230-3201)


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

AST INTROS SYSTEM UPGRADEABLE TO I486}
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A. 1989 OCT 9 (NB) -- AST Research
has introduced its new Premium 386SX/16, a 386-based system with
the AST CUPID-32 (Completely Universal Processor, I/O Design)
upgrade path to Intel's i486 technology.

According to Jim Ashbrook, senior vice president of AST product
marketing, this unit provides future investment protection
because it can be upgraded to a 386/25, 386/33 or 486/25.

Three models of the new computer are available differentiated by
the floppy drive type and the amount of hard disk storage
capacity. The Model 3V includes a 3.5 inch floppy drive, 1 MByte
of memory and VG for $2,695. The Model 5V substitutes a 5.25
inch floppy drive for the 3.5 inch in the 3V and also sells for
$2,695. The Model 45V features a 5.25 floppy disk drive, 1 MByte
of RAM, VGA and 40 MByte AT-embedded hard disk and lists for
$3,595.

All three models are available immediately.

In a related announcement, AST has made MS-DOS 4.01 and MS-OS/2
1.1 available for its entire line of systems products. The MS-
DOS 4.01 from AST retails for $125. It is available on either
5.25 or 3.5 inch diskette and will be available at the end of
October. MS-OS/2 1.1 from AST lists for $340. Owners of MS-OS/2
1.0 from AST may upgrade to version 1.1 for $35 by calling 800-
782-9278. MS-OS/2 1.1 is available on both 5.25 and 3.5 inch
floppy disks and will be also be available at the end of October.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891006/Press Contact: Deborah Paquin, 714-
756-4984)


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

ALTIMA SIGNS MAINTENANCE, LEASING AGREEMENTS}
CONCORD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- Altima Systems,
makers of the Altima One/40 portable computer, says it has signed
up Down Jones for third party maintenance and Eaton Corporation
for third party leasing.

The Altima portable, now shipping, has MS-DOS 4.01 onboard and
is shipping with Borland's SideKick Plus and carrying case. The
Altima One/40, a 40-megabyte hard disk version, is selling for $3,099
and the Altima One/20 is $2,799. The computers come with
built-in Hayes-compatible 2400 baud modem, mouse, IBM-compatible
expansion slot, 101-key keyboard, and 80286, 16 MHz processor.

Altima is offering the Arriba personal information manager package
for $99 (it's normally $195) and Champion Business Systems'
General Ledger business package for $89 (normally $395). For
ordering and further information call the company at 415-356-5600 or
toll-free in the US at 1-800-356-9990.

(Wendy Woods/19891006/Press Contact: Mike Fracisco, Altima
Systems)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00009)

MICROSOFT WORKS PC IN HOLIDAY PACKAGE DEAL}
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 3 (NB) -- Buyers of IBM
PS/2 model 25,30,50Z or 55SX will get a free copy of the Swiss
Army Knife of the software world -- Microsoft Works version
2.0, now through January 15, 1990.

The package deal provides the entry-level user with a 4-in-one
integrated software package that provides word processing, spreadsheet,
database, and telecommunications capabilities, along with
desk accessories. Normally Microsoft Works is priced at $149.

(Wendy Woods/19891007)


(ADVANCE)(IBM)(SFO)(00010)

HP TO ANNOUNCE NEW COMPUTERS}
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 10 (NB) -- Hewlett-
Packard plans to announce new computers, including "a strategic
new technology decision," as well as a new marketing program.
Bob Puette, general manager of HP's Personal Computer Group,
will be making the announcements. The announcement will
also be attended by other companies, and will be held
at New York's Rainbow Room at 30 Rockefeller Plaza,
and in Hewlett-Packard's facilities in Cupertino.

(Wendy Woods/19891006/Press Contact: Celeste Martin, 408-
447-5299)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00011)

LOTUS SHIPS 1-2-3 RELEASE 3 NETWORK EDITION}
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 3 (NB) -- Lotus
Development Corp. has today announced that it is now shipping its
LAN or local area network version of its 1-2-3 Rel. 3 spreadsheet
software for both MS-DOS and OS/2 operating systems.

U.S. prices for the non-copy protected server and node editions
are $695 and $395, with Novell, IBM, and 3Com LAN systems
supported.

(John McCormick/19891006/Press Contact: Susan Earabino, Lotus,
617-225-1281)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00012)

IBM ANNOUNCES NEW FAULT-TOLERANT SMALL BUSINESS SYSTEMS}
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 3 (NB) -- The 4593
Integrated Entry System, entry level models in IBM's System/88
computer line, have just been announced. The smaller, lower-cost
systems are intended for small business users working with
transaction processing or other systems demanding fault-tolerant
systems.

The new systems use Motorola 68030 processors operating in tandem
at 16 megahertz.

(John McCormick/19891006/Press Contact: Bill Dunne, IBM, 914-
642-4654)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00013)

SPSS AND IBM TEAM TO MARKET STATISTICAL SOFTWARE}
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 3 (NB) -- SPSS Inc. has
announced that it has signed an agreement with IBM to
cooperatively market the line of SPSS statistical software
through marketing, demonstration, and integrating IBM computers
and SPSS software together.

(John McCormick/19891006/Press Contact: Randolf Pitzer, SPSS,
312-329-2400)


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

IBM INVESTS IN GEOGRAPHIC SYSTEMS CORP}
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 5 (NB) -- IBM has agreed to
acquire an equity interest in Green Bay, WI-based Geographic
Systems Corporation, a provider of geographic information systems
(GIS) solutions.

Under the terms of the agreement, IBM's investment will take the
form of newly issued voting convertible preferred stock. The two
companies plan to work together to enhance existing IBM-based GIS
solutions and to develop new ones.

Geographic Systems is a newly-formed company set up to acquire
substantially all of the assets of WPS Development (Green Bay)
and Integrated Information Systems (San Diego, CA). IBM shares
major ownership of Geographic Systems with Wisconsin Public
Service Corporation. The company will be designated as an IBM
Business Partner and will concentrate on application software,
project services and support, and data translation and
integration.

Regional offices of Geographic Systems will be located in San
Diego, Houston, Texas and New York.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891006/Press Contact: Bruce Baikie,
Geographic Systems Corp., 414-433-1706)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00015)

ASHTON-TATE FRAMEWORK IN ARABIC}
CROYDON, ENGLAND, 1989 OCT 07 (NB) -- International Computer
Systems has released a licensed version of Ashton-Tate's
Framework III that supports the Arabic language. The modified
version of Ashton-Tate's integrated software writes to the screen
in right to left, instead of the conventional left to write
sweep.

Interestingly Framework III Arabic version allows both English
and Arabic symbols to be entered on-screen and in the same file.
The package operates with Arabic as an extension of the English
character set, and is thus able to support full text searches for
both languages at the same time.

Framework III Arabic requires DOS 2.1 or better, plus 512K of RAM
on a standard PC. The package retails for $695 or the equivalent
in local currency.

(Steve Gold/19891007/Press & Public Contact: ICS London - Tel:
01-688-1673)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BRU)(00016)

LINK TO IBM S/24 & S/38 ARCHITECTURE ANNOUNCED BY IIS}
HAIFA, ISRAEL, 1989 OCT 07 (NB) -- IIS has announced the
availability of its new IS-353 remote access unit which allows
remote printers to gain access to two low-end IBM systems.

The IS-353 connects a IBM 5250 or a similar to a host system
without a remote control unit. Two units are needed, one at the
host end and the other at the printer end. Data speeds of up to
9,600 bps (bits per second) are supported, either on leased or
dial-up lines.

(Peter Vekinis/19891007)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SYD)(00017)

DACEASY MODIFIES ACCOUNTING PACKAGE FOR AUSTRALIA
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- Budget-priced accounting
software DacEasy is being modified to suit the Australian market,
according to importer Mace Software. Version 4.0 of the popular
US package will ship in its Australian form early in 1990. The
changes are necessary because of differences in postcodes, date
format, sales tax, financial year and so on.

(Paul Zucker/19891006)


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

COGNOS TO LINK TO CDD/PLUS}
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 OCT 3 (NB) -- Cognos, a Canadian
software developer, has said its PowerHouse fourth-generation
application development software will be integrated with Digital
Equipment's CDD/Plus. CDD/Plus is a data repository designed for
computer-aided software engineering (CASE). PowerHouse developers
will be able to import PowerHouse dictionary information into
CDD/Plus and move data definitions from CDD/Plus into PowerHouse.

PowerHouse is available for a range of hardware including IBM-
compatible personal computers.

(Grant Buckler/19891005/Press Contact: Wendy Rajala, Cognos, 613-
738-1440)


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

GENIE ACCESSIBLE THROUGH CANADA'S INET 2000}
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 OCT 3 (NB) -- General Electric
Canada has expanded GEnie access to 166 Canadian cities
throughout Canada through Telecom Canada's iNet 2000 gateway
service. GEnie, an online consumer information service, was
previously available in Canada only through dial-up ports in four
major cities: Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. Those
ports are still available.

Access to GEnie through iNet 2000 costs C$4.95 per hour in
addition to the basic GEnie service connect time rates charged by
GE Canada.

Basic rates for GEnie service access in Canada during non-prime
time are C$7 per hour for 300-bit-per-second (bps), C$9 per hour
for 1,200-bps and C$15 per hour for 2,400-bps access. The non-
prime rate applies from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. local time weekdays and
all day on weekends and national holidays. There are no monthly
minimum charges. The sign-up fee for GEnie in Canada is C$39.95,
including a C$15 usage credit, a user's manual and a subscription
to GEnie's LiveWire magazine.

General Electric said GEnie, launched in the U.S. in October,
1985, and in Canada in June, 1987, has more than 167,000
subscribers.

(Grant Buckler/19891004/Press Contact: David McIntosh, GE Canada,
416-858-6589)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00002)

SATELLITES TO BACK UP CANADIAN FIBER NET}
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 OCT 2 (NB) -- The back-up for
Canada's coast-to-coast fiber-optic network is up in the air. Or
at least it will be -- on satellites, to be precise. Telesat
Canada, the national domestic satellite carrier, has been awarded
a C$35-million contract to provide 12 full channels and related
earth station services as a backup for the national fiber link,
which is nearing completion. The initial contract runs for two
years, with an option to renew.

(Grant Buckler/19891005/Press Contact: J.M. Bryan, Telesat
Canada, 613-748-0123)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00003)

NINTENDO TO OFFER U.S. ONLINE STOCK TRADING}
KYOTO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- Nintendo has signed an agreement
with Boston, U.S.-based mutual fund firm Fidelity Investments
to jointly develop and manufacture an online home trading system
for financial services, including stocks and mutual funds, in a
move that reflects a similar action Nintendo has launched in Japan.

On this agreement, Nintendo will design a keyboard to plug into
the existing Nintendo Entertainment System and a modem to link it
to Fidelity via a telephone line. On the other hand, Fidelity will
create software for home stock trading.

The online home trading service is targeted at almost 20 million
households which own Nintendo systems. The online service will launch
next year.

In Japan, Nintendo and Nomura Securities tied up and started
their online home trading service, which is called Famicon Network,
here in July last year, but the new system has not been very
popular.

(Ken Takahashi/19891005)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00004)

BREAK-UP OF NTT OPPOSED}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 3 (NB) -- A proposal for the breakup of
Japan's telecom giant NTT to ensure fair competition has met
opposition from the company itself as well as the business
industry.

The Telecommunications Council, an advisory panel to the Ministry
of Posts and Telecommunications, announced a preliminary report
proposing NTT be divided.

According to the report, NTT's current size and capital allow the
firm to dominate the domestic telecommunications market and
obstruct fair and effective competition. The report concludes that
NTT should be divided into a smaller group of companies to facilitate
competition. Also, the report called for tighter government control
to end NTT's dominance over the telecommunications market.

Regarding the report, Haruo Yamaguchi, president of NTT, claims that
NTT's breakup will cause more disadvantages than advantages and
result in worsening service to customers.

The council, headed by Chairman Eiji Toyoda of Japan's top
automaker Toyota Motor, says that NTT does not function effectively
and competitors have roadblocks to expansion of their business because
their equipment needs to be connected to circuits owned by NTT.

Against the remark, Yamaguchi argues that the telecommunications
industry has made great progress since it was privatized in 1985,
according with the government's free marketing policy.

The Federation of Economic Organizations, known as Keidanren, says
it is doubtful if NTT's disintegration will lead to the upgrade of
services for customers. Life insurance firms also say that they are
opposed to NTT's division because they fear the break-up will
undermine their nationwide communications network.

The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications will decide on whether
to divide NTT after a special task force comes up with a
recommendation in April or May next year.

(Ken Takahashi/19891005)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SFO)(00005)

PRODIGY LASSOS WELLS FARGO, GREAT SCOTT!}
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- Prodigy,
the Sears/IBM interactive online service, has attracted the
Wells Fargo Bank to its list of information providers.

Wells Fargo has signed an agreement to become Prodigy's exclusive
online bank for all of California, meaning Prodigy cannot sign a
similar agreement with any other bank based here.

ON-LINE, slated to debut next spring, will offer a wide range of
home banking services, including bill paying and online banking.
The charge will range from $9 to $13/month depending on how early
a user signs up.

Says Michael Sczuka, executive vice president at Wells Fargo, "We're
looking to reach personal computer owners for whom using a
computer is just like using a VCR, a microwave oven, and an
ATM. These people place a high value on convenience and saving time."

As always, however, online banking will not cash your checks,
take your checks for deposit, nor give you money back on the spot.

Prodigy has also announced that the Great Scott! supermarket chain
has joined Prodigy to provide interactive grocery shopping in the
Detroit metropolitan area. This makes the third U.S. market where
grocery shopping can be done online, 24-hours.

Prodigy estimates it will be available to 40-percent of U.S.
households by Christmas, 1989 and all the rest of them by early 1990.

(Wendy Woods/19891006)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00006)

INFONET EXPANDS X.25 DIAL-UP TO EUROPE AND ASIA}
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 OCT 07 (NB) -- Infonet, the international
communications company, has expanded its X.25 dial-up ports to
cover most of Europe and Asia. The company has announced the
opening of dial-up X.25 ports to its international X.25 network
in London, Paris and Tokyo, with further ports planned for
Frankfurt and Osaka before the end of the year.

The new X.25 dial-up ports join similar facilities in Chicago,
Los Angeles and New York, working to modems speeds up to 9600
bits per second (bps) using the V.32 standard, according to Phil
Harris, Infonet's director of UK operations.

"Internationally, our dial-up X.25 makes our packet switched
network service available to a much broader range of users, a
wider range of applications, and allows companies to establish
strategic information links between remotely located sites
worldwide and also users of portable or laptop PCs," he said.

The downside of the X.25 dial-up ports is that, as with most of
Infonet's services, pre-registration with Infonet is necessary,
to enable access to the facilities. Currently, only a very few
major online services, such as Compuserve, allow their
subscribers to access the Infonet network on an ad-hoc basis.

(Steve Gold/19891007/Press & Public Contact: Bill Lee, marketing
manager, Infonet - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00007)

MAYZE SYSTEMS RELEASES V.32 MODEM}
SWINDON, ENGLAND, 1989 OCT 07 (NB) -- Mayze Systems has released
K-Link 96, a V.32 (9600 bits per second) modem designed to back-
up digital leased lines.

The auto-answer, auto-dial modem continuously monitors the leased
line's performance and, if it fails, begins dialling a series of
predetermined phone numbers. As leased line service returns, the
modem switches back to leased-line operation, and drops the PSTN
link.

K-Link 96 is available in two configurations: UKP 1,295 for a
standalone modem, and UKP 1,245 for the rack-mounted version.
Both version have conventional RS232 interfaces, as well as
support for an X.21 interface.

(Steve Gold/19891007/Press & Public Contact: Mayze Systems - Tel:
0793-511789)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00008)

HACKERS HANDBOOK IV OUT ON OCTOBER 17}
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 OCT 07 (NB) -- October 17 sees the release
of the fourth edition of the Hackers Handbook from Century
Hutchinson in the UK. Hackers Handbook IV has been edited by Hugo
Cornwall, the author of the previous three editions, and
extensively edited and revised by Steve Gold, who is also
the Newsbytes UK bureau chief.

The UKP 9-95 paperback is now much larger than the original
edition, since it includes Gold's comments and knowledge on the
UK and world communications scene. The earlier editions of
Hacker's Handbook have been reprinted several times on a world-
wide basis. HH4 has an initial UK print run in excess of 20,000.

"We expect the book to sell well to existing Hackers Handbook
owners. It's been extensively revised to take account of the
incredible pace at which communications have advanced over the
past year or so, and also includes what really happened in the
Great Prestel Hack of 1984/85," said Gold.

(Steve Gold/19891007/Press Contact: Louise Weir, Century-
Hutchinson - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00009)

QUIN-STANDARD ACOUSTIC MODEM AVAILABLE}
BORDEAUX, FRANCE, 1989 OCT 07 (NB) -- Com 1, the French
communications company, has begun shipping an international
version of its popular quin-standard Voyager MV213 acoustic
modem. The UKP 259 ($400) unit supports 300/300, 1200/75 and
1200/1200 bits per second (bps) transmissions to CCITT standards,
as well as 300/300 and 1200/1200 bps to Bell standards.

Unlike previous acoustic modems, the Voyager MV213 is
lightweight, and runs for 20 hours on its internal PP3 nine volt
battery. The unit features just three signal lamps: connect (to
computer); carrier detect; and high-speed use (1200/1200 bps),
all in a case that fits in the palm of your hand.

To use the Hayes-compatible modem, the user simply straps the
supplied velcro acoustic unit over a phone handset, plugs in the
25-way RS232 lead, dials the number and then issues the usual
Hayes 'AT' command to coax the modem 'online.'

The MV213 is no slouch in the Hayes-compatibility stakes either.
By tweaking the Hayes registers in CMOS-backed RAM inside the
unit (using Hayes' commands), the modem can be persuaded to do
everything its hard-wired cousins do.

Newsbytes has been road-testing the modem over the past few
months and can report that it works well, even over cellular
phone links. According to Bruno Petit, the export sales manager
with Com 1, the MV213 has sold more than 20,000 in France alone,
since the French version was launched in 1987.

(Steve Gold/19891007/Press and Public Contact: Bruno Petit, Com 1
- Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(BRU)(00010)

EUROPEAN BANK FINANCES CARIBBEAN TELECOM UPGRADE}
LUXEMBURG, LUXEMBURG, 1989 OCT 07 (NB) -- The European Investment
Bank (EIB) is to finance an ECU 1.5 million (about $1.8 million)
radar system for Antigua's international airport. The system will
dramatically improve Caribbean basin's distress and
telecommunications capabilities.

The major project, which calls for the installation of surveillance
radar equipment, and provision of technical assistance and
training, will improve flight safety, as well as result in
overall savings for the airport.

Antigua's airport is the second most important airport in the
Eastern Caribbean covering Antigua and Barbuda.

In a related story, the EIB has financed a new telecommunications
extension in Fuji. The project calls for a further 17,000 lines
of digital switches, the conversion of inter-exchange radio links
with remote islands, the improvement of links and installation of
multi-access digital radio links to serve widely scattered rural
communities.

(Peter Vekinis/19891007)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00011)

MERCURYLINK 7500 CHANGES RATES}
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 OCT 07 (NB) -- Mercurylink 7500, the e-mail
service of Mercury Communications, is to change its scale of
charges starting in November. Where the service was previously
free from access charges, it now costs 2 pence off-peak and 5
pence peak, per minute of connection. In addition, Mercurylink
7500 telex charges are being raised slightly, to take account of
recent rises in BT and Mercury telex rates.

In parallel with the access charge introduction, Mercurylink 7500
is trimming some of its facilities charges. The e-mail to fax
service, for example, drops in price by 15 percent on non-London
call. Shorter e-mail messages to other Mercurylink 7500
subscribers will also be cheaper under the new charging
structure.

Perhaps the most significant new service available on Mercurylink
7500 from 1 November is the X.25 e-mail addressing feature. This
entails sending e-mail to any X.25 network user address (NUA)
anywhere in the world. Charges starter at 12 pence per 5K of data
for addresses within the UK, rising to UKP 2-00 per 5K of data
for inter-continental NUAs, excluding North America. Provided the
e-mail messages adheres to an agreed format, it should - in
theory at least - allow e-mail to be sent to other e-mail
networks, as well as private computer systems.

(Steve Gold/19891007/Press & Public Contact: Marilyn Smith,
customer service manager, Mercurylink 7500 - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SYD)(00012)

AUSSIE TELECOM NEEDS COMPETITION}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- A market researcher has
found that an overwhelming majority of Australian mobile
communications network users believe there should be a second
mobile communications carrier in Australia. The report covers
private mobile radios, second generation cordless telephones,
pagers, mobile satellite communication and wireless PABXs.

Market Researcher BIS Shrapnel randomly surveyed 1420 users and
found dissatisfaction with the government-run mobile
communications network. Respondents complained of line
congestion, a high drop-out rate, high costs and fading.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19891005)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SYD)(00013)

IBM AND HEALTH FUND PROPOSE AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL NETWORK}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 2 (NB) -- A national 'health
information and communication' computer network is being planned
as a joint commercial venture in Australia by IBM and Medibank
Private (a government-sponsored private health fund). This was
reported in the October 2nd "Australian Medicine," the news
magazine of the Australian Medical Association (AMA).

The network would be accessed by doctors (particularly family
physicians) and hospital staff. It would link them to health
insurance funds, government agencies, professional bodies and
financial institutions. The network would later be extended to
dentists and medical specialists.

The AMA (a conservative medico-political body representative of a
sizeable body of Australian doctors) would use the network in
transactions with members and branches; it is considering
involving itself financially in the project. The network would be
used for direct billing to Medicare (the Australian government
universal health insurance scheme), for practice management,
patient records, appointments and even word processing.

Analysts believe joint partner IBM sees the network an
opportunity to gain access to the vast "health care industry"
which it could not achieve on its own. However, matters of
confidentiality and data security will be priority concerns to
all parties.

(Bob Futcher/19891006)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(HKG)(00014)

HK GOVERNMENT UNDER PRESSURE TO INTRODUCE EDI}
WANCHAI, HONGKONG, 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- A few weeks ago Newsbytes
speculated that Electronic Document Interchange (EDI) was given
the thumbs down by a $2 million dollar consultancy study funded
by the powerful Tradelink consortium and Government. Today, at
the EDI Asia '89 conference, the Tradelink chairman, Mr Anthony
Charter, declared that Government must join with the private
sector to successfully establish EDI services in the territory.

As Newsbytes reported earlier, the problem lies in the vast
number of small companies which make up the Hongkong trading
infrastructure. Education and training within these
organizations would require a significant effort which would
not be viable in the accepted Hongkong business sense.

Mr Charter told 400 regional delegates that Tradelink has
recommended that Government set up, jointly with the private
sector, a  commercial but accountable EDI company to co-
ordinate the development of trade-related EDI in Hongkong.

Tradelink's perception of the proposed organization includes
an exclusive franchise to process Goverment documentation. It
would also be responsible for exploring low-cost access to EDI
for small companies, and for the development of Chinese
language standards.

At the same conference, Mr Hamish McLeod, secretary for the
Treasury, said:" Internal discussion is now taking place and we
are focussing on more specific questions. We (the Government)
recognize that the use of EDI within the internal arena has got
to the point where it is now time to take some decisions."

Although Mr McLeod said that policy decisions would be made in
a matter of months, rather than years, information technology
industry sources said that the Government was already years
behind in its attitude to EDI and little sense of urgency
existed even now.

Tradelink believes that if a decision can be made by Government
within three months, as suggested by the consultants, 1991 is a
feasible start date.

Mr Charter said that the Tradelink proposal to Government
differed from the recommendations made by consultants Coopers &
Lybrand. He explained this by stating that, on reflection, the
consultants' brief had been too commercially oriented.

The consultants had estimated that an investment of $30-70
million dollars over a ten year period would not break even
until year eight, but would be catering for 6,800 subscribers
by the turn of the century.

"Our major concern about the consultants' proposal - and a far
more important concern that its financial viability - is that
despite this huge investment, the needs of 95 percent of the
market will not be addressed. Notably the non-computerised
businesses and those which carry out their trade in Chinese
language," said Mr Charter.

(Keith Cameron/19891006)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(HKG)(00015)

THAILAND TELECOM MARKET ATTRACTS SUITORS}
BANGKOK, THAILAND, 1989 OCT 3 (NB) -- CASE Communications (HK)
Ltd. (CASE) has appointed Action Computers (Thailand) Ltd.
(ACT) as its master distributor in Thailand. In an interesting
turn of phrase Martin Ansell, CASE general manager, says:
"Thailand is potentially an explosive communications market and
we want to position ourselves to take advantage of the
anticipated boom."

ACT is part of the Action Computers group of the USA which also
has a strong presence in Hongkong. Jacob Ho, general manager of
ACT, said that the company also has exclusive distribution
rights for AT&T information systems products in Thailand and
now wants to expand its data communications business.

CASE specializes in the design and manufacture of data
communications equipment for use in computer networks and
office systems. It is part of the Information Technology
Division of the UK-based Dowty Group.

Meanwhile the US Stryker group is reported to be in the final
stages of negotiation with the Thai authorities for the launch
and management of a domestic communications satellite. No doubt
ACT will be well-positioned in the expanded market.

(Keith Cameron/19891006)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(HKG)(00016)

V42 STANDARD HITS ASIA BEFORE USA}
CENTRAL, HONGKONG, 1989 OCT 3 (NB) -- The world's first CCITT-
approved high speed V42 modem was released in Hongkong today by
CASE Communications (CASE).

The CCITT V42 international standard was only established about
one year ago and the product is expected to be of great
interest in the USA. V42 is a standard for synchronous and
asynchronous 9600 bits per second data (bps) transmission with
error correction. The CASE 4600 series also includes data
compression.

Martin Ansell, general manager of CASE for Asia/Pacific, said:
"We are committed to international standards and to ensure
compatibility with existing equipment we have maintained MNP
level 5 within the 4600 series. Slightly ahead of the race, we
have also incorporated CCITT's V42 bis data compression
standard which can increase the user data rate by as much as
three times the transmission speed, thus providing very
significant time and cost savings for the users."

(Keith Cameron/19891006)


(EXCLUSIVE)(TRENDS)(SFO)(00001)

UPDATE: INTERACTIVE FAX/AUDIO SYSTEM BEATEN TO PUNCH}
WHEATON, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- The creator of a
system in which callers could receive custom-faxed material after
being guided through a series of interactive audiotext messages has
abandoned his quest for patents after learning a competitor has
done the same, but sooner.

As reported in last week's Newsbytes News Service reports, FaxFacts,
from Copia International, Wheaton, Illinois, is custom PC software
which, when used on a PC with fax board and a hard disk, can manage
incoming calls with a series of audiotext messages, and send out
caller-chosen facsimile data to the caller's fax machine, provided
the caller is making the request on a fax/phone.

Starting November 20, callers to the Programmer's Shop mail order
firm will be able to use the system, but creator Steve Hersee has
chosen not to market it further after discovering a similar system from
SpectraFAX Corporation of Naples, Florida.

The SpectraFAX system, called Special Request, runs $20,000 and
includes all the hardware and software needed to make yourself
an interactive information fax-delivery system, with callers to your
system absorbing all the phone charges. Special Request uses the
SpectraFAX Personal Link communications card for a PC, combined
with digital voice technology and control software. You provide the
PC and the phone lines, and the outgoing data.

The product has been on sale for five months, and has been sold for
such diverse applications as issuing football point spreads for $5
a shot, and new car leasing information.

As for Hersee, he tells Newsbytes he's disappointed that SpectraFAX
got there first, but adds that the possibility of being beaten to the
punch was always a factor. "That's the risk you take being an
inventor," he adds.

(Wendy Woods/19891006/Press Contact: Dave Rae, SpectraFAX, 813-643-
5060)


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

MICROSOFT GETS PATENT ON MOUSE}
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, D.C., 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- In a decision which
will affect nearly every maker of a mouse or trackball computer
pointing device, the U.S. Patent Office has granted a patent to
Microsoft for "Power Supply for a Computer Peripheral Device
Which Positions a Cursor on a Computer Display." The patent,
number 4,866,602, was granted September 12.

The patent covers the technique of connecting a mouse to a personal
computer through a standard PC serial port, without the need for
an external power supply. The patented method allows users to
simply plug in their mouse into the serial port in back of the PC,
install the mouse software and begin taking full advantage of
mouse-oriented programs.

Microsoft now owns the patent on the serial mouse, not the bus mouse --
Apple's mouse, which requires a special card or circuit board for
operation -- nor IBM's PS/2 mouse.

Now that Microsoft's mouse can roar, it probably won't. The
company says it will be "reasonable" in reaching licensing
arrangements with other mouse vendors.

(Wendy Woods/19891007/Press Contact: Marty Taucher, Microsoft,
206-882-8080)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SFO)(00003)

ARTS MEETS TECHNOLOGY IN NEW ORGANIZATION}
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- The world's
first interactive computerized theatrical work has been staged
as part of George Coates' production of Right Mind at the Geary
Theater, and the work's launch also marks the beginning of a new
organization devoted to more integration of art and technology.

Hyper-Dodgson, a piece created on a Macintosh and running on an
SE with a Lapis DisplayServer-operated big screen video,
allows show-goers to navigate through a Hypercard-based history of
Charles Dodgson's life, while the rest of the audience looks on.
It was conceived by video entrepreneur Stephen Beck, and features
an ensemble HyperCard program showcasing via groupware the works
of several HyperCard artists from the CADRE Institute in San Jose.

"This is the first time an interactive computer has ever performed as
part of the theatrical event," explains Beck, chief scientist and
technical officer of Lapis. "The concept grew out of a series of meetings
I had with George after the first SMARTS meeting."

SMARTS, which stands for Science Meets ARTS Society, was formed
by George Coates who envisioned it as a way to bring together
Silicon Valley technology with artists. Coates, who has established
a reputation as an innovator in the field, was inspired to start
SMARTS after helping Steve Jobs unveil the Next computer in October,
1988.

Coates hopes to establish a center in San Francisco where new
equipment will be available for experimentation. The group will
annually award the SMARTS New Technology Award (called the
SMARTie Pants Award) to the firm that makes hardware or
software with the greatest creative capacity and most unique
application beyond the original intended one. For more info on
this new society contact Coates at George Coates Performance
Works, 1232 Market Street, Suite 112, San Francisco, Ca. 94102.
Phone: [phone].

(Wendy Woods/19891007)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SFO)(00004)

HEAVY-HITTERS FORM NEW COMPUTER COMPANY: MOMENTA}
MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 6 (NB) -- Their goal is
to produce a highly portable, user friendly computer that will
totally transform the way computers are used, and that will
be accessible to everyone, not just technocrats. Sounds like
a tall order, but the fellows vowing to do it have created wildly
successful firms already, and are joining forces to create this one.

Momenta has been formed by the following industry luminaries
and over five million in venture capital: Kamran Elahian, co-founder
and former executive vice president of Cirrus Logic; Shiraz Shivji,
"the father of the Atari ST," who will be responsible for
defining the characteristics of Momenta's products and overseeing
their design; Robert Groppo, a former Intel engineer considered
an expert in low-power technology; Beatriz Infante, a 12-year
Hewlett-Packard veteran and an expert in computer-aided design
and software development; Patrick Milligan, graphical interface
specialist previously at Video Seven; Jim Guzy, an established
entrepreneur who helped set up Intel, Control Data, Memorex,
and Versatec.

The product may still be a gleam in its daddy's eye, but its
layette is already established. Elahian plans to take his company
public in Taiwan, Japan, and the Common Market. In each part of
the world, he plans to set up fully functional, local companies to
leverage skilled local labor. For instance, Momenta will do
product development in the U.S., initial manufacturing in Japan,
volume production in Taiwan, and localized software development
in Europe.

(Wendy Woods/19891007/Press Contact: Robin Stavisky, New
Venture Marketing, 415-856-9090)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(WAS)(00005)

BELLCORE SHOWS NEW TELECOM CHIP}
LIVINGSTON, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1989 SEPT 27 (NB) -- Last week
researchers at Bellcore demonstrated an experimental data, voice,
and video multiplexing signal chip that transmits data up to 11.4
gigabits or billions of bits per second, seven times faster than
current chips.

Bellcore is the research and development arm of major U.S.
telephone companies.

(John McCormick/19891006/Press Contact: Mike Giovia, Bellcore,
201-740-4762)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00006)

SHARP INTROS NEURAL NET IMAGE PROCESSOR FOR PCS}
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 2 (NB) -- The new neural
network image processor that has been introduced by Sharp
Corporation of Japan simulates human vision and supports varied
desktop PC applications at speeds in the 700 MIPS "supercomputer"
range.

This Sharp Image Processing System incorporates VLSI chips that
mimic human vision recognition. The product will be offered as a
chip set, as a board-level subsystem, and in an application
development system from Sharp's wholly-owned subsidiary Hycom
(Irvine, CA). The system allows PCs to have the power and image
processing capabilities formerly reserved for mainframe
computers.

This image processing system, while being manufactured and
marketed by Sharp, was developed in a joint venture with Ezel,
Inc., a Tokyo-based research and development firm.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891006/Press Contact: Christine Thomas, Dorf
& Stanton/West, 213-785-9443)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SYD)(00007)

COMPUTER SYSTEM PROTECTS GREAT BARRIER REEF}
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- A computer system has
been established to help counter any oil spills on Australia's
Great Barrier Reef. The computer will be able to monitor and
predict the movement of an oil spill, given weather details, wave
movements, and tide times.

In a recent simulated exercise, Queensland state government
authorities used an Apple Macintosh SE computer, specially
designed geographic information system software, and high speed
NetComm Communications hardware. The database information would
help in evaluating environmental risks and help make decisions
such as whether or not to use oil dispersants. For example, if
the spill occurs within eight kilometres of mangroves, oil
dispersants will not be used.

The system is ready to cover 200km of coastline, stretching up to
60km out to sea, and plans are being made to extend the coverage.
There is yet to be a major oil spill on the reef, but a spill
would be catastrophic to the tourism industry and the
environment. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in
the world and one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19891004)


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

HITACHI UPGRADES COLOR PALETTE LSI}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 3 (NB) -- Hitachi has developed an LSI (large-
scale integration) chip based on IBM's VGA (video graphics array)
color display standard, and is now shipping samples.

The LSI, called Color Palette LSI "HD153110," is capable of
displaying 16.77 million colors simultaneously with its three
channel, 8-bit digital analog converter. Each RGB (red, green and
blue) has 256 shades and these color combinations account for 16.77
million colors to display photo-realistic color images.

The new product is the upgraded version of its four and six-bit
Color Palette, but can be implemented without any
change on software and systems with the mode converter. Also, the
new LSI has a digital output terminal for color liquid crystal
display units.

The power consumption of the chip is 650 milliwatts and
performs at 50 or 65 megahertz of clock frequency.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891005)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TOR)(00009)

VOICE-CONTROLLED WORKSTATION DEMONSTRATED}
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- Lyndhurst Hospital
here has received the first Voice Command I Vocational Work
Station installed in Canada.

The system incorporates a personal computer, telephone and
robot arm, all voice-controlled, in a "work cell" like a typical
modular office workstation, with specially designed work
surface and shelving. A modem and laser printer are also
included. The operator controls the system by speaking
commands or names of keys on a standard computer
keyboard. It can be used with any software that runs under the
MS-DOS operating system. The system can recognize 160 words at a
time.

Introduced in the United States in June, 1988, the system is
installed in training centres throughout the United States, as
well as in homes and in the offices of major corporations which
have purchased them for their employees, said Marty Clark, vice-
president of Prab Command of Kalamazoo, Mich., which makes the
system. Lyndhurst Hospital, the only facility in Canada that
deals exclusively to rehabilitating patients with spinal cord
injuries, is the first location in Canada to get one of the
workstations, will be testing the system for the next few months.

Heath/Zenith Computers and Electronics, of Mississauga, Ontario,
a subsidiary of Zenith Data Systems, will distribute the
workstation in Canada. The full system will sell for C$69,990
while a stripped-down version without the robotic arm, work
surface and shelves starts at $30,990.

(Grant Buckler/19891004/Press Contact: Heath/Zenith, 416-277-
3191)


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

XENIX VERSION OF AUTOCAD NOW AVAILABLE}
SAUSALITO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 3 (NB) -- Santa Cruz
Operation is pleased to announce that the world's most popular
PC design package, Autocad, is now available in its SCO Xenix
and SCO Unix versions.

Autocad Release 10 for SCO Xenix and Unix is priced at $3,000.

(Wendy Woods/19891007)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(LAX)(00002)

QUANTEL BRIDGES TO UNIX}
HAYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 4 (NB) -- Quantel has
demonstrated a bridge to allow current and future application
software running on its proprietary business computer hardware
and software to operate on a Unix platform.

The new bridge technology has been shown to Quantel's dealer
network but will undergo extensive development and testing before
it begins shipping some 9 to 12 months from now.

The real significance behind this announcement is that according
to Quantel chairman of the board, president and CEO, Matthew E.
Tutino, Quantel is about to start paying off for dealers,
shareholders and customers. Back in 1985, the current management
took over a company that was involved in litigation and deeply in
debt. Now, with the bridge product, the company has been turned
around. Worldwide customer's will have their investment
protected by the ability to transport totally to Unix. The
bridge will open new markets for Quantel software that will now
be able to operate on Unix.

Tutino has stated that the issue for Quantel is no longer one of
survival. He expects Quantel to cut deep inroads into the market
and gain a larger market share.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891006/Press Contact: Ron Maiorana, Maiorana
Connelly Communications, 212-751-3838)


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

FUJI XEROX: NEW WORKSTATION AND AI SOFTWARE}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 29 (NB) -- Fuji Xerox has released two
Unix workstations which are relabelled Sun Microsystems' SPARC
reduced-instruction-set workstations, as well as Smalltalk AI
(artificial intelligence) software, from U.S.-based ParcPlace
Systems, for these machines.

The Unix workstations, Fuji Xerox 6401 and 6433, are
supplied on an original equipment manufacturing basis by
U.S.-based Sun Microsystems.

The 6401 is called SPARCStation 1 in the U.S. and operates at 12.5
MIPS (million instructions per second) for the price range of
1750,000 yen to 4,050,000 yen ($12,500 - $28,900). The 6433 is
called SPARC Station 330 in the U.S. and has the operating speed of
16 MIPS for the price range of 6,050,000 yen to 11,050,000 yen
($43,200 - $78,900).

Smalltalk is an AI system software development package
priced at 800,000 yen or $5,700.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891005)


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

NEC TO SHIP MIPS RISC CHIPS}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 SEP 29 (NB) -- NEC has announced shipment
of its 32-bit RISC (reduced instruction set computer) chips developed
on license from U.S.-based MIPS Computer Systems.

NEC's new chip, the VR3000, has a clock frequency of 25
megahertz and operates at 20 MIPS (million instructions per second).
The firm will develop an engineering workstation with this new
chip by spring, 1990.

The chip integrates 115,000 elements on an eight-millimeter-square
area with 0.8 micron processing technology. NEC intends to develop
faster bipolar-CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor)
versions of the VR4000 and ECL (emitter coupled logic) VR6000
by the second half of next year.

The sample price of the VR3000 is 70,000 yen or $500 per unit and
the floating-point processor VR3010, released at the same time, is
100,000 yen or $714 a unit.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891005)