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/nb891023

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

APPLE EARNS RECORD $5.3 BILLION}
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- The latest fiscal
quarter for Apple Computer produced record revenues of $5.284
billion, a 30 percent increase over the same period one year ago. Net
income was $454 million of which $48 million came from the
sale of Adobe stock in July.

Net sales in the fourth fiscal quarter were $1.384 billion -- an
18 percent increase over the similar quarter in 1988.

Said John Sculley, chairman: "We are pleased that sales grew more
than one billion dollars during this past fiscal year. The Macintosh
SE/30 and IIcx we introduced in the winter are largely responsible
for this significant sales gain."

"The adverse pressure on gross margins that we experienced during
much of fiscal 1989 has subsided.... the trend reflects the procurement
of components in recent months at more favorable costs."

As for the future, Sculley says, "We believe fiscal 1990 will be
another year of significant revenue growth."

(Wendy Woods/19891020)


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

KAWASAKI TO EXIT ACIUS}
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- Acius founder
and former Apple evangelist Guy Kawasaki has resigned as president
of the software firm, according to a published report.

Kawasaki has resigned to "find another challenge," according to
Acius Chairwoman Marylene Delbourg-Delphis, adding that relations
between Kawasaki and his firm are amicable.

Kawasaki is on vacation and his firm currently has an answering
machine message which explains that a major earthquake has
occurred, and that the offices will be closed at least until Monday,
October 23.

Guy Kawasaki, credited with being one of the driving forces behind
software development for the Macintosh, recently completed a
book, "The Macintosh Way."

(Wendy Woods/19891020)


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

MEDIAGENIC SELLING TENPOINTO DIVISION TO RAISE CASH
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- In an about-
face reversal of a decision made 17 months ago, Mediagenic has
decided to narrow its product offerings, shaving off its Tenpoint0
and Activision Presentation Tools lines, to concentrate
solely on video games and computer entertainment operations,
marketed under the Infocom, Gamestar, Activision, Zsoft, and
Electric Dreams game titles.

The products which Mediagenic seeks to divest include Focal Point, Open It,
Reports, Business Class, Paintworks, Draw Plus, List Plus,
and Teleworks Plus. These product lines are for sale, no buyer
has been announced. Mediagenic will discontinue the product
lines and will not offer upgrades. The TenPoint0 and Activision
Presentation Tools Divisions accounted for an estimated 8
percent of Mediagenic's $60 million in revenues in fiscal 1989.

Mediagenic Chairman Bruce Davis says the divestiture will allow
the company to concentrate on video games and computer
entertainment, and to improve its cash flow and profits.

In May of 1988, Mediagenic had changed its name from Activision,
was named "Comeback Company of the Year" in a Computer Currents
poll, and Davis himself, had chosen to expand the firm's product line
into a variety of formats -- HyperCard, video, PC-based software,
and CD-ROM/CD-I.

(Wendy Woods/19891020/Press Contact: Loretta Stagnitto,
415-329-0800)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(WAS)(00004)

APPLE GIVES $180,000 TO KELLOGG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT}
EVANSTON ,ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- Apple Computer Inc.
gave Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management
$180,000 today, in the form of a computer lab.

Apple's gift to the Kellogg School, widely regarded as one of the
best management schools in the world, included 20 Macintosh IIcx
systems with the internal hard drives, an assortment of color and
oversized format monitors, and Apple LaserWriter IINTX printer, and
networking products.

(Michael Fitzgerald/19891020/Press Contact: Brad Samson, Hill and
Knowlton, 312-565-1200)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(TOR)(00005)

VANCOUVER APPLE DEVELOPER WINS AWARD}
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1989 OCT 16 (NB) -- Motion
Works, a Canadian developer of HyperCard stacks, has taken first
and second place in MacWorld magazine's annual SuperStacks
contest. The company's sound and music programming tool kit,
HyperComposer, won first place in the commercial applications
category, and second place among developers tools.

HyperComposer, published by Addison-Wesley Publishing of Reading,
Mass., runs on any Macintosh with one megabyte of memory and
HyperCard. It extends HyperCard's play command for sound and
music from 256 notes to more than 11,000 notes, Motion Works
said.

Motion Works develops commercial applications and does custom
multimedia, training and simulation software, primarily for the
Macintosh.

(Grant Buckler/19891018/Press Contact: Jim Secord, Motion Works,
604-732-0289)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00001)

NINTENDO INCREASES GAME BOY PRODUCTION}
KYOTO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 16 (NB) -- Japan's video game giant Nintendo
will dramatically step up production of its video game gadget Game Boy.

In light of skyrocketing sales, the Big "N" will expand monthly
output from the current 300,000 units to 400,000 units in January.
Furthermore, Nintendo hopes to achieve an output of one million per
month by August, 1990, at which time Nintendo will start
to export Game Boy to European nations. Ambitious Nintendo
aims to attain accumulative sales of ten million units by 1999.

Production of the special custom-made microprocessors and integrated
circuits which control Game Boy screens has lagged behind the
demand for the units, but Nintendo promises demand will be
satisfied next year when it receives a satisfactory amount of the
chips.

On the other hand, rapid export to the U.S. since the end
of this July has resulted in short domestic supply.

(Ken Takahashi/19891019)


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

SHARP/LSI LOGIC COPRODUCE SRAMS}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 14 (NB) -- Sharp will entrust California,
U.S.-based chipmaker LSI Logic to produce 256-kilobit SRAM (static
random access memory) chips. Sharp has already been entrusting
partial production of its gate arrays to LSI Logic, and this time
Sharp has decided to expand the production tie-up to the advanced
memory arena in order to meet the request by the U.S. to open
the Japanese market. Also, this will be the first time that
LSI Logic will be engaged in the SRAM business.

The production site will be at Nippon Semiconductor in Tsukuba,
Ibaraki prefecture at LSI Logic's Japanese factory.
Sharp is now checking the quality of the chips, and is scheduled
to ship them by year's end. Sharp expects to supply 200,000 to
400,000 chips a month.

(Ken Takahashi/19891019)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(HKG)(00003)

US KENFIL BUYS ASIASOFT DISTRIBUTION}
CENTRAL, HONGKONG, 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- One of the region's most
successful independent PC software distributors, Asiasoft Ltd,
has been purchased by Kenfil Distribution of California.

The new company, Kenfil Distribution (Far East) Ltd, will be
based in Hongkong and also oversee business operations in South
Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. No mention has been made of
Asiasoft's affiliate in Singapore, Asiasoft Singapore.

Kenfil has been associated with Asiasoft since its inception
about five years ago, but only as a minority shareholder. The
future of Asiasoft was in question when, a year ago, the
founding entrepreneur, Ian Cook, left the company to set up a
new organization to market the UK BOS range of products. Since
that time Asiasoft has been managed by Mr Simon Yip, with
occasional visits from major shareholder, John Algar of
Australia's Algar Burns and Associates.

Kenfil Far East will be managed by Mr Yip who said that the
move would enable his company to better serve software buyers
in Asia with lower prices and more substantial support. Kenfil
would retain Asiasoft's existing 500-strong dealer network, but
would deal direct with large corporations. In addition to the
1,500 products Kenfil represents in the USA, the company is the
sole Asian distributor for Watchdog, the entire Migent range
and Mirror III communications software.

(Keith Cameron/19891020)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(HKG)(00004)

TAIWAN'S ACER OPENS COMPUTER PLANT IN MALAYSIA}
PENANG, MALAYSIA, 1989 OCT 12 (NB) -- Major Taiwan computer
manufacturer Acer begins construction of a $12 million plant
in Penang this month, with manufacturing commencing in June
next year. The second stage of development is expected to cost
another $19 million and should be completed by 1992.

The plant will produce monitors, PCs and keyboards, and will
initially employ 600 Malaysian management and staff. The
Malaysian Government is keen to encourage this type of
industrial development and has awarded Acer with a five-year
pioneer stage tax free incentive.

Meanwhile Malaysian-based Federal Computer Services (FCS) has
been awarded software development contracts worth over $70,000
from Fujitsu and Siemens.

FCS, which specializes in computer interfaces and systems
integration, will develop a computer interface to the Fujitsu
Fetex ABC PABX. The company recently broke into the lucrative
Japanese market by developing bilingual, English and Japanese,
software for Northern Telecom Japan.

(Keith Cameron/19891020)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(HKG)(00005)

SGA PACIFIC STRENGTHENS GENERAL AUTOMATION IN THE REGION}
SINGAPORE, SOUTHEAST ASIA, 1989 OCT 15 (NB) -- The recent
announcement by General Automation (GA) of the completion of
the acquisition of AWA Computers, a major Australian player in
the PICK Systems market, has been received well by regional
customers and prospects.

GA, under the leadership Asia and GA veteran, Carlton J.
Parker, has established itself soundly in Singapore with a
number of substantial systems in Government and the private
sector. More recently, since GA acquired the Maxial Hotel
Management System, Mr Parker has been seen regularly at
completing and supporting sales throughout the region,
particularly in Hongkong and Taiwan.

The combined resources of GA, AWA and Sandersons Electronics
of the UK now provides Mr Parker, who has now been appointed
managing director of Pacific Operations, with the facilities to
expand dramatically on the base he has established. It is
expected that the recently opened Hongkong office will be
beefed up considerably to cater for the burgeoning PICK
marketplace there.

(Keith Cameron/19891020)


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

LOTUS EARNS $23 MILLION IN THIRD QUARTER}
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- Lotus
Development Corp announced today that it had achieved record
earnings in the third quarter which ended on September 30.

Attributing its results to strong sales of its spreadsheet
software, Lotus earned $23 million or 54 cents/share for quarter
on sales of $154 million, for a 61 percent increase over the $14,3
million net (profit) on sales of $116.8 million for the same
quarter in 1988.

(John McCormick/19891020/Press Contact: Richard Eckel, Lotus,
617-225-1284)


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

WANG FIRST QUARTER LOSSES TOTAL $62 MILLION}
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- Financially
strapped Wang Laboratories has today announced that it had a net
operating loss of $62.1 million or 38 cents/share on sales of
$596.8 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 1990, vs a
profit of $13.1 million or 10 cents/share for the same quarter
last year.

Richard W. Miller, Wang's new president and chief operating
officer, said that he is pleased with stronger sales that have
recently occurred due, according to Mr. Miller, to increased
customer confidence.

Wang has recently suffered massive losses which led to the
replacement of Wang Laboratories' founder An Wang's son by Mr.
Miller. The just-reported first quarter losses were about what
were expected by industry observers and Wang's stock price has
recently started to show signs of a mild recovery.

(John McCormick/19891020/Press Contact: Paul G. Henning, Wang
Laboratories, 508-967-1090)


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

SOFTSEL FORMS EUROPEAN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT GROUP}
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 16 (NB) -- Softsel has
introduced its new European Business Development Group which will
support computer product vendors hoping to capitalize on the 1992
European Economic Community unification.

The group will be based in Paris and headed by Thomas P. Reeves,
newly appointed vice president for European business development.
Last month, Softsel acquired DNS Gesellschaft Fur Computersysteme
MBH and signed an agreement with ComputerLand Europe to supply
computer products to the chain's 150 franchises in 18 countries.
Softsel now has wholly-owned subsidiaries in the United Kingdom,
France and Germany, the three countries that account for between
60 and 70 percent of all European computer product sales.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020/Press Contact: Cathy Quatrocchi,
Softsel, 213-412-8230)


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

3RD QTR LOSS FOR ASHTON-TATE}
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 17 (NB) -- For the
quarter ended September 30, Ashton-Tate has reported a net loss
of $19.4 million.

Net revenues for the period were $53.9 million. For the nine
months ended September 30, the company has reported a net loss of
$27.6 million on net revenues of $203.2 million. For the first
nine months of 1988, net income was $34.3 million on revenues of
$220.0 million.

The 3rd quarter loss was primarily attributed to reduced US
revenues, a provision of approximately $4.9 million to upgrade
dBASE IV inventories to Version 1.1 and approximately $1.8
million in severance costs as a result if the company's recent
layoffs.

In a related announcement, Ashton-Tate announced the beginning of
the formal beta testing program for dBASE IV Version 1.1. The
beta testing program is a phased program of international scope
designed to solicit feedback from a broad spectrum of developers,
resellers and corporate customers.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020/Press Contact: Brad Stevens, Ashton-
Tate, 213-538-7348)


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

WESTERN DIGITAL REPORTS QUARTERLY LOSS}
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- Western Digital
has reported a loss of $2.9 million in the first quarter compared
with $12.9 earnings on revenue of $247 million for the same
period a year ago.

Sales for the quarter just ended dropped to $225 million.
Considerable slippage occurred in the imaging division. In
addition to the reduced graphics sales, the company also
experienced a production slowdown at its plant in Puerto Rico
because of Hurricane Hugo. The company also cited negative
foreign exchange rates a factor contributing to the loss.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00011)

AST RESEARCH REPORTS HIGHER PROFITS}
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 19 (NB) --AST Research has
reported significantly higher earnings for the second quarter
posting earnings of $2.9 million.

These earnings compare with $306,000 for the same period last
year. Revenue was up 5.6 percent to $114.5 million. This is the
second profitable quarter in a row for AST which had posted a
$1.1 million loss for the year last year.

AST credits excellent market response its line of personal
computers for the financial good news. AST has laid off
employees as well as introducing new computers and expanding its
distribution chain, all contributing to financial well being.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020)


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

TANDY'S VICTOR PURCHASE A GO}
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- Tandy Corp. has
announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire
Datatronic AB's (Stockholm) Victor computer and Micronic hand-
held computer subsidiaries.

Tandy will also acquire rights to both the Victor and Micronic
names. Closing of the transaction is subject to conditions of
the agreement including certain governmental approvals.
Financial details of the agreement have not been disclosed.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020/Press Contact: Philip Bradtmiller,
Tandy, 817-390-3730)


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

MAI BASIC FOUR CONTINUES FINANCIAL ADVANCE}
TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- In the continuing
effort to recover financially from its unsuccessful bid to
takeover Prime Computer, MAI Basic Four has been granted Federal
Trade Commission (FTC) approval of an early termination to the
applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act with respect acquisition by Brooke Partners of
MAI Series C preferred stock.

The Series C preferred stock, be subject to certain conditions,
will automatically be exchanged into an aggregate of 17,500,000
share's of MAI's common stock (54 percent of MAI's outstanding
shares.) As a result of the waiver of the waiting period, the
Series C stock can now vote the equivalent of the 17,500,000
shares in MAI's Board of Directors election. MAI's chairman,
Bennett LeBow also controls Brooke.

Stockholders will be allowed to retain their relative equity
position in MAI. The company intends to offer its stockholders
non-transferable rights to purchase, on a pro rata basis,
17,500,000 shares of MAI common stock at $3.54 each. The company
plans to use the proceeds from this sale to redeem a
corresponding portion of the Series C preferred stock initially
purchased from Brooke.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020/Press Contact: Fred Anderson, MAI
Basic Four, 714-730-2241)


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

DISCOVISION SOLD TO PIONEER}
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- IBM and
MCA have entered into an agreement to sell Discovision Associates
to the wholly owned US subsidiaries of Pioneer Electric
Corporation of Tokyo.

Discovision Associates was originally formed in 1979 to develop
video disc systems. The company ceased manufacturing in 1982 but
today manages a portfolio of approximately 1,400 patents and
patent applications relating to optical disc recording
technology.

The sale, with a purchase price of $200 million, will be
completed when all necessary governmental approvals have been
obtained and other customary conditions are satisfied.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020)


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

LOCKHEED TO KEEP CALCOMP}
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 16 (NB) -- Lockheed
has cancelled plans to sell off CalComp because the company
claims CalComp is too valuable to sell.

CalComp officials dispute that reasoning saying the change in
plans is a result of potential buyers including a management-led
buy out group would not offer top dollar in the wake of unstable
financial markets and a softening computer market. While the
difficulties recently encountered in large buy out attempts may be
having a trickle-down effect, the softening computer market has
lowered CalComp's earnings and made the company less attractive
as a buy out target.

The Orange County Register has reported that Lockheed claims to
have turned down several bids for CalComp recently because they
did not represent a fair market value for the company. The
report also quoted Lockheed Chairman Daniel Tellep as saying
ongoing profits "are worth far more to Lockheed than the return
the corporation could hope to gain from selling the division."

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020)


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

LOCKHEED TO ACQUIRE FORMTEK}
CALABASAS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 17 (NB) -- Lockheed Corp.
has agreed to buy all outstanding shares of Formative
Technologies, Inc. (FORMTEK) of Pittsburgh, PA.

The acquisition is subject to the satisfaction of certain closing
conditions and company and regulatory approvals.

FORMTEK was established in 1983 and had 1988 sales of $7.7
million. This acquisition is part of Lockheed's initiative in
computer systems integration. Lockheed has targeted computer
systems integration for federal agencies and commercial companies
as an industry growth segment.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020/Press Contact: Bob Slayman, Lockheed
Corp., 818-712-2468)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00017)

KAYPRO LANDS ANOTHER CONTRACT WHOPPER}
SOLANA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 16 (NB) -- Kaypro
has received a contract from electronics mail order house
Crutchfield Corp. for the model MC-10 entry level PC and the more
advanced MC-20 and MC-30 computer systems.

Neither company would disclose either the quantity of systems
ordered or the dollar value of the contract. Kaypro computers
are featured in Crutchfield's current catalog that is sent to
850,000 subscribers. Plans also call for Kaypro to be featured
in Crutchfield's Christmas catalog that will be mailed to more
than 1.5 million people.

Kaypro has begun shipping units to Crutchfield and expects to
continue shipping throughout the foreseeable future.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020/Press Contact: Joseph Marcello,
Kaypro, 619-481-4333)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(ATL)(00018)

INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS TO BUY MORE SHARES}
NORCROSS, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- Intelligent
Systems Master, L.P. (AMEX: INP), which once owned Quadram,
Princeton Graphics, Peachtree Software and Asher Systems, but
now owns just Datavue, a laptop computer maker, and Brier
Technologies, a high-density floppy company, will buy up to 1
million more of its outstanding depositary units. The company
previously authorized a 1.2 million share, or unit purchase last December.

The units, where are traded like stock on the American Stock
Exchange, presently go for $2 each, but the company says their
book value is in excess of $5.50.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891020/Press Contact: Bonnie Herron,
Intelligent Systems, 404-381-2900)


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

FINLAND: RESTRUCTURING HITS NOKIA}
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- Nokia, Finland's largest
publicly-listed company, says that its sales for the first eight
months of 1989 have climbed on the equivalent period last year.
Operating profits are also up, but profits before tax and
minority interests have slumped, owing to the company's
restructuring, which took place earlier this year.

During the first eight months of 1989, sales climbed to FM 13,480
million ($3,200 million), whilst operating profit rose from FM
435 million to FM 482 million. Profits before tax, meanwhile,
fell from FM 402 million to FM 256 million. Net profits slumped
from FM 230 million to FM 181 million for the eight months.

According to Jorma Ollila, Nokia's senior vice president, company
profits are not expected to improve until next year at the
earliest, owing to the present restructuring efforts.

Nokia expects net sales for the full 1989 year to top FM 22,000
million, with operating profit totalling FM 977 million. Net
profits, however, are forecast to fall substantially short of
last year's FM 1,150 million

(Eric Dauchy/19891020)


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

FRANCE: AEROSPATIALE ACQUIRES CGE'S LASER OPTRONICS}
PARIS, FRANCE, 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- Aerospatiale, the French state-
owned maker of aircraft and missiles, has acquired the laser
optronics division of Compagnie Generale d'Electricite (CGE), the
diversified engineering and electronics group, for an undisclosed
sum.

The acquisition completes Aerospatiale's attempts to build up its
capacity to research, develop and produce defence systems based
on medium and high energy lasers.

Terms of the deal call for CGE to hand over its Laboratories de
Marcoussies, near Paris, which will be regrouped into a new
company, Laserdot. Laserdot is expected to have an annual
turnover of FF 75 million ($11.9 million) this year.

The aircraft group said that it plans to group its existing
interests in other laser beam producers into a single holding
company, Unilas. Aerospatiale's other interests include Quantel,
which makes lasers for scientific and industrial uses, plus a 28
percent stake in Lisa, an industrial laser business with offices
in Nevers, France and Frankfurt, West Germany.

(Eric Dauchy/19891020)


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

SYSTEMHOUSE ANNOUNCES RESULTS, SHARE PURCHASE}
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- SHL Systemhouse, a
Canadian systems integrator and parent of ComputerLand Canada,
has announced its annual results. In the year ended August 31,
Systemhouse's net income was C$34.8 million, up from C$1.6
million last year. Revenue was C$630.8 million, up from C$230.1
million.

Much of the increase was attributed to acquisition of
ComputerLand Canada July 1, 1988. If ComputerLand had been
included in 1988's results for the full year, Systemhouse said,
revenues would have been C$509.4 million and net income would
have been C$20.2 million.

Systemhouse also announced plans to buy up to 800,693 of its own
common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange and in the NASDAQ
over-the-counter market in the United States. The company plans
to cancel the shares it buys, and issue an equal number in
exchange for debentures due September 1, 1994. The debentures,
worth a total of C$9,608,318, were issued as part of the
acquisition of ComputerGroup plc of Great Britain. Systemhouse is
entitled to convert them at one common share for each C$12 of
principal.

(Grant Buckler/19891020/Press Contact: Roderick Bryden, SHL
Systemhouse, 613-236-9734)


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

CANADIAN, NORWEGIAN FIRMS ARE PARTNERS}
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- Cognos, a software
developer based here, has signed an international partnership
agreement with developer A.S. Datatjenester, of Bergen, Norway.
The Norwegian company will sell Cognos software worldwide. Cognos
will promote Datatjenester products through its PowerHouse
Partners cooperative marketing program.

Cognos sells PowerHouse, an application development system that
works on a variety of hardware including IBM and compatible
personal computers. Datatjenester develops software for
industrial maintenance management. Its flagship product, PHS
Maintenance, is based on PowerHouse.

(Grant Buckler/19891018/Press Contact: Wendy Rajala, Cognos, 613-
738-1440)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00023)

NORTHERN TELECOM APPOINTS CARLUCCI}
MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 OCT 17 (NB) -- Northern
Telecom has named Frank Carlucci, former United States Secretary
of Defense, to its board of directors. Carlucci, currently
chairman of The Carlyle Group, a Washington, D.C., merchant
banker, fills the gap left by the death of businessman WIlliam
Sobey in May. Also a trustee of the Rand Corporation, Carlucci
has served in four U.S. administrations.

(Grant Buckler/19891020/Press Contact: Dan Mothersill, Northern
Telecom, 416-566-3100)


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

BORLAND FIVE MILES FROM EPICENTER}
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- One
of five buildings at Scotts Valley, California-based Borland
International was so badly damaged by the earthquake that it cannot
be occupied, and office workers are "out on picnic tables, taking
orders over the six working phone lines," according to
Borland spokesman Dick O'Donnell, reached by phone. In addition,
there was water damage in all the buildings caused by broken
water pipes.

Borland International was the largest computer company closest
to the epicenter of October 17th's earthquake in Northern
California, and access to it has been nearly severed by landslides
and broken highways leading up to remote Scotts Valley, halfway
between San Jose and Santa Cruz in the Santa Cruz mountains.
Yet half the company's 400 employees have shown up for work
and by Monday 10/23 shipment of product is slated to resume, even
though "it will take seven times as long going through the back
roads in the mountains," and smaller trucks will be used to
carry the software products, says O'Donnell.

Long term, however, the company does not expect any major
financial hardship to the business, and its most valuable possession --
source code -- had been backed up and stored safely off-site.

Inside the firm's headquarters, the recreation facility has been
designated the "drying out" site for the hundreds of PCs which were
soaked. "Our hardware department will open them up and bring them
up one at a time," says O'Donnell.

Company chief Philippe Kahn was in Australia launching the
Quattro Pro spreadsheet at the time of the quake, and he is returning now.

O'Donnell says the going joke around the company is that
stickers will be placed on the Quattro Pro, which will
be shipped by the end of the year, proclaiming, "Tested at 7.0,"
"Earthquake resistant,S and "Quattro Pro, from the Epicenter of
Software Development."

(Wendy Woods/19891020)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00002)

"AND WE'LL HAVE THE EARTHQUAKE HERE!" SAID PHILLIPE KAHN}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- Borland boss Phillipe Kahn was
in Australia to road show his company's 'bells-and-whistles' spreadsheet
Quattro Pro. At around 10AM Wednesday 18th October in Sydney (5PM
Thursday in San Francisco) he had reached the part of his demonstration
where he showed the ability of the product to import high-quality
graphics. He pulled-up a slide showing a map of the San Francisco area,
pointed to the location of the Borland headquarters and said "We're right
on the San Andreas fault ... that's right where the next earthquake is going
to hit."

Talk about a powerful spreadsheet!

On a more mundane note, the Sydney reaction to Quattro Pro has been
almost universally enthusiastic, with comments such as: "I wouldn't buy
anything else." "Best product on the market." "Blows 1-2-3 out of the
water." "Runs on 640k? Where do I sign?" "Where's the cheese dip?"
"Amazing graphics, amazing speed, amazing functions."

(Paul Zucker/19891020)


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

HEWLETT-PACKARD WATERLOGGED IN QUAKE}
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- Within 12 hours
after the earthquake struck Northern California on October 17, all
the orders from the previous day had been processed just one
hour behind schedule at Hewlett-Packard in Palo Alto,
California.

The credit, according to Hewlett-Packard spokeswoman Marlene
Somsak, goes to a 750-thousand dollar seismic floor in the
corporate computing center which was installed early in 1988. "This
absorbed the shock. The computers moved around a couple of feet
but did not stop." Auxiliary power supplies kept the computers
running.

Hewlett-Packard did sustain some damage -- one leased building
has been abandoned until it can be examined by a structural engineer.
An experimental chip design laboratory has been taken
out of operation pending safety inspections, but nothing goes on in there
which has any impact on current products HP sells, according to Somsak.
The company's main semiconductor operation are located in Corvallis,
Oregon, which was not affected in the Northern California earthquake.

There was extensive water damage from broken water pipes in most
buildings and some 20 to 30 percent of the ceiling tiles in all the
buildings got soaked and fell. The carpet is also soaked. Somsak says
the vendor who gets to supply new ceiling tiles and carpet
tiles "will do quite well by HP."

All in all, damage is estimated in the millions of dollars, but is
not expected to have a major impact on business operations.

(Wendy Woods/19891020)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00004)

SILICON VALLEY COMPUTER FIRMS ASSESS DAMAGE}
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- Virtually
every company in the Bay Area suffered some damage as a result of
the earthquake which struck at 5:05 PM on October 17. While many
firms are not open for business until Monday 10/23, most had at
least half their workers on duty to perform clean-up and salvage
operations.

Santa Cruz Operation reports tells Newsbytes that it has
"returned to normal" following the earthquake, although phone
service is still unreliable. Pacific Bell has restricted incoming
calls to the hard-hit Santa Cruz area to 30-percent of their capacity and
only 70-percent of outgoing calls are getting through.

Spokeswoman Zee Zaballos says all systems, including the multiuser
systems at the Unix software house, were back online within an
hour after power was restored. The company lost only one PC and two
terminals. This company was clearly very lucky, especially since
it was located only a few miles from the epicenter.

Apple Computer in Cupertino suffered only minor damage.
There was some damage to buildings, plenty of toppled
shelves, and shaken workers, but the company says all crucial
business facilities, such as telephone lines, are almost completely
restored. The company's Fremont assembly line is also back in operation.

Seagate Technologies did not return Newsbytes calls by deadline,
but a published report in the San Jose Mercury News says the company
has been closed until further notice and 1,800 workers have been
told to stay home. Seagate, like Borland International, is located
within miles of the epicenter of the earthquake. A published report
says the company has a single phone line and no power and the
offices are "incredibly disheveled," although the buildings are not
structurally damaged.

Ask Computer Systems in Mountain View, Ca., as with the majority
of computer software and hardware companies, reports the quake
gave them a snow of ceiling plaster.

Sun Microsystems is said to have closed one manufacturing facility
in Milpitas after gas lines ruptured. Also the company's computer
network was reported down.

IBM's Santa Teresa labs and Cottle Road plant in San Jose were said to be
flooded, causing a complete shut-down of computer operations.

The Semiconductor Industry Association reports its survey of major
semiconductor companies found no major structural damage to
facilities, most fabrication plants resumed operation within 24
hours, and no reports of toxic spills, gas leaks or significant
injuries resulted from the earthquake. The big problem for
most of them now, however, is the task of recalibrating instruments
used in the chip manufacturing process.

"Our findings indicate that with the fortunate physical aspects
of this particular earthquake and the prudent steps taken in the past,
including stringent building codes, specially-engineered earthquake
bracing in facilities and specially-designed hazardous material storage
and dispensing systems, semiconductor manufacturing facilities
can indeed withstand vibration from a major earthquake," said a
statement from the organization.

In San Francisco, the Supercomputing World conference slated for
this week at the city's Civic Auditorium was cancelled pending the
outcome of a building inspector's report.

At a San Francisco computer retail store, a staff member was
missing. At last report he had been driving back to the city from
Hayward where he had made a service call. The route might have taken
him across the Cypress section of route 880 which collapsed
during the quake.

(Wendy Woods/19891020)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00005)

UPS STOP DOWNS DURING QUAKES}
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- For most of those
who hadn't backed up the day's files by 5:05 pm October 17, a day's
work went down the drain when the earthquake struck the Bay Area,
instantly cutting off the flow of electricity to their machines.
But for a lucky few with UPS (uninterruptible power supplies), the
data was saved.

Compumech, a San Jose computer equipment distributor, was one of
the lucky few with an UPS installed on his eight-station local area
network. "During the temblor the power in our building went off at
least seven or eight times, yet our UPS kept the computer operating
as though nothing had happened."

His testimonial is made to the credit of Unison Technologies, a
Mission Viejo, California-based maker of uninterruptible power
supplies. UPS are power protection devices that plug into a computer
and an AC wall outlet and are considered by many to be the most
important data protection device a computer network can have.

(Wendy Woods/19891020/Press Contact: Roy Wright, Unison, 408-
945-9100)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00006)

SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE AFFECTS JAPAN}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- The tragic earthquake
which hit the Bay Area knew no national boundaries when it
struck firms set up in nearby Silicon Valley. Fortunately the
damage to most firms, including those owned by Japanese
natives, was minimal.

Toshiba says its memory IC (integrated circuit) factory suffered
slight damage, but full recovery was expected within a day or two.
Amdahl, 50 percent owned by Fujitsu, reported no severe
damage. NEC, with facilities for selling semiconductors
and communication equipment, also suffered no severe damage.
The general consensus among chipmakers is that any minor
damage suffered in the earthquake will not affect the supply nor
price of computer chips and equipment.

Communication, however, was another story. Japanese firms suffered
the same problem as everyone else -- communication with their
Bay Area colleagues was impossible. Yokogawa Hewlett Packard
managed to connect with its parent Hewlett Packard through
private communication lines, but it reported temporary shutdowns
in its electronic network communication, which uses public phone
lines. Nihon Sun Microsystems was unable to contact its parent Sun
Microsystems in Silicon Valley.

Also, several electronic network services were unavailable from
Japan, due to the power failure in the San Francisco area.

(Ken Takahashi/19891019)


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

JOHN ANDERSON, POPULAR MAC EDITOR, DIES IN QUAKE}
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- On October
17, minutes after leaving Macromind, a software company located on
Townsend Street near Sixth in San Francisco, John Anderson, known
to his friends as "JJ," was killed by falling bricks from a building
which collapsed during the earthquake. Also killed was Derek
Van Alstyne, assistant technical editor at MacUser magazine.

Anderson, a veteran computer industry reporter previously with
Creative Computing and Computer Shopper, was senior editor
in electronic publishing at MacUser magazine at the time of his
death at age 33.

Anderson, whose home was in Boulder Creek, California, leaves
behind his wife and two small children and his parents in New Jersey.

A MacUser spokeswoman tells Newsbytes that calls of sympathy
have been coming into their Foster City, California MacUser offices from
all over the country. Expressing the views of many of his friends
at the magazine, she said, "He had a fabulous computer mind,
just a wonderful personality. He was liked by every person on
this staff."

Ziff Communications is in the process of setting up a memorial
fund for contributions to Anderson's family. A memorial service
is being planned for Anderson on a beach somewhere, since
he was always an avid fan of kites, and he "loved to go to the beach."

Derek van Alstyne, 22, assistant technical editor, was also
killed in the earthquake. He is described as a young, brilliant
computer person who was very enthusiastic about his job, and
who came to the Bay Area from Colorado. No further information about
his background was available at press time, but Ziff was expected
to issue a statement about the two victims on Monday.

(Wendy Woods/19891020)


(EXCLUSIVE)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00008)

WANK WORM ATTACKS NASA SPAN NETWORK}
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 16 (NB) -- On October
16, CERT (the Computer Emergency Response Team) received notice
of an on-going worm attack against NASA's DECnet computer network
by a group calling itself WANK, or Worms Against Nuclear Killers,
a group thought to be among those opposed to the NASA shuttle
launch of the nuclear-powered Galileo space probe.

Last year's so-called "Morris" attack on ARPAnet [Advanced
Research Projects Agency network], along with a November 28
attack on the MILNET system, prompted DARPA to establish the
CERT -- the Computer Emergency Response Team -- at the Software
Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. CERT's
purpose is to act as a central switchboard and coordinator for
computer security emergencies on ARPAnet and MILnet (MILitary
network) computers.

This current attack infected about 60 out of the total of 13,000
nodes on the DECnet network, affecting Digital Equipment
Computers only. The DECnet/Internet network consists of 2,700
SPAN (Space Physics Analysis Network) nodes, the Department of
Energy's High Energy Physics Network, and other systems.

The SPAN network is a part of the NSSDC or National Space Science
Data Center network which serves NASA, universities, and
independent researchers by making NASA databases available on
line.

CERT reported on October 17 that, despite interconnections
between TCP/IP and the affected VAX/VMS systems, the worm
couldn't migrate to systems using the TCP/IP protocols.

CERT also reports that this worm, designated the W.COM worm, is
very similar to last year's HI.COM or Father Christmas worm and
warns that, although the current attack has apparently been
stopped, "It is important to understand that someone in the
future could launch this worm on any DECnet-based network. Many
copies of the virus have been mailed around. Anyone running a
DECnet network should be warned."

R. Kevin Oberman from Lawrence Livermore National Labs said,
"This is a mean bug to kill and could have done a lot of damage.
Since it notifies (by mail) someone of each successful
penetration and leaves a trapdoor (the FIELD account), just
killing the bug is not adequate. You must go in and make sure all
accounts have passwords and that the passwords are not the same
as the account name."

Since this worm can attack any VMS DECnet system, VMS users
should note that a quick check for infection is to look for a
process name starting with "NETW_". This may be done with a SHOW
PROCESS command.

According to a NASA spokesperson, the 40 nodes (computer
stations) that were successfully attacked were vulnerable, not
because of any security fault in the operating system but due to
poor password security.

She went on to say that the attacker obtained user names for
privileged accounts (user names are not confidential), then tried
permutations or combinations of the user name to see if some
variant was being used as the password, and in those 40 cases
this technique resulted in correct passwords and system
penetration.

NASA emphasized that, contrary to reports on other news services,
the attack did not take place on the same TCP/IP (Transmission
Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) Department of Defense/
National Science Foundation network which succumbed to last
year's attack by the so-called "Morris worm," called that because
of the alleged perpetrator who was a graduate student at Cornell
University at the time of the attack.

Unlike last year's attack, which was against Unix-based networks
and did not affect the NASA DEC/VMS systems, the WANK attack was
targeted only at VMS operating system computers and did not
affect the Unix-based system.

Although no data was lost due to the WANK attack, any node
attacked would become unusable, resulting in a lot of lost
computing time as well as the expense of removing the worm which
operated by changing passwords, thus locking out the legitimate
users.

Prophetically, at the time of the 1988 attack on TCP/IP Unix
systems, Pat Sisson, SPAN Security Manager, said that a worm
attack against the VMS system was considered "a possibility, but
it would take a while."

(John McCormick/19891020/Press Contact: Carolynne White, Goddard
Space Flight Center, 301-286-8956)


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

HACKERS GETTING YOUNGER EVERY DAY}
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 17 (NB) -- According to a
United Press International report, a 14-year-old hacker has used
his inexpensive home computer to tap into Gold Card credit lines
at New York's Citibank.

To make matters worse, the youngster shared his data with others
through more than 60 electronic bulletin board systems across the
country.

Before he was apprehended, the boy, who allegedly broke
Citibank's access codes in August, bought more than $11,000 worth
of merchandise charged to stolen card accounts and shipped to a
mail drop at a private post office box. Authorities also
confiscated a CitiBank Gold Card issued in the boy's name with a
$10,000 credit limit and a $3,000 cash limit.

National credit agency TRW blew the whistle reporting a number of
illegal credit taps were originating from the boy's home
telephone number. The boy was arrested earlier this month but
police were forced to release him because there are no laws
allowing them to hold a juvenile suspect for a computer crime. A
Fresno police detective did indicate that the youngster's
computer has been confiscated and his parent may be liable for
the thefts.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020)


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

CA AND DEC FORM JOIN TO BUILD SYSTEM MGMT SOFTWARE}
GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- In a joint
announcement, Digital Equipment and Computer Associates
International have disclosed the formation of a strategic
alliance to co-develop system management software for the VAX/VMS
operating environment.

The agreement should also lead to joint marketing of Computer
Associates software such as the currently testing CA-NETMAN
version 1.2.

(John McCormick/19891020/Press Contact: Chris Maynard, CA, 516-
227-3300, ext. 7129, or Leland J. Katz, DEC, 508-490-0450)


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

LANDA TO CERTIFY NETWORK INSTALLERS}
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 19, (NB) -- In Thursday's
sessions at the Metro New York LANDEX, the Local Area Network Dealer's
Association (LANDA) announced a certification test for
local area network installers (LAN), value-added resellers (VARs),
and systems integrators.

LANDA Executive Director B.J. Crawford told Newsbytes News Service
that those who pass the test would be qualified to at least install
basic LANs, and understand more complex concepts of networking.

"The test will serve a three-fold purpose, " said Crawford. "It will
give end-users the ability to make a value judgement about LAN
dealers, it will provide education for system integrators
themselves, in that they will be able to tell what areas they are
weak in and can correct these through study, an third it provides
individuals with an opportunity to give themselves some good public
relations through being certified."

LANDA, based in Elmhurst, Illinois, counts more than 1,500 LAN
dealers and systems integrators among its members.

(Michael Fitzgerald/19891018/Press Contact: B.J. (Bud) Crawford,
LANDA, 312-279-2255)


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

PC EXPO GOES GLOBAL}
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 10 (NB) --PC EXPO New York
has a two-year agreement to participate in the U.S. Department of
Commerce's Foreign Buyer Program (FBP).

PC EXPO's size, potential for exports and international interest
were the key factors in Commerce's decision to name it part of the
FBP for the next two years. The term will begin with the 8th Annual
PC EXPO in 1990, and means that the Department of Commerce will
add the show to the list of those it promotes overseas.

"You have to have high export potential to become part of the
buyer's program," Annie Scully, public relations director for H.A.
Bruno, the producers of PC EXPO, told Newsbytes. "You also can't
be too focused in any one area."

"We're very excited at being picked," Scully continued. "The
Department of Commerce accepts a very limited number of shows into
its Buyer's Program."

Scully said that she had already received several foreign inquiries
about the show.

(Michael Fitzgerald/19891018/Press Contact: Annie Z. Scully, H.A.
Bruno, 201-569-8542 or 800-444-3967)


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

NEW BOOK LAUDS THE BEST AMERICAN MANUFACTURERS}
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 17 (NB) -- American
manufacturers can be as productive and efficient as the Japanese
competitors, and some already are, according to a new book.

Leroy D. "Pete" Peterson and Roy L.Harmon, both employees of Andersen
Consulting, in their new book, "Reinventing the Factory: Productivity
Breakthroughs in Manufacturing Today," (The Free Press, $35) provide
a case study that details how American -- and Western -- companies
can compete effectively in the global marketplace against the now-
feared Japanese.

The authors, who helped several Japanese companies establish just-
in-time supply systems in the early 1970s, bill the book as
outlining the factory of the future, a future that will heavily
emphasize automation. It consists of more than 100 case studies of
Western companies that function as effectively as any Japanese
company, and provides general guidelines both for managers and
production workers.

"Reinventing the Factory" is not expected to appear in stores until
the end of October. Peterson and Harmon will begin a promotional
tour on Monday, October 23, in Chicago.

(Michael Fitzgerald/19891018/Press Contact: Pam Locklin, Andersen
Consulting, 312-377-7400)


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

IBM, DEC TO ANNOUNCE NEW PRODUCTS ON SAME DAY}
MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 24 (NB) - Both International
Business Machines (IBM) and Digital Equipment
Corp. (DEC) will make important product announcements on Tuesday.
Each company is expected to introduce at least a new mainframe.

Hazel Wagner, a DEC spokesperson, would say only that "that's what
the rumors say," while and IBM spokesperson commented that there would
be "a large systems press briefing." IBM's representative did tell
Newsbytes that "this will not be an announcement for the mainframe
wristwatch that IBM is widely rumored to be working on."

Historically, DEC is not in the habit of calling a press conference
simply for one product, which indicates that the company will
release several new products. That the two companies scheduled
press conferences on the same day has raised some eyebrows. Wagner
told Newsbytes that DEC has scheduled its press conference some
time ago, whereas IBM chose Tuesday within the month.

"I think it's clear why they picked the same date as we did,"
Wagner told Newsbytes.

The IBM spokesman refused to comment on whether its product
announcement would relate to the company's Systems Application
Architecture strategy. He also refused comment on whether the
timing was spurred by last week's Tandem Cyclone mainframe
announcement, which Tandem calls an "IBM-killer."

(Michael Fitzgerald/19891020/Press Contact: Amos Kermisch, IBM,
914-642-5458; Joseph Codispoti, DEC, 508-493-6767)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(ATL)(00015)

ATLANTA: INITIAL INFORUM REVIEWS FAVORABLE}
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 17 (NB) -- John Portman's
Inforum trade center in downtown Atlanta, a high-tech
market originally designed to centralize computer wholesaling,
is now trying to host trade shows and be a magnet for other
show-goers at the Atlanta Market Center and World Congress
Center, both of which are just blocks away. The
mart also creates its own events to lure businessmen to the
center, and to convince major vendors they must rent showrooms.

Newsbytes recently talked with out-of-town reporters after a
tour of the facility, and their reviews are generally favorable.
The center's theater, conference rooms, showrooms and trade floor
are all first-class, they say, and General Manager Jim
Kranszuch's plans are intriguing. The biggest problem they see is
that Inforum is always compared or contrasted with the Dallas
Infomart, a 3-year old center which is now recreating itself
around vertical markets such as health care, manufacturing, and
publishing. Inforum's strategy is different, but since even the
names sound similar that point doesn't always get across.

The strategies of both Inforum and Infomart will be sorely tested
in any future economic downturn. Recessions usually justify or
kill companies whose story is they're a more efficient way to go.
Both Inforum and Infomart have been sold to manufacturers on that
premise, and as margins shrink vendors will decide whether the
claim is accurate.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891020)


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

IMPORT DUTY STIFLES AUSTRALIAN PC INDUSTRY}
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- In a country which imports
almost all PCs, either ready built or in knock-down form, one of the few
'component-up' manufacturers claims that customs laws are penalizing
local designers.

Managing director of Micro Byte Systems, Greg Watson, claims that his
company must pay an average of $100 extra on computer components while
ready assembled motherboards and computers attract no duty. "That $100
means $300 by the time the machine reaches the purchaser. Our customs
laws encourage manufacturers to add nothing more than 'screwdriver
value' to PCs."

(Paul Zucker/19891020)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BRU)(00017)

100 MILLION PREPAID PHONE CARDS SOLD}
BERNE, SWITZERLAND, 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- Landis & Gyr, the Swiss
industrial group, has sold its 100 millionth phone card through
Sodeco, its Geneva-based subsidiary. Sodeco was the first company
in Europe to begin marketing the prepaid phone cards, now known
by many different names, on a worldwide basis.

Today, Sodeco's phone cards are used in more than 20 countries
around the world, with major sales from the likes of Austria,
Belgium, Portugal, Switzerland, Turkey and the U.K.. Sales are
also on the increase in the U.S., and several African countries.

Sodeco's success appears to be due its use of optical coding
techniques, rather than the magnetic and thermal systems used by
the competition. According to the company, its optical system is
far more resilient to fraud than magnetic and thermal systems,
whilst being cheaper to produce than the smart cards in use in
some European countries, notably France and West Germany.

(Eric Dauchy/19891020)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BRU)(00018)

FRANCE REGROUPS ITS EDI EFFORTS}
PARIS, FRANCE, 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
took a few more steps towards becoming a universal replacement to
paper-based transactions last week, when a group of companies
agreed to set up a joint administration - EDI-France - to co-
ordinate the use of EDI technology in France.

EDI-France will be formally announced at the French EDI '89 fair
which opens in Paris on 7 November. The president of the new
group, according to Newsbytes' sources, will be Etienne Dreyfous,
an eminent figure in EDI circles in France and abroad.

In heading up EDI-France, Dreyfous will effectively control the
reins of two of France's biggest EDI users - the administration
(the French ministries of finance, public works, transport)
and the major industrial groups.

(Eric Dauchy/19891020)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00019)

UK: MINI OFFICE PROFESSIONAL FOR THE PCW RELEASED}
ADLINGTON, ENGLAND, 1989 OCT 21 (NB) -- Database Software will
release Mini Office Professional, an enhanced version of its
phenomenally successful integrated software package for the PC,
for the Amstrad PCW series, this week. The package will retail
for UKP 39-95.

To date, Mini Office Professional has notched up sales of 50,000
units. The package consists of five modules - word processor,
spreadsheet, database, graphics and communications. The Amstrad
PCW version excludes the spell-checker and thesaurus seen on Mini
Office Professional Plus, the latest version of the PC package,
but includes a free book worth UKP 11-95, plus a rewritten user
guide.

The book - All in one business computing' by John Hughes -
explains how to get the most out of Mini Office Professional. The
spell-checker and thesaurus modules are available to Amstrad PCW
users as an UKP 10 optional extra.

"Mini Office is a time proven package," said Chris Payne,
Database Software's marketing manager. "And with the
enhancements, particularly the book, it provides excellent value
for money for PCW users," he added.

(Steve Gold/19891021/Press Contact: Mike Cowley, Cape Cowley
Associates - Tel: [phone]; Public Contact: Chris Payne,
Database Software - Tel: [phone])


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

UK: STOS MUSICIAN FOR ATARI ST TO BE RELEASED}
ADLINGTON, ENGLAND, 1989 OCT 21 (NB) -- STOS, the games creation
package for the Atari ST, which is selling successfully on both
sides of the Atlantic, will get a add-on music module on 14
November, when STOS Musician is released.

STOS Musician, which will retail for UKP 19-95, is a music editor
that allows MIDI input into STOS and includes Games Galore, a
package that contains the winning packages in the STOS
games writer of the year awards: Skate Tribe, Sky Strike,
Mouthtrap and Yomo.

According to Chris Payne, Mandarin Software's marketing manager,
STOS Musician includes more than 100 tunes and jingles that can
be modified and used in games.

"We've had numerous letters asking for MIDI input into STOS and
this is the answer. One of the most powerful music editors for
the ST at an unbeatable price," he said. "There's even a routine
that allows STOS games to play music out to a MIDI keyboard just
like the popular Sierra Online games do," he added.

(Steve Gold/19891021/Press & Public : Chris Payne, marketing
manager, Mandarin Software - Tel: [phone])


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

COMMODORE'S COMING A3000 SHARES NAME WITH ACORN}
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 OCT 21 (NB) -- Newsbytes' recent story over
the two forthcoming models in the Amiga A3000 series attracted
the interest of one of Newsbytes' licensees, Micronet 800 on
Prestel in the UK.

One of Micronet's readers spotted the fact that 3000 was the name
of one of the proprietary RISC chip-based Archimedes machines
from Acorn Computers in the UK. On hearing of this, Micronet's
news editor, Ian Burley, immediately contacted Mike Page of Acorn,
who had this to say:

"We don't really know what Commodore is going to call this new
machine, although it's clear that a lot of people are calling it
an A3000. Of course this is of concern to Acorn and we will be
talking to Commodore about it."

Acorn does appear to have a case for claiming the name as its
own, since its Archimedes series is now being distributed outside
of the UK, notable in Australia and Canada. Micronet quotes
Jennifer Perry, Commodore UK's communications manager, as saying
that Acorn has nothing to worry about.

"I think it's a big compliment to Commodore that Acorn chose the
A3000 name after the success of the Amiga A1000, A500 and A2000,"
she said.

Intriguingly, Micronet said that it couldn't get any confirmation
from Jennifer Perry, but noted: "Don't be too surprised if the
3000 isn't launched as a '3000' or even, perhaps, as an Amiga."

Following on from these comments, Newsbytes went back to its
sources on the Amiga story. Our contact with Commodore stands by
his story. "It's definitely going to be an Amiga, although
Commodore may opt for an A4000 title to avoid any hassle with
Acorn over the name. With its cash resources, however, Commodore
could easily steam roller Acorn out of the way, although that
isn't their style," he said.

(Steve Gold/19891021)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00022)

PFU OFFERS 32-BIT PC}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 17 (NB) -- PFU, a subsidiary of Fujitsu, has
released a 32-bit personal computer PFUC-385RX, more powerful
than its previous PFUC-285RX released in February of this year.

The new model runs either its original CAS or MS-DOS operating
system, and does both by adopting dual microprocessors -- a 16-bit 28
megahertz MN1617X and a 32-bit 20 megahertz 80386. The built-in
two-megabyte main memory is expandable to 10-megabytes.

The price is 1,090,000 yen ($7,520) with two 5-inch floppy drive
units and a 40-megabyte hard drive unit. PFU is scheduled to
ship the new model in December this year.

Matsushita Electric Industrial also will receive the new model
from PFU on an original equipment manufacturing basis and will
release it under a brand name of Panacom M8000 Operate in January
next year.

PFU, furthermore, has announced its PCSS (personal computer server
system) architecture which exploits the power of a personal
computer in a network. At the same time, the firm has set up a
PCSS Consulting Center in its headquarters, where it will give
advice and guidance for companies which aim to use personal
computers strategically in a network.

(Ken Takahashi/19891019)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00023)

NEC PLANS MAJOR CHANGE IN COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 17 (NB) -- In the arena of technology,
product life cycles are getting shorter and shorter. So may see a
move by NEC to change its 16-year-old computer architecture as
well overdue.

Since the introduction of AS/400 series by IBM Japan, office
computers come in a wide range of models, from low-end models which
perform workstations to the high-end models which performs
like general-purpose minicomputers. Fujitsu followed IBM and
wisely made a successful generation shift with the release of K
series.

NEC launched the upper-end model, System 3100 90A, to keep up with
the change in the industry last year. But, the series itself
became antiquated and NEC's market share was eaten up by Fujitsu this
year.

Consequently NEC has decided to upgrade its office computer
series by completely rewriting the architecture of the ITOS operating
system. The new operating system will be compatible with the first
product released in 1973 but will have changes in memory capacity and
expansion of address space.

NEC has also announced new workstations, N5200 model
27LA and N5300AD II. The model 27LA is a laptop machine equipped
with an Intel 80386SX, and it has a 1120 by 780 dot black and
white liquid crystal display unit, a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive
and a 40 megabyte hard disk drive. The price of the machine is
898,000 yen or $6,190 and shipment is expected in November.

The N5300 AD II has a 1720 by 2368 dot gray scale display unit and
a 20 megahertz 80386 and is priced at 1,040,000 yen or $7,170.
Shipment of this machine is scheduled in February next year.

The office computer market is worth an estimated 600 billion
yen in Japan, and a 20 percent annual growth rate is expected to
continue for the next few years.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891019)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00024)

NEC ADOPTS CD-ROM FOR 8-BIT MACHINE}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 13 (NB) -- Both to extend
the life of 8-bit technology and to smash down Fujitsu's FM-Towns,
a 32-bit machine with a standard CD-ROM (compact disk-read only
memory) drive, NEC and NEC Home Electronics have jointly
revealed the NEC PC-8801 MC, the world's first 8-bit machine with a
standard CD-ROM drive.

NEC is offering the computer in several configurations -- one with the
standard CD-ROM drive and another with a CD-ROM drive as an option.
The machine with standard CD-ROM is priced 199,000 yen or $1,370
and the machine without the medium is priced for 169,000 yen or
$1,165.

Around 1,500 kinds of software packages are available for the
machine and NEC will bundle the new machine with a free CD-ROM
package called "CD Treasury Box" which bundles 54 kinds of
software, such as games and a practice program for English
conversation. Also, NEC claims it will provide five CD-ROM
packages by the end of this year and another five packages by
March, 1990.

On the other hand, NEC also will sell the PC-8801 EE2, the
successor of the PC8801EE which was released last October, for
119,000 yen or $820. NEC expects 60,000 units of sales together
with the MC and EE2.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891019)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00025)

TANDEM CYCLONE UNLEASHED AT IBM 3090}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- Concurrently with announcements
in the U.S., U.K. and Japan, Tandem Computers has announced its
high-end model of the NonStop series. The NonStop Cyclone,
which the firm calls an "On-line Mainframe," is expected to be
shipped in January, 1990.

The parallel processing machine requires at least four CPUs
(central processing units) and the configuration is expandable to
16 CPUs. With the configuration of 16 CPUs, the machine has
performs at 160 MIPS (million instructions per second).

The operating system is the same as the current Guardian 90, and
is compatible with the predecessors such as VLX and CLX.

The low-end version of the machine, the 904E, with four CPUs, is
priced at 620 million yen or $4.27 million and the high-end model
916, with the 16 CPUs, is priced 3.1 billion yen or $21.38 million.

Tandem is expecting to fight against IBM 3090 with the latest
machine and is marketing to the financial, distribution, and VAN
(value added network) service industries. It is expecting to sell 50
units in the initial year.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891019)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00026)

CA'S CHARLES WANG RETURNS TO ASIA}
CENTRAL, HONGKONG, 1989 OCT 17 (NB) -- Computer Associates
announced today that the chairman and chief executive officer of CA
International will be returning to Asia for his first visit
since he left China 37 years ago.

It is planned that Mr Wang will meet industry leaders in
Hongkong, Singapore and Malaysia.

Local Cullinet users are looking forward to the opportunity to
hear about CA's plans for support in the region following the
takeover of the company a couple of months ago.

"It will be a rare chance to hear one of the most influential
men in the software industry," says Maria Santos, CA's regional
manager and veteran of the IT industry in Hongkong, "We
believe the best approach to the market is to listen to
clients' requirements. Next month's sessions will give users a
unique opportunity to interact directly with Charles Wang and
help shape the company's future."

(Keith Cameron/19891020)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00027)

CANADA TO GET NATIONAL BUSINESS SHOW}
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- Toronto will be the
site next May of Canada's first National Business Show, produced
by Connelly Exhibitions of Ottawa, Ontario. Ron Connelly,
president of the 12-year-old company, told a press conference he
expects more than 25,000 people will attend the first event. It
will include computer and communications vendors as well as
office equipment and supplies and business services.

A conference accompanying the show will include a CEO focus group
of corporate executives, as well as product application seminars,
mainly presented by vendors, Connelly said. The company plans to
encourage associated events, such as concurrent conferences put
on by industry associations. While the show may not be
specialized enough for some computer professionals, Connelly
said, it will "address the needs of probably 80 to 90 percent of
the businesses who are out there looking for computer products
and services."

Connelly already produces the Canadian High Technology Show, an
electronics-oriented show which took place this week in Toronto,
and other events including the regional Ottawa Business Show.

(Grant Buckler/19891020/Press Contact: Ron Connelly, Connelly
Exhibitions, 613-731-9850)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00028)

CANADA: STANDARDS BODY SEEKS JARGON BUSTERS}
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- If you're
knowledgeable in some area of information technology, the
Standards Council of Canada wants a word with you. The national
standards body is seeking volunteers for its Canadian Advisory
Committee on Terminology, which is trying to define a bilingual
information technology vocabulary. Volunteers would work within
the terminology subcommittee of the joint International Standards
Organization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission
(IEC) technical committee. The council wants people who know
about office automation, informatics, open systems
interconnection, expert systems, computer-aided manufacturing or
databases. Anyone interested should contact Nicole Dandurand at
the Terminology Directorate, Secretary of State, Ottawa K1A 0M5,
or telephone [phone].

(Grant Buckler/19891020/Press Contact: Lesly Bauer or Pierre
Charland, Standards Council of Canada, 613-238-3222)


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

CHICAGO TO TAX SOFTWARE SALES}
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 16 (NB) --Chicago may join the
ranks of governing bodies that tax software sales. Mayor Richard
J. Daley today presented a budget to the City Council that included
a provision to tax software sales in city stores.

Prior to this time, the city treated all software as educational
material, and thus exempt from taxation. The proposed tax would
cover sales of commercial software. Software developed specifically
for a corporation by independent consultants would not be taxed.

(Michael Fitzgerald/19891019/Press Contact : Ed Bedore, City of
Chicago, 312-744-6670)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00002)

DEC/RAYTHEON DELIVER SPACEY COMPUTER TO NASA}
NATICK, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- Digital
Equipment has today announced delivery of a militarized version
of the commercial VAX 6000 series computer technology to NASA.

As part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's
Data Systems Experiment, the system, developed by Raytheon
Company, a Digital licensee, will be launched on future shuttle
missions.

(John McCormick/19891020/Press Contact: Frank Donovan, Digital,
603-884-4489)


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

AND THE NASA/AMES CONTRACT WINNER IS...}
EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA U.S.A., 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- Computer
Sciences Corp. (CSC) has been selected by NASA/Ames Research
Center for a software services contract valued at $170 million.

The contract, which is effective January 1, 1990, calls for CSC
to provide software support for all of the organizational
elements at NASA/Ames.

Computer Sciences' Applied Technology Division will perform the
contract which covers a three-year base performance period and
options for two one-year renewals. The contract was initially
awarded to CSC in November 1988 at which time a protest by the
incumbent, Sterling Software (Dallas, Texas) sent the award to
the General Services Board of Contract Appeals. In March, the
Board required a reevaluation of the bidder's proposals which
NASA has completed, again awarding the contract to CSC.

Sterling Software has officially requested a NASA debriefing
about the award to determine whether or not to file another
protest in the matter. Commenting on this matter, CSC spokesman
Jim Furlong told Newsbytes that while requesting a debriefing to
learn what went wrong in order to avoid making the same mistake
in future contract bids is not uncommon, if Sterling Software
files another protest, it will again delay the start of CSC's
contract by at least the 45 days the General Services Board of
Contract Appeals is allotted to uphold or deny the protest.

Furlong stated to Newsbytes: "We believe we've quite legitimately
won the contract twice ."

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020/Press Contact: Jim Furlong, Computer
Sciences Corp., 213-615-0311)


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

STERLING SOFTWARE OUT OF NASA CONTRACT BID}
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- NASA has notified
the Federal Systems Group of Sterling Software that its proposal
on a software services contract at NASA/Ames Research Center is
no longer being considered.

Sterling was originally told back in November 1988 that its bid
was unsuccessful based solely on price. After a debriefing at
NASA/Ames, Sterling filed a protest of the contract award to
another bidding contending that Sterling's bid had, in fact, been
the lowest.

In March 1989, the General Services Board of Contract Appeals
upheld Sterling's protest and directed NASA/Ames to reopen
negotiations with both Sterling and the other bidder. Following
another review, Sterling was informed that the findings still
indicated the other bidder's costs were judged to be lower.

Sterling spokesman Ray Hannon told Newsbytes that after this
latest finding, Sterling has once again formally requested a
debriefing. "The exact date of the debriefing has not been set
but these things usually take place within a week or two of the
request so it should happen next week or the week after," Hannon
said. "Based on that debriefing, the executives at Sterling
Software will decide whether or not to file another protest."

Sterling continues to provide services to NASA/Ames under seven
separate contracts including its recently extended supercomputer
operations contract valued at $40 million.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020/Press Contact: Ray Hannon, Sterling
Software, 214-891-8600)


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

FILENET DEFAULTS ON CALIF CONTRACT}
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- FileNet
Corporation has been declared in default on its contract with the State
of California regarding equipment sold to the State earlier this
year.

The contract with California's Uniform Commercial Code division
for a $1.4 million system to store the division's paperwork on
optical disk was the company's largest ever. The system has been
a problem from the beginning in the spring of this year when it
failed to work as promised and caused a two-month backlog for
commercial title searches done by the state. The equipment was
first installed in April and taken out of service within weeks
because problems with both the hardware and software rendered the
system ineffective.

According to Ted Smith, FileNet's president, California is being
unreasonable in demanding that the computer system be restarted
by November 1. FileNet has been working with California
throughout the summer to solve the problems but Smith adds that
the State has asked for additional changes not within the
contract parameters. Smith has estimated that the earliest the
system could be operational would be in the first part of 1990.

A spokesman for California denies that any changes requested were
beyond the contract. While Smith claims that the State violated
the contract by refusing to take the dispute to mediation,
California says that the situation was brought before the State's
Department of Procurement and that satisfies the mediation
requirement.

FileNet has set aside $2.5 million to cover losses associated
with the contract but will report a loss in third quarter as a
result of the contract default. The company is currently
consulting its lawyers to determine whether or not a lawsuit
against the State of California is in order.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020)


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

GUILTY PLEA FROM MAN SHIPPING COMPUTER TO EAST BLOC}
PORTLAND, OREGON, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- William Arthur
Russell a.k.a. William Arthur Roessl, a Texas resident, has pleaded
guilty in Federal Court to charges that he attempted to ship a
high-speed computer to Hungary via Canada and West Germany.

In June, Russell (Roessl) bought an FPS Model 164-100 array
processor and software from undercover US Customs Agents posing
as FPS salesmen at the FPS plant in Beaverton, OR.

The judge has set December 11 for sentencing. Russell (Roessl)
faces up to five years in prison, a fine of $250,000 and three
years supervised release. Under plea bargain terms, it is
expected that the government will recommend a sentence ranging
from probation to eight months in prison.

Russell (Roessl) was originally also charged with knowingly
attempting to export a commodity on the Commerce Department's
control list and with money-laundering as a result of his sending
money into the country to buy the computer. His lawyer found an
amendment to the federal law that allows re-export to Western
European nations without a federal license which meant that his
shipments to Canada and West German were within bounds.

Roessl founded Baby Blue Computers in Alameda, California in
the mid-80s, a company which claimed to sell a rock-bottom-priced
IBM compatible. The company is alleged to have taken orders and cash
for the units but never delivered product, according to Newsbytes
sources.

(Janet Endrijonas & Wendy Woods/19891020)


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

LAW FIRM SPEAKS OUT OVER COPYRIGHT DECISION}
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- The Melbourne Law firm,
Clayton Utz, says that the Australian software industry may be an
endangered species, forcing small cloning companies out of the market
after a recent Federal Court decision.

Two months ago US software company Autodesk won a case in Australia
over the alleged infringement of copyright on the AutoCad lock because a
local device had the same function even though the design was different.
Therefore, Clayton Utz claims, any clone program which copies the
function of another program could be infringing copyright.

Clayton Utz partner Anna Sharpe said, "We now have a situation in which
the very foundation of our software development is threatened and the
future of many software companies and the jobs they create are at risk.
Many programs now on the market could vanish and others which are being
developed may not come to fruition because of the uncertainty which the
decision has created."

The US Software Publishers Association, meanwhile, has released
figures which confirm the suggestion that the Australian software
industry is dominated by a few major players. Twenty US companies sell
70 percent of all software in Australia. International Data Corporation
estimates the Australian software market to be worth more than US$600M
annually.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia)


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

QUEENSLAND STATE GOVERNMENT LURES MULTINATIONALS}
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- The government of Australian
state Queensland has launched its Technology Quadrangle program in an
effort to attract expertise and employment opportunities from
multinational companies.

Some of the companies already involved include Digital, Unisys, NEC,
Integrated Memory Systems, Helios Piiceon and Orion Systems. Digital is
committed to moving its national research and development to state
capital Brisbane, a move which should bring 100 new jobs. IBM, Sun and
BHA are also indirectly contributing to the program by providing
AUS$25000 a year to Queensland University's Key Centre for Software
Technology. Unisys hopes to raise AUS$1/2M for university projects
through the marketing of jointly developed products.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19891020)


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

AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY EXPECTS $24.5m UPGRADE}
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- The Australian bureau of
meteorology will shortly call tenders for numerous upgrades to its
communications, computers, networks and software. Scheduled for around
1992, the mainframes will replace Fujitsu and ETA machines.

The project is designed to keep long-range forecasting in line with
advanced techniques in Europe and North America. It is expected that OSI
standards will be adopted with Unix as the preferred operating system.

(Paul Zucker/19891020)


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

AUSTRALIA: ENCUMBERED CAR REGISTER WIDENS COVERAGE}
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- By January next year,
the NSW state register of encumbered vehicles (REVs) will also cover
Canberra and the Northern Territory. The database maintains data on
vehicles which are encumbered by banks and finance companies. Motor
dealers and the public can access the system to check that a potential car
purchase is clear of finance agreements, is properly registered and is not
listed as stolen.

In the three years since the system was introduced over one million
enquiries have been made. Improvements to the system have brought
remote access (via modem and PC or terminal) response times to a few
seconds.

(Peter Nolan & Computing Australia/19891020)


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

EUROPE: COMRAC WINS BIG SOVIET PC CONTRACT}
HOOFDDORP, THE NETHERLANDS, 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- Comrac Systems has
secured a major contract with the Soviet Union over the supply of
PCs. Terms of the contract call for the Dutch company to supply
18,000 PCs to banks, universities and general industry in the
Soviet Union.

The contract is a follow-up to a previous deal - worth DG 3.8
million ($1,9 million) - with the Soviet Academy of Sciences.
That contract called for Comrac and Agri International to jointly
finance the delivery of 500 PCs to the Soviet academy.

In line with Cocom regulations, Comrac's PCs supplied to the
Soviets are all XT and AT-compatibles, manufactured at a plant
near Moscow using parts sourced from Taiwan.

Comrac was founded 10 years ago and is owned by Ge Beekmans, the
company's founder. The company has just four staff and
concentrates on importing and exporting computer hardware and
software.

Beekmans fights shy of talking to the media, proffering the excuse
that he does not want to give any trade secrets away. Because his
company is privately owned, no details of its trading position
are known. Beekmans describes his company as "profitable."

Seventy percent Comrac's PC components are sourced from the Far
East, with the remainder purchased from the US. Comrac retails
its products in Europe via distributors.

Interestingly, Beekmans tried for the East European market once
before in 1979. The project, which involved selling large
systems, went sour, owing to the then US President Jimmy Carter's
policies.

(Eric Dauchy/19891020)


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

COCOM TROUBLES EASTERN EUROPE CAD USERS}
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- Technologically-aware
companies in the Eastern Bloc claim they are penalized by Cocom,
the Western government-appointed technology watch-dog, computer
aided design (CAD) systems users are claiming.

"We cannot be offered the best computers from the West," 29-year
old Michale Klimes, who runs the CAD division of Form, a
Czechoslovakian company, told a Western newspaper.

"But we are offered acceptable computers which can be supplied
under Cocom rules. I think we pay high prices for them because we
do not have enough competition," he added.

Despite the problems of obtaining and maintaining CAD technology
behind the Iron Curtain, Form is trading successfully, Klimes
said. Its main computer system was supplied by Norsk Data, he
said.

"We could have got our computers from ZPA in Czechoslovakia but
they are in short supply and tend to be unreliable. ZPA make
Hewlett-Packard compatible equipment, but their hardware tends to
have more downtime," he added.

Form's Norsk-sourced system was supplemented with workstations
from Sysgraph of Austria. A Hitachi monitor and a Sharp printer
completed the hardware set-up.

Problems with Cocom only surfaced when Form purchased CAD
software from Kongsberg, a Norwegian company which has since
ceased trading, after it was found to be breach of Cocom rules in
exporting high-technology equipment and software to the Soviet
Union. Form eventually had to return the software, after a
dispute over the license.

Klimes is deeply dissatisfied with the slow progress of the Czech
authorities towards a more open economic climates. "I guess
things will not fully change for companies here until we have a
different type of thinking in government, and our currency
becomes more easily convertible," he said.

(Eric Dauchy/19891020)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(TYO)(00013)

JAPAN'S MITI COMPUTERIZES OPERATIONS WITH NEC }
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- The Ministry of International Trade
and Industry or MITI will introduce 950 laptop computers and 190
sets of printers and modems from NEC, in a project aimed at
speeding routine documentation work. Several computer firms,
including Seiko-Epson, Matsushita and Fujitsu, bid on the job but
NEC won.

MITI eventually hopes to provide one computer for each officer, but
after receipt of the NEC equipment, one in three MITI officers will
have a computer.

Currently, MITI's computer system handles such tasks as providing
economic information, personnel records, and conference room
registration, but computers are expected to be employed in other
administrative tasks and as a legal database.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891019)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(HKG)(00014)

INDIAN GOVERNMENT ENTERS RETAIL PC MARKET WITH A VENGEANCE}
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1989 OCT 1 (NB) -- In a determined effort to
increase the use of personal computers in the country, the
Indian Government has announced plans to manufacture and sell
IBM compatible 8088-based PCs through its own company,
Electronic Trade and Technology Development (ET&T).

The machines will be retailed for $570, and the Government
expects to sell one million over the next five years. Although
the price may not appear as a bargain-basement price to the
Western world, where 8088's are now inexpensive, in India
tariff protection loads some sub-assemblies by 340 percent. An
average PC could suffer total duties of 110 percent.

Presently locally-manufactured PC cost at least twice the
Government price and Indian manufacturers are concerned that
service and support will be lacking in the Government's
offerings. Mr P.S. Deodhar, chairman of ET&T, believes it is
not a threat to the local industry. According to him the idea
is to let most middle-class people who are interested have a go
at the PC.

Mr Deodhar stated that the Government has permitted ET&T to
provide loans of up to $2,750 to every Government official to
assist in the purchase of a PC and software.

According to an editorial in the regional publication, IT Asia,
a better solution would be to offer incentives to foreign
manufacturers to set up highly automated plants in India.
The problem with this approach that it may be
wrongly perceived to further aggravate the unemployment
problem.

Indian industry has a complex dilemma in that to utilise a
process which employs many workers is socially desirable, but
to remain competitive on the world markets it is endeavoring
to enter, productivity and the resultant improvement on quality
control that modern technology brings, it must update its
production methods. It is an unenviable Catch 22, and perhaps a
low end entry point system will at least create an awareness
and new jobs in the interim period while manufacturers
introduce more sophistication.

(Keith Cameron/19891020)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(HKG)(00015)

ICL BOOSTS CONFIDENCE IN HONGKONG - ESTABLISHES ASIAN BASE}
WANCHAI, HONGKONG, 1989 OCT 17 (NB) -- British computer giant,
International Computers (ICL), has given the business world a
confidence boost by deciding to establish its Asian
headquarters in Hongkong.

Previously its Asian-Pacific headquarters was based in Sydney,
Australia, but with this new restructuring the Asian division
has been spun off to an independent operation. The division
will cover the markets in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China,
Hongkong, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia,
Indonesia and Brunei.

Former ICL Hongkong managing director, Dennis Haines, has been
appointed to the position of Asian president and former ICL
India managing director, David Beesley, takes over
responsibility for Hongkong and Macau.

ICL's international president, Ninian Eadie, said that ICL
Australia had been a poor performer in recent years and this
may have been a distracting factor in expanding Asian markets
under the previous structure. He said the company had
considered taking the operation to Singapore because of the
June massacre in Beijing and the resultant confidence crisis in
Hongkong, but eventually it was decided that Hongkong was more
centrally located in the region.

(Keith Cameron/19891020)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00001)

SHARP OFFERS 32-BIT PC WITH 14-INCH COLOR LCD}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 17 (NB) -- Sharp will ship the 32-bit
PC-8041 personal computer in December with a 14-inch color liquid
crystal display (LCD). The machine has an 80386 central processing
unit and is compatible with IBM PC/AT without Japanese functions.
The 14-inch color LCD is based on DST (double-supertwist) method
and has 640 by 480 dot resolution.

Sharp plans to ship 2,000 units of the machine a month initially
in Japan, and will start production of the machine in the same
quantity in February next year in the U.S. By March next year,
Sharp expects to add Japanese function, so-called AX standard, to
the machine. The price of the machine is 998,000 yen or $6,880.
The sale price in the U.S. has not been released.

On the other hand, Sharp will also put on sale a 16-bit AX
personal computer in December. With two floppy disk
drives, AX286D-F is priced at 278,000 yen or $1,915 and the model
AX286D-FH with a 40 megabytes hard disk drive and a floppy disk
drive is priced at 458,000 yen or $3,160.

Sharp sold 10,000 units of its AX machines last year but to do three
times more business this year.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891019)


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

AMD READIES FOR TURBO 80286 PC REVOLUTION}
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, 1989 OCT 21 (NB) -- Advanced Micro Devices
(AMD), the Sunnyvale, California-based chip manufacturer, is
readying 20 amd 25MHz versions of the Intel 80286 microprocessor
for shipment in the first quarter of 1990.

Ed Valleau, AMD's manager of corporate applications, told
Newsbytes that 100-up quantities of a 16Mhz 80286 microprocessor
price in at $53, with 20MHz and 25MHz pricing expected to be in
the same range.

"Compared to this, the book price for 100-up 16MHz 80386
microprocessors from Intel is in the three to four hundred
dollars range. There's a considerable saving to be hand by opting
for a high-speed 286 chip in a PC in place of 16MHz 386
microprocessor," he said.

"It's also worth noting that an 80286 microprocessor is faster
than the same-speed 80386 version. At 20 and 25MHz, the 80286
microprocessors are substantially faster than the 16MHz 80386
series," he added.

AMD currently has 100 applications engineers on-site working with
third-party PC manufacturers on the development of high-speed
80286-based PCs, that will be launched in the first quarter of
1990. Valleau refused to be drawn, however, on the identity of
the companies concerned.

"Yes, our engineers are working on slotting in 20 and 25MHz 80286
microprocessors in third-party PCs, but I can't tell you who
these companies are," he said.

Interestingly, Valleau predicts that the turbo 80286
microprocessors - on license from Intel - will form the basis of
a new generation of 80286-based machines, as powerful as the
80386 series, but at much lower prices.

"Prices for fast machines, using the high-speed 80286 chips, will
be a lot less than for the equivalent 80386-based machines," he
said. "You can't have a commodity market for 80386-based PCs
whilst ever Intel is the sole supplier of the 386 microprocessor. With
the multiple sourcing of the 80286 microprocessor, a competitive
market is feasible," he added.

(Steve Gold/19891021/Press & Public Contact: Ed Valleau, AMD -
Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00003)

COMPAQ DELIVERS TWO SIX POUNDERS}
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 16 (NB) -- Compaq has
introduced the first two notebook-sized laptop computers offering
full PC compatibility in units measuring 8.5 x 11 inches, 2
inches high and weighing 6 pounds including batteries.

The Compaq LTE/286 and Compaq/LTE provide a high speed 20- or 40-
megabyte fixed disk drive, a 3.5-inch 1.44 megabyte diskette drive, an
80-key keyboard with 101-key compatibility, over 3.5 hours
battery life and an optional 2400 bps internal modem. Prices for
these two notebook-sized laptops range from $2,499 to $4,999
depending upon options.

In a related announcement, Compaq lowered the price of the Compaq
Portable 386. The price for the Portable/386 Model 40 has been
lowered from $7,999 to $6,999 while the Model 110 goes from
$9,999 to $7,999. Compaq has also announced it is discontinuing
the Compaq Portable II which has been on the market since its
introduction in early 1986.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020/Press Contact: Bob Beach, Compaq, 713-
374-4616)


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00004)

PC TO BE ELECTRONIC CASH REGISTER}
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- SoftPoint Inc.
of San Jose, Calif., will preview its first commercial package,
a software cash register, at Comdex/Fall '89 in Las Vegas --
in the Riviera Hotel Booth 8225. The SoftPoint package allows
any IBM-compatible PC to emulate and surpass the functions
of an electronic cash register. A typical SoftPoint
configuration -- including an IBM-compatible PC-XT with 640K RAM,
a 20MB hard disk, a monochrome monitor, a 40-column receipt
printer, and a cash drawer -- might be sold at retail for $3,195.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891020/Press Contact: J. Bunker & Associates,
Jim Bunker, 415-889-9000)


(EXCLUSIVE)(IBM)(SFO)(00005)

BROWN BAG SOFTWARE NO LONGER OFFERED BY PC-SIG}
CAMPBELL, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 21 (NB) -- As of October
26, you won't be able to buy Brown Bag Software products, including
PC-Outline, through PC-SIG and PC-SIG dealers worldwide.

Brown Bag Software, which generally distributes its programs via
ShareWare as a "try it before you buy it" scheme, has terminated
PC-SIG's distribution of its programs because, according to
Brown Bag President Sandy Schupper, PC-SIG failed to abide by the
distribution agreement, published incorrect prices of the programs,
shipped obsolete versions of the products, showed what Brown Bag
Software calls "favoritism" in its promotion and exposure of
products competing with those of Brown Bag Software, and may have
caused a German-language user manual for Brown Bag Software's PC-
Outline product to be published, with the PC-SIG logo on the cover
and without permission, in Germany.

Richard Petersen, president of PC-SIG in Sunnyvale, California, tells
Newsbytes, "I don't believe we're in violation of any agreement with
Brown Bag. We try not to show favoritism, but he clearly wanted us
to show it on his products. We're sorry to see his products go and
we'll miss them in our shareware library."

PC-SIG is voluntarily taking it out of the library. Several thousand
copies of PC-Outline have been sold through PC-SIG.

(Wendy Woods/19891021)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00006)

IBM EARNINGS DISSAPOINT; STOCK RISES}
ARMONK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 16 (NB) -- IBM reported
disappointing results for the third quarter of 1989. The world's
largest computer maker said net earnings fell 29.7 percent from a
year earlier, dropping from $1.2 billion to $877 million. Despite the
drop, IBM's stock price rose during the wee, one rumors that
the company plans to buy back up to $1 billion worth of its 582.8
million outstanding shares.

The drop continued what has been a roller coaster year for IBM's
earnings. Earnings for the second quarter were up 39 percent from a
year earlier, while first quarter earnings had been down 23.9 percent
from the same period in 1988.

Third quarter's lower earnings came despite higher total revenues.
IBM gets its revenue through hardware and software sales, as well
as support and service contracts and rentals and financing. This
year's third quarter totals were $14.3 billion, up 4.3 percent from
last year's 13.7 billion.

IBM blamed the earnings drop on a stronger U.S. dollar and
increased leasing activity on the part of customers. IBM Chairman
John Akers told members of the press that, despite the sharp drop
in earnings, he saw no reason for IBM to alter its sales strategy.

IBM also released its total revenues for the year-to-date. Through
September 30, the company has $42.2 billion in sales, a 6.5 percent
increase over 1988's three quarter total. Net earnings were off
 8.4 percent for the nine months ended September 30th.

(Michael Fitzgerald/19891020/Press Contact: Peter Thonis, IBM, 914-
765-6565)



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

IBM AWARDS $1.9 MILLION TO 19 SCHOOLS}
ARMONK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 17 -- IBM announced that it would
give $100,000 each in cash and equipment to 19 colleges and
universities. The grants are part of a five-year, $25 million
educational program IBM started on May third

Under this portion of the IBM grant program, colleges and
universities receiving grants are expected to make efforts that
will develop innovative approaches to using information technology.

The grants include a networked laboratory of Personal System/2
(PS/2) workstations, IBM educational software and provision for
training an technical support from IBM. The schools will use the
materials and support to conduct courses for undergraduates and for
continuing education courses for kindergarten through 12th grade
teachers.

These grants bring to 24 the total number of colleges to receive
a grant from IBM. The first five were awarded in September.

(Michael Fitzgerald/19891020/Press Contact: Barbara Bickerman, IBM,
914-697-6516)


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

MAGIX 4.0 AVAILABLE}
EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 17 (NB) -- Advanced
Software Technologies has announced the release of MAGIX version
4.0.

MAGIX is a multiuser database software for PC LANs that supports
over 250 workstations without certain performance sacrifices
often associated with PC LAN software. The program runs on
standard PC workstation and LAN server hardware. The new version
includes support for over 250 workstations, IBM Micro Channel
architecture and coexistence of MS-DOS on a workstation within
the MAGIX environment.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020/Press Contact: Patrick Panzarella,
Advanced Software Technologies, 213-322-4440)


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

NEW SQL SOFTWARE FROM SOFTWARE PRODUCTS INT'L}
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 16 (NB) -- Software
Products International has announced Access SQL, a relational
database management system (DBMS) for PCs to provide full
Structured Query Language (SQL) capabilities for both novice and
advanced users.

Access SQL will be available in December. It is a forms-based
DBMS for PCs that provides access to multiuser data through
forms-based queries and full support of SQL. The program
operates under Microsoft Window.

Access SQL for one to four users has a suggested user edition
price of $1,595 and can operate on any IBM PC or compatible with
at least 1.5 megabytes of RAM. A four station add-on pack sells for
$595. The company has indicated that foreign language versions
will be available in early 1990.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020/Press Contact: Belinda Young, Miller
Communications, 213-822-4669)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BRU)(00010)

SOFTWARE AG VS IBM : DAVID VS GOLIATH}
WIESBADEN, WEST GERMANY, 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- Software AG is confident
that it can overcome IBM's DB2 product with Adabas, its own
superior product, according to Peter Pag, Software AG's
president. This bold claim was made by Pag during a user meeting
in West Germany recently.

Software AG's strategy is to become a true alternative to IBM as
far as its users are concerned. This bold plan comes at a time
when even Big Blue itself is looking for partners in the software
industry.

Pag is convinced of the technical superiority of Adabas over DB2.
Both IBM and Software AG are competing for a slice of the
lucrative RDBMS (relational database management system) software
market. Previously, the RDBMS market was dominated by companies
such as ADR and Cullinet, both of whom lost ground to lack of
investment in new technology.

Pag's confidence comes from the financial security that Software
AG enjoys. Last year, the company bought its US subsidiary's
share back on the US market. "We like to do things our way, the
German way which is more prudent and conservative than American
management style who go for quarterly results" a high-ranking
Software AG official told Newsbytes. Software AG now retains full
control of its future.

At the end of the year, Software AG will introduce Adabas Entire,
a new RDBMS package with enhanced functions for the expert
systems environments. Adabas Entire uses its own natural expert
language (NEL) in preference to the Lisp and Prolog languages
seen in competing packages. NEL is a variant of the company's
Natural product that forms the basis of most of Software AG's
packages.

Despite his ebullience, even Pag admits that Software AG cannot
be all things to all people. "We cannot fulfill all our client's
needs. Even IBM cannot do that. But we will offer you a maximum
of tools to realize your goals. IBM does not do that," he said.

Software AG predicts a 25 to 30 percent increase in turnover
over its 1988 turnover of DM 426.2 million. Net profits should
reach DM 30 to 40 million after a DM 1.1 million drop due to the
buy-back operation of its American subsidiary.

(Eric Dauchy/19891020)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BRU)(00011)

MICROSOFT OPENS BELGIAN SUBSIDIARY}
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- Microsoft has announced
the opening of its latest subsidiary, this time in Belgium. The
company held its Belgian subsidiary inauguration ceremony last
week in Brussels.

Patrick de Smet, the current managing director of Microsoft
Benelux NV, based near Amsterdam, will run the new subsidiary. De
Smet, a Belgian national who has experienced success with the
Benelux subsidiary, becomes responsible for both The Netherlands
and Belgium companies, looks forward in expanding the newly
created market.

Previously Microsoft was represented by its dealers in Belgium,
the largest of which, Softeurop, was recently bought by a US
company. Microsoft expects that the Belgian subsidiary will gross
about BF 300 million per year (about $8 million).

(Peter Vekinis/19891021)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BRU)(00012)

IBM ANNOUNCES AD/CYCLE}
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- IBM has announced that the
AD/Cycle, an application development system that enables
customers to build application software, is now shipping.

AD/Cycle, which is produced by IBM, Bachman Information systems,
Index Technology Corporation and Knowledgeware, is designed to
offer facilities that make application software production
easier.

The package offers simulation, modelling and adoption of SAA
(systems application architecture) as the user interface system.
In addition, the software also offers repository functions,
enterprise modelling, analysis and design, test and maintenance
tools and implementation assistance.

AD/Cycle runs on SAA capable machines running software such as
OS/2 EE, OS/400, VM/SP, VM/XA amd MVS/ESA and MVS/XA (for the
large IBM systems - MVS means Multiple Virtual Storage and ESA
means Extended Systems Architecture).

(Peter Vekinis/19891021)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BRU)(00013)

OLIVETTI LAUNCHES ITS 80486-BASED EISA SYSTEM}
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- Olivetti, one of the
leading European computer manufacturers, last week launched the
CT-486 series, an 80486 based system based around EISA (extended
industry standard architecture).


The CP-486 series uses the Intel 80486 processor and offers 25MHz
operational speed, 32-bit extended industry standard architecture
and high performance disk controllers.

The CP-486 is ideally suited as a network server and features a
powerful and fast SCSI disk interface (long used by the Apple
Macintoshes because of its flexibility). Able to run both Dos and
OS/2 operating systems, the CP 486 is offered in a tower package
pricing from $8,000 upwards.

Although many magazines and newspapers are hailing the CP-486 as
the first European 80486 system, the Apricot 486, announced about
three months ago, claims that fame. The CP-486 is, however, the
industry's true 486-based EISA system.

(Peter Vekinis/19891021)


(CORRECTION)(IBM)(BRU)(00014)

486 SYSTEMS ANNOUNCED ALL OVER EUROPE - CORRECTION}
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 OCT 21 (NB) -- Intel 80486-based systems,
the successors to the 386 series, have been announced by many
European vendors.

NCR has announced the NCR-PC-486. The system includes the 486
processor, at least 4MB of RAM, extendable to 16MB on the
motherboard, and SCSI hard disk controller in a desktop case,
although a tower case, reminiscent of the Unix-based NCR Tower
system, is expected to follow. Rumoured to cost in the region of
DM 30000 (about $15000), it will be available in mid-1990.

Other local manufacturers which assemble systems mainly coming
from Taiwan and other Far East areas, also announced 486-based
systems. Cheetah, a subsidiary of the US corporation, also
announced the 33/486 system, which runs at 33MHz. Supplied in a
tower case, it is designed to serve those who want the best price
and performance available.

Mawi (of West Germany) annnounced the 386/35MHz system which
takes the standard, already pushed Intel 386/33MHz to new heights,
running it at 35MHz speeds. Supplied with a 155MB ESDI-
controlled hard disk, the system is designed to help CAD/CAM
users increase throughput.

(Peter Vekinis/19891007)


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

UK: ALPHA UNVEILS FOUR-USER SYSTEM FOR UNDER UKP 2,000}
MAIDENHEAD, ENGLAND, 1989 OCT 21 (NB) -- Alpha Microsystems, the
medium and high-end proprietary 68000 microprocessor-based
systems specialist, has announced the AM-1400LC, a four-user
networked system that starts at under UKP 2,000 for a fully-
configured system.

Mike Osler, Alpha Microsystems' managing director, said that the
unit undercuts an equivalent Intel microprocessor-based networked
system by more than 50 percent. This is, he said, thanks to
his company manufacturing and supplying the complete system.

"The AM-1400LC has been developed through a strategy of keeping
the product cost at rock bottom. Every component has been chosen
to give us, and the user, the very best price-performance ratio,"
he said.

Is there a catch? As supplied, the system runs Alpha
Microsystems' AMOS proprietary operating system. According to
Osler, the company is working on supplying a Unix upgrade to the
package.

"Potential customers need have no worries about being locked into
our software, however. We've been supplying software for all
types of usage for several years on our larger systems that
support up to 360 users," he said.

Osler is pitching the AM-1400LC away from the mainstream word
processing/database office type users. Alpha is offering a range
of specialist software for specific industries, as well as its
usual range of standard business applications software such as
Alpha-write, the word processor.

Initially, two versions of the AM-1400LC will ship - one is based
around a 12.5MHz 68010 microprocessor, the other around the 16MHz
68020 microprocessors. Both machines feature four serial and two
printer ports, with configurations with 40, 85 and 170MB hard
drives available.

Other features of the AM-1400LC include 3MB of RAM and 1.4MB
3.5-inch floppy drive fitted as standard. Optional extras
include a 150MB 0.5-inch tape streamer capable of working in
manual of automatic incremental back-up.

(Steve Gold/19892110/Press Contact: Mike Osler, Alpha
Microsystems - Tel: [phone]; Public Contact: Lynn Watson,
Communidata - Tel: [phone])


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

JAPAN: FIRST PC DUE FROM STEEL MAKER}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 12 (B) -- Nippon Kokan, one of the largest
steel makers, has developed a speed-demon as its first, original
computer. The machine, named PIAX, is a unique high-speed scientific
computer which performs 16 mega FLOPS (floating operations
per second) with a 32-bit i80386SX and a coprocessor 80860.

The machine is compatible with the IBM PC/AT, AX standard and comes
with a 14-inch display and a keyboard for the price of three
million yen or $20,690. The steel maker will ship the machine in
February next year.

To globalize its business and diversify out from the steel industry,
Nippon Kokan entered the computer business last year when it
decided to import minisupercomputers from U.S.-based Convex
Computer and Massachusetts Computer Corp.

It expects further business expansion with this original
machine in the computer industry.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891019)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00017)

IBM JAPAN TO OFFER 80486 FOR ITS PS/55}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 12 (NB) -- IBM Japan is offering an upgrade
kit which will allow its PS/55 to graduate to a newer, more powerful
microprocessor.

The 80486-25 megahertz Upgrade Kit will be shipped as a
board for its personal computer system, PS/55 model 5550V. When a
PS/55 is using this 25 megahertz 80486 board, business
software is said to run nearly twice as fast.

At the same time, IBM Japan has upgraded its 5577-B02 printer. The new
printer, 5577-H02, performs 60 percent faster than its predecessor.
The printer has normal and fast mode; in normal mode it will print
120 Kanji characters and 180 letters or numbers, and in the fast
mode it prints twice the normal speed.

Also, IBM Japan released Audio Visual Connection (AVC), Version 1.0 for
PS/2 and SMART-DB and SMART-Layouter for PS/55 series. The prices
of software are: the AVC is 79,200 yen or $545, the Smart-DB is
60,000 yen or $415, and the Layouter is 70,000 yen or $483.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891019)


(NEWS)(IBM)(HKG)(00018)

HONGKONG: BPCS ON MID RANGE SYSTEMS}
CENTRAL, HONGKONG, 1989 OCT 17 (NB) -- Two Hongkong
electronics manufacturers are to install the modular Business
Planning and Control System (BPCS) provided by Commercial
Software Services, a well established IBM remarketer.

Under the first contract, worth $215,000, Termbray Electronics
Company, a manufacturer of telephones, printed circuit boards
and other components, will install 18 modules of BPCS on its
IBM System /38.

Consumer electronics manufacturer, Farbell Electronics, signed
the second contract, worth $450,000, which includes the
provision of an IBM AS/400 Model B45 and 14 modules of BPCS.

Both companies believed that the integrated approach taken by
BPCS would significantly improve productivity.

(Keith Cameron/19891020)


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

SEWING MACHINE SINGER NAME ON LAPTOPS}
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- International Semi-
Tech Microelectronics will put the familiar Singer nameplate on
personal computers by the beginning of 1990, reports The
Financial Post. The Toronto newspaper quoted Michael List, Semi-
Tech's vice-president of corporate development, as saying the
Singer name would appear on laptops from Semi-Tech in two to
three months. List was speaking to the International Society for
Planning and Strategic Management.

Semi-Tech acquired rights to the Singer name with its purchase of
SSMC Inc. of Delaware in April.

List also said Semi-Tech plans to increase its manufacturing
capacity, may begin producing facsimile machines and microwave
ovens, and is negotiating to produce sewing machines in the
Soviet Union, the Post reported.

(Grant Buckler/19891020)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00020)

COMPAQ CANADA UNVEILS LAPTOPS}
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 OCT 16 (NB) -- Along with other
Compaq subsidiaries around the world, Compaq Canada today
introduced the company's LTE line of lightweight laptop
computers.

Canadian suggested retail prices for the machines are: C$3,599
for the LTE Model 1, with an 80C86 processor and 3.5-inch floppy
disk drive; C$4,499 for the LTE Model 20, which adds a 20-
megabyte hard drive; C$5,849 for the LTE/286 Model 1, with an
80C286 processor and floppy drive; C$6,749 for the LTE/286 Model
20 with 20-megabyte hard disk; and C$7,499 for the LTE/286 Model
40 with 40-megabyte hard disk.

Compaq Canada also reduced prices on the Portable 386 to C$10,899
for the 40-megabyte model and C$12,499 for the 110-megabyte
model, and discontinued the Portable II.

Donald Woodley, president of Compaq Canada said during the launch
that his company's larger SLT-286 laptops accounted for 41
percent of laptop computers sold through Canadian dealers in the
first half of this year.

(Grant Buckler/19891017/Press Contact: Donald Woodley, Compaq
Canada, 416-733-7876)


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

$10 MILLION FOR REUTERS' U.S. NETWORK}
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 11 (NB) -- Satellites
aren't affected by earthquakes, as a growing number of companies
are realizing. So Reuters has put $10 million into GTE's Spacenet
subsidiary to create a data broadcasting network for its online
news services.

In the next year, Reuters will install up to 1,000
small earth-station antennas, or VSTAs -- as small as 2 feet or
half a meter in diameter -- on its clients' roofs around the
country. Reuters will send its wires over GTE's GSTAR II
satellite and maintain the link through an existing technical
center on Long Island, New York. Data broadcasting will let
Reuters handle multiple newswires from its center, and keep
control of it-- there have as yet been no reports of satellite
hackers stealing newswires. "It includes everything," said a
spokesman, and also lets Reuters sell its service in even the
remotest areas.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891020/Press Contact: Robert A. Crooke of
Reuters America, 212-603-3587)


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

WORK ON U.S. FEDERAL TELECOM NETWORK WELL UNDERWAY}
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 OCT 11 (NB) -- The U.S. Government's
entire telephone and data transmission plant is being made state-
of-the-art. The multibillion dollar contract, FTS-2000, was
awarded last December to AT&T and US Sprint. (MCI was left with
only the Congress.) On October 11 AT&T announced it had linked
24,000 employees at 17 agencies into the system.

The federal employees now have a host of improvements such as
video conferencing, high-speed data transmission and electronic
mail, as well as conference calling, agency recorded messages,
and credit card calling. The contract will run through next
summer. AT&T gets 60 percent of the work, U.S. Sprint 40 percent.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891020/Press Contact: Edith Herman, AT&T,
202-457-3942)


(EXCLUSIVE)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00003)

ONLINE INDUSTRY FLOURISHES DURING QUAKE}
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- How well
did the online world, much of which calls the San Francisco Bay
Area or Silicon Valley home, take the quake? The performance of
The Well, a local conferencing system in Sausalito, was given the
sainted center-front column on "The Wall Street Journal" in an
article which mainly consisted of comments from those still with
telephone service from its quake conference over the first night.
Clearly The Well was a major source of information in a place
where information, due to the failure of normal communication
channels, was scarce.

CompuServe said many of its 545,000 members heavily used the
system after the quake. An Earthquake Forum was manned by regular
Forum leaders to coordinate inquiries and news reports flowing
in from members. Many CompuServe members around the country
offered to take messages to friends or relatives in their area
if victims could just log on and pass them. The CompuServe
system's network sustained some damage. Bay Area callers were
required to use an 800 number, available for an $8/hour surcharge,
to access the service when local numbers failed.

Elsewhere, Telenet's service between the U.S. and the Far East
was down for nearly 36 hours, although direct calls over AT&T
from outside the quake region got around the quake. Cellular
phone services also came through better than wireline services in
the stricken areas, which may prove a surprise to some people and
could put a kick into cellular growth rates. And The San
Francisco Chronicle put out a post-quake Extra with Macintosh PCs
and floppy disks, linked to a printing plant in the East Bay, as
PC pagination proved its mettle under tremendous stress.

In the quake aftermath, phones which could call out had a fairly
easy time reaching other local numbers, but lots of problems with
long-distance, partly because so many relatives were calling in.
So thousands signed onto packet networks, entered major online
services, and passed messages for their relatives and friends
which complete strangers around the country relayed.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891020/Press Contact: Jan Bowers,
Golin/Harris Communications, Chicago, 312-836-7374)


(EXCLUSIVE)(TELECOM)(LON)(00004)

HOW NEWSBYTES UK BEAT THE EARTHQUAKE TELECOM BREAKDOWN}
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 OCT 21 (NB) -- As soon as news of the San
Francisco earthquake reached Newsbytes UK's headquarters, we were
on the phone to Newsbytes Central's offices in San Francisco to
check that all was well and to offer our assistance.

Like millions of other phone users within the US and abroad, we
received a message advising us that links to the earthquake area
were non-functional and overloaded, and asking us to call later.
Undeterred, we persevered and, in doing so, discovered some
interesting quirks of the UK's international telephone system.

Newsbytes UK has three possible ways of placing international
calls: via a British Telecom (BT) landline, which processes calls
through the North of England international switching centre in
Scotland; via the Mercury Communications indirect service
(accessed via the BT landline), which processes calls via
Birmingham; and via cellular telephone linked to the
BT Cellnet mobile network.

Calls processed via BT's standard phone line were either met with
the US east coast recording, or, more often, with the UK engaged
tone. Calls processed via Mercury received the US East Coast
recording.

Our first attempt at a call using the cellular phone got straight
through. This was because the BT Cellnet system processes all its
international calls via the main London ISC (international
switching centre). Other calls to California were also processed
first time.

As well as confirming that all was well at Newsbytes Central in
San Francisco, Newsbytes UK concludes that, if callers are
experiencing difficulties with their land-line phone, then it's
well worth making a call using a cellular unit, as the routes
used nearly always differ. This point is well worth bearing in
mind next time your call fails due to network problems.

(Steve Gold/19891021)


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

BELLS TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AT GATEWAYS}
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- In the weeks
since the cancellation of California Online by Pacific Telesis,
all the other Bell companies have been looking again at their
strategies. While regulators and Congress are now moving to give
the Bells freedom to enter the online market they've coveted for
years, some are no longer certain they want the risk.

BellSouth's drum-beating on its TUG Gateway has slowed to a stop
in the last month, and reports from Bell Atlantic, NYNEX and
Southwestern Bell aren't much better. All the Bell companies are,
however, trying to make more money from the potential gateway
competitors, business users and bulletin boards. Southwestern
Bell has moved to define some bulletin boards as businesses.
Southern Bell is asking regulators for more money from business
users, and it seems some variable charge based on how many calls
your line receives, in addition to those calls you make, will be
coming up in the next few years. It's a better, less-risky way
for the Bells to profit from the information revolution, some
executives have said privately.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891020)


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

PRODIGY ADDS MAC SUPPORT}
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- Approaching its
first anniversary in business, the Prodigy service of IBM and Sears
is now available in over 20 top markets and used by over 100,000
households. The company says Macintosh versions of its software
are now available. The service now has over 700 features and 200
advertisers, and over 3,000 stores now carry Prodigy start-up kits.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891020/Press Contact: Steve Hein, Prodigy,
914-993-8789)


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

TYMNET ACCELERATES HIGH SPEED ACCESS}
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 16 (NB) -- The Tymnet
packet switch servicing is accelerating its move to 9,600 baud
access, adding 51 new access locations for a total of 69. These
access points will be supported by an inbound 800-number service,
allowing users nationwide access to them. The expansion is due to
be completed by early 1990.

Tymnet is handling its 9,600 baud access solely under the CCITT
V.32 standard, not the V.32 offered by the Hayes V-Series
of 9,600 baud modems. Product Manager Mark de la Vega said in a
press release the system has grown 300 percent in the last year,
fueled by price reductions in 9,600 baud V.32 modems, from
$4,000 in 1986 to under $700 today.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891020/Press Contact: Barbara Burdick,
Tymnet, 408-922-7602)


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

BULLETIN BOARDS TO LINK DIRECTLY TO PACKET NETS}
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 20 (NB) --
Bulletin boards will soon be able to link directly to packet nets
such as Tymnet, Telenet and Infonet, giving their operators the
chance to get direct nationwide coverage without going through
an intermediary system such as PC Pursuit or Starlink.

Galacticomm, producer of the Major BBS, has that kind of capability,
called X.25 connectivity, in beta test, and President Tim Stryker
thinks he can get the product out the door by America's Thanksgiving
next month. This added power, combined with Galacticomm's
existing ability to handle chat, online shopping, and file
transfers, will put bulletin board operators in direct
competition with major online service providers for the first
time.

Stryker is also going full-speed ahead to have the Major BBS
translated into foreign languages. Foreigners who want to do the
translating should contact the company directly. They especially
could use a way to tap into the Japanese market.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891020/Press Contact: Tim Stryker,
Galacticomm, 305-583-5990


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(BRU)(00009)

NEW TELEPHONE DIALLING CODES FOR LONDON}
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 OCT 15 (NB) -- The telephone dialling code for
London will change in 1990. British Telecom has announced that at
00H01 on Sunday 6 May 1990, London's +441 code will be replaced by
+44 71 for inner London and +44 81 for outer London.

Call charges will not be affected by the code change, BT said.

Inner London will cover a central area some 13 km wide stretching
from West End through Westminster and the Cuty to Docklands in the
east. The code for the remainder of London will be +44 81.

The change in London's dialling code will double the number of
telephone numbers available to London customers to 10 million.

(Eric Dauchy/19891015)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00010)

MERCURY OPENS IN LONDON'S DOCKLANDS}
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 OCT 21 (NB) -- Mercury Communications has
opened a major telecommunications centre in the Docklands area of
London, an area which has seen massive investment in businesses
and housing over the past few years.

Housed in Eastwood Wharf, the purpose-built centre, which
includes a satellite earth station system, will give Mercury's
East London customers direct access to the digital services that
Mercury offers. The centre also houses the UK termination of the
UK/France-3 optical fibre cable, Mercury's first international
cable into Europe.

(Steve Gold/19891021/Press Contact: Nick Bundy, Mercury
Communications - Tel: [phone])


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

MERCURY LINKS WITH U.S. FOR VOICE MESSAGING}
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 OCT 21 (NB) -- Mercury has announced the
introduction of digital interworking between its UK voice
messaging system and the Tigon system in the US. The link marks
the first time that users of the UK Mercury and Japan Voicemail
networks, both of which were inter-linked last year, can exchange
voice messages with users of Tigon in the US.

Both Mercury and Tigon use the Tigon system software, running on
VMX voice message processors. Messages between all three
countries' voice mail systems are exchanged over digital links,
meaning that the quality of the spoken message is not impaired.

Customers on all three systems can also automatically reply to
messages, redirect them to third parties and broadcast individual
messages to groups of users on their own home network, plus
foreign networks, using group short codes.

(Steve Gold/19891021/Press & Public Contact: (UK) Brian Roe,
Mercury voice messaging - Tel: [phone]; (US) David Keenan,
vice president of marketing, Tigon Corporation, Dallas, Texas -
Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00012)

NEC PUTS CHIP INFO ONLINE}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 16 (NB) -- NEC has developed a database for
over 6,000 types of semiconductor chips and is putting it online.

The system, called NESDIS, is on NEC's business communication
network C&C VAN (value added network) and information can be
accessed via NEC's popular personal computer PC9801 and
workstation 5200 series.

The system is connecting 30 branches, another 30 sales agents, and
10 overseas branches in the first stage. NEC is planning to connect
all sales channels within few years and service will be opened for
clients in March 1990.

The information from the database is available in Japanese and in
English or by fax.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891019)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00013)

NEC CONNECTS LANS BY SATELLITE}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 16 (NB) -- NEC is testing a system to
connect distantly located LANs (local area networks) by satellite.
The system, called Satellite Node Processor, when used in conjunction
with modems, can handle and direct data to different computers,
including supercomputers, workstations, and PCs.

Satellite packet communication, connecting a satellite and
earth receivers, used to result in a high number of data transmission
errors. But NEC says it has overcome this problem and achieved high speed
transmission and error recovery. The packet communication of 610
kilobits per second, 10 times faster than current transmission, realizes
photo-realistic color still picture transmission. On-air data
will be secured with the appropriate modem.

The satellite line being used is a VAN (value added network)
from Japan Communication Company and it connects NEC's two research
centers in Japan. NEC aims to connect its research centers all
over the world via International Telecommunication Satellite
Organization or INTELSAT in the near future for a concerted
research effort.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891019)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00014)

JAPAN: HOME BANKING ON "FAMICON"}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 14 (NB) -- A home banking service using
a video game machine has started. The service will allow the
users to get online services such as balance inquiries, transfers,
and requests for payment from their bank.

NTT Data Communications System Corp., subsidiary of NTT Corp.
offers each bank a system which utilizes bank ANSER (automatic
answer network system for electrical request) via Nintendo's
Famicon. To start, about 330 banks and related facilities will
introduce the system, which is advantageous in that it uses a
Famicon or a word processor, which is much cheaper than a personal
computer.

In order to use this service, customers need to apply to a bank
for the home banking service, as well as sign an agreement with NTT
for using DDX-TP (digital data exchange - telepacket) service.
Also, they need the Famicon and its special software cartridge
for about 35,000 yen ($245), will have to pay about 800
to 1,000 yen ($6 to 7) to the bank each month, must shell out an
application fee of 800 yen ($6) and pay for monthly communication
costs to NTT.

NTT Data aims initially to get about 100,000 customers initially.

(Ken Takahashi/19891019)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00015)

FUJITSU PRESSES HARD ON NEC IN PBX MARKET}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 12 (NB) -- In the private branch exchange
(PBX) market, second-running Fujitsu has been closer to the
leader NEC, in order to get the top share. NEC and Fujitsu collectively
own about 60 percent of the Japanese PBX market which is worth
some 60 billion yen ($410 million) annually now.

Fujitsu is making about 20 billion yen ($137 million) on sales per
year in this market. Last year sales were up thirteen percent
compared to the previous year and this year Fujitsu is aiming for
a 23 percent increase over the 1988. The favorable growth is due to
the increasing orders for the digital PBX, FETEX-3000 series as a
result of Fujitsu's strong efforts to sell to its customers.

As a result, the market share difference should shrink to
about two percent between the two firms and represent a gap
which Fujitsu is eager to close completely within a year or two.

(Ken Takahashi/19891019)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00016)

CANADA MOVES TO UNIFY TELECOM REGULATION}
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- The Canadian
government today introduced legislation to unify the country's
balkanized telecommunications regulation. The bill tabled by
Minister of Communications Marcel Masse would extend the
authority of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications
Commission (CRTC) to all 10 provinces.

Until recently, the CRTC regulated only Bell Canada, which serves
Ontario and Quebec provinces, British Columbia Telephone,
carriers in the Yukon and Northwest Territories and national
satellite and data carriers. Other carriers were regulated by
provincial or municipal bodies. A Supreme Court decision August
14 said the CRTC could regulate provincially owned carriers if
the Railway Act, which governs the regulatory body, were amended
to give jurisdiction over Crown (government-owned) corporations.

Since that decision, privately owned telephone companies in the
Atlantic Provinces have voluntarily acknowledged the CRTC as
their regulator. The provincially owned Alberta Government
Telephone, Saskatchewan Telephones and Manitoba Telephone System,
however, still resist the move. This week, The Financial Post
newspaper quoted the premiers of the three Prairie provinces as
saying they will work together to fight the legislation.

However, Ken Engelhart, general counsel and director of
regulatory affairs for the Canadian Business Telecommunications
Alliance, an association of large communications users, said
Canada cannot afford a fragmented regulatory structure. "We're
very pleased by the minister's announcement," he said. "We have
for years been calling for a single national regulatory system
for Canada."

In his announcement, Masse also said he would be introducing a
comprehensive telecommunications bill soon. That legislation
would establish minimum levels of Canadian ownership of carriers,
give the government direct authority over CRTC policy and empower
the CRTC to eliminate regulation entirely in areas where
sufficient competition exists.

(Grant Buckler/19891020/Press Contact: Paul Villeneuve,
Department of Communications Canada, 613-990-4842; Ken Engelhart,
CBTA, 865-9996)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00017)

PARTNERS TO BUILD TRANSPACIFIC FIBER LINK}
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1989 OCT 13 (NB) -- A group
of 36 telecommunications carriers from 23 countries have signed a
deal to construct and maintain the first fiber-optic
communications link across the Pacific Ocean. The TPC-4 cable,
expected to cost US$372 million, is expected to be ready for
service at the end of 1992. It will link the United States and
Canada to Japan.

(Grant Buckler/19891017/Press Contact: Jocelyn Fraser, Teleglobe
Canada, 604-684-1481)


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

ALLIANT/INTEL DEVELOP PARALLEL SOFTWARE STANDARD FOR i860 CHIP}
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 16 (NB) -- Getting a jump on
the hardware, chip maker Intel and Littleton, Massachusetts-based
Alliant Computer Systems have announced the development of the
PAX or Parallel Architecture EXtended software standard which
addresses the need for parallel computing software to run on the
Intel i860 processor chip.

Binary standards already exist for the I860 chip, but the new PAX
standard is a superset of these standards that allow applications
software to make use of the varying number of parallel i860
processors on different systems.

The i860 is intended to be used in parallel processing
supercomputers.

(John McCormick/19891020/Press Contact: Donna Raimondi, Alliant,
508-486-4950)


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

JAPANESE UNVEIL 5TH GENERATION COMPUTER}
ARGONNE, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 13 (NB) --Japanese researchers
demonstrated an experimental prototype of their so-called fifth
generation computer at the Joint Japanese/American Workshop on
Logic Programming and Parallel Computing, held at Argonne National
Laboratory October 11-13. It was the first time the machine had
been demonstrated outside of Japan.

The Japanese research team is part of Japan's Institute for the New
Generation Computing (ICOT). ICOT scientists, headed by Kazuhiro
Fuchi, one of Japan's foremost computer research scientists, gave
a talk about their research and demonstrated their new machine to
an exclusive group that included only fifteen scientists from the
U.S., plus another fifteen from Japan. This particular machine
featured 16 coprocessors. One being worked on in Japan will have
64 processors. Ultimately, the Japanese intend to produce a 1,000-
processor machine, although industry observers think it will be
difficult for ICOT to meet its self-imposed 1992 deadline.

The Japanese Fifth-generation Computing Project is in its 7th year.
It began in 1982, its goal to create a radically new computer by
1992. The machine is based on a multi-processor architecture, and
focuses on symbolic, rather than numeric, computing. It also
features parallel processing capabilities.

(Michael Fitzgerald/19890118/Press Contact: Bob Schwabach, Argonne
National Laboratory, 312/972-5580)


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

TI'S AD IS TALKING}
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- What may well be
the world's first talking magazine ad will reach readers of
selected editions of the October 20 "Corporate Elite" special
issue of Business Week.

When a label covering a switch in the Texas Instruments four-page
insert is removed, a male voice speaks the 42-word ad copy text
in 15 seconds. The voice message is delivered by a module the
size of a credit card using a TI integrated circuit no larger
than a baby's fingernail. Three tablet-sized batteries provide
power for 650 plays through the module's piezo electric speaker.

The company expects the ad to have more than novelty impact
because it illustrates that semiconductor speech technology as
become powerful and affordable enough to make high-impact, large
volume applications feasible.

Working with Texas Instruments on the project was Intervisual
Communications Inc. (Los Angeles) on electronic module
development and assembly through its affiliate, Varsity
Electronics (Hong Kong). McCann-Erickson in Dallas designed the
ad.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020/Press Contact: Ted Jernigan, Texas
Instruments, 214-997-5467)


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

DIGITAL DATA STORAGE DRIVE SHIPPING}
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A, 1989 OCT 16 (NB) -- WangDAT, Inc.
is shipping production models of its Model 1300, the industry's
first half-height Digital Audio Tape drive. This unit is also
one of the few products in the market that fully implements the
Digital Data Storage (DDS) DAT recording format standard
including a four-head drum to perform read-after-write check and
the full C3 error correction code implementation.

The Model 1300 provides easy integration and support for drive
interfaces including the SCSI-I/II, Pertec 1/2 inch and QIC-104.
The unit stores up to 1.3 gigabytes of formatted data on industry
standard 4mm DAT tape cassettes. The drive provides a sustained
data transfer rate of 183 kilobytes per second (11 megabytes per
minute) and an asychronous SCSI burst rate of 4 megabytes per
second.

OEM quantity pricing is available on request.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020/Press Contact: Ray Kristiansen,
WangDAT, 714-241-9613)


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

VIRUS BREEDS NEW SECURITY PRODUCT}
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- Alpha
Microsystems hopes to cash in on the security consciousness
raised by the recent Friday the 13th virus scare.

The company has introduced a new security system that "reads" a
caller's voice before allowing access to a computer system.
Dubbed Ver-A-Tel, the system captures a caller's speech on sensor
devices, converts the sounds digitally into algorithms and
compares them with pre-stored authorized profiles.

Once the voice is verified, the caller can be routed to one of
nine extensions including a computer terminal, fax machine,
encryption device or higher security telephone. Ver-A-Tel also
performs record keeping functions and produces reports of who was
verified, when verifications took place, where a caller was
transferred and any rejections.

(Janet Endrijonas/19891020)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(ATL)(00006)

AT&T/DUPONT STANDARDIZING LAN/PHONE CONNECTORS}
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- AT&T
and DuPont will jointly work on new kinds of connectors for
computers and telephone nets. The work will be based on the
DuPont Metral connector system. The two companies hope to make
Metral an industry standard, like the square RJ-11 plugs
found on most new phones in the U.S.

Metral will link mid-range computer systems, transmission systems
and switching systems such as PBXs. The new connectors should
be widely available by first quarter 1990, the companies said. Both
companies will produce Metral connectors. "It's already accepted
by the IEEE," said a spokesman. "One of their subcommittees, the
Future Bus Plus working group, has selected this. It will look like
a small, square DIN connector, like those found on most microphones.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891020/Press Contact: Nancy deJong, DuPont,
302-997-3412)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(ATL)(00007)

TEMPEST STANDARD GETTING KINDER, GENTLER}
NEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 16 (NB) -- It's
going to get easier to keep secrets in computers, according to
the International Resource Development research firm. That's
because the standard for militarized protection of computers,
called Tempest, is being relaxed. And just in time. Shipments of
Tempest equipment are down to $540 million per year, only two-
thirds the level of two years ago. Wang and Digital Equipment lead in
the Tempest market now, with IBM selling shielded equipment only
through two resellers. There are moves afoot to relax the
standards for shielding, which might encourage more businesses to
insist on it, but IRD thinks new manufacturing techniques from
Digital, Data General and Zenith will let make shielding cheaper
regardless.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891020/Press Contact: Elizabeth Hanscomb,
IRD, 203-966-2525)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SYD)(00008)

RADIO STATION CLAIMS UNIQUE COMPUTERIZATION}
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 1989 OCT (NB) -- The Melbourne radio station
3TT says it is the first in the world to scrap its analog equipment in
favour of touch-sensitive computer screens.

The new system cost AUS$2.3M and it replaces troublesome equipment
such as mechanical sound faders which cost $300 each. The system has
access to 800 compact disks at any one time, and any song from any
one of these disks can be played quickly, on request. The network chief
engineer Alan Liddelow said the system is expected to pay for itself
in two-and-a-half years because of lower overhead and maintenance
costs.

Radio announcers working from one of three studios can control news
items, changes to music and commercial selection, sound mixing,
jingles, and even the front door security of the station, all using two
touch screens in front of them.

The system relies on PC controllers linked through file servers by an
Ethernet network to hard disks normally used on mainframes. Music and
commercials can be prerecorded onto 6 gigabytes of storage held on
eight Toshiba hard drives. These are programmed four hours ahead of
playing time. Two more drives are used to copy music from tapes in a
conventional studio because new music is often not available on CD in
Australia for up to six months after it is first released.

(Gavin Atkins & Computing Australia/19891020)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(BRU)(00009)

EUROPEAN EFTPOS TERMINAL UNVEILED}
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- Banksys, the Belgian
electronic banking company, has unveiled a system that accepts
payment from both credit cards and debit cards. The company
claims the dual-purpose EFTPOS (electronics funds transfer at
point of sale) unit is unique in Europe.

Known as Z-Cam, the EFTPOS unit effectively will breaks the
Belgian PTT's monopoly situation with its Teledataphone. In
addition, the Z-Cam EFTPOS terminal is quicker and simpler to use
than the Teledataphone, the company claims.

Z-Cam works in a similar fashion to other EFTPOS terminals in use
throughout Europe. The shop assistant enters the amount of the
transaction into the terminal, as well 'swiping' the card through
the magnetic reader. The customer then taps in his or her
personal identification number (PIN). Upon verification of the
PIN, the terminal then dials the central banking computers to
authorize the transaction. The whole process takes less than 15
seconds.

Banksys hopes to sign up 75,000 retailers to its Z-Cam system,
and plans to sell at least 5,000 terminals in the first year
within Belgium alone. Interest has been expressed by foreign
banks and financial institutions in Austria, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, Spain and West Germany. Competition from US eftpos
companies is anticipated but "as a rule transatlantic companies
have limited experience with debit cards," an official with
Banksys said.

(Eric Dauchy/19891020)


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

PIONEER INCREASES OPTICAL DISK STORAGE}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- Pioneer Electronic has developed
an optical signal pickup device which can increase the storage of
an optical disk, such as a video disk or a compact disk, four-fold.

The pickup device consists of a laser diode and a lens, and the
shorter the wavelength of laser beam, the more its pickup ability
improves. Pioneer has succeeded in shortening the wavelength of
laser beam by half, inserting between the laser diode and the
lens its original optical fiber-type wavelength conversion
element made of several optical materials. As a result, this
achievement enlarges the pickup ability by a factor of four and
allows an optical disk to store four times as much data.

Pioneer expects to sell optical drive units equipped with the new
pickup devices within a few years.

(Ken Takahashi/19891019)


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

CHINA SOFTWARE RECRUITS FOR NEC}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 12 (NB) -- NEC has invited to join
Chinese engineers in a software development project. The Academy of
Science of China and Japan-China Software Center are expecting to
utilize these engineers in the front line of software
development projects.

NEC itself welcomes the offer because it has been seeking
sophisticated programmers inside and outside Japan. NEC is now
studying the kind of software the Chinese engineers will be able
to develop.

The Academy of Science of China is a Chinese Government-
affiliated organization and Japan-China Software Center was
jointly established by NEC and the China-based electronics company in
1986 to provide basic education for the creation of a Chinese computer
industry.

If NEC accepts the offer, the Academy of Science of China and
Japan-China Software Center will join forces with NEC for
software development.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891019)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00012)

TOSHIBA PIGGYBACKS SRAM TO SAVE SPACE}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 7 (NB) -- The problem with an upgrade to
existing hardware is that a new motherboard, or upgraded components,
generally take up more room than the hardware which previously fit
into a computer case. A new Toshiba component technology, however,
may make upgrades easier to perform.

Toshiba has successfully developed 144 kilobit and 128 kilobit
SRAM (static random access memory) chips that are not only faster,
but do not occupy any separate space on the motherboard due to the
fact that they are piggybacked with logic ICs (integrated circuits).
The two-in-one configuration also enables the chip to work as
a cache memory.

Toshiba developed three versions of chips with different access
times, 20, 25 and 30 nanoseconds and they may have further speed
increases by the elimination of the need for the signals to travel
via outside circuits.

Toshiba already started shipment of the chips for 9,000 yen or $62
and volume production is scheduled in November. It is aiming to
output 100,000 units of the chips per month by spring 1990.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19891012)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00013)

TRENDS: OCR TRANSLATION GADGET}
NAGANO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- Seiko-Epson will release the
world's first handy electronic translation unit with an OCR
(optical character reader). Slated to debut at the end of next
month, the Epson TRAN PRO-1000 gadget includes a scanner,
optical character reader, and character recognition
software program.

With the scanner, the new machine reads the words on textbooks or
English newspapers, and recognizes as many as twenty characters per
word. In case there are unreadable characters, such as italic or
hand-written, Seiko-Epson has offered key buttons for the entry.
The gadget, with a dictionary of 30,889 English words, phrases,
and idioms, can translate entered English words into the Japanese
language. In addition, its special learning function allows
the machine to always memorize the last fifty two translated words
and repeat them later.

The translation gadget is very portable, 130 grams in weight with
the drive, and runs on alkaline batteries. Seiko-Epson plans to sell
10,000 units of the machine with the price tag of 32,000 yen ($220)
each month.

(Ken Takahashi/19891019)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00014)

SMALLEST AND FASTEST ONE-MEG CHIP}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 12 (NB) -- Fujitsu is shipping samples of
what it claims is the world's smallest one-megabit DRAM (dynamic
random access memory) chip. The area of the unit is 37.4 square
millimeters (1.47 inches), which is 25 percent smaller than a
current one-megabyte chip. Also, Fujitsu claims that the new chip
accesses data in 60 nanoseconds, the world's fastest speed for
a one-meg chip.

The chip, numbered MB81C1000A, measures 8.99 by 4.16 by 0.49
millimeters with a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor)
process technology and three-dimensional stack memory cell
structure.

More compact and faster one-meg chips have been in great demand, as
personal computers and engineering workstations have been
becoming increasingly smaller and more powerful.

In order to meet such a demand, Fujitsu will offer five items,
including 80 and 100 nanosecond chips. Among them, the sample
price for the 60 nanosecond unit is 3,000 yen ($21).

(Ken Takahashi/19891019)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00015)

HITACHI TO MASS-PRODUCE BIG, THIN LCDS}
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 12 (NB) -- Hitachi is planning to produce
the world's largest, 10.4-inch active dot matrix LCD (liquid crystal
display) starting in April. The LCD is 28 millimeter thick -- roughly
one-thirteenth as thick as the same sized, standard CRT (cathode ray
tube).

Hitachi will begin with a monthly output of fewer than 500
screens at its Mobara factory in Chiba prefecture. The price per
unit is expected to be between 200,000 and 300,000 yen ($1,380 and
$2,070), which is about ten times the cost of a CRT. After volume
production starts in April, 1992, however, Hitachi promises to
lower the price to about 150,000 yen ($1,035) at which time the units
will be sold at the retail level.

Other firms are planning to build high-resolution LCDs as the
market for them is expected to exceed one hundred billion yen ($690
million) in 1993. For instance, Sharp will start construction of a new
factory at a total construction cost of 27 billion yen ($190 million)
in Tenri, Nara prefecture next month. Toshiba and IBM Japan will join
forces to set up a production site in Himeji, Hyogo prefecture.

(Ken Takahashi/19891019)


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

NEXT OFFERS LOW-END HARD DISK VERSION
REDWOOD CITY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 20 (NB) -- Next Inc.
will offer a hard disk version of its workstation, without the
rewritable optical drive, according to Businessland, the computer
company's sole U.S. distributor. Current owners of the Next
computer system will also receive one of the hard drives free
of charge.

The Next Computer System with 40 megabyte Accelerator Drive is
priced at $7,995 but is designed to be used not as a stand-alone
unit, but on a network. Next says the typical network would
include a Next Computer with 16 megabytes of random access
memory (RAM), an optical drive, and a 660 megabyte hard drive acting
as a server for up to 10 network user systems configured with the 40MB
hard drive.

The 40MB Accelerator Drive is said to answer user complaints about
the slowness of the magneto-optical drive, and improves performance
over the network when running multiple applications. Any program
not being used is temporarily written out of RAM onto the
local hard drive. When a user wants to use that application, the
computer automatically moves the application back into RAM.
Swapping applications from RAM to a 40 megabyte drive is up to
twice as fast as swapping over Ethernet to a server or from RAM
to the optical drive.

The Accelerator Drive is actually being made by Quantum Corporation.
It features a seek time of 19 milliseconds and Quantum's
proprietary DisCache firmware for faster data retrieval.

Also Next announced a reduction in the cost of add-on memory.
Four megabyte memory modules have been reduced from $2,295
to $1,295.

(Wendy Woods/19891020/Press Contact: Beverly Bird, 408-
437-4366)


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

NEW CAADS 4X SOFTWARE RELEASE FROM PRIME}
NATICK, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 OCT 16 (NB) -- Prime Computer
has today announced the release of its latest CAADS 4X SPARC-
based workstation software, designated Release 5.0.

The latest software will run on CADDStations and prices start at
$39,500 for the computer-aided drawing/manufacturing software.

Prime also announced Version 4.0 of its Personal Designer CAD
software which operates in an DOS-extended environment and
provides users with true 3-D viewing and geometry.

With other new features, Personal Designer pricing starts at
$5,800 and runs on 80286- and 80386-based computers.

(John McCormick/19891020/Press Contact: Paul LaBelle, Prime, 508-
655-8000, X5730)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(ATL)(00003)

UNISYS MOVING ONLINE PROGRAMS TO UNIX}
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- Unisys will introduce
online transaction processing (OLTP) capabilities for its U
Series of Unix OS-based systems in 1990. This means the computers
will get Unisys' popular software for handling credit
card billing, automatic teller machine transactions, and other
daily deals.

Until now, these capabilities have only been available from Unisys
on its old Sperry mainframes, with their company-owned designs.
With this announcement the company's Unix product line has also
been expanded on the low end to include a U6000/55, built around
the 33 MHz Intel i386 chip. Two major new databases, Oracle and
Informix, have also been ported to the Unix-based boxes. Besides
allowing customers to buy other companies' products, leaving
the old architecture will also make Sperry-experienced online
programmers more marketable, while expanding the pool of available
programmers for Unisys shops worldwide.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19891020/Press Contact: Steven L.
Lubetkin, Unisys, 215-542-2240)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(LON)(00004)

SANTA CRUZ OPERATION SUPPORTS H-P'S VECTRA 486 FAMILY}
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 OCT 21 (NB) -- The Santa Cruz Operation has
announced that its SCO Unix System V/386 Release 3.2 supports the
new Hewlett-Packard Vectra 486 EISA-based PC series.

The models in the Vectra 486 series supported by SCO Unix System
V/386 Release 3.2 are: The model 150; 330 and 670, all of which
include 2MB of RAM fitted as standard.

According to Doug Michels, SCO is the first software producer to
supply products compatible with the H-P Vectra 486 series. "SCO
and Hewlett-Packard have been working closely for years to tap
the full potential of the microcomputer," he said.

"Last year, we announced an agreement with H-P and Microsoft to
bring SCO and Microsoft technology to OSF's development of the
OSF/Motif user interface, and this past August, we announced an
agreement with HP and Corollary to offer complete bundled multi-
user systems based on HP's Vectra PC," he added.

"And now we are announcing support for HP's Vectra 486 PC - this
machine and SCO Unix System V/386 Release 3.2 are a winning
combination!"

(Steve Gold/19891021/Press & Public Contact: Bethan Lauder, SCO -
Tel: [phone])


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

MATSUSHITA TO OFFER UNIX MACHINES}
OSAKA, JAPAN, 1989 OCT 16 (NB) -- Matsushita Electric Industrial
will release its first original workstation at the end of this
month. Also, Matsushita will import engineering workstations
developed by U.S.-based Solbourne Computer, which it partially
owns, and sell them starting in December.

Matsushita's original 32-bit BE Series workstations run both the
original BE-OS operating system, based on Unix System V Release
3.2, and programs written for its MS-DOS-based M Series of
personal computers.

The machines come with an Intel i80386 microprocessor with
25 megahertz clock frequency, and an 80387 math coprocessor.

The basic price is 2,950,000 yen ($20,350) with a color display
and 2,250,000 yen ($15,520) with a black and white display.
Matsushita will further release deskside, laptop, and
terminal versions of the workstations next year.

Solbourne Computer's Series 5 workstations are compatible with
SUN 3, developed by Sun Microsystems in the U.S. They have a
RISC (reduced instruction set computer)-based 33 megahertz SPARC
chip which performs at 22 MIPS (million instructions per second),
and is expandable to four units, with 65 MIPS processing ability.

The operating system is not translated into Japanese
because the licensor, Nihon Sun Microsystems, won't allow
Matsushita to acquire a license for Japanese Sun OS which is
indispensable to ensure compatibility with SUN. Though original
Sun OS is open to public, the Japanese version is the only
exception and can exclude the license.

The basic price is 7,780,000 yen ($54,000) for the underdesk type,
8,860,000 yen ($6,000) for the deskside type, and 14,340,000 yen
($10,000) for the server type.

Both BE series and Series 5 workstations will be available from
Matsushita Computer System in Tokyo. Matsushita expects to sell
30,000 units or five billion yen ($350 million) worth of the
computers and aims to win a ten percent market share in the domestic
workstation market in fiscal 1992.

Meanwhile, Matsushita has joined both Unix International and the Open
Software Foundation to accompany its launch into the Unix workstation
business.

(Ken Takahashi/19891019)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(HKG)(00006)

NCR WINS MORE ATM's IN MACAU - THIS TIME UNIX-BASED}
CENTRAL, HONGKONG, 1989 OCT 19 (NB) -- Under a $475,000
contract, NCR will provide a turnkey automated teller machine
package to Luso International Banking Ltd in Macau.

Felix Torres, EDP manager with Luso, said: "The configuration is
unique is Asia because it teams a Unix-based controller with an
IBM central system."

The bank, which is part of China-based Xiamen International
Banking Group, is already a member of the Jetco ATM consortium
of 41 banks in Hongkong and Macau.

Luso will be one of the first banks in Asia to use an NCR Tower
as its ATM controller. "Tower systems have often been used in
the USA but there are no such installations in Asia at the
moment," said Andrew Liu, financial systems manager with NCR
Hongkong. He noted that similar configurations had been ordered
by three banks in China.

(Keith Cameron/19891020/Press contact: Euan Barty 852-5-290356)


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

IBM CANADA ANNOUNCES RT MIGRATION PLAN}
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 OCT 18 (NB) -- IBM Canada has
announced a trade-in program for all IBM RT workstations
purchased since January 1. The company will credit 40 to 80
percent of the purchase price of any RT system bought in 1989 or
the first half of 1990 toward the purchase of new systems using
reduced instruction set computing (RISC) technology. IBM Canada
will credit 40 percent of the price of machines bought between
January 1 and June 30 of this year, and 80 percent of the price
of any machine bought from June 30, 1989, to June 30, 1990. The
company is widely expected to introduce the new RISC-based
systems as successors to the RT line some time in 1990. An
announcement had been expected this fall, but was delayed.

(Grant Buckler/19891020/Press Contact: Anne Raizenne, IBM Canada,
416-474-3900)