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/1992/NB920123

Text File | 1992-01-24 | 62KB | 1,388 lines

(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00001)

Sun, Cray To Jointly Develop Software Environment 01/23/92
EAGAN, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- Cray Research
and Sun Microsystems have announced plans to work together in
both the hardware and software arenas, sharing information and
technology.

In a joint statement released this week, the two companies said
they will create a seamless software environment that will allow
their respective products to work together "with unprecedented
efficiency."

Cray Research said that it will use technology developed at Sun
Microsystems to build high-end SPARC RISC-based computers
that will complement the product lines of both companies.

Cray Research develops and markets supercomputers, many of
which are used by scientists for complex scientific computing,
automotive design, and weather forecasting. Sun Microsystems,
based in Mountain View, California, markets client-server systems
and workstation for applications including engineering and
computer-aided design work.

Cray Research added that the agreement will complement its
recent acquisition of the assets of Floating Point Systems, a SPARC
minicomputer vendor. The company has formed a wholly owned
subsidiary, Cray Research Superservers, to produce and market
SPARC-based products.

Cray Research said it intends to produce high-end SPARC servers
for delivery in late 1993. The systems are expected to cost $1-3
million.

Cray Research recently joined SPARC International, an organization
of more than 200 SPARC vendors that supports binary compatibility
among products through the SPARC Compliance Definition.

"There is a very fast-growing installed base for SPARC systems,"
said Cray Chairman and CEO John Rollwagen. He noted that the
compatible software the two companies will develop will be readily
available for SPARC systems. He added that the company's
strategy is to provide "the world's absolute highest-performance
computer systems."

(Jim Mallory/19920123/Press Contact: Frank Parisi, Cray Research,
612-683-7130)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00002)

Winter Olympics To Use Giant Computer System 01/23/92
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- When the world's
athletes gather in France on February 8th for the 1992 Winter
Olympics, a complex computer system will track contest results,
weather forecasts, and a host of other information critical to the
games' successful operation.

Designed by Chicago-based Andersen Consulting, a record, for
the Olympics, 1,500 terminals will also track a calendar of events,
transportation information, and bus schedules. The system will
also provide an electronic mail service and information about
past Olympic results, athlete biographies, accreditation lists,
and a myriad of other data.

Called Info '92, the system will make information available at
the touch of a color screen to officials, reporters, security
personnel, and the athletes at the 13 separate venue sites
spread over 60 miles of the French Alps.

"Without computer systems to match the complexity of today's
Olympics, there would be no Olympics," said Beniot de
Chassey, director of information for the organizing committee.

Yves Humbert, a manager of the Andersen Consulting team in
Albertville, said that the games would require a very
sophisticated communications system in order to know what was
going on in each venue. He added that it would require as much
as two hours to travel between sites.

Results from each event will be updated within minutes directly
from the site, instead of sending the information to a central
computer input center, as has been done in previous years. "It's
a big improvement over Calgary," said De Chassey, speaking
about the system in used at a previous games.

Andersen Consulting said it started working on the system as far
back as 1984, when a group headed by former Olympic skier
Jean-Claude Killy helped sell Albertville to the Olympic committee
as the site for this year's games.

Andersen Consulting said that the system cost about $10 million,
but has been able to recoup some of that by selling the system
to the Norwegians for use in their 1994 Winter Games.

Humbert added that a special touch-screen was developed for the
games so users would not have to learn keyboard commands. He
said a number of journalists field-tested the system, which was then
modified based on their suggestions. More than 7,000 reporters,
photographers, and support crews will be accredited to the games.

Humbert said that the system had its final rehearsal last
weekend, and is ready to go when the games open.

(Jim Mallory/19920123)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(DEN)(00003)

Dell To Factory-Load Unix For Customers 01/23/92
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- Dell Computer has
announced that beginning in March it will pre-load SCO Unix
system software on its 386 and 486-based personal computers
when requested by the buyer. Dell plans to support SCO Unix
through their facilities in the US, Europe, and Canada.

SCO Unix is popular in business environments such as
department office automation and in industry-specific multi-user
systems, such as retail point-of-sale networks. The cost for SCO
 Unix is listed at $1,295 for an unlimited user version. Dell said it
will not charge for the installation.

Dell will offer SCO Unix V/386 release 3.2 concurrently with its
Dell Unix System V release 4 package. Dell entered the Unix
market in early 1989. Since then it has produced several other
Unix products and devised systems for factory integration of
advanced operating systems. Dell claims that it also has an
expert support team to provide direct technical support for Dell
Unix products.

The SCO (Santa Cruz Operation) will train the Dell support team
that will support SCO Unix customers.

As reported in recent Newsbytes stories, Dell started loading
DOS applications for US customers in October of 1991, and has
just begun a similar service for buyers in the United Kingdom.

(Jim Mallory/19920123/Press Contact: Jill Shanks, Dell Computer,
512-338-8499)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00004)

Compuadd Intros 40MHz SPARC Workstation 01/23/92
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- Compuadd Computer
Corporation has announced its third-generation SPARC workstation,
a 40 megahertz (MHz) model that is capable of operating at 28.5
million instructions-per-second (MIPS). Designated the Compuadd
SS2, the unit is 100 percent binary compatible with Sun's
SPARCstation 2, and includes the Solaris 1.0 operating system
already installed.

Configured with 8 megabytes (MB) of RAM, a 240 MB internal hard
drive, a high density (1.44 MB) floppy drive, and a 16-inch Sony
Trinitron monitor, the system has a suggested list price of $9,995.
The system is expected to begin shipping in March of this year.

Compuadd says that the SS2 can be configured as a stand-alone or
a network workstation. A number of video and storage options are
available, including up to 64 MB of memory, which can be installed
on the proprietary motherboard. Various SBus expansion cards are
also available.

Compuadd provides one year of warranty and on-site service
for the SS2, as well as toll-free technical support for the life of the
product.

(Jim Mallory/19920123/Press Contact: John Pope, Compuadd,
512-250-2000)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00005)

Iomega Acquires Assets Of Springer Technologies 01/23/92
ROY, UTAH, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- Mass storage device
manufacturer Iomega Corporation has announced that is has
acquired certain assets of Springer Technologies.

Springer is located in Fremont, California. Iomega, perhaps best
known for its Bernoulli removable drives, said it plans to utilize the
assets, which include intellectual properties, to develop thin film
head technology for application in future mass storage products.

Iomega spokesperson Paul Slack told Newsbytes that "intellectual
properties" included some, but probably not all, of Springer's
technical personnel, as well as trade secrets and other information
held by the company that are not protected by patents.

Slack confirmed that Iomega made an up-front payment of $200,000
to Springer, but declined to reveal other financial details of the
deal, except to say that future considerations were contingent on
the successful development and commercialization of the thin film
technology.

Iomega thinks that Springer's technology has the potential of
using multiple thin film elements in one magnetic recording head.
However, Iomega President Fred Wenninger said that significant
additional development would be required. Wenninger added that
there are potential applications in the company 's Bernoulli
products as well as future Flopotical and tape drives.

Slack was enthusiastic about business for the preceding year
and quarter. "We were happy. It was the best year, and the best
quarter, in the history of the company," he said.

Iomega reported sales of $39.4 million for the fourth quarter,
compared to $32.9 million for the same period last year. For the
1991 year, sales were $136.6 million compared to $120.4 million
the preceding year. The company attributes the results to a
strong reception of its new Bernoulli 90 products, which were
introduced in mid-1991, and continuous productivity
improvements due to an enhanced quality control program.

(Jim Mallory/19920123/Press Contact: Paul Slack, Iomega,
801-778-1000)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00006)

MKS Licenses POSIX Technology To Three Major Vendors 01/23/92
WATERLOO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- Mortice Kern
Systems, a software development firm with an emphasis on Unix and
open systems, has licensed some of its technology to Digital
Equipment, Hewlett-Packard, and Unisys.

MKS' InterOpen/POSIX Shell and Utilities are designed to help
vendors comply with the POSIX open systems standards for
operating system shell programming language and programmer's
utilities.

Although POSIX standards are commonly associated with the Unix
operating system, they are not limited to Unix and none of the
three vendors with which MKS announced deals are licensing the
technology for their Unix offerings. Digital will use MKS'
technology to bring POSIX compliance to its VAX VMS operating
system, while Hewlett-Packard will use it with its MPE/X systems,
and Unisys wants it for its own CTOS systems. "This is POSIX on
non-Unix," noted Michael Brookbank, InterOpen product manager
at MKS.

In addition to the InterOpen/POSIX Shell and Utilities, Digital
Equipment has also licensed the full InterOpen POSIX core and its
test suites for VMS, and HP is licensing the complete InterOpen
line.

The InterOpen/POSIX Shell and Utilities are one component of
MKS' InterOpen line of open systems offerings, which also includes
POSIX.1 consulting and a product now in development to aid in
compliance with the emerging XPG standard, Brookbank said.

Three other vendors have agreed to license parts of the InterOpen
product line, Brookbank added, but as final contract negotiations
are under way, MKS cannot release their names.

MKS is a privately held company established in 1984. In addition to
the InterOpen products, it sells software development tools meant
to bridge the gap between the DOS and Unix operating systems.
The company has around 50 employees.

(Grant Buckler/19920123/Press Contact: Michael Brookbank, MKS,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00007)

Alacrity Raises $4 Million In Venture Financing 01/23/92
HACKETTSTOWN, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) --
Alacrity Systems, the manufacturer of the Desktop Document
Manager that garnered some attention at last fall's Comdex show,
has closed a $4 million round of venture capital financing. The
company's backers include Olivetti and Edelson Technology
Partners, as well as several other institutional sources.

The Desktop Document Manager is a combination of hardware
and software that the company claims turns a personal computer
into a single-user document image processing system with the
ability to send documents by facsimile. It also speeds the printing
of documents from Microsoft Windows by converting Windows
GDI commands directly into bit maps and feeding them to the
printer through a video port.

"The purpose of this product is to make it as easy for someone to
manage the other 95 percent of their information as it is today to
manage five percent," said Jim Folts, the company's president.

The Desktop Document Manager consists of software for Microsoft
Windows and an expansion board that occupies two AT-bus slots in
a PC. Included on the board are a Texas Instruments 34010 graphics
coprocessor chip and 6 megabytes (MB) of memory as well as a
facsimile modem.

Folts said that the package will run on any PC that can run
Windows. In addition, the system does not need a document
scanner, nor a laser printer to work. It currently works with
Microtek, Hewlett-Packard ScanJet, and Fujitsu scanners. Alacrity
supplies video ports to fit Hewlett-Packard laser printers and
Lexmark 4019 and 4029 printers.

Using the system, documents can be scanned and stored on the
computer's hard disk for later retrieval. The scanning function
works in the background while other applications are running, and
with little or no effect on the speed of the foreground application
because the graphics coprocessor does the work, Folts said.

The Desktop Document Manager began shipping in December,
at a suggested retail price of $1,999. Alacrity said that the new
financing will make possible further development work, which will
lead to more sophisticated desktop document management
systems in future.

(Grant Buckler/19920123/Press Contact: Jim Folts, Alacrity
Systems, 908-813-2400)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LAX)(00008)

Practical Peripherals Reduces Fax/Modem Prices 01/23/92
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) --
Practical Peripherals has reduced the price of its PM 2400FX96
fax/modem to less than the cost of many other companies' data-
only modems, the company claims.

The half-card fax/modem, which combines a 2,400 bits-per-second
(bps) data and a 9,600 bps send/receive fax modem on a single PC
expansion card, has been reduced from $209 to $139. The desktop
(standalone) version has been cut from $239 to $149.

The fax/modem bundle includes Quick Link II software that handles
communications as well as faxing. According to the company,
Quick Link II even offers the user the ability to place their company
logo in the form of a .PCX file on the fax. Quick Link also works
in the background, allowing users to send and receive faxes while
working on other projects and multiple files can be sent with a
single call as well.

Practical Peripherals said that it hopes the price reduction will
attract consumers considering a modem to purchase a fax/modem
instead. The company, located in Westlake Village, California,
is a division of Hayes Microcomputer Products.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920123)


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

Paradox SQL Link Allows Access To IBM Mainframe Data 01/23/92
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) --
Borland International has begun offering its Paradox SQL (structured
query language) Link software so that users accustomed to Paradox
can still access data on IBM mainframes.

Paradox SQL Link support for IBM's DB2 database management
system allows Paradox users to have transparent access to DB2
data on IBM mainframes, claims the company. Users need to have
Paradox 3.5 and Micro Decisionware Inc.'s (MDI) Database
Gateway for DB2 to gain transparent access.

Paradox SQL Link automatically translates Paradox query by
example and menu commands to the dialect of SQL. Paradox
application developers can use Paradox SQL Link to build
complete database applications with embedded SQL.

Borland has several SQL products to allow Paradox users to
access data on a variety of systems. Paradox SQL Link for Micro
Decisionware Gateway to DB2 and Paradox SQL Link for
Rdb/VMS has a suggested retail price of $395. Paradox SQL Link
for IBM OS/2 Extended Edition Database Manager, Sybase SQL
Server, Tandem Non-stop SQL Server, Microsoft SQL Server, and
Oracle Server has a suggested retail list price of $495.

The main Paradox program is required. Currently, this retails
separately for $795.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920123/Press Contact: Timberly McGee,
Borland International, tel [phone], fax [phone])


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

New For Mac: System-level Script Writer 01/23/92
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- A script
writer to automate tasks for Apple Macintosh users, Frontier
version 1.0, is now shipping from Userland Software.

Userland describes Frontier as the first system-level scripting
language for the Mac. Much like batch files in the IBM personal
computer world, Frontier is a tool to develop utilities to automate,
customize, and simplify the Macintosh operating system,
file system, networks, and System 7.0 compatible applications.

Frontier scripts can be launched from the Finder desktop, from
Frontier's user-editable menu bar, or from compatible
application software, and can run as background processes.

According to the company, Frontier includes a built-in scriptable
outliner and word processor; outline-based script editor and
debugger; interactive symbol tables; a menu bar editor; and an
object database that stores information permanently and
facilitates communication between scripts and applications.

Frontier's scripting language -- Usertalk -- offers control
structures, over 350 built-in verbs, over 100 sample scripts, a
700-page User's Guide and Reference Manual, and an on-line
documentation server application.

Randy Battat, Apple Computer's vice president for portable
computing and a Frontier script writer, said: "It (Frontier)
allows power users and custom-application developers to create
scripts that control other programs, manipulate files, and run
the whole Macintosh system... I can carry out routine and
repetitive tasks -- as well as tasks that require me to do too
much rummaging around my hard-disk attic."

Chris Espinosa, manager of System Software Marketing for
Apple Computer's USA division, said: "Finally there's a tool for
in-house developers to assemble the best features of shrink-wrap
applications into a solution for their users' needs."

Userland has also announced the opening of a Userland Forum
on Compuserve. UserLand President David Winer said that the
Compuserve forum has already helped the company work with
script writers and Mac developers to create new utilities.

Priced at $179, Frontier is only available directly from the
company. Discounted five- and ten-user packs are also available.
More information is available directly from Userland toll-free at
800-845-1772.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920123/Press Contact: Alice Lankester,
Userland Software, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00011)

Toshiba Intros New Reseller Scheme; New DOS Choices 01/23/92
WEYBRIDGE, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- Toshiba
has announced the Toshiba Partners' Scheme (TPS), an alliance
of more than 100 hardware and software vendors and appliers, with
the express aim of accelerating the development and use of
advanced portable-based technology.

In parallel with the announcement, Toshiba is offering buyers of
its portables a choice of operating systems with their machines.
These choices now include MS-DOS 5.0.

According to Toshiba, the innovations being offered by TPS
member companies are security and connectivity systems,
applications and systems software suited to the company's
portable technology, and a range of hardware peripherals.

"Businesses now demand ever-greater levels of system
integration, and we at Toshiba are committed to providing this,"
said Nick Hall, Toshiba's marketing manager.

"As market leader in the portable sector, we're in a unique
position to help innovative hardware and software developers
come up with new and exciting solutions. We established the TPS
to provide a platform for cooperation with selected suppliers who
could satisfy Toshiba's quality standards. Many of the solutions
being developed are Toshiba-specific, and give a real
technological edge to those using our portable PCs," he added.

Four TPS directories (applications, connectivity, security, and
peripherals) have now been published covering 100 TPS members
and more than 300 products. Details are available from Toshiba
toll-free on 0800-282-707.

On the operating system front, Toshiba has announced that its
customers will now be able to choose their operating system when
they buy their portable PC, without the restriction of a bundled
version of MS-DOS.

"We've stopped bundling MS-DOS in direct response to customer
demand. Toshiba users can now choose the most appropriate
operating system for their needs from the growing range of
systems available," explained Hall, adding that the choice of
operating systems now includes MS-DOS 5.0.

"We're offering customers their choice of operating system and
reduced the suggested retail price of Toshiba PCs accordingly,"
he added.

The suggested retail price of Toshiba PCs will be reduced by the
equivalent retail price of the new DOS options. DOS 4.01 and 5.0
will now be priced separately at UKP 75, with DOS 3.3 -- available
for the T1000LE portable -- priced at UKP 60.

(Steve Gold/19920123/Press & Public Contact: Toshiba
Information Systems UK, 0932-841600)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00012)

Dell Ships PCs Preloaded With Software - Clarification 01/23/92
BRACKNELL, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- Further
to Newsbytes' story earlier this week about Dell U.K. preloading its
PCs with software from the end of this month, Newsbytes
understands that Dell U.S. has been supplying its PCs pre-equipped
with software for the last few months.

On contacting Dell U.K. regarding this, it appears that the U.K.
pre-loading system is still unique, since it relies on a liason
between Dell and the software companies concerned. According
to Martin Slagter, Dell's U.K. managing director, the U.K. pre-
loading sequence operates from a file server to the hard disk
recording chassis, rather than installed - as is the case with
the U.S. operation - after the production cycle.

Slagter told Newsbytes that Dell U.S. will shortly change over
to a file server supply and recording system during product
manufacture.

(Steve Gold/19920123/Press & Public Contact: Dell Computer
Corporation, tel [phone], fax [phone])


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

New For PC In UK: Comwave Unveils Faxnet For Windows 3.0 01/23/92
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- Comwave has
announced an enhanced version of Faxnet, its computer-based
fax system for networks that the company claims eliminates the
increasing delays and frustrations caused by conventional fax
machines.

Faxnet 2.5 features an optional easy-to-use Windows 3 interface
and a new "hot key" facility for sending faxes from within
applications such as word processors, databases and desktop
publishing software.

Faxnet 2.5 was developed and is manufactured in the U.K.
According to the company, the package can easily be integrated
into a paperless office automation environment. It has full
Novell certification and is compatible with most network
operating systems, including Novell Netware, 3-Com, and LAN
Manager.

This new version of Faxnet allows instant access to the fax
transmission facility without leaving the current application. This,
the company claims, makes using the package as easy as printing
a document. Using the Windows interface, all the other Faxnet
facilities are available by clicking on the Faxnet icon.

Faxnet 2.5 supports a range of file formats, including ASCII,
Postscript, PCX and HPGL. The dedicated network fax server can
support multiple lines -- configured as incoming, outgoing or
both -- and also provides an interface to electronic mail systems
such as Da Vinci electronic-mail and CC-mail.

The package is approved for use in several European countries,
including the U.K., France, Germany, and Switzerland, and the
U.S.A. Pricing on the software starts at UKP 1,995 for a ten-user
system.

First established in 1987, Comwave claims to be the first company
to introduce an approved fax card into the U.K. The company also
provides large-scale turnkey computer-based fax communication
systems, and international fax bureau services.

(Steve Gold/19920123/Press & Public Contact: Comwave,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00014)

New For PC In UK: Pegasus Ships Windows Accounts Package 01/23/92
KETTERING, NORTHANTS, ENGLAND, 1992 JAN 23 (NB) --
Pegasus Software has begun shipping its first Windows package --
Pegasus Accounts for Windows.

First announced at the company's dealer conference last November,
the package represents a commitment to Windows, Pegasus claims.
The package is billed a single user product consisting of four
modules: sales ledger;, purchase ledger; nominal ledger; and
invoicer. Pricing has been set at UKP 995.

According to Pegasus, the package was a year in development,
and has been favorably received by dealers and end users. The
package takes a graphical user interface (GUI) approach to
accountancy software and, the company claims, brings a new
level of ease-of-use and comfort to accountancy software.

"There is a major interest in this product which underlines the
importance of the Windows environment to our industry. It is also
a further step towards our stated intention of offering our dealers the
most comprehensive range of products available in the market,"
said Martin Ruda, the managing director of operations at Pegasus.

"We believe our implementation for Windows is the best in the
industry and that it offers our dealers new business opportunities
and our users increased functionality," he added.

(Steve Gold/19920123/Press & Public Contact: Pegasus Software,
0536-411444)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00015)

U.S. Computer Manufacturers Re-Evaluate Trade With Japan 01/23/92
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- Just a few days
ago President Bush was touting the success of his recent trade
mission to Japan, and U.S. computer manufacturers were saying that
they were amazed at how easily Japan opened up its government
sector bidding process to other country's companies. However, in
the wake of the Japanese Prime Minister's rejection of Bush's
claims on auto parts and cars, computer industry analysts are
taking another look at what they thought computer makers had won.

Bringing into the open what many experienced Japan watchers in
this country and many of President Bush's Democratic opponents
pointed out at the time, Japanese Prime Minister Miyazawa has
told the NHK network in Japan that those car and auto import
numbers being bandied about by the U.S. President are not
guarantees. According to Miyazawa, those numbers are merely
goals or target numbers, distinctly implying that the Japanese
government is not guaranteeing that Japan will import even as
much next year as last, let alone more.

Trade balance numbers released this week show that Japan's
trade surplus with the U.S. has only grown about two percent to just
under $40 billion, but a Commerce Department report last week
says that U.S. imports from nearly every country have dropped
drastically because during the current recession U.S. consumers
are buying less of everything.

On Monday Japanese law makers showed that even if Japanese
companies know how to blend into American culture, the politicians
certainly do not.

Besides Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa's rejection of President
Bush's claims of even a small victory in his recent top-level
trade negotiations where the president took along his campaign
manager, but not his top trade negotiator, there were also
incredible statements from Japan's Speaker of the House Yoshio
Sakurauchi, reportedly calling U.S. workers illiterate and
referring to the U.S. as a Japanese sub-contractor.

Capital Hill reaction is expected to be violently anti-Japanese
and many Washington insiders smell the beginning of a major
trade war waged in a three-sided battle with Japan and the
U.S. administration on the adjacent legs of an isosceles triangle
and the Democratically controlled Congress with Republican
presidential challenger Patrick Buchanan far away on the
protectionist apex of the triangle.

The Speaker of the Japanese Diet (legislature) is now denying
some of the anti-U.S. comments attributed to him but stands
behind his basic contention that the U.S. is becoming a second-
rate nation.

It is apparent that the Japanese are just as divided as the
U.S. on business issues. For an example, we need only look at a
recent magazine article by Sony's founder Akio Morita in which he
says Japanese companies have placed too much stress on
engineering and production and too little on the well-being of
workers and the environment.

Morita is one of the most notorious U.S. bashers, in recent years
placing himself as a sort of mirror image of Chrysler's Lee
Iacocca. However, he has recently begun to call for the adoption
of a more responsible brand of capitalism in Japan, one that
sounds surprisingly like trade-unionism.

(John McCormick/19920123)
(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00016)

Japanese Offered Magic Database Software Via Wacom 01/23/92
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- IBM-Japan and
Wacom have solidified an agreement with US newcomer, Magic
Software, to distribute the company's database application
software in modified form to the Japanese market.

Magic Enterprises, a Tel Aviv-based company, opened a
headquarters in Irvine last year. The company has also had
offices in the U.K. since 1990. Wacom says that it will distribute a
version of Magic customized for the Japanese market and called
Dbmagic. Wacom says it is currently Japan's largest supplier of
computer-aided design (CAD) software tools.

Announcing the agreement, Al Frank, Magic's president and
chief executive officer said: "Japan is currently the single largest
software market opportunity in the world. That country's appetite
for application solutions has set the pace for global automation
trends. By teaming with the nation's largest supplier of CAD
automation tools, Magic is poised to become the defacto
standard for productivity tools for the software factory of the future."

Magic claims that its software is unique as it automates the most
common database functions. In Magic, applications are described
rather than coded, which the company says enables developers
to move quickly from a prototype to an executable applications
without coding, debugging, and compiling.

Magic also claims that its applications can be ported
transparently across DOS, OS/2, Unix and VAX/VMS platforms
and supports a variety of popular networks.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920123/Press Contact: Regina Freeman,
Bohle Company for Magic, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(UNIX)(LAX)(00017)

New For Unix: RAD Intros Multimedia Tools 01/23/92
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- RAD
Technologies has introduced several multimedia products for the
Unix operating system including Videocam, CD-ROM Integrated
Desktop, and Hypernews.

Videocam is real-time video software to allow any Unix
workstation user to play video directly from a compact disc
read-only memory (CD-ROM), from a hard disk, or over networks.
The package provides for real-time compression from any NTSC
video source and playback with no special hardware required.

RAD suggests uses for the technology would include company,
product, technology videos, teleconferencing, videomail, and the
integration of video data with applications.

Videocam can display video information produced by the
company's CD-ROM Integrated Desktop (CDID), which is another
new product enabling multimedia publishing on CD-ROM for the
Sun Microsystems Solaris operating system. The package
includes a word processor and color imaging display tools that
work seamlessly with Hypernews, another new product, the
company claims.

Hypernews is billed as a package for non-programmers to
develop full-color interactive presentations. The multimedia
information, called "stacks" and "cards," can be linked together
in presentations and databases.

Hypernews includes Hyperdraw, a color Postscript drawing and
imaging program with a set of drawing tools. Hyperdraw allows
users to design custom "cards," objects, and user interfaces
for applications.

Objects, like cards, buttons, and stacks, can be linked with
other Hypernews objects and external programs or information.
Applications which can be created under the HyperNews include
calendar managers, information stacks, telephone directories,
image libraries, drawing and clip-art galleries, and Hyper-linked
information cards.

Hypernews was developed as part of a two-year development
project under cooperation with Sun Microsystems by the Turing
Institute. The company added that Hypernews Plus, including
demo stacks and an advanced programmers manual, will be
available in March 1992.

RAD is currently demonstrating its new products at the Uniforum
1992 show, taking place in San Francisco at the Moscone
Center. The show closes January 24.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920123/Press Contact: Matthew McIntosh,
RAD Technologies, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00018)

 ****Did Hussein's Computer Catch A Virus? April Fools! 01/23/92
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- U.S. News & World
Report, Ted Koppel's Nightline, other news magazines, and a soon-
to-be-published book are all building on each other's stories of
a supposed virus attack perpetrated by the U.S. military on
Iraq's air defense computer during Operation Desert Storm.
However, everything Newsbytes has learned points to this story
deriving from an Infoworld April Fools column.

Whether or not the U.S. intelligence services were able to infect
the Iraqi air-defense computers has become a major question in
the non-computer media during the past few weeks, a question
which is unlikely by its very nature to be confirmed or denied by
military intelligence.

Newsbytes sources confirm that such a virus attack could possibly
have taken place, although probably not the way it has been
reported in the mainstream news media, but we have been unable
to obtain any confirmation whatsoever that the attack actually took
place at all.

As reported by some members of the press, the U.S. supposedly
placed a virus-laden ROM or read only memory chip into a printer
which was about to be smuggled into Iraq in violation of the U.N.
embargo.

This is essentially the same story which ran in Infoworld Volume
13, Number 13, April 1, 1991, on page 39, where the story was
obviously a joke and would have been recognized as such by
any computer professional who normally reads Infoworld.

Taking as a talking point the question of whether such attacks
could actually take place, computer experts on BIX, the BYTE
Information Exchange, seem to agree that the story as reported is
unlikely in the extreme. They do not say that something related
could not have happened, just that the printer story is farfetched.

For a personal computer, only a PostScript printer is normally
able to return data to a computer from the printer, and even if a
virus were contained in such a printer it would not be likely to
contain executable code that could be moved back to the
computer and activated.

Another observer pointed out that the computer in question was
a mainframe and that mainframe printers often have controller
cards which communicate with the computer, making such a
virus-infection route more possible.

A recent Internet story from the netnews.sci.military conference
follows the thread of the story from its genesis in the April 1
issue of Infoworld where a very tongue-in-cheek story was
obviously written as a thinly-, or, more accurately, a
transparently-, veiled jibe at Microsoft Windows.

The source of the Internet posting is apparently a specialist at
Carnegie Mellon University, also the site of CERT or the
Computer Emergency Response Team.

This Newsbytes Bureau feels that this April Fool's joke column
is a highly likely explanation of the Iraqi virus story but
would like to point out that if the attack had taken place we should
expect to be fed misleading statements from some government
sources and that an open-minded individual would remember
that, as well as the fact that this wouldn't be the first time that a
joke turned out to contain a grain of truth.

In any case, the consensus of opinion in the computer community,
as sampled by Newsbytes, has decided that the story, as reported,
i.e., that a printer was used as an infection vector, might either be a
misleading story planted by the intelligence community or the result
of a non-technical reporter's misunderstanding of the technology
involved, but that the most likely explanation is a misunderstanding
of the Infoworld April Fools' joke.

Two former intelligence community employees each told
Newsbytes that, in any case,it was very unlikely that any
government source would have disclosed any "true" information
about any actual virus attack if it did take place, simply because
intelligence agencies would likely want to use the same method of
infection again.

The use of a virus by the military is not farfetched in itself.
Newsbytes pointed out several months ago that a college
professor had presented a paper to an NIST (National Institute of
Standards and Technology) computer security seminar which
described the use of a virus as a weapon.

(John McCormick/19920123)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00019)

New For PC: Enhanced Version Of Pcanywhere 01/23/92
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- Control of
one IBM or compatible personal computer (PC) from another, via
the telephone lines, is the purpose of Pcanywhere. Symantec says
that it has released new versions of the Pcanywhere products,
developed by Peter Norton.

Pcanywhere and similar products, such as Carbon Copy, are
commonly used by people who want to control a PC at work
from a home computer, or by consultants who want to
troubleshoot a client's computer problem without traveling
to the client.

Two versions of Pcanywhere -- Norton Pcanywhere 4.5 and the
Norton Pcanywhere/LAN (local area network) version 4.5 -- are
available for both Windows and DOS. The network version offers
PC-to-PC remote computing to and from a network via serial or
modem connections.

Enhancements to the new versions include control of a host PC
running Microsoft Windows 3.0 in any of its modes, including
real, standard, or enhanced, as well as full mouse support for
DOS and Windows applications. The new versions are also
designed to recover from telephone line errors and to sustain
the integrity of the connections even over noisy telephone lines.

The Norton Pcanywhere has a quick connect feature added to
simplify the connection process by reducing the number of
parameters the user has to set when connecting to a host PC
from 15 to two.

General communications functions are included in the Norton
Pcanywhere product. Popular terminal emulations such as ANSI,
DEC, IBM, and Data General, and file transfer protocols such as
ASCII, X- and Y-Modem, as well as Kermit allow users to connect
to public mail, bulletin board service, and access mini and
mainframe computers.

Automation of routine communications tasks without user
intervention is available via a new script language. Symantec
claims that the automation can be done in the background, as well
as in the foreground and remote users can transfer files without
interfering with ongoing host computer processing. Over 90
drivers for specific modems are included so users can take
advantage of specific modem capabilities.

The Norton Pcanywhere/LAN product provides a gateway for non-
dedicated communication servers and is compatible with any
asynchronous communication server following the NASI/NCSI
interface, such as Novell's NACS and Network Products ACS2.

Symantec also claims that the new products are fast, running at
speeds up to 115,200 bits-per-second (bps). The speed allows
Pcanywhere to take advantage of high-speed modems and
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) links.

Norton Pcanywhere can be purchased with both the Host PC and
Remote PC software in the same package or separately, to suit the
user's needs for multiple remotes or hosts. The suggested retail
price for Norton Pcanywhere is $179. The Norton Pcanywhere/LAN,
which includes network software and licenses for two nodes, is
available for $495. More information is available from Symantec
toll-free at 800-441-7234.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920123/Press Contact: Jackie Brinker,
Symantec, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(UNIX)(LAX)(00020)

Large Fujitsu Plasma Display For Sun SPARC Debuts 01/23/92
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- Fujitsu has
announced it has released the FPF-20000S, the first large,
stand-alone plasma display for Sun Microsystem's SPARCstations.

The FPF-20000S is a stand-alone, 1,280 by 1,024, 100 dots-per-inch
AC-memory plasma display in a 16-inch diagonal format. The new
display works with SPARCstation-2, 600MP series, IPX and IPC
workstations, and is software compatible with Sunos 4.1.1,
4.1.2, Openwindows versions 2.0 and 3.0, and Sunview, Fujitsu
claims.

Fujitsu believes it can sell the new display for uses such as
financial transaction systems, airline reservation
systems, and desktop publishing. Multiple displays for a larger
viewing area are available by installing several of the new
plasma displays on a single workstation using single-slot SBus
cards. Fujitsu says the multiple displays could also be helpful
in other applications like software development, so developers
can write code on one display and program on the other.

The new display offers: a 160 degree viewing angle; a better
than 20 to 1 contrast ratio; a monochrome, neon orange-on-black
display; a non-refresh flicker free screen; and a brightness
level of 7 cd/m2 -- all for better viewability, the company claims.

Fujitsu points out that the FPF-20000S features a non-scanning
technology that is inherently immune to electromagnetic
interference and therefore makes it effective for use in Catscan
medical equipment and metal fabrication foundries where
electromagnetic fields are present.

Dimensions of the display are 16.3- inches wide, 13.6-inches
high, 3.5-inches thick, and weighs 14 pounds. The screen also
has the advantage of a 50,000 hour operational life with no
brightness degradation or image burn-in.

More information on the display is available directly from
Fujitsu toll-free at 800-642-7616, or by writing Fujitsu, 3545
North First Street, San Jose, CA 95134.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920123/Press Contact: Charlie Shafton,
Fujitsu, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00021)

 ****Industry Lines Up Behind Fast Data Network 01/23/92
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) --
Leaders of the U.S. computer industry got behind the concept of a
fast data network in a gathering sponsored by Harvard's Kennedy
School of Government.

Apple Chairman John Sculley compared such a network to the
Interstate highway network, and said IBM and Digital Equipment
also want the U.S. to take a more active role promoting it.

Rep. Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat who, with
Senator Albert Gore of Tennessee, has been pushing
government to fund a supercomputing data network, added
that the nation needs a national telecommunications policy to
shift military research dollars into commercial applications.

Sculley demonstrated a simulated home computer of the future
which could answer phone calls, schedule appointments and
perform research, working off a user's voice. AT&T Chairman
Robert Allen agreed with the outlines of the vision, but demanded
regulatory relief for his company first.

US West President Richard McCormick, meanwhile, echoed that
feeling, saying that competition is a better model for creating
the long-sought network than government aid. A Bank of Boston
study presented at the conference indicated that shipments of
communications gear are growing twice as fast as shipments of
other capital goods.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920123)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00022)

IRS Taking Returns by Phone -- Without Needing Computer 01/23/92
GERMANTOWN, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) --
Taxpayers without computers will still be able to file their returns
electronically using Telefile, a voice processing system from
Microlog which is getting its first workout this year at IRS
offices in Maryland.

Telefile officials said that more than 1.2 million U.S. taxpayers
will be able to phone in their federal tax returns by using the
system, which uses touch-tone keypads and voice prompts to
let citizens enter figures from their returns directly into IRS
computers, which can calculate refunds instantly. Checks could
be returned within 2-3 weeks, half the usual time, and filing time
could be cut to five minutes, Microlog officials said.

Telefile is initially being tested in Ohio during the 1992 filing
season, from January 10 to April 15. The IRS is planning a
second trial in 1993. Depending on the success of both tests, the
IRS may expand the program to the rest of the nation.

Future TeleFile services could be designed to handle complex tax
returns to broaden the base of eligible users, as well as provide
file-by-phone capabilities for state tax returns. This year,
eligible TeleFile users comprise the 1.2 million Ohio residents
who qualify to file 1040EZ returns, single people with incomes of
less than $50,000 per year. The IRS is sending these taxpayers
the new 1040-TEL tax return package which will include an
optional 1040EZ form. Calls are placed to a toll-free 800 number.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920123/Press Contact: Tom Horton,
Microlog, tel [phone]; fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00023)

AT&T Announces New ISDN, Datacoms Products 01/23/92
BRIDGEWATER, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- AT&T
has announced a series of new business phones, and its Paradyne
unit has announced new transmission technology.

The new phones support Integrated Services Digital Network, or
ISDN, standards. The first such phone is the 8503T ISDN Voice
Terminal, an entry-level set that competes with more fully-
featured voice and data terminals.

They work with AT&T's Definity PBX (private branch exchange) or
its 5ESS public switch, and will be marketed in conjunction with
AT&T's current 7500 series of ISDN voice terminals. The phones
incorporate a new handset specifically designed to meet recently
adopted standards for international use. AT&T said it plans to
incorporate this new design into all future voice terminal
enhancements. The new phone costs $250.

AT&T's Paradyne unit, meanwhile, has announced a technology
that it calls carrierless, amplitude modulation, phase modulation, or
CAP for short. The new high-speed transmission technology will
enable the development of fast data services, the
telecommunications giant claims.

Company officials cite the possibility that CAP technology could
provide T-1 trunk speeds of 1.544 million bits-per-second over
existing copper wire, even in residential neighborhoods, without
using expensive line repeaters or line conditioning.

Paradyne said that CAP will be its platform of the future for
sending data over copper wire, coaxial cable and other media.
CAP is easily adaptable to a wide range of transmission media
and distances, supporting transmission speeds beyond 100
million bits-per-second.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920123/Press Contact: AT&T Paradyne,
Garrick Case, 813-530-8221; AT&T, Laura Williams, 908-658-2604)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00024)

Dun & Bradstreet Announces Dow Jones Gateway 01/23/92
MURRAY HILL, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A, 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- Dun
& Bradstreet has announced a gateway agreement linking its
computers to those of Dow Jones News/Retrieval.

DJNR subscribers will now be able to access Dun's Market
Identifiers file directly from their main service. News/Retrieval
subscribers have had access to Dun & Bradstreet's company-
specific financial reports since 1987.

Dun's Market Identifiers offers sales and marketing information
on more than 7.2 million business establishments and companies,
98 percent of which are privately owned. Users could get a
company name, address, telephone number, and chief executive
officer, sometimes even annual sales, employee size, and net
worth data.

Dun & Bradstreet officials have emphasized that this is a non-
exclusive deal, and its files will remain available on Dialog,
Information America, NewsNet, DataStar, CORIS, STM, and
Westlaw. The new Dow Jones system, however, will feature a
flexible menu structure to assist new users in using the database,
or experienced users can access the same data with a simple
command language.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920123/Press Contact: Press Contact: Dun
& Bradstreet, Pamela Spiridon, 908-665-5105; marketing contact,
1-800-223-1026)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00025)

Sudan Plans To Sell Telephone Network 01/23/92
KHARTOUM, SUDAN, 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- The official Sudan
News Agency has confirmed that the Sudan plans to sell-off its
telecommunications network to foreign investors, with help from
the World Bank, in order to start reforming its economy. The
Sudan has been suffering for years from wars and famine,
and is one of the poorest countries in Africa.

In addition to selling the telecommunications network, the
country also wants to sell its airline and shipping lines.
Local as well as foreign investors are welcome. The first step
in the rationalization move was a joint venture with Daewoo of
South Korea, which will work on its textile, leathers, and hotel
industries, through a joint-venture to be launched in March.

Officials of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have also
been in the country, examining reforms. The IMF had declared
the Sudan bankrupt in 1986 and threatened to expel it in 1990
because of its lack of cooperation with reforms.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920123)

(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00026)

Connections Journal Releases First Issue Under New Publisher 01/23/92
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- Having
purchased the rights to the magazine and its subscriber list,
Winehouse Computer Company has released the first issue of
Connections Journal this past week.

Connections Journal used to be published by Dave Kosiur.
Winehouse acquired the journal and its subscriber list in November,
1991, and claims to be committed to continuing its editorial focus and
interests. The Journal concentrates on giving technical and
management personnel the technical information needed to install
Appletalk networks and to interconnect them among themselves
and to other types of networks.

Dave Kosiur sold the magazine to Winehouse in order to pursue
unspecified other interests. He believes that Winehouse is a good
outfit to carry on his work and plans to continue to contribute to
it on an occasional basis.

Winehouse plans to publish the magazine once every six weeks.
An annual subscription will cost $125. Winehouse sees Connections
Journal as being very complementary to their current strategy of
being a Macintosh networking knowledge source.

Winehouse offers technical seminars and is the organizer of the
Mactivity shows. The next show, Mactivity '92, is slated for July
14-16 and is planned to have over 70 technical sessions relating
to all areas of Mac networking.

(Naor Wallach/19920123/Press Contact: Tricia Chan, for
Winehouse, 415-771-6652)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00027)

Synoptics Intros New Set Of Net Management Applications 01/23/92
BOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) --
Synoptics Communications is trying to help solve all kinds of
networking problems. Now, the company has targeted the
management of large, and growing ever larger, networks with a
series of new programs that make network management become
a simpler task.

Dubbed the Lattisware series, the programs are built on top of other
vendors' products. According to the company, this is purposefully
done so as not to duplicate functionality and to ensure that
Synoptics software will be concentrated on doing tasks that the
company feels is within their areas of expertise.

Four applications have been released to run on Unix-based
platforms like the SunNet Manager -- FaultMan, TrendMan,
PolicyMan, and MeterMan. There are also two applications that
have been released for DOS-based platforms -- MIBMan and
MeterMan.

FaultMan is a rule-based trouble-shooter. It reports on classes
of errors and problems that have been identified by the network
administrator as being of particular interest to him. A built-in
database allows the application to continuously monitor the
progress of its actions and to generate reports as requested. The
database also contains a historical record of problems and their
resolution to help a network administrator in debugging.

TrendMan collects information on the performance of the network. As
can be expected from the name, the data can then be displayed in a
form that will generate trend information. Charts and graphs that
show network behavior and extrapolate on future trends are a part of
the package.

PolicyMan lets the network administrator delegate some of his work
to the system. The network administrator does this by describing
certain policies and procedures to the software. For instance,
departments or computers can be spun off the network at certain
times to enhance security.

MeterMan collects, correlates, and displays information about the
network in real-time. This allows network administrators to see the
status of their networks on the screen at a glance. If a problem is
indicated, the user can get more information by simply double
clicking on the meter in question.

MIBMan buffers a network administrator from most of the details of
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). This is especially
considered useful in a DOS environment where traditionally the
network administration may be a part of one's larger job and not
the main task to be performed. Using MIBMan, the user can define
how often information is collected, where to store it, and how to
present it.

All of the above products will be available in the second quarter
of 1992. MeterMan and PolicyMan in a bundle is priced at $1,995.
TrendMan retails for $2,995 and FaultMan costs $12,995; The two
DOS applications are bundled together and sell for $995. It is
possible to get additional copies of the MeterMan/PolicyMan
bundle for Unix workstations at a discount. These additional
copies will cost $995.

(Naor Wallach/19920123/Press Contact: Kristina Thorngate,
Synoptics, 408-764-1046)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00028)

Microdyne Picks Up Novell's X.25 Products 01/23/92
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- Continuing with
the trend that Newsbytes reported on earlier this year, Microdyne's
EXOS division has now started to sell and support Novell's X.25
product family.

The Novell Netware Lin/X.25, the Netware X.25 gateway, the Novell
X.25 Extended Adapter for PC's, and the Novell X.25 Extended
Adapter for PS/2's, plus their associated software and supporting
products were all transferred to Microdyne on January 1 this year.

Although customers will be able to order these units from Microdyne
using the Novell nomenclature and part numbers until April 30, 1992,
Microdyne has assigned the products new names.

The EXOS X.25 WAN Station is the new name for Novell Netware
Link/X.25. This device gives you the capability of connecting your
Netware network to 11 remote networks through its single X.25
connection.

The EXOS X.25 WAN Gateway offers you the capability to convert
any existing Novell Netware workstation into an X.25 Gateway server.
This is done through an EXOS X.25 Extended Adapter. It supports an
array of different network emulations as well.

For more information on these, or other Microdyne products, or to
order, call toll-free on 800-255-EXOS.

(Naor Wallach/19920123/Press Contact: Cliff Rockwell, Microdyne,
703-739-0500)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00029)

 ****Carla Hills Praises US-Japan Computer Pact 01/23/92
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- Ambassador Carla
Hills, the United States' top trade negotiator, who was not along
with President Bush during his recent disappointing trade mission
to the Far East, appeared on CNN Wednesday evening to defend
the administration's trade policy and praise the just-signed
agreement where the Japanese government agreed to open
bidding for government computer contracts to other countries.

The administration admits that nearly all governments have buy-
at-home policies but points out that since U.S.-based computer
makers have 40 percent of the Japanese domestic market but
only 0.4 percent of the Japanese government market the disparity
is just too large.

President George Bush has claimed that the agreement could
result in $5.5 billion of increased sales by 1995, generating up to
110,000 new U.S. jobs.

Many skeptical Japan watchers point out that the agreement
does not actually say that the Japanese government will buy
any U.S. computers, just that they will "open" up the bidding
process.

At the signing ceremony, which was symbolically held in the White
House with President Bush looking on, Hills said: "If commitments
are not kept and upon examination we find anti-competitive
practices or barriers to our entry, and we can document that,
(then) we will take action as we have in the past three years."

One major move made by the Office of the U.S. Trade
Representative (Hills' department) during the past few years has
been to enforce a 60-plus percent tariff on active-matrix color
computer screens for laptops, something not made by any U.S.
manufacturer.

The major result of that move was to force manufacturers of such
computers offshore because, although Japanese-made screens
face a massive tariff, completed computers or projection devices
including those screens are not subject to the tariff.

Meanwhile, President Bush stated at a press conference that he
was pleased with the Japanese government's retraction of some
of the statements made earlier this week by Yoshio Sakurauchi,
speaker of the lower house of Japan's parliament.

In his statements he reportedly called the U.S. "Japan's
subcontractor" and was reported by Japanese press as saying
hat U.S. workers cannot be given written job assignments and
instructions because 30 percent of them are illiterate.

Nearly simultaneously, Japan's Prime Minister told interviewers
on Japan's NHK television network that no commitment had been
made to purchase U.S.-made cars or auto parts during President
Bush's early January swing through Japan. He pointed out that
what had been described by some in the U.S. as commitments
were only pledges to try and buy more.

These comments created a political fire storm in Washington
and resulted in a major damage-control effort by the Japanese
government.

CNN reported on Thursday morning that the Japanese parliament
has purchased two U.S.-made cars from GM and has stated that it
expects to continue this practice of buying two cars per year
with a total purchase price approaching $90,000.

U.S. cars often nearly double in price due to required inspections
at Japanese ports, inspections which are not imposed by the U.S.
on Japanese vehicles. The present Japan trade surplus with the
U.S. is about $40 billion.

(John McCormick/19920123)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00030)

 ****AST Offers 486-based Network Server Line 01/23/92
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 23 (NB) -- AST has
announced it is shipping the Premium SE 4/33, its first model in a
range of upgradeable computers designed as network servers
and based on the Intel 80486 microprocessor.

The SE 4/33 runs at 33 megahertz (MHz) and features 32-bit
Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) and an
upgradeable design. The 486 microprocessor has 8 kilobytes (KB)
of cache memory and a built-in math coprocessor. The unit comes
with 8 megabytes (MB) of RAM, which can be expanded to 80 MB
with 16MB of memory supported on the motherboard.

AST officials said that the base machine in the series, the Model
3 includes a 3.5-inch 1.44 MB diskette drive, and six additional
half-height, 5.25-inch drive bays. Ten 32-bit EISA slots allow for
expansion and the system includes a 300 watt power supply.
Two serial ports, one parallel port, one mouse port, a floppy
controller/connector, and an IDE hard disk drive interface are
located on the system board.

Three-level password protection, including server mode, boot
mode, and keyboard disable, as well as a mechanical chassis
lock, are offered as security features for the system, AST
said.

Software bundled with the system includes the EISA Configuration
Utility, AST Diagnostics, and complete documentation. AST says it
will stand behind the Premium SE 4/33, and its other systems, with
a one-year limited parts and labor warranty.

AST has also introduced the Premium SE 4/50, which will offer a
50 MHz microprocessor, and the Premium XP expansion cabinet
for housing up to 16 hard disk drives. AST is also offering EISA
Ethernet and Token-Ring network cards.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920123/Press Contact: Gerry Baker, AST,
tel [phone], fax [phone])