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/NB920305

Text File | 1992-03-05 | 65KB | 1,417 lines

(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00001)

Artisoft To Upgrade Lantastic; Netware Users Invited Along 03/05/92
TUCSON, ARIZONA, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- Artisoft has
announced that version 4.1 of its Lantastic product will begin
shipping this month. As one of the ways of celebrating this new
version, Artisoft is making a special offer available to current Novell
Netware 2.2 users, to help them switch over to Lantastic.

There are several improvements incorporated in version 4.1.
Four of them relate to the speed and efficiency of the network. A
faster NetBIOS, resource caching, random access caching, and
delayed record locking are those improvements.

Other new features include new System Manager features,
immediate despooling, enhanced printer queue display, new
Net Print switches, new print resource parameters automatic login
to servers, login to multiple servers with one command, hot keys
to menu items, and an enhanced Net Help display.

In conjunction with this version, Artisoft is attempting to convince
current users of Novell's Netware 2.2 that Lantastic 4.1 is a
better upgrade path for them than going to Novell's 3.11. The
way to do this, the company figures, is by having the users try
the Artisoft software and see how they like it.

Artisoft is betting that once they try Lantastic, users will
choose to stay with Lantastic. To help such customers, Artisoft
has shaven the price of version 4.1 by $200 per node for those
customers who can prove that they are registered Novell Netware
2.2 users.

Customers who can, should bring such proof to their Artisoft
dealer who will honor the reduced pricing. The company has not
set a date when this offer will expire. It is, however, reserving
the right to revoke the offer at any time. A Novell user can save
as much as $2,000 off the price of Artisoft's unlimited node
license with the offer.

Lantastic 4.1 is available at a price of $99 to customers who
purchase Artisoft's network adapter cards. If the customer prefers
to supply his own card, then Lantastic/AI costs $99 and supports
most of the common network adapter cards. Current users of
Lantastic will be given the option of upgrading to the new version
at a price of $50 per network if they are using Artisoft adapters
and $99 if not.

Interested readers are encouraged to contact Artisoft at 1-800-
TINY-RAM with any questions about this program or the upgrade.

(Naor Wallach/19920305/Press Contact: Joe Waldygo, Artisoft,
602-293-4000 ext 3215)


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

Webster Computer Ships NAServer, Front End For Pathworks 03/05/92
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- Webster
Computer has come up with, what it claims, is a better idea for
managing networks that use Digital Equipment Corporation's
Pathworks products.

Up until now, network administrators who wished to connect their
DEC based minicomputers as network backbones to PCs and
Macintoshes have had to rely on DEC's Pathworks program. This
limitation has not been viewed as too bad by the user community.
However, to administrate the resulting networks required some
detailed knowledge of DEC's DCL (DEC Command Language)
which requires some training and getting used to.

Webster Computer has come up with a different answer
to this problem. With its  NAServer product, a Macintosh can be
used to control the whole network. Actually, the Macintosh acts
purely as a front-end program while the real control is done by
Pathworks as before. However, Webster's program uses the
Macintosh's GUI (graphical user interface) to its full effect and
manages to simplify and reduce the amount of effort and time
that is required to accomplish these tasks.

The Macintosh version has begun shipping, the company intends to
make a Windows 3.0 version of NAServer available within 60 days
to allow for the same ease of use from a PC.

NAServer provides full access to all of the Pathworks commands
and capabilities. It acts as a translator between the easy interfaces
of the Macintosh and Windows and DCL. Therefore, no learning of
DCL is required. Also, due to this increased ease and the
automation of certain functions, most actions can be accomplished
in significant less time than it would take to do the same thing
in DCL. For instance, adding a new user can take as much as 30
minutes using DCL, but takes only two minutes through the
Macintosh version of NAServer.

Webster is using the exact same pricing structure that DEC is
applying to the Pathworks product. A 200-user license of NAServer
will cost $29.95 per user. The smallest version of the product can
be purchased for $1,990 and this includes a one to 20 user license.

Webster can be reached at 408-954-8054 or via electronic mail on
Internet at [e-mail].

(Naor Wallach/19920305/Press Contact: Tom Woolf, Media
Relations, 415-508-1554)


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

 ****Intel Issues Michelangelo Virus Alert 03/05/92
HILLSBORO, OREGON, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- Intel has
announced it has inadvertently spread the Michelangelo virus
on LANSpool 3.01, its local area network (LAN) print-server utility
software, it first began shipping in January. Intel representatives
have also told Newsbytes more about the reasons for the wide
and rapid spread of this particular virus.

Intel says that it was using an anti-virus software product at
the time of the infection of LANSpool 3.01, but the software did
not pick up the Michelangelo virus infection. Unwilling to point
fingers at the particular program the company was using, Intel
representative Ed Ecstrom, who is on-site general manager of the
PC Enhancement Division, said that the Michelangelo virus caught
many anti-virus programs off-guard.

Ecstrom said that, before all the attention which has been given
to virus programs this past few weeks, anti-virus products
would not pick up the Michelangelo virus because the program
infects the boot sector of disks that are not bootable. Most
virus protection software is programmed to check and see if the
floppy disk was bootable before it checks the boot sector of the
disk for a virus, Ecstrom added.

Bootable disks have the operating system files the computer
needs to get started in a specific location called the "boot
sector." Most computers are programmed to read the boot sector
of the "A:" drive for the system files, then move to a hard disk
drive if one is present.

If a disk is in the A: drive with the door closed and the
computer is restarted, the computer will read the boot sector of
the disk looking for the system files. As most personal computers
(PCs) have a 5.25-inch drive as the A: drive, the virus is set to
only infect 5.25-inch disks.

The spread of the Michelangelo virus occurs when the computer
attempts to boot off the floppy disk. While most users would not
try to boot off a disk they know does not contain the operating
system files, it can happen inadvertently if the computer is
restarted and the disk is left in the drive with the drive door
closed.

In that case the computer tries to read the boot sector of
the disk and the virus gets control. The unsuspecting user
does not realize the virus has taken hold, opens the drive door,
presses a key and the computer boots normally off the "C:" drive,
but now with the Michelangelo virus infecting the system.

Ecstrom maintains that Intel began the search for an anti-virus
program it could count on and decided on PCillin from Trend
Micro Devices. That is the software that the company is currently
employing for virus protection, Ecstrom added.

As a side note, Bret Walker of Intel's public relations division,
said that the company was especially interested in developing
software or network applications which tend to be unattended. The
unattended situation creates more difficulties because most virus
programs depend on a user to be available to confirm reads and
writes to the systems disks that could represent viral activity.
If no user is present the system would have to be smart enough to
make those decisions itself.

"We needed something that could catch the real McCoy in
unattended mode," said Walker. Intel was so impressed with
PCillin it licensed the technology from Trend Micro Devices and
has introduced an anti-viral software product for use in a
network unattended mode called LANProtect, he added.

"We've certainly gotten an education," Ecstrom said, adding
that, to the best of his knowledge most virus protection software
packages have caught on to the Michelangelo method and now
check the boot sector whether or not the diskette is bootable.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920305/Press Contact: Ed Ecstrom, Intel,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00004)

UK: Elonex Begins 50MHz 80486 PC Shipments In Volume 03/05/92
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- Elonex, the growing direct
PC supplier, has announced that its PC-450, a 50 megahertz (MHz)
80486-based machine, is now available in volume. The machine is
a super-VGA (video graphics array) system that retails for UKP 1,795.

So what do you get for that price? An entry-level machine with two
megabytes (MB) of memory. a 50MB hard disk and color super-
VGA monitor. Bundled with the hardware are original copies of
MS-DOS and Windows 3.0.

Like all the latest machines from Elonex, the PC-450 is based on
a modular design, meaning that its processor card will be
upgradeable when faster and more powerful CPU (central
processor unit) cards become available. The main microprocessor
is located on what Elonex describes as a "universal motherboard"
that includes user memory, the display adaptor and necessary
drive controllers. When a new card is slotted in, all relevant system
hardware and firmware are upgraded automatically.

The motherboard also includes two nine-way serial ports, one
parallel port and the 2MB of supplied memory, which can be
upgraded to 32MB internally.

Lifetime technical hotline support is available for the machine
along with a 12-month "back to base" free warranty. On-site
warranty is available for UKP 25 for the first year and a
standard eight percent of system cost per year thereafter.

(Steve Gold/19920305/Press & Public Contact: Elonex,
081-452-4444)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00005)

Tulip Takes A Profit On Sale Of Compudata Subsidiary 03/05/92
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- Tulip
Computers has announced that it had made "a substantial profit"
on the sale of its Compudata subsidiary to Star Micronics in the
UK. Exact details of the transaction have not been announced.

Compudata is a computer dealer operating in the Benelux
countries. Unusually for a subsidiary of a computer company, the
dealer does not trade in Tulip hardware, but is a general
computer dealership.

So why the sale? Tulip officials say that, since the dealer does
not handle Tulip kit exclusively, it does not form part of its
long-term business plan.

(Steve Gold/19920305/Press & Public Contact: Tulip UK,
0293-562323)


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

New For Networks: Ungermann-Bass Intros New Products 03/05/92
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) --
Ungermann-Bass (UB) has made a series of announcements
that enlarge the company's interconnectivity offerings down to the
departmental level. There are four new products included in the
introduction.

The Access/One 2-slot is a small network hub enclosure that has
UB's PlusBus intelligent backplane and two empty slots for network
card interfaces. This Access/One product is compatible with its
larger brothers, the five-slot and 11-slot members. The Access/One
2 slot is compact enough to be mounted in either a standard 19-inch
rack, fits into a standard wiring closet, or even be placed on the
desktop.

UB envisions users buying the Access/One 2 slot to start expanding
their network. It provides for initial access to the set of connectivity
options that UB offers as well as a pathway and an investment
towards the larger networks that the organization may
evolve to. All standard Access/One system modules work in this
smaller enclosure with no changes. UB also offers customized half-
card modules for specialized needs and this enclosure supports
these as well through one of its options. The Access/One 2 slot
is available now for $995.

The second product being introduced is a new concentrate system
module for the Access/One line. This new module is called the
ASM320T Tier 1 10Base-T Ethernet Concentrator (ASM320T). The
ASM320T offers to  connect 12 10Base-T ports to the Access/One
system bus. It takes up one slot in the Access/One enclosure
including the previously mentioned twin slot arrangement. The
module can be managed via Simple Network Management
Protocol modules. The ASM320T is available now for $1,450.

The third product is linked to the ASM320T and is called the
AMO320T/2 Daughter Card and is intended to be used together with
the ASM320T. This reduced instruction-set computer (RISC)-based
device with its built-in flash EEPROM (electrically erasable
programmable read-only memory) is intended to provide better
port-level performance, more fault management features, and
more configuration management features to the ASM320T.

According to the company, being configured as a daughter board
offers two additional advantages. Firstly, it is relatively easy
to install directly at the site by the user. And, secondly, it
still only requires one slot out of the concentrator.

The AMO320T/2 is available now for $995. Customers can save
$200 by purchasing both components at the same time. If so, they
will pay $2,245 rather than the $2,445 if the two components are
purchased separately.

The fourth product is labeled the ASP320 10Base-T Twisted Pair
Access Unit. This business card sized device is designed to attach
to an AUI port on the computer and provides for the attachment to
twisted pair wiring. Internally, it performs all of the necessary
electrical conversions. The ASP320 is available now for $145.

UB also discussed its upcoming product strategy. It intends to
release more tiered product like the ASM320T and the AMO320T/2.
The company's idea is to allow the customer to build a network of
the size that is currently required while providing a growth path
for when the networking needs expand. In this direction, the
company said that it intends to provide some third tier product in
the third quarter of this year..

For more information on these products, call Ungermann-Bass
at 1-800-777-4526

(Naor Wallach/19920305/Press Contact: Laura Irwin,
Ungermann-Bass, 408-987-6509)


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

UDS Motorola Introduces LAN Modem 03/05/92
HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- Entering into
the local area network (LAN) arena for the very first time, the UDS
division of Motorola is introducing a network modem. This device
has several attractive features to recommend it to network
administrators who are trying to allow for remote connections to
their networks, the company claims.

Firstly, the Lanfast Network Modem comes with a LAN adapter that
allows it to be directly connected to the network's cabling. This
eliminates the need for a dedicated PC to be used. The modem
supports Novell's Netware over Ethernet wiring. Wiring support is
further defined as support for either think wire, thin wire, or
10Base-T wiring.

Secondly, the modem comes with its own communications
software that has been optimized for this modem. It is also
compatible with any of the regular communication software
packages that support INT14 operation. These include such
products as Procomm Plus Network and Crosstalk Mk. IV. Thirdly,
it contains a full function V.32bis, V.42bis, 14.4 Kbaud modem chip
set. Finally, it offers a set of security features like automatic call
back, event logging, and password control.

The idea is to allow remote users with full access to the local
network. A remote user can call in and, after validation, be granted
full access to the network including all peripherals that reside on
it such as fax machines and printers. The remote user can even
utilize the dial-in dialout feature if it is implemented. with this
feature, network administrators attach two of these devices to each
other by their RS232 ports. When a user calls in, he can place an
outgoing call on the other modem without using up any of the
network's bandwidth.

The Lanfast modem will be available in April for a price of
$1,995. Contact UDS Motorola for more information at
205-430-8000.

(Naor Wallach/19920305/Press Contact: Randy Renbarger,
Crescent Communications for UDS Motorola, 404-698-8650)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(MOW)(00008)

Moscow: Competition Pushes Cellular Phone Prices Down 03/05/92
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- AMT, the Moscow-based
radiotelephone company, has announced a series of price cuts on
its mobile phones. While mobile phones are still an expensive
prospect here in Russia, the signs are that prices are falling,
thanks to increasing competition.

From the beginning of this month, the price of a Nokia hand
portable falls from $5,000 to $3,700. Installation charges remain
unchanged at $300, while extra accessories to allow the phone to
be used in the office cost $700 more.

Monthly service charges are also unchanged at $50, although per-
minute charges for local calls have fallen from 90 to 70 cents a
minute. International calls are as per Ministry of Communications
norm at $4 a minute with a surcharge of $1.70 per minute.

According to The Commersant, a weekly paper, the price cuts
are due to competition from the Moscow Cellular Communications
Company, which has been steadily forcing prices down.

AMT has around 1,000 subscribers on its network. Mobile phone
service is available in and around Moscow, as well as at major
airports nearby.

(Kirill Tchashchin/19920305/Press Contact: AMT, [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(MOW)(00009)

Instant Money Transfers Available Between US And Russia 03/05/92
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- Western Union Financial
Services International has announced plans to begin the first
"instant money" transfer service for the general public here in
Russia. Initially, the service will operate between Russia and
the United States.

The service, which is a joint venture project between Western
Union and MSB here in Russia, is available through any of Western
Union's 17,000 agencies in the U.S. and through branches of
Sberbank, the Russian savings bank. Western Union has plans to
establish a number of agencies in and around Moscow, as well as
elsewhere in Russia and other former Soviet Republics.

The service was officially inaugurated last week by Eduard
Shevarnadze, the Soviet Union's former foreign minister, when he
wired $1,000 direct from a Miami Beach pharmacy to a Moscow
bank. The $1,000, plus another $2,000 donated by Western Union,
is destined for the families of three young men killed on the
Moscow streets during the unsuccessful August 1991 coup
attempt.

(Kirill Tchashchin/19920305)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00010)

Software Publishing Changes LAN Strategy 03/05/92
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- Software
Publishing Corporation (SPC) is changing the way it is selling
network-ready versions of its popular presentation packages:
Harvard Graphics for Windows; Harvard Graphics 3.0; Harvard
Draw for Windows; and Professional Write Plus.

All of these packages will now come in a network-ready manner.
When a user decides that it is time to move from a standalone PC
to a networked environment, he can take the program off his
PC and install it on the network file server. The program will
automatically convert to the networked version with a single
concurrent user license enabled. This save the cost of purchasing
a new copy of the network version of that product.

In addition, SPC has restructured its network pricing. Until now, the
networked versions were sold in configurations of one, 5, and 20
concurrent users. Starting immediately, people will be able to buy
either a base version, which includes the documentation and disks,
or single-user node upgrades which provide a license key
extension to the existing software. Manuals and disks are not
provided with the license key extension.

"Our new LAN License Packs reflect Software Publishing's ongoing
efforts to further improve and simplify the use of our graphics and
document processing products in a networked environment," said
Teri Roche, Software Publishing's LAN product manager.

"We are committed to providing our Harvard Graphics, Harvard
Draw, and Professional Write Plus customers with a simplified LAN
migration path that is offered at the lowest possible price," she
added,

The new pricing structure for SPC's offerings is as follows:
Harvard Graphics 3.0, stand alone price -- $595, license key
extension -- $495, documentation -- $30; Harvard Graphics for
Windows, $595, $495, and $30, respectively; Harvard Draw for
Windows, $595, $495, and $50, respectively; and Professional
Write Plus, $249, $219, and $30 for the documentation.

Anyone desiring more information on the products or where
they can be purchased is advised to call Software Publishing's
Customer Service department direct at 408-988-7518.

(Naor Wallach/19920305/Press Contact: Victoria Paige,
Software Publishing, 408-450-7316)


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

Rolm Signs Deals With Tandem, Siemens 03/05/92
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- Rolm has united
Tandem and one of its parent companies, Siemens, around its
CallBridge interface and support for interactive voice systems.
Rolm is a joint venture between Siemens and IBM.

Specifically, Rolm said that it intends to use its CallBridge
switch-to-host link, which links business phone switches, called
private branch exchanges or PBXs, to Tandem's NonStop
computer system. The result will be that users of Rolm and
Tandem gear will be able to create advanced voice-data
applications, linking phone numbers on incoming calls with
databases, for instance. All this will be based on the Computer
Supported Telecommunications Applications, or CSTA,
standard of the European Computer Manufacturers Association,
which will be supported by both CallBridge and Tandem's Call
Applications Manager, nicknamed CAM.

Here's how it will work in practice: CallBridge, when used with
automatic number identification, or ANI, a service sold to
consumers as Caller ID, allows operators to receive customer
information on their terminal screens as inbound calls are
answered. If a caller hangs up while waiting, CallBridge captures
the caller's number and the operator will automatically return
the call.

All this was called just the first step in a worldwide PBX and
Computer Teaming pact between Siemens and Tandem. The two
companies said they will jointly develop and market voice-data
systems. Siemens is the third-largest computer switch maker in
the U.S., behind Northern Telecom and AT&T. Rolm, has also
announced links to IBM and Digital Equipment computers.

Rolm now claims it has a "single-source solution package"
for managing call centers. The company calls the product
ROLMCenter, and it includes a PBX, cell center management
tools, voice messaging, links between PBXs and host computers,
and voice processing systems, as well as management services.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920305/Press Contact: Rolm, Susan Szita
Gore, 203-849-6060; Siemens, Derek van Bronkhorst, 408-492-2161;
Tandem Computers, Judy Zimbelman, 408-285-6849)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(ATL)(00012)

GTE, Hewlett-Packard Sharing Information 03/05/92
IRVING, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- GTE and Hewlett-
Packard (HP) have announced a three-year agreement to share
information about future plans and goals.

As part of the deal, HP will supply about $100 million in
products and services, some of which will be resold through GTE
Supply. That includes $40 million in Apollo workstations designed
for use by telephone customer-service representatives. HP will
also become one of GTE's strategic suppliers of client-server
computing systems.

The deal is important for both companies. Telecommunications
has become a big market for computer companies, but HP's rivals
already have important alliances in place with makers of phone
switches. GTE, while it is the largest manager of local phone
systems in the U.S., is weak in supplying equipment to others,
and can use the link-up with a major computer vendor as
connections between computers and phone switches become
crucial.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920305)


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

 ****CWA Union Blasts AT&T, But Technology Marches On 03/05/92
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- AT&T's unions
are angry over company plans to close 31 operator centers and
move up to 6,000 workers off the phones, but the technology
responsible for the moves is marching forward.

"We are outraged by AT&T's move to replace thousands of
telephone operators with a new voice robotic technology, and by
their unbelievable disrespect of our union in handling these layoffs,"
Communications Workers of America President Morton Bahr said.
"AT&T's decision to announce layoffs of initially four to six
thousand people, and closings of 31 offices around the country,
four weeks before contract talks begin, is the worst intimidation
tactic we have ever seen. But our members won't be intimidated.
AT&T workers are angry and fed up with years of abuse and are
mobilizing to fight back."

AT&T spokesmen object that they have not announced any
layoffs and that jobs will be sought for all operators being
replaced, even if it means they have to move. Besides, the
company notes, technology is marching forward, and to keep low-
skill operators in place when high-tech equipment is ready to
boost productivity smacks of Luddism, the 18th century movement
by English workers to halt the new textile industry because it
would put home-weavers out of business.

The union replies that its move is motivated in part by AT&T's
timing of the announcement. According to James Irvine, CWA's vice
president for AT&T units, managers have been calling workers
into their offices, telling them "layoffs and closings" would be
announced -- only closings were announced.

"The timing of this decision is incredible," Irvine continued. "There
is no other reason to announce this technology except to strike
fear in the hearts of AT&T workers, and to intimidate them during
bargaining."

AT&T and its workers are preparing to sit down and negotiate a
new three-year contract, and the company has already announced
that a settlement reached between NYNEX and the same union,
calling for wage increases and job security guarantees, is
unacceptable.

Meanwhile, progress marches on. Aspect Telecommunications
has announced the Aspect Remote StaffCenter, an option to its
call distributor line which lets the system work with staff outside
the office. These operations might be branch sales offices,
regional service centers located throughout a wide geographic
area, or campus offices down the street, the company said.

Up to 46 Aspect TeleSets can be interfaced at the remote
location. One result is that higher-productivity operators, linked
directly to computer systems and services, can be located
outside the large factory-like offices where AT&T operators
now work.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920305/Press Contact: Aspect
Telecommunications, Joseph McFadden, 408-441-2340;
Jeff Miller, Communications Workers of America, 202-434-1172)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SYD)(00014)

Hard Disk Shortage Hits Australian PC Sales 03/05/92
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1991 MAR 5 (NB) -- PC dealers in Australia
claim they are losing sales because distributors are unable to
provide hard disks with their systems. Anything below 200
megabytes (MB) is in short supply, and experts disagree as to
the cause.

Some small system assemblers are totally unable to supply hard
disks, and are shipping them without, telling dealers to find drives
where they can. Others are shipping units with much higher
capacity drives than the dealers order, and are saying: "pay us
the extra price or send the drives back, but there's nothing
smaller".

The large manufacturers seem to be isolated form the problem,
but even they may eventually be affected as stocks are snapped
up by unlikely purchasers. Where six months ago clone
manufacturers were able to use obsolete or unpopular brands
of drive in low-price PCs, even these have disappeared from
the market.

Initially it was 40 megabyte (MB) drives that were hard to get, then
80 MB,  and now many assemblers are unable to ship less than
120MB hard disk-equipped machines.

There are a number of suggested reasons for the shortage. The
first is that manufacturers have jumped the gun and assumed that
smaller drives would soon be unpopular, and so have stopped
producing them. The second suggestion is that manufacturers
were able to make larger drives at very little extra cost, yet could
make much greater profits, and so moved to larger drives. The
third suggestion is that manufacturers have formed a cartel, and
artificially removed smaller drives from the market, in order to
sell higher priced units.

(Paul Zucker/19920305)


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

Australia: Borland Puts Up Money For User Group Summit 03/05/92
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1991 MAR 5 (NB) -- With its new image in
Australia, Borland is becoming pro-active in reaching users, and is
sponsoring the first summit meeting of Australian and New Zealand
user groups in Sydney next week.

The meeting will be held at Borland's headquarters (the old
Ashton Tate offices) on March 11 and 12, and will host
representatives from user groups in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane,
Adelaide Canberra, Perth, and New Zealand, with all transport and
hotel costs being borne by Borland.

The groups are all active and have a combined memberships of
over 13,000, yet they have never successfully discussed
cooperative ventures such as a single magazine. Coordinator of
the summit, Ash Nallawalla, said that the agenda will include buying
groups, pricing, shareware libraries, communications and other
common interests areas. It appears that only PC groups have been
invited, not Mac, Amiga, or any others.

Coincidentally, Borland's new marketing/communications manager,
Ian Robinson, has a strong user group background, having been
president of the 600-strong Melbourne group as well as editor of
PC Week newspaper. Borland will give the attendees a
presentation on its quality assurance and technical support
programs.

(Paul Zucker/19920305)


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

 ****Australia: Recession Hits Computer Publications 03/05/92
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1991 MAR 5 (NB) -- While the recession has
been affecting the computer industry in Australia for more than a year,
advertising cuts have lagged. Now, as magazines and papers
move into a new year, that have to face the reality of reduced media
budgets.

Most publications have dropped-back in size, but had tried to
maintain staff levels, ready for the hoped-for pickup in advertising.
This will not happen in the near future, so staff levels are now being
cut.

IDG in Australia (ComputerWorld, PC World) has reduced staffing
levels across all areas, shedding around 10 percent of employees.
Other publications have had similar cuts lately, or have cancelled
plans to take on new staff.

As most major publications in Australia have reprint rights from US
and European publications, it is all too easy to use more of this
lifted material, and reduce local content. This is most sharply
felt when reviews are reprinted, mistakes and all. Where dealers
were able to compare local and overseas product reviews, seeing
what localization had been made to product, the local reviews are
becoming less common.

(Paul Zucker/19920305)


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

Australia: NetComm Replaces Entire Modem Range 03/05/92
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1991 MAR 5 (NB) -- Netcomm, Australia's
communications hardware manufacturer, has replaced its
entire product line with new models. According to the company,
they are smaller, cheaper, higher powered, and "must-have"
items.

The new modems are all built with surface mount components
which mean smaller designs, and easier modifications. A new
plastic case will be used on all models, to save on transportation
costs.

The flagship product is the AUS$1,499 SmartModem V.32 M7F
which has V.32bis capacity of up to 14,400 bits-per-second (bps).
Its V.42 compression gives a theoretical throughput of 57,600 bps.
As with most of the new range, it also has Group III fax capacity
built-in. Other features include security (password and dial-back
for up to 24 users), DES encryption and full international
compatibility.

Because the new range is authorized for use in Britain as well as
Australia, it is also automatically authorized for use in Singapore
and Hong Kong.

NetComm has also produced a world-standard modem for
Toshibas notebook PCs, which Toshiba will market in many
countries. There is also a model for the Macintosh PowerBook
portable. For power users, NetComm has produced a rack-modem
system which can take up to 17 modem cards, for multi-line dial-up
or packet-switched systems.

(Paul Zucker/19920305/Press Contact: NetComm, tel [phone],
fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(NYC)(00018)

 ****Moody's Downgrades IBM Debt Ratings; IBM Responds 03/05/92
WHITE PLAINS, NY, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- Moody's Investors
Services has downgraded the long-term debt ratings of IBM and two
of its wholly owned subsidiaries, IBM Credit Corporation and IBM
International Finance MV.

Moody's action, which cut the ratings on the senior debt of each
company to Double-A-2 (Aa2) from Triple-A (Aaa), affects
approximately $18 billion of debt issue. Moody's also cut the
ratings on parent IBM's convertible subordinated debt to Double-A-3
(Aa3) from Double-A-1 (Aa1), and on IBM's shelf registration to (P)
Aa2 to (P) Aaa.

In explaining the action, Moody's was quoted as saying that
"overall returns and margins will stabilize at lower levels than
those IBM has historically reported," and that IBM's decline in
market share "reflects a deterioration in its competitive position
and reduced influence over its customer base."

IBM responded immediately to the Moody's action by issuing the
following statement: "IBM is disappointed by Moody's decision to
lower the company's long-term debt rating, and we believe the
impact of this action on our worldwide financing requirements
will be minimal. With the exception of 1991 results, IBM has been
a consistent leader in earnings performance."

"For example, from 1980 through 1990 IBM was the most profitable
company among the Fortune 500 for seven out of 10 years. IBM's
1990 earnings were among the best in our history. Although 1991
was a difficult year, IBM last year earned pre-tax profits of
nearly $4 billion from operations before special charges. Our
operational expenses declined in 1991, and we gained additional
financial stability through growth in software, rentals, financing
and services -- areas less subject to year-to-year fluctuation."

"IBM has taken significant actions that should result in improved
financial performance and provide consistent earnings momentum.
IBM continues to maintain a strong balance sheet and we are
confident of our continued capability to provide sufficient cash flows
to cover interest obligations and dividend payments. IBM is well
positioned for the future in a competitive and dynamic industry."

"The IBM Mutual Funds are unaffected by Moody's action. The
assets of these funds are held by an independent trustee and are
invested in either a broad range of equity securities or in US
Treasury securities, depending on the fund selected. The IBM
Money Market Account, a debt obligation of the IBM Credit
Corporation, retains its top short-term credit rating."

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19920305/Press
Contact: Jim Ruderman, IBM, 914-765-6631)


(NEWS)(IBM)(NYC)(00019)

IBM Purchases Share Of Red Shark 03/05/92
PURCHASE, NY, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- IBM has purchased
an equity position in Red Shark, a developer of software for
multimedia applications. Red Shark is headquartered in New York
city and has a development facility in Somerville, Massachusetts.

Announcing the investment, Lucie Fjeldstad, IBM's vice president
and general manager, multimedia, said: "Red Shark has
demonstrated expertise in integrating the development, storage
and access of audio, video, text and still and graphic image data
across computer networks. The IBM/Red Shark partnership will
enable IBM to bring this advanced technology to market faster than
ever and allow our customers to redefine what can be captured
as usable data."

Stanley Katz chairman and CEO of Red Shark, added: "By
investing in Red Shark, IBM has decided to make possible what
otherwise might not be possible in this emerging new technology
area."

"Our products are designed to solve the problems associated with
the manipulation and presentation of continuous data combined
with the information created using word processors, spreadsheets,
and statistical packages. The value Red Shark adds is the synergy
achieved by combining existing technologies," he said. "The ability
to integrate multimedia and traditional alphanumeric data with
comprehensive data management tools will allow customers to
fundamentally redesign how work is done."

IBM spokesperson Paul Neuman told Newsbytes that "the extent
of IBM's investment in Red Shark, a privately held company is not
being made public."

He also said that while IBM will not play an active role in the
management of Red Shark, Margaret Young, former IBM US
director of strategic planning, has retired from IBM and has joined
Red Shark as director of marketing.

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19920305/Press Contact:
Paul Neuman, IBM Corporation, 914-697-6537; Margaret Young,
Red Shark Technology Corp., 212-679-0611)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(ATL)(00020)

 ****UPI Creditors To Direct Its Bankruptcy 03/05/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- United
Press International has confirmed that its creditors or other parties
may direct it out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy, where it has been since
last year.

US Bankruptcy Court Judge Francis Conrad has rejected a
request by the company for a 90-day period during which only UPI
management could propose a reorganization plan, warning the
company could be out of business "by the end of April" unless a
buyer is found quickly.

The 84-year-old wire service filed for protection from its creditors
on August 28 under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code
in the Southern District of New York. For most of the century it
has been the primary competitor to the Associated Press, which
is owned by member newspapers.

UPI, in its heyday, was owned by publishing magnates like William
Randolph Hearst and E.W. Scripps, but the death of those
entrepreneurs and the fading of their empires, combined with
UPI's slow moves toward automation and its insistence on going
head-to-head with its larger rivalry, put it into bankruptcy twice, first
in the 1980s and again last year.

UPI Executive Vice President, Al Rossiter Jr., said after the
hearing that he would welcome all bidders for the company, and
the firm is looking for interim financing.

Dennis O'Dea, the attorney representing the creditors, expressed
relief. "Finally this company is for sale," he said, adding that
the committee would take offers from anyone, and there had
been expressions of interest. He held out the prospect that a
reorganization plan might be filed before the end of March, with
a reorganized company possibly emerging in June, at a price of
$5-15 million, with its $60 million in debt severely discounted.

The next hearing on this sad story has been set for April 1.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920305)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00021)

Radio Shack Joins 50MHz PC Announcement List 03/05/92
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- Radio Shack
has joined, what may soon be a flood of personal computer
manufacturers, in announcing their version of a 50 megahertz (MHz)
PC using Intel's recently announced 486DX2 microprocessor. The
company also stole a march on most of the other companies
announcing DX2 systems by saying it plans to support a future
66 MHz version of the Intel 486 microprocessor.

Like all systems using the DX2 chip, Radio Shack's 4850EP will
still have a clock speed of 25 MHz, but the Intel "doubler" chip will
provide a performance gain of up to 70 percent over a 25 MHz
system using a conventional 486 chip. "We have worked closely
with Intel to bring high performance 486 technology to our
customers," said Radio Shack chairman Bernard Appel.

Radio Shack's Tandy-built 4850EP fully configured system will
include four megabytes (MB) of RAM, expandable up to 32MB on
the motherboard, and a 15-millisecond 120MB IDE hard drive with
cache. Other features include one 3.5-inch and one 5.25-inch floppy
drive, super-VGA (video graphics array) non-interlaced graphics
with 512 kilobytes (KB) of video memory, three ISA (Industry
Standard Architecture) expansion slots, two serial ports, one parallel
and one mouse port, and a two-button PS/2-style mouse. DOS 5.0,
Windows, and Microsoft Works for Windows are pre-installed on the
hard drive.

The 4850EP caries a suggested list price of $2,699. The company
said it will also produce a multimedia version of the EP, which
will include a built-in CD-ROM drive and enhanced sound
capabilities, for $3,499.

(Jim Mallory/19920305/Press Contact: Fran McGehee, Radio
Shack, 817-390-3487)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00022)

New Mac Products For Aldus Additions For PageMaker 03/05/92
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- Aldus
Corporation has announced several new products from third-party
developers that support its new Additions For Pagemaker 4.2 for
the Apple Macintosh.

Additions allows developers to extend Pagemaker features to meet
special needs and automate common production tasks. There are
three kinds of Additions: user-written scripts, which use text-based
commands to automate routine tasks normally carried out using the
keyboard and a mouse; loadable modules, which combine
commands and queries written in the C programming language; and
standalone applications, which can be used to make other programs
interact with Pagemaker using DDE (dynamic data exchange) or
another interapplication communication.

Voice Navigator II, from Articulate Systems Inc., (617-935-5656), lets
Pagemaker users use voice commands to execute any function
normally done using a keyboard or a mouse.

BueauExpress PM compresses Pagemaker documents and
automatically sends them from within Pagemaker to local service
bureaus that support BureauMaster. BureauExpress PM is a
Compumation Inc.,(814-238-2120), product.

Equilibrium, (800-524-8651), has introduced Rotate This!, an
Addition that allows the user to rotate bitmap graphics to any degree.
The company has also introduced Import That!, a graphics file import
utility for non-Mac file formats that Pagemaker would not usually
recognize.

Fast Electronic, (604-669-5525), offers Screen Machine, a still-video
image importer using QuickTime.

Tableau is designed to manage and format classified ads using
Pagemaker. Tableau is from Publishing Revenue Partners,
(416-538-8730)

Color blends in linear or radial orientation using up to 12 colors
are possible from within Pagemaker with Scitex Visionary/A, a
Scitex America Corporation, (617-275-5150), product.

Trumatch 4-Color Selector is an Addition that enables users to
choose digitally accurate, on-press colors from within Pagemaker,
and is from Trumatch, (212-351-2360)

Pagemaker 4.2 comes with six loadable Additions: balance columns,
which evenly distributes text among columns; drop cap, to embed a
large character at the beginning of the paragraph; make booklet,
which allows the user to prepare simple "two-up" signatures for
proper pagination after printing and folding; display pub info, to
review linked files, fonts, and styles; run script, which executes
Addition scripts written by the user; and sort pages, which allows
the user to display thumbnail images of the pages of a publication,
then drag them around to change the order.

All of the new Additions are loadable modules, and will appear as a
Pagemaker menu choice once they are copied to the proper folder
on a Macintosh. Check with the manufacturer before buying one of
the products, as some require additional hardware and/or software.

(Jim Mallory/19920305/Press Contact: Pam Miller, Aldus,
206-628-6594)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(HKG)(00023)

 ****Sun Claims No. 1 Spot In Asia/World Workstation Unix Mkts 03/05/92
WANCHAI, HONG KONG, 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- Sun Microsystems
claims that it is the leader in the Asian workstation market in both
unit sales and revenue. The claim is based on International Data
Corporation's (IDC) report, "Workstations in the Pacific Rim,"
which shows Sun topping the market in Hong Kong, Australia,
Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.

At the same time, IDC's worldwide review of the Unix Systems
market ranked Sun number one with Unix revenues of US$2.4
billion in a market totalling US$16.2 billion.

"We are delighted to see independent verification of Sun's
leadership in the workstation and Unix markets," said Bob
MacRitchie, vice president of Sun Microsystem's Asia Group.

"For customers, the significance of this is that volume creates
standards. Users who pick a volume leader are guaranteed the
largest library of software applications, and benefit from the
fact that new and improved versions are ported to the leading
platform first," he added.

The survey, IDC's first definitive study of the workstation and
server market in Asia, revealed a significant installed base with
strong growth prospects. Total value was calculated at US$1.6
billion with predicted annual compound growth at 29.6 percent
between 1990 and 1995. Volume growth over the same period
was projected at 35.4 percent.

Throughout the region, Sun achieved a market share of 29
percent with unit sales of 23,553 and revenues of US$392 million.
This represented an increase of 39 percent in volume and 35
percent in value from year end 1989.

IDC attributed Sun's success to four main factors. These were well
positioned local partners, unity of its workstation line based on the
SPARC/RISC chip, an aggressive pricing strategy and the decision
to license technology to manufacturers in Taiwan, Korea, and Japan
which has made the SPARC/RISC chip the worldwide standard.

An additional factor was Sun's increasing penetration of the
minicomputer market as users recognize that, for a fraction of the
cost, workstations will operate in a network environment and
perform well as servers.

In the area of software, IDC predicted that Sun will reinforce its
leadership position through strong partnerships with local vendors
such as Acer, Mitac, Tatung, Hitachi, Fujitsu, Hyundai, and Goldstar.

These relationships will deliver a large proportion of Sun's sales as
well as giving the company valuable local experience. At present,
there are more than 3,800 third-party software products running
under Unix on Sun workstations.

IDC's Asian report is in line with worldwide statistics from
Dataquest which show that Sun captured the largest share of the
worldwide workstation market in 1990 and the first half of 1991.

"This volume presents a formidable barrier-to-entry and gives Sun
a tremendous time-to-market advantage over its competitors," said
MacRitchie. "A present, SPARC dominates the RISC arena with 65
percent market share. When it comes to voting with their
checkbooks, customers will not want to wait for undefined
products when they can go with a market leader today."

Benjamin Wong, general manager of Sun's Hong Kong office
said: "In Hong Kong, workstation/server solutions are increasingly
being adopted by the commercial sector, most notably in finance,
telecommunications, transportation, and education."

"Sun also continues to be strong in the education and engineering
markets. With a 33 percent share of a market that grew in value
by 75 percent over the year, Sun is set for strong growth in the
1990s," he added.

Meanwhile, IT research consultants, Graham Mead Associates
(GMA), are conducting a survey of the Hong Kong personal
computer market.

"We have built up a great deal of information in this area over
the years," managing director Graham Mead told Newsbytes in
an exclusive interview. "In the current survey, we are conducting
telephone interviews with thousands of companies in all sectors,
following up with questionnaires on software and hardware
installations, planned acquisitions, critical decision factors,
and user satisfaction."

In addition, personal interviews are being conducted with senior
managers of all the major PC vendors. "Unlike surveys conducted
by a company's own marketing personnel, we are able to address
all aspects of the market, covering competing vendors'
performance."

Mead added: "Of special importance is our ability to obtain frank
opinion on user satisfaction. Traditionally, users are reluctant to
give such information directly to vendors. For cultural reasons, this
is especially true in Asia. Users are, however, much more willing
to give such information to us in confidence."

The GMA PC survey is due for publication at the end of March.

(Norman Wingrove/19920305/Press Contacts: Ching Wu, Sun,
[phone]; Graham Mead, GMA, tel [phone],
fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00024)

Media Vision To Intro New Low-Priced MPC Sound Cards 03/05/92
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- Media Vision
says it will introduce several new multimedia hardware products
at the end of the month, including new sound cards at reduced
prices.

The new sound cards are the Pro Audiospectrum-16 and the Pro
Audiospectrum Plus. Media Vision says that the Pro Audiospectrum
is the first audio add-on card to offer true 16-bit compact disc
read-only memory (CD-ROM) sound for under $350. The Pro
Audiospectrum Plus card is geared toward mainstream computer
sound applications and is retail priced at $279.

"The Pro Audiospectrum-16 is about one-third the price of sound
cards with comparable features," said Paul Jain, Media Vision
president. The cost reductions are possible due to Media
Vision's introduction of its own family of audio chips. Also
both cards will be the first to use the new Yamaha OPL-3 chip
(YFM262, a four operator stereo FM Synthesizer).

In addition to being less expensive, the new sound cards will
have the ability to support a CD-ROM drive or other devices via
a built-in Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI). Media
Vision says that the cards will be able to perform playback
sample rates up to 44.1 kilohertz (KHz), are multimedia personal
computer (MPC) compatible, and both will include a 20-voice FM
synthesizer for computer imitation of musical instruments.

Claire Merriam, Media Vision's public relations, says that sound
cards are becoming a commodities market and competition is
fierce. With the expected introduction of Microsoft Windows 3.1
the demand for sound cards is expected to sharply increase,
especially in business markets, Merriam added.

The anticipated ability for applications built for Windows 3.1 to be
able to add voice annotations to business applications, such as
spreadsheets or correspondence is expected to drive the
demand for the sound cards, Merriam maintains.

The company is also introducing a small, portable "audio port"
sound product that can be connected to the parallel port of any
computer for sound capability and a multimedia subsystem,
called the CDPC.

All of the new products are expected to be available at the end
of this month, Merriam told Newsbytes. Street prices for the
sound cards are expected to be as much as $100 less than the
retail price.

More information is available direct from Media Vision at
800-348-7116.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920305/Press Contact: Claire Merriam,
Media Vision, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TOR)(00025)

Sun Canada Partners Announce Products 03/05/92
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- Five
Canadian companies have recently announced new products in
line with Sun Microsystems of Canada's "open graphics" initiative.
With this initiative, Sun is trying to encourage development of a
range of graphics products for its SPARC/Solaris systems.

Evans & Sutherland of Toronto will develop three-dimensional
graphics accelerators for Sun's SPARCstation product line. The
new accelerators will be software-compatible with systems from
both companies, the vendors said.

DuPont Pixel Systems has introduced a line of SPARCstation
graphics accelerators that support Silicon Graphics' Iris Graphics
Library.

Nth Graphics has introduced the Nth Portable Graphics Library,
which is source-compatible with the Iris Graphics Library, offering
SPARCstation users standard graphics access to Iris GL
applications, the company said.

Vicom Visual Computing, the exclusive provider of VX/MVX
accelerator board for VME and SBus-based SPARCstations, will
continue to develop new high-end visualization accelerators for
Sun SPARCstations.

Visual Information Technologies has introduced the RasterFlex
family of raster accelerators, intended for interactive display and
manipulation of 24-bit true color data.

Sun Canada officials said that the company will continue to add
partners to its open graphics initiative.

(Grant Buckler/19920305/Press Contact: Michael Douglas, Sun
Microsystems of Canada, 416-477-6745)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00026)

Canadian Computer Shows Announce Details 03/05/92
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- Dates have
been announced for three more computer shows in Canada this
year -- two in Toronto and one in Montreal.

The Montreal International Computer and Office Exhibition
(SIIM'92) will be held at Place Bonaventure in Montreal, June 3, 4,
and 5. The 10th annual SIIM show will feature new networking,
multimedia, and Windows feature areas. Another new feature is a
series of professional seminars run by the Institute for Advanced
Technology (IAT).

Further information on SIIM '92 is available from Patricia D.
Marshall at 416-497-9562 in Toronto, or Diane Laporte at
514-288-8811, both of ECM Exhibition & Conference
Management, the show organizers.

MacWorld Expo/Canada '92 has been rescheduled from its
originally planned dates in June to September 15 through 17. The
organizers, Mitch Hall Associates of Dedham, Massachusetts, said
exhibitors preferred to have the show in the fall as it was last year,
but also wanted a location closer to the center of Toronto. The
show had originally been slated for June because that was the only
available time at the Metropolitan Toronto Convention Center, but
when the September slot opened up, the show was moved.

Further information about MacWorld Expo/Canada is available
from Mitch Hall Associates at 617-361-8000, or from the organizer's
Canadian sales representative, Brukar International, at 416-620-1078.

Plesman Exhibitions & Conferences has announced that its
NetCon '92 networking show will be held September 30 and October
1 in the Automotive Building at Toronto's Exhibition Place. The show
includes a series of professional development seminars produced
with the Association for Information Technology (IAT), and vendor
seminars staged by exhibitors.

Further information on NetCon '92 is available from Chuck
Armitage, the show manager, at 416-497-9562.

(Grant Buckler/19920305/Press Contact: ECM Exhibition &
Conference Management, tel [phone], fax [phone];
David P. Eliot, Mitch Hall Associates, 617-361-8000; Chuck
Armitage, Plesman Exhibitions & Conferences, tel [phone],
fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00027)

 ****Justice Dept Allegedly Blocks Inslaw Investigation 03/05/92
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- According to a CNN
Business report today, the U.S. Justice Department is harassing
individuals who talk with investigators who are looking into the
Inslaw software case. Inslaw, a Washington based software
company, has charged that the Justice Department made illegal
copies of its PROMIS legal case tracking software and sold or
gave it to various countries.

Former Attorney General and defeated Pennsylvania candidate
for the U.S. Senate, Richard Thornburgh, fought a futile battle to
keep congressional investigators from obtaining Justice
Department files relating to the case, and although a spokesperson
for the Department of Justice is saying that current head William P.
Barr has ordered Department employees to provide "full support"
to the investigation, CNN reports that Judge Bua said he is aware
of the allegations that Justice is harassing people who talk to his
investigators.

Judge Bua was appointed by Barr in November of 1991 to
investigate the allegations against his Department but there has
been some confusion over just how much authority the retired
federal judge has to force cooperation.

The Justice Department says that the Attorney General's office is
not aware of any allegations of harassment, but CNN today
carried an interview with former Justice Department staffer Lois
Battastoni who said that she knows about such cases and that
employees are in fear of losing their jobs if they talk to the
investigators.

Courts have already ruled in favor of Inslaw on several
occasions, but the $8 million award to the small ($6 million
gross) company was overturned on a technicality.

More recently there have been suspicions voiced that the
death of James D. "Danny" Casolaro, a freelance writer who
was investigating the Inslaw case, was not a suicide as
originally reported.

(John McCormick/19920305)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00028)

Wicat Releases Six New Adult Education Programs 03/05/92
OREM, UTAH, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- Wicat has announced
that it is releasing six new computerized adult education courses
designed specifically for adult learners. The programs include the
topics of Functional Literacy, Functional Numeracy, Basic Literacy,
Basic Numeracy, Life and Work Skills, and a comprehensive test
for adults of basic skills.

Functional Literacy provides adults with instruction and practice in
reading, phonics, comprehension, vocabulary development, and
language skills. Basic Literacy provides the adult student with
reading strategies, literature instruction, and also improves
reading comprehension.

Functional Numeracy teaches basic math skills which Wicat
says meets the standards of the National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics. Basic Numeracy improves skills in the area of
comprehensive mathematics instruction and practice in the
areas of numbers, geometry, and algebra.

The basic courses address skills at the fifth- through eighth-grade
levels, while the functional courses concentrate on the kindergarten
through fourth-grade levels.

Life and Work Skills help adults develop broader practical skills
necessary in dealing with everyday life, such as budgeting, health,
pre-employment skills, and work maturity, according to Wicat.

Wicat also markets a GED curriculum and testing program, which
it says is correlated to the national GED test.

The company said that the new courses will be marketed to high
schools, JTPA (Joint Training Partnership Act) organizations,
community colleges,vocational education schools, and
corrections facilities.

(Jim Mallory/19920305/Press Contact: Bren Alderman, Wicat,
801-226-7338)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00029)

Key Tronic Names New CEO 03/05/92
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- Computer
keyboard manufacturer Key Tronic has announced the election of
Stanley Hiller to the position of chief executive officer (CEO). Hiller
was also appointed to Key Tronic's board of directors. Both
positions were effective March 3rd.

The company has also announced the election of three other
board members: Kenneth Holtby, Dale Pilz, and Royce Pearson.

Holtby is a member of the US National Academy of Engineering,
and is a fellow in both the American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics and the British Royal Aeronautical Society. He is the
retired senior vice president of corporate engineering for the
Boeing Company.

Pilz has served as chief executive officer and president of GTE
Sprint Communications Corporation, and president of GTE Spacenet
Corporation and GTE Satellite Communications Corporation. He was
also vice president of Southern Pacific Communications Company,
and has been a senior manager for several other companies.

Pearson is a member of The Hiller Group, and presently vice
president and chief manufacturing officer at Levelor Corporation.
Pearson will join Key Tronic as president and chief operating
officer (COO). He has held various positions in manufacturing,
operations, and materials management, and is a member of
APIS, SME, and PESA.

(Jim Mallory/19920305/Press Contact: Steven Benner, Key Tronic,
509-928-8000)


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

New For PC: Software Toolworks Intros New Titles 03/05/92
NOVATO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 5 (NB) -- The Software
Toolworks has unveiled Microsoft Windows 3.0 versions of products
it has already offered in the DOS as well as Nintendo markets.

The new titles are The Software Toolworks World Atlas, The
Software Toolworks US Atlas, The Software Toolworks Desk
Reference, Casino Pack, The Chessmaster 3000, and Mavis
Beacon Teaches Typing! version 2.0.

Bob Lloyd, company president, said that the company is
responding to pressure from consumers. "Windows versions of
our products are proving to be in strong demand," he said.

Software Toolworks describes The Software Toolworks World
Atlas as three reference books in one program, an almanac, a
world fact book, and an atlas.

The U.S. Atlas product for Windows is an atlas, almanac, and
fact book with reference maps of the 50 states and Washington,
D.C. The product displays cities, highways, adjoining states,
and bodies of water.

The Software Toolworks Desk Reference for Windows is an
electronic version of the New York Public Library Desk
Reference. The work contains twenty-six subject areas,
thousands of entries, and users can cut-and-paste materials
into other Windows programs.

Chessmaster 3000 for Windows provides for the first time a
natural language analysis which is on-screen advice in
conversational English on how to move and why.

Casino Pack 1 includes four games: Poker; Roulette; Blackjack;
and Keno. All have varying skill levels. The Poker game
includes standard rules and a "Jokers Wild" option with
percentage tracking for the hands played versus hands won.

The Software Toolworks, headquartered in Novato, California was
hard hit economically until just recently. The company's last
financial report showed strong profits, a turnaround from the
losses and layoffs it had reported for several quarters. The
turnaround was attributed in a large part to the Miracle Piano
Teaching System Toolworks introduced last year which the
company says has been an enormous success.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920305/Press Contact: Vincent Turzo, The
Software Toolworks, tel [phone] ext 568, fax [phone])