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/NB920409

Text File | 1992-04-09 | 56KB | 1,229 lines

(NEWS)(TRENDS)(ATL)(00001)

Comdex: Analog Devices Pushes Signal Processing 04/09/92
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Analog Devices,
which makes signal processing chips, is pushing a concept called
"Signal Computing." This is a theoretical model defining an open
system for using its digital signal processors in a wide variety
of applications.

For instance, the company noted, the same CD-quality sound
compression algorithm could be embedded with a single port
device and chip into a PC, video game, and cable TV converter.

The first product offered based on this, is a fax/data modem
chipset, supporting the 14,400 bits-per-second (bps) V.32bis
modulation standard, as well as Group III fax, using software from
Digicom  Services, and sold by QuikComm since February. The
complete datapump costs $25 in quantity, and executes modem
command sets, data compression, and error control, as well as
sound and speech algorithms.

Alliances signed for the show, along with Digicom's, include:
Lernout & Hauspie, which will produce speech recognition and text
to speech conversion hardware; Xing Technology, which will offer
still-image and audio compression under the JPEG and MPEG
standards; and Euphonics, which will adapt the Dolby AC-2 digital
audio algorithm.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19910409/Press Contact: Al Haun, Analog
Devices, 617-329-4700)


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00002)

Comdex: Samsung Intros Notebook With Removable Drive 04/09/92
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Samsung of Korea
has entered the notebook computer market with the NoteMaster
386S/25, a 5.8 pound unit based on the AMD 80386SXL chip. To
promote transportability, the company also announced internal and
external hard drive receptacles, which work with IDE (integrated
drive electronics) drives.

Compared to new offerings by US companies, the PC itself is
unexceptional, given the Americans' new preference for the 80386SL
and Microsoft Windows 3.1 compatibility. Samsung counters that its
removable disk drive lets users distribute computing environments
among any computers taking the receptacle, allows for the physical
lockup of the disk, easy upgrading, and for the sharing of systems.

The best news about the Samsung unit may be the price, at $1,895
it is well below most competitors. The internal hard disk receptacle,
however, will cost another $249, and the external version $419.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19910409/Press Contact: Samsung, Kevin Kilroy,
201-712-4815)


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00003)

Comdex: High-End Caller ID Handler Announced For PCs 04/09/92
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- AG Communication
Systems, a joint venture between AT&T and GTE, has began
shipping its WindowPhone call management product. WindowPhone
allows any company to link callers' numbers with its own databases,
based on the popular but controversial Caller ID service.

The $495 product "not only identifies who is calling before you
answer the phone, it provides instant access to personalized
caller information stored in your computer files," explained
Roger Heldt, general manager of WindowPhone operations.
"WindowPhone allows you to efficiently and professionally manage
both incoming and outgoing calls with the touch of a button."

WindowPhone consists of a half-length AT-style circuit card, and
software that requires Microsoft Windows 3.0 or higher. Even
without Caller ID, the company insisted, the product provides
efficient control of outgoing calls.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19910409/Press Contact: Curtis Steinhoff,
AG Communication Systems, 602-582-7094)


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

Comdex: Canadian Battle Over Graphics Software 04/09/92
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Gold Disk of
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, has gone after neighbor Corel with
a new multimedia business presentation program for Windows
called Professional Draw.

The product is aimed at graphic artists, designers, technical
illustrators and desktop publishers, said Gold Disk President,
Kailash Ambwani. The $495 product reads CorelDraw files, offers
33 drawing methods, multiple page layout, and Pantone color
support, among other things.

Corel, meanwhile, has announced CorelSCSI, a graphics
connectivity product based on the SCSI (Small Computer System
Interface) standard. Each kit contains a host adapter, software,
cables, and documentation.

A software-only version is also available, and shipment date is
May 4. The company has also announced a version of CorelDraw
for OS/2 2.0. CorelDraw was a native Presentation Manager product,
Corel said, but it was rebuilt to take advantage of the new 32-bit
IBM operating system.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19910409/Press Contact: Gold Disk,
Joseph Deal, 213-320-5080; Corel Systems, Friona Rochester,
613-728-8200)


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00005)

Comdex: Asymetrix Announces Multimedia PocketBook 04/09/92
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Asymetrix has
announced "Multimedia Make Your Point," an entry-level
multimedia program which is the latest in its PocketBook line. The
product is an easy presentation builder that lets people quickly
combine sound, text, and graphics in a complete interactive
environment, claims the company.

The suggested retail price of the product is just $89.95, and it
will work with any computer compatible with the Multimedia PC
(MPC) standard. The PocketBook line first shipped in December,
and Executive Vice President, Bert Kolde, said sales have
exceeded expectations. He added he thinks that Windows 3.1 will
bring multimedia computing into the mainstream Windows market,
since multimedia extensions are built-in.

Asymetrix also claimed that 30 percent of all MPC multimedia
consumer titles announced and/or shipping were produced with its
"Multimedia ToolBook" product, a higher-end multimedia authoring
tool. The company claims the education and business communities
are turning it into a standard.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19910409/Press Contact: Asymetrix, Sandy
Anderson, 206-637-1560)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00006)

Teknon Ships Mac Lookalike Accounting Program For DOS 04/09/92
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA, U.S.A.,1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Teknon
Corporation, developers of the atOnce! accounting software for the
Macintosh, is now shipping a similar program for DOS-based
machines.

Teknon Accounting for MS-DOS uses a windows-type interface, but
runs on 286-based DOS PCs with 640 kilobytes (KB) of RAM, and
does not require Microsoft Windows. Other system requirements
include a hard drive with at least 3.5 megabytes (MB) of available
space, a Microsoft-compatible mouse, and an EGA or VGA display.
For users who do have Microsoft Windows installed, Teknon
Accounting will run as a non-Windows application.

Teknon Accounting for DOS comes with sample data for a fictitious
company already setup, for use as a tutorial. The program consists
of four modules: general ledger; accounts receivable; accounts
payable; and payroll. The financial reports and forms can be
customized, budgeting and billing capabilities are included, and
more than 100 reports can be printed.

Like real Windows applications, Teknon Accounting can have
multiple windows open simultaneously so the user can switch from
one to the other. For example, accounts receivable and accounts
payable could both be open at the same time.

One of the most difficult tasks when starting to use a new
accounting program is getting it set up. According to the company,
Teknon's well written, easy to understand, startup manual has about
half its pages devoted to set up worksheets. Filled out before you
start using the program, the company claims that the worksheets
make it easy to set up your accounts, customers, and vendors.

Teknon Accounting provides several levels of security to control
access to the files. Access to any of the modules can be permitted
for set up, enter, or print authorization. User IDs and passwords
can be up to ten alphanumeric characters.

The heart of the program is the "Navigator." From this control center
you can select any of the modules, and choose options from file,
set up, entry, inquiry, or print menus. Pressing the right mouse
button will also pop-up an abbreviated version of the Navigator.

Teknon has provided a wide range of user selectable options,
including the format for display of dates, various sorting choices
for printing the chart of accounts, set up choices for different size
pages when printing, selection of the keyboard repeat rate, and
control of the mouse movement sensitivity and movement rate.

The Teknon Accounting files come compressed on one 3.5-inch
floppy disk, and the program sells for $249. To order the program
or get the name of a distributor in your area, contact Teknon at
602-596-1500 or fax at 602-483-8293.

(Jim Mallory/19920409/Press Contact: Alexandria Todd, McClean
Public Relations for Teknon, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00007)

Harris Semiconductor Lays Off 300 Employees 04/09/92
MELBOURNE, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Harris
Corporation has announced that it will lay off about 300 employees
from its Semiconductor Sector in a move to reduce expenses.

Executive VP, Phillip Farmer, attributed the cuts to reductions in
defense spending and the slow pace of the economy. Harris
Semiconductor says it is the number one supplier of
semiconductors to the US government.

"Decisions affecting the lives of our employees and their families
are always difficult, but we had no alternative under existing
business conditions," Farmer said.

The company said the employees affected, which will be at all
levels of the company, including management, will receive a
severance package based on length of service. The company
said it would also provide compehensive outplacement services.

Farmer said previous restructuring actions have resulted in a
significantly lower break-even point for the company, but orders
and sales have been running below that point. According to
Farmer, the staff reductions will bring costs and expenses in line
with current business volumes, and contribute significantly to the
company's goal of returning to profitability by the end of the year.

Farmer stressed that no plant closing are involved, and the
company's product lines would not be affected.

(Jim Mallory/19920409/Press Contact: Linda daCosta, Harris
Semiconductor, 407-727-9126)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00008)

PC Quote Ships Market Info Program For OS/2 04/09/92
CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- PC Quote Inc., has
announced it is now shipping a high speed financial market
information software package for IBM's OS/2 32-bit operating
system.

PC Quote's announcement said Quoteserver delivers real-time
prices, quotes and news from the world's financial exchanges to
mission-critical applications running on LANs (local area networks),
minicomputers, and mainframes. Quoteserver is fed by PC Quote's
Hyperfeed, a 56,000 bits-per-second (bps) digital satellite data
feed.

Louis Morgan, PC Quote's chairman, said the ability of OS/2 to run
DOS, Microsoft Windows, and 16-bit and 32-bit OS/2 applications
is an important advantage. "This gives our clients the freedom to
assemble a suite of applications that meets their exact needs,"
Morgan said.

Morgan told Newsbytes that the fee for the service, which includes
the necessary software and the data feed, is $750 per month for the
first five workstations, and $75 for each additional workstation.

The Chicago-based company says it provides real-time securities
quotations via satellite and phone lines to clients in about 1,300 US
cities. PC Quote first introduced their Hyperfeed system in 1989.

(Jim Mallory/19920409/Press Contact: Louis Morgan, PC Quote,
312-906-3800)


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

Australia: Merisel Plans For Softeach '92 Computer Show 04/09/92
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Merisel Australia
expects a full 50 percent increase in attendance at Softeach '92.
Subtitled "Computer Products Training Forum," the event will be
held in the major cities of Melbourne and Sydney, on the
weekends of May 16/17 and May 23/24, respectively.

Softeach events are also held in Canada, Europe, and the
UK, as well as the original ones in the US. Attendance at this
year's Australian Softeach is expected to be at least 1,800, up
from 1,200 last year. This may partly be due to the introduction
late last year of Merisel's "Frequent Buyer" program where
dealers can earn points for redemption on various rewards
including trips to Comdex and Softeach.

Softeach presents a unique environment as competing vendors
often talk to dealers within the one session, and have information
booths side-by-side in the exhibition area. Participating vendors
this year will include Apple, Artisoft, Bitstream, Claris, Corel,
Colorado, Daystar, Epson, Fifth Generation, IBM, Kodak, Lotus,
Microsoft, Quarterdeck, SPC, Symantec, WordPerfect, and Xtree.

(Paul Zucker/19920409/Press Contact: David Huxley, Merisel,
tel [phone], fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00010)

Australia: Education Software Distributor Ships Catalog 04/09/92
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Australian software
distributor, Dataflow, has released its 1992 software catalog, and
will mail a record number of copies. Recipients include 11,000
schools around the country, 15,000 end-users, and Dataflow's
dealer base.

The catalog covers 550 education, productivity, home, and
entertainment software titles from more than 40 suppliers.
Dataflow's Marketing Manager, Craig Tegel, said: "Our catalog
reflects Dataflow's extensive knowledge and understanding of the
Australia and New Zealand education market. We aim to offer a
diverse range of products to satisfy the needs of educational
institutions from pre-school through to tertiary levels, as well as
the growing home education and education markets."

A feature of the catalog is a range of pricing initiatives designed
to give schools a chance to buy software at much lower than
normal prices. Vendors represented include Broderbund, The
Learning Company, Davidson and Associates, Claris, SPC,
Symantec, and Lotus. Dataflow is also an Apple distributor.

Coincidently, with the release of the new catalog, is a change
of public relations company for Dataflow.

(Paul Zucker/19920409/Contact: Craig Tefel, Dataflow,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SYD)(00011)

Australia's OTC Wins Export Contract For Super Modems 04/09/92
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Australia's overseas
carrier OTC has won an export contract to provide its two
megabits-per-second Digital On Supergroup (DOS) modems to
Telecom Denmark. The sale of six modems is the result of
successful field trials held in Demark with OTC assistance.

Telecom Denmark will use the modems for the 450 kilometer
Shefa submarine cable between the Faroe and Shetland Islands.
The cable was installed in 1971 as an analog link, but the new
modems will update this to two 2 megabits-per-second digital
telephone channels over the same cable. This will greatly
increase the possible traffic, and extend the cable's life by
many years.

The modems use sophisticated digital signal processing
to provide error correction, enabling such a wide digital
bandwidth on a 240 kilohertz (KHz) audio bandwidth. They
are planned for use on a number of Pacific Rim cables,
catering for the increased demand for private leased lines.

(Paul Zucker/920409/Press Contact: Paul Rea, OTC,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00012)

New For Mac: Broderbund Intros Prince Of Persia Game 04/09/92
NOVATO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Broderbund is
releasing its award winning game, "Prince of Persia," in a version
that is compatible with the Apple Macintosh. Prince of Persia has
won awards and acclaims in the press for its innovative use of
technology that allows for realism in its graphic depictions.

The story line was created by Jordan Mechner, who is also
responsible for a Broderbund Karate game called "Karateka."
In the game, a young prince falls in love with a local princess that
is also coveted by the evil "vizier," who kidnaps the princess and
throws the prince into a dungeon. The prince has one hour to
escape the dungeon and save the princess who is given the
choice of marrying the vizier or being killed.

Of course, a dungeon is not complete without an obligatory set of
traps and monsters. There are twelve levels with up to 24 rooms
per level. All in all, 250 different locales that needs to be explored
and conquered within that one hour. The game can be saved at
any level transition. This is to allow you to come back to the same
point when the dungeon proves to be too much, as well as to allow
for short intervals between sessions.

The most interesting aspect of the game is in the animation.
Broderbund filmed action sequences using real actors and then
used those films to more accurately portray human motions in the
game. The company claims that its artists spent many hours
conveying the exact details of human motion to the figures in the
game, so that the not-quite-real sensation for most action computer
games is no longer a factor.

The Macintosh version of Prince of Persia is selling for $49.95 and
should be available at local retailers in the near future. Broderbund
has already begun shipments to its distributors.

(Naor Wallach/19920409/Press Contact: Kathleen Burke,
Broderbund, 415-382-4567)


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

Andest Shows Off New Modem Range At UK Show 04/09/92
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Andest
Communications is out in force at the Which Computer?/Comms '92
show held in Birmingham, England, this week. The company is busy
showing off two V.32 fax/internal modems for the Compaq and
Toshiba range of laptop PCs.

The show was the first time that Andest had a chance to show off
the complete new range of Roadrunner and Megahertz portable
and interface fax/data plus data-only modems.

The Roadrunner range includes what Tony Sellars, Andest's
managing director, claims is the world's first error-corrected
line-powered modem, as well as a portable modem featuring V.32
data and Group III fax capabilities. Both modems are packaged in
a casing the size of a pack of cards.

Also being shown at the show are Andest's badged and UK-
approved versions of the Megahertz range of internal modems for
Compaq and Toshiba portables.

Speaking to Newsbytes, Sellars said that the market for portable
modems is now a lot more complex than when the company
first started in June 1989. Then, the company produced only a
limited number of portable modems, as the market was not as
mature as it is today.

"Today we have a wide range of user requirements. Some users
want data-only internal or external modems, while others need data
and fax facilities. Others are after high-speed communications to
V.32Bis and V.42Bis standards," he told Newsbytes.

Sellars revealed that he now finds himself in the unusual position
of being able to release modems that are well below what the
competition is charging. "Because we design and produce the
modems ourselves, we can do this. The trouble is, when people
see the specifications and the price, they don't believe it," he said.

Andest's range of modems now runs to several pages of possible
configurations, depending on whether an internal or external
system is required, what speeds are needed, and whether fax
and/or high-speed data communications (V.32/V.32Bis) features
are required.

Pricing starts at UKP 299 for an IBM half-card modem supporting
all data speeds to 2,400 bits-per-second (bps) with V.42Bis
error-correction and data compression. UKP 50 gets users a fax
data send/receive option on the modem.

Flagship to Andest's range is a UKP 799 modem for Toshiba or
Compaq portables that supports all modem speeds to V.32
(9,600 bps) with V.42Bis. Coming soon, said Sellars, is a V.32Bis
(14,400 bps) option on the internal modems.

(Steve Gold/19920409/Press & Public Contact: Andest
Communications, tel [phone], fax [phone])


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

UK: Tulip Computers Cuts 386SX-Based System Pricing 04/09/92
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Tulip Computers
took the occasion of the Which Computer? Show in Birmingham this
week to announce price cuts of up to 22 percent across its range of
80386SX-based PCs. The price cuts means that a 16 megahertz
(MHz) 80386SX-based machine now sells for UKP 895.

So why the cuts? According to Tulip, the costs of production on
the machines has fallen significantly in recent months, thanks to
an increase in volume of sales around Europe.

"Despite a large proportion of corporations moving to the 486
platform, the size of the 386SX market is continuing to increase,"
explained Steve McCall, the company's managing director.

"The 386SX market is extremely price-sensitive and our decision
to cut prices means that Tulip now offers a range of 386SX-based
computers that combine competitive pricing with a high quality
build," he added.

(Steve Gold/1992409/Press & Public Contact: Tulip Computers,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


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

UK: Nippon Steel Intros PCMCIA-Based Notebook 04/09/92
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Nippon Steel is
unveiling the Librex T3686SX notebook at this week's Which
Computer? Show, in the United Kingdom.

The notebooks are unusual, since they use the Personal Computer
Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) version 2.0
standard for attachment of memory cards and other peripherals.
The T386SX also features a removable high-speed 40 megabyte
(MB) hard drive, with options of 80 and 120MB available.

Andrew Carver, Nippon Steel Computer's vice president of Europe,
said: "The Librex T386SX incorporates the very latest technology
to offer the ultimate in portability and functionality. It is designed to
allow the user to easily configure and upgrade, hard drives, memory
and many other optional accessories, by simply sliding the required
component into the relevant slot or port."

The T386SX is based on a 20 megahertz (MHz) 80386SX chipset
and comes with 4MB of RAM (expandable to 12MB) fitted as
standard. The unit has an external floppy disk drive with a 9.5-inch
sidelit LCD (liquid crystal display) screen with 64 shades of gray.
The screen can be switched through to an external VGA monitor.

Pre-installed on the machine is DOS and Laplink Pro data transfer
software. The machine comes bundled with a Cable for the Laplink
software. The rechargeable nickel hydride battery on the machine
can run for up to 2.5 hours and be recharged in 3.5 hours, the
company claims.

The 40MB and 80MB hard disk option versions of the T386SX will
ship in the UK from next month onwards at prices of UKP 1,500
and UKP 1,795, respectively. The 120MB hard disk version will
ship during the third quarter of this year at a price to be announced
later.

(Steve Gold/19920409/Press & Public Contact: Nippon Steel,
0753-811007)

(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(MOW)(00016)

Corel To Sign Two Distributors In Russia 04/09/92
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Corel corporation said it
will have CorelDraw available on the Russian market soon, and for
a very reasonable price.

Robert Lendvai, Corel manager, participating in the Comtek
computer show, told Newsbytes that CorelDraw version 2.0 will be
sold through the Steepler software house and the Merisel affiliate in
Russia in the near future. The company also stated that it will make
the product available either with a Russian extender or as a
special Cyrillic edition. One possible candidate to do the
localization work is the NVSoft group in St Petersbourg.

Lendvai said the product is likely to cost about 20,000 rubles
(US$150-200) per complete package, which local industry analysts
say a very reasonable price.

"Our booth at Comtek is flooded with people willing to buy a
copy of CorelDraw. Most of them already have illegal copies of it
installed on their computers, so they know the product. We expect
huge sales in the former Soviet Union," Lendvai concluded.

(Kirill Tchashchin/19920409/Press Contact: Robert Lendvai, Corel,
tel [phone] ext 1195, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEL)(00017)

India: Lotus Appoints Distributor, Cuts Prices 04/09/92
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- "Lotus 1-2-3 will henceforth
be available for $433, as against the present market price of $633,"
announced A.K. Basu, vice president, Information Systems Division
of ITC Ltd., the company now appointed as the sole distributor of
Lotus products in India.

"The price may come down even more," promised Basu, "as our
goal is to sell the packages here at a price lower than the US street
price." The price reduction has been made possible following
the recent government decision to allow duplication of foreign
software in India with consequent savings of 112 percent in import
duty. The ITC facility for replication of Lotus software will be set up
in Bagalore, revealed Basu, and will be operational within three
to six months.

With the decision to appoint ITC Ltd., as its new marketing
and distribution agent in India, Lotus Development Corporation
finally put an end to its uncomfortable alliance with Tata
Consultancy Services (TCS). "TCS was unable to open up the
market for Lotus. It has its own priorities in terms of product
range, and we want full attention," complained Ganesh
Krishnamurthy, country manager of Lotus.

"The reduction of price is also another step to curb piracy,"
said Krishnamurthy. Before carrying out legal prosecutions,
Lotus would like to give the illegal users every chance to
become legal, he stressed. The company has already offered
immunity from prosecution if the illegal users become members
of Lotus Club International. Recently, it has also slashed the
price of the latest version of Lotus 1-2-3 to $152 for club members.

The Information Systems Division of ITC has been active in
exporting and marketing software products. The turnover of the
division for 1991-2 has been $2.6 million, of which $1.4 million
came from software exports to the UK, and the rest from sales
of Unify products in India.

About four months ago, Lotus invited all illegal users of
Lotus 1-2-3 in India to join the club by paying $69. The promise of
"permanent indemnity of non-prosecution" did not create much
activity, as the legal proceedings have already failed to curb piracy
in India. Hence the bid to give a more concrete shape to the
"discounted business and personal benefits" in an attempt to
convince the estimated 220,000 illegal users.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19920409)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEL)(00018)

Macquill For Macintosh Originated In India 04/09/92
MADRAS, INDIA, 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Aparajita Technologies Pvt.
Ltd. (ATPL), a Madras, India-based software company, has
launched its word processing package for Macintosh systems in
the United States.

Called Macquill, the package is a page layout and word
processing program for the Apple Macintosh computer.
It was demonstrated at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco.

The Madras-based company mainly caters to the US and
other international markets. Following the successful launch of
Macquill, ATPL proposes to develop more products for the
Macintosh, Windows, and pen-based platforms for international
markets.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19920409)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00019)

 ****House Committee Approves Cable TV Reregulation Bill 04/09/92
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- The cable
reregulation amendment submitted by Representative Edward
Markey, Democrat from Massachusetts, has been passed out of
the telecommunications subcommittee to the full House Energy
and Commerce Committee. The legislation, which would limit the
cost of basic cable service, faces almost certain veto by President
Bush if it ever gets through both the House and the Senate.

Cable television rates have climbed steadily since the industry
was deregulated back in 1987, leading to a large number of
complaints and charges of price-gouging by consumers. Since
cable operators normally have a monopoly, they are free to
charge whatever they wish.

Rep. Markey's amendment will, if it ever becomes law, almost
certainly reduce the costs of basic cable service in most areas.
Another provision would use a formula to regulate the cost of
installation and accessories such as remote controls.

Also included is a provision for compensation negotiations
between local television stations and cable operators who are
presently allowed to rebroadcast the local programs for free.

Ted Turner, head of Turner Broadcasting which supplies some
cable programs to most systems in the US, spoke in opposition
to that provision earlier in the week, saying that local cable
companies need the continuing enhanced income which they
were granted years ago when cable television was a new
industry.

Republicans and some Democrats have opposed the bill and
introduced their own version which would be more favorable to the
cable industry, but this amendment failed in the subcommittee.

Of interest to the many home satellite TV owners who are often in
remote rural areas not served by cable, the bill calls for cable
program providers to offer reasonably priced access to those
home viewers.

Not passed on to the full committee was the proposal backed by
Ralph Nader, which would have established a committee of cable
users in each local area charged with representing the best
interests of subscribers.

A representative of the subcommittee told Newsbytes that there
are not any cosponsors because the amendment is still
in preliminary committee work and not at that stage yet.

The Senate had easily passed another cable regulation bill in
January.

The administration has already said that it will veto a bill
including the amendment if it is passed and sent to the White
House for the President's signature.

(John McCormick/19920409/Press Contact: Mike Connolly,
Press Secretary to Rep. Markey, 202-225-2836)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00020)

MCI Testifies Against Phone Monopolies In PA 04/09/92
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- MCI
Communications has told The Pennsylvania House Consumer
Affairs Committee that the state should be careful when drafting
telecommunications legislation to ensure that there is adequate
protection provided to control the near-monopolistic position of
Bell of Pennsylvania.

Speaking in opposition to the passage of House Bill 2437, which
would loosen regulation of rate charges in exchange for a
guarantee from the phone companies to invest in more modern
equipment, MCI said that the cost of such an upgrade was not
addressed. It also claimed that it had not been determined
whether it was really needed, or whether it was appropriate for all
users to pay for something which might only be used by a few.

MCI quoted research by Economics and Technology, Inc. which
determined that the Bell of PA proposed upgrade to fiber optics
would cost upwards of $15 billion by the time the project was
completed in the year 2010.

The long distance company, which uses fiber optics in its own
digital network, supports some provisions of another bill, number
2441, which would also allow some deregulation, but only with
provisions that would protect competitors from the local phone
companies using customer cost increases to help the company
compete with other carriers.

Besides worry about possible unfair competition, MCI is very
interested in Bell of PA rates because it is the monopoly's
second largest customer, due to its payments for local access
when customers place long distance calls over MCI.

(John McCormick/19920409/Press Contact: Frank J. Walter,

(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00021)

Transpac Launches Packet Data Network Service In UK 04/09/92
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Transpac Network
Services, part of the France Telecom Group, has announced that it
is setting up its own packet data network (PDN) service in the UK.

The service will be aimed at major corporates who require access
to the French PDN and other European networks with high-speed --
9,600 bits-per-second (bps) -- access with CCITT X.32 standard
support. According to Mike Brocklington, the director of technical
operations with the company, the X.32 support over dial-up is a
unique service.

"Presently, we are the only company in the UK to offer X.32
services. We are proud that we are the first to have been able to
add X.32 to our portfolio of value-added services, a service
which offers major benefits to our customers," he said.

X.32 service greatly enhances dial-up access to a PDN, Newsbytes
notes. The facility, normally available on fixed-link circuits, allows
multiple channels to operate over a single data channel. Thus, for
example, four 2,400 bps data calls can be multiplexed into the
Transpac V.32 access ports in the UK.

Officials with Transpac remained coy on the subject of pricing
when approached by Newsbytes at the Comms '92 Show (held
alongside the Which Computer? show) in Birmingham this week.
The service is not aimed at users of existing dial-up PDN services,
one company representative told Newsbytes, but more as a
complementary service to existing fixed-link service subscribers.

(Steve Gold/19920409/Press & Public Contact: Transpac Network
Services, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00022)

New For PC In UK: Paciola 2000 Accountancy Package 04/09/92
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Standard Forms, a
catalog/business forms company, has announced it is acting as
UK master distributor for Paciola 2000, an accountancy package
written by M-USA Business Systems in the US.

Standard Forms flew in Jose Hurtado, the president and CEO of
M-USA for the Which Computer? Show this week, where the UKP
69.95 package was unveiled. Hurtado is perhaps best-known as
one of the coauthors of Daceasy, an accountancy/ business software
package in the US. Daceasy was acquired by The Sage Group in
the UK last year.

Ebullient and enthusiastic as ever, Hurtado told Newsbytes that
the UK package is a major recode of the US version, which
sells in the US for $49.95. The UK package is, he said, based
on the original version of Paciola 2000, not the revised edition
shown at Comdex Spring in Chicago this week.

"We took three months to change the package around for the UK.
It's so different that, while the user interface is pretty similar, the file
formats are not compatible," he said.

When asked about how the package measures up against the
competition, Hurtado laughed and said that the competition, even
in the budget end of the UK accountancy software market, is going
to have severe problems with Paciola 2000. "Their products won't
sell when users see Paciola," he told Newsbytes.

Hurtado said that, since it was introduced in the summer of 1990,
the US version of Paciola 2000 has become a bestseller with
worldwide sales to date totaling 300,000, he claimed.

Despite its low price, Paciola 2000 is suitable for use by single
user or network environments. The package features eight
modules: nominal ledger; debtors; creditors; stock control;
invoicing; purchasing; budgeting; and auditing.

Paciola 2000 gets its name from Fra Luca Paciola, the alleged
father of the double-entry accounting system. Paciola was a
Franciscan monk born in the 15th century.

Although only having had a chance to get a brief review of the
package since being loaned a copy of the UK software by
Hurtado, Newsbytes can report that Paciola 2000 appears to do
all that M-USA and Standard Forms claim it can do. The software
is billed as a full-featured, network-ready accounting package.

(Steve Gold/19920409/Press & Public Contact: Standard Forms,
0794-517206)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(HKG)(00023)

Hong Kong: COL In Facilities Management Deal With Millipore 04/09/92
WANCHAI, HONG KONG, 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Leading Hong Kong
computer services company COL Ltd., has broken new ground with
the award of a three-year facilities management contract from
Millipore, a US-based company that trades in scientific equipment.

Under the three-year contract, which is worth HK$1.2 million
(US$155,800), COL will operate and maintain Millipore's Hewlett-
Packard and Sequent computers 24-hours a day and provide all the
backup, maintenance, specialist staff, and communications services
needed to keep the systems running efficiently.

"Initially, we considered operating and managing the computers
ourselves, but there was no way we could have justified the cost of
providing the services and system availability that COL can provide,"
said Farida Lau, Asia Controller of Millipore Intertech Asia.

"Strong systems support is essential for our operations and COL's
experience and specialist staff ensure that we get the maximum
return from our investment. Facilities management gives Millipore
access to the most professional computer environment in Hong
Kong and puts the burden of system management on COL's
shoulders."

With business growing at 20 percent annually, Millipore - a Fortune
500 company that supplies high technology products for scientific
laboratories - is expanding fast.  In less than a year the number of
staff has grown by 50 percent.

Faced with the need to upgrade its overburdened HP computer
system at a time when office space was running short, Millipore
opted instead to install both the old and the new systems at COL's
purpose-built computer center.

The deal will enable Millipore to start transferring its sales and
marketing applications from the HP machine to the Sequent
computer immediately, instead of waiting for a mid-year move to
larger accommodation. It also spares the company the trauma of
physically relocating its computers. "With the machines installed
at COL, all we need to do is switch data lines," said Lau.

The computers are linked to PCs at Millipore's offices in Hong Kong
via a high speed 64 kilobits-per-second dedicated circuits and
linked back to the parent company's MIS site in the US through BT
Tymnet, which provides all Millipore's international X.25
communications.

The configuration will enable staff, whether in Hong Kong or the US,
to access data from both computers at any time. By the end of the
year, Millipore expects to link all its regional offices in Singapore,
Taiwan, and Korea to the network.

"This contract is a milestone for both our companies," said Peter
Fishwick, sales director at COL. "Millipore has never before
contracted its computer services to an independent bureau, and
it is the first organization outside our parent group to install its own
computers at COL's offices. It symbolizes the growing trend for
companies to outsource their data processing and storage needs."

Although this is the company's first external facilities management
contract, COL already provides a similar service to sister companies
within the World International group including Lane Crawford,
Wheelock Marden, and Wharf Property.

"We've always seen facilities management as an important service,
but we were constrained from developing it by lack of space in our
old data center at Asian House," noted Fishwick. "At World Trade
Square, we have a very much larger data center at our disposal,
and we therefore have the physical resources to make facilities
management a major part of our business."

COL Ltd., is a leading Hong Kong computer services company, with
1990 turnover of HK$120 million (US$15.4 million). It employs over
200 people and provides IBM and Digital data center services to
more than 100 clients.

(Norman Wingrove/19920409/Press Contact: Peter Fishwick,
COL, [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00024)

 ****Wang Licenses SIMM Patents To Three More Firms 04/09/92
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- The
continuing saga of Wang's single in-line memory module (SIMM)
patents has taken another turn. Wang has reached licensing
agreements with three more firms it had accused of infringing the
patents.

Within a week, Wang has licensed Oki, Fujitsu, and Matsushita to
manufacture, use, and sell SIMMs protected by two Wang patents,
company spokesman Ed Pignone told Newsbytes. The financial
terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

The three companies were among seven named in a Wang
application to the United States government's International Trade
Commission (ITC). Wang had asked the ITC to stop imports of SIMMs
deemed to infringe its patents, from seven named companies and
any other unnamed firms considered to be infringing. As part of its
agreements with the three Japanese firms, Wang has asked the ITC
to end proceedings against Oki, Fujitsu, and Matsushita, Pignone
said, and the ITC has granted the application.

The other companies named in the ITC application were Hitachi,
Mitsubishi, Intel Japan, and NNB. Wang reached a licensing
agreement with Hitachi in early March.

Oki, Fujitsu, and Matsushita are the 24th, 25th, and 26th companies
to license the SIMM technology from Wang since August 1991, when
a federal court found that two other Japanese firms, NEC and
Toshiba, had manufactured and sold SIMMs in violation of the two
Wang patents.

NEC and Toshiba are still appealing those rulings, Pignone said. In
addition, Wang has an outstanding claim against Century Micro
Electronics, a West Coast company that Wang alleges is also
infringing its SIMM patents.

A SIMM is made up of multiple memory chips mounted in a single
unit. SIMMs provide large amounts of memory in a small package
that is easier to install and takes up less space than mounting
memory chips flat and directly on the main circuit board of a
computer.

(Grant Buckler/19920409/Press Contact: Ed Pignone, Wang,
508-967-4912; Yuri Momomoto, Fujitsu, [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(ATL)(00025)

Comdex: Lower Level Report 04/09/92
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- As part of its
campaign to bring back the excitement of years past, Comdex now
features some of those 10 by 10 booths, packed with entrepreneurs,
that oldtimers remember from days gone by. This year, most of
those booths were on the lower level of McCormick Place's main
building, right below IBM's giant OS/2 booth.

Much of the offerings were forgettable. Some were not. For
instance, Palmcom International of Hong Kong offered the Palmcom,
a PC based on the AM286LX-16 chip which fits in the palm of your
hand. There is a fairly readable super-twist LCD (liquid crystal
display), an expansion port for a docking station, and two PCMCIA
slots, meaning you'll be able to run large programs off ROM cards
and pass data to RAM cards without overworking the batteries.
There's also a built-in personal information manager, featuring
an appointment book, address book, memo pad, and calculator.
The Qwerty layout keyboard is similar to that on the HP 96XL,
meaning all the keys are there but you can't really touch-type on
it. Trouble is, the company's only offices are in France and Hong
Kong -- there was no crush of US distributors surrounding the
machine.

Compsee, a Troy, North Carolina-based distributor, was offering a
line of rugged terminals with bar-code readers, perfect for meter-
readers, inventory takers, or other data collectors. A nine-pin
RS-232 port at the bottom of one unit we saw, the MARS Electronics
MEQ-530, can take a radio modem for data delivery from anywhere.
The same company offers the Norand line of portable terminals
with radio modems built-in -- these look more like cellular radios.

As we were tiring, we were lured into the booth of Nada-Chair, of
Minneapolis, Minnesota, by an attractive young presenter. Their
Back-Up product must rank among the stranger ones at the show.
It is essentially a pad with straps. The pad goes around your lower
back, while the straps attach the unit to each of your knees. A
clamp makes sure you keep your legs together and your back
straight. The idea is you can avoid back fatigue either at your
desk or, if you prefer, at the ballgame or on the beach. Yuppies
with growing lumbar problems take note -- it comes in five designer
colors, including camouflage. The price is $39.95 for one, $49.95
for two, and an even $100 for three.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19910409/Press Contact: Palmcom,
[phone]; Compsee, tel [phone], fax, 919-576-0869;
Nada-Chair, tel [phone], fax, 612-331-1613)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(ATL)(00026)

 ****Hit Of The Comdex Show: Fast Video Editor 04/09/92
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- The official "best
in show" award from Byte Magazine at this show went to Zenith for
its network-ready Z-Note series of notebook computers. But the
"best rookie" award, with the real breakthrough, was Fast Gmbh of
Munich, Germany, with their "Video Machine."

The Video Machine can best be understood as a high-end Video
Toaster. It takes standard video inputs and allows for full
frame-by-frame editing. Unlike the Toaster, which runs only on
the Commodore Amiga and requires the NTSC video found in the
US, the Video Machine is an add-in board for PCs and Macintoshes
that also handles European PAL or SECAM inputs, allowing the
editor to mix-and-match them.

We talked to Fast President, Matthias Zahn, who explained that the
unit is based on a new Video Memory Controller chip from Philips'
Signetics unit. That is why the board cannot ship until September,
as the chip is not available in mass quantities yet. All the software
is finished, however. The whole product goes for about $4,000,
but Zahn thinks the price will come down fast as chip quantities
grow. The product was first shown earlier this year at the CEbit
show in Germany.

Zahn compares use of the Video Machine to desktop publishing.
"There are no missing pieces here. You get a complete solution,
including software." Zahn sees corporate video producers and even
individuals grabbing the product, perhaps to save those precious
home videos as real shows on CDs.

All this is analog, of course. The Video Machine is not yet
directly compatible with the Avid/1 Media Composer, a true non-
linear digital editor based on the Apple Macintosh which has been
used for professional productions like PBS' biography of singer
Marian Anderson.

Zahn says ABC Television has seen the product, and a number
of local TV stations came by to photograph it -- it was hiding in the
back of the Windows World pavilion's multimedia exhibit. He says
many visitors were urging him to take it to the National Association
of Broadcasters' show in Las Vegas later this month, or to the
National Cable Television Association, National Association of
Television Production Executives, and Radio and Television News
Director Association shows later on.

But the present unit is still something of a prototype, Zahn says that
it takes someone who knows what he's doing a few hours to set
it up, but that will not be true when the product ships this fall. Then,
you'll get a standard board and software you can install yourself.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19910409/Press Contact: Anne Sauer, Fast
Electronic USA, tel 508-655-FAST, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00027)

IBM Announces Ultimedia Plans At Comdex 04/09/92
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- IBM tried to stake
out the high-end of the emerging multimedia market by further
defining its Ultimedia platform. Many of the statements were
first made at a San Francisco conference on multimedia and
CD-ROM in March, but here it was backed with product and hype.

In terms of hardware, IBM defines the minimum configuration as a
386-20 chip, CD-ROM XA  drive, 160 megabyte (MB) hard disk and
four MB of RAM, a SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface)
controller, XGA graphics, CD-quality audio, a multimedia-enable
front panel, and in terms of software, of course, OS/2 2.0.

Analog and digital video extensions were both supported. While
the hard disk requirements doubled, IBM Assistant General
Manager, Michael Braun, said that the company's PS/2 M57 SLC
will still cost just $5,995. The company is also accelerating
deliveries of its ActionMedia II card, based on the Digital Video
Interactive, or DVI, compression algorithm developed with Intel.

IBM, whose huge buys of Comdex floor space turned that show
floor into an "IBM World" opposite the Windows World show
across  McCormick Place, featured PhotoMotion, a video
compression technology, in its huge Ultimedia booth at the back
of the hall. It used the booth to push its Ultimedia Developers'
Program, a $4,000 program discounted by half through May which
offers technical and on-line support, marketing support, business
support, and a "try and buy" program on equipment.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19910409/Press Contact: Jim Keller, IBM,
914-642-5472)


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00028)

 ****Comdex: GeoWorks Announces Pen/GEOS 04/09/92
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- GeoWorks, which
offers a graphical interface for low-powered DOS-based computers,
has announced Pen/GEOS, a version of its environment for pen-
based computers.

The company said it is targeting devices costing no more than
$500, which it calls a mass-market. Such machines might be
based on a single chip.

GeoWorks trotted out executives from Chips and Technologies,
Poqet Computer, Grid Systems, and Palm Computing -- the latter
a software start-up -- to say nice things about the new OS. The
system was demonstrated with Palm's handwriting recognition
software, which is also used in the Grid Penright product.

Amidst all the hype over Windows, GeoWorks has seemed to be
lost in the shuffle, but the company announced at this show it has
shipped 400,000 copies of its GeoWorks Ensemble and its
replacement GeoWorks Pro application suites since introduction
13 months ago. The company also introduced the Personal Office
Series, which includes a word processor, drawing program, and
desktop manager at $69.95 each.

The difference between Ensemble and Pro is Borland's Quattro Pro
SE spreadsheet, which is added to the GeoWright word processor,
GeoDraw drawing tool, GeoComm communications program, and
GeoMnager file and personal information manager at a suggested
list price of $199.95.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19910409/Press Contact: Lee Llevano,
GeoWorks, 510-644-0883)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(ATL)(00029)

Comdex: Art and Sundry From Amaze, Escher, Banner Band 04/09/92
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- From all reports,
the wildest party at this Comdex was thrown by Amaze, which
makes daily planners for computers.

The first of its products in this line was the Far Side Computer
Calendar, based on Gary Larson's cartoons. The second, the
Random House Word-A-Day Daily Planner, was based on that
top-selling daily calendar.

The third in the line is the Cathy Daily Planner, based on the
cartoon about a working woman fighting her weight, her boyfriend,
and her boss by Cathy Guisewite.

"I've often said that women live by the four basic guilt groups --
food, love, mother, and career," Guisewite said. "But I should add
a fifth, that is, finding time to manage the first four." Like its other
products, the Cathy calendar uses a perpetual calendar engine
that starts on the day of installation. There is a year's worth of Cathy
cartoons with the basic product, and refills are available. The price
is $59.95.

Also on the art beat, Computer Expressions signed a deal with the
estate of M.C. Escher to put the Dutch artists' illusionary art
on computer accessories, including wrists rests and mouse pads.
Computer Expressions is best known for custom-printed mouse
pads, often for advertisers, so this represents a major move into
the consumer market.

Finally, Banner Band is offering four new imprinted computer paper
products. Banner Cash offers giant $10 bills as background on a
45 foot continuous roll of computer paper. Purple, pastel orchid,
and lacey flower Banner Band rolls are also new to the line.
Banner Band also has introduced a series of sign kits, one for
the PC and one for the Macintosh, and a cut-sheet certificate
product it calls LA-SERtificate.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19910409/Press Contact: Derek McLeish,
Amaze, 206-820-7007; Computer Expressions, Cynthia Harriman,
603-436-1822; Banner Band, Stephen Singer, 800-333-0549)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(LAX)(00030)

 ****Sun Aims To Grab Share Of PC, Microsoft Market 04/09/92
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 APR 9 (NB) -- Sun
Microsystems, known for its Sparcstation Unix-based workstation
says it will begin to license the design of its Sparc microprocessors
to broaden its customer base and to share research and
development expenses.

Scott McNealy, president of Sun said: "While we're well known for
our system design, what's been less public is our expertise in very
sophisticated chip design. Making these designs available -  early  -
will increase investments in Sparc and accelerate the innovation
curve in the overall Sparc market."

Sun has openly announced plans to challenge the IBM personal
computer (PC) market, currently dominated by computers that use
Intel chips and operating system software from Microsoft. Last
summer the company announced it would challenge Microsoft by
becoming a major supplier of operating system software for the
IBM PC later this year. Currently its operating system only runs on
computers that have Sparc chips.

Sun is making good on that threat and has hired key programmers
from Apple to join the staff at Sunsoft, it's software subsidiary. Those
programmers include Bruce Tognazzini, author of the book "Tog On
Interface" which is about human interface design, (Addison Wesley,
1992), and Robert Glass who left Apple several months ago to head
the human-interface engineering group of Sunsoft. Frank Ludolph
and Annette Wagner -- both from the Apple/IBM joint venture Taligent,
are also leaving Apple to join Sunsoft.

Sun also has attracted Peter Deutsch to its advanced research
subsidiary Sun Microsystems Laboratories Incorporated (SMLI).
Deutsch is known for his work in object-oriented programming and
was one of the design team on the Alto, the first computer with an
object-oriented user interface developed at Xerox's Palo Alto
Research Center (PARC). Deutsch is moving from Parcplace
Systems where he spent five years as chief scientist working on the
development of the company's Smalltalk products.

Proliferating its own designs in the market will broaden the company's
sales base, Sun said. The company is hoping to convince other
computer manufacturer's to sell systems based on the Sparc chip.
Two Sun customers have taken a first step in that direction, Sun said.
Analog Devices and Crystal Semiconductor announced they have
begun selling multimedia audio chips designed in conjunction with
Sun.

Sun also recently reduced prices on its workstations, despite the
leadership position industry analysts report the company enjoys in
the workstation market. Workstations are rapidly becoming equal
in price to high-end PCs, but in general do not offer the proliferation
of software available in the PC market. Workstations however, are
rapidly gaining the ability to run PC software and Macintosh
software.

Mountain View-based Sun reported earnings of $47.4 million for its
second quarter ending December 27, 1992, on revenues of $909.1
million. The earnings were up 21.2 percent over the previous
earnings of $39.1 million on revenues of $753.5 million.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920409/Press Contact: Leiann Lee, Sun
Microsystems Laboratories, tel [phone], fax [phone])