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/nb920127

Text File | 1992-01-27 | 72KB | 1,601 lines

(NEWS)(UNIX)(LAX)(00001)

First Corba-Compliant Object-Oriented DBMS Planned 01/27/92
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) --
Hyperdesk and Object Design are planning to work together to
bring Object Design's Object-oriented Database Management
System (ODBMS) into Hyperdesk's Distributed Object Management
System (HD-DOMS).

The companies says they plan to base the new product on the
Object Management Group's (OMG's) standard, the Common Object
Request Broker Architecture (CORBA). The joint development will
result in the first CORBA-compliant ODBMS interface on the
market, the companies said.

The goal is to provide programmers an industry standard
interface for application building. The focus is on building
ODBMS applications that run on local area networks (LANs). The
companies say the same applications can also be integrated into
wide area networks (WANs) for distributed enterprise-wide
object-oriented applications.

Hyperdesk has licensed Objectstore from Object Design.
Objectstore will provide the HD-DOMS product with storage for
object "types" -- that describe a family of objects -- and the
object "implementations" -- the data and code representing the
functions that can be performed on software objects.

Hyperdesk says the HD-DOMS product is geared toward building
openly distributed applications for a number of different
computing environments including personal computers,
workstations, and servers. HD-DOMS with Objectstore is expected
to be available in the second half of 1992, Hyperdesk said.

Object Design says Objectstore is an object-oriented database
management system developed for use under Unix or Microsoft
Windows. Objectstore is designed for developers of computer
aided design-computer aided engineering (CAD-CAE), publishing,
computer aided software engineering (CASE) tools, imaging,
modeling, simulation and office information, including
multimedia-based applications, Object Design added.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920124/Press Contact: Rob Hayes, Miller
Communications for Hyperdesk, 617-536-0470, area-
number)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00002)

Poor Man's CD-ROM Intros Multimedia Sports Adventure 01/27/92
LA CRESCENTA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- Knowledge
Adventure, a company which specializes in creating multimedia
software applications that don't require a compact disc read-
only memory (CD-ROM) drive, has just released Sports Adventure.

Sports Adventure is the second of a series of multimedia
packages the company plans to release. The company's software
products feature a multimedia hyperlinked database of images
and text in a colorful screen format.

In conjunction with the release of Sports Adventure the company
announced nationwide contest in which winners will be eligible
to win a free trip for two to their choice of the Superbowl,
the World Series, the Winder or Summer Olympics, Wimbledon or
the National Basketball Association finals. The trip includes
round-trip airfare and hotel for two and tickets for the
events. Entry forms are in each Sports Adventure package and
are available from retail outlets as well.

The company says Sports Adventure allows the user to see and
hear the events that make sports exciting. Users can move
through the information at will by clicking on objects on the
screen with a mouse.

Sports Adventure was contributed to by several sports
journalists and authors of books on the history of sports. To
supplement this text, Knowledge Adventure said it purchased the
rights to republish photographs from Sports Illustrated. Also
included are historical images from the Baseball Hall of Fame,
the company added.

Steve Chadima, vice president of marketing, said the product is
designed to be for more than just avid sports fans. "While
there are a lot of interesting facts that will engross the most
astute sports observer, there is a lot of human emotion wrapped
into each story, as well. The authors do a great job of
covering the dedication of the participants, the excitement of
the contests, the victories as well as the disappointments,"
Chadima said.

Sports Adventure runs on IBM, Tandy and compatible personal
computers with a hard disk drive and a video graphics adapter
(VGA) card and monitor. A mouse is recommended. Retail price
for the package is $79.95.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920124/Press Contact: Steve Chadima,
Knowledge Adventure, 818-542-4200, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00003)

IPC Gets Green Light In The Netherlands 01/27/92
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- IPC Information Systems,
formerly known as Contel IPC, has secured approval in The
Netherlands to allow connection of its Tradenet dealing room
equipment to the Dutch telecommunications network.

According to IPC, this approval extends to the full range of the
company's Tradenet equipment, including the Tradenet dealer
board, ELD Module, dealerphone and SII command plus LCD key
modules.

The gaining of approvals is significant since, for the first
time, it allows a specialist supplier of stock exchange equipment
to supply its hardware and software in more than one country with
full approval.

To take account of the approvals, IPC has begun a marketing
campaign that it claims will take advantage of the market
opportunity. The first move forward was the recent appointment of
a European distribution manager and the second was the selection
of a distributor in The Netherlands, Koning en Hartman.

Announcing the securing of telecom approvals in The Netherlands,
Richard Seekins, the company's distribution manager, said: "IPC's
efforts in recent months to secure approvals and distribution
arrangements throughout Europe means that we are ready for the
abolition of trade barriers and the evolution of a single
European market."

(Steve Gold/19920127/Press & Public Contact: IPC Information
Systems - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00004)

Miramar Signs Distrib Ag't With Merisel 01/27/92
SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- Miramar
Systems has signed an agreement with Merisel under which Merisel is
committed to distributing Miramar's Maclan Connect product.
Merisel will use its Macamerica division for this purpose.

Maclan Connect is a software product that runs on a PC dedicated to
serve as a Macintosh gateway. The PC must have at least 640K of RAM
and an Appletalk interface card installed in it. Maclan Connect
software supports Appletalk interface cards from Apple, Farallon,
Daystar Digital, 3Com, IBM, Cabletron, and Thomas Conrad. Obviously,
a network interface card for the PC end is desirable as well.

As a gateway, the Maclan Connect software integrates Macintosh
networks with many different kinds of networks. The software
currently supports Banyan Vines, Novell Netware, IBM LAN Server,
Microsoft LAN Manager, Ungermann-Bass Net/One, and Artisoft
Lantastic.

All devices on both sides of the gateway can now be integrated and
used "seamlessly," the company claims. Devices like file and print
server, CD-ROM readers, networked modems, etc. are supported.
E-mail systems that run on any of the networks supported and that
use the same e-mail protocols are also supported so that e-mail
between the Macintosh users and the others becomes painless,
firm officers contend.

"Miramar is the missing link in the world of Macintosh-to-PC
connectivity software. They'll provide Merisel resellers with a
reliable, market tested product for a variety of Macintosh
integration needs," said Jack Kolk, vice president of products for
Macamerica. "Maclan Connect is unique in the industry because it's
the only non-proprietary solution available."

Prices for the Maclan Connect product line vary between $395 to
$1495 depending on the level of services provided and the network
connection that is supported. All products should be available from
Macamerica at this time.

(Naor Wallach/19920127/Press Contact: Steve Cherneff, Criswell
Communications for Miramar, 510-549-7016)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(NYC)(00005)

 ****News, Library, Privacy Groups Oppose Federal Info Plans 01/27/92
WASHINGTON, D. C., U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- Representatives of
the press, computer professionals, librarians, and public action groups
have drafted a letter to Securities and Exchange Commission Richard
C. Breeden and Representative Edward J. Markey protesting the SEC's
plans for the operation of its new Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis
and Retrieval (EDGAR) system.

The letter was signed by a group including Patricia Glass Schuman,
president, American Library Association; Andy Scott, executive
director, Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE); Mitchell Kapor,
president, Electronic Frontiers Foundation; Marc Rotenberg, director,
Washington Office, Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility;
James K. Galbraith, professor, LJB School of Public Affairs, University
of Texas at Austin; Paul Nussbaum, deputy foreign editor,
Philadelphia Inquirer; Jack Lail, metro editor, The Knoxville News-
Sentinel; Eliot Marshall, reporter, Science Magazine; Penny Loeb,
reporter, New York Newsday; John Judis, author; Rino Aldrighetti,
executive director, National Family Farm Coalition; Daphne
Wyscham, managing editor, Greenpeace Magazine, and Jim Warren
columnist, MicroTimes.

The group takes exception to the lack of access that it
says will be provided to the taxpaying public that has, according to
the group, invested more than $60 million in the development of the
system.

EDGAR is a system under which corporations will file required SEC
documents in an electronic fashion with the information
collected on computer systems owned by Mead Data Central,
marketeers of the LEXIS and NEXIS system. Mead will then provide
terminal access, including search capability, to SEC central and
branch offices. Public access to the data is to be provided at reading
rooms in SEC offices in Chicago, New York, and Washington, DC.

James P. Love of the Taxpayer Assets Project, told Newsbytes that the
objections to the procedure are varied. He said, "The system puts
Mead in a position replete with conflict of interests. It is a
commercial firm that provides access to current filings to the public
at a regulated cost; yet it also can provide commercial access to the
database at non-regulated costs. The SEC itself will have only limited
access to the database."

Love continued, "We believe that there should be access for any
taxpayer who wishes to pay the incremental cost associated with
access. Under such a plan, it would be in Mead's interest to expand
access The current plan has just the opposite effect."

In request to a Newsbytes question concerning the motivation for the
establishment of such a procedure, Love said, "The SEC staffers that
we have discussed our concerns with believe that they are carrying
out a mandate from the Reagan-Bush administrations to support
privatization of the dissemination of government data. This is truly a
difference in philosophy of government. When we mentioned our
access concerns, the staffers felt that the free market at work in this
area would resolve ant such problems."

Love concluded, "This implementation will serve as a model for the
future electronic dissemination of government data. We feel that, if
taxpayers pay for system development, the same taxpayers should
have the right to use the system if they are willing to pay
incremental access costs."

The letter also stated that "The SEC should sell CD-ROM products that
meet the needs of libraries, journalists, economists and other
researchers" and "EDGAR information should be made available
through the federal Depository Library Program."

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/Press Contact: James P.
Love, Taxpayer Assets Project., 609-683-0534 (voice), 202-234-
5176 (fax), [e-mail] (e-mail)/19920127)


(NEWS)(IBM)(NYC)(00006)

IBM Japan Reported Cutting Executive Pay Over Results 01/27/92
MOUNT HOLLY, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- At a time in
which there is mounting criticism of American executive pay in
relation to poor corporate performance, IBM Japan, according to
reports from the Kyodo News Service, has decided to reduce
executive salaries.

According to the report, the president's salary will be cut by 10%,
executive directors by 8% and directors by 5%. Additionally, pay
raises for executives will be suspended for an indefinite period of
time.

The report stated that the IBM group suffered a total loss of $2.8
billion dollars in 1991. IBM Japan is expected to stay in the black,
despite declining revenues. It also said, relating to corporate
management's reaction to business difficulties, that "Only IBM Japan
so far has clarified management's responsibility (for poor
performance)."

A senior IBM US executive told Newsbytes that he had heard no
internal discussion of the IBM Japan announcement and that it had
not been posted on the internal news network. He added, "Managers'
salaries are often tied to performance with incentive bonus, etc. and
high expectation levels can be set to insure best effort performance.
In short, there are other ways to carry out this objective without a
public fanfare. We are putting performance responsibility on the
shoulders of managers at every level and will continue to do so."

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19920127)


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

Small Companies Offer New Calling Plans 01/27/92
COLUMBUS, OHIO, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- LTI International, a
small long distance company formerly known as LiTel, announced a
new residential calling plan called the "All-America Plan,"
while Express Tel launched a business plan designed as an
employee benefit.

"As part of its restructuring, LTI had hired former MCI executive
H. Brian Thompson as its new chairman. He said the company is
expanding into a worldwide carrier. The LTI plan offers direct-
dial service to 178 countries around the world utilizing the same
dialing plan as all other major long distance carriers. The plan
will be rolled out on a state-by-state basis as regulatory
approvals are given.

Express Tel's program allows businesses using its services to
sign up employees to use the service at home. Employers get a new
benefit that costs nothing, while employees get inexpensive long
distance service, with every 13th call priced at one cent, no
matter where in the U.S. it's placed and no matter what time of
day. Express Tel said its rates are, on average, 20 percent those
of its national competitors.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920124/Press Contact: Jim Fette, LCI 614-
433-9272; Express Tel, Jim Cannon, 619/569-0300)


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

Bridges With Encryption Announced 01/27/92
NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- Telco Systems
and Magnalink Communications said they will introduce the first
frame relay bridges using the DES encryption algorithm and data
compression at the ComNet trade show in Washington, D.C. this
week. The bridges are called Route-300.

DES is an encryption algorithm long used by the U.S. military
which is now being used commercially. The companies said that
DES adds only a 3 percent information overhead to transmissions,
meaning local area networks can be securely linked without a big
drop-off in performance. Encryption allows companies to convert
from private networks to less expensive public networks while
still maintaining security.

The Route-3000FR/c also provides high-speed data compression over
the frame relay network, typically reducing the amount of data
being transmitted by 50 percent while maintaining full
information throughput. Compression reduces network congestion,
and gives faster response times, as well as saving money, the
companies said. Compression is achieved on the new bridges
through dedicated hardware which is not sensitive to the data
rate at up to 2 million bits/second. The bridges have been tested
with the StrataCom IPX frame relay interface, an industry
standard, and has been certified by Williams Telecommunications
Group for compatibility with its frame relay service.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920124/Press Contact: Telco Systems, Jan
Estep, 617/551-0300; Magnalink Communications, Meir Yaniv,
617/255-9400)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00009)

DataFAX Adds 900-Numbers To Fax-On-Demand Services 01/27/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- DataFAX
Communications said its offering its Financial Index and News on
Fax services over two 900 numbers. The former service is
available at 1-900-88-index for $2.95 per call, while the latter
is available at 1-800-288-0010 at 95 cents per minute according
to president Norberto Blumencweig.

"The Financial Index Fax" offers investors up-to-the-second
quotes of stock market activity, including the Dow Jones
Averages, the S&P Index, leading currency prices and other
composite indexes. The News-On-Fax service turns a fax machine
into a news wire that provides headlines from more than 20
leading databases. The full text of any story is available by
entering a story code.

DataFAX Communications launched two subscription services earlier
this year: "Automated Portfolio Service," and "News-On-Fax."
Most of the features are available via the new 900-number
services.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920124/Press Contact: Mark Rodino, DataFAX
Communications, 212-840-4030, FAX, 212-391-1245)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00010)

 ****New 510 Area Code Becomes Mandatory Today 27 01/27/92
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- The new
510 area code becomes mandatory today. The new area code, an
offshoot of the 415 area code covering Alameda and Contra Costa
counties, was launched because the company was running out of
numbers. It's one of two such area codes being introduced in
California this year. The other code, 310, is in western Los
Angeles County and is not yet mandatory.

Area code 510 has been in place for the East Bay since September
2, but customers could access it by dialing the old area code,
415. Area code 415 was retained for Marin, San Francisco, San
Mateo and part of Santa Clara County. Introduction of a new area
code does not affect the cost of calls, the company said. Making
the new code mandatory will allow the company to re-assign
numbers previously offered in the 415 area code to new customers
in the East Bay, and will also allow it to offer the 415 area
code users new numbers previously reserved for East Bay
residents.

Customers who forget the new area code on Pacific Bell calls to
the East Bay will get a specific recording reminding them to dial
"510" to reach the number they are trying. The recording will be
in place for about six months.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920124/Press Contact: Pacific Bell, Paul
Hirsch, 415/542-9468)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00011)

Proteon To Resell Network Mgt System 01/27/92
WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- Proteon has
signed an agreement with the British company Network Manager under
which it will resell Network Manager's NMC3000 product in the U.S.
Proteon is calling this system OneView.

The agreement is described by both parties as "a natural fit."
Proteon's viewpoint is that as a component vendor (primarily) it
may not be the best team to develop systemwide applications, while
that is exactly the area in which Network Manager has chosen to
concentrate its activities.

The OneView system runs on Sun SPARCstations. It uses the OSF/Motif
graphical user interface. The OneView provides for complete management
of all of Proteon's Token Ring products as well as any other products
that are manageable through Simple Network Management Protocol
(SNMP).

Network Managers and Proteon are both committed to standards based
products and have both said that they are planning on extending the
OneView family to support emerging standards like CMIP as well as
other, existing, standards like MAP/TOP.

All of Proteon's network management products are slated to begin
shipping in February. The OneView Infrastructure Manager
which includes the OneView/Router Manager and the OneView/Token
Ring Manager will sell for $15,995. The OneView/Router Manager by
itself will sell for $9995, while the price of the OneView/Token
Ring Manager will depend on the configuration. Prices will vary
between $5495 and $12,995. Proteon's other network management
product is the SNMP to NetView Gateway and that will sell for $4995
when it begins shipping in February.

(Naor Wallach/19920127/Press Contact: Marcia Kordas, Proteon,
508-898-2106)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00012)

 ****Wireless Network Computing With Pen-based Computer 01/27/92
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- DFM says now
users can take their pen-based computer out on the warehouse
dock or around the office without wires and still be connected
to the company's computer network. DFM is introducing
Travelite, wireless communication designed for Novell networks.

An internal spread spectrum transceiver can travel as far as
800 feet indoors and longer outdoors from its base and still
communicate with a Novell network. The data transfer is
adequate at 24 kilobytes per second (Kps) or 121 Kps with
multiple channels.

The Travelite computer itself is an AT (286-based) touchscreen
computer that weighs only 5.5 pounds and is a compact 8.5 by
12.4 by 1.6-inches in size, DFM said.

Communication with the Travelite is done via radio frequency
(RF) and requires no cabling, no FCC site licensing, and no
alignment to install. Installation requires adding a network
interface card (NIC) to the Netware file server to allow the
Travelite access to the Novell Network. The NIC becomes the
base for the Travelite, the company said.

A user can input data via a pop-up keyboard on the touchscreen,
or plug in the optional qwerty keyboard. An optional modem
permits uploading or downloading from any telephone outlet, DFM
said.

DFM describes the Travelite as coming configured with a 1,000 by
1,000 point resolution touchscreen, 10-inch diagonal extended
graphics adapter (EGA) liquid crystal display (LCD), cold
cathode fluorescent backlight, 12 megahertz (MHz) zero wait
state operation, 2 megabytes (MB) of random access memory
(RAM), 512 kilobytes (K) read-only memory (ROM) "A:" drive, a
20 MB hard drive, 100 key separate keyboard, battery, charger,
and a carrying case.

Options include 40, 60 and 80 MB hard drives, faster 16 MHz
operation, an internal send fax/modem, a 80C287 math
coprocessor, digitized speech, board/microphone/speaker, bar
code wand, docking unit, 4 or 8 MB of RAM, and a spread
spectrum Ethernet internal transceiver.

Accessories include a microphone/headset for private listening,
a serial port, a bar code reader, a parallel port, an external
keyboard, CGA/MDA/EGA color monitor, a power adapter, and a
docking unit. DFM says retail price for one standard Travelite
unit is $3,466.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920127/Press Contact: Robert Steinberger,
DFM Systems, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00013)

Adobe Streamline 3.0 Converts Bitmaps To Postscript 01/27/92
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- Adobe
announced Adobe Streamline 3.0 for Microsoft Windows for
converting color and black-and-white bit mapped images into
Postscript line art.

Adobe outlined the new features in Streamline as new image
processing tools, more color support, a more interactive user
interface, interoperability with Adobe Illustrator for Windows,
and the ability to export graphics to popular file formats.

The choice of which of the conversion methods to use from the
three available in the product depend on the type of bitmap
being converted, Adobe said. Contrast conversion is based on
differences in color and intensity and is primarily for images
without strongly defined contrast, like photographs.

Threshold, a second conversion, divides the color spectrum into
equal parts. Adobe says this is which is particularly useful
where the image contains a variety of colors or widely spaced
tones.

The third conversion type, posterization, allows a user to
selectively reduce from 256 color or 16 grey scale levels down
to simple black and white.

Preprocessing tools help the user select and alter bitmaps
before conversion. A mouse click on the "magic wand" selects
any specific color or grey scale area for conversion or color
assignment, and any color selected with the eyedropper tools
can be saved and applied elsewhere in the image. This is useful
for example, in touching up photographs, as color can just be
selected by touching an area on the photograph so cheek color
can be used to touch up around the eyes without the user having
to create or match the color.

The adjustable-width pencil and eraser tools are used prior to
conversion, to add lines of any thickness or to erase parts of
bitmaps, Adobe said.

After the conversion, postprocessing tools allow users to
smooth and adjust the vector curves converted from bitmap
images. Vector editing options, such as selecting paths by fill
color and stroke weight, allow the user to substitute any
process or custom colors for the colors of the original bitmap.

Adobe added that postprocessing colors may be selected with an
on-screen color picker within the paint styles dialogue box, by
choosing percentage of process color, or by selecting a color
from the original bitmap using the eyedropper tool.

A line recognition feature allows the production of personal
computer-based forms. The software is also smart enough to
correct a form scanned slightly off to straight, perpendicular,
vertical and horizontal lines. Adobe says text is automatically
removed during this process.

Those who already know Adobe Illustrator 4.0 will find
Streamline 3.0 operates in a similar fashion, Adobe said. A new
toolbox simplifies functions such as zoom in or out and the
paint styles dialog box with a Windows-style color picker is
identical with that used in Adobe Illustrator.

Also new in Streamline is a status bar which displays zoom
level, number of paths selected, and percent completed.
Context-sensitive help is also available from any point in the
program, Adobe said.

Converted artwork can be exported to CGM for presentation
graphics; DXF for computer aided design (CAD); WMF for Windows
metafile applications; and HPGL for plotters, Adobe said.

Adobe has several products out for processing and altering
documents and images, including Adobe Illustrator and
Streamline. However, the company is probably best known for the
creation of Postscript, a printer and display definition language.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920127/Press Contact: LaVon Collins, Adobe,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00014)

New Networking Products From IBM 01/27/92
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- IBM is
strengthening its commitment to standards-based networking with its
recent announcement of three new products and a program in which many
vendors can have their software tested and shipped with these IBM
products.

The IBM 6611 is a set of two products. The model 140 has four open
slots and the model 170 has seven. These products can act as bridges
or routers. In the case of the bridging applications, the products
can connect as many different networks as they have open slots. This
is also true of its routing capabilities. All kinds of network
protocols are supported by these devices. TCP/IP, SNA, NetBIOS,
AppleTalk, IPX, DECnet, and XNS will be shipped with the product
when it starts shipping with more protocols being planned for the
future.

In an interesting development, IBM has incorporated the efforts of
several other organizations in the area of multiprotocol routing.
For instance, Ki Research of Columbia Maryland provided the DECnet
supporting software for the IBM 6611 and Cornell University
participated as the vendor who developed the AppleTalk capability.

Both models of the IBM 6611 are expected to begin shipping in June
of this year. The model 140 will retail for $9995 while the model
170 for $18640. These are base prices. Actual prices will vary based
on the exact configuration chosen.

The third new product introduced was the AIX NetView/6000. This is a
network management workstation that is based on the RISC System/6000.
Again, IBM is stressing its standards based approach with this
device that can manage all kinds of networks with all kinds of
devices as long as they conform to one of the popular standards.

The system runs under AIX, the IBM flavor of Unix. It supports
TCP/IP protocols and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
Management Information Bases (MIBs). There is a graphical user
interface front end, the software performs dynamic network mapping,
and there are various other features and capabilities that make
using this device easy and productive.

The AIX NetView/6000 will also be available in June. It is composed
of the SNMP manager and the end-user Interface. The package will
retail for $14,950.

The IBM NS Vendor Enablement Program is the third main thrust of
this announcement. Under this program, IBM will invite other
companies to work with it in testing and evaluating their SNMP
MIBs for interoperability. When a vendor completes the testing
successfully, IBM will ship those MIBs to its customers for use
in the AIX NetView/6000.

The customer benefits knowing that the equipment that he is
purchasing has been shown to operate together by IBM and the other
vendor. IBM and the vendor benefit by having happier, more
satisfied customers.

Companies that have announced participation so far include:
Chipcom, Fibermux, Hewlett-Packard, Optical Data Systems, Network
Equipment Technologies, Proteon, Synoptics, Wellfleet Communications,
Xylogics, and Xyplex. IBM is continuing to seek out other
companies who might be interested in participating in this
program.

(Naor Wallach/19920127/Press Contact: Dennis Drogseth, IBM,
914-642-5474)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00015)

ACC Shows New Internetworking Hub 01/27/92
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- Advanced Computer
Communications (ACC) is showing its new ACCes/4500 line of products
at ComNet '92 being held here this week. The ACCes/4500 is designed
to allow interconnection between its 20 ports and to minimize
downtime.

Each of the 5 or 11 slots in the ACCes/4500 can be filled with a
module that is configured with two ports. These ports can be
independently specified as Ethernet, Token Ring, of any of a variety
of wide area network (WAN) protocols including X.25 and frame relay.

The ACCes/4500 maintains interoperability by adhering to standards.
Some of the standards that it supports include ANSI Q.922 (frame
relay), Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), Routing Information
Protocol (RIP), Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), IEEE
802.5 Source Routing Bridging, and IEEE 802.1d Spanning Tree
Protocol (STP).

To provide for maximum up time, the ACCes/4500 uses redundant power
supplies and allows for hot swaps of cards. These features become
important when up to 20 networks and the traffic between them is
depending on this one device.

The ACCes/4500 will be on display at ACC's booth at ComNet. ACC is
booth number 1320. The hubs will be available in 30 days and will
range in price depending on the configuration between $14,995 to
$38,995.

(Naor Wallach/19920127/Press Contact: Marianne McCarthy, ACC,
805-963-9431


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00016)

Canadian Firm To Build Tempest Workstations For Sun 01/27/92
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- Under a partnership
agreement between Emcon Ltd. and Sun Microsystems, Emcon will build
Tempest SPARCstation 2 GX workstations for the Mountain View,
California-based workstation firm. The companies said the contract
is worth about C$50 million over the next four years.

Steven Baker, president of Emcon, told Newsbytes the deal is an
indefinite-quantity, indefinite-time contract. It is a very
significant milestone for Emcon, he said. "In all likelihood, it
will lead to both plant and staff expansion."

Tempest is a security specification for equipment used in military
operations and other areas where classified information is
involved. It deals with the control of electronic emanations which
could present a security risk.

According to Sun, the Tempest SPARCstation 2GX offers nearly twice
the speed of the company's earlier Tempest SPARCstation 1+. It
comes with 16 megabytes of memory, accelerated two-dimensional
graphics, a key-lockable front door to control access to the power
switch and disk drives, and a 40-megahertz processor. A 19-inch
high-resolution color monitor is standard. Options include up to
two 207-megabytes hard disk drives, quarter-inch tape, and a CD-ROM
drive. Prices start at US$29,995.

The primary markets for Tempest workstations are the governments of
the United States, Canada, and other countries in the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This is the first product
manufactured in Canada that, when approved by Canada's
Communications Security Establishment, will be listed on the United
States' Endorsed Tempest Products List.

Baker said the close economic relationship between the United
States and Canada was important to the conclusion of this
agreement, although the Free Trade Agreement signed between the two
countries does not cover military equipment and thus was not
directly relevant to the deal.

Seven-year-old Emcon specializes in developing and certifying
Tempest equipment.

(Grant Buckler/19920127/Press Contact: Steven Baker, Emcon,
613-723-1838; Sun Microsystems of Canada, 416-477-6745)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00017)

 ****3Com Acquires BICC 01/27/92
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- 3Com has just
announced that it will be purchasing the data networking products
business of BICC Group plc. This transaction includes a payment of
$25 million and 500,000 3Com shares. To compensate, 3Com will take
a $10 million charge against its third quarter revenues.

BICC has been developing, manufacturing, and selling high performance
Ethernet and Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) adapters as well
as the ISOLAN line of hubs and offers the EtherConnect line of
structured wiring hubs with network security.

"Acquiring BICC is a major step forward in fulfilling our global
data networking vision," said Eric Benhamou, 3Com president and
chief executive officer. "BICC's technical expertise, hub products,
and current development efforts are powerful additions to our hub
product line."

BICC, which operated as BICC Communications in the U.K. and as
BICC Data Networks in Europe, had approximately $75 million in sales
last year. After the acquisition is complete, it will become known
as 3Com's Premises Distribution Division with responsibility for
the design, development, and manufacture of high volume structured
wiring hubs and low-end internetworking products.

Janice Roberts who is currently president of BICC Communications
will become vice president and general manager of the division and
will report directly to Benhamou. BICC's sales and support
organization will be integrated into 3Com's worldwide field
operation.

3Com will be holding a breakfast for the press on Tuesday, Jan
28 from 8 AM to 10 AM at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Farragut Square Room,
Constitution Concourse, Washington, DC, to answer any questions
about the acquisition.

(Naor Wallach/19920127/Press Contact: Kerry Langstaff, 3Com,
408-764-5562)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00018)

Hongkong: Microsoft Announces Improved LAN Manager 01/27/91
WANCHAI, HONG KONG, 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- Microsoft Corporation has
made major additions to its LAN Manager family. They include: the
release of Microsoft LAN Manager version 2.1, an enhanced version of
the premier client-server network software; four new LAN Manager
enhancement products; and improved strategic network support
services.

LAN Manager version 2.1 was introduced to the Hong Kong market at a
product launch organized by Winbliss, a local Microsoft network
value-added reseller. The new version and its enhancement products
are claimed to extend the benefits of client-server computing across
the enterprise.

"Networking is fundamental to Microsoft systems software," said
Laurie Kan, country manager at Microsoft Hong Kong. "The significant
new features in LAN Manager 2.1 confirm our commitment to the
networking business and provide immediate benefits to corporate
networks. "Through tight integration with Windows, we've also made
great strides in making the network transparent to the user."

Kan said these additions to the LAN Manager suite of products is
designed to please network users, administrators and developers
alike. He said LAN Manager offers superior data security, fault
tolerance, a high-performance 32-bit file system and an open set of
application programming interfaces (APIs).

The new release features easier installation and configuration, and
tools and utilities for developers and systems integrators. Enhanced
Microsoft Windows environment connectivity and integration features
are also a fundamental element of the new release.

With a simple point and click command, Windows users can access
information and resources anywhere on the network through improved
disk and printer browsing. LAN Manager 2.1 also supports Windows
through features such as persistent network connections (for example,
when the workstation is booted, the user is automatically reconnected
to the network) and auto log-on.

"By exploiting our open architecture, we have created a powerful set
of connectivity options," said Kan. "Users can now mix and match LAN
Manager and Novell NetWare servers, PCs and Macintosh computers, and
can more easily access information on existing mainframe and
minicomputers. "We've also built in key 'agents' for NetView and SNMP
network management systems. Our product line has seen significant
maturity with this release."

A desktop user can connect to LAN Manager and NetWare servers
simultaneously, both from DOS and Windows through an easy-to-use File
Manager interface. The NetView and SNMP agents allow LAN Manager
services to be integrated into enterprise management schemes.

A new auto-tuning feature makes configuration easier by having the
server automatically set many of the parameters previously handled by
the network administrator. Also, the number of required parameters
has been reduced from more than 100 to less than 10.

LAN Manager 2.1 is an easy and inexpensive upgrade from version 2.0,
and Microsoft plans to maintain compatibility between version 2.1 and
future versions of LAN Manager, Microsoft's new Windows NT operating
system, and future versions of Windows.

(Norman Wingrove/19920127/Press contact: Ramny Fite, Microsoft, Tel
[phone]; HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(HKG)(00019)

 ****Digital Offers First Production Version of OSF/1 01/27/92
WANCHAI, HONG KONG, 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- Digital Equipment Asia has
announced it is the first vendor in the industry to offer a
production version of the OSF/1 operating system as a deliverable
product.

The DEC OSF/1 operating system controls the execution of computer
programs and performs system functions. Based on source code
technology provided by the Open Software Foundation (OSF), it meets
the most stringent requirements of the OSF/1 trademark and
certification program.

"The Digital implementation of the OSF/1 operating system is popular
with software companies that want to enter the market quickly," said
Dr Kaizad Heerjee, software consultant at Digital Asia. "Already,
more than 90 leading software companies have said their applications
will run on the DEC OSF/1 operating system. "Their products can be
ported easily to other computers supporting the OSF/1 operating
system such as those from IBM and Hewlett-Packard as they become
available."

Digital has engineered into its OSF/1 implementation several added-
value, open technologies that enhance the OSF source code and conform
to the OSF Application Environment Specification, including realtime
support to ensure predictable, fast responses to external
events; binary, source, and data compatibility with the ULTRIX
operating system for applications which are written according to
existing programming language standards; and the capability to
process large amounts of data by increasing the number of files that
can be open at one time.

Included with DEC OSF/1 is OSF/Motif V1.1.3, the OSF's graphical user
interface based on the X Window System developed at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology.

"Digital is providing software developers with the advantage of
faster time to market for their OSF/1-based Unix products," said
Spencer Chan, regional marketing services manager at Digital Asia.
"Developers like the fact that it will be easy for them to port to
other OSF/1 implementations when they are available."

Digital is offering the technologies employed in DEC OSF/1 to The
Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) to be included in its ACE UNIX product.
OSF/1 is a major software component of the Advanced Computing
Environment (ACE) initiative, of which both Digital and SCO are
founding members.

"The Hongkong Bank is currently evaluating the new DEC OSF/1
operating system, the first among many of our customers who have
already expressed a strong interest in trying out the new system,"
said Chris Firth, Open Systems marketing manager at Digital Hong
Kong. "This confirms the growing momentum of the OSF/1 market for
ACE/Unix systems based on this important technology."

Also introduced is a starter kit for the OSF DCE (Open Software
Foundation Distributed Computing Environment), a standard mechanism
that facilitates communication between applications running on multi-
vendor networks.

"The Digital DCE Starter Kit enables applications developers to take
immediate advantage of the power of distributed computing," said Dr
Heerjee.

The kit provides several components of the DCE architecture required
to design and build multi-vendor applications. They include Remote
Procedure Call tools, directory services, and a time service.

Digital also announced a conversion programme for users of the
existing Ultrix operating system. Ultrix service contracts can be
converted to DEC OSF/1 service contracts at no additional cost, and
Ultrix software licenses can be converted to DEC OSF/1 licenses for a
nominal fee to cover administrative costs.

DEC OSF/1 is a key operating system environment supported by
Network Application Support (NAS), Digital's set of software products
based on industry standards that provide for application integration
across systems from multiple vendors. By using NAS software products
such as DCE, Motif, and the CDA architecture for compound documents,
OSF/1-based applications can interoperate with applications on other
platforms such as MS-DOS, VMS, and SunOS.

Digital also announced a selection of key foundation products
available on the OSF/1 operating system for developing applications.
They include DEC FORTRAN and DEC Pascal, both of which comply with
the ANSI and ISO standards.

(Norman Wingrove/19920127/Press contact: Walter Cheung, Digital, Tel
+ 852 861 4850; HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00020)

Microsoft Debuts First-Ever Television Ads 01/27/92
REDMOND,WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- Microsoft Corporation
has announced that it will spend $8 million on television ads
beginning in March. It will be the first time that the software
giant has plugged its products on the tube.

Microsoft says the ads are designed to "build on the success of the
Microsoft Windows operating systems and Window-based software
applications." Newsbytes learned that the campaign is tentatively
set to run for about three months.

More than nine million copies of Windows have been sold since the
product was introduced in May 1990. Microsoft says the television
campaign is aimed at building on that momentum by letting potential
new users know how easy personal computing can be with Windows.

"We're targeting computer users who don't necessarily read computer
magazines," said VP of Marketing Gary Gigot. While they are aware
of Windows, said Gigot, many have not had the chance to see how the
system can simplify basic computer tasks.

In addition to Windows, the ads will also promote two other
applications, Word for Windows, a word processing program;and Excel
for Windows, a spreadsheet application. Microsoft said there are
about 5,000 software programs on the market that are designed to
take advantage of Windows' features.

The campaign, designed by Los Angeles agency Ogilvy & Mather, is
scheduled to run on public networks and cable. Microsoft
spokesperson Pam Edstrom told Newsbytes that the specific program
time slots had not been purchased.

Edstrom said that so far the actual commercial has not been taped,
but the storyboards show lots of color and graphics.

Newsbytes reported last week that Microsoft was giving hardware and
software vendors the opportunity to provide input to future Windows
development. One of those opportunities will take place March 1st
in San Francisco, with various vendors and peripheral providers
receiving invitations to meet with technical gurus from Microsoft.

Asked why Microsoft chose to launch an expensive television ad
campaign at a time when the economy is so soft, Edstrom said
Microsoft thinks this is the appropriate time to broaden the
awareness of Windows, especially with the cost of personal computers
being "incredibly low."

(Jim Mallory/19920127/Press contact: Marty Taucher, Microsoft,
206-882-8080)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(DEN)(00021)

MacGregor Uses Supercomputer to Design Golf Club 01/27/92
ORLANDO, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- The next set of golf
clubs you buy may have been designed by a supercomputer.

MacGregor Golf Company has announced its T-920, a high tech golf
club made of titanium metal wood which was designed with the help of
a Cray Y-MP supercomputer. The new club was introduced at the 1992
PGA Merchandise Show today at the Orange County Convention/Civic
Center in Orlando.

MacGregor says the T-920 features design improvements, developed
using the supercomputer, which produce a faster swing speed and
longer drives.

MacGregor designers say they applied structural analysis processes
to simulate the impact of a titanium driver striking a golf ball at
100 miles per hour. The simulation took 20 hours of processing time
on the supercomputer. MacGregor says the results were 25,000 times
more accurate than physical testing could have produced. The
testing period was cut from three months to just three weeks using
the simulation program.

According to Clay Long, VP of R&D at MacGregor, the analysis also
allowed the company to see more closely how the material and larger
head would react upon typical impact, and show where design
improvements were possible.

Long said the computer analysis led to a gear-tooth design on the
crown, and channel slots on the sole of the club. Using a titanium
nitride coating resulted in the club having a bright gold color.
The club is available with a 45-inch graphite shaft, and is offered
in 9.5, 10.5, and 12.5 lofts.

(Jim Mallory/19920127/Press contact: Mardi Schmieder, Cray Research
612-683-3538)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00022)

 ****Texas Instruments Cuts 1,000 More Jobs; Loses $409M 01/27/92
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- Texas Instruments says it
will cut an additional 1,000 more jobs in its semiconductor and
information technology units.

The company has experienced mounting losses, reporting an operating
loss of $43 million for the fourth quarter. The job cuts will add
an additional charge of $55 million, raising the net loss for the
quarter to $85 million. Texas Instruments says it lost $409 million
for 1991.

Including the new cuts, TI has eliminated over 5,000 jobs since
1990. Company officials refused to rule out more layoffs, saying
the situation will be reviewed periodically. About 62,000 remain on
the TI payroll worldwide.

A TI spokesperson said 430 of the cuts will come from the
semiconductor division, mostly in Dallas, Houston, Lubbock, and
Sherman, Texas. Those employees got their pink slips Friday.

The information technology division will lose 225 employees, with 40
of those in Dallas leaving immediately. The remainder will depart
during the current quarter, but the specific positions to be cut
have not yet been identified.

The remaining 345 positions to be cut are in Europe.

In a letter to stockholders, TI Chairman Jerry Junkins said, "Texas
Instruments unsatisfactory financial performance in 1991 was well
below our expectations as a result of lower than expected economic
growth in the United States." Jenkins also cited slower than
planned ramp up of new semiconductor capacity, adverse tax
provisions, and the charges associated with the staff reductions.

Junkins wasn't particularly optimistic about the future either. He
said a return to profitability in 1992 is based on conservative
growth estimates for the major economies and markets of the world.
Junkins said the road to profitability is through cost
reductions, business process and productivity improvements, and
emphasis on new products.

(Jim Mallory/19920127/Press contact: Terri West, Texas Instruments,
214-995-3481)


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

AST Scores Record Revenues for 2Q 01/27/92
CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG, 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- AST Research has clocked
record sales for the second quarter, ended December 1991. The figure
of US$239.1 million marks an increase of 48 percent on the US$161.1
million scored during the same period in the previous fiscal year.

Net income after taxes was US$16.7 million for the second quarter of
fiscal year 1992, an increase from US$16.3 million the previous year.
Due to a higher number of average shares outstanding, earnings per
share were 52 cents for the second quarter of fiscal 1992 compared to
56 cents a year ago.

Record shipments of desktops, especially 386SX and 386DX models, plus
continued strong i486 demand, contributed to the high growth rate.
AST shipped 100,000 desktop computers and 21,000 Premium Exec
notebooks during the second quarter.

North American revenues in the second quarter grew by 47 percent to
US$136.3 million over the sane period a year earlier. Second quarter
international sales also increased, with sales in Europe and the Far
East up by 45 and 50 percent respectively.

(Norman Wingrove/19920127/Press contact: Clara Shek, Media Dynamics,
Tel [phone], Fax + 852 838 0886; HK time is GMT + 8)


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

Latin Banks Buy Wireless Data Devices 01/27/92
BUFFALO, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- Comptek Research
received an order for 800 units of the DataMover 2000 wireless
data units from banks in Mexico and Venezuela. They'll be
delivered by Bison Data, a joint venture formed by Comptek and
other parties in October 1991. The company said Bison is
expecting additional orders for the DataMover, of which Comptek
is the sole supplier.

DataMover incorporates patented technology and utilizes radio
waves to transmit data previously sent by wire. The primary
application is linking bank automated teller machines back to
central offices. Using the technology, such branches can be
installed just about anywhere.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920124/Press Contact: Christopher A. Head,
Comptek Research, 716-842-2700)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(SFO)(00025)

Frame Technology To Support SunSoft's Solaris 2.0 01/27/92
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- Frame
Technology Corp., has announced its support for SunSoft's new
Unix-based system software, Solaris 2.0. As a result, Frame will
offer its FrameMaker and FrameViewer for Sun workstations
running Solaris 2.0 and the Open Look graphical user interface.

Pat House, Frame's senior vice president of product engineering
and marketing, said: "Frame's intent to fully support Solaris 2.0 is
consistent with our strategy of offering leading-edge Unix products.
By taking advantage of Solaris' rich operating environment, we can
continue providing Sun customers with the most advanced document
publishing solutions in the industry."

According to Frame, FrameMaker currently supports Open Look
running under NeWS, Sun's Network-extensible Window System.
Open Look is a graphical user interface that utilizes pull-down
menus and point-and-click mouse controls.

The company claims that FrameMaker for Open Look provides
full-featured word-processing, graphics, layout, equation editing,
hypertext, and structured document tools for creating business
and technical documents.

SunSoft's Solaris is based on the SunOS operating system.
By taking full advantage of Solaris, Frame claims that FrameMaker
users will be able to access such unique features as drag-and-drop
of audio, video, and graphics inputs between applications.

FrameMaker for Open Look currently supports Open Windows 2.0
and in the future will support Open Windows 3.0 for both the
Solaris 1.0 and 2.0 environments. Availability and pricing of
Frame software for the Solaris 2.0 environment has not yet been
announced.

The business dealings between Sun and Frame have been going on
for some time. In August, Newsbytes reported that Frame and Sun
Microsystems had teamed up to offer small publishers a Unix-based
Sun SPARC station desktop publishing system that costs the same
or less than a comparable IBM personal computer (PC) or Macintosh
computer system.

(Ian Stokell/19920124/Press Contact: Jolana Leinson, Frame
Technology, 408-954-3964)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LAX)(00026)

Practical Peripherals Reduces Fax/Modem Prices 01/27/92
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) --
Practical Peripherals says it is reducing the price of its
fax/modem to less than the cost of some data-only modems.

The half-card PM2400FX96 combines a 2400 baud modem and a 9600
bit per second (bps) send/receive fax and fits inside the
computer into an empty slot. Practical Peripherals says it has
reduced the PM2400FX96 $70 to $139. The stand alone version,
the PM2400FX96SA, is $90 less or $149.

The built-in fax is Group III-compatible, a standard among fax
machines.

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

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

(Linda Rohrbough/19920120)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00027)

Paradox SQL Link Allows Access To IBM Mainframe Data 01/27/92
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- Borland
says it is offering of Paradox structured query language (SQL)
Link software so users accustomed to Paradox can still access
data on IBM mainframes.

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

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

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

Paradox is required and retails separately for $795 retail,
Borland said.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920120/Press Contact: Timberly McGee,
Borland International, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00028)

New For Mac: 1st System-level Script Writer 01/27/92
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- A script
writer to automate tasks for Macintosh users, Frontier version
1.0, is shipping from Userland Software.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Priced at $179, Frontier is only available directly from the
company. Discounted 5- and 10-packs are also available,
Userland said. More information is available directly from
Userland toll-free at 800-845-1772.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920120/Press Contact: Alice Lankester,
Userland Software, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00029)

Japanese Offered Magic Database Software Via Wacom 01/27/92
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- IBM-Japan and
Wacom have solidified an agreement with US newcomer, Magic
Software, to distribute the company's database application
software in modified form to the Japanese market.

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

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

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

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

(Linda Rohrbough/19920120/Press Contact: Regina Freeman, The
Bohle Company for Magic, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00030)

UK: Wordperfect Trade-up For Rival Product Users 01/27/92
WEYBRIDGE, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- Wordperfect UK
has announced a trade-up offer for users of word processors
supplied by rival software houses. The company claims that the
scheme steps up the pace of competition considerably.

Users of several packages can now upgrade to Wordperfect for DOS,
Windows and the Apple Macintosh, for UKP 99. A reduced price trade-up
to Letterperfect, the slimmed-down version of Wordperfect, is
available for UKP 69. The scheme runs until the end of March.

Newsbytes notes that the trade-up scheme is pitched against a
similar offer that is still running from Wordstar
International. Wordstar's offer allows users of "competing
packages" the chance to upgrade to Wordstar 6.0 for UKP 99.

David Godwin, general manager for sales and marketing at
Wordperfect UK, reckons that the scheme is a winner: "If users
have not yet chosen whether to standardize on DOS, Windows or
OS/2, this is no longer a problem, because when they trade up to
Wordperfect they can be licensed to use all three on one
machine, at no extra cost," he said.

In order to qualify for the trade-up offer, users go to their
nearest Wordperfect dealer with proof of purchase (a disk or
manual from their existing package) and buy Wordperfect for the
reduced price. Competitive DOS, Windows and Mac word processors
suitable for upgrade include: Word, Word for Windows,
Displaywrite, Ami Professional, Wordstar, Multimate and Macwrite
II, as well as Professional Write and Q&A Write in the low-end
word processing market.

Further information regarding specific word processors and
whether they qualify for the competitive trade-up offer is
available from Wordperfect's information services office on 0932-
850505.

(Steve Gold/19920124/Press & Public Contact: Wordperfect UK -
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00031)

UK: Dowty Unveils PC Fax Card Package 01/27/92
NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 JAN 27 (NB) --Dowty Information
Systems has announced the immediate availability of its Quattro
PC half card modem with DS-fax software. The package retails for
UKP 595 and includes Datasoft's Datatalk Plus communications
software as standard.

DS-fax is a fax driver package that converts files created by
word processors, spooled ASCII files and certain graphic images
files, into a format suitable for transmission as a Group III fax
image. During the transmission of the image, FS-fax can monitor
the progress of the data. The package can also be configured to
work at pre-set times, taking advantage of off-peak phone
charges.

Commenting on the availability of the fax system, Richard Clark,
general manager for Dowty Information Systems, said: "I believe
we have the simple plug-in and send fax solution for IBM PC and
compatible users. Quality picture resolution and high speed
transmission rates make this package difficult to beat."

(Steve Gold/19920124/Press & Public Contact: Dowty Information
Systems - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00032)

New For Networks: Xyplex Expandable Terminal Server 01/27/92
BOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- The
MAXserver 1600 is a new device from Xyplex that the company is
hoping will continue their momentum in terminal servers.

The ten-year-old company has always been in the business of
providing terminal servers. Now, it is in the process of
completing a push into standards-based servers. The MAXserver
1600 is a 16-port server that supports multiple protocols to
terminals, printers, modems, and other peripherals on one end, and
Ethernet on the other.

On the Ethernet side, the MAXserver 1600 supports SNMP and Digital
Equipment Corporation's tools like TSM and DSVCONFIG. On the port
side, the MAXserver offers TCP/IP, LAT for Digital peripherals, and
TN3270, a subset of the IBM Telnet protocol.

One of the other main features of the MAXserver 1600 is its support
for expandable memory. The unit is shipped with 1 MB of RAM. However
the company expects that as time goes on, there will be additional
features and functions added to the software. Rather than run out
of RAM, they designed a set of SIMM sockets into the product and are
planning on selling an upgrade kit so that customers can easily
upgrade the product to 3 or 5 MB of RAM. This is a new and unique
advantage, the company feels. It avoids the problem of having your
network hardware become quickly outmoded and obsolete and requiring
replacement.

There is also support of memory card interfaces. These are the same
kind of memory cards that are now popping up in laptop and palm-size
computers. Xyplex supplies the 1 MB version of these cards with
the software already loaded onto the cards. 8 MB versions are now
becoming available and will probably be incorporated into the device
at some time in the future.

With this memory card interface, loading or upgrading software
becomes very easy. The network administrator simply swaps cards and
the software is loaded. Xyples currently supports two types of
memory cards -- Flash cards, which can be programmed on-site, and
One-Time Programmable versions.

There are two configurations of the 1600 offered. The base model
comes with 1 MB RAM and retails for $3195. The 3 MB version retails
for $3395. Both models are available now. The Flash card sells now
for $750 and the One Time Programmable card sells for $325.

(Naor Wallach/19920124/Press Contact: Patrick Fetterman, Xyplex,
508-264-9900)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00033)

New For Networks: Multi-Protocol Brouter From Dowty 01/27/92
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- Dowty
Communications has launched a new multi-protocol brouter
claiming performance increases of up to 100 times over
previous products.

The new brouter, ScaNet CS-3300, is part of the ScaNet product
line. It uses a high-performance RISC (reduced instruction-set
computer) processor with processing speeds of up to 33 million
instructions-per-second (MIPS), offering significantly better network
response times and bandwidth utilization than conventional
bridges, the company claims.

It combines routing functionality for OSI, TCP/IP and DECnet
protocols with transparent bridging of all other Ethernet-based
protocols.

"This announcement is part of Dowty's wider strategy to offer both
OSI and TCP/IP support with a single LAN architecture, rather than
relying on gateways," said Simon Naylor, Asia general manager of
Dowty Communications. "By moving to multi-protocol support, we
not only provide users with an effective migration path from existing
environments to OSI, but also position ourselves in a wider high-
growth market.

"Within a single, multimedia architecture, Dowty can deliver PC
workgroups and peripheral sharing under NetWare or LAN
Manager; unrivalled terminal to multi-host connectivity; and an
environment that's ideal for client-server computing."

The device opens up new opportunities both in high-speed LAN
(local area network) applications and in future metropolitan area
networks (MANs) which will operate at transmission rates
between 100 and 620 megabits-per-second.

The CS-3300 brouter delivers all the features required for complex
networking in a single unit. OSI, TCP/IP and DECnet protocols are
provided with fully intelligent routing, based on a dynamic adaptive
routing algorithm to control traffic flow and find the most efficient
path for communication between two sub-networks, claims the
company.

Protocols not designed to be routed, including NetBIOS, DEC LAT
and IBM LU6.2, and other IEEE 802.3 protocols such as IPX and
XNS, are provided with a transparent bridging function, with full
filtering and support for the IEEE Spanning Tree Algorithm.

Naylor said that up to 254 sub-networks may be combined into a
single network ensuring that "broadcast storms" are not
propagated and that problem trouble-shooting can be confined
to easily managed areas.

(Norman Wingrove/19920124/Press Contact: Simon Naylor, Dowty,
tel +852 828; HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(DEL)(00034)

India's Digital Switch: C-DOT 10,000-Liner 01/27/92
BANGALORE, INDIA, 1992 JAN 27 (NB) -- The much-awaited Main
Automatic Exchange from CDOT (the Centre for Development of
Telematics) has finally been inaugurated at Ulsoor telephone
exchange in Bangalore. Built on indigenously developed digital
switching technology, MAX-L (Main Automatic Exchange) can serve
up to 10,000 lines and 100,000 "busy-hour-call-attempts."

Manufactured by Indian Telephone Industries, the MAX-L is a
multiple of 512-port MAX modules. Eight more manufacturers have
been chosen for its commercial production as there will be demand
for 150 of such systems in 1992-93. The number of lines utilized
at Ulsoor exchange is 4,000. Soon, two more would be set up:
Hoshiarpur in Punjab and Tiruchenkodu in Tamil Nadu.

CDOT was established by the Indian government as a scientific
society in August 1984 under S.G. Pitroda, a telecom engineer and
entrepreneur who had successful innings in the U.S. telecom
industry. The aim was to develop a new generation of digital
switches with Rs 36 crore in 36 months. Pitroda's closeness with
the Congress party created problems with the change in
governments. It literally paralyzed the institute. Pitroda was
moved out of the "mission." The MAX-L project began in January
1985 and was scheduled to be delivered by 1987. This delay
attracted flak from certain quarters.

Rural Automatic Exchange (RAX) was CDOT's first major success.
The RAX (128 ports), designed for tropical countries, works
without air conditioning at a temperature range of 0-45 C. Many
countries have shown interest in it. A manufacturing arrangement
is underway in Vietnam. 3500 RAX systems with 245,000 lines are
already working.

The main task ahead for CDOT is to develop a 40,000-line MAX with
800,000 "busy-hour-call-attempts." The Centre claims that cost
per line of CDOT exchanges, by its design, is uniform over the
entire MAX range from 2000-10,000 lines and nearly 50 percent
cheaper than the existing E10B exchanges with Alcatel technology.
In addition, CDOT has given fillip to the industry by creating an
ancillary base of more than 350 vendors for components.

Meanwhile, Fujitsu, among the seven foreign multinational
companies that have been trying to introduce its digital
switching technology in India, has secured the first order from
the Department of Telecommunications for setting up a 10,000-line
digital electronic exchange for Bombay. Fujitsu is also setting
up a joint venture in India to manufacture its FETEX-150 digital
exchanges.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19920124)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(MOW)(00035)

Moscow: Military May Give Up Parts Of 900 MHz Band 01/27/92
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 JAN 92 (NB) -- Soviet military forces may allow the
use of parts of 900 MHz band, currently used for aircraft guidance
systems, for cellular communications.

Valery Trepakov, a leading expert and official of Vympel company, which
is engaged in building a cellular communications network, said the
military command, which possessed those frequencies when there were
no cellular communications, is actually using just small parts of
the band and is considering sharing it with other services.

Along with the civil cellular phone network, militia (police) and security
forces (former KGB) are lobbying for those channels as a way to improve
their private communication systems, Trepakov said.

Separate sources told Newsbytes that frequency sharing proposals are
being considered now by Army and Air Forces officials along with Ministry
of Communications. No further information on frequencies was
released and the date of the final decision was not available.

Trepakov said their company has no plans to explore 900 MHz this year
although he could not speak for 1993.

(Kirill Tchashchin/19920192)