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/nb920629

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(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00001)

 ****3D Electronic Stereo Glasses Provide VR "Effect"  06/29/92
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- A group of
college students from Cal Poly were demonstrating a virtual reality-
like experience using electronic 3D glasses and Point Line computer
aided design/drafting (CADD) software at the Seybold Digital World
Conference in Beverly Hills, California last week.

Paul Wait, an electronic engineering student, demonstrated the
electronic stereoscopic glasses called Crystaleyes developed by
Stereo Graphics Corporation. A "stereo ready" computer or video
system takes advantage of the human brain's ability to fuse two
images from slightly different perspectives into a single image with
depth by displaying two images on the screen, the left and right
perspectives. In video, two video cameras positioned slightly apart
provide the stereo view.

The Crystaleyes glasses are battery powered and are similar in
appearance to protective eye wear for skiing. The glasses pick up
infrared signals from a liquid crystal viewing device that sits on
top of the monitor and is synchronized with the monitor to channel
the appropriate image to the appropriate eye. Newsbytes tried it and
the resulting stereo view is phenomenal, like entering a virtual
reality world.

According to Paul Wait, an architectural drawing can be crafted in
Point Line but the user cannot simply move through the drawing using
a mouse or a glove as a pointer, as one would do in a virtual reality
setting. However, a predetermined path through the drawing can be set
up for display on the screen to simulate a user-controlled walk-
through, Wait added.

The computer can be made into a stereo system with the GDC-3 Graphics
Controller also available from Stereographics. The controller doubles
the refresh rate of the computer's video signal and provides a timing
signal for the Crystaleyes infrared emitter to provide the stereo
effect for ordinary personal computers that are not "stereo ready."

Stereographics says its stereo viewing products include viewing
devices for computer graphics workstations, PCs, Macintosh computers,
video cameras, and large screen projection systems.

Stereographics is headquartered in San Rafael, California. Point Line
is a 3D design and solid modeling CADD package priced at $395 from
Point Line USA of Los Angeles, California.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920626/Press Contact: Paul Waite, 805-528-3906;
Stereographics, tel [phone], fax [phone]; Point Line, tel
310-353-1480, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(TOR)(00002)

New For Macintosh: Excalibur Document Management 06/29/92
MCLEAN, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- Excalibur
Technologies has announced that it will offer Macintosh client
software for its PixTex/EFS electronic filing and retrieval system,
which runs on Digital Equipment VMS servers.

PixTex/EFS will operate on all Apple Macintosh computer systems,
including PowerBook, by the fourth quarter of this year, the
company said.

Available in 10-user packs at $695 per user, the Macintosh client
software requires a Macintosh Classic or higher model with at least
four megabytes of memory, Excalibur spokesman Darrell Atkin said.

PixTex/EFS ServerPlus stores documents and images in the electronic
equivalent of a physical file room. Users can create file cabinets,
drawers, and folders to organize information, and the size of the
file room is limited only by disk space. New pages can be added or
removed from a document at any time, Excalibur said, and documents
can be moved to any folder in any cabinet.

Four-way retrieval allows either free-form content-based or Boolean
queries, content-based queries on file room labels, database-style
queries, or file room icons. PixTex/EFS ServerPlus also allows
complete control of the OCR and scanning process, vendor officials
said.

The software provides a graphical user interface, according to the
company, and can link to Digital's Rdb/VMS database manager for
electronic filing and retrieval of compound documents.

The software is suitable for medium-sized to large businesses, said
Atkin. Excalibur also offers PixTex/EFC, an off-the-shelf filing
system for one or five users, that allows easy migration to
PixTex/EFS ServerPlus as an organization grows, Atkin said.

System requirements include a VAX, VAXstation or VAXserver, running
VMS operating system version 5.3 or higher, DECwindows, Pathworks
for DOS, and Rdb/VMS 3.1b.

PixTex/EFS client software is currently available to run under
Microsoft Windows on IBM and compatible personal computers.

(Grant Buckler/19920625/Press Contact: Darrell Atkin, Excalibur
Technologies, 703-790-2110)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00003)

Japan: Sanyo Electronic Book Player Distributed Via Mail Order 06/29/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- Sanyo has created what it calls
an "electronic book player club" to distribute its electronic book
player and new titles for the player through mail order. This is an
unprecedented marketing strategy for electronics firms, which have
always sold through dealers in Japan.

Sanyo's electronic book player was produced under license from Sony.
It uses a 3.5-inch compact disk, which holds 200 megabytes of
information. Currently, there are 120 software titles for this
electronic book player.  The player itself is quite small.
It is hand-held size and weighs only 620 grams. It has a small
color LCD (liquid crystal display) screen and also plays 3.5-inch
music CD. So, the user can enjoy music as well as search texts
and pictorial information.

Sony, the licensor of this electronic book player, has been selling
an English version of this electronic book player. Currently available
programs include encyclopedias, dictionaries, cookbooks and travel
information. About 75 book makers and software makers have formed
an organization to create software for this device. Their efforts are
expected to lead to 100 new programs by the end of this year.

Other electronics firms such as Matsushita, Sharp, and Mitsubishi
are also planning to release electronic book players that have been
licensed from Sony. A total of 300,000 units are expected to be sold this
year -- the industry expects to exceed 1 million units within the next
three years.

Sanyo's electronic book player is retail priced at 68,000 yen ($520),
and the software costs between 3,500 yen ($25) and 12,000 yen
($90).

(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920626/Press Contact: Sanyo, [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00004)

Sony/AMD Sign Chip Pact 06/29/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- Sony has agreed with Advanced
Micro Device concerning semiconductor production and development.
The agreement calls for both firms to jointly produce, design and
develop semiconductor chips including erasable and programmable
read only memories (EPROM).

To start, Sony and Advanced Micro Device (AMD) will jointly
design and develop CMOS (complimentary metal oxide semiconductor)
LSIs (large scale integrated circuits). These CMOS chips will have
a circuit width of 0.5 micron, which is about half that of current
CMOS chips. With this narrow circuit width, the chip can store more
memory and process the job faster, the firms say. Actual development
of this chip will be conducted by Sony's affiliate firm called
Atsugi Technology Center and AMD's Sub Micron Development Center
in California.

The jointly developed chips will be incorporated into each firm's own
products, of which the companies are so far giving no details.

Sony and AMD's major project will be to develop and manufacture
EPROMs. According to the vice president of AMD, AMD has already
started developing a prototype version of the EPROM and will
announced it by the end of this year. AMD will incorporate Sony's
charged couple device technology into the EPROM. Also, both firms
seek to reduce development and manufacturing costs in this joint
development project.

The relationship between Sony and AMD has been on-going. Sony
purchased AMD's San Antonio plant in Texas for $55 million in
1990. Since then, both firms have been cooperating in the manufacturing
of semiconductor chips.

(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920629/Press Contact: Sony, [phone])


(NEWS)(GOVT)(TYO)(00005)

Japan: Government To Aid Multimedia Development 06/29/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- Another Japanese industry-
government partnership to advance technology has been announced.
Japan Hyper Media Research Laboratory has been set up in Osaka, '
Japan. The government-backed organization aims to develop and
evaluate the best multimedia  technology and systems for users.

The laboratory is backed up by local government as well as
electronics firms. It will evaluate and explore new frontiers in
multimedia related business as well as new multimedia technologies.
The official purpose of this laboratory is to improve the members'
efficiency and create an environment conducive for the development
of multimedia. It is also designed as a multimedia teaching
environment. The laboratory will also serve as a clearing house
for information on multimedia products by creating nation-wide network.

The laboratory has already gone online on a personal computer network
called "Keihanna NET" which has mainly been used by Kansai
Culture and Study City in Western Japan. The members of the
laboratory will be able to exchange electronic mail and participate
in online conferences, and will be able to exchange ideas with
scientists and researchers at the Kansai Culture and Study City.
The network can be accessed cheaply from local areas throughout
Japan via a packet telecommunication network.

Information will also be exchanged with overseas multimedia-related
users as well. The laboratory will link with OCL Technology
Center, an association to exchange high-tech information between
local firms in Osaka and high-tech firms in the California region.

The laboratory has been preparing to create local offices
throughout Japan and to encourage local people and firms to join
the activity.

(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920629/Press Contact: Japan Hyper Media
Research Laboratory, [phone], Keihanna, 075-344-1111)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00006)

Fujitsu Creates Corporate Telecom Network 06/29/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- Fujitsu has created an extremely
large-scale corporate telecommunication network and claims
that it is the world's largest. It supports various multimedia
features including TV conferencing and digital fax.

Fujitsu's latest telecom network interconnects 45 offices in 9
countries. The firm has spent about 2 billion yen ($15 million)
for this network which took about 3 years to create. It supports
telephone, fax, personal computer-based telecommunications and TV
conferences.

Currently, Fujitsu has about 150 offices and affiliated firms in
35 countries. The firm started using the international version of
this network, called "COINS," in 1989, and at the same time,  began
to set  up the inter-office digital network.

With the new network system, Fujitsu people will be able to
exchange information extremely quickly worldwide, it reports.
Data on computer aided design (CAD) will be among the data that
is exchanged. TV conferencing can more often be used by Fujitsu
people because telecommunication fees will be much less expensive
than the conventional system offered.

Fujitsu is also working on an improved version of this network.
In a project called "Phase II," Fujitsu will install ISDN (integrated
services digital network)-based network systems, which interconnect
its offices in 35 countries. The system is expected to be completed
within two to three years.

(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920629/Press Contact: Fujitsu, +81-3-3215-
5236)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00007)

 ****Dell's New Low Cost PCs 06/29/92
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- Dell Computer joined the
ranks of PC makers announcing 23 new low-cost PCs, driving the cost
of PCs even further down.

Dell's new models start at $1,259, or about five to 10 percent lower
than the new line announced by Compaq last week. The company also
lowered the suggested retail price of existing models from three to
20 percent.

The new line, called Dimension, will be officially launched with two
page newspaper ads today, as well as displays in other publications.
The new desktop and laptop models will be sold the same way Dell
sells most of its PCs, by mail, with buyers calling a toll-free
number to order.

Even though Dell's price cuts weren't drastic, Chairman Michael Dell
said he thinks the announcement could squeeze some smaller clone
makers out of business. "It's a very interesting consolidation of
the market and what we think is a great opportunity for us," he
said. Dell thinks his company will pick up business from the
companies that go out of business.

Compaq said last week it would match any moves by competitors to its
new pricing structure, but so far has not commented on a possible
response to Dell's announcement. Michael Dell believes Compaq would
have problems if it attempted to match Dell's prices, since Compaq's
operating costs are higher.

The Dimension line includes five desktop and three floor-standing,
or tower, units. Two notebook systems are also being introduced.
The base system is driven by a 386SX chip, has two megabytes (MB) of
system memory, an 80 MB hard drive, and a color monitor.

(Jim Mallory/19920629/Press contact: Michele Moore, Dell Computer,
512-794-4100)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00008)

VESA To Release Specs, VL-Bus Products to Ship in August 06/29/30
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- The Video
Electronics Standards Association (VESA) will release its VESA
Local Bus (VL-Bus) specification for review by member companies
this week, and by early August, the first VL-Bus-compliant products
will hit the market, said Thomas D. Ryan, executive director, at a
press conference last week.

Speaking at PC Expo, Ryan outlined the concepts behind both VL-BUS
and two planned enhancements, a 64-bit upgrade and a mezzanine
extension.  VESA will finish drafting the specifications for the
bus enhancements by the end of August, he stated.

Like other local bus architectures, VL-Bus is designed to boost
performance of such peripherals as video subsystems, network
adapters, and mass storage by bypassing the limited ISA/EISA
expansion bus and connecting the devices directly to the CPU, said
Ryan.

But unlike other architectures, VL-BUS will be based on an open
standard, approved by more than 120 vendors in a variety of
segments, he maintained. "The video and networking segments of the
industry, for instance, come from very different perspectives.
We've needed to work together to achieve consensus," he commented.

Warren Lee, another speaker, stressed that, in contrast to Intel's
PCI (Peripheral Component Interface), another emerging bus
specification, VL-Bus is accessible to all interested parties.  The
development of VL-Bus is being overseen not by a single vendor such
as Intel, but by an industry-wide governing body, elaborated Lee,
president of Alpha Research, a VESA member company that produces
caching hard disk controllers.

Ryan explained that, in its first incarnation, VL-Bus will enable
up to three 32-bit devices to be placed directly onto the CPU bus.
In addition, full support for bus mastering devices will be
incorporated, yielding a sustainable data transfer rate of more
than 130 Mbps.

The bus will support Intel processors from 386SX through 486DX2 and
the upcoming P5, or "586," processors, remarked Ryan.  The upcoming
64-bit enhancement -- intended to double the data transfer rate to
260 Mbps -- will be backward compatible with all VL-Bus 32-bit
adapters.

The mezzanine extension will be configured similarly to the VL-Bus,
he said, except that all signals and bus operations will be fully
decoupled from the CPU.  Decoupling, a function also offered in
PCI, will enable additional drive capability to be added to each
signal, thereby increasing expansion space.  Decoupling will also
provide CPU independence.  Currently, VESA is targeting a 10-slot
expansion space, according to Ryan.

At the close of the press conference, Ryan and Lee were peppered
with questions, revolving around such issues as the wisdom of
developing compliant products before a specification has even been
approved, and whether or not PCI devices can be used on a VL-Bus.

VL-Bus is almost sure to be approved, responded Ryan, because the
specification has already gained the unanimous support of VESA's
technical committee -- representing 60, or nearly half, of VESA's
member companies. "We knew the specification was solid when the
arguments started to come down to grammar," he noted.

PCI devices can, in fact, be operated on a VL-Bus, said Ryan, in
response to the second issue.  At that point, though, Lee chimed
in, "They could be, but that would be a silly idea."

In an interview with Newsbytes yesterday, Lee expanded on this
comment.  VESA will issue an application note, enabling vendors to
connect PCI devices to the VL-Bus, he said. "But basically, we're
just allowing a safety valve, so if there's ever a really good
reason for connecting these devices, it could be done," he
remarked.

Possible reasons for connecting the devices might include the
desire of a large systems vendor to make use of existing PCI chips
in building a VESA system, or the development of some as yet
unforeseen function for PCI. "For all anyone knows, at some point,
somebody may build some killer PCI thing that has no VL Bus
equivalent," he asserted.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19920629; Press and Public Contact:  Thomas D.
Ryan, VESA, tel [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00009)

PC Expo:  KDI TV Link, A Low Cost Scan Converter for PCs 06/29/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- KDI Corporation has
introduced TV Link, a device designed for the cost effective
display of computer-generated presentations on TVs, VCRs and video
projectors.

During a press conference at PC Expo last week, Bruce Crowley, vice
president of marketing, said the new peripheral, a scan converter,
is particularly well suited to salespeople and other traveling
professionals who want their clients to be able to be able to view
materials such as product demonstrations on high quality monitors.

Easy-to-use DOS- and Windows-based software is making it possible
for business users to produce impressive presentations on PCs, but
the results look much better when shown on a TV screen, elaborated
other officials.

TV Link uses input from a VGA card to supply output to video.  The
device enables display in two ways.  In one scenario, the user
totes the three-pound, briefcase-sized scan converter, along with
a laptop or notebook computer, to the client's office, and then
plays the presentation back on an on-site TV set.

"Playback might be conducted in the boardroom on a large-screen
TV," illustrated Clayton Casiero, multimedia director for KDI.  An
optional RF modulator provides connectivity to TV sets without
video input.

Under an alternative approach, the user can record the presentation
onto videotape, and bring the videotape only on the office visit.
The tape can then be run for the customer on a VCR in the office,
and left in the office for later review.

TV Link can display as many as 16 million colors at 640 x 480
resolution, and can output in NTSC composite, S-Video, or RGB
formats.  The device is priced at $1,165 -- a figure that,
according to Casiero, is considerably below the price of competing
products.

In addition, the company emphasizes, TV Link comes with features
not available on many other scan converters, including horizontal
and vertical positioning, horizontal overscan, and special video
drivers for vertical sizing on Windows 3.1 applications.

TV Link plays back presentations produced on Windows 3.0 packages,
as well, along with applications that run on DOS, versions 3.0 and
up, said Eric Knutsen, vice president for corporate development at
Modern Talking Picture Service, Inc., a multimedia production house
owned by KDI.  The product is shipping now.

For the future, a Macintosh edition of TV Link is a possibility,
but a device geared to desktop Macs is more likely than one that
designed for the PowerBook notebook, Casiero told Newsbytes at the
close of the press conference. "At present, PowerBook would offer
no direct video output," he maintained.

(Jacqueline Emigh/Press Contact:  Steven Cody, Cody Public
Relations for KDI, tel [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00010)

PC Expo:  Wyse 5-Pound Notebook with 200 MB Hard Drive 06/29/91
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- A five-pound
notebook with a 200 MB hard drive was launched by Wyse Technology
Inc. at PC Expo last week.

The DecisionMate 486SLC Model 200/4 is aimed at on-the-go users who
need access to large data bases or multiple applications,
especially to memory intensive Windows packages, said Rich Wesson,
vice president of business development in Wyse's Systems Division.

"For example, a salesperson can access an entire database of
customers," Wesson illustrated.  In the past, portable PCs with 200
MB hard drives were available only in the 13- to 20-pound category,
he added.

Measuring 8.6 x 1.4 inches, the Model 200/4 comes standard with 4
MB of memory, upgradable to 8 MB.  The product is based on Cyrix
Corporation's 25 MHz Cx486SLC microprocessor.

The company stresses that the computer offers exceptional power
management through a newly designed suspend/resume capability, and
an extended battery life of two to three hours through a new
Advanced Power Management (APM) BIOS.

Other features include a full-size keyboard and a paper-white,
side-lit 8.5-inch diagonal display providing 32 shades of gray in
VGA (640 x 480) resolution.

Expected to ship in July, the notebook comes bundled with MS-DOS
5.0 and Microsoft Windows 3.1. A one-year warrantee includes
coverage by Wyse's Notebook Express Program, which offers users
free pick-up, service, and delivery within 48 hours.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19920629; Press Contact:  Jeannie Low, Wyse
Technology Inc., tel [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00011)

PC Expo: Reference Software's Electronic Books 06/29/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- A new library of
PC-based reference tools -- including a dictionary and thesaurus,
an Associated Press stylebook, and innovative business writing,
math, and office management handbooks -- is now available from
Reference Software International.

At PC Expo last week, the company introduced cross-compatible
Windows/DOS versions of the stylebook and handbooks, along with a
Windows edition of its Random House Webster's Electronic Dictionary
and Thesaurus.  A DOS version of the dictionary/thesaurus was
rolled out in January.

Also announced was Grammatik 5 for Windows, a version that adds
Windows 3.1 compatibility, advanced error detection, in-depth help,
a streamlined interface, and more customization options to the
previously released Windows version of the grammar-checking
software.  The DOS edition of Grammatik 5 debuted in February.

The company's newly unveiled AP Stylebook and trio of handbooks
make up the first four members of a new line of reference works
called Instant Answers.  The electronic titles are oriented to
laptop as well as desktop use.  Each electronic book includes both
DOS and Windows versions on a floppy single half-ounce disk.

The company points out that each disk contains the same content as
a hard copy volume weighing up to four pounds.  Priced at $59
each, or $179 for the set of four, the packages can run as either
terminate and stay resident (TSR) or stand-alone programs.  The DOS
version requires DOS 3.0 or greater, and the Windows edition works
with either Windows 3.0 or 3.1.

All four online reference materials come with a feature called
bookmark, that lets the user refer back quickly to frequently
needed passages.  Search and cross-reference functions are also
included, and screens can be printed out if hard copy is required.

The Electronic Business Writer's Handbook incorporates general
rules on grammar, punctuation and business grammar, along with
glossaries of computer terms and commonly used foreign words, a
library of famous quotations, and a misspeller's dictionary.  A
chapter on desktop publishing offers written explanations of terms,
together with graphics that illustrate such concepts as kerning,
leading, and fonts.

The Electronic Associated Press Stylebook is based on the 1992
edition of the hard cover manual, widely regarded as a bible for
professional writers.  The tools offers guidelines on commonly
style, usage, punctuation and abbreviations, in addition to an up-
to-date geographic dictionary with items that include "Soviet
Union:  No longer exists."

The Electronic Complete Secretary's Handbook, oriented around a
hard cover volume with over 1 million copies sold, is actually a
manual on office and business management, presenting tips on event
planning, business correspondence, and accounting and finance.

The Electronic Financial Mathematics Handbook runs through topics
like simple and compound interest, investment information,
annuities calculations, and bond formulas.  Each section presents
financial formulas in algebraic and Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet
notation, with definitions of concepts and examples of their use.

According to the company, the Windows version of its Reference
Software International is the only product in the category to let
the user hotkey from any other Windows application -- and the only
one to permit direct replacement of unlimited text into the
application.  The hotkey function encompasses the ability to move
straight into Random House from any Windows-based word processor.

Other features are the same for the Windows and DOS versions.  The
dictionary contains 180,000 definitions, and the thesaurus holds
275,000 synonyms and antonyms, for terms that include such
contemporary jargon as GUI and glass ceiling.  Entries offer usage
notes and example sentences.

An 11,000-word database of biographic and geographic entries
provides spellings, locations and populations of place names, as
well as the occupations and nationalities of famous people.

Through one capability of the package, the user can toggle back and
forth between the dictionary and thesaurus, finding synonyms in the
thesaurus for words in the dictionary -- and definitions in the
dictionary for terms in the thesaurus.

A wildcard search function enables word search when only a few
letters are known.  Entering "*ate," for instance, will bring up
such prospects as abate, abbreviate, abdicate, and so on.

Additional highlights include word backtracking, for keeping track
of words previously looked up, and definition search, for finding
an appropriate word to suit a vague definition or concept.

The Windows and DOS versions are priced at $99 each, and both are
shipping.  The Windows version requires a 286 PC or greater.  The
dictionary alone requires 6.5 MB of hard disk space, while the
dictionary and thesaurus duo need 9.2 MB of hard disk space.

The new version of Grammatik for Windows can be loaded onto the
Control Menu for use on all Windows 3.1 programs, and launched
instantly from any of these applications through 3.1's Drag and
Drop feature.

The company stresses that these capabilities enable immediate
proofreading of word processing documents for 3.1 -- as well as
electronic mail, desktop publishing presentations, databases, and
spreadsheets for the latest incarnation of Windows.

Available now, at a price of $99, Grammatik 5 for Windows also
supports Windows 3.0 applications, all popular PC word processing
packages, and standard ASCII text and RTF files.

The new error detection capabilities in the package operate off a
simplified screen, and are derived from a word analysis technology
dubbed Mor-Proof (morphological, or root word-based).  Mor-Proof
contains four core elements:  a root word-based dictionary, a
redesigned grammar engine, an enhanced replacement and editing
mechanism, and an enriched database of style and grammar rules.

A new Rule Designer module in Grammatik is intended to let users
easily write rules that accommodate word usages specific to
particular companies or departments.  All told, Grammatik 5
provides rules for 13 different writing styles, three of which are
custom.  Each style offers three different levels of formality.

Like previous editions, Grammatik 5 enables the user to look at
grade level and readability comparisons for assistance in judging
their finished products.

The new context-sensitive help works within the Windows help
system, and can be accessed directly from Grammatik's new error
detection screen.  Advice is available on program functions, as
well as why the program recommends a certain writing style.  Also
new is a feature that lets users increase the size of fonts in the
text box for easier readability.

Grammatik 5 for Windows is available now, at a price of $99.
Requirements include a 286 or faster microprocessor, 2 MB of RAM
and a hard disk with 2.2 MB of free space.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19920629; Press Contact:  Lois Tilles or Nina
Frank, Reference Software International, tel [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00012)

PC Expo:  Cumulus 486DX and 386SX Micro Channel PCs 06/29/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 29 (NB) --  At PC Expo last
week, Cumulus Corporation announced two Micro Channel PC systems,
each designed to offer strong performance at low cost.

The new GL Computer MC 386SX offers a 25 MHz 386SX processor with
2 MB RAM and an 80 MB hard drive, at a price of $1,595.  The GL
Computer/MC 486DX offers a 33 MHz 486DX processor with 4 MB RAM and
a 200 MB hard drive, for $4,995.  Also incorporated in the 486
computer is a specially designed disk caching array controller, an
intelligent device that manages operation of the cache.

Cumulus says that the Micro Channel platform was selected due to
its superiority over ISA in such areas as throughput, bus
mastering, and multimedia support. "We believe that advanced
applications reach their full potential when run on a Micro Channel
system, and everyday applications work better and faster.  Micro
Channel really is a forward-looking standard," commented Martin
Alpert, chairman and founder.

The company stresses that its new 486 DX computer is ideally suited
to such application as engineering design, high-end graphics, and
CAD/CAM.  The model is based on a CPU complex card, making it
fully processor upgradable.  A tower version of the system can be
used as an advanced file server, with performance characteristics
that will let MIS directors cut down on the number of servers to
run a network.

Equipped with custom-designed ASICs, the new controller for the 486
system produces disk access times as low as 0.2 milliseconds.  The
controller also includes caching of up to 16 MB, and performs bus
mastering.  Streaming support for the bus transfer protocol doubles
the transfer speed from 20 Mbps to 40 Mbps.

A striping capability enables four drives to act as one drive with
four times the speed.  Other functions of the controller include
error correction, in case of drive failure, and mirroring, for data
recovery if more than one drive fails.

Cumulus maintains that the new MC 386SX is offered at a price
competitive with most ISA 386SX ISA systems and below that of
similar Micro Channel systems.

Features of the 386SX computer include a 3.5-inch 1.44 MB floppy
drive, five expansion slots, two available device bays, a mouse,
and a 101-key enhanced "click-style" keyboard.  The standard 2 MB
RAM is expandable to 16 MB.

Both Micro Channel models ship with DOS, Microsoft Windows, and
Works for Windows.  In systems equipped with hard drives, the
software packages are preloaded and preconfigured, preventing the
need for installation on the part of the user.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19920629;  Press Contact:  Jim Baxter, Cumulus,
tel [phone])


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

Sprint Pushes Videoconferences For Govt 06/29/92
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 29 (NB) --
Videoconferencing may have become a political issue, with
observers wondering what its role can and should be in electing
leaders. But Sprint wants to make it a tool of governing.

The third-largest US long distance company outlined its State
Interconnected Government Network/University Connection
Videoconferencing Program, designed to support state government
and higher education institutions. Besides having a long name
which will appeal to bureaucrats, the programs include discounts
on equipment, gateways to the Sprint Meeting Channel network,
discounts on its usage, and customized Video Applications
Seminars.

Dave Richey, vice president of marketing services for Sprint's
Business Market Group, emphasized his company's efforts at
training people in the use of the tools in a press statement.
"Sprint wants to make it simple for these institutions to learn
about the advantages of videoconferencing and how it can benefit
their specific goals."  The company is offering video seminars
geared to the industry, as well as intensive training, called the
"Square One" program.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920629/Press Contact: Sprint, Janis Langley,
202-828-7427)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(ATL)(00014)

DPT Controllers Certified by Novell 06/29/92
MAITLAND, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- In the complex
world of local area networks, certification by Novell has become
a prerequisite for many buyers. The certification assures these
customers of support and service, especially since Novell's
NetWare has become a de facto standard operating system for such
networks. So, when Distributed Processing  Technology learned its
SmartCache Plus SCSI controllers had been certified, it sent out
a press release.

Small Computer Systems Interface, or SCSI -- pronounced "scuzzy" --
is an interface which first came to prominence on the Apple
Macintosh, but it has gained increasing favor in the PC world,
where the interface helps speed sluggish systems at relatively
low cost. Both ISA and EISA models of the DPT controller have
been certified  for use in Version 3.11 of the NetWare system.
The product is aimed at speeding NetWare systems with six or more
users. DPT's  Director of Sales and Marketing Dave Race
explained the significance. "Now that the SmartCache Plus package
sports a Novell sticker, users can feel even more secure about
its interaction with NetWare."

The real concern for users might have been the software shipped
with the products, including Bus Mastering,  Command Overlapping,
Command Queuing and Scatter/Gather memory transfers.  Novell has
now certified that these programs won't impact its operating
system, giving buyers more confidence.

The controllers also expand the number of available controllers
from one to two on a computer with standard AT-style ISA board
slots and from one-to-four on the Extended-ISA bus, a standard
originally created to compete with IBM's Micro Channel
technology, allowing for faster data transfers between the add-
in card and the main machine. The controllers also feature
CIS:TBW-1352 connectivity, which means more types of peripherals
can be connected, including tape,  magneto-optical drives, and
CD-ROM devices. The controller can also be configured as both a
non-caching and a caching controller, and converted from one
form to the other with a plug-on module.

DPT said computer  manufacturers such as AST, NEC, NCR, Intel,
Wyse, Wang, Siemens,  ICL/Nokia have all standardized on
SmartCache Plus.  It is also available from distributors like as
Tech Data, Ingram  Micro, Merisel and Robec.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920629/Press Contact: Distributed Processing
Technology, Michael Cerni, 407/830-5522)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00015)

Digital Cellular Becomes a Reality 06/29/92
CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA, 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- With a ceremonial
14-minute call placed from their offices, executives at AGT
Cellular of Calgary, Alberta opened the first TDMA digital
cellular system in North America.

The   system is dual-mode, meaning regular analog phones
work on it as well as the new digital phones. Time Division
Multiple Access, or TDMA, systems split a cellular call channel
into three parts, then send separate digitized conversations on
each channel. In contrast, CDMA or Code Division Multiple Access
digital systems send digital signals throughout the calling
channel, which are decoded on the other end into conversations in
much the same way as packet data networks discriminate among the
many calls being sent on them.

The AGT cellular base stations were made by Motorola Nortel
Communications, a joint venture between Motorola and Northern
Telecom, aimed at challenging AT&T's recent gains in the sale of
cellular equipment.

While the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, which
represents US cellular operators, has consistently upheld the
TDMA standard, it has begun creating a new standard for CDMA,
which is causing many operators here to hold off on the purchase
of TDMA equipment. That's because CDMA promises greater capacity
-- up to 10 times the capacity of present analog systems -- against
a three-fold gain with TDMA. In response, General Motors' Hughes
division, which got into the market last year, has begun pushing
an Enhanced TDMA scheme which promises 15 times the capacity of
present analog systems. Key TDMA patents are held by
International Mobile Machines, and have been cross-licensed to
Hughes. Key CDMA patents are held by Qualcomm of San Diego, a
company in which Pacific Telesis holds a key stake.

Over the next year, expect lots of press releases from local
cellular operators about digital calling. The releases will sound
similar, but look for key terms like TDMA and CDMA. In Chicago,
for instance, Ameritech Mobile is testing CDMA and making no
commitments, while Southwestern Bell's Cellular One unit is
pushing ahead with TDMA. In Washington, DC, where cellular call
channels are particularly crowded, both networks are expected to
move to TDMA later this year, but Bell Atlantic has installed so-
called "microcells" to bring service into train stations, and is
reportedly testing CDMA equipment.

The big problem in any case will be the cost of the phones.
Analog cellular phones may cost just a few hundred dollars, and
are frequently heavily discounted by merchants eager to earn
commissions for turning customers on to one system or the other.
Calgary's phones, which came from Hughes, start about $1,250.
That's because they're dual-standard units which must handle both
TDMA cellular and regular analog calls, transparently to the user
of the phone.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920629/Press Contact: Motorola Nortel, Mark
Buford, 214/301-8512)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00016)

Advanced Telecom Restates Earnings Downward 06/29/92
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- Those looking for
a reason why high-profile Advanced Telecommunications would agree
to be merged into low-profile LDDS of Jackson, Mississippi found
one, as Advanced revised its earnings for fiscal 1992 down by
$5.5 million.

The company, in a press release, said the change was
"principally the result of the creation of a one-time adjustment
of the carrying value of accounts receivable and the one-time
accrual of additional billing credits." In English, that
means the value of bills owed the company was knocked-down, based
on the risk the bills would never be paid, and some customers
were given credits on their accounts. President Stephen Raville
blamed a new billing system, and subsequent bill adjustments, for
the changes.

LDDS head Bernard Ebbers applauded the move, calling them
consistent and conservative, to "adequately maintain reserves of
the combined companies." The changes were discussed by LDDS and
with ATC's auditors. Ebbers insisted the earnings downgrading
would have no impact on the previously announced merger between
the two companies, which has not yet closed.

Trading in ATC stock was halted briefly on the news.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920629/Press Contact: Advanced
Telecommunications, Patrick E. Delaney, 404/261-5885)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00017)

International Phone Update 06/29/92
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- Wireless
communications leads the headlines around the world.

Ameritech Chairman William Weiss launched Poland's first cellular
phone system by placing a wireless call from Warsaw to leaders
of Chicago's Polish community, including Illinois' Lieutenant
Governor and the head of the local Polish Consulate. Ameritech is
a major investor in the new Polish cellular system,  along with
France Telecom and Telekomunikacja Polska S.A., the Polish
telephone company.

The two international companies invested $90 million in building
the network, which has initial capacity of 2,000 subscribers. It
will be extended to other major towns and will ultimately serve
between 100,000 and 150,000 subscribers.

France Telecom and Ameritech each have a 24.5 percent stake in
Polska Telefonia Komorkowa Co Ltd, while the Polish phone
company holds the majority stake.

In South Korea, six consortia are vying for a single tender to
compete with a firm controlled by Korea Telecom in cellular
telephony. All include American participants, with Sunkyong Group
teaming with GTE as well as Vodafone of the UK and a unit of
Hutchison Whampoa of Hong Kong, Kolon Group working with NYNEX,
Ssangyong Group teaming with Southwestern Bell and Swedish
Telecom, Dongbu Group working with Bell Atlantic, and Tong Yang
Group working with US West. Other Korean firms are also part of
each consortium.

China opened a microwave relay system linking Tongjiang, a border
city in northeast China, and Khabarovsk in Russia. It's the
second such link. The equipment was imported from Russia.

On the Arabian peninsula, the Omanese PTT asked satellite dish
buyers to install their gear in inconspicuous places. He said
their proliferation on rooftops could prove unsightly in the
capital city, according to the Middle East News Network, quoting
the Times of Oman.

Finally, Intelsat said it would move its new 501 satellite to
91.5 degrees east longitude to provide expanded coverage to the
Asia/Pacific countries, beginning in the first half of 1993.
Intelsat plans to follow this by deploying the first Intelsat
VII-series satellite at 174 degrees east over the Pacific Ocean,
after its scheduled launch in October 1993.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920629/Press Contact: Tony Trujillo,
Intelsat, 202-944-7500; Ameritech, Phil Ponce, 312/750-5240)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00018)

 ****Microsoft Says IBM OS/2 Royalty Dispute Settled 06/29/92
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- Microsoft executive
Vice President Steve Ballmer said Microsoft and IBM have resolved
their dispute over royalties due to Microsoft from sales of OS/2
software.

"Rather than have that blow up and get messy, we sat down and worked
through our differences and came to a mutual agreement," Ballmer
said. However, Ballmer said the settlement still doesn't give IBM
preferential access to Microsoft's 32-bit Windows NT program.

IBM's OS/2 operating system was able to run Windows software because
it contains the necessary code, which is why IBM had to pay the
royalties. IBM's license to use the Windows code expires in about a
year, and apparently no renewal of that license has been agreed
upon.

Ballmer declined to discuss specific details of the royalty
agreement, but some Wall Street analysts say IBM may be paying as
much as $20 for each copy of OS/2 sold, depending on the volume.
IBM said earlier this week that it had shipped 700,000 copies of the
operating system, but Microsoft disputed that number.

Microsoft sold more than 10 million copies of Windows 3.0 in the
less than two years after it came to market, and says it has already
sold three million copies of version 3.1.

(Jim Mallory/19920629/Press contact: Marty Taucher, Microsoft,
206-882-8080)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00019)

Wozniak Named To Information Processing Hall of Fame 06/29/92
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- Apple Computer
co-founder Steve Wozniak has been named to the Information Processing
Technology Hall of Fame. Apple co-founder Steve Jobs is already
a member.

Wozniak and Jobs are considered by many the fathers of personal
computing, developing the first PC in Jobs' garage in Cupertino,
California. The two formed Apple Computer in 1977. Wozniak is
presently with Unuson of Los Gatos, California and still promotes
Apple product. He appeared in a recent ad for Apple's newest
notebook system, the PowerBook.

The Information Processing Technology Hall of Fame was established
by Infomart in 1985, and already includes such computer industry
notables as Gene Amdahl, Admiral Grace Hopper, H. Ross Perot, Dr. An
Wang, Blaise Pascal, Bill Gates, and Ken Olsen.

Infomart is a 1.6-million square foot showcase facility in Dallas,
occupied by Apple, IBM, AT&T, NCR, Xerox and GTE. There are product
demonstration areas, a theater for showing corporate videos,
conference rooms and sales offices, as well as a 300,000 square foot
trade show area.

In September of last year, Infomart completed the installation of
over 32 miles of fibre optic cable, with 14 concentrator hubs and
over 20 bridges and routers. The cabling connects a building-wide
network that allows participating companies to show potential
customers a working internetwork.

(Jim Mallory/19920629/Press contact: Jeff Anderson, InfoMart,
214-746-3605)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SYD)(00020)

2nd Round Of Losses In Australian IT Industry 06/29/92
SYDNEY,  AUSTRALIA 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- Just when analysts were expecting
at least a flattening of the Australian computer industry (if not an
upturn), a number of IT service companies have reported large losses.

Software and services company Paxus has reported a loss, has seen
its shares drop dramatically, and won't be paying a dividend.

Another large services company Computer Power has recently reported
a six-month loss of AUS$92.6M on revenues of just AUS$97.6M despite
a good result for the prior half year.

Paxus MD Neil Cullimore said that there was still a severe contraction
in the Australian IT industry and that the financial services sector,
where his company had a large presence, had been worst hit. Paxus has
remained profitable in other markets, including Europe and Asia.

IDC Australia's managing director, Len Rust, said that if this really was
a "double-dip" in the IT industry in Australia it was disastrous news.
However, he suggested it was likely to reflect traditional hardware
vendors making more efforts in software and services to balance the
low sales in hardware.

As is happening in other parts of the world, large companies are
attempting to buy a safety net by taking over smaller companies with
popular software products such as accounting packages. Unfortunately,
while this gives the seller a nice retirement fund, it burdens the
purchasing company with large loans, usually much greater than
expected income for the first few years after purchase.

(Paul Zucker/19920629)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00021)

Data General's Sixth Generation Eclipse MV/Systems 06/29/92
WANCHAI, HONG KONG, 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- Data General Asia North
has added new members to its sixth generation of Eclipse MV/family
computers.

The new multi-processor systems include the MV/60000 HA high-end
system, the MV/35000 mid-range system, and a High Availability Disk
Array (HADA) Mass Storage Subsystem for the Eclipse MV/Family. The
sixth generation MV/Family provides substantially improved performance,
configurability, and flexibility with higher reliability and system
availability than previous generations, Data General reports.

"These products demonstrate how Data General has taken advantage of
technical change to keep the M/V family on the leading edge," said
Data General Asia North Regional Marketing Manager Daniel Ng.

"The MV/60000 HA doubles the performance of our high-end MV/40000,
offering mainframe power with a single board CPU. In addition to
greater performance, the sixth generation MV/Family continues to
provide full support for leading industry standards such as TCP/IP,
SCSI-2, Netbeui, OpenMac, and Novell Netware," Mr Ng said.

"All Eclipse systems also provide interoperatability with our AViiON
Open Systems Server family and full MV/Family hardware and software
compatibility for complete investment protection for our customers," Mr
Ng said.

The Eclipse MV/60000 HA is a new, multi-processor high-end computer
system which represents one of Data General's largest product
development efforts. The MV/60000 HA is positioned as ideal for
customers who need to support large numbers of users and those
seeking to consolidate their computer applications and operations
onto a single system.

The MV/60000 HA's high availability features include redundant power
and cooling components for the main system bay and I/O subsystem plus
on-line diagnostic capabilities. After a component failure, the
diagnostic processor deconfigures the failed component and the AOS/VS
II operating system will automatically reboot the system.

High availability also refers to the use of multi-processor technology.
That means if a CPU malfunctions, processing would be diverted
to the other processors.  Users can only take advantage of this if they
buy a configuration that contains at least two CPUs.

Based on the latest Motorola ECL Gate Array technology, the MV/60000 HA
uses a scalable, multiprocessing architecture that provides 27 to 108
Dhrystone MIPS. An efficient cache design memory architecture and high
performance system bus increase performance incrementally as more
processors are added, enabling the MV/60000 to support more than 1,500
users in demanding commercial environments.

The MV/60000 HA features a new mid-plane design which allows the
installation of job processors and memory boards in the front or back
of the system's main chassis.  The design shortens the signal lengths
from both ends of the panel, which contributes to increased system
speed and performance.

Users can customize this system to meet their growing requirements. The
MV/60000 HA can accommodate from one to four job processors from 128 MB
to 1 GB of memory, two to six I/O channels, and up to 720 GB of direct
mass storage.

Integrated Eclipse I/O supports existing controllers and devices for
terminal connection, communications, LAN connectivity, and disk and
tape storage subsystems. This capability makes it easy for customers to
upgrade their existing Eclipse MV systems while maintaining their
existing peripheral investment.

The MV/60000 HA provides full interoperability with Data General's
AViiON systems and Dasher PCs.

The MV/35000 is a high performance, highly scalable and highly
available mid-range system designed for multi-user systems and servers.
It is the first Data General system designed for six-way multi-
processing and provides substantially increased performance over
previous mid-range MVs. The MV/35000's CPU features an improved version
of Data General's custom CMOS microprocessor which provides 40 percent,
or more, greater performance than a comparably configured MV/30000.

The MV/30000 is a scalable multi-processor, configured with up to six
CPUs, 512 MB of memory, three I/O channels, and up to 360 GB of direct
mass storage. System performance ranges from 9 Dhrystone MIPS using a
single processor to 54 Dhrystone MIPS  using all six processors.

The MV/35000 also offers superior multi-processor scalability.
Features such as a 160 MB/sec, synchronous 64-bit data bus, 256 KB
write-back caches on each CPU, interleaved memory, and multiple I/O
channels, all contribute to a system design that addresses all the
performance needs of today's demanding commercial applications, rather
than just raw processor throughout.

The MV/35000 also maximizes a customer's uptime for critical business
applications through a comprehensive set of hardware and software
options for tailoring a highly available system. One such feature is
the failure and automatic system reboot from the AOS/VS II operating
system.

Existing MV/30000 users can upgrade their systems by simply
changing boards. Other Data General mid-range systems users can trade
in their system and still have complete hardware and software
compatibility. The MV/35000 fully supports popular industry standards,
such as Novell Netware, OpenMAC and Oracle. The MV/3500 can also be
used as a server together with Data General AViiON systems and Dasher
PCs.

The MV/60000 HA and the MV/35000 will be available from the end of
June.

(Brett Cameron/19920626/Press Contact: Daniel Ng, Data General Asia
North, tel: [phone];HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00022)

New For Networks: 3Com Secure Network Mgt System 06/29/92
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- 3Com has unveiled the
industry's first system for secure network management, based on
Secure SNMP, an emerging standard for network security. The
extension of security to network management systems provides a key
component in 3Com's LAN Security Architecture (LSA).

Secure SNMP is an extension of the widely supported network management
standard defined within the Internet protocol suite and is expected to
be ratified by the Internet Engineering Task Force later this summer.

"One potential weakness of security systems is the management station
from which LAN security is administered," said Doug Dennerline, general
manager of 3Com Asia Ltd. "LAN devices such as bridges, routers and
repeaters, that enforce the security rules, are vulnerable to an attack
by a workstation masquerading as the network management station.

"It is insufficient just to protect network availability.  Now that
network devices contain security features which protect the
confidentiality and integrity of information, these security features
themselves must also be protected," he said.

Secure SNMP provides the features necessary to manage a secure network.
These include access restriction to the management information base and
procedures for authentication and encryption of management packages
being sent between the management station and management devices.

LSA was launched earlier this year with the announcement by 3Com of
secure repeaters and bridges, including a unique application specific
integrated circuit (ASIC)-based security system for its LinkBuilder
ECS family of hubs.  This turns insecure network connections into
secure point to point network connections.

"LAN security is no longer a niche feature," said Dennerline. "Security
is a growing concern among data networking users, network architects
and network managers.  Unique, cost-efficient and easy-to-implement
solutions are a key engineering focus for 3Com."

Dennerline said that he expected customers to phase in secure network
management and SNMP Security Protocol over the next 18 to 24 months
during which time both standard SNMP and secure SNMP devices will
appear on the network.

With 3Com's LSA, secure networking is a reality for both networking
hardware and software. 3Com pioneered closed user groups so that
network managers and users have an additional security layer to protect
confidentiality.

The addition of this unique "access-aware" secure network management
system to 3Com's LSA platform further enhances the network
administrator's ability to protect both the data network and the
information that resides on the network, 3Com says.

(Brett Cameron/19920626/Press Contact: Doug Dennerline, 3Com, tel:
[phone]; HK time is GMT + 8)


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

Synon, Software 2000 Form Alliance 06/29/92
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- Synon Corporation, one of the
application software suppliers for IBM mid-range systems, have formed an
alliance regarding the use of Synon's application development tools.

US-based Software 2000 offers a complete range of financial, human
resources, environmental, process manufacturing and distributed
management packages exclusively for the IBM AS/400 computer. The
company is currently investigating a distribution network for Asia.

Under the first phase of the alliance, a Synon Data Model of selected
portions of Software 2000 applications will be provided. This will give
Software 2000 customers access to Synon's advanced application
development capabilities for user defined "extensions" to applications.

Software 2000 also plans to allow its customers to access Synon's
application development tools directly from Application Manager 2000,
Software 2000's System Application Architecture (SAA)/ Common User
Access (CUA) compliant platform for user access and system navigation.

"The ability to write customized extensions gives customers greater
flexibility to tailor applications to specific business needs," said
Guy Riddle, Synon's Hong Kong-based technical specialist. "In addition,
Software 2000 customers will be able to benefit from advanced
technologies supported by Synon such as application development for
distributed environments."

Rob Goodwin, Software 2000's UK-based director of international
operations said, "We chose Synon as a partner because of its clear
leadership in application development tools. Goodwin added that other
key factors were Synon's client-server capability and the close
relationship that both companies have with IBM.

"The alliance will give Software 2000 customers an Application Manager
2000-based environment for standard and sustainable corporate specified
systems across multi-company and/or multi-site operations. In other
words, the result will be a 'one off-one time' customer extension that
can be easily created and maintained," said Mr Goodwin.

Software 2000 and Synon will also be offering, directly and through
their worldwide subsidiaries, joint services for the development and
support of Synon-based extensions to Software 2000 applications.
Software 2000 will provide the knowledge and practical experience
related to Software 2000 products, and Synon will provide expertise in
the use of Synon tools.

(Brett Cameron/920626/Press Contact: Sharon Williams, Synon, tel: +852-
529 0356; HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(HKG)(00024)

 ****Thailand Piracy Crackdown; 98% Said To Be Illegal Copies 06/29/92
BANGKOK, THAILAND, 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- The Business Software
Alliance (BSA), formed in 1988, has taken its first legal action
in Thailand against companies suspected of selling unauthorized
software.

Acting on information supplied by BSA members, a team of police
officers raided a number of software retailers in Bangkok and seized
more than 550 allegedly counterfeit diskettes and 350 fake manuals.

"Thailand presents one of the largest problems in the world for the
theft of copyrighted works," said Alix Parlour, vice president of the
Business Software Alliance in Asia. "The BSA is pleased to see that the
Thai Government has recognized the need for enforcement of the
copyright law to help reduce the rampant levels of software theft in
the country."

According to Parlour, at least 98 percent of software used in the
country is illegally copied -- the largest incidence on a percentage
basis anywhere in the world.

The raids follow over a year of preparation by the BSA, warning
retailers and major software users that companies found illegally
copying or using fake software could face legal action.

"Unfortunately, the consumer is the ultimate loser in Thailand," said
Parlour. "The local consumer loses because, with such a high rate of
theft, there is no incentive for local programmers to produce local
products.

"The BSA hopes that the Thai government will continue its crackdown on
illegal software copying to protect both its businesses and its
consumers."

(Brett Cameron/19920626/Press contact: Alix Parlour, BSA in Hong Kong,
tel: [phone];HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(HKG)(00025)

SynOptics Links Macs To Enterprise Nets 06/29/92
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- SynOptics Communications,
a supplier of intelligent networking products, has introduced a
modular AppleTalk router that enables users to integrate Macintosh
computers, laser printers and servers into their existing Ethernet,
Token Ring or FDDI networks.

The new LattisTalk Model 3394 Appletalk Router combines patented
PhoneNET unshielded twisted pair (UTP) technology from US-based
Farallon, with multiprotocol routing functions to bring Macintoshes
and peripherals under the umbrella of structured wiring systems.

According to David Coulson, SynOptics' Hong Kong-based Asia sales
manager, most networked Macintoshes are currently connected via a
LocalTalk connection, for which Farallon is the leading provider with
an installed base of over three million nodes.

"We chose to team with Farallon as it was the clear market leader in
LocalTalk structured wiring systems," said Mr Coulson. "The SynOptics
AppleTalk Router provides a one hundred percent compatible solution for
AppleTalk customers who have standardized on PhoneNET systems."

Mr Coulson noted that many SynOptics customers in Hong Kong have mixed
environments in which Macintoshes are used for specialized
applications. "The new AppleTalk router will provide them with the
added flexibility to bring their Macintosh into an enterprise network
and hence to improve productivity," he said. "We believe AppleTalk
ranks with Ethernet, Token Ring and FDDI, as networking methods that
will survive long-term."

The LattisTalk Model 3394 AppleTalk Router enables AppleTalk devices
and Unix hosts to exchange data. It combines multi-port repeater
functions for linking LocalTalk devices over twisted pair wire with
router functions for linking LocalTalk and Ethernet (EtherTalk)
networks. Gateway functions allow Macintosh clients to access TCP/IP
files, printers and host services.

The Model 3394 router has 16 modular RJ-11 ports, each capable of
supporting up to four devices, for a total of 64 devices per router. It
offers a number of innovative capabilities including full AppleTalk
routing for supporting networks of hundreds of zones, including zone
hiding for controlling access to AppleTalk resources.

Other features include IP Gateway functions that enable Macintosh users
to access file, printer and host services on Unix systems (such as the
Model 3040 Network Control Engine module processor). IP tunnelling for
linking distant Apple networks through established IP internetworks is
also built-in.

Designed for use in the SynOptics LattisNet System 3000 intelligent
hub, the Model 3394 router enhances the System 3000 by providing a
structured LocalTalk wiring solution to the extensive Ethernet, Token
Ring and Fiber  Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) capabilities already
available.

Management for SynOptics' AppleTalk Router can be handled through SNMP
agents and an easy-to-use Telnet menu interface or from SynOptics' Unix
or DOS network management consoles.  The unit also features flash EPROM
for easy software upgrades.

In addition the new router is compatible with the SynOptics LattisNet
Expanded View graphical application which can monitor all modules in a
System 3000 network.

(Brett Cameron/19920626/Press Contact: Bill Ting, Synoptics, tel: +852-
841 7739;HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00026)

 ****More On Digital Stake In Olivetti 06/29/92
IVREA, ITALY, 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- Olivetti has revealed that
Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) has agreed to take a near-10
percent stake in company. The buy-in will cost DEC a cool $332
million, company Chairman Carlo De Benedetti, has revealed.

Speaking at Olivetti's annual general meeting, De Benedetti said
that the deal will be phased over the next two years and will
involve two DEC directors joining Olivetti's main board of
directors.

Although the deal primarily involves cash, there are a number of
subtle undertones.  Olivetti has been manufacturing PCs for DEC for
some time -- this deal cements that relationship and also opens up
the way for the Italian computer giant to use DEC's soon-to-ship
Alpha microprocessor technology.

De Benedetti told his company's shareholders that the DEC buy-in
was not a takeover, but an alliance between two computer giants:
"One has to understand the difference between takeovers and
alliances," he said.

Amidst all the backslapping and usual press puff that comes with
an inter-company tie-up of this nature, there is surprisingly
little hard information on the deal. Sources close to Olivetti
U.K. liken the DEC buy-in as similar to the AT&T stake in
Olivetti of the 1980s.

That deal ended in 1989 when AT&T exchanged its 22 percent direct
stake in Olivetti for a share in the Italian computer giant's
parent company. While AT&T proved to be something of a financial
fairy Godmother for Olivetti, analysts do not expect DEC to play
a similar role, since DEC is also troubled by poor financial
results, which forced the company to trim its workforce recently
from 121 to 112,000 employees.

(Steve Gold/19920629)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00027)

EC Thumbs Up To French Govt Cash Rescue For Bull 06/29/92
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1992 JUN 29 (NB) --- The European Commission
(EC) is expected to give the thumbs up to a French Government
scheme to inject more than $1,000 million into Bull over the next
few years.

The cash investment, which was proposed almost a year ago,
originally looked shaky when EC ministers viewed it as state
intervention in the computer marketplace, something that is outlawed
under the Treaty of Rome.

Sources close to Bull suggest that EC approval has come about
after the French Government modified its plans to meet at least
some EC requirements. Last week's agreement (to disagree) on a
budget cap on EC contributions from member states for the next
two years also seems to affected the council's decision. Some EC
members had wanted to raise EC contributions by 30 percent in
order to meet increased commitments, but this was vetoed, notably
by the British and German representatives.

(Steve Gold/19920629)


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

Lotus Offers Developers Bridges To Realtime 06/29/92
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- Lotus
Development is offering other software developers a way of linking
their applications to Lotus Realtime, software that takes data such
as stock quotes from a remote server and brings it into Lotus'
1-2-3 and Improv spreadsheet programs.

Lotus unveiled the Lotus Realtime Application Programming Interface
(API) at the Securities Industry Association Show in New York. At
the same time, commercial software developers showed applications
ranging from spreadsheets and graphics applications to
custom-designed analytic applications and risk management systems,
linked to real-time data using the Lotus Realtime API.

A company spokeswoman told Newsbytes that Lotus expects the API to
be used more for custom software development than for packaged
commercial software.

Lotus' Realtime Engine accepts data from a feed server, caches it
and delivers it through the Lotus Realtime API directly to the
application.

Lotus also launched two new versions of Realtime. Realtime for
Nextstep is designed to work with the Lotus Improv spreadsheet on
Next computers. This is the first Realtime support for Improv, the
spokeswoman said. Lotus Realtime for IBM RISC System/6000
Workstations will work with 1-2-3 for Unix. Lotus said it is also
working on a version of Lotus Realtime for Microsoft Windows 3.1.
The company is not ready to announce when that might be available,
the spokeswoman said.

In addition, Lotus announced an exclusive distribution agreement
with Black Diamond Technologies, a newly formed division of the
Chicago-based trading firm O'Connor & Associates. Black Diamond
will be the exclusive distributor of Lotus Realtime for Nextstep.

Lotus Realtime has a suggested retail price of $1,150 per user,
including the ability to deliver data to multiple applications. The
Lotus Realtime API Toolkit is available for evaluation and testing
to developers and software vendors building or porting applications
for Lotus Realtime, at an annual maintenance fee of $5,000 per
site.

Lotus Realtime requires 16 megabytes of RAM and 16 megabytes of
disk space.

(Grant Buckler/19920629/Press Contact: Nancy Prendergast,
McGlinchey & Paul for Lotus, 617-862-4514)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00029)

Sun Microsystems Joins Companies Moving Into Mexico  06/29/92
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- Sun
Microsystems Computer Corporation (SMCC) has joined the list of
companies who have opened or bought subsidiaries in Mexico in order
to reach the Latin American computer market. Other companies include
AST, Dell, and Merisel.

This subsidiary is Sun's second in Latin America, where Sun is rated
the number one workstation/server vendor according to market research
firm International Data Corporation. The first Sun subsidiary was
established in Brazil.  Sun says it is gearing up to take advantage
of the $121 million market it is predicting in Latin America. The
growth rate in the Latin American market is expected to be 51 percent
compounded annually over the next three years, Sun maintains.

While Sun says it has been offering products in Mexico since 1987,
the sales have been through partners. Sun plans to continue its
relationship with these partners, but will focus on moving into the
growing financial, banking, telecommunications, oil/gas, education,
and research markets, the company added.

The subsidiary will be in Polanco near Mexico City and Steve Tirado,
who has been with Sun for six years, is to be the new general
manager.

Workstation/server computing is one of the fastest growing segments
in the computer industry and Sun is the leader in the market,
according to market research firm Dataquest. Based in Mountain View,
California, Sun boasts the new subsidiary is its 19th worldwide, and
says it gets over 50 percent of its revenues from non-US markets.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920629/Press Contact: Karen Dorren, Sun
Microsystems Computer Corporation, tel [phone], fax 415- 336-
3880)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00030)

AST Co-Founder Yuen Departs 06/29/92
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 29 (NB) -- Just two months
after being ranked 431st in the Fortune 500 list of top industrial
companies, AST Research  has announced that co-chairman and
chief operating officer, Thomas C.K. Yuen, has departed the company,
although he will remain on the company's board of directors.

A company spokesperson told Newsbytes that "the board of directors
made the decision to formalize the company's management structure.
They instituted an outside board member as chairman of the board (and
then decided on) one executive to be responsibility for the day-to-day
operation (of the company)." There is no indication as to whether
Yuen went along with this new plan.

Safi Qureshey, AST president and chief executive officer, said
that, "Having just completed our fiscal year, the timing of this
decision provides us with an opportunity to assess our
strengths, expand our management capability and enhance our
position in the marketplace."  Qureshey also said that, in order to
devote more time to the operations of the company, he has given up his
position  as co-chairman to focus on his role as president and chief
executive officer.

Current board member, Dr. Carmelo Santoro, will assume the position
of chairman of the board.

The company maintains that Santoro joined AST's board of directors in
1990 and has more than 27 years of experience in  high-technology
manufacturing companies. He is currently chairman of the board of
Silicon Systems and board member of Dallas Semiconductor.  Santoro
also previously served as chairman of the board of Ashton-Tate Corp.
and board member of Seagate Technologies.

The company spokesperson told Newsbytes that Yuen's departure and the
company's earnings results were "unrelated." Asked whether Yuen had gone
along with the board's decision the spokesperson told Newsbytes that
there could be no further comment other than to reiterate that "it
was a board of director's decision."

(Ian Stokell/19920629/Press Contact: Deborah Paquin, AST
Research Inc., 714-727-7960)