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/nb920929

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(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00001)

New For PC: Davidson Unveils The Zoo Keeper 09/29/92
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Davidson and
Associates has introduced a new educational game called Davidson's
Zoo Keeper. This game is an addition to Davidson's line of games
that fall under the emerging "edutainment" moniker.

In this game, the 6 to 11-year-old child is given the task of being
a temporary Zoo Keeper at "Zoo World." The child's tasks are to take
care of the animals that are resident in the zoo but that task is
not as easy as it might seem. You see, there are these people known
as Troublemakers who go around and cause trouble. Greedy Gert, Brain
Drain, The Meaniac, and Stir Crazy represent some of the worst human
characteristics and the zoo keeper has to capture them before they
cause too much trouble.

As the animals are properly taken care of, and the Troublemakers
disposed of, the children are promoted through the ranks until
they become the head zoo keeper. In addition to their promotion,
each successful activity leads to the re-introduction of an
endangered species into the wild.

As can be gleaned from the brief description presented above, the
program is intended to be educational in the realms of Ecology,
Geography, and conservation while maintaining some firm roots on the
fun side. Davidson is taking some additional steps in promoting this
product to raise people's awareness of the issues brought out in the
game. For instance, for every product registration card returned to
Davidson, the company will donate $1 to the William Holden Wildlife
Foundation. This money will be earmarked for the expansion of the
Foundation's research center in Kenya.

By trailing the Troublemakers and seeing the results of their
actions, the children get a better feeling for cause and effect
relationships. And, finally, the message of preserving wildlife and
thrill of being able to return a species to its home are given as a
reward to successful players.

Davidson's Zoo Keeper is available now for MS-DOS machines. It
retails for $59.95. A Macintosh version and CD-ROM versions of the
product are planned for 1993.

(Naor Wallach/19920929/Press & Public Contact: Liz Rich-Reardon,
Davidson & Associates, 310-793-06000)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00002)

First Byte Revamps Software Product Line 09/29/92
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- First Byte has
completely reorganized its Learning Games product line. The company
has announced that it is publishing a new title in the ZugWare
line, as well as introducing an updated and expanded version of one
of its original titles, and has renamed the remaining two titles
in the line.

Currently, the ZugWare line consists of four titles. Zug's Adventures
on Eco-Island used to be known as Eco-Saurus. Zug's Spelling
Adventures was known as Spell-A-Saurus. Dinosaur Discovery Kit is
being updated and reissued under the name of Zug's Dinosaur World
and it contains several major changes and enhancements over its
predecessor.

For instance, there is now an animated coloring book included in
the package. This coloring book has 10 different scenes of
dinosaurs in various activities which the child can color in. As
the coloring process proceeds, Zug will pop in and give you some
information about the animal and its activities. There will also
be compliments given to the child about the work performed.

The new title that is added is Zug's Race Through Space. In this
game, our hero becomes a delivery boy for a restaurant. As different
planets order food items, it is up to Zug to deliver it to the
proper planet and to do so before the "Burger Blaster" people get to
it. To make things more interesting, all that Zug is given is a clue
as to the planet from which he must deduce which planet he needs to
head out to. Zug is assisted by the astronomer Ptera Ptutor as
needed.

One of the more interesting features of this game is the inclusion of
sets of photographs from NASA's archives. Specifically, the program
contains digitized photographs that had been taken by the spacecraft
Voyager I and II.

All four games in the ZugWare line retail for $34.95 and are available
now.

(Naor Wallach/19920929/Press Contact: Liz Rich-Reardon, Davidson &
Associates, 310-793-0600 Extension 230/Public Contact: Davidson &
Associates, 310-793-0600)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00003)

New For PC: Lightning - Cache Program For Windows 09/29/92
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Lucid Corporation
announced that it is now shipping Lightning For Windows, a
disk caching program for the Microsoft Windows environment.
According to the company, Lightning For Windows is the fastest
disk cache on the market, with benchmark tests showing between
58% and 93% performance increase, depending on whether
SmartDrive was in use.

Lightning For Windows also offers CD-ROM caching. Lucid says
that CD-ROM readers run up to ten times faster using lighting.
The program also allocates memory dynamically, loaning out part
of its cache buffer when an application is memory greedy.

Lucid's David Hayden told Newsbytes that a number of features of
Lightning are user-selectable. Hayden says the type of memory, the
cache size, what drives are cached, and where Lightning loads can be
set by the user. The program also displays system stats, including
memory and drive information. A statistics windows graphically
displays other information such as disk accesses.

A feature called Kazoomer allows users to magnify any portion of the
screen, and Piranha is a drag-and-drop file deletion utility.
Lightning also includes two screen savers. "Polypoly" displays
polygons on the screen in a kaleidoscopic manner, while "Landscape"
displays a futuristic planet with mountains, rivers, and stars. The
user play mapmaker, selecting features like the height of the
mountains or the location of the rivers, says Hayden.

Suggested retail price for Lightning is $129.95, but is available at
the introductory price of $99.95 until the end of October. Existing
copies of Lightning can be upgraded for $49.95.

(Jim Mallory/19920929/Press Contact: David Hayden, Lucid
Corporation, 214-994-8100, X1551; Reader contact: 800-925-8243,
214-994-8100)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(MOW)(00004)

Russia: "Phone USA" Service Now Available In Moscow 09/29/92
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- TRT Communications announced the
availability of a service which allows person in the former Soviet
Union to get connected to a US operator by the local call. Although
announced as immediately available, Newsbytes could not confirm it
is actually working.

TRT's "Phone USA" service from Russia is offered through the
Commonwealth of Independent States in conjunction with the Russian
private communications company called Aerocom Ltd. It is the first
service of its kind in the territory of the former Soviet Union.

TRT announced at the Tele-Communications Association (TCA) Show held
in Moscow that the new service enables travellers to call anywhere
in the United States from what is now the Commonwealth of Independent
States by dialling 155-5036.

This information is not totally correct. This phone number is a
local number in Moscow, Russia (not in every city), and will be put
into operation in 2-3 weeks, according to an Aerocom representative.
Aerocom is offering the number to call a local operator to get connected to
a "Phone USA" operator for a short period of time. Operator lines are
[phone].

"Phone USA" calls may be charged to the TRT Travel Card, American
Express, MasterCard, any other card issued by the American bank, or
telephone company charge cards. Calls may also be made on a collect or
person-to-person basis.

Newsbytes was unable to discover complete pricing information at
press time. The call set-up, which includes card verification,
cost US$6, the call itself costs "between 3 and 5 dollars a
minute with a one minute minimum," according to an Aerocom
representative. A US operator quoted the price of a call as
US$21.50 for the first 6 minutes, $2.50 for every additional
minute.

These charges are, Newsbytes notes, about the same as a call
processed by AT&T, although with the call routed through the
local Russian operator. There are plans for AT&T to offer its
"USA Direct" service to all phone users in Russia some time early
next year although, for the time being, the USA Direct service is
only available from designated phones at busy points, such as
rail and bus stations, plus airports.

Direct "Phone USA" connections are also available from Chile, Bolivia,
Colombia, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Peru, Portugal, Switzerland, The United
Kingdom and Venezuela.

Aerocom Ltd. was founded in 1991 as a joint stock company licensed to
provide international telephone, fax and data services in Russia. The
major founding partners of Aerocom are Moscow Long Distance and
International Telephone Administration (MGTS), Russian Satellite
Telecommunications Co., Ostankino Television and Radio Transmission
Center, Aeroflot Airlines and the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Aerocom is located in Moscow and is currently providing telephone service
to several large Moscow customers, including the Kremlin Press Center of
President Boris Yeltsin and Moscow Cellular, a new cellular telephone
operations in Moscow. Aerocom charges its customers in hard currency
only.

(Kirill Tchashchin/19920929/Press Contact: TRT Communications, Tim
Buchholz, 202/879-2373; Aerocom, phone [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(MOW)(00005)

 ****Sun: Tour The World Without Leaving Moscow 09/29/92
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Two days of "Moscow Show"
festivities in the old center of the Russian capital city have
brought together an audience of geographic information systems (GIS)
experts.

For anyone attending the show, it proved to be an enjoyable
event. While Sun Microsystems people stayed in the wings, a group
of engineers and scientists from the USA, Canada and Australia
demonstrated the tricks of their trade for the Ministry of
Ecology and Natural Resources of the Russian Federation.

Electronic maps of exotic places -- Cuba to Hong-Kong to
Kamchatka Peninsula - hypnotized the audience as they were
displayed on the monitors of the most advanced Sun workstations.

This show was chosen by Scott McNealy, President and CEO of Sun
Microsystems Inc., for the maiden flight of the current most
powerful Sun product -- SPARCStation 10 -- in Russia. COCOM
regulations are still applicable for computers like this, but
end-user licenses can be arranged by special dispensation for
Russian customers in a matter of weeks, Sun salespeople claim.

With Intermicro and other companies serving as distributors in
Moscow, the complete product line from Sun is now available for
Russian researchers.

The theme of the Moscow Show was selected carefully among many
Sun-based turnkey systems. Mapping software from five
vendors used to be among high-tech products banned for export
to Russia.

This particular category was COCOM declassified in August of this
year. Since the COCOM declassification, a joint venture has been
established between the Institute of Geography in Moscow and
Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI), of
Redlands, California to handle the import into Russia. Data +, a
Russian company, will distribute the ARC/INFO database software
in Russia and other former Communist countries.

"We watched the progress of this system since it was commercialized for
the first time as a Unix-based product on VAX platforms," explained
Alexei Ushakov, DATA +'s senior expert, who added that "with
ARC/INFO we feel free to choose among various workstations
marketed in Russia by the top vendors like Sun, Silicon Graphics
and HP."

ARC/INFO flexibility makes the package highly attractive for
experienced users of ORACLE and other sophisticated data base
systems, Ushakov claims. Toolboxes like the Grid spatial
modelling system, ArcCAD package for AutoCAD Release 12 users, and
ArcView visualization tools, make ARC/INFO attractive for local
customers, he said.

"We hope to extend cooperation with the Autodesk Russian
Federation in Moscow," Ushakov said, noting that ESRI works
closely with Autodesk in California.

The digital mapping business has excellent prospects in Russia
where many maps intended for the public were deliberately
distorted so that "enemy agents" unaware of the terrain would
make mistakes if they attempted to navigate by map alone. The
easing of tensions between East and West has allowed the
cartographers to develop real maps, although, in many cases, the
map developers have had to start from scratch, such was the amount
of distortion in the old maps.

(Alexander Giglavyi & Kirill Tchashchin/19920929/Press Contact:
Intermicro, phone [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00006)

New For PC: CA Windows Apps Bundle 09/29/92
ISLANDIA, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Pursuing the
competitive market for Microsoft Windows applications, Computer
Associates has rolled five of its Windows software packages into a
bundle called CA-Simply Business.

CA-Simply Business is made up of CA's Accpac Simply Accounting
software, its CA-Textor word processor, its CA-Compete!
multi-dimensional spreadsheet, its CA-UpToDate group scheduling
package, and its CA-Cricket Presents desktop presentation graphics
software.

The total price is US$567, or C$649 in Canada. According to
Computer Associates, the five packages sold separately would come
to about $1,500. A Compuserve starter kit with a $15 value is
bundled with the software, and CA is also offering clients who
send in their registration cards a $25 rebate.

While there is no special integration between the packages, company
spokesman John Schoutsen said, they all take advantage of the
data-sharing capabilities provided by Windows. "We'll be doing
things with it over the next while to get the products to integrate
more closely," Schoutsen said.

(Grant Buckler/19920929/Press Contact: John Schoutsen, Computer
Associates Canada, 416-676-6700, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00007)

Canada: Unitel Launches Data Network Service 09/29/92
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Unitel
Communications, a national data communications carrier, has
announced a data virtual private network service called DataVPN.
Unitel said the service will combine some of the best features of
a private network with those of a public network.

DataVPN will include existing packet-switching facilities as well
as frame-relay and local-area network (LAN) bridging capabilities.
The packet switching services are available now, company spokesman
Peter Janecek said, and the frame relay and LAN-to-LAN services
will be available in the spring of 1993. Services will be launched
simultaneously right across Canada, Janecek said.

According to Unitel, a virtual private network offers the
flexibility and custom configuration of a private network along
with the cost-effectiveness, reliability, and high capacity of a
public network.

Unitel already offers a virtual private network service called
VRoute. Its principal rival, the Stentor consortium of Canadian
telephone companies, announced in January plans for public trials
of a "virtual corporate network" service which it said would offer
multiple communications functions.

Unitel said DataVPN is a direct response to customer demands for
cost-effective, high-speed connections, citing as an example the
banking industry's need to link local branches and automated teller
machines with head office.

(Grant Buckler/19920929/Press Contact: Peter Janecek, Unitel,
416-345-2365)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00008)

Sierra Quest Glory III; Virgin, Westwood Dispute Over 09/29/92
COARSEGOLD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Sierra says
that it has released for DOS-based computers the latest chronicle
in the Quest for Glory series, Quest for Glory III: The Wages of
War. The company also announced it has settled a conflict it had
with Virgin Games and Westwood Studios over use of the trademark
Sierra uses for its King's Quest game series.

Sierra said the new Quest for Glory is set in the heart of
Africa and allows the user to play as a fighter, magic user,
thief, or Pladin imported from the previous version or as a
totally new character. Sierra says the game's goal is to bring
peace to warring African tribes, while discovering the value of
friendship and the importance of honor.

Like most Sierra games, Quest for Glory III supports 256- and
16-color graphics displays on the same set of disks as well as
all the major sound cards on the market.

Sierra has also announced, near the shipment of the awaited
King's Quest IV, that it has resolved conflicts with Virgin Games
and Westwood Studios regarding their use of the King's Quest
markings on the game The Legend of Kyrandia.

Under the terms of the resolution, Virgin Games and Westwood,
producers of the Kyrandia game, have agreed to place a disclaimer
sticker on the package informing potential buyers that the King's
Quest games are not related to The Legend of Kyrandia, Virgin
Games, or Westwood Studios. In addition, the companies have
agreed to place the disclaimer in three future advertisements.

Sierra has reported it has had to push back shipment of King's
Quest IV sometime near mid-October from the original September 30
shipping date and said it expected its second quarter financial
results to suffer as a result. The popular game's new version is
back ordered from distributors, according to Sierra
representatives and the company says, once King's Quest IV ships,
it expects sales to be brisk.

Sierra describes itself and wholly owned subsidiaries Dynamix
and Bright Star Technology as producers of entertainment and
educational software for the IBM and compatible personal
computer and the Apple Macintosh computer platform. The company
also offers an online, multiplayer amusement park as part of
it's Sierra On-Line electronic games service.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920929/Press Contact: Anita Greene, Sierra,
tel [phone] ext 504, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00009)

UK: Microsoft Unveils PC Works 3.0 09/29/92
WOKINGHAM, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Microsoft has
announced PC Works 3.0, a major upgrade to its integrated suite
of software designed for the DOS environment.

Like earlier versions, v3.0 includes a word processor,
spreadsheet with graphics, database with automatic reporting and
a communications module. New in this version is an appointment
calendar facility, as well as features such as Workswizards and
the Toolbar.

Workswizards is a novice user guidance system designed to step
users through processes such as creating address books, printing
mail labels, mail merge options or how to find data in a
database.

The Toolbar, meanwhile, draws heavily on the "instant access"
button bar of Microsoft Word, and is featured throughout the
entire suite of PC Works 3.0 suite of software. According to
Microsoft, using the toolbar, it's possible to format, spell
check, change to list view, query or report using a single click
of the mouse.

Announcing the new version, Gillian Kent, Microsoft's consumer
and hardware product manager, said that the company's goal has
always been to provide a package that is not intimidating, "but
is powerful enough to meet the increasing needs of home and
business computer users."

"New features such as the Workswizards make the product easier
for the novice PC users, whilst the enhancement made to each of
the modules and intuitive interface make it possible for users to
meet all of their computing needs," she said.

Microsoft Works 3.0 will ship from the beginning of October with
a recommended retail price of UKP 145. Existing users can upgrade
to version 3.0 for UKP 75.

The package runs on a PC running DOS 3.0 or later with a floppy
disk capable of storing at least 720K of data. The package
requires CGA or better graphics, and a Microsoft mouse or
compatible is recommended.

(Steve Gold/19920929/Press & Public Contact: Microsoft - Tel:
0734-270001)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00010)

UK: Learn Ami Pro By Video 09/29/92
GUILDFORD, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Softvision, a
software training company, has released Softvision Ami Pro For
Windows, a video training guide for Lotus Ami Pro .

Pricing in at a fairly hefty UKP 99-95, the video uses what
Softvision calls its "look - listen - repeat" method. In this
video, this method uses a software expert from Lotus
demonstrating and talking through the range of features within
Ami Pro alongside a typical user who is new to the application.

According to Softvision, the results of this method will provide
users with an effective method of getting to know the package
intimately, and as quickly and efficiently as possible.

"We have already produced very successful learning videos for
Lotus users - Lotus 1-2-3 versions 2.4, 3.1+ and Lotus 1-2-3 for
Windows. We're very confident that our latest learning video, Ami
pro for Windows, will help users get the best out of the software
by showing them the new features in action," he said.

John Tuohy, Lotus' product marketing manager, said that
independent industry surveys have proven Ami Pro 3.0 to be the
easiest Windows word processor to use.

"For somebody new to the Windows environment, this video will
make the transition even easier. We're delighted to have produced
these learning videos with Softvision as they demonstrate just
how friendly Lotus Ami Pro is to use without compromising its
depth of features and functionality," he said.

(Steve Gold/19920929/Press & Public Contact: Softvision - Tel:
0705-200041)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LON)(00011)

UK: Claris Ships Filemaker Pro 2.0 For Macintosh 09/29/82
UXBRIDGE, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Claris has
announced that Filemaker Pro 2.0 is now available in the UK.
This, the latest version of the Mac software, adds more than 50
new features, including better scripting via Scriptmaker, as well
as support for System 7 features such as Apple Events, Quicktime
and the Data Access Manager.

So what prompted the changes in the package? According to Claris,
the new features in v2.0 are designed to strengthen the
software's position as the number one Mac database, a position
(Claris claims) it has enjoyed for the last five years.

PC users also get a look in on the package -- Newsbytes notes
that the Microsoft Windows version of Filemaker Pro is expected
to ship during October. According to pre-release information from
Claris, the Windows 3.x version of Filemaker Pro has the same
facilities as v2.0 for the Mac edition. Both versions share the
same file formats and even the same general user interface.

Filemaker Pro 2.0 for the Mac is available immediately at UKP
275. Users of previous Mac editions can upgrade for UKP 50 while,
for twice that price, users of competing Mac software, such as 4th
Dimension, Double Helix and Foxbase+/Mac, can also upgrade.

Upgrade details can be obtained on Claris' new toll-free support
numbers. In the UK, users should dial 0800-929005, while in
Ireland, users should dial 1-800-732-732.

(Steve Gold/19920929/Press & Public Contact: Claris U.K. - Tel:
081-756-0101; Fax: [phone])


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

UK: Wordperfect Increases Market Share 09/29/82
ADDLESTONE, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Wordperfect is
claiming that is reported record share of the word processing
market share of earlier this year has been surpassed again, as
the software house continues to climb in the popularity stakes
in the UK.

Latest figures just in from Context Market Research indicate that
the total word processing software sales by value for Wordperfect
has increased from 61.3 percent over the last 12 months to 63.6
percent over the last three months. In the July figures, WP comes
out top with 65.2 percent of the market.

So who's losing the market share that WP is gaining? The answer
is WP's old rival Microsoft, which, according to Context's
figures, has seen its share of the word processing market fall
from 25.1 to 22.1 percent over the last three months.

"Once again, sales for Wordperfect 5.1 for DOS and Windows have
increased," commented David Godwin, general manager for sales and
marketing with Wordperfect U.K., who added that WP is gaining
ground in the Windows word processing marketplace.

During July, WP 5.1 for DOS accounted for 52.3 percent of total
UK word processing sales by volume, while WP 5.1 for Windows
had 8.9 percent. The figures compare with Word for DOS and
Windows which, respectively, accounted for 5.4 and 12.5 percent
of the market in July.

These figures are drawn from the software sales report, which is
issued monthly by Context, and measures U.K. software sales of
software vendors by volume and by value via indirect channels.
The report also includes sales figures for individual categories,
such as word processing, database, spreadsheet, integrated, comms
and presentation graphics software.

(Steve Gold/19920929/Press & Public Contact: Wordperfect
Corporation - Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00013)

New For PC: Cathy, Far Side, Trivial Pursuit Daily Planners 09/29/92
KIRKLAND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Nearly everyone
uses a daily planner, either a PC-based version or the
traditional paper type. You enter your appointments and update
your to-do list. Ho hum. But Amaze Inc., puts a whole new spin on
this ubiquitous business tool with its cartoon appointments and
daily planner software.

Amaze offers a different type of PC-based daily planner, one which
greets you each time you open the program with one of Gary Larsen's
Farside cartoons, or one featuring Cathy Guisewite's neurotic Cathy
character.

In addition to the two popular cartoon characters appearing in daily
newspapers and elsewhere daily, Amaze's Daily Planner version 2.0
offers several versions of Trivial Pursuit. A Sports Edition is
designed for competitive athletes and armchair sports experts alike,
says the company. Turn on your computer and your challenged to
answer questions like athlete's nicknames, football, hockey or
baseball questions.

If you pick the wrong answer on the first try, the Trivial
Pursuit Daily Planner gives you three more chances, and keeps
score automatically throughout the year. Included with the
sports edition is the Genus edition, the original trivia game. In
the Genus edition, users answer questions about science, nature,
art, literature, history, geography, entertainment, and leisure.

The Far Side Daily Planner offers a new collection of 365 of Gary
Larson's cartoons, with 52 of them in color. Some of the cartoons
are animated. All of the planners are available for DOS, Windows and
Apple Mac computers.

Schedules can be displayed by the day, week, month, or year, and
each can be printed in a variety of sizes. The upgraded program also
includes some new alarm features, including a "snooze" feature, and
an expanded sound library. Customized sounds can also be added.
Users can choose from over 60 event icons, some of which are
animated. The Daily Planner Version 2.0 ships with Trivial Pursuit,
The Far Side, and Cathy planners, and sells for $69.95. Merisel,
Ingram, Egghead, and Tandy all distribute the program.

(Jim Mallory/19920929/Press contact: Derek McLeish or Sue Klamert,
Amaze, Inc, 206-820-7007, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00014)

New For PC: MICA Accounting Software For Windows 09/29/92
PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- MICA Accounting
Software has announced a multi-user version of its modular
accounting program for DOS, MICA IV 2.0.

Nine modules of MICA IV are available: General Ledger, Accounts
Receivable, Accounts Payable, Inventory Control, Payroll, Job Cost,
Sales Order, Purchase Order Processing, and Bank Reconciliations.
For Microsoft Windows users, the company also has a Windows
interface module which allows MICA IV to be accessed from the
Windows Program Manager screen, MICA spokesperson Chris Oliver told
Newsbytes.

MICA president Mark Lee said that version 2.0 includes more than
200 enhancements, most the result of end-user feedback. "Our
commitment to serving the end users' needs...is what earned
version 1.0 Software Digest's top rating (in 1991)," he said.

Oliver added that the program supports color, and includes record
locking. A financial Snapshot feature provides totals information from
the modules on a single screen. Receivables, payables, YTD sales,
and inventory turnover ratio is all included in the snapshot.

According to Oliver, the MICA menus can be customized to allow
access to non-MICa applications from the Main Program Menu. The
feature builds batch files which load other programs, then return
to MICA when the user is finished. Oliver says it's an automated
process, rather than a shell-to-DOS feature, so all the
computer's memory is available to the other application.

Other features include a notes function, which allows notes to be
appended to customers, vendors, and stock items; a quick-check
printing utility that allows the user to print a check when entering
a vendor invoice; and faster time sheet entry in the Payroll module.

UPS charges are automatically calculated for sales orders, and
automatic purchase order creation for inventory stock re-order is
also provided. Inventory can handle lot processing.

MICA IV 2.0 is immediately available, with a suggested retail price
of $795. The Windows interface carries a $69 price tag. Current
users can upgrade for $150 per module.

(Jim Mallory/19920929/Press contact: Chris Oliver, MICA Accounting
Software, 800-448-6422 or Alan Weinkrantz for MICA, 512-820-3070)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00015)

New For PC: WordStar's 2nd Edition of Heritage Dictionary 09/29/92
NOVATO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- WordStar
International has announced the availability of The American
Heritage Dictionary Second College Edition.

According to the company, the 303,000-word electronic
dictionary gives users access to more words and definitions
than any other disk-based electronic dictionary on the market.
The reference tool is based on technology from Houghton Mifflin
Co., publisher of the print version of The American Heritage
Dictionary.

The company claims that the Second College Edition boasts
303,000 words, plus the complete 500,000 word Roget's II
Electronic Thesaurus.

Additionally, new areas of reference in the product include a
brief description of over 3,000 two-year and four-year US
colleges; over 1,500 commonly used abbreviations; along with
geographical and biographical entries, and Indo-European roots.

The company also says that the Second College Edition provides
"detailed definitions, pronunciations, parts of speech, proper
usage, hyphenation, idioms, sample sentences and word origins."

The user can choose from a list of general subjects and use
Boolean techniques ("and," "or," "not") to search.

The DOS version runs as a TSR (terminate-and-stay-resident)
program that requires just five kilobytes (KB) of RAM. The
company says that the Windows version is "always available on
the System Menu no matter what application is in use."

WordStar often targets the educational market. In May
Newsbytes reported that the company had made a deal with
Apple to bundle two of its writing tools with Macintosh
computers in a special program aimed at the educational
market, one of which was the American Heritage Dictionary.

In August Newsbytes reported that NBI Inc., had sold its
Legacy product to WordStar International Inc. Legacy code
featured heavily in WordStar's own initial Windows word
processing offering, WordStar for Windows, released in
September, 1991. WordStar originally acquired non-exclusive
rights to the Legacy source code in January 1991.

Also in August, WordStar reported losses of $4.9 million,
or 33 cents per share, during its fiscal year 1992, which
ended June 30.

(Ian Stokell/19920929/Press Contact: Kathleen Raycraft,
McLean Public Relations; 415-358-8535)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SFO)(00016)

ASK Computer Settles Lawsuit 09/29/92
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- ASK
Computer Systems Inc., has agreed in principle to settle the
1985 class action securities lawsuit filed in the United States
District Court, Northern District of California. Under terms of
the settlement, the company will pay up to $5.5 million into a
settlement fund.

The company says that its liability insurance carrier will
contribute an equal amount to bring the total settlement fund
to $11 million. The settlement resolves the 7.5 year-old suit
relating to a stock offering in the spring of 1985.

Consequently, the company intends to reflect in its June 30
results a $5.2 million charge for the anticipated costs of the
settlement, reducing previously announced net income for its
fourth quarter from 55 cents per share to 36 cents per share.
The charge will increase negative earnings for the year from
$2.17 per share to $2.37 per share.

The company says that about $4 million to $4.25 million of the
settlement fund will go to the plaintiffs' attorneys for fees and
expenses and for the costs of administering the settlement fund,
before any amounts are made available to the class. The actual
amount of the settlement will be based on the number of valid
claims filed by eligible members of the class.

The settlement is subject to the execution of a definitive
settlement agreement and approvals by the District Court.
In a prepared press release, the company said that "In making
the settlement, the company and the other defendants denied
any wrongdoing."

It has been a busy couple of months for the company. In July,
Newsbytes reported that the ASK group of companies had
decided to move its headquarters from Mountain View to Santa
Clara, California in an effort to reduce the company's leasing
expenses and provide expansion capabilities.

At the same time, the company also managed to secure a new $50
million credit line after paying off early, the debt it incurred by
purchasing software publisher Ingres.

At the beginning of September, Newsbytes reported that ASK
was hoping to establish itself as a major player in the global
manufacturing software market with plans to localize Manman/X
for the European and Asia/Pacific markets.

(Ian Stokell/19920929/Press Contact: Lisa C. Herbst, The ASK
Companies, 415-335-5558)


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

Silicon Graphics/GE Capital Ally On Leasing Program 09/29/92
EMERYVILLE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- In an
effort to expand its financial options to its customers,
Silicon Graphics Inc., has joined with GE Capital Computer
Leasing to offer the Silicon Graphics Lease Program for its
visual computing systems.

According to the companies, the Silicon Graphics Lease Program
allows large and small companies to lease hardware, software,
and services through GE Capital Computer Leasing.

Announcing the link-up between the two companies, Michael S.
Ford, president of GE Capital Computer Leasing, said: "The
Silicon Graphics Lease Program allows customers to take advantage
of the special technological and financial advantages that GE
Capital Computer Leasing and Silicon Graphics can deliver
together."

The companies said that they expect the program to increase
the revenue opportunities for Silicon Graphics' sales force and
dealers "by providing financial resources for customers who
are purchasing Silicon Graphics systems."

Gary Lauer, senior vice president of North American Field
Operations for Silicon Graphics, said: "The Silicon Graphics
Lease Program provides customers with excellent financial
positioning to acquire the right equipment with the software
and services they require."

According to the Computer Dealers and Lessors Association,
more than half of all computers are acquired through leasing
rather than purchasing.

Its been a busy year for Silicon Graphics. In July, Newsbytes
reported that the company, due to its merger with MIPS, had
posted a net loss of $118 million in its fourth quarter for the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1992.

Silicon's merger with MIPS was finalized June 29, 1992. While
analysts said the merger could be considered a buy out, some
reports stated that it was necessary on Silicon's part, as it was
dependent on MIPS' technology and MIPS was in grave financial
trouble.

At the beginning of September, Newsbytes reported that Silicon
Graphics had signed a joint venture contract with five investors
through its Hong Kong subsidiary in a move intended to establish
its Iris Indigo reduced instruction-set computer PC in the
Chinese market,

In June, the company signed an agreement with Avid Technologies
for a long-term product development and multimedia
standardization on Avid's existing open media framework (OMF).
Part of the agreement was for Avid to port its digital film and
video editing software technology and hardware to Silicon
Graphics workstations.

In July Newsbytes reported that NEC had begun talks with
Silicon Graphics concerning the joint manufacturing and sales
of Unix workstations. Neither firm unveiled any details, but
Japan's Nikkan Kogyo newspaper said the deal was expected to
be signed by the end of this year.

Also in July Newsbytes reported that India's Tata Elxsi (India) Ltd.
and Silicon Graphics (SG) had announced a long-term strategic
alliance to promote their respective business interests in India.
The two had signed a memorandum of understanding to implement
the tie-up, which entitled Silicon Graphics to initially take up
15 percent of the equity of TEIL.

(Ian Stokell/19920929/Press Contact: Reed B. Byrum, GE
Capital Computer Leasing, 510-450-4910)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(ATL)(00018)

Export Quandries Plague US Businesses 09/29/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Two studies
issued the same day illustrate the dilemma facing US
businesses. They need to export, but if they do export, then they
risk loss of their secrets.

Coopers & Lybrand's "Trendsetter Barometer" survey reports that
companies which are exporting are growing faster than those which
concentrate only on US markets. The accounting firm said that
the companies it surveyed expect overseas sales to account for 17
percent of sales next year, against 12 percent this year, in part
due to the weak dollar.

Ken Alwyn, a C&L partner who wrote the study, noted that
exporters tend to be larger companies than those which stay at
home, so his results turn many basic assumptions of business on
their head, including the idea that smaller companies grow faster
and are more nimble than their larger brethren. However, Canada
is the most popular export market.

Meanwhile, the secrets needed to compete globally are under
unprecedented attack from foreign spy agencies, according to the
American Institute for Business Research and the National
Security Institute. Both friendly and hostile countries are
targeting corporate information for economic advantage, combining
traditional spy techniques and sophisticated electronics. The
information is being turned over to corporations in their own
countries. The CIA, for its part, has steadfastly refused to get
into economic spying.

The report adds that most of what companies need to know about
foreign competitors can be learned freely, either through
searching online systems, attending trade shows, or performing
other basic marketing functions. But it says computer systems are
under increasing attack from hackers looking for corporate
systems, and the problem is made worse by the use of LANs and
telecommunications technologies which let outsiders into
corporate databases.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920929/Press Contact: Dave Marston, AIBR,
508-820-3424; Maggie O'Donovan, Coopers & Lybrand, 212-536-3174)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00019)

SW Bell Moving to Downtown San Antonio 09/29/92
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Southwestern
Bell has announced plans to move its headquarters from St. Louis
to downtown San Antonio. About 400 people are expected to fly
south by March.

Southwestern Bell becomes the first of the seven regional Bell
companies to move its head offices. Chairman Edward Whitacre
cited the need to be close to growth markets in Latin America for
his decision, adding that the company has been studying the idea
for a year.

Southwestern Bell owns about 10 percent of TelMex, Mexico's phone
company, and is the only one of the regional Bells to turn a
profit, so far, on its international operations. The selection of
a downtown office building for the new headquarters was also seen
as highly symbolic, since most Anglo-owned San Antonio companies
have set up shop in recent years on the city's North Loop.
Downtown. While it is popular with tourists, is considered by
most locals to be the "Mexican" side of town.

Texas Governor Ann Richards formally announced the move at a
news conference in San Antonio, calling it "the economic
development gold medal." Richards has since become a very popular
figure in the state, and seems to be trying to use that
popularity to win the state for Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton in
the US election November 3. Industry sources suggest that the
Southwestern Bell move will not hurt her in that effort.

The move is also big for San Antonio, which is frequently seen as
being in the shadow of Dallas and Houston. Whitacre noted,
however, that the move is more symbolic than anything else. More
than 10,100 employees will remain in the St. Louis area, as will
the headquarters for most of the company's subsidiaries.

In other news from Southwestern Bell, the company said it will
offer "data over voice" services, trademarked DovLink, which
offers data speeds of up to 9,600 bits/second. Before starting
service, customers need to purchase a data/voice multiplexer,
which would be located at the customers' premises.

Retailers could use it to handle credit card verifications, while
people who work-at-home could use it to let their PCs or fax
machines share a single phone line with their voice lines. The
Federal Communications Commission approved the interstate portion
of DovLink September 16, and the company will now file state
tariffs in each of its five states.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920929/Press Contact: Southwestern Bell
J.D. Ellis, 314/340-9175, Bill Cryer Texas State Government,
512/463-1826)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00020)

International Phone Update 09/29/92
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Latin America took
most international telecom headlines this week, as Southwestern
Bell said it would move to San Antonio in order to be closer to
its operations there.

Infonet, a worldwide packet network in which MCI holds a 25
percent stake, said it will link with Chile's Entel network to
offer local coverage to Chilean businesses. Nodes to the
worldwide net will be placed in the capital of Santiago, as well
as Concepcion, Valparaiso, Arica and other major cities.
EntelData of Chile will handle service and support.

Elsewhere in Latin America, Ecuador said it will start
negotiations on its $6 billion debt to commercial banks in
November. Debt payments were suspended long ago, but the
suspension was extended when foreign reserves hit $50 million as
President Sixto Duran took office. The nation wants $500 million
in reserves before any more currency exports, and officials said
negotiations may take a year.

Privatization of the nation's stock exchange and
telecommunications network will both be part of the
restructuring, the officials said, as the nation tries to copy
Argentina's lessons in tying its currency to the dollar to wring
out inflation. In Argentina, however, stock prices plunged over
4.5 percent. Share prices in its Telefonica and Telecom phone
companies, however, fell by only half that amount.

In Europe, Deutsche Telekom, put circuits on its new TAT 10
transatlantic cable on sale, with those who sign-up for circuits
now getting a 15 percent discount. Those who take long-term
contracts can get even bigger discounts for the first year. One
goal is to encourage US companies to make Germany the hub of
their European networks -- most US companies prefer to use
London. Deutsche Telekom will open an office in Atlanta, the
second-largest U.S. telecommunications hub, in November.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920929/Press Contact: Infonet, Juan Cenzano,
310/335-2884; Don Hassenbein, Deutsche Telekom, 212-541-3900)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00021)

Supermac Offers Mac-Based Color Printing In-House 09/29/92
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Supermac
Technology has announced a new color printer line for the
Apple Mac that it claims will eliminate much of the outsourcing
for color work companies are doing now.

The company says its new Proofpositive family of dye-
sublimation printers offer full-bleed output with color
matching for both full- and tabloid-size layout. The 300 dot-
per-inch (dpi) printers can print continuous-tone color prints
that rival photographs for brilliance and clarity, especially
when printed on high-opacity paper or transparencies.

With the new printers, the company asserts tasks can be
performed in-house that were contracted to outside service
bureaus. Full bleeds (in which the printed images
runs, or bleeds, right to the edge of the paper) allow
designers and publishers to completely fill a full-page or two-
page spread with color and proof the results in-house. Supermac
says the printers are accurate and predictable enough to
replace contract proofs, like Chromalin and Matchprint proofs
provided by service bureaus.

A color matching system, Eficolor, developed by Electronics for
Imaging, offers the user a way to match the screen colors of an
image on the printed output without trial-and-error fine-tuning
because the printers pass the image directly from an
application right to the print engine. The result is fewer test
prints to get to the final proof.

Options for connecting the printers to a Mac are a less expensive
Nubus interface and a small computer systems interface (SCSI)
that conserves slots for the addition of other peripherals to the
Macintosh.

The company says that it has also licensed Adobe's Postscript
Level 2 so prints from popular publishing packages such as
QuarkXPress and Adobe Illustrator will accurately reflect
imagesetter output. Postscript Level II also offers Adobe's new
color-rendering dictionary and can speed the rasterizing process,
depending on the performance of the central processing unit (CPU)
on the Macintosh in question.

Two printer models are available: the Proofpositive Full-Page
Printer for 8-1/2-inch x 11-inch and A4-size color proofs and
the ProofPositive Two-Page Printer for two-page, tabloid-size
11-inch x 17-inch, and A3-size layouts. Suggested retail prices
start at $6,999.

Supermac also introduced a line of 24-bit graphics cards aimed
at the Microsoft Windows personal computer (PC) market, and
claims the top of the line Thunder/24 is the fastest graphics
accelerator yet.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920929/Press Contact: Stephanie Bryant,
Supermac Technology, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00022)

Supermac Says New Thunder/24 Card Fastest For Windows 09/29/92
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Supermac has
introduced a new line of graphics accelerator cards for 24-bit
color on IBM and compatible PCs. The company is boasting the
top of the line card, the Thunder/24, is the fastest graphics
accelerator for Windows on the market.

Tests by Supermac on identical 33 megahertz (MHz) 486-based
extended industry standard architecture (EISA) systems list the
Supermatch Thunder/24 graphics cards as outperforming the
Radius Multiview 24, the Matrox Imprima Ultrix, and the
Videologic Rapier 24 by nearly 4 to 1. Of course, Supermac
compared its top of the line graphics card to cards from other
companies that require a daughter card to give the 24-bit
resolution the Thunder/24 offers in a single slot.

The company points to the card's leadership in PC Magazine
Lab's Winmark bench mark as further proof. Supermac says
optimization of the card for key Windows graphics operations
provides up to 2,600 percent faster acceleration that standard
video graphics array (VGA) systems.

The Thunder/24 supports the 1152 x 910 pixel resolution needed
to display two A4-size pages at once, as well as the 16.7
million color palette for photorealistic images. The card also
comes bundled with QuarkXPress for Windows, Supermac added.

An industry standard architecture (ISA) version of the
Thunder/24 is also being offered to serve the numbers of non-
EISA machines in the marketplace.

Both EISA and ISA Thunder cards offer hardware-based pan and
zoom for a single-keystroke manipulation of images and to make
design and layout faster, Supermac added. Both cards also offer
a 75 hertz (Hz) refresh rate for crisper, flicker-free images.

Two monitors, the Supermatch 20 T and the Supermatch 17, are
being offered as well. Both monitors offer a flicker-free, 75
Hz refresh rates, Smarttouch digital controls for customizing
horizontal and vertical sizing and centering, and a
microprocessor that remembers the adjustments made in each
viewing mode and readjusts the image each time that mode is
selected.

The Supermatch 20 T automatically synchronizes to resolutions
from 640 by 480 to 1152 by 910 for work on two, A4-size pages.
Trinitron color technology, an OCLI anti-reflection panel, and
compliance with MPR II VLF/ELF emission standards are also
included.

The Supermatch 17 is the lowest-cost, large-screen monitor for
Windows applications and automatically synchronizes to
resolutions from 640 by 480 to 1024 by 768, Supermac said.

None of this comes cheaply. The Thunder/24 EISA graphics card is
not only the fastest but one of the most expensive at $2,999.
The ISA Thunder/24 will be available fourth quarter of 1992 for
$1,799. The currently available SuperMatch 20 T True-Color
Trinitron Display has a US suggested retail price of $2,999,
while the SuperMatch 17 True-Color Display is priced at $1,399,
Supermac added.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920929/Press Contact: Stephanie Bryant,
Supermac Technology, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00023)

CA Acquires Language Company Glockenspiel 09/29/92
ISLANDIA, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Computer Associates
has bought the Irish software vendor Glockenspiel, developer of
CommonView object-oriented development software and a C++ language
compiler.

CA was already using Glockenspiel's CommonView in the Aspen project
it took over with the acquisition of database software vendor
Nantucket earlier this year. Aspen is an object-oriented compiler
for Xbase (dBASE-compatible) languages.

Marc Sokol, director of product strategy at Computer Associates,
said that the acquisition shows the company's belief in the
importance of object-oriented technology.

Eight-year-old Glockenspiel will be integrated into CA, as is usual
in the company's frequent acquisitions. Sokol said all of the
Dublin-based company's employees, numbering between 30 and 35, are
to remain with CA. Computer Associates plans to maintain
development of the Glockenspiel products in Ireland, where it has
previously had only a sales presence.

Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

According to the companies, Glockenspiel's CommonView solves the
problems of portability and code complexity related to software
development for graphical user interfaces (GUIs). CommonView
applications can be ported to Microsoft Windows, OS/2, or the Motif
user interface for Unix. CommonView works with C++ compilers from
Microsoft, Borland, and other vendors as well as with
Glockenspiel's own compiler.

Glockenspiel C++ makes application source code portable across
Unix, Digital Equipment's VMS, OS/2, DOS, and other operating
systems, officials said. It incorporates AT&T's C++ and conforms to
the AT&T language specification.

(Grant Buckler/19920929/Press Contact: Bob Gordon, Computer
Associates, 516-342-2391)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00024)

Alberta's Telus Cuts Jobs 09/29/92
EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA, 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Telus, which
operates telephone service in Alberta through its AGT subsidiary,
has announced plans to cut 1,500 jobs from its 9,200-person payroll
over the next 15 months. The company cited competition, tighter
regulatory limits, and a tough economic climate as reasons for the
move.

Telus plans to reduce its work force by 500 people by January
through voluntary means such as cash incentives, job sharing,
part-time work, and education leaves, company spokeswoman Judy
Williams confirmed. During 1993, Telus plans to lop another 1,000
people off the payroll, mainly through layoffs.

Williams said one reason for the move is the impending arrival of
long-distance competition in Alberta. Unitel Communications, a
Toronto-based data communications carrier that has won federal
regulators' approval to offer competitive long-distance service
across most of Canada, is currently negotiating with Telus to
interconnect to the AGT network. "They're going to be in our market
fairly shortly," she said.

Another reason for the cuts is the fact that a recent decision by
the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
(CRTC) reduced Telus' permitted rate of return.

Williams also cited a weak economy as a reason for the move. She
noted that Telus was owned by the provincial government until two
years ago, and was "building for a boom time" that didn't
materialize. The company has about eight employees per 1,000 phone
lines, Williams said, versus about five for most North American
carriers. "We're probably overbuilt vis-a-vis other telcos
nationally," she said.

The former Alberta Government Telephones was sold to the private
sector in 1990 and became known simply as AGT. Since then Telus has
been created as a holding company for AGT and several other
telecommunications interests.

(Grant Buckler/19920929/Press Contact: Judy Williams, Telus,
403-493-4777)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BOS)(00025)

 ****Banks Willing To Consider High Tech Loans 09/29/92
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- A new survey
by the American Electronics Association (AEA) shows a rise this
year in the numbers of US banks that are willing to consider
loans to chip making, computer hardware and software, as well as
biotech companies.

The industry group cautions, though, that many of these companies
still find bank financing less than easy to obtain. "The banks
have indicated that they're in a more receptive mood. But when you
get down to whether banks are actually lending to high tech, the
answer in most cases is `No,'" stated John Baumeister, AEA vice
president, in an interview with Newsbytes.

Conducted for the AEA by the First Financial Banc Corp., the survey
reported that, of the 410 banks questioned, 121, or 30%, said they
were willing to consider loans to high tech companies in May, 1992,
in contrast to 74 banks, or 18%, in December, 1991.

"The (lending) situation is getting better, but it remains very
difficult," Baumeister told Newsbytes. Although more banks have
become willing to consider high tech financing, most are still
unwilling, he noted.

Moreover, many of the receptive banks evaluate high tech companies
on a case-by-case basis, he added. Small and mid-sized companies
are less likely than their larger counterparts to get loans, and
any company that has undergone financial problems within the past
three years is considered a high risk, even if the company has
since "turned the corner."

For more loans to take place, changes are needed on both sides,
according to Baumeister. Banks should do a better job of
understanding the financial operating procedures of high tech
companies, he advised.

"High tech companies often funnel profits from high-growth periods
right back into R&D. Their earning histories might seem erratic to
banks, but in fact, most of the losses in this industry are really
not that significant," he commented.

At the same time, companies must deal with the reality that banks
are still reeling from the softened economy, new regulatory
pressures, and the continuing failures of saving and loan
associations, he counseled. "We're in a different ball game now
than we were during the mid-eighties. It's no longer possible to
just drive down the street to the local bank and take out a loan,"
he pointed out.

To boost their chances of receiving financing, companies should
submit long-range business plans in support of their loan
applications, he asserted. "You shouldn't try to meet long-term
needs with short-term borrowing," he remarked.

Baumeister credited White House lobbying by industry groups, and
subsequent US Treasury Department initiatives, with helping to
spur the recent improvement.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19920929/Press Contact: John Hatch and John
Baumeister, AEA, tel [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00026)

Storagetek, Mobius In Marketing Agreement 09/29/92
LOUISVILLE, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Storage Technology
Corporation (Storagetek) and Mobius Management Systems Inc., have
announced the signing of a strategic alliance and joint marketing
agreement.

The two companies will develop and market software that allows
documents traditionally stored on microfiche and optical disc to
be accessed directly from a Storagetek 4400 ACS (automated
cartridge system) library and viewed online, eliminating the need
and cost for microfiche.

Officials of the two companies say that the hardware-software
combination from the two companies will allow easier access to less-
used data which might be archived on microfiche.

Storagetek designs and markets robotic technology-based automated
tape cartridge systems for data storage. Its libraries can hold
about 6,000 half-inch data storage tape cartridges. Each library
can hold the equivalent of over 1 billion typed pages of text.
Mobius' products include software for information processing and
control, storage management, and automated operations.

Mobius spokesperson Pat Kelly told Newsbytes that the company also
markets ViewDirect, a software program for PCs that allows direct
access to filed stored on tape.

(Jim Mallory/19920929/Press contact: Judith Hargrave, Storagetek,
303-673-5559)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(DEN)(00027)

 ****PC Watch Says There Are 64 Million PC Users 09/29/92
NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- If you are
young, relatively affluent, have young children, and are well
educated, you're likely to be a regular personal computer user.
That's what an Illinois-based tracking service says.

PC Watch was established by Tech Scan, an affiliate of
Philadelphia-based MSI International East, to provide consumer data
to high technology companies much like Nielsen does for the
television industry, and Arbitron for radio stations. The company
says that personal computer usage is growing, with more than 64
million Americans now using personal computers regularly.
According to PC Watch 34 percent of all US households report
regular use of an IBM-compatible or an Apple Computer Macintosh
personal computer.

Tech Scan President Scott Johnson says that the company's
research shows that PC users are younger than non-users, are more
likely to have children under 18 years of age, and have more
education and higher incomes than non-users.

PC Watch says that 80 percent of personal computer users own an
IBM-compatible machine. Five percent of the users use a Mac and
about 13 percent use both types of machines. About 75 percent of
all users have a word processing program installed, which they use
most often. About half have a spreadsheet program installed, and
about 40 percent have a database application. No more than
one-third said they have any other type software.

The study showed that the average user has been using a computer for
five years, and use it about 18 hours each week. But one statistic
should have special meaning for software publishers. Only one in
five consider themselves an advanced or expert software user.

About 25 percent said they read a computer publication regularly,
with Windows users more likely to read a trade magazine. PC Watch
says the work-at-home, recreational, and educational markets account
for about 30 percent of the end-users; small companies account for
27 percent; medium-sized companies 18 percent; and large companies
29 percent.

(Jim Mallory/19920929/Press contact: Scott Johnson, Tech Scan,
708-205-5525)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(DEN)(00028)

3 More Pay Up For Honeywell Autofocus Technology 09/29/92
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Three more
camera companies have settled lawsuits over their use of Honeywell's
patented automatic focus technology for 35mm cameras.

Honeywell has said it expects to be paid a total of $51.5 million
plus future royalties by Olympus Optical Co Ltd, Asahi Optical Co
Ltd (maker of Pentax cameras), and Ansco Optical. Honeywell
executive vice president and chief financial officer, Christopher
Steffen, said the settlement payments were negotiated separately,
and will be reported in the company's third quarter financial
results.

Olympus said it will pay $34.7 million, while Asahi declined to
disclose how much it settled for. In March Minolta Camera Co Ltd,
the first company to introduce the automatic focus lens for its
35mm cameras, agreed to pay $127 million. The Olympus settlement
changed the company's financial forecast for the first two
quarters of the 92-93 year from a profit to a loss status. It
also lowered its full year forecast profit by about one-half.

Newsbytes reported previously that Honeywell had received
settlements in the aggregate of $251.6 million from eight other
camera manufacturers. Four companies -- Fuji Film Co Ltd, Ricoh
Co Ltd, Chinon Industries Inc and Vivitar -- are still the subject
of Honeywell lawsuits in federal court. "We hope to reach
settlements with the remaining four companies in an amicable
businesslike manner, just as we have done with the others," said
Steffen.

(Jim Mallory/19920929/Press contact: Jill Schmidt, Honeywell,
612-870-2544)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00029)

New For PC: RightWriter 6 09/29/92
CARMEL, INDIANA, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Que Software has
announced a new version of RightWriter 6, a grammar and style
checking program for Windows and DOS. It's expected to ship in early
October.

New features include a Grammar Equalizer, inflection checking to
screen for correct use of irregular verbs, a Language Rule Editor
for adding words and phrases to the program's vocabulary, integrated
spell checking, document structure recommendations, and more powerful
parsing rules.

RightWriter is an interactive grammar and style checker that
proofreads documents created with word processing programs for
errors in grammar, style, word usage, structure, capitalization,
punctuation, and spelling, making correction recommendations. Que
spokesperson Susan Earabino told Newsbytes it supports many of the
top word processors, including WordPerfect, Word, and Ami Pro. "Any
of the top word processors out there," said Earabino.

Que says it will bundle a free copy of Publisher's Powerpak, a
$79.95 value, with RightWriter 6 for a limited time. Earabino told
Newsbytes that the offer would continue for an indefinite period.

Powerpak creates high resolution scalable fonts on the fly as
text is sent to the printer, and includes over 30 typefaces from
several font families. They are also including a $20 rebate
coupon which is mailed to Que with proof of purchase to receive
the rebate.

The Equalizer feature is similar to the equalizer on a stereo sound
system, and displays a similar visual representation of its current
settings. It allows the user to control the detail of the checking.
Turn it down and it finds only glaring or routine errors. Turn it up
all the way and it finds every potential error, says the company.

The program also checks for inflection, and can customize its
grammar checking engine with the new Language Rule Editor. You can
add phrases or words that you want to make sure you don't use such
as technical terms or slang, for instance. You can also tell
RightWriter not to flag certain words or phrases, and custom
vocabularies can be created.

RightWriter runs on a 286 or higher system with a hard disk, at
least one megabyte of RAM, one floppy drive, and a CGA or better
monitor. It does not support color, Earabino told Newsbytes. The
Windows version also requires Windows and a mouse.

RightWriter has a suggested list price of $9.95, and users of
earlier version can upgrade for $29.95.

(Jim Mallory/19920929/Press contact:Lynn Zingraf, Que Software,
317-571-3246 or Susan Earabino, The Marketing Partnership for Que
Software, 617-876-9516, fax [phone]; Reader contact: Que
Software, 317-573-2500, 800-992-0244)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00030)

 ****CD-ROM Expo Starts Tomorrow in Boston 09/29/92
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 SEP 29 (NB) -- Vast volumes
of products and industry issues will offered for exploration at
CD-ROM Expo, set to start tomorrow at the World Trade Center in
Boston.

The three-day extravaganza boasts two keynote speeches by
industry leaders, along with about 30 conference sessions and
exhibitions by more than 100 vendors, including the likes of IBM,
Sony, and Toshiba.

In Wednesday's keynote, Scott Sassa, president of Turner
Entertainment, will describe how Turner is using its library of
content from CNN, Hanna Barbera and MGM in interactive multimedia
CD-ROM publishing.

The next day, Stan Coryn, president of Warner New Media, will
deliver a keynote on "Post Digital Technology." Coryn first
spoke before a CD-ROM crowd seven years ago, and he'll now report
on the industry changes he's seen since.

Going on throughout the show, the conference sessions are divided
into marketing and production categories, with individual tracks
for consumers, business, education, database, and multimedia.

According to Dave Eliot, exhibit sales manager, topics will range
from "Fundamentals of CD-ROM" to "The State of the Art in Text
Retrieval," and from "Unix Tools" to "Creative Uses of Audio in
Multimedia Products."

CD-ROM Expo is sponsored by Mitch Hall Associates, but the
Optical Publishing Association (OPA) and the Boston Computer
Society (BCS) will also contribute educational fare.

On Wednesday, the OPA will present a series of business-oriented
seminars on "Covering Your Massive Investment," "Getting Your
Numbers Right," "Gaps in the Market - Product Opportunity," and
Go Client/Server or Die?"

Targeted at consumers, workshops by the BCS will be held each day
of the conference. Subjects include "How to Upgrade Your PC to
an MPC," "The Amiga Video Toaster," and "Multimedia Accessories,"
among many more.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19920929/Press and reader contact: Mitch Hall
Associates, tel [phone] or 617-361-0817)