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

Concord Intros TRAK/Report Tool For Trakker 10/01/92
MARLBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) --
Concord is continuing to expand the capabilities and functions that
their Trakker internetworking tool can accomplish. Now, Concord
is introducing a new utility called TRAK/Report which is to be
used to provide users with any kind of reporting on the network
that they may desire.

TRAK/Report does this through its ties with a commercial data
base management system that becomes a part of the system
with this utility. Concord has chosen to use the Ingres database
and a single-user copy is included in the utility as it is shipped.

TRAK/Report essentially provides two new functions to the users
of the Trakker system. The first is to provide a complete view of
the internetwork in terms of combining all of the accumulated
data from all of the different network segments into a single,
coherent, display. The second is to allow for various
configurations of the network segments into logical groupings
thereby allowing the network administrators to view different
parts of the overall network in various ways. One of the other
benefits of the new utility is the ability given to the network
administrator to decide on how much or how little data is to be
shown and analyzed.

TRAK/Report is also useful in combination with the other Concord
tools to give the network administrator a complete picture of
what is happening with the network. Of particular note is the
combination of Concord's "Who Tool" with TRAK/Report. According
to Concord, this particular combination of tools gives the network
administrator more power in some respects than using HP's
LANprobe or Network General's Sniffer.

The inclusion of Ingres into the utility has also brought some
other benefits to Concord such as an included SQL (structured
query language) report writer, graphing capabilities, a
comprehensive library of standard reports, and the ability to
create customized end user reports.

TRAK/Report is available now. It retails for $7,500 and includes
the licensing fee for the Ingres DBMS.

(Naor Wallach/19920928/Press Contact: Christine LeCompte,
Beaupre & Co. for Concord, 603-436-6690/Public Contact:
Concord, 508-460-4646)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00002)

New for Mac: Interplay Intros Two New Games 10/01/92
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- Interplay
Productions has released two new games for Macintosh users. The
first is an enhanced version of "Battlechess," the other is a brand
new game and a brand new game concept called "LexiCross."

The enhanced version of Battlechess for the Macintosh comes on a
CD-ROM. This alerts the customer to the unique properties of the
game from the start. Interplay spokespeople told Newsbytes that
the reasoning behind the choice to go with this new media, as
well as the reason for the "enhanced" label, is due to increased
emphasis on the graphics, the animation sequences, and the music
being played throughout the game. All of those factors combined,
lead to a much larger game than the company felt was justified
for standard diskettes. One of the other improvements in the
game is the inclusion of a 30 minute tutorial to the game of
chess.

The chess playing algorithms of Battlechess have not been
improved as all of the effort has been towards the visual and
audio improvements to the game. The program will run on any
Macintosh with four megabytes (MB) of RAM, a CD-ROM player,
and System 6.0.7 or later. The program retails for $79.95

Lexi Cross is the company's newest game and game concept.
Interplay is calling Lexi Cross a fast paced puzzle. The format
is of a 21st century version of Wheel of Fortune combined
with Jeopardy and Scrabble. The idea behind the game is to
test player's memory and strategy skills.

Some of the game's features include the ability to play alone,
against another player, or as teams, in trying to solve the game's
puzzles. Interplay estimates that there are more than 600
puzzles embedded in the game. Lexi Cross is shipping now and
retails for $49.95

(Naor Wallach/19920930/Press Contact: Kim Carino, Interplay
Productions, 714-545-9001/Public Contact: Interplay
Productions, 800-969-4263)


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

Autodesk's Instant Artist For DOS & Windows 10/01/92
BOTHWELL, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- Autodesk
is releasing Instant Artist, a package with ready-to-use
layouts for the design of common personal and business
documents.

The company maintains that the thrust of the package is to
allow users to create a sign or announcement quickly. No
drawing tools are necessary as users mix and match graphic
elements to form signs, banners, greeting cards, letterhead,
business cards, envelopes, postcards, and certificates,
Autodesk maintains.

From the main menu the user chooses the type of document,
then chooses from a list of pre-designed layouts grouped by
application. The screen splits with the available document
layouts on the left side and a preview of the currently selected
layout on the right, the company said.

A blank menu selection allows for users to create their own
layout, the company added. A library of professional borders,
templates, background fills, textures, special effects, and
type fonts are available for use in the pre-designed layouts
or in a new layout, Autodesk said.

Autodesk says the ability to create special effects is available
and includes rotation, mirror images, shadows, zooms, arcs,
three-dimensioning shaping, and cut-outs. The text provided in
each pre-design can be edited to suit the application, or a
quotation from a library available for each category can be
used. Of course, the user can modify the font, type weight,
point size, special effect, color, and placement of text. The
option to choose the size and orientation of the document may
also be specified.

Two versions of the product are planned, one for DOS and one
for Windows. The DOS version, expected in September, reads
Adobe Type 1 fonts. The Windows version, expected in October,
reads both Adobe and Truetype fonts.

Both versions allow export to the .EPS file format, and the
Windows version adds the ability to import .WMF and export
.TIFF format files, the company said.

Instant Artist runs on an IBM personal computer or compatible
with 512 kilobytes of memory, DOS 3.0 or higher, one hard
drive with four megabytes (MB) available, one floppy drive, and
a graphics card. The DOS version is retail priced at $89.95,
the Windows version at $139.95.

Autodesk, known for its high-end graphics package Autocad, has
started leveraging its ability in graphics and graphics tools
in other markets besides computer-aided design (CAD). The
company has announced a suite of products for interior and
exterior home and office design, and a presentation package
called Graphic Impact.

The new products are being offered by the Bothwell,
Washington-based Retail Products Group, the new name given to
the former Generic Software company when it was purchased by
Sausalito, California-based Autodesk.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920930/Press Contact: Sue Whitcomb,
Autodesk Retail Products, tel [phone] ext 4528,
fax [phone]; Public Contact, 800-228-3601)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(MOW)(00004)

Baltic Info92 Show Set For Lithuania 10/01/92
VILNIUS, LITHUANIA, 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- Baltic Info'92,
1st International Computer, Office, Information and
Telecommunication Trade Fair in the Baltic States is scheduled
for October 6-9, 1992, at the Litexpo-Center, Vilnius, Republic
of Lithuania.

Baltic Info'92, organized by the State Commercial
Communications Co., Varicom, will be attended by Western and
Eastern exhibitors from 14 European Countries, the US, Taiwan,
and Singapore, showing the latest computer, office, information,
and telecommunication technology.

Trade and industry representatives from Lithuania, Latvia and
Estonia, Belorussia, the Ukraine, Russia and Poland are also
expected to attend this exhibition.

(Kirill Tchashchin/19920930/Press Contact: Glebas
Paulevitchius, Varicom, tel. [phone]; fax:
[phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00005)

Japan: Canon's Color Copier With Forgery Protection 10/01/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- Canon has developed a color
copier with a forgery protection feature that the company
claims is the first of its kind.

Canon's latest color copier has a special memory chip, which
has the memory image of bank notes of world's major currency.
When someone tries to copy a dollar note, for instance, the
copier prints the paper black. This is because the copier can
recognize the image of the bank note.

Also, Canon has developed another type of protection feature --
The copier prints a cryptography that gives the record of the
copier and the date. Bank note forgery using color copiers has
been rampant in South East Asian countries and Europe.
Consequently, police agencies and banks have been requesting
color copier makers to incorporate possible protection
measures into copiers.

Canon has spent about five years developing the technology.
The firm has almost a 90 percent share of color copier market
in Japan. Canon says it will provide this technology to other
color copier makers.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19920930/Press Contact: Canon,
[phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00006)

Japan: Ricoh Intros Re-Writable CD Drive 10/01/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- Japan's major office
equipment maker Ricoh says it has developed a CD drive,
which allows the users to rewrite data.

It is intended for multimedia devices and computers. Ricoh sees
major potential in the CD drive, called the RS9200CD. The drive
will begin shipping on October 1.

It has a special feature called "Incremental write." With this
feature, the CD drive accepts the writing of data in large
quantities at one time. This is extremely convenient for
multimedia devices that deal with a huge amount of data. The
CD has a 650 megabyte (MB) capacity.

Ricoh hopes to ship 500 units of the CD drive per month. The
retail price of this drive is 500,000 yen ($4,150). Ricoh will
also ship the signal processing LSI for CD drive makers at
12,000 yen ($100).

Ricoh plans to ship about 100,000 units of the CD disk per
month, starting in October.

Currently, CD drives are sold by a couple of electronics makers
including Sony in Japan. The device has only 1 to 2 billion yen
(around $15 million) sales per year, but Ricoh thinks that the
CD drive market is quite lucrative, and estimates it will grow
to 50 billion yen ($415 million) market by 1995.

Ricoh expects to gain 20 billion yen ($150 million) in annual
sales by that time, which would account for about 40 percent
of total market share in Japan.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19920930/Press Contact: Ricoh,
[phone])


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

In-Flight Phone Gets Demo Chance At American 10/01/92
ORLANDO, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- Jack Goeken's
In-Flight Phone, which wants to compete with GTE Airfone for
airliner telephone service, said it will install its digital
FlightLink system in an American Airlines MD-80 as part of a
demonstration that could lead to more installations aboard
American's fleet.

Until now, American has been a regular Airfone customer, even
installing its new Seatfone service in airliner seatbacks. In-
Flight said that a similar test involving 10 USAir planes shows
that people use its system two-to-three times more often than
the older Airfone system, which currently offers only analog
phone service and limited information services. Airfone has
said in the past it wants to move to an all-digital system.

In the American Airlines test, each passenger aboard the aircraft
will find a telephone handset and a viewing screen. Seatfone
units are usually installed on every seat row. In addition to
telephone calls, In-Flight offers such data services as stock
quotes, fax messages, even videogames. Passengers may also
choose  to play electronic games right at their seats.

In-Flight has also  reached an agreement with Harris
Corporation's Government Aerospace Systems Division to
develop an airborne broadcast network providing 12-channels
of sports, news, and entertainment.

American Air spokesman Joe Crawley, however, downplayed the
significance of the announcement. "We'll take a look at and we'll
decide whether we want to use it." There will be 130 phones total
installed in the aircraft, he added, but, "This is not a sale in
the true sense. It's a test to see how the system works, although
we're confident about it.

"We want to see how people react to it, and how it works. We just
found over the years that we're not interested in fads. But we
know the phone service is welcome to travelers, and we're going
to see if a digital phone service, accessing all the electronic
resources available to such a phone, will be a product. Eventually
the bottom line is will people choose American because this is
there?"

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920930/Press Contact: Joe Crawley,
American Air, 817-963-2009)


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

Micrografx ABC Flowcharter To Ship In November 10/01/92
RICHARDSON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- Micrografx says
it will start shipping its first business-flow diagramming and
charting program, ABC Flowcharter 2.0, in November.

Micrografx spokesperson Debbie Deal told Newsbytes that the
company acquired the program from Roykore Inc., in May of this
year. The company describes the program as "the fastest,
easiest and most powerful flowcharting program for
IBM-compatibles."

Flow-charting uses shapes and symbols to represent processes
and procedures, with lines representing the flow or direction of
the information. ABC Flowcharter can construct charts that
outline ideas, procedures, and policies graphically, rather than
having to rely on written descriptions.

Micrografx says ABC Flowcharter includes automatic text
handling and line routing, supports color displays, provides
multi-level charting capabilities, and includes standard,
pre-defined shape palettes and on-line context-sensitive help.
 There's also a hint line feature that allows the user to know
at a glance what each tool represents, with editing buttons to
support each selected tool.

The company says the program will include automatic line routing
and rerouting, and guidelines can be placed anywhere on a chart
to assist with shape alignment. Shapes can be "snapped" into
position using the guidelines.

Charts can also be linked hierarchically, allowing for retrieval of
detailed information pertaining to specific processes at different
charting levels when needed. Customizable palettes are being
developed which allow the user to set up palettes as desired and
modify shapes to suit their specific needs. The programs supports
Truetype fonts and object linking and embedding (OLE).  Charts as
large as 100 inches square can be created. Both portrait and
landscape printing is supported.

ABC Flowcharter has a US suggested retail price of $495 plus
shipping and handling. Users of earlier versions can upgrade for
$99.95 plus shipping and handling. Micrografx includes 24 hour
technical support on its toll-free lines, a Micrografx
spokesperson told Newsbytes.

Newsbytes reported last week that Micrografx had released
Windows OrgChart, an organization chart creation program, also
acquired from Roykore.

(Jim Mallory/19920930/Press contact: Katrina Krebs,
Micrografx, 214-994-6247; Reader contact: Micrografx,
800-733-3729)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00009)

New For Mac: A Screensaver That Uses Photographs 10/01/92
PORTLAND, OREGON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- MIFP Development
has announced Screensavor, a unique screen saver program for
Apple Computer's Macintosh that uses color photographs.

The $49.95 program comes with a library of photographs, and
uses Apple's QuickTime compression/decompression technology.
In addition to the starter set, add-on image sets with additional
photographs are available for $39.95. Twelve photographs are
included in the starter set. The add-on sets are available in
various themes, including wildlife, undersea life, modern or
World War II aircraft, high speed scientific photos, pets, and
landscapes. The company says it will release two sets of NASA
space photos next month.

The user can elect to display one or four images simultaneously
on the screen. Photos are changed by selecting an agenda of one
or more display methods. Various display effects, including
dissolve, pixel-by-pixel, zoom, and color-by-number are possible.
Order and speed of display, hold time, and replacement method
are user selectable.

Screensavor is available through software retailers, or can be
ordered direct from MIFP Development through their toll free
order line. The company says it plans to release a Windows
version of Screensavor early next year.

(Jim Mallory/19920930/Press contact: Doug Perednia, MIFP
Development, 503-494-6846; Reader contact: MIFP, 503-292-
0362, 800-697-6437)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LON)(00010)

UK: Artisoft Ships LANtastic For Mac 10/01/92
SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- Artisoft, the
producer of the LANtastic networking system for PCs, has
announced it is shipping a version of Lantastic for the Apple
Mac, in an announcement nearly simultaneous with one made in
the US.

Two versions of the LANtastic for the Mac system are available:
hardware at UKP 599 and software-only at UKP 399. The
difference between the two kits is that the UKP 599 one comes
with a Mac Localtalk adapter, whereas the software-only kit
allows the Mac user to use his/her own cards.

Announcing the kits, Ave Ball, Artisoft's UK marketing director
said that major corporate companies are beginning to mix Macs
with mainstream PCs. "As a result, we see the need for Mac
support as becoming increasingly evident. Artisoft is one of the
first PC local area networking companies to offer a total
peer-to-peer solution for Mac connectivity," he said.

In use, LANtastic for Mac establishes a PC to serve as a
dedicated gateway between the Mac and PC environments. From
the dedicated PC server, the Mac can route network calls on to
any connected PC on the network. PC files and directories are
seen as standard Mac files and directories, with the Mac
Chooser selecting printers on the PC/LANtastic network on a
"transparent" basis.

(Steve Gold/19920930/Press & Public Contact: Artisoft - Tel:
0753-554999; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00011)

New For Mac: Microphone Pro Comms Package 10/01/92
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- Hoping to
appeal to networks using TCP/IP, Software Ventures Corp., has
begun shipping its new MicroPhone Pro for the Macintosh.

According to the company, the new MP Telnet Tool, which is
included in the package, allows users to communicate with any
remote host that supports a TCP/IP network. The product also
includes the FAXstf send and receive fax software from STF
Technologies Inc., which lets users send faxes direct from their
Macintosh.

David Hindawl, president of Software Ventures, said: "All the
scripting sophistication that made MicroPhone II the leading
telecom product for the Macintosh is now available in the TCP/IP
world. For the first time, TCP/IP users can automate just about
anything they do - mail, news, access to databases or data
retrieval."

MicroPhone Pro for the Macintosh carries the suggested retail
price of $295.

According to the company, FAXstf software allows for the
creating and sending of fax documents from any standard
Macintosh application, by simply printing the document. When
faxing, FAXstf automatically switches the computer's modem
to fax mode, then back to data mode for regular MicroPhone
communications use.

The company also offers the MicroPhone II product, which
includes the same features as MicroPhone Pro except for the
Telnet and fax software.

The company has been keen to market its communications
products to a wide range of platforms. In April, Newsbytes reported
that Japan's Mitsui Bussan had signed an agreement with Software
Ventures, which called for Mitsui Bussan to develop a Japanese
version of the company's communications program MicroPhone II.

In May, Newsbytes reported that the company was offering
two summer promotions on its Microphone II for Windows
2.0 software package in an effort to entice users of DOS-based
communications packages.

(Ian Stokell/19920930/Press Contact: Paul B. Schmidman,
510-644-3232, Software Ventures Corp)


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

Symantec's Norton Desktop For Windows Net Menuing Pkg 10/01/92
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- A little
over five months after introducing the Norton Desktop for
Windows version 2.0 software package, Symantec Corp., has
introduced The Norton Desktop 2.0 for Windows (NDW) Network
Menuing Admin Pack, designed to provide for customization of
Windows menus for groups of users on a network.

According to the company, the NDW network pack offers network
administrators centralized security and control over which
applications can be accessed by NDW network users.

Rod Turner, Symantec's executive vice president of the Peter
Norton Group, said: "As groupware becomes more prevalent in
the corporate computing environment, it is important that our
utilities products are more network aware. The NDW network
pack is a step in that direction."

According to the company, users have access to different
programs on the network based on application menus created
by the administrator, and common sets of menus for different
groups of network users can be set up within the standard
NDW interface.

For added security, the company says that the network
administrator can restrict user access to programs on the
network and secure network applications from unauthorized use.
Menu rights are assigned on existing user network rights and
administrators have centralized control of network application
menus. With NDW as the standard Windows interface, users have
access to personal menus as well as network-based application
menus. Password-protection capabilities are also offered.

The NDW network pack is available at a suggested retail price
of $295 per server. According to the company, it requires The
Norton Desktop 2.0 for Windows for each network user, Windows
3.x, Novell Netware version 2.15 or higher, LAN Manager Enhanced
Version 2.0 or higher, and 300 kilobytes (KB) of free disk space
for installation.

Newsbytes first reported the introduction of Symantec's Norton
Desktop for Windows 2.0 in April. It was introduced at the same
time as Norton Desktop for DOS and Norton Utilities for
Macintosh version 2.0.

In June, Newsbytes reported that the company had included
tape backup software capabilities in its new Norton Backup for
Windows 2.0, supporting such quarter-inch (QIC 40/80) tape
devices such as those made by Alloy, Core International,
Tallgrass, and Wangtek.

(Ian Stokell/19920930/Press Contact: Ana Shannon, Symantec,
310-449-4140)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BOS)(00013)

CASE World:  BMW Increases Its Softlab Stake To 98% 10/01/92
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- BMW has
increased its stake in the CASE (computer-aided software
engineering) company Softlab to 98 percent, and the manufacturing
giant could be expanding into other software areas, Newsbytes has
learned.

A BMW investment for the past five years, Softlab is now the
company's third largest business line, right after automobiles and
aircraft engines, said officials of Softlab Inc., the US arm of
Munich-based Softlab GmbH, in an interview with Newsbytes at
CASE World.

"There are two major forces in the world, oil and software.  And
we've decided to pursue software," asserted Dr. Bob Rockwell,
who was recently appointed chief technology advisor to Softlab.

BMW's initial share in Softlab was only about 10 percent, and as
recently as January of this year, the stake stood at 24 percent,
Michael Metcalf, marketing manager for Softlab Inc., told
Newsbytes. But the manufacturer has been increasing its equity
throughout the year, and has now brought its total share to 98
percent, added Michael DeVries, vice president of technical
services for the US subsidiary.

Rockwell told Newsbytes that BMW was drawn to CASE by the
improvements that CASE tools and methodology can make in the
speed and quality of software production. "The ability of CASE to
produce better software will play a key role in shaping the world
software market," he predicted.

BMW has previously announced an intention to grow a software
business around Softlab, added Rockwell. But the future
expansion into software is not necessarily limited to CASE, he
noted.

A Softlab employee for the past 15 years, Rockwell just completed
a one-year tour as head of a cooperative research program involving
multiple vendors. The program was sponsored by the Europa
Software Project, an enterprise being jointly funded by the
governments of several European nations.  In his new position, he
will remain stationed in Munich.

Softlab produces the Maestro II software engineering environment,
and is exhibiting the products at CASE world. Running on PC
clients and Unix servers, Maestro II incorporates tools for
analysis, design, system construction, testing, maintenance and
re-engineering.  The company's US offices are located in
Montvale, NJ, and San Francisco, CA.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19921001)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00014)

Electronic Imaging Expo: Synoptics' Multimedia Database 10/01/92
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- At Electronic
Imaging International in Boston, Synoptics has announced Treasury,
a browsable and searchable multimedia database for Windows 3.1.

In a demonstration for Newsbytes on the show floor, Richard
Maskell, vice president for product marketing, said that the new
software enables graphical management of live video, still image,
and audio files stored in other programs. "If you have lots of
multimedia files, you might have trouble finding what you need.
Treasury will tell you where (the files) are located," he said.

Maskell told Newsbytes that the new database keeps track of
files archived in TIFF, PCX, and most other common image and
multimedia file formats. These files can be stored on a variety
of media, including optical disks.

Files are represented through image icons, enabling easy selection
during casual browsing. A still picture, for example, will appear
on the menu as a miniature replica. To access the file, the user
simply clicks on the icon.

Searches are carried out through structured queries, Maskell
explained. The user might say, for example, "I want all images
that were recorded with the use of the new camera between 1:30
and 3:30 p.m. on January 22, 1992." After the query is entered, all
images that meet these criteria will appear on screen.

The database keeps track of files through stored references, the
company vice president said. A form designer included in the
package is designed for entering multiple layers of searchable
data. Alternatively, in cases where only file names are needed,
the names can simply be selected from the Windows File
Manager and dropped into the multimedia database.

A VGA display is required. Priced at $950, the package is
scheduled to ship within the next four weeks.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19921001/Press contact: Bob Towne,
Synoptics Ltd, Cambridge, England, tel [phone])


(NEWS)(UNIX)(BOS)(00015)

Electronic Imaging Expo: Frame Grabber For RISC 6000 10/01/92
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- At
Electronic Imaging International, Univision and Core Software
Technology (CST) have announced a product billed as the first to
provide frame grabbing capabilities to the IBM RISC System (RS)
6000.

The result of a joint marketing agreement between the companies,
the Unix-based UDC-8000 TI combines CORE imaging software
from CST with a graphics controller and optional image
acquisition hardware from Univision.

A public relations spokesperson for Univision told Newsbytes that
the graphics controller, a full-size EISA (Extended Industry
Standard Architecture) board, displays 256 colors at 1600 by
1280, 1024 by 1024, or 1280 by 1024 resolution.

The image grabbing capabilities are provided through two optional
daughter boards, one for digital and one for analog communications,
the spokesperson added.

The UDC-8000-TI can also be optionally equipped with interfaces
for a variety of cameras, including the Cohu digital camera, the
Kodak MegaPlus, and the Datacube Maxvideo. The hardware is
based on Texas Instruments' TMS34020 graphics controller and
TMS34082 coprocessor.

The CORE software lets the user perform interactive image
manipulation from an easy-to-use GUI (graphical user interface),
claims the company. Capabilities include image rotation, pan,
floating point zoom. The hardware and software imaging package
has started shipping. Base price is $3,795.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19921001/Press contact: Bonnie Pietragallo,
Univision, tel [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00016)

Futurus Plans NGM Product, Signs With Ingram Micro 10/01/92
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- Futurus has
announced a new product that will join their lineup of electronic
mail and groupware products over the next few weeks. Futurus
Team NGM will be one of the first products to support Novell's
new mail standard.

NGM stands for Netware Global Messaging. It is a standard that
Novell is attempting to get accepted which incorporates Novell's
current MHS standard with several enhancements and additions
that are said to promote the connectivity and useability features
of MHS. Futurus is among the first to announce complete support
for this new standard, and is also planning on being among the
first to offer products based on it.

Futurus Team NGM will offer the electronic mail functionality
that Futurus customers are accustomed to, across networks
equipped with NGM servers. The NGM server runs on the Novell
file server and no new hardware is needed to support it. Other
functions that Futurus customers are used to having -- such as
group scheduling, calendaring, and dialing features -- are not
supported in the initial release of Futurus Team NGM but are
being planned for introduction in an upgraded version that is
currently scheduled for the first quarter of 1993.

NGM offers some enhancements over plain MHS. These
enhancements are brought to the user's attention by Futurus Team
NGM. For instance, NGM allows for directory synchronization on
each call. This can eliminate the need for users to call each other
to get their mail addresses. Using a properly set up NGM server,
the two servers talk to each other and the users are presented
with the combined directory. Other features include a front-end
menuing system that shields users from the in-depth technical
information required for using X.400 and the use of SMF-71
electronic mail format.

Futurus Team NGM is scheduled to begin shipping in four weeks if
their current beta test program is successful. A five-user pack
will cost $395, a 25 user pack $1,395, and a 100 user pack
$3,995. Current users of Futurus Team Combo will be able to
upgrade but the company has not set up an upgrade policy at this
time.

Futurus has also announced that they have signed a distribution
agreement with Ingram Micro. This distribution agreement allows
Ingram Micro to distribute the Futurus products globally. For
Futurus, this agreement represents the first major distributorship
in the US, although they have several distributors in the
international arena. For Ingram Micro, this agreement represents
the first groupware product that they will distribute.

(Naor Wallach/19921001/Press Contact: Alan Weinkrantz, Alan
Weinkrantz & Co. for Futurus, 512-820-3070/Public Contact:
Futurus, 404-392-7979)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00017)

Proxim Adds PC Net Roaming Capability 10/01/92
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- Proxim
is charging ahead with the idea that networking should not
confine you to a single spot.

Proxim has introduced a new module in their RangeLAN product
line that allows you to connect your PC through the PC's parallel
port to the network without wiring. The RangeLAN/Parallel is in
addition to Proxim's other network interface adapters and works
along similar lines. The other new product, called
RangeLAN/PCMCIA, is a wireless network interface card that
attaches to portable computers through their PCMCIA slots. In
particular, the RangeLAN/PCMCIA fits any Type II connector.

Both of these new products can also be used with Proxim's newest
idea which allows the user to roam. With the roaming features,
users can move around the office area with their PCs and the PCs
maintain the network connection. In other words, there is no need
to logout of the current server and login again when you are at the
new site. Proxim spokespeople tout this as a great advantage for
people who are constantly rearranging their offices or for people
who must share limited office spaces - like several salespeople
who share temporary desk spaces.

The roaming feature is activated by a set of software that resides
on the server. Once one server is equipped with this software,
none of the other servers, nor the computers themselves need to
be concerned with how this task is to be accomplished. The
roaming feature works within the full distance of RangeLAN,
i.e. 800 feet.

The two new network interface adapters will retail for $595
while the RangeLAN Roaming software will retail for $99. All
of these products will be available in December.

(Naor Wallach/19921001/Press Contact: Sally Smith, SSSmith &
Associates for Proxim, 513-897-0654/Public Contact: Proxim,
415-960-1630)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00018)

DCA Intros New Token Ring Card 10/01/92
ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- DCA has
redesigned its Token Ring cards and has made several marketing
and distribution changes. The new card is called the IRMAtrac
Token Ring Adapter/Convertible board.

This new card replaces the old one of the same name and contains
significant new functionality. One of the main features that have
been added to the card is a software installation and configuration
utility that is much quicker and easier to use. The operating
environment in which the card appears is selected via a set of
menus. Once the software has all of the information needed, it
will automatically choose the correct drivers to load and
perform those tasks.

Other features include the use of the TI Token Ring chipset which
DCA has found to be substantially faster and better than any other
chipsets on the market. DCA is claiming that the TI chip is more
expensive than the alternatives, but that its higher performance
more than offsets the added cost. Finally, the card comes with
an optional remote boot ROM so that users can configure
workstations as diskless workstations.

On the marketing front, DCA has also made several changes. The
more important of these is the lowering of the board's price.
Effective October 3, DCA will charge $695 per board, down from
$895. The optional boot ROM can be purchased for $70. The new
installation and configuration software can be obtained
separately from the board by current IRMAtrac users for free.

Finally, DCA has also announced that they will offer this board in
a multi-pack configuration at reduced pricing so that one can buy
a set of five boards for $3,425 and a set of 30 boards for $19,950.
This new pricing structure also goes into effect on October 3,
1992.

(Naor Wallach/19921001/Press Contact: Kerry Stanfield, DCA,
404-442-4519/Public Contact: DCA, 404-442-4364, or
800-348-3221)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00019)

Ericsson Secures High Profile Russian Cellular Contract 10/01/92
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- Ericsson has secured a
prestigious contract with three other international partners to
supply cellular phone service in Moscow. Terms of the contract
call for Ericsson to work with US West, Millicom, and MNTK EMI of
Sweden to install a NMT 450 cellular phone network in the
Russian capital.

According to Ericsson, a pilot network of around 1,000
subscribers is already live in the Moscow area. Plans are in
hand to dramatically expand the cellular service area.

The cellular network is based around the NMT analog cellular
phone system, which is already in use in several Nordic
countries, as well as some Baltic states. The technology of the
NMT system differs slightly from the AMPS and TACS systems
seen, respectively, in the US and Europe.

The deal is a major feather in the cap for Ericsson, which had
been bidding fiercely for the Russian contract with its three
partners. According to sources close to the Swedish
telecommunications giant, the contract was won against stuff
competition from rival cellular phone consortiums, although the
NMT technology has been undergoing extensive trials by the
Russian Government.

(Steve Gold/19921001)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00020)

 ****IBM To Shave 600 Jobs From UK Company Payroll 10/01/92
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- IBM United Kingdom has
revealed that 400 jobs are to go in the UK as part of Big Blue's
ongoing battle to cut costs. Unlike some cuts in the US, however,
all the UK staff reductions will be voluntary, the company has
announced.

The UK layoffs have been in progress for several months,
Newsbytes can reveal. The job losses will occur at all levels of
IBM, at all of Big Blue's 26 sites here in the UK.

"The offer has gone out to certain employees that they can leave
the company if they wish, and they will receive payment for that.
It's purely voluntary," a company spokesman said.

The cuts could be a lot worse in the UK, Newsbytes notes. The
company's UK operations employees a total of 15,000 staff out
of a global workforce of 344,000. Worldwide, IBM must shed
40,000 jobs from the company payroll, as the effects of the
recession begin to bite.

(Steve Gold/19921001/Press & Public Contact: IBM United
Kingdom - Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone])


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

UK: Teleadapt Intros Mobile Modem/Phone Kits 10/01/92
PINNER, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND,  1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- One of the
biggest problems facing modem users travelling outside of their
home country is the lack of international standards when it comes
to phone sockets. Now a new company here in the UK, called
Teleadapt, has come up with a solution: Road Warrior phone kits.

Aimed at all users of modems and faxes, as well as phone users
with a requirement for unusual connections, the Road Warrior kits
come in a variety of sizes, ranging from the Euro Telepak at UKP
39.99, to the Ultimate Telepak for UKP 349.99.

The Ultimate Telepak even made this Newsbytes bureau's eyes
open wide. In exchange for UKP 349.99, you get a
phone/modem/fax connector kit that Teleadapt claims will work
just about anywhere. The kit contains adapters that will connect
any-to-any phone plug systems together, as well as a special
hard-wired conversion kit. Also included is a special acoustic
coupler designed for use with modems and portable fax machines.

One interesting add-in to the Telepak is the Telefiler, a unit that
overcomes the problem of the high-pitched impulses sent over
some telephone networks for call metering purposes. The Telefiler
is required for modem users in Germany, Switzerland, and a
number of East European countries, Teleadapt claims

According to a spokesman for Teleadapt, the company has acquired
a comprehensive knowledge of the world's phone systems and is
able to advise travellers on what equipment to take to which
country to get on-line. The company produces a worldwide guide to
phone connectors and other useful modem/fax information, as well
as a newsletter regular travellers.

(Steve Gold/19921001/Press & Public Contact: Teleadapt - Tel:
081-429-0479)


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

UK: Tulip Announces New PC Pricing Offensive 10/01/92
CRAWLEY, WEST SUSSEX, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- Tulip
Computers has announced across-the-board price cuts of up to
20 percent on its PCs and notebook computers. The company
claims several factors -- notably the strength of the Dutch
Guilder and recent sales success in the 486-based marketplace --
have enabled the price cuts.

The most significant reductions are on the company's Vision Line
DC and DT 80486SX-based machines. Both families of machines
feature accelerated graphics capabilities plus Intel Overdrive
features. Example prices are the DC 486SX with super VGA color,
which falls from UKP 1,660 to UKP 1,320 -- a reduction of 20
percent.

The reductions are not all as hefty as on the DC unit. On the DT,
DE and TR 486DX/e series, the cuts work out to be 9.25 percent.
These cuts are, Newsbytes notes, ahead of the competition in the
current UK computer marketplace.

"Whenever we're able to save costs in the manufacturing and sale
of our products, our customers should benefit," explained Steve
McCall, Tulip's managing director, announcing the price cuts.
"Our ability to translate our cost savings into reduced prices is
further proof of our commitment to not only provide dealers and
corporations with the performance they demand, but the right
prices to match," he added.

(Steve Gold/19921001/Press & Public Contact: Tulip Computers -
Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(DEN)(00023)

Motorola Intros Handheld Navigational Computer 10/01/92
NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- Hunters,
campers, and fishing enthusiasts rejoice! There's no longer any
reason for dedicated outdoor enthusiasts to get lost.

At least that's what Motorola's Automotive and Industrial
Electronics Group thinks. The company has introduced Traxar, a
handheld navigational device that uses satellites to determine
the user's exact location.

According to Motorola spokesperson Morene Dunn, Traxar is more
precise and faster than similar devices. She says that, at $1,295,
Traxar is about $400 more than its competitors. Motorola
officials say  the street price will probably be just under
$1,000.

The device is powered by six AA batteries, weighs 17 ounces, and
measures 7.5-inches by 3.6-inches, and is two-inches thick.
Dunn told Newsbytes Traxar should be available in retail outlets
by Christmas. If you can't find one in your local stores, Dunn says
you can order direct from Motorola.

Used in conjunction with a map, Traxar displays latitude,
longitude, and altitude on its four line by 20 character screen, and
can store up to 100 locations for recall. It has eight keys and a
series of menu screens for easy operation, says Dunn.

Traxar is being shown at the International Marine Trades Exhibit
and Convention which opens today in Chicago, and is expected to
be available in sporting and electronics stores by late December.

Traxar can tell users how far they are from a destination and
also estimate the time of arrival, according to the company. It
can also keep track of the users route, indicting if they have
passed a particular spot previously.

(Jim Mallory/19921001/Press contact: Morene Dunn, Deborah
Gordon Public Relations for Motorola, 312-372-0771; Reader
contact: 708-205-3864)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00024)

CompUSA Says Record 1Qtr Sales Up 55 Percent 10/01/92
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- Computer superstore
operator CompUSA reports record sales for the first quarter,
which ended September 25, up 55.8 percent over the same period
last year.

The company says sales totaled $263.4 million, up from $169.1
million last year. Comparable-store sales increased 21.1 percent
for the period for the 20 stores which have been open for a year
or more.

CompUSA says that beginning with the first quarter of 1993 it
has changed to fiscal periods in order to provide more comparable
results on a year-to-year basis in line with other retailers.
Fiscal years will end on the last Saturday of June, and each
13-week quarter will be divided into an initial five-week period
and two four week periods. In making the comparison with last
year, the company says it adjusted the FY92 first quarter sales
to reflect a 13-week first quarter ending September 28, 1991.

CompUSA operates 31 computer superstores in 21 major
metropolitan areas throughout the US, selling microcomputer
hardware, software and related products. The stores also provide
technical support and classroom training.

A CompUSA spokesperson told Newsbytes that CompUSA plans to
have 48 stores open by the end of June 1993. He said the next two
stores will open next month in the Northeast US, but declined to
say in what cities.

(Jim Mallory/19921001/Press contact: Nathan Morton, CompUSA,
214-406-4700)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00025)

New For Mac: Act! Contact Management Program 10/01/92
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- Contact Software
International (CSI) has released a Macintosh version of its ACT!
contact management software.

Contact management programs are popular with salespersons to
keep  track of their contacts with customers, when they should be
re-contacted, and who they spoke to. ACT! includes a database,
activity manager, calendar, word processor with spell checking
and mail-merge, and a custom report generator. The company says
each contact record has a unique history record and notepad
attached. The history record is updated automatically with each
completed call, meetings, to-do's, and user specified information.

The notepad automatically date-stamps each new entry. The
program stores data in a dBase compatible file structure.  Calls,
meetings, and to-do's can be prioritized, and the program can
schedule recurring and timeless activities, and supports
graphical calendar printouts.

CSI says ACT! users can choose from day, week, or month calendar
views when adding or modifying activities. Rescheduling can be
done by "drag-and-drop" using the Macintosh mouse. The program
offers  user-definable field types, including date, phone, currency,
numeric, character, and time, and uses customizable pull-down
menus and icon bars. An auto dialer is also provided.

The company says the word processor uses a Houghton-Mifflin
spell-checker, supports all Macintosh fonts including TrueType
and ATM-compatible fonts, and supports all Macintosh printer
drivers. Customized letters can be created by merging the contact
data with one of the pre-defined formats furnished with ACT! You
can also print to standard mailing labels.

ACT! has a suggested retail price of $395, and the company says it
will introduce international versions late this month. System
requirements include an Apple Computer Macintosh Classic, II
family, Powerbook, SE, LC, or Quadra; two megabytes (MB) of RAM
(4MB with System 7) and a hard disk. The program will run under
System 7 or System 6.0.4.

(Jim Mallory/19921001/Press contact: Heidi Munin, CSI,
214-919-9584; Reader contact: 214-919-9500, fax
214-919-9750; European contact: +44.0.753.830727)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00026)

Six Major Carriers Sharing Undersea Fiber 10/01/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- AT&T, British
Telecom, Deutsche Bundespost-Telekom, France Telecom, OTC
and  Kokusai Denshin Denwa have agreed to share parts of one
another's  undersea fiber networks on a worldwide basis.

The deal, called  the Global Networking Project, or GNP, is
mainly technical, but the participants may be considered
henceforth the "big six" of international telecommunications.
The deal is possible because there is excess capacity in fiber
optic phone networks worldwide, even as the number of links
expand.

The network will be based on two million bit/second circuits,
managed through equipment in each participant country and
controlled by a single network management center.

AT&T Senior Vice President Al Stark said the deal will let the
six restore individual customers' international services in
minutes instead of hours. If one company's cable goes out, traffic
can be quickly re-directed to another company's cable. The system
will follow a standard called Synchronous Digital Hierarchy, or
SDH, which is being built into many networks around the world.

The security of undersea cables is of increasing concern,
especially as they carry more traffic. Terrorists aren't the only
threat -- one cable to France went out repeatedly last year
because fishermen kept cutting it accidentally.

Stark added that other companies may be added to the program in
order to extend its geographic reach. All six carriers are now
selecting vendors for needed equipment, and hope to have the
service running by the end of 1993.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921001/Press Contact: AT&T, Cindy
Pollard, 201/326-4908)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00027)

 ****Seattle Gets TDMA-CDMA Cellular Showdown 10/01/92
BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- US West will
upgrade its Seattle-area cellular network with Code Division
Multiple Access equipment from Motorola Nortel, guaranteeing a
market showdown between it and the competing Time Division
Multiple Access technology. McCaw Cellular, which holds the other
Seattle license, is a big booster of CDMA. US West hopes to have
its CDMA gear in by late 1993.

The choice of a digital cellular technology has long been
controversial within the industry. TDMA, on which patents are
held by International Mobile Machines with cross-licenses given
to General Motors' Hughes subsidiary, had the early foot, and was
repeatedly endorsed by the industry's trade group. The TDMA
technology divides a calling channel into multiple pieces, and
sends digitized phone signals through each narrow channel.

But CDMA, which sends calls throughout a calling channel using
"spread spectrum" technology developed by the military to protect
against jamming of radio signals, has more capacity. Qualcomm,
which came up with CDMA, claims its system offers 10 times the
capacity of existing analog systems under Motorola's AMPS
scheme, while TDMA offers only three times existing capacity.

Complicating the matter further has been a Motorola extension
of AMPS, called NAMPS, claiming three times present capacity,
and an extension of  TDMA, called E-TDMA, from GM Hughes,
claiming it can offer 15 times current capacity.

The US West NewVector sale is the first firm commitment to
CDMA, and stock in Qualcomm rose in price on the news, with
the Alex Brown & Sons brokerage house repeating a strong buy
recommendation.

The decision of US West to be first in with CDMA was something
of a surprise, however. In the past Pacific Telesis and NYNEX,
both of which own stock in Qualcomm, were the technology's
biggest boosters. US West had been thought to be in the NAMPS
camp. Perhaps the biggest news here, however, is Northern
Telecom's commitment to CDMA, through Motorola Nortel. There
had been no hint of that previously.

In any case, the deal guarantees that more market battles over
digital cellular are in the offing. And, in Seattle, it guarantees
that if you buy a digital cellular phone in the next few years, you
won't be able to switch that digital service between carriers, as
you can with analog service.

In other news on the subject, Qualcomm said it won a contract
with Local Area Telecommunications, known as LOCATE, to adapt
CDMA to personal communication networks, in a test at Bear
Stearns & Co. in New York. LOCATE is experimenting with PCN
service in the 1850-1990 microwave frequency band. IMM,
meanwhile, signed a deal with Acuity Digital to implement TDMA
in the Improved Mobile Telephone Service market. IMTS is an
older form of mobile telephone technology still used in rural
areas. The deal to upgrade IMTS with IMM's Ultraphone systems
could increase competition in rural telephone markets, giving
the older technology capacity for services like voice mail and
call alert.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921001/Press Contact: David L. Smith, IMM,
215-278-7831; William G. Fuesz, Acuity Digital, 612-851-2525;
Qualcomm, Allen Salmasi, 619/597-5060; U.S. West, Laurie
Johnson, 206/562-5483; Motorola Nortel, Dan Galluzzi,
214/301-2569)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00028)

Anterior Wireless Gateway Renames, Gets New CEO 10/01/92
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- Anterior
Technology has renamed itself RadioMail to emphasize its wireless
electronic mail gateway service and named William R. Hipp its new
president and chief executive officer. Hipp replaces founder
Geoffrey S. Goodfellow, who remains chairman and chief technical
officer.

Hipp had been president of Dowty Network Systems, which makes
local area network products, and a vice president for Hughes LAN
Systems. Hipp retired from the Air Force in 1984 with the rank
of Colonel.

In a press statement, Goodfellow emphasized that Hipp's goal is
to move RadioMail, which can link wireless systems like RAM
Mobile Data to wired mail services like GEnie, from a product
for techies to one for the general public.

The RadioMail gateway has in the past supported palmtop
computers like the Hewlett-Packard 95LX and pagers, but interest
is high with the advent of so-called Personal Digital Assistants
like the Apple Newton and AT&T Hobbit. Under the system,
subscribers get a Radio Mailbox in the company's computer center,
and can then exchange mail with users of LAN-based electronic
mail networks like those on Lotus cc:Mail, public access systems
like MCI Mail, AT&T EasyLink and Compuserve, and the worldwide
Internet and UUCP/USENET service.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921001/Press Contact: RadioMail, Geoff
Goodfellow, 415/328-5615)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00029)

Intrastate Toll Call Competition Growing 10/01/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- Perhaps the most
lucrative monopoly in the US remains that for intrastate long
distance and toll calls. For the most part, only the regional
Bell companies can handle these calls, although state regulators
are trying to pry that monopoly loose.

Still, it can cost more for a New Yorker to call Montauk, on the
end of Long Island, than Los Angeles, and more for an Atlantan to
call Jimmy Carter's old hometown of Plains, Georgia, than Seattle.

California is leading the way in the move to mandate competition,
one reason why Pacific Telesis' stock remains in the mid-40s
despite its persistent moves to split itself up. PacTel gets more
money from such "toll calls" than any other regional Bell.

Other states are also trying to force the Bells to offer "equal
access" on intrastate long distance calls, as is the case with
interstate calls. Some observers, like Bruce Kushnick of New
Networks Institute, accuse the Bells of dragging their feet on
this, delaying installation of necessary software and waging a
holding action before state regulators.

Some critics maintain that, another way for the Bells to both
maintain their hold on customers and appear to be good guys is
with "calling plans."

Michigan Bell, an Ameritech unit, is offering something called
Circle Calling Area Wide, which allows one hour of long distance
calls within a single area code for $5 per month. A 30 percent
discount off regular rates is offered for calls above the limit.
Michigan Bell spokesmen claimed the deal was a benefit of
recent deregulation in the state. Also, AT&T lowered its
intrastate prices in New York slightly, passing on lower access
charges paid to NYNEX approved by state regulators there.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921001/Press Contact: AT&T, Laura
Abbott, 212-841-4710)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00030)

 ****Digital Equipment's New Boss Offers Peek At Plans 10/01/92
MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 1 (NB) -- On his
first day on the job as Digital Equipment's president and chief
executive, Robert Palmer promised a more focused company, and
acknowledged that this will mean eliminating some products,
some redundant pieces of the company, and jobs.

"Looking at the numbers of late, you might be left with a sense of
pessimism," the new president admitted. However, he argued that
Digital has the "strongest balance sheet in the industry," and
practically no debt. And he added that DEC will continue to have
a very conservative financial structure.

Palmer noted that Digital "has had a profound impact on the
computer industry for 35 years," and predicted the firm will have
a powerful impact in the future as well. DEC is "facing a much
more competitive environment than it has ever faced before."

The business model on which Digital was built is no longer
sustainable, he said, and the company must lower costs and
become more competitive.

"It's time for a clear direction with a focus on meeting our
customers' needs," Palmer told reporters and analysts through
a worldwide videoconference from DEC headquarters.

Palmer said that in the engineering-oriented days of his
predecessor, Digital founder Kenneth Olsen, the company took a
self-contained, sometimes inefficient approach to developing
technology. "Frequently we get different products that overlap
each other in their functionality and performance." This is
costly and a "burden that we don't intend to bear in the future."

Palmer also said the company has to cut costs. "We're looking at
every expense," he said. But he said the company must not only
cut costs but make sure everything it does "adds values for our
customers." To that end, he said, "we're looking at every step in
our supply chain."

For example, the PC business must live with low margins while
producing high quality products. The company has found a way to
do this by having PCs built to its specifications by a third party,
he said. "The lessons we are learning from the PC business are
being applied elsewhere," he said. "Historically Digital has tried
to do everything internally. That's not sustainable, it's not
affordable."

The changes will affect DEC's work force. Palmer said there is no
fixed plan to reduce staff, but he did say the company will have a
"smaller, more focused work force." The company's staff has
already been reduced, and Palmer said that the process will
continue over the next couple of years.

He dodged reporters' attempts to quantify the possible staff
cuts, but said press reports published recently are close, and
added that he does not expect the company will need to take
further restructuring charges.

Palmer said he plans to focus Digital on certain "core
competencies," including software, networking, semiconductors,
services, and open systems.

Customers are demanding open systems, he said. "Open systems
are driving this market. Digital will therefore do whatever has
to be done to be a leader in open systems." And he acknowledged
that, contrary to the position Digital sometimes took in the past,
many customers want Unix, and DEC must be prepared to provide
it.

Pointing to DEC's Alpha processors, introduced at the beginning
of this year, Palmer said his company is a leader in semiconductor
technology with the world's fastest microprocessor. "Digital will
continue to invest in semiconductor technology and manufacturing
as a core competency."

The company's systems integration business is growing at more
than 20 percent per year and is profitable, Palmer said. He
predicted continued growth in this area.

On the networking front, Palmer also promised continued
development of Digital's Network Applications Software (NAS)
and continued improvement of its networking product line.

Along with more focus on these key areas, Palmer warned, there
will be "disinvestment" in other areas, particularly hardware.
"Inevitably a focus on those technologies where we do very well
means not focusing on some others....Digital will stop trying to
do everything for everybody, all the time, everywhere." DEC's
investment in hardware is one of the largest in the world,
he noted. "We are committed to examining and refocusing that
investment."

The company will soon appoint a vice-president of engineering to
take charge of "rationalizing" its hardware investments, he said.
This person will be appointed within a couple of weeks and will
come from within Digital, he said. "We have not had a vice-
president of engineering, supported by management, and with
clear objectives, for several years," he said, "and the results
show it."

As an example of Digital's efforts to be more focused, Palmer
cited investment in new semiconductor manufacturing facilities
in Hudson, Massachusetts, and on the other hand, its recent sale
of a Greenville, South Carolina, printed circuit board plant that
it judged redundant.

Palmer said responsibilities will be clearer, and accountability
will be emphasized. "Digital will have 'no-excuses' management,"
he said.

Palmer also promised more effective communication with both
employees and the outside world. "I'm aware that information
from Digital sometimes comes in informal, indirect ways and
has often been inaccurate."

The second chief executive in Digital's history said he could not
expect to replace Olsen. "Ken Olsen is a legend in the computer
industry and rightly so," he said, crediting the company founder
with "the original notion of interactive computing." Digital was
the first manufacturer of minicomputers.

Palmer also gave Olsen credit for giving DEC a value system that
emphasizes employees and bottom-up management -- but added
that the company needs clearer direction and better-defined
goals.

(Grant Buckler/19921001)