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/nb921005

Text File | 1992-10-05 | 80KB | 1,722 lines

(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00001)

Creative Labs, Media Vision Settle Suits 10/05/92
MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- Creative Labs
and Media Vision have announced the two companies have resolved
their conflicts with an out-of-court settlement. Both
companies make sound cards for IBM and compatible personal
computers (PCs).

Creative Labs filed first in June alleging Media Vision had
reverse-engineered its Sound Blaster sound card to produce the
Thunderboard sound card product. Media Vision in turn, filed a
counter suit against Creative Labs charging restraint of trade,
unfair competition, and monopolization.

Creative Labs has the advantage of having its software sound
drivers supplied with Microsoft Windows 3.1. If other sound
boards are compatible with the Sound Blaster, users of those
products can use the Windows-included Sound Blaster sound
drivers, which makes it easier to get sound working.

However, there was a surprising development in August when Microsoft
announced production of its own sound card. Microsoft told Newsbytes
that a high-end sound card would be developed because no
sound board fully adhered to the Windows multimedia standard.

While neither Media Vision nor Creative Labs have said their
settlement has anything to do with pending competition from
software giant Microsoft, both companies say the resolution of
the suit will allow them to concentrate on bringing new
products to market, instead of fighting in court.

Under the terms of the agreement, Creative Labs has said it
will license its Sound Blaster technology to Media Vision and
Media Vision has agreed to pay Creative Labs a sum for the
license. The amount Media Vision will pay was not disclosed and
neither were any other terms of the agreement.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921003/Press Contact: Creative Labs, Benita
Kenn, tel [phone]; Claire Merriam, Media Vision, tel 510-
770-8600; Abigail Johnson, Roeder-Johnson for Media Vision, tel
415-579-0700, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GOVT)(ATL)(00002)

A Tax On Your Modeming 10/05/92
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- Industry groups
are warning that modem use is about to be taxed, and there
appears little anyone can do about it.

The Information Technology Association of America, which
represents online services, sent out a press release saying that
the Internal Revenue Service should not extend a three percent
communications excise tax to use of online services. A similar tax is
already collected on all phone service, and has been since 1965.
After Congress made the tax permanent a few years ago, the IRS
began making rules to implement it, asking whether revisions are
needed to reflect new technologies like modems.

ITAA and the other associations are crying foul, claiming that an
extension of the tax to online users would hurt the economy by
imposing a disproportionate burden on a highly competitive and
expanding sector of the economy. They say "expanding" the tax would
force companies dependent on communications to increase the price
of their services, thus reducing demand. Critics say this could
hamper online services' international competitiveness. Besides,
telephone companies already use lots of "new" transmission methods
like microwaves, fiber optic cables and satellites which are subject
to the tax. Extending the tax to new services would be beyond the
scope of the law, the ITAA says.

However, given the fact this is an IRS rulemaking, not an action
by Congress or the President, it is hard to imagine where
political pressure might be applied to stop the tax, observers
say. The low rate of the tax, the fact it would mostly be applied
to fairly wealthy people who can afford to use online services,
and the high federal deficit also make it unlikely the ITAA could
win its point if the IRS decides to go ahead.

Bill Warner of the ITAA said the IRS isn't likely to make a
decision on any of this for about a year. Warner added that, to
create a packet network, you have to perform a computer function
on the data, so that while the underlying network might be taxed,
the packets should not be. "Once you start with that computer
function, where do you stop?" he asked. The worst fear of the
ITAA is that the IRS could decide to tax services like GEnie and
CompuServe directly. A decision like that by the IRS would
likely end in tax court, with the services arguing the IRS has
overstepped its authority to interpret the law.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921002/Press Contact: ITAA, Bill Warner, 703-
284-5331)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00003)

New For PC: Zagat-Axxis CityGuide 10/05/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- The Zagat Survey and
AXXIS Software have announced Zagat-Axxis CityGuide, navigation
software that runs on personal computers. Initially available for
New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, the software locates exact
addresses and includes Zagat's restaurant and hotel ratings.

The guide contains every address in each metropolitan area covered,
officials said. Stephen Buerkle, president of Axxis, said a user
can enter an address in the package and will be shown on a map exactly
where the building in question is located. This is more useful than an
ordinary map that will simply let you locate the street, he said.

The software also includes restaurant and hotel ratings compiled by
Zagat, which also publishes this information in its printed
restaurant and hotel surveys. Buerkle said the Zagat information is
both more comprehensive than other popular restaurant guides -- it
lists 1,063 restaurants in the New York area versus about 150 in
the Fodor's guide, he said -- and more objective than the printed
guides usually found in hotel rooms, the contents of which tend to
be paid advertising.

Zagat's restaurant ratings are based on the reports of numerous
travellers who have visited the restaurants and rated them, Buerkle
said.

The software also uses map data from Etak of Menlo Park,
California.

Zagat's guidebooks now cover 30 major North American centers.
Buerkle said Axxis plans to cover all of these in its software.
Versions for many American cities will be available by the end
of this year. Some cities outside the United States will be added
starting early in 1993, he said.

The main market for the software will be business travellers
working for Fortune 1,000 companies, Buerkle said.

The software requires a computer with at least two megabytes of
memory (four megabytes is recommended) running Microsoft Windows
3.0 or 3.1. The data for one city will occupy up to nine megabytes
of hard disk space, Axxis said.

Axxis plans to have the software available by mid-October. A
single-city version of the software will cost about $99, Buerkle
said, and a package covering New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago
will go for about $250. Adding cities to an existing package will
cost less than buying the data for the first city, he said, but
specific prices haven't been set.

Versions of Zagat-Axxis CityGuide for the Macintosh and for
hand-held computers from a number of manufacturers are also planned
for later this year, officials said.

(Grant Buckler/19921002/Press Contact: Stephen V. Buerkle, Axxis
Software, 215-896-0576, fax [phone]; Allan Ripp, Zagat Survey,
212-977-6000, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00004)

New For Networks: Lotus Upgrades CD/Networker 10/05/92
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- Lotus Development
has enhanced its CD/Networker software, which lets multiple users
share compact-disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) disks on a local area
network (LAN).

According to Lotus, CD/Networker 4.1 offers new load balancing,
fault tolerance, and concurrency control features, and supports
access to a wide variety of CD-ROM applications on major network
operating systems. The software works with any CD-ROM compatible
with the NetBIOS standard on PCs, but does not support Apple Computer's
Macintosh at present, Lotus spokesman Bryan Simmons said. Networks
supported include Banyan, IBM and other NetBIOS-compatible systems.

Currently, Lotus supplies CD/Networker with its Multimedia
SmartHelp edition of the 1-2-3 for Windows spreadsheet software and
with its One Source financial data CD. Support for multimedia
applications is just starting to arrive now, Simmons said.

The main piece of CD/Networker is a dedicated CD/Server software that
gives multiple users simultaneous access to as many as 28 CD-ROM
drives per server, 224 per network. CD/Networker supports multiple
CD/Servers on a network, Lotus said, enabling load balancing for
large workgroups, fault tolerance for mission-critical applications,
and access to an unlimited number of CD-ROM applications.

CD/Networker handles the requirements of networked animation, sound
and video, using buffer memory on both the CD/server and the
workstation, the company added.

CD/Networker is available immediately, directly from Lotus and from
Lotus' authorized resellers and value-added resellers for a
standard retail price of $995. The product is licensed per server,
with no workstation limitations.

(Grant Buckler/19921002/Press Contact: Bryan Simmons, Lotus
Development, 617-693-1697; Public Contact: Lotus Development,
800-343-5414)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(HKG)(00005)

Hongkong: HP Strengthens Local Partnerships 10/05/92
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- Hewlett-Packard Hong Kong has
announced the appointment of Graphics Technology International (GTI)
as a "master value added reseller" (VAR) of its workstations in the
territory, a new arrangement as well as an HP global strategy
implementation to offer smaller resellers, and ultimately customers,
better support and service.

The deal has been in effect and is already enabling HP to be a much
stronger force in the field of client-server computing, according to
Jack Lee, managing director of HP Hong Kong.

"GTI has been an HP VAR for more than three years and has been a top
performer all along," said Michael Lam, HP Hong Kong's district
sales manager of computer systems. "The company has the right
experience and professional skills to provide greatly increased
presales and front-line support to HP's smaller VARs, software
houses, system integrators, and eventually end users -- just the
qualified 'master reseller' we've been looking for."

Throughout the time in which it has worked with HP, GTI has
specialized in client-server technology and has become an experienced
dealer of relational databases and software tools.

Lam stressed the support-oriented nature of HP's decision with
regard to GTI. Under the new partnership, GTI's experienced
technical support team will be able to offer advanced technical
training and back-up to smaller VARs, which in turn can be passed on
to end-users in the form of better support.

GTI'S managing director, Ignatius Kung, said, "HP challenged GTI to
support smaller resellers. GTI has a lot of experience in
workstations support and client-server computing so we know what
small VARs need and can give them the right ideas and help them
grow." HP also had enough marketing pull to ensure success for its
resellers, Mr. Kung added.

In addition to acting as a master reseller of HP workstations, GTI
will market the American giant's personal computer and peripheral
technology, thus providing a broad range of products, with emphasis
on client-server technology, to smaller resellers and other
customers.

In today's business world, one of the key areas of technological
development is in the area of client-server computing, with Unix
boxes acting as powerful servers supporting PC clients.

"This environment is particularly familiar to GTI. The company is
therefore capable of recruiting and training potential small VARs to
provide integrated services in client-server computing to users. We
expect this will help push the technology further," said Mr. Lam.

Before setting up its new arrangement with GTI, HP had been looking
for a master reseller in Hong Kong for nine months as part of its
worldwide plan to appoint master VARs in the countries where the
company does business.

Master resellers appointed as part of this move are called upon to
set up full support and training facilities so they have everything
in place to offer smaller VARs the best possible assistance.

In the Asia-Pacific region, HP has already appointed master
resellers in Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, and China.

(Brett Cameron/19920930/Press Contact: Ada Tam, HP, Tel: +852-848
7566; HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(HKG)(00006)

Korea Telecom Goes With Tandem 10/05/92
SEOUL, KOREA, 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- Korea Telecom, the government
telecommunications authority for South Korea, has ordered from Tandem
Computers, Tandem CLX technology for its strategic subscriber network
management application.

A CLX840 and three CLX860s will now handle four of Korea Telecom's
15 network nodes, collecting real-time data from the telephone
exchanges, manipulating and analyzing the data, and managing traffic
flow.

Tandem won the contract despite the fact that the Korean government
actively promotes the purchase of indigenous technology, and in the
face of intense competition from long-time incumbent Unisys.

Tandem also has large telecommunications systems in place in China,
Singapore, and Malaysia and has cited telecommunications as one of
the company's major growth sectors in the coming years.

(Brett Cameron/19920930/Press Contact: Denis Odlin, Tandem tel:
[phone];HK time is GMT + 8)


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

CompuAdd PCs To Include CompuServe Info Manager 10/05/92
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- CompuAdd Computer
Corporation says effective immediately all its personal computers
will include the CompuServe Information Manager software, one free
month's use of CompuServe's basic services, and a $15 CompuServe
usage credit.

CompuServe is one of several subscription on-line services that
includes hardware and software support, free and shareware software,
electronic mail, travel information, current stock quotes, news and
sports information, and a host of other services for computer users.

The $15 usage credit could be used to explore CompuServe's premium
and extended services, for which there is an additional charge
beyond the basic service. Most cities have local phone numbers, so
users don't have to pay long distance charges.

CompuAdd operates a support forum through which users can get
answers to questions from other users and CompuAdd's technical staff.

CompuServe Information Manager is a front-end program that makes it
easier for computer users to navigate the various forums and
roundtables.

CompuServe strategic relations manager, Michael Horwitz, says CompuAdd
is the first major PC vendor to include the CompuServe Information
Manager on its systems' hard drives. "Because of the company's
extensive reach through its stores and catalogs, thousands of new
customers will be able to experience the benefits of online services
at no initial cost," according to Horwitz.

Use of online services can be addictive, and users can run up
considerable on-line charges if they're not careful. However, the
services can offer a number of resources, including support from
many major software vendors.

(Jim Mallory/19921002/Press contact: John Pope, CompuAdd,
512-250-2000, Debra Young, CompuServe, 614-457-8600)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00008)

Free Workgroup Seminar Comes to Denver 10/05/92
DENVER, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- Discount software
retailer Egghead Software says it will bring its free workgroup
computing seminar to the Denver Convention Center on October 6.

Titled "Group Power: Maximizing Assets and Talents Through Network
Computing," the seminar will include demonstrations from more than
15 software manufacturers, including Microsoft, WordPerfect,
Borland, Lotus, IBM, and Symantec. An Egghead executive will also
explain networking issues such as product licensing, standardization,
and the company's Software Asset Management (S.A.M.) program.

Egghead said it developed S.A.M. to assist companies and government
agencies in the establishment of standards for software applications,
ensuring long-term compliance, and protection against inadvertent
employee piracy. The Software Publishers Association regularly
works with law enforcement agencies to confiscate and prosecute
companies using illegal software, and estimates that software
publishers lose millions of dollars annually from pirated and
illegally copied software.

IBM representatives will demonstrate OS/2 version 2.0. Borland will
demonstrate spreadsheet program Quattro Pro for Windows, and Paradox
for Windows, a database application. Lotus will be showing
SmartSuite for Windows, a package that includes Lotus 1-2-3 for
Windows, Freelance Graphics, word processor Ami Pro, and
cc:Mail, a LAN-based electronic mail system.

Microsoft will be on hand to demonstrate Windows 3.1 and Microsoft
Mail 3.0, an electronic mail program that works across hardware
platforms. Symantec will showcase The Norton Desktop, a network
compatible files management and utilities program available for both
DOS and Windows. WordPerfect will be showing WordPerfect
Presentations 2.0 and WordPerfect Office 4.0. Office combines
electronic mail, calendaring, and scheduling functions.
Presentations is a presentation graphics program.

Egghead sells software through about 200 retail outlets, an outside
sales force, and via mail order.

(Jim Mallory/19921002/Press contact: Megan McKenzie, Egghead
Software, 206-391-6266; Reader contact: 800-344-4323; Seminar
registration, 800-344-5569)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00009)

Iomega Offers Floptical Disk 10/05/92
ROY, UTAH, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- Iomega Corporation, the maker
of removable mass storage devices, has announced a "second generation"
21 megabyte (MB) Floptical diskette.

"The way to think of Floptical technology is as a bigger, better
floppy (disk)," says Iomega senior VP of corporate development, Anton
Radman. He says the newest storage media will bring the floppy disk
back into mainstream use as a practical, cost-effective general
purpose storage medium. Flopticals could replace use of hard drives,
especially in laptop computers.

Floptical disk drives can read the 21MB Floptical disks, and can
also read the older 720 K (kilobyte) and 1.44 MB disks currently in
use in most desktop and portable computers. The optical servo
pattern in the disk surface provides very accurate read/write
magnetic head positioning over data tracks to achieve the higher
capacity, equal to many hard drives, especially those in use in
older machines.

Iomega says the optical servo method enables Floptical disks to pack
1,245 data tracks per inch, compared to 135 tracks per inch on
conventional floppies, and 2,000 tracks per inch on Winchester-style
hard drives.

Iomega explains that first generation Floptical diskette
manufacturing used a stamping process, while the second generation
disks are etched by a laser. Iomega says it is the only company
currently producing laser-etched Floptical disks.

Features of laser-etched disks include a harder coating and smoother
surface; high optical contrast and track concentricity; more precise
head alignment; testing and certification of every disk; low-level
preformated diskettes; and compatibility with all Floptical drives.

Iomega Floptical diskettes are sold in packs of one, five, and 25,
wth suggested retail prices of $35, $155, and $750 respectively.

(Jim Mallory/19921002/Press contact: Cara O'Sullivan, Iomega
Corporation, 801-778-3712; Reader contact: 800-777-6179)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00010)

UK: Microsoft Bundling Deals 10/05/92
WINNERSH, WOKINGHAM, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- Microsoft has
announced that Apricot, Compaq, Digital, Elonex and ICL are
bundling the company's Office 3.0 for Windows suite of software
with their PCs.

The deal represents a major coup for Microsoft, which claims to
represent a premium mix of both direct and indirect manufacturers
whose PC sales comprise more than 20 percent of the UK PC market.

"This is a true endorsement of our Windows applications
applications, as well as a real indication of what is happening
in the PC market," commented John Leftwich, Microsoft's director
of marketing.

"Corporate customers are demanding Windows applications and they
want a premium solution that works the minute they switch on
their PC. By providing Microsoft Office, our hardware partners
partners are responding to what customers demand," he said.

The bundling agreement with the hardware manufacturers runs
until the end of December and may be extended by mutual agreement.
Pricing details on Office 3.0. for Windows differs, depending on
which manufacturer's PCs are involved.

(Steve Gold/19921002/Press & Public Contact: Microsoft - Tel:
0734-270001)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(DEL)(00011)

India: FM Used For Paging Services 10/05/92
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- FM technology, which set its
foot in the country a decade and a half ago, is scheduled to be put
into use on a try-out basis for paging services by All India Radio
(AIR), the countrywide official radio network.

For starters, the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) will make use of
this facility through the Rourkela transmission center of AIR.
After a period of time, provisions will be made to apply the
Radio Data System (RDS) for broadcasting data in the auxiliary
channel of FM broadcasts on an experimental basis. Eventually,
the service may be rented out to private users.

The information relayed on RDS will be for general use and without
any interference in the main transmission. In RDS, the data is fed
into a computer, which encodes it into digital signals that are
then transmitted through the FM channel along with the main
transmission. At the receiving end the signals are interpreted
by a decoder and displayed as information on a monitor.

As a result of this procedure, a listener, tuned in to the main
transmission, is not interrupted.

The FM broadcast methodology promises the likelihood of
transmitting additional services through auxiliary subcarrier
channels for a variety of applications. AIR plans to make use of
this system to transmit stock prices, the most recent rail and
air travel timings as in teletext, and weather bulletins and news
in tandem with organizations such as the Press Trust of India.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19921002)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEL)(00012)

India: Matra-Harris Floats Joint VLSI Venture 10/05/92
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- Realizing India as a potential
market for semiconductors and electronic equipment for the telecom,
instrumentation, and defense industries, Matra-Harris Superconductors
(MHS) of France has entered into a joint venture with Usha Rectifier
Corp. of India.

The joint project will manufacture semiconductor-related equipment,
application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), gate arrays and
static RAMs for computers, and other telecommunication components.

MHS will supply the 3-micron technology to Usha Rectifier
exclusively and plans to discontinue the manufacture of the
above-named products in France. The firm will also shift some
existing operations to the Indian joint venture project, Usha
Matra Ltd, which will be situated in Bhimtal. The shifting of the
plant will cost Usha Matra around $6.4 million, with another $4
million for packaging. The 50 crore project is slated to go on stream
in October 1992, and the design center will commence work around
October 1991.

Matra has also given a commitment for a 15 percent buy-back of
the total production. A turnover of Rs 30 crores is expected by
the end of the first year and a turnover of Rs 50 crores is
anticipated by the end of the third year of production.

The project is a result of Matra's decision to concentrate on the
development of 2-micron and 1-micron technology, which will in turn
be sent on to India. The 3-micron technology for semiconductors is
increasingly popular in India. The 2-micron technology is expected
to be available from the Indian firm within two years and the
1-micron semiconductor technology for the manufacture of similar
devices should be implemented in the next five years.

The Usha Matra project will also mark the first private sector
venture in the semiconductor field. India had been importing these
products from various countries but primarily from Alcatel of
France. There was some production in the domestic circuit with
3-micron technology by public sector company Semiconductor Complex
Ltd., but after the complex was gutted last year, production
in this line virtually stopped.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19921001)


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

New For PC: Sound Impression Sound Editing For Windows 10/05/92
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- Digivox
claims to be offering 16-track recording capability in Sound
Impression, its new desktop recording studio product for
Windows 3.1 users.

Sound Impression offers sound recording, editing, and mixing
capabilities, according to Digivox. The user interface looks
like a "rack mount" component stereo system with universally
recognized functions. For example, the screen has mouse-
operated sliding volume and balance controls, the company said.

The company says users can create any type of sound with Sound
Impression, including complex 16-track compositions. A waveform
editor allows cut and paste of sounds from as many as 16 edit
sessions. The program allows a user to convert mono waveforms to
stereo and stereo to mono, and add effects such as echo, fade, pan,
and crossfade.

The screen is made up of the Title Panel, Mixing Panel, the
Wave Recorder/Player, and the MIDI Player. The Title Panel
offers buttons and an optional menu bar for file management and
other functions. The Mixing Panel has sliding volume and
balance controls for input of recording devices, wave sound files,
musical instrument digital interface (MIDI), and compact discs (CDs),
and master controls for the main volume and balance. Input can
be from microphones, line, or auxiliary input, the company
said.

The Wave Recorder/Player records and plays Wave files, offers a
loop function for continuous play, and allows access to editing
and composing areas of the program. The MIDI Player plays and
sequences MIDI files, and the CD Player can play audio CDs from
a CD-ROM drive if one is present.

The company said users are free to change effects without
restriction to one or two preset values. For example, Digivox
claims the echo function offers three levels with individual
delay and decay settings for each, plus flange and chorus
capabilities.

The product requires a 386 or higher IBM or compatible personal
computer with at least 4 megabytes (MB) of memory, but 8 MB is
recommended. A hard disk drive with 2 MB of space available and
16 MB for workspace is also needed, as is a sound board with
Windows 3.1 multimedia drivers installed, the company said. A
CD-ROM drive is optional. The product is retail priced at
$149 and is available directly from Palo Alto, California-
based Digivox.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921002/Press Contact: Greg Kelly, Digivox,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00014)

IBM Japan Replaces President 10/05/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- IBM Japan's President Takeo Shiina,
the president of IBM Japan for over 17 years, has ushered in a
successor. Kakutaro Kitashiro will assume the presidency of Big
Blue's Japanese office. Shiina will assume the chairman's post.
IBM Japan has also announced that it will create two new firms.

The new president, Kakutaro Kitashiro, will assume the presidency
on January 1, 1993. Kitashiro is 48 years old. He joined IBM Japan
in 1967 after graduating from Keio University. Kitashito joined the
board of directors at IBM Japan when he was 41, an age considered
young for such a level of responsibility in Japan. In March 1991,
Kitashiro was promoted to vice president.

Kitashiro has in his career at IBM won major accounts. He created
the in-house computer systems for Tokyo Gas, Tohoku Electricity, Kansai
Electricity, and Mitsubishi Bank.

17-year veteran president Takeo Shiina leaves a rich legacy. He
applied Japanese culture and the Japanese way of management to the
firm, and the payoff is that IBM Japan is now one of the largest
firms in Japan. Takeo Shiina will remain chairman and will help
Kitashiro.

The official news of Shiina's retirement from the presidency caps
months of rumors suggesting it would soon happen.

In other news, IBM Japan President Shiina has announced plans to
spin off two departments into separate new firms. The information
systems and service divisions will be spun-off into separate businesses
scheduled to open for business on January 1, 1993. The
president of the information systems firm will be Tatsuyuki Saeki, a
member of IBM Japan's board of directors, and the president of
the service system firm will be Hideki Kurashige, also a director.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921015/Press Contact: IBM Japan, +81-
3-3586-1111)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SYD)(00015)

Australia: OTC Previews Digital Mobile Communications 10/05/92
PERTH, AUSTRALIA 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- Australia's OTC has
previewed the next generation of mobile digital communications
services to be offered by the end of 1993. Satcom-M and Satcom-
B will be available through a $12.5M upgrade of the Inmarsat
facilities in the city of Perth.

These new global mobile satellite services are the result of more
than five years of intensive development by Inmarsat, and offer
many advantages to users on land and sea. The new services will
compliment the existing Satcom-A (analog phone and telex),
Satcom-C (low-cost digital terminal) and Inmarsat-Aero (an
advanced digital air-to-ground phone and data service).

Satcom-B is a digital successor to Inmarsat-A analog system. It
offers significant operational and cost advantages to the shipping
industry, remote locations such as the Australian outback or in
countries where mobile comms aren't yet available. It provides
high quality voice, fax and data plus safety and weather
information. This service will also take advantage of future
Inmarsat spot beams. Antenna specs and terminal set-up costs will
be about the same as Satcom-A, but transmission costs will be
much less due to the efficiency of the digital system.

Satcom-M is similar to Satcom-B with lower quality voice and
slower fax speed (2.4kbps) to appeal to users who are constrained
by equipment size or cost. The antenna is much smaller (around
400-500mm or 18"), the terminal cost is much smaller, and voice
transmission costs will be comparable. It is suitable for use in
cars, boats and remote homesteads (ranches). It will also be
available in a battery-powered briefcase unit for executive use. It's
being called a step towards the multi-purpose personal
communicator. OTC tested it in Australian outback conditions.

(Paul Zucker/19921005/Contact: OTC tel [phone] fax
[phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(MOW)(00016)

 ****IBM Courts Russian Bankers 10/05/92
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 OCT 5 (NB) - Some 46 Russian experts in banking
automation came together to consider the lures of Big Blue aboard the
luxury "Leo Tolstoy" riverboat recently. BankTech consortium, which
was chosen to run the presentation, has several IBM Business Partners
among its members.

BankTech consortium officers centered their presentation around one
simple message: "The AS/400 computer is the key solution to your
problems."

Cash management issues caused major headaches for Moscow bankers this
summer. They faced a mammoth problem -- the volume of electronic
transactions required to keep the Russian economy afloat does not
match the combined performance of all PC-compatible banking systems
installed in local banks.

Since 1989 when the major spin-off process began in Russia, dozens of
major banks withdrew their branch offices from the state-supported
computing and financial structures. This process is expected to
accelerate as privatization continues in Russia. Still, the Central
Bank of Russia (CBR) retains a stronghold in Russian banking by
offering a combination of batch-processing operations and very
low-speed communications for handling cash flow.

"The mind-boggling mixture of centralized and distributed transaction
management technologies causes instability with respect to our long-term
objectives," said Mikhail P. Saveliev, chief of technical information
for the Russian Banks League. "Our experience with batch-oriented
systems does not help in setting up a modern transaction-oriented
environment. We were in fact excluded from the transnational banking
automation community due to COCOM regulations of the past decade."

Georgy V. Gens, president, Banktech Consortium, said that closer ties
with IBM became inevitable as local bankers sought integration with
foreign partners and better data communication facilities. "AS/400-based
systems mean a radical departure from the desktop data processing
philosophy which prevails in Russian commercial banks. Fault-tolerance,
SWIFT interbank network connectivity, and the use of ATM (automatic
teller machine) equipment are totally new concepts for the banking
business in Russia. AS/400 may serve as a solid platform for making
these key concepts a reality here," he says.

Datacom resources, previously used by exclusive clients like the
Communist Party head office and various government agencies, are
now offered for lease or sale. "What we may offer is the unique
experience in maintaining secure and reliable data communications,"
said Alexander G. Zudin, director of the Trade Bank Net company.
His spin-off venture retains close links with Voskhod (Sunrise), a
systems house in Moscow.

The seminar aboard Leo Tolstoy riverboat, however, had its cons as
well as pros. Some participants quipped that it was an example of
Russia's closed-space mentality. "We need more flexible approaches
in selecting the platforms. Many options offered here remain
prohibitively expensive for small commercial banks in Russian provinces,"
said Ms Lyubov Sumina from Sakhalin Bank in the Far East. Keeping a
cautious eye on IBM offerings, some customers were noncommittal
during the seminar. "The AS/400 solution looks like the shining
tip of the costly iceberg," as one provincial banker put it.

(Alexandre Giglavyi & Kirill Tchashchin/19921002)


(NEWS)(IBM)(MOW)(00017)

 ****IBM Moscow Sinking Deep Roots 10/05/92
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 OCT 5 (NB) - Cooperating actively with local
companies, IBM has spread deep roots in the Russian soil and officers
at the company believe the time is ripe to offer higher-end systems.
"We are not forced anymore to reduce our activity to selling
entry-level products," IBM's representative in Moscow, Lenart Krook,
told Newsbytes in an exclusive interview.

His year-long stay in Moscow has resulted in major advances toward
this goal, he said. Interviewed aboard the Leo Tolstoy riverboat
during a presentation to banking executives, Mr. Krook appeared
open and enthusiastic.

Mr. Krook is faced with the fact that IBM's AS/400 product line
is unfamiliar to Russian customers whereas these computers form
the backbone of many banking automation projects in the West. This
highly modular server-type machine may become the system of choice for
customers in banks and other institutions, he contends.

Krook reported on his progress, saying that in the past year he
has selected four local managers for IBM in Moscow, and has set up
training for 25 students from local universities in business and
technical matters.

IBM is continuing efforts to fund high-end training for management
and engineers in Russia. "We are still working on that project
but Phase 1 funding expired on January 1st '92. We are going to
reopen the funding proposal for the Russian government before the end
of this year so we may continue with Phases 2 and 3 of the project.
There will be more focus on the high-end -- management education and
post-diploma training of engineers -- rather than just secondary
schools as in Phase 1. It will be more balanced this time provided
that financing is found," he told Newsbytes.

Krook said IBM has plans to be more active in information
services, although he said IBM's International Information Network
has attracted only foreign clients in Russia. "But we are going to
improve the situation," he said.

Krook explained IBM's plans to work with small business, rather
than with state-supported structures and enterprises. "I see a big
difference between what big factories and plants looked like a year
ago and what they are now. Their managers have much more autonomy
now, they are free to make key decisions. In addition, we are
going to work with small businesses here through the network of
our business partners offering various solutions for this market
sector."

What are IBM's perspectives in marketing mainframes in Russia?
Krook replied: "I know that Nitsevt [a local research center in
Moscow] is working on the continuation of the local line of
mainframes, and we are working with them but not on very aggressive
or large-scale projects. On the software development side we work
with Minsk engineers. We will also work with Nitsevt programmers
and maybe two or three other partners."

He also said that IBM mainframes are being purchased in Russia.
"I personally call the AS/400 a mainframe, which is capable of
working with 2000 terminals and supports large databases. If you mean
high-end machines, we have signed contracts to supply ES/9000 for
the geophysical research center and an automobile plant. The problem
of funding these contracts still remains unsolved though."

Krook said that telecommunications inadequacies in Russia remain a
stumbling block in the implementation of better computer networking,
and pointed to the Irkutsk project [a clearing and payment transfer
center] as an example of this problem. This project depends totally
on reliable carriers for electronic transactions. "There is an
enormous need for improvement [in telecommunications], not only for
banks," he said.

The high-end workstation market just now developing in Russia.
Sun Microsystems is selling its SPARCstations there. The IBM
executive was asked if IBM's own RISC-based workstations are to be
sold and are affordably priced for Russian customers. "Our
workstations are not prohibitively expensive. In fact, the entry-
level configurations are comparable with PS/2s. For high-end
configurations a COCOM license is still required," Krook said,
adding that COCOM licenses do not kill, but just delay shipments
"no more than three to four months."

(Alexandre Giglavyi & Kirill Tchashchin/19921005)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00018)

 ****Electronic Consumer: The New Face Of Banking 10/05/92
DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- Home banking is
coming back, but bankers don't want to call it that. Banks can
no longer afford the current means of contacting customers and are
looking to electronic, digitized "smart" phones as a means of dealing
with individuals, according to William Randle, senior vice president
and corporate marketing manager for Huntington Bank, and Matthew Lawlor,
president of Online Resources and Communications.

Randle, in his presentation at the "Defining the Electronic
Consumer" conference in Del Mar, California, said 65 percent of
a bank's overhead is spent on the interface to the customer,
i.e. branch offices. He said most banks spend $.65 to $.75 to
make $1.00 and banking is just not as profitable as it used to
be.

Also, Randle said out of 3,500 people surveyed, 16 percent say
banks are inconvenient. Also, he quoted a survey by the MAC
Group, a marketing research firm, which said by the year 2000
less than half of all bank customers will see the inside of a bank.

The concept of home banking was introduced 10 years ago in 1982 by
Huntington and failed miserably. But now Huntington, with AT&T, is
going to try to bring it back. To avoid all the bad sentiment that
went with the term "home banking," Huntington is calling its
service "smart banking."

Huntington and AT&T have partnered on a Smart Phone product
that has a touchscreen as well as a standard touch-tone number
pad. The Smart Phone has an internal microprocessor and a
modem. Randle says Huntington and AT&T plan to market the
phones both to banks to sell to their customers and through
AT&T's retail stores. Randle claims a telephone interface has
the advantage of being a communication device customers already
know how to use.

The Smart Phone can also be used for other purposes as well.
Randle said some of those functions include shopping and ordering;
travel, accommodations, and event ticketing; and delivery services
such as flowers or pizza.

The computer interface Huntington is offering to those wanting
to talk to Smart Phones is called Smartel. Smartel was built
and designed by AT&T but is owned by Huntington, Randle said.
Randle called Smartel a systems platform and said Smartel
derives and translates information to and from Smart Phones.
Huntington is predicting five million consumers will be using
Smart Phones via Smartel by 1995.

However, there are a couple of implications to this scenario.
One is banks will be serving the people whose business they
value least via branch locations, because those people will be
the least likely to be able to afford the purchase of a Smart
Phone. This implies lines will get longer, not shorter. Also,
certain bank services, such as investments and loan
applications might be difficult to do over the phone.

However, Huntington says it has an idea for the need for
personal interaction as well and that's live video automated
teller machines (ATMs) which it expects to incorporate by mid-
1993.

Randle said Huntington is working with NCR to develop the video
ATM machines and expects to begin testing a concept model in
the near future. The concept is customers can walk up to an ATM
and press a button to see and talk with a live service person
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Randle said loan applications,
investment purchases, product information, and almost any other
bank service can be offered in this manner with out the expense
of another branch location.

Randle didn't say how much the AT&T Smart Phone would cost the
consumer, but another company, Online Resources and
Communications, says it has a competing product that will cost
less.

Matthew Lawlor, president of Online, showed the Online120, a
telephone also designed to facilitate home banking in much the
same way the Smart Phone does. The Online120 doesn't have a
touchscreen, but does offer a digital interface with buttons
that allow the user to make a selection, and can also be used
for other than bank transactions.

Lawlor said the Online120 has the advantage of coming into a
bank's system looking just like a foreign ATM transaction or an
ATM transaction done with a card not issued by that bank, but
supported by the bank. The foreign ATM transaction is one all
bank online services are already built to handle, so no extra
system is required to talk to the Online120. Lawlor said one
bank only needed two days of work on its computer system to be
able to offer the use of the Online120 to its customers.

Lawlor said the telephone banking interface is expected to
appeal to current users of ATM cards, which out of the 90
million bank customers is projected to be in the 52 to 53
million people. He also said users of ATM cards use their cards
five or more times per month.

While Randle didn't mention the predicted retail price for the
AT&T Smart Phone, Lawlor says the Online120 will be sold
directly to banks for $89. However, some banks have chosen to
charge less for it, such as MNC Financial which is offering the
Online120 to its customers for $69.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921005)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00019)

 ****Electronic Consumer: The Selling Of Multimedia 10/05/92
DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- While much has
been made of user friendliness in the computer world, Paul
Saffo, a research fellow at the Institute for the Future, said
user friendliness isn't as critical as it has been made out to
be. Saffo,, in defining what makes consumers buy products,
predicted that consumer electronic companies are the most
likely to be the winners in successfully offering multimedia to
consumers.

At the Defining the Electronic Consumer conference in Del Mar,
California, Saffo said if user friendliness was so critical, no
IBM personal computers would have ever been sold. Consumers buy
and use complex and dangerous products everyday and huge
successes have come from "user surly" products. Take the
automobile, about which death statistics are reported daily and on
weekends, and which needs constant refueling, attention, and
maintenance, Saffo offered. However, a very friendly and safe
product, the pet rock, didn't last long. Saffo said the missing
part of the equation is the usefulness of a tool weighed
against the "Threshold of Indignation."

The Threshold of Indignation, as Saffo defines it, is higher on
things we care more great deal and lower on things about which we
care little. Saffo also said the indignation threshold can be
lowered by increased exposure and training with an item, and
gave the example of a time traveler from the 1920s who tried
to use a touch-tone telephone and a 1990s time traveler who
tried to do everything through the telephone operators of the
1920s.

A final piece of the equation for how consumers will be drawn
to an item is the ability and willingness to pay, according to
Saffo.

Saffo put up a chart with the X-axis being the expense of an
item and the Y-axis being its indignation threshold. He then
selected four items, a B-2 Bomber, Cyberspace, a Rolls Royce,
and a telephone.

A B-2 Bomber was at the top of the X and Y axis on the far top
right as the most expensive and hardest to use. At the bottom
of the right was Cyberspace, meaning on-line services such as
the Internet that Saffo claims only teenagers with little money
and lots of time have truly mastered. A Rolls Royce is at the
far top left as very expensive but easy to use. (Saffo said the
Rolls Royce could be pushed up and to the left still farther if
a chauffeur was added.) Then at the bottom left was the
telephone depicted as relatively cheap and easy to use.

Saffo then placed high-tech products in a diagonal order
beginning at the telephone and ending at the B-2 Bomber. After
the telephone came the television, the video cassette recorder
(VCR), and the stereo system. Then there was a gap before the
personal computer, workstation and mainframe filled the
diagonal stepping stones up to the B-2 Bomber.

The implications Saffo drew in relationship to high-tech
electronic products were many. One was high-tech products tend
to move downward and left over time, meaning their costs
decrease and the performance increases. He quoted Moore's Law
(named after Intel co-founder Gordon Moore), who said that the
cost of a given unit of processing power on a chip decreases by
a factor of 10 every two-and-one-half years, while the number
of circuits that one can fit in a given space (an indirect
measure of performance) increases at the same rate.

Saffo also said consumer thresholds will increase over time, so
new-fangled gizmos that frustrated the grandparents rarely
bother the children.

Product manufacturers tend to be tuned to particular zones on
the map -- and moving is remarkably hard. Saffo likened the
target markets of various companies to hunters in a prehistoric
village. Aerospace firms are mammoth hunters who are used to
making a kill every six months, while personal computer
companies are the deer hunters who make a kill once a week, and
consumer electronic firms are rabbit hunters who have to make a
kill every day. Asking mammoth hunters to kill rabbits would
generate responses of the practice is demeaning and hard. So
Saffo says aerospace companies are unlikely to successfully
invent the successor to the VCR, even though they pioneered
many of the components VCR makers incorporate into their
products.

According to Saffo, it is easier for companies to move to
higher indignation threshold products or more expensive
products, than to go the other way. Saffo says this is illustrated in
the inability of US computer manufacturers to make a significant
play in the fastest growing market in the PC industry -- laptops.
The consumer electronics industry has been more successful as it is
not afraid of the high volume, low margin manufacturing and sales.
Laptops are as complex as PCs but priced like consumer electronic
commodities.

IBM's move in the 1980s into PCs was offered as an example.
Saffo said moving down for companies is like trying to swim to
the bottom of a pool with a life jacket on. The PC sector was a
close neighbor to the company's established mainframe business
so it was able to make the move. However, the home PC move with
the PC Junior was too far and was more like organ rejection
than market failure for Big Blue, Saffo observed.

His last observation concerned what he called the important
opportunities ahead -- filling the product gaps immediately
adjoining a company's core products. Saffo pointed to IBM and
Apple's respective entries into personal computing as an example.
However, Saffo said the biggest gap is between consumer electronics
such as VCRs/stereo systems and personal computers.

Multimedia or "new media" is the technology Saffo says will close
that gap. He predicts that consumer electronics players
will win in that arena as it is easier for them to produce more
expensive and more complex multimedia electronics items for
consumers than for PC manufacturers to move down.

However, Saffo maintains the successful players will require
help from both sides of the gap, both from the PC side and the
consumer electronics side, in order to succeed.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921005/Press Contact: Paul Saffo, Institute
for the Future, tel [phone], fax [phone])


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

Bell Update 10/05/92
ORLANDO, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- As part of their
effort to expand the number of available telephone numbers,
Floridians must dial a few more digits, starting today.

Long distance calls within an area code will now require the
dialing of the area code if they're to be completed. About 13
companies serve the state, but GTE and Southern Bell hold the
lion's share of the market. The two companies said that 6 million
new numbers will be made available by the change, which covers 4
area codes: 305, 904, 407, and 813. The biggest problem will be
in re-programming speed dialers, computers, and private business
phone switches or PBX devices, so they can handle the new
numbers.

Elsewhere, Pacific Bell proposed a $102 million rate reduction,
worth 37 cents per month, based on an "incentive" approach
approved in 1990. Phone rates are adjusted annually under the
plan based on inflation and improved productivity -- the company
shares savings with the ratepayers. Pacific Bell said in its
filing that its productivity increased 4.5 percent, but inflation
amounted to 3.1 percent, resulting in about a 1.4 percent rate
decrease. The proposed reductions take effect January 1.

Finally, Bell Atlantic completed the acquisition of Cellcom of
Hickory, a small cellular operation which will be merged into its
Metro Mobile division. The company serves part of North Carolina,
next to a Bell Atlantic "non-wireline" franchise serving
Charlotte. The system has six cell sites providing about 1,100
square miles of coverage.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921005/Press Contact: Bell Atlantic, Karen
Ann Kurlander, 908/306-7552; United Telephone, Brian Craven,
407/889-6807)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00021)

Videoconferencing Standards Work Proceeds 10/05/92
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- In tests sponsored by
the Communication Industry Association of Japan for the CCITT
standards-making body, 16 different videoconferencing vendors
showed their equipment working together at 128,000 bits/second
under a system called Harmonization of Advanced Telecommunication
Systems, or HATS. Each manufacturer linked successfully with
every other participating manufacturer, with both audio and video
signals.

Participants included VideoTelecom, Compression Labs, and
PictureTel of the US, along with Canon, Fujitsu, Hitachi, KDD,
Kyocera, Mitsubishi, NEC, NTT, Ohkura, Oki, Sharp, Sony and
Toshiba of Japan. At 384,000 bits/second, participants included
VideoTelecom and Compression Labs of the US, and Fujitsu,
Mitsubishi, NEC, NTT and Toshiba of Japan. This capability,
called "interoperability," was also featured at the
Telecommunications Association show in San Diego during
September. That show also include GPT and British Telecom of the
United Telecom, along with many of the vendors who worked in
Japan.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921005/Press Contact: VideoTelecom, Alison
Raffalovich, 512/834-3720)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00022)

Canada's Spirit Initiative Moving Forward 10/05/92
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- The Spirit Initiative,
an attempt to promote Canada's online information industry, has won
the official support of the Information Technology Association of
Canada (ITAC) and is now working to sign up private backers.

Huw Morgan, director of marketing and database publishing at
Toronto-based Infomart, told Newsbytes that ITAC's executive
committee endorsed the initiative's business plan September 11, and
that go-ahead was followed by the approval of the industry
association's board of directors.

"We now have ITAC's full support," said Morgan, who heads the ITAC
committee working on the initiative. The federal government's
Department of Communications has also been involved in developing
the Spirit Initiative.

The group intends to set up a clearing house to provide public
information on Canada's online information industry, make speakers
available to groups interested in the industry, and provide seed
money that would help create training materials related to online
information services.

Three major participants in the industry -- Southam, Micromedia,
and Globe Information Services, all of Toronto -- are initial
backers of the initiative. Morgan said the effort is now under way
to sign up more private backers.

About C$1 million will be needed to pay for the project over three
years, Morgan said, and "we're looking to the private sector to
provide the lion's share."

The group is currently preparing a mailing to about 30 companies
that are likely supporters, Morgan said, and will follow up with
meetings in the next couple of months.

The group hopes to hire an executive director in the spring,
followed by an information officer to manage the initiative's
information clearing house function.

(Grant Buckler/19921005/Press Contact: Huw Morgan, Infomart,
416-442-2234)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00023)

 ****Gates Richest American, Perot 19th 10/05/92
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- Microsoft
Corporation co-founder and chairman, Bill Gates, is the richest
American, according to Forbes magazine. He's also the youngest
person ever to top the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans.

Gates co-founded Seattle-based Microsoft Corporation in 1974 and the
company broke the $1 billion sales mark in 1990. His net worth is
estimated to be $6.3 billion.

Number two on the Forbes list is Metromedia's John Kluge, with a net
worth of $5.5 billion. Metromedia owns television and radio stations,
the Harlem Globetrotters, the Ice Capades, and various cellular
phone interests. Kluge has led the list for the past three years.

The widow and children of the late Sam Walton, founder of the
Wal-Mart store chain, hold third through seventh place on the list,
each with a net worth of over $5 billion.

Presidential candidate Ross Perot comes in 19th on the Forbes list,
with a net worth of $2.4 billion. A Forbes article accompanying the
list says Perot is worth less than many people believe because his
General Motors stock was counted twice.

Joining the list this year required a net worth of at least $265
million, slightly less than last year's $275 million. "The list
reflected the changing US economy," according to Forbes Editor Harry
Seneker. He said when the magazine started the list in 1982 there
were more oil people on it. "Between then and now a lot of real
estate holders came on and off," said Seneker.

The magazine said 74 of the list's millionaires and billionaires
call California home, more than any other state. New York ranks
second, but the number of list members from there dropped from 71 to
63 this year. New York City has the most residents on the list,
with San Francisco holding the second spot and Los Angeles third.

(Jim Mallory/19921005)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00024)

Dell Names New Canadian Operations Head 10/05/92
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- IBM-compatible personal
computer maker Dell Computer Corporation has announced the
appointment of Harvey M. Coleman as president of Dell's Canadian
subsidiary.

Coleman succeeds Bruce Sinclair, who was recently promoted to VP of
Dell's Northern European operations. Prior to joining Dell, Coleman
held various positions in the Olivetti Group, including president
and CEO of Olivetti Canada Limited. He's familiar with the Canadian
market, having established country-wide sales and distribution
networks in the country while with Olivetti.

Coleman said he's looking forward to working with Dell, which he
says has revolutionized distribution and service in the PC industry.
"This is a very crucial period in Dell's development, as well as a
time of rapid change in the entire computer industry," according to
Coleman.

(Jim Mallory/19921005/Press contact: Roger Rydell, Dell Computer,
512-794-4100)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00025)

Compaq's New Servers, External Storage Device 10/05/92
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- Compaq Computer has
announced two new PC servers and an external storage system.

"The Compaq ProSignia and Systempro/XL will shake up the server
marketplace just as we shook up the desktop and notebook markets in
June," boasted Compaq President Eckhard Pfeiffer.

The company says the ProSignia is a 486-based, 33-megahertz (MHz)
file server which is 64 percent faster and $2,200 less expensive
than Dell's 486/50-based servers, and $1,200 less than the
486sx/33-based IBM PS/2 Model 85. Prices for ProSignia servers
start at under $4,500.

Compaq says the Systempro/XL is the world's fastest PC server, with
prices starting at under $14,000. The company claims its 89 percent
faster than IBM's Model 95/XP, at about the same price.

The company says the new servers will come with NetWare from Compaq,
a version of Novell's network operating system specifically for
Compaq. It includes Insight Manager, a Windows-based utility for
over-the-network management of Compaq PC servers.

Compaq is now including a free three-year, on-site warranty, and
24-hour telephone support for hardware problems with the new
servers, and two new service options covering 24-hour phone support
for network-related incidents.

Another addition to the Compaq hardware line being announced
is ProLiant, a SCSI-2 external storage system that can store more
than 7 gigabytes (GB) of data. Using an external storage device
would allow Netware customers to swap out a failed drive without
shutting down the entire network. Up to four ProLiant devices can
be used on a network. ProLiant is also supported for use on
Compaq's Deskpro/M, Systempro/LT, and Systempro.

ProLiant includes a SCSI-2 controller, a 32-bit network interface
controller, and a 1024 X 768 graphics controller. Its processor chip
can be upgraded by replacing the present 33 MHz Intel 486 with an
Intel Overdrive Processor, such as the 486DX2/66.

Compaq says the Systempro/XL will ship later this month, while most
models of ProSignia are now shipping worldwide.

(Jim Mallory/19921005/Press contact: John Sweney, Compaq,
713-374-1654; Reader contact: Compaq Computer Corporation,
800-345-1518)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(DEN)(00026)

Colorado PUC Gives Go-ahead For Caller ID 10/05/92
DENVER, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- The Colorado Public
Utilities Commission has given approval for US West Communications
to offer Caller ID service in the state. US West says it expects to
begin offering the service within 90 days.

The company says the service will be offered initially in the
metropolitan Denver area, with residential customers paying $5.95
and businesses $8.40 per month. Subscribers will have 90 days to
decide if they want their lines blocked. Blocking prevents their
names and numbers from being displayed at the call recipient's
phone. After the initial 90-day period, callers would have to pay a
one-time charge of $8 to have their outgoing calls blocked.

Caller ID displays the name and number of callers on a special
converter box attached to the phone, and is seen by some as an
effective way to cut down harassing or obscene phone calls. However,
groups such as undercover police officers and advocacy groups like
battered women's shelters say the service could compromise their
activities. Colorado Domestic Violence Coalition executive director
Janet Mickish says domestic violence victims are placed in greater
jeopardy if Caller ID is implemented. "This is putting another
block in the way of battered women accessing services that are
important to them," she told Newsbytes.

US West had initially proposed offering Caller ID last year, but
withdrew its application in April after the PUC insisted the company
give customers the option to block their outgoing calls at no cost.

The converter required to display the incoming call information will
cost between $50 and $100, or can be leased from US West. The
company also plans to offer some related services, including Call
Trace, which enables a customer to "trap" the last call for $1.
Call Trace is intended to overcome blocking for instances such as
obscene or threatening phone calls.

Industry analysts have estimated that Caller ID could produce as
much as $50 million annually for US West. The company says it's
also considering expanding the service to Colorado Springs, Pueblo,
Fort Collins, and other Colorado cities.

(Jim Mallory/19921005/Press contact: Sharon Price, US West,
303-965-8973)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00027)

 ****IBM Launches ThinkPad Notebooks 10/05/92
SOMERS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- The IBM Personal
Computer Company has launched its ThinkPad notebook line with three
new keyboard models and the official release of the pen-based
ThinkPad that has been available on special order since the spring.
IBM also cut prices on existing portable computers.

While admitting that poorly received portable computers IBM has
offered in the past may have left some users skeptical about the
company's ability to build good mobile computers, IBM executives
insisted the new machines will clean up its image. "We have nothing
to be ashamed of now," said Patty McHugh, mobile computing planning
manager for the IBM Personal Computer Co.

The new line includes one model with a large color screen -- the
ThinkPad 700C -- and two monochrome units dubbed the ThinkPad 300
and ThinkPad 700. The pen-based ThinkPad has been renamed the 700T.

The ThinkPad 700C's color screen measures 10.4 inches on the
diagonal and used active matrix thin-film transistor technology. It
is the product of Display Technologies Inc., a joint venture
between IBM and Toshiba formed to produce high-quality color
displays.

Another innovation, found in the ThinkPad 700 and 700C models, is
a pointing device set in the middle of the keyboard. IBM officials
said the TrackPoint II is a touch-sensitive, omnidirectional post
between the "G" and "H" keys, providing easy cursor and pointer
positioning for either right- or left-handed users. Users can keep
their hands on the keyboard all the time, which IBM said will be
especially useful in cramped positions such as airplane seats.

The TrackPoint does not affect key spacing and will not cause
problems for touch typists, said Maurice Fletcher, manager of brand
marketing for mobile computers at IBM Personal Computer.

The IBM ThinkPad 700C is built on an IBM 486SLC/25-megahertz
processor that's upgradable to 50 megahertz. It comes with a
removable 120-megabyte hard disk drive, four megabytes of memory
expandable to 16 megabytes, IBM's Micro Channel Architecture system
bus, a co-processor socket, and a nickel-metal hydride battery that
IBM said will run from two to 3.8 hours on a charge.

The 700C weighs 7.6 pounds, IBM said. Its suggested retail price is
$4,350.

Fletcher said the large color screen will appeal to those who have
to do presentations on the road. But he added that IBM expects
mainstream users to buy the color machine as well.

The ThinkPad 700 is a monochrome version of the 700C, slightly
lighter at 6.5 pounds and equipped with a 9.5-inch screen. IBM said
users can upgrade it to an active matrix color display. The
ThinkPad 700 is available with an 80-megabyte hard disk for $2,750,
or with a 120-megabyte disk for $2,950.

IBM is also offering the 3550 Expansion Unit docking station. This
comes in two models: one for the ThinkPad 700 or 700C, the other
for the currently available PS/2 Model N51 SLC. Both models feature
two expansion slots and one bay for Small Computer Systems
Interface (SCSI) storage devices. The 3550 also provides system and
cover locks for security, and can be permanently attached to a
desktop. External ports include SCSI, serial, parallel, keyboard,
pointing device, and external VGA display.

The low end of the new line is the ThinkPad 300, which has a
monochrome screen and uses the 25-megahertz 386SL processor. Its
hard-disk drive capacity can be expanded from 80 to 120 megabytes,
IBM said, and its display can be upgraded from monochrome to color.

The battery life of the ThinkPad 300 ranges from four to 10 hours,
IBM said, depending on system configuration and use. The ThinkPad
300 is equipped with built-in support for Ethernet local area
networks.

IBM also offers an optional port replicator for the ThinkPad 300.
It can be connected to peripherals, networks, and other
communications devices, IBM said, and these connections can be left
in place when the user takes the unit on the road. The suggested
retail price for the ThinkPad 300 is $2,375 with the 80-megabyte
drive, or $2,575 for a 120-megabyte model.

McHugh said the 300 and 700 models offer users a choice between a
more powerful processor and longer battery life.

The original pen-based ThinkPad model has been renamed the 700T.
In April, IBM announced a special bid version of the pen-based
ThinkPad, aimed at customers and developers who wanted to get an
early start on pen-based applications.

The ThinkPad comes with the PenPoint operating system, licensed
from Go Corp., and handwriting recognition technology developed at
IBM's Thomas J. Watson Research facility in Yorktown Heights, New
York and in its Boca Raton, Florida, facility.

The ThinkPad 700T has a 20-megahertz 386SX microprocessor, a choice
of four or eight megabytes of memory, an integrated data/fax modem,
an AC/DC adapter, a nickel-cadmium battery, serial and parallel
ports, a connection for an optional external 3.5-inch diskette
drive, and an external keyboard port.

IBM has improved the pen-based machine's handwriting recognition
capabilities and made "minor ergonomics and ruggedness
improvements," McHugh said.

The 700T has a suggested list price of $4,795 with four megabytes
of memory, or $5,395 with eight megabytes.

McHugh said IBM sees the major market for the pen-based machines in
applications where it will replace paper forms used in the field by
workers such as insurance adjusters.

Like new PS/2 models recently introduced by IBM, the ThinkPad 700C
and 700 models come with a three-year international warranty. The
ThinkPad 300 comes with a one-year international warranty, and the
700T comes with a one-year warranty covering the United States and
Canada only. The 3550 Expansion unit carries a one-year warranty.

The ThinkPad 300 will be available by mid-October, the 700 and 700C
in late October, and the 700T in November, IBM said.

At the same time, IBM lowered list prices on several currently
available portables. The largest price cut affects the PS/2 CL57 SX
color portable, which falls in price 44 percent to $2,995.

The IBM N51 SX, an 80386SX-based notebook, now lists at $1,425,
reflecting a 17-percent price reduction. The IBM N51 SLC(A), an
80386SLC-based notebook, has been reduced 14 percent to $1,960.

The 80-megabyte version of IBM's N45 SL notebook computer has been
reduced 11 percent to $2,045, while the 120-MB version of the
system has been reduced 10 percent to $2,245.

(Grant Buckler/19921005/Press Contact: Steve Hoechster, Jennings &
Company for IBM, 914-642-5497)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00028)

Alpha Microsystems 2Q Loss; Cuts Foreign Subsidiaries 10/05/92
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- Following a
loss in the first quarter of 1992 to the tune of $1.3 million, Alpha
Microsystems has reported a net loss of $2.9 million, or 99 cents
loss per share, for the second quarter ended August 30, 1992.

At the same time the company says it has written off its Italian
and French subsidiaries and will close them shortly. The firm reports
poor margins and continuous losses in the operations have led to
the decision.

The company also said that, "as a consequence of the pending
closures and other coordinated restructuring steps, the company
reported substantial non-recurring charges in its results for
the second quarter."

However, the company did record a nine percent rise in sales, to
$12.9 million for the quarter. The restructuring charges account
for more than $3 million, with a consequent net loss of $2.9
million, or 99 cents loss per share. For the second quarter of
the previous year, the company reported revenue of $11.8
million, with net income of $68,000, or 2 cents per share.

In an effort to reduce some costs, the company has signed a
definitive letter of intent to renegotiate the lease for its
headquarters, which, according to Alpha, will reduce future
facilities expense by nearly $1 million annually. The company,
which had previously occupied two buildings in its complex, will
consolidate its operations into a single, 103,000-square-foot
building. The revamped building will accommodate Alpha's entire
headquarters operation, including its manufacturing.

The company has also eliminated 15 positions at its home office.
Worldwide employment at Alpha is reported to be 323 persons,
with 190 of those at the Santa Ana headquarters.

For the six months ended August 30, the company reported sales
of $24.7 million with a net loss of $4.3 million, or $1.43 loss
per share, compared with sales of $24.4 million with net income
of $239,000, or 8 cents per share, for the six months of the
previous year.

In July, Newsbytes reported that Alpha had reported losses for its
first quarter, but said that it had picked up the warranty service
contract under an non-exclusive agreement with PC Positive.
On sales of $11.8 million the company reported a first quarter
loss of $1.3 million ($.44 cents per share) compared to last year's
black ink of $12.6 million with a net income of $171,000 ($.06
per share).

In September, Newsbytes UK reported that the company had
unveiled three enhancement products for its Bookstar notebook
PC: an expansion box, monitor bag, and 80387 math coprocessor.

(Ian Stokell/19921005/Press Contact: Joseph Allen, South Coast
Communications, 714-731-4341)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00029)

Italy: Stet Buys Into Finsiel For 700,000M Lire 10/05/92
MILAN, ITALY, 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- The Italian government has
announced that Stet, the state-controlled telecoms company, has
acquired Finsiel, its sister software company also owned by the
state, for 700,000 million lire.

The deal could cost Stet a lot. Because the Italian Lire, in
common with several European currencies, has taken a battering
against the German DM, investment, cash is hard to come by.
Analysts contend that the Italian government company has had to
stretch its resources to raise the cash necessary to buy Finsiel.

Finsiel is 83 percent owned by the Italian government. Last
financial year the company reported a net profit of 29,000
million lire on sales of 1,290,000 million lire.

Despite the healthy figures, analysts are not impressed. As news
of the effective merger broke at the tail end of last week in
Milan, the company's share price dipped slightly

Assuming the link-up between the two companies goes through, then
Price Waterhouse will handle the transactions, although it could
take some time for the administration to be completed, Newsbytes
understands.

(Steve Gold/19921005)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00030)

 ****Electronic Consumer: Aiming For Joe/Joanne Average 10/05/92
DEL MAR, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- At the
conference called Defining the Electronic Consumer, put on by Jupiter
Communications and held in Del Mar, California, the general
belief is that those willing to use a personal computer of any type
to get electronic information have already been reached. The
consensus is now that a change in the way electronic information is
presented is necessary to reach the rest of the consumers in
the US.

Gary Arlen of Arlen Communications said forecasts show that every
consumer will increase their electronic purchases by 3 percent
this year, despite the recession. His figures on the current
distribution of electronic gizmos in US households is that 65
percent of homes have 2 or more television sets, 78 percent of
all households own a video cassette recorder (VCR), 30 percent
of households own 2 or more VCRs, more than 60% subscribe to
cable television (TV), 46 percent have a telephone answering
machine, 98 percent have telephone service and the typical
household has 2 telephones, 31 percent have a Nintendo game, 17
percent have a camcorder, and 25 to 33 percent of homes have some
kind of personal computer device.

However, Arlen says only 3 percent of homes with a computer
subscribe to online services and seemingly popular devices
like the camcorder are only used twice a month in the average
home.

The demographic for the current computer online services user
was the same no matter what electronic service provider representative
was speaking at the event. The demographic was that the user is
typically male (74 percent), white, age 24 to 44 (69 percent although
the US average is 44 percent), married (74 percent), a college
graduate (68 percent although the US average is 16 percent),
with an income of $50,000 or more a year (61 percent although
the US average is 22 percent).

The demographic study of users done by Checkfree Corporation showed
the differences between the figures in US and Canadian users were
almost identical, which the Checkfree representative said disappointed
the Canadians.

Also, there was general agreement that the earliest adopters of
any electronic device or service, i.e. the first guy on the
block to get one, are the heaviest users of that particular
device or service.

However, the demographic the electronic service providers are
trying to reach are the larger numbers of households with total
income of $25,000+ annually that don't necessarily fit the
current electronic consumer demographic.

It is generally agreed that the upswing in sales of personal
computers are not from new users entering the market, but are
current users upgrading older equipment. Thus the target for
nearly every electronic services platform is the current non-
user who is not likely to purchase a personal computer.

The providers of smart telephones with either an optical
scanner wand for scanning bar codes, a touch screen, or buttons
for making selections, point out there are nearly 90 million
telephone users in the US today and they are already trained
to use a telephone.

Officers of the interactive television firm TV Answer say consumers
won't want to scan or push buttons on a telephone. TV Answer
representatives quote nearly the same numbers in terms of television
users and say users with televisions will be willing
to use a device that is easier to use than a television or VCR
remote control.

However, with the proliferation of computers geared toward the home
market, such as Apple's Performa, some might argue that consumers in
the $25,000+ income bracket have simply been waiting. Paul
Saffo of the Institute for the Future argued at the conference
that a more comfortable price ratio would effect a purchase
decision and ease of use was not the only factor.

While varying arguments as to what the consumer who owns a
telephone, a television, and a VCR wants, there's no doubt that
consumer will receive a lot of attention from electronic
service providers in the very near future.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921005/Press Contact: Gary Arlen, Arlen
Communications, tel [phone], Paul Saffo, Institute
for the Future, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00031)

CD-ROM Expo: IBM/Sony In Joint Bundling Deal 10/05/92
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 5 (NB) -- IBM and Sony have
outlined a joint bundling deal in which each company will sell
the Sony Bookman, together with CD-ROM disks developed
by IBM for the new portable PC.

Announced at CD-ROM Expo, the plans call for each company to bundle
some or all of these six titles from IBM's newly created Multimedia
Publishing Studio (MMPS): Put It in Writing!, Secrets of Power
Negotiating, Training for Business Success, A Corporate Guide to
the National Parks, A Corporate Guide to the Environment, and
Technology and Heritage, The Story of IBM.

Spokespersons for the two companies told Newsbytes that both Sony
and IBM will start to sell the bundles on November 1. For $999,
each company will package the Bookman, which uses an XA CD-ROM
drives, with one or more of IBM's CD-ROM disks. Details as to
which disks will be included by each company are still being
negotiated.

Also according to sources within IBM and Sony, IBM will sell the
bundle by mail order only. A representative for IBM confirmed
speculation that IBM is considering offering versions of the disks
for DOS-based CD-ROM drives, but added that an announcement to this
effect, if issued, will probably not be made for quite some time.

During a demonstration in the IBM booth at CD-ROM Expo, Chris
Freeman, a producer for MMPS, told Newsbytes that MMPS ultimately
intends to publish CD-ROM titles developed by third-party vendors,
as well as volumes created inhouse.

MMPS's first six titles are geared specifically to the business
market, she added. Content can be displayed not only on the
Bookman monitor, but on larger screens, by connecting the new
portable PC to either a TV screen or a desktop computer, she
stressed. "You can view these disks on the road, in your office,
in the corporate boardroom, or at home in your living room," she
commented.

Freeman showed Newsbytes how the new Put It in Writing! uses video,
high fidelity audio, graphics and text to help viewers sharpen
their writing skills. The various media are used to teach users
tips on effective writing, let them practice, and then test them on
their newfound knowledge.

The material for the Put It in Writing! disk is based on a course
that has been used with great effectiveness within IBM, as well as
at such sites as Ford and the CIA, she said.

Freeman also demonstrated to Newsbytes how users can take advantage
of A Corporate Guide to the National Parks in planning vacations
and business events. The six-hour disk uses the same combination
of media to provide a look at the sites, along with extensive
information on surrounding areas, available lodging, mean
temperatures, and nearby recreational activities.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19921004; Press contact: Terry Jenkins, Britt
Communications for IBM, tel [phone])