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/nb921008

Text File | 1992-10-09 | 69KB | 1,534 lines

(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00001)

Japan: Matsushita To Release CD-I Player 10/08/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Matsushita Electric says it
will release a CD-I (compact disc-Interactive) player which
supports motion pictures early next year. Other Japanese
electronics makers are also expected to follow suit.

Matsushita's CD-I player does not have a keyboard. Instead, it
comes with a mouse, and is designed to be connected to a
regular television set. All the instructions are shown on the
TV screen.

The CD-I player uses a five-inch compact disc that conforms to
the current world standard, meaning that any CD-I software can
be played on Matsushita's device.

The retail price of Matsushita's CD-I is expected to be slightly
less than 200,000 yen ($1,600). The price of software may depend
on the type of software. To start, Matsushita aims to develop the
programs for games, educational programs, and travel guide. The
software supports color motion pictures.

Other hardware makers including Sony, Pioneer, and Kenwood are
also thinking of releasing a CD-I player in the near future. They
are reported to have already developed the system, but are
waiting for the market to mature.

The success of the CD-I player may depend on the quality of
software. Also, the cost of the hardware may have to become
much lower.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921007/Press Contact:
Matsushita Electric, [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00002)

Japan: NEC's PC-VAN Connects With Univ/Corp Network 10/08/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- NEC says it will interconnect
with Wide Internet, which is Japan's major telecommunication
network that connects universities and firms. With this inter-
connection, NEC's PC-VAN users will get the advantage of
exchanging information with a variety of people.

NEC's PC-VAN network is one of the largest personal computer-
based telecommunication networks in Japan. It has about 463,000
members. Under the basic agreement with Wide Internet, PC-VAN
will start testing the connection with Wide Internet on October
12. The connection is expected to cover electronic mail to begin
with.

Wide Internet is the premier researchers' telecom network,
which connects researchers and students at 26 universities and
42 firms throughout Japan.

NEC is also thinking of interconnecting all the services of its
network and those of Wide Internet in the near future. Wide
Internet has up-to-date research information and data on
various technologies. This interconnection may be just the
beginning for NEC, as the firm is thinking of connecting with
more telecom networks in the future.

Meanwhile, the Japanese Posts & Telecommunication Ministry
is pushing the plan to exchange electronic mail among different
telecom networks. But this is expected to take some time to
implement.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921007/Press Contact: NEC
PC-VAN, [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00003)

Japan: NEC & Kodansha Develop Super Editing Software 10/08/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- NEC, and Kodansha, a major book
publisher, claim to have jointly developed a super editing system
that automatically checks and corrects Japanese documents
with Kanji. It can check 350 letters a second, which is extremely
fast for a system involving Kanji letters.

NEC and Kodansha's latest super editing system is called "Editing
Support System St. Words." The companies claim that the system
can be applied to almost any type of writing, including daily
conversational phrases, complete with dubious grammar.

The system has a 500,000 word dictionary, and a sentence
analysis feature. The system checks about 11 kinds of points
including the letters, words, phrases, and usage. With these
features, the correction rate of the editing can be around 97.7
percent, according to NEC. Also, it takes only five to 10 seconds
to check the document, which normally takes half an hour by a
human editor.

NEC says the whole system including the hardware will be sold
for around 8 million yen ($67,000). The system consists of NEC's
workstation and the software. NEC is also planning to create
versions for the firm's best-selling personal computer, the
PC-9801. The systems are expected to be released by the end
of this year.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921007/Press Contact: NEC,
[phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00004)

New For PC: PC Tools 8.0 10/08/92
BEAVERTON, OREGON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Central Point
Software says it is now shipping PC Tools 8.0, a major upgrade
to its utilities program.

Features of the new release include improved data recovery,
remote computing and communications features, an integrated
program scheduler, a defragmenter for high-capacity drives,
expanded FileFox functionality, a disk editor and Emergency Disk,
and an easier installation process.

Central Point also says the program now supports SCSI (Small
Computer Systems Interface) tape drives and a suite of new
features to support increased network operation as well as
portable computing needs.

Tools 8.0 now features a Windows-like environment through
which the user can access applications and files as well as the
PC Tools features. According to the company, a task switcher
allows easy movement between applications.

There are also a range of accessories, including notepad, a
database, and a calculator. An anti-virus utility provides continual
virus detection, removal and prevention, and can detect more than
1,300 viruses, says Central Point. The company says it is the only
anti-virus product that can clean mutation engine viruses. Virus
scans can be scheduled or scan on-demand using a drag-and-drop
feature.

There is also a feature called RAMBoost, which Central Point says
does a better job of optimizing memory by automatically loading
device drivers and terminate-and-stay-resident (TSR) programs in
upper memory. The backup features include support for SCSI tape
drives such as DAT (digital audio tape) and 8mm drives, and tape
can be formatted, erased, and retensioned. A unattended backup
feature is also provided.

A unique feature, called "Emergency Disk," is provided which is
created  during the installation process. The emergency disk
contains all necessary system information, including device
drivers, and allows the system to be recovered in case of a crash.

According to Central Point President Chuck Boesenberg the
Software Publisher's Association reports that PC Tools has the
largest installed base in the industry, with over three million
copies sold. Boesenberg says users told the company what they
wanted in an upgrade. "Version 8.0 is a direct response to these
requests," Boesenberg said.

Present users of PC Tools can upgrade for $69.95. The program
has a suggested retail price of $179 for first time buyers.

(Jim Mallory/19921007/Press contact: Deanne Berry, Central
Point Software, 503-690-2650; Reader contact: Central Point
Software, 800-445-4208)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00005)

Gateway 2000 Intros 486SX/25 PC For Under $1,500 10/08/92
NORTH SIOUX CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) --
Claiming that it is redefining what constitutes an entry-level PC,
Gateway 2000 has introduced two new 486-based desktop PC
featuring integrated motherboards in a mini-desktop case.

Gateway's 486SX/25, a 25 megahertz (MHz) system, includes four
megabytes (MB) of RAM, a 170MB hard drive, two floppy drives, a
14-inch CrystalScan color monitor, DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1, and
MS Works for Windows. "It's the best value out there for less
than $1,500," says Gateway 2000 President Ted Waitt. The
486SX/25 carries a suggested retail price of $1,495.

Gateway is also introducing a 486DX 33 MHz system equipped
with 4MB  of RAM, a 200MB hard drive, two floppies, a 14-inch
CrystalScan color monitor, DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1, and a choice of
applications software. Both systems are currently shipping.

Gateway spokesperson Glynnis Gibson told Newsbytes 486DX-33
buyers can choose one of the following Microsoft Windows
applications: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, or Project. Other choices
include Borland's Paradox and the Microsoft Entrepreneur Pack,
which includes Works, Publisher, Money, and some games. The
final choice available is the Windows Programmer Pack, which
includes QuickC, Visual Basic, and several other programming
tools.

"We feel the 486SX/25 is the entry-level PC now; it's what people
should be buying," said Waitt. He says the company has committed
itself to the 486 processors based on over 90 percent of its
customers buying habits.

Waitt says a lot of Gateway's customers want a 486 machine in a
small form factor. The two new systems are contained in a 16.25-
by 4.25- by 16-inch case, come with five available expansion
slots, and use an integrated board design with a video coprocessor
for graphics acceleration. A local bus hard drive interface utilizes
Gateway's Rapid Integrated Drive Electronics (RIDE) BIOS.

Gibson told Newsbytes that RIDE, "lets the system read larger
data blocks from the hard drive, providing significant
improvement in the throughput and speed."

"Nothing else in the market right now comes close to them in
terms of performance, features and price," said Waitt.

(Jim Mallory/19921007/Press contact: Glynnis Gibson, Gibson
Communications for Gateway 2000, 312-883-2388; Reader
contact: Gateway 2000, 605-232-2000 or 800-523-2000)


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

New For PC: Advanced Gravis Ships UltraSound Board 10/08/92
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) --
Advanced Gravis has began shipping its UltraSound sound board
for PCs, based on Intel and compatible processors. The vendor
claims the UltraSound card offers a quality of sound not
previously available on personal computers, thanks to a new
method of sound synthesis.

The UltraSound card uses all-digital wave table synthesis rather
than the FM synthesis technique other PC sound boards use. Brad
Craig, market development manager at Advanced Gravis, said this
approach gives better sound because "we can sample real sound."

The board uses digital samples of, for example, a flute, a piccolo,
or a jet engine to produce such sounds on the PC. Also, Craig said,
the UltraSound card can generate 32 distinct voices at the same
time, versus about 22 from most competing boards.

According to Advanced Gravis, the UltraSound card is compatible
with other popular sound boards, such as the Sound Blaster and
Ad Lib units, and is compatible with multimedia software for
Microsoft Windows. Applications for the card include multimedia,
games, and computer-based music, Craig said.

The suggested retail price for the UltraSound card is $199.95.

(Grant Buckler/19921007/Press Contact: Brad Craig, Advanced
Gravis, 604-431-5020)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00007)

WordPerfect Offers Dual-Language Licensing In Canada 10/08/92
OREM, UTAH, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- With another milestone in
Canada's endless struggle to mix English and French language
and culture coming up -- Canadians will vote on proposed
constitutional changes in a late-October referendum --
bilingualism and national unity questions are everywhere. It has
even spread to the American state of Utah, not noted for its
French culture, where software vendor WordPerfect has announced
that Canadian customers can now get the right to run the popular
word processor in both official languages for the price of one.

The offer applies to WordPerfect for DOS, Windows, and the Apple
Macintosh, and also to other WordPerfect products that are
available in both languages, including WordPerfect Presentations
(formerly DrawPerfect), LetterPerfect, and WordPerfect Office.

Anyone who buys WordPerfect in Canada automatically gets a
license to use both English- and French-Canadian versions on the
same computer, the company said. Users who want both languages
need only pay for the disks in a second language, which cost C$24.
If they want reference materials, users can buy those separately
as well - at C$36 for the reference manual, C$24 for the workbook,
and C$6 for the keyboard template.

The suggested retail price for WordPerfect in Canada is C$595,
said company spokeswoman Raili Nieznanski.

Nieznanski added that the offer applies not only to new buyers of
WordPerfect but to existing users. Anyone using either an
English-Canadian or French-Canadian version of WordPerfect can
order the extra disks and/or reference materials, she said.

The company does not currently offer such a dual-language
license deal anywhere else in the world, Nieznanski said, though
it has considered such an offer in parts of Europe where two or
more languages are common.

(Grant Buckler/19921007/Press Contact: Raili Nieznanski,
WordPerfect, 801-228-5027, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00008)

Apple Intros AppleLink CD Info CD-ROM 10/08/92
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Apple
Computer is attempting to find new markets for the information
in its AppleLink global electronic communications and
information service, by offering it in the form of a compact
disk. According to the company, AppleLink CD will offer regular
editions of Apple and third-party product and support
information for a single annual subscription fee.

One of the big attractions of the new CD, according to Apple,
is that anyone with a Macintosh equipped with a CD-ROM drive,
can access all the technical, product, program and special
interest information without time limitations or added costs.

Peter Friedman, director of Apple Online Services, said:
"AppleLink CD helps to create an information-rich computing
environment for Macintosh users....(and) will bring together
much of the high quality information from Apple and third
parties that's behind AppleLink -- essentially making it the
easiest and most cost-effective way to access AppleLink
information without actually going on-line."

There will be a yearly one-time fee. Each edition of AppleLink
CD will include a technical information library. Also included on
the CD will be descriptions of Apple products, and technical,
marketing and support materials from more than 400 hardware
and software manufacturers.

Apple says that a special software sampler section will contain
15 megabytes (MB) of Apple software updates, as well as free
software and shareware for the Macintosh. Users will be able to
download free software demonstrations and review new software
programs.

AppleLink CD requires a Macintosh computer running System 6.0.7
or later and a Macintosh-compatible CD-ROM drive. Four MB of RAM
is also required.

AppleLink CD will be available worldwide in January 1993, for a
single-user cost of $299. A mutli-user version will be $649.
Initially, AppleLink CD will be available through a one-year
subscription which includes four quarterly editions. Apple says
that pricing and availability will vary by country.

(Ian Stokell/19921007/Press Contact: Lynda Lucero, Apple
Computer, 408-974-7899)


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

UK: Zenith Data Systems Intros 16 New PCs 10/08/92
SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Zenith Data
Systems (ZDS) has announced no less than 16 new PCs onto the
British market, just six months after it relaunched its entire
range in Europe. The reason for the new machines is said to be
downward price trends.

According to Andrew Stephens, ZDS' product manager, the new
machines are no-frills PCs designed for price-conscious buyers.
Stephens told Newsbytes, however, that they are not designed to
compete with rock-bottom discount PCs that seem to be flooding
the market at the moment.

"The Z station series we unveiled in the spring were for the
corporate buyer. These new machines today are designed for the
price conscious small business buyer," he said.

The new machines -- new models in the Z300 and 400 series plus
new machines in the Z station series -- come with a variety of
processors, ranging from 25 megahertz (MHz) 80386SX up to
33MHz 80486SX chipsets. The introduction of the 33MHz 80486SX
processor to ZDS' machines is a change for the company's entry-
level PCs.

"Expanding our Z300/400 series and Z station desktops with this
new processor will substantially increase the power available in
entry-level business computing," explained Stephens.

All the new machines come with five expansion slots, three
storage bays, and super VGA graphics. Other standard features
include 512 kilobytes (KB) of video memory on all machines
under the 486SX-based PCs, with the 486SX units featuring one
megabyte (MB) of video memory to handle the high resolutions
(1,024 by 786 pixels) available.

Pricing on the new machines is unremarkable by current UK
standards, Newsbytes notes. The X325/SX, the entry-level
machine, starts at UKP 667 for single floppy version, rising to
UKP 919 for a 170MB hard disk-equipped PC. At the other end of
the scale, the Z433/SX starts at UKP 1,199 for the single floppy
versions, rising to UKP 1,584 for a 245MB hard disk-equipped
system.

ZDS is offering some good bundling deals, however. For UKP 125
extra the buyer gets DOS 5, Windows 3.1, and a mouse, while for
UKP 360, users get the same bundle plus a 14-inch flat screen
VGA color monitor with their system.

(Steve Gold/19921007/Press & Public Contact: Zenith Data
Systems - Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(GOVT)(ATL)(00010)

 ****MIT Puts US Presidential Campaigns On-line 10/08/92
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Starting
Monday, October 12, you will be able to read and respond to
campaign documents from any major Presidential candidate
through the Internet. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology and University of North Carolina are offering, as an
experiment, a file server containing full campaign documents.

They have asked the campaigns of Clinton, Bush, Ross Perot and
Libertarian candidate Andre Marrou to participate in filling it.
To get information on the program, just send mail to
[e-mail].

In addition, a representative of the Bush campaign told
Newsbytes, he can respond directly to questions posted on the
system simply by using computers and software at the Bush-
Quayle '92 general committee. Rich Phillips, who is an
information specialist in communications with the Bush-Quayle
'92 General Committee said, "We're very happy MIT has decided
to do this. We think it's important that people have free access
to this kind of information on the issues."

Phillips said that on-line conversations with voters represent
just one of the many high-tech methods the Bush campaign has
for getting its message out. "We pride ourselves on our use of
technology. We're doing daily satellite feeds, and we produce
video news releases as well as press releases. The fax list has
actually become famous, because both sides are sending
messages to the press and to key supporters." Some faxes to the
media, like a series of "talking points" from Bush campaign chief
Mary Matalin, have turned into news stories on their own.

Added Phillips, "We'll offer fact sheets, talking points on
issues such as health care, selected speeches, and the
President's 'Agenda for American Renewal,' (a detailed economic
plan for the next four years.) "We will try to respond to those
messages that people want to address to us directly. We
understand that this is an experiment conducted by MIT, and we
think it will be useful to people." He added that the needed
information is already on the Internet at a variety of sites, and
merely needs to be captured by the MIT group to be useful.

Eric Loeb of MIT, who set up the experiment, with help from Phil
Jones at the University of North Carolina, writes that the idea
is to test the reasoning behind "sound bite" politics, and give
voters a chance to learn more about the candidates. Patrick
Winston, head of the school's Artificial Intelligence lab, is the
faculty sponsor.  Loeb will survey people who use the system in
hopes of learning whether they indeed read the position papers,
or use the electronic mail system mainly to argue on behalf of
their candidates or positions, as is usually found on commercial
services like CompuServe's VoteForum. "I suspect that the
tendency to use 'sound bites' is a natural consequence of our
processing limitations, and that efforts by participants to
persuade other participants will result in the use of brief
slogans," he writes.

The experiment also conforms to MIT's "human subjects rules," he
adds. "People need to be able to quit at any time, give informed
consent, and there are provisions for anonymity." Loeb warns that
any use of the public system to leave messages for all users
creates a public message which may be subject to uploading and
downloading throughout the internetworked world, which includes
millions of people around the world. Disclaimers are posted on
all surveys, and subjects may quit their participation at any
time by using the "remove" option of the program's contact module.

Speeches posted on the system can be searched by keywords, using
the Wide Area Information Server, or WAIS, developed at Thinking
Machines in Cambridge.

In other news from the campaign, all four candidates who are on
the ballot in all 50 states can be addressed at the CompuServe
network, Loeb says. Ross Perot's campaign can be reached at
71511.460, and the Internet identification would be
[e-mail]. The Internet-style address for Gov.
Clinton's campaign is [e-mail], for President
Bush [e-mail], and for Libertarian candidate
Andre Marrou [e-mail]. The addresses listed
above can also be reached from most major on-line systems,
including GEnie, MCI Mail, America Online, and AT&T EasyLink, at
regular on-line rates.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921008/Press Contact:
INTERNET:[e-mail])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(ATL)(00011)

USA Today On Shopping Carts 10/08/92
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- USA Today will put
parts of its newspaper onto shopping carts through a company
called VideOcart. Shoppers will be able to get electronic
summaries of the day's top stories from all four USA TODAY
sections -- News, Money, Sports, and Life.

The headlines are posted on displays located on shopping carts
when in the checkout area. Headlines are updated three times per
day and scrolled across the bottom of the VideOcart screen, which
is basically an advertising medium.

Shoppers have a choice between using the VideOcart or a regular
cart at most of the 200 stores offering the service. The company
hopes that grocery shoppers, seeing the chance to get news while
shopping, will take the ad-filled carts.

Videocart is still a development-stage company which ties the
displays on the carts to a digital communication network. The
network also lets manufacturers display ads on the carts as
consumers reach the aisle where their products are located in
the store.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921008/Press Contact: Randy S. Mueller,
VideOcart, 312-987-5000)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00012)

AT&T Joins Distance Learning Network 10/08/92
BOONE, NORTH CAROLINA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- AT&T is
taking part in a distance learning network using ISDN (Integrated
Services Digital Network) digital standards sponsored by
Appalachian State University of North Carolina. Southern Bell,
the local phone company for the state, is also a participant in
the program, which covers all grades.

The network's backbone is made up of 13 ISDN lines provided out
of a Southern Bell office with an AT&T 5ESS switch, along with a
remote module in nearby Blowing Rock. Three lines terminate at
three public schools in Watauga County - two elementary and one
high school - with four more lines at Appalachian State.
Interactive voice, data, and video are transmitted at a speed of
112,000 bits-per-second. All this is taking place on regular
copper phone lines.

While ISDN has been discussed for over a decade, installation of
the needed software has been slow. Phone companies have been
criticized for using ISDN as a lobbying club, arguing they can't
afford to install it unless they get regulatory relief, or rate
relief, or both, on both the national and state levels.

However, another reason for ISDN's slow acceptance has been the
fact that various switch makers have implemented it differently.
A new set of standards, called National ISDN, is being
implemented, slowly, to address the problem. Many groups, led by
former Lotus Development Chairman Mitch Kapor of the Electronic
Frontier Foundation, have urged that the installation of ISDN be
stepped-up. But many observers say the real reason installation
has been slow is because the phone companies are not certain how
they will get their money out from it.

Elsewhere, AT&T said its Universal Card credit card is now the
second most popular consumer credit card, having surpassed Chase
Manhattan with 10 million accounts. Chase Manhattan disputes the
figures, while outside observers claim that the AT&T-Chase leader
is actually in third place, behind Citibank and Sears' Discover
Card.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921008/Press Contact: Appalachian State
University, Speed Hallman, 704/262-2092; BellSouth, Bob Morrow,
404/529-8169; AT&T Network Systems, Mickey Noah, 404/573-
7099)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SYD)(00013)

Australia: Federal Govt Will Not Contract All IT Work 10/08/92
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- The Australian
federal government has stated that it will not be contracting all
of its IT (information technology) work out to service providers.
The statement was made by the Minister for Administrative
Services, Senator Bolkus, at a local IT conference.

Recently, the government has been farming out significant amounts
of IT work to private sector companies, but this will not become
the norm, Bolkus said. Decisions on such contracting would be made
on the merits of each case, with significant work being continued
"in-house" or in conjunction with private groups, Bolkus said.

The Senator was speaking at the Australian Information Industries
Association Public Sector Markets conference, which had the
theme "Better Value for your IT Dollar." He also restated what he
saw as the basic principles of the federal government's dealings
with the IT sector - value for money, open and effective
competition, and proving the best opportunity for local industry.

"Our IT industry sells goods and services to the value of AUS$10
billion a year. Of that, the government sector in Australia buys
40 percent - about AUS$4 billion. About half of that would be
Commonwealth government purchases. That, of course, puts us in
a fairly powerful position to influence the IT industry," Bolkus
said.

The Minister also pointed out the responsibility of the government
to seek value for money, to buy local goods and services, and
the resultant advantages of such local purchases. Shorter supply
lines, quicker response for back-up, and the requirement of
Australian industry to compete on international standards were
the main benefits Bolkus saw in purchasing local products.

(Sean McNamara/19921008)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00014)

Australian Multimedia Program Teaches Road Safety 10/08/92
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- A locally-developed
multimedia program is to be installed in all Victorian schools in
a bid to increase teenage awareness of safety issues. The
Motorvation system is expected to be installed in Victorian
schools over the next two years at an approximate cost of
AUS$8 million.

The program has undergone an AUS$500,000 pilot test, and has
proved so successful in Melbourne schools that students are
arriving at school an hour early to use the system. Specifically
targeted at the 14-16 age group, the system takes the student on
a seven-stage "tour" of Victoria, with various road and weather
conditions, as well as safety factors, needed to be taken into
consideration.

The system was a collaborative project by the Transport Accident
Commission and VicRoads (Victoria's roads, licensing, vehicle
registration and traffic management body). The programming was
carried out by the Computer Aided Learning Center of Victoria's
University of Technology. Full-screen motion video, computer
graphics and audio, laser light pens and bar coding for answering
multiple choice questions, and touch screen technology, as well as
a large amount of research with the target audience, has seen the
program take on aspects of virtual reality.

"The research soon told us we had to engage and excite users and
that it was time to take a '90s approach by embracing technology
which would enthuse everybody. Books and brochures on road
safety simply don't have the same pull," said Anne Randall, TAC's
community programs manager. "I think we have found the right
mix - text, graphics, video and sport - it's just a matter of fine-
tuning it now," Randall went on to say.

(Sean McNamara/19921008)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00015)

Australia: Wine Guide Available In Software Form 10/08/92
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Sydney-based wine
publishing company Heuristic has released the 10th edition of
Robin Bradley's Australian and New Zealand Wine Vintages in
software form. The AUS$19.95 program is being released primarily
as a marketing tool, with company logos and names able to be
incorporated within the program.

The database-style wine guide was developed using Visual Basic
and the Q&E database system for use under Windows. It includes
information on winemakers, wine style, vintage, maker's rating,
Bradley's rating, price estimate, and the advised time to drink.
Also included are brief comments about the wine company, as well
as "help" and "hint" screens. Users are able to search on different
fields using wild-cards and Boolean operators ("and," "or," for
example).

Heuristic is already planning the next version of the database,
which will include the 11th edition of Bradley's guide. The next
version will also allow the user to enter personal tasting and
cellaring notes. The program runs on any IBM-compatible computer
running Windows 3 or 3.1, with four megabytes (MB) of memory,
VGA graphics and 3.3 MB of hard disk space. The program is
supplied on one disk, and after-sales support and service is
provided.

(Sean McNamara/19921008/Press and Public Contact: Stuart
Bullock, phone in Australia [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00016)

Cooperative For National Multimedia Network Formed 10/08/92
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Microelectronics and
Computer Technology Corporation (MCC) says it is the initiator
of a project that it calls "First Cities," with the stated goal of
eliminating the barriers to delivering national integrated,
interactive multimedia service to consumers.

So far, Apple Computer, Bell Communication Research (Bellcore),
Corning, Eastman Kodak, Kaleida Labs, and seven other companies,
including divested Bell telephone companies, have signed up for
the initial phase of the project.

The MCC First Cities project sounds very much like the talk
that is coming from other multimedia and technology companies
in the quest to reach the average consumer.

The task is to give consumers something they do not already
have. 'Video on demand' was interpreted by Bill Batino of
market research company Coopers & Lybrand at the Defining
the Electronic Consumer conference as "...going down to the
video store and renting a tape."

Batino said companies also have a misguided notion as to what
consumers are willing to pay. Batino paraphrased comments from
companies as "consumers will pay extra for electronic services
because they are electronic," while he quoted consumers saying
"there's no middle man, it should be cheaper."

MCC says it believes it can create a marketplace for networked
multimedia information and entertainment products and
services, but says it requires a national infrastructure to do
so. First Cities has as its main goal the creation of that
infrastructure, MCC added. First Cities will reportedly become
an independent company and will own the tools developed to
deliver the interactive multimedia services, but not the
communications system itself.

The final objective of the project is to "seamlessly" integrate
technologies so users can "spontaneously" use interactive,
integrated multimedia no matter where they are. However, to
get there MCC says three phases are involved.

The initial phase is the development of a business plan. MCC
says Phase I is the "no obligation" part and no company that
has signed up for Phase I has to stay for Phase II. Phase II
includes implementation of the plan developed in Phase I,
meaning delivery of service at test sites to work out any
problems. Phase III is intended to bring the system to full
operation.

MCC noted that several divested Bell Operating Companies and
Bellcore, which have already signed up, will have their
involvement limited by the state and federal laws and
regulations.

The initial set of applications being considered for
implementation are multimedia teleconferencing, interactive
games, entertainment on demand, shopping and transaction
services, customized multimedia, distance learning, and health
care. Distance learning and health care were cited as problems
of particular national concern which the First Cities project
hopes to help address.

MCC says its the tangible objectives are the development of
software for connecting individual homes to the interactive
multimedia service networks and as a gateway for
communication delivery organizations to connect to consumers.
Also mentioned were application servers for distribution of
services through the gateway and into individual homes.

Why will companies cooperate on development of First Cities
when they won't cooperate with each other? All the companies
currently signed up are in the plan for Phase I - the no
obligation part. MCC says the needed infrastructure requires
multi-company involvement, and First Cities, as a cooperative
enterprise, can remove obstacles between the companies while
eliminating some of the risk and cost.

MCC is not the first to talk about a national information
infrastructure or the need for cooperation among technology
providers. Lots of this sort of talk is being bantered about
both by technology companies and by companies interested in
promoting products and services through a new distribution
network. GTE, for one, has been experimenting with various
methods of delivering electronic, interactive multimedia
services to consumers in its Cerritos, California, project for
several years now.

However, it is still talk, and according to MCC, still two to
three years away. The Phase II testing of First Cities is to
begin early next year and continue until December of 1994,
MCC said.

Also, while some companies have teamed up in other cooperative
efforts to deliver electronic multimedia technology, opposition
exists within the ranks of the industries involved. GTE and
Pacific Bell reported they were getting resistance to the
installation of fiber optic cable for telephone service from
the California cable television (TV) industry who is afraid the
fiber might be laid where it could be used by competitive cable
TV companies.

While MCC has an impressive list of interested parties in First
Cities, it remains to be seen if the group can actually pull
something workable together.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921008)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00017)

Industry Leaders Head For Australian Developer's Conf 10/08/92
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) --  The Australian
Software Developer's Conference - to be held in Sydney on
November 25 to 27 - has attracted interest from the development
community around the world. Speakers are coming from major
software manufacturers, and in some cases will be showing new
development tools for the first time.

The ASD'92 conference was originally planned when a survey
revealed that Australian developers feel left-out compared to
their American counterparts. The conference is being organized
by  Australian distributor Microway and is being sponsored by
many producers of development tools.

Microway Managing Director David Looke said: "It became clear that
the Australian development community was sorely in need of a
national independent event focusing on Australian development
issues and playing a vital role in the continued education of
developers."

Sponsors include Borland, Microsoft, IBM, Computer Associates,
Quarterdeck, and Symantec. Borland's Rick Schell said he will be
using the event to make the most important language product
launch of the year at ASD'92.

Borland's Michael Hyman is the product manager for the Borland
C++ family and he is bringing other Borland speakers with him.
Microsoft's Jim McCarthy and Mike Risee will also have new
products to unveil as well as technical sessions to present.
Subjects will include Windows OLE, C++, and Visual Basic.

IBM's Dr Mike Kogan and other IBM speakers will be covering
OS/2 future directions. Symantec's Neil Goldman will speak on
Zortech C++ and new products such as Actor and Multiscope.
Quarterdeck will cover DESQView/X. Computer Associates will
discuss object oriented programming, Clipper, dbFast, and Aspen,
and well as Clipper development.

The program includes more than 60 technical training sessions
from more than 30 expert speakers. Some sample topics include:
Extending DOS into the 21st Century; Advanced Techniques with
Turbo Pascal for DOS; Version Control Systems; Windows to OS/2
Porting; OS/2 32-bit Programming; OOP with Borland C++; and
Database Design.

ASD'92 costs AUS$595 (around US$440) for all sessions,
exhibition, morning and afternoon snack-breaks, lunches,
two dinners, and a conference kit. The location is Sydney Hilton
and accommodation at the Hilton is available for AUS$175 a
night or AUS$80 at a nearby inn.

(Paul Zucker/19921008/Contact William Theobold on phone
[phone] or fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SYD)(00018)

Banyan Signs Two Indian Distributors 10/08/92
INDIA, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) --  Banyan Pacific, based in Australia,
has signed two distributors in India for its enterprise-wide
networking products. Sonata and Datamatic will provide full
sales and technical support of the Banyan products in India.

"We see a long-term growth opportunity in India as we are the
only networking systems supplier that can guarantee the
legitimacy of its systems there" said Sydney-based manager of
Banyan Asia Pacific, Keith van Klink. "Software piracy is a major
problem in India but the security key contained within our
systems means they cannot be copied."

Sydney-based Banyan Technical Manager Harry Carter addressed
the recent inaugural conference of the Indian Manufacturing
Association of Information Technology. "Harry's speech was
based on our move into India and it was very well received" said
van Klink. "We already have two sites there - local offices of
multinational companies who use our systems around the world.
We're confident of quickly expanding the installed base."

Banyan is based in Massachusetts, and its flagship product is
Vines, a standards-based distributed network operating system.

(Paul Zucker/19921008/Press Contact: Keith van Klink,
[phone])


(NEWS)(GOVT)(DEN)(00019)

 ****Largest Counterfeit Software Seizure Ever Made 10/08/92
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Microsoft
Corporation has announced that its representatives and US
Marshals have seized more than 150,000 counterfeit copies of
MS-DOS 5.0.

The raids, complete with television cameras, at 10 locations in
California and New Jersey, filled sixteen semi-trailers with
the counterfeit software and the equipment used in their
manufacture, as well as manuals, diskettes, holograms, and
packaging.

Microsoft officials estimate the fake software represents a street
value of more than $9 million. The seizures were made September
12 and 16, but Microsoft officials said it has taken until now to
complete an inventory of the items.

Officials initially raided six locations in the San Francisco Bay
area, targeting U-TOP Printing Corporation and a Berkeley
commercial printer that allegedly supplied U-TOP with software
manuals. Information developed from that raid led to additional
seizures at  four U-TOP distributors in New Jersey.

Microsoft Corporate Attorney Jim Lowe said, "U-TOP and its owners
appear to be major players in an interstate, possibly international
software counterfeiting enterprise." Lowe hopes that the raids will
persuade Congress to strengthen the criminal penalties for
copyright  infringement. Currently, penalties of up to $25,000 or
imprisonment up to one year, or both, can be imposed under the US
Copyright Act if the infringement is deemed willful.

The US Senate is currently considering a software piracy
felonization bill, S893, which had already passed the House of
Representatives. If it becomes law, willful violators would be
subject to a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to five years in
jail.

According to estimates by the Business Software Alliance, a
group  representing major US software publishers, software
piracy costs the computer industry more than $12 billion in
lost revenues worldwide in 1991.

Microsoft has filed suit in San Francisco US District Court against
U-TOP Printing Corporation of Sunnyvale, California, and its
owners James and Shirley Sung, alleging copyright infringement,
trademark infringement, and other related claims. Also named as
defendants are several other companies which Microsoft alleges
were involved in the manufacture or distribution of counterfeits.

US District Judge Eugene Lynch has granted an order freezing the
US and offshore assets of U-TOP and the Sungs, a tactic company
officials say is relatively new in the legal war against software
counterfeiting. The order is intended to insure that assets remain
available to pay damages, which in this case Microsoft says
could exceed $10 million. In addition to criminal penalties,
counterfeiters are also liable for monetary penalties of up to
three times the value of the software in civil court. Microsoft
has consistently said it will vigorously prosecute counterfeiting
cases.

Microsoft spokesperson Katy Ehrlich told Newsbytes that the
investigation had been ongoing for three to six months. Asked if
the investigation was completed, Ehrlich indicated it was not.

Microsoft says the MS-DOS 5.0 counterfeits were a perfect
facsimile of the genuine article, including the hologram intended
to identify legitimate copies. The company cautions purchasers
of counterfeit software that they may not receive product support,
upgrade offers, or other benefits available to registered owners
of legitimate copies. They also risk acquiring defective or virus-
infected software. Microsoft does not distribute MS-DOS as a
standalone product, except for the MS-DOS upgrade. Its licensees
are allowed to sell MS-DOS only with their hardware, said the
company.

In August last year agents seized nearly $1 million worth of
counterfeit software, believed to be the largest seizure at that
time. In March 1992 a raid in California's Silicon Valley yielded
bogus DOS and Windows software with an estimated value of
$180,000. Last month Microsoft investigators and US Marshals
seized 2,000 copies of DOS and Windows in South El Monte,
California, a Los Angeles suburb.

Microsoft encourages anyone who believes they might have a
counterfeit copy of MS-DOS to call the company's toll free
Piracy Hotline. The company has said it would not prosecute
individual users of counterfeit software, but is interested in
the source.

(Jim Mallory/19921008/Press contact: Anne Rupley, Microsoft,
206-882-8080; Reader contact: Microsoft, 800-662-6796)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00020)

Lucid Corp Intros Software Apps For Palmtops 10/08/92
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Lucid Corporation has
announced a suite of applications that palmtop makers can
bundle with palmtop computers.

"Frontier," an application for palmtops that includes several
productivity tools palmtop users should find useful, is being
introduced at the Lap and Palmtop Exposition at Chicago's
Merchandise Mart Expo Center today and tomorrow, Lucid
spokesperson David Hayden told Newsbytes.

Included in the DOS-based applications are Lucid's (3-D)
spreadsheet;  a word processor with integrated outliner; a
database; communications software with electronic mail
support; an appointment scheduler; address book; financial
calculator; and a file manager with PC Link support, for
uploading and downloading from a desktop PC.

Hayden says Frontier is the first set of applications designed
specifically for palmtop computers, and is optimized for the
screen, keyboard or other input device, RAM/ROM limitations, and
power concerns palmtop OEMs (original equipment manufacturers)
have to consider. Lucid President J.Mark Lambright says Frontier
represents the next generation of applications for palmtop
computers.

Hayden says Frontier uses proprietary object-oriented technology
and tools, maintaining a consistent "look-and-feel" across
applications. He told Newsbytes that, while Frontier is currently
available only for DOS-based palmtop and pen based computers,
the company expects to have versions for Windows for Pen, OS/2,
Newton, Macintosh, and Unix. The next versions are expected in
the first or second quarter of 1993.

Lucid was formed in 1983 as the Portable Computer Support Group,
developing a number of products for the popular Tandy Model 100
notebook computer popular with journalists. The company has also
developed applications for the Hewlett Packard 95LX and the Sharp
Wizard, and markets its disk caching Lightning for Windows and
Battery Boost, a battery life extender program for notebook
computers. Lucid 3-D and Lightning are also available for DOS
machines.

(Jim Mallory/19921008/Press contact:David Hayden, Lucid Corporation,
214-994-8100, Ext 1551; Reader contact: Lucid Corporation,
214-994-8100)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00021)

New For PC: Speakerphone For Windows Sound 10/08/92
HUMBOLDT, SOUTH DAKOTA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Interactive
Inc., has introduced SoundXchange, a speakerphone-type device that
allows  users to record and playback sound on systems running
Windows 3.1

SoundXchange comes in two models - A and B. Model A is designed
for use with the new Windows Sound System from Microsoft,
while Model B includes voice recording and playback capabilities.
The speaker allows applications such as appointment schedulers
to verbally notify the user of appointments, and picking up the
handset switches off the speaker, for privacy. Both models mount
on the side of the monitor to conserve desk space.

Model A, with a suggested retail price of $149, is designed for
users who already have a sound board installed, such as Microsoft's
Windows Sound or a computer with built-in sound capabilities such
as  Compaq's Deskpro/i. Model A attaches to the sound board with
1/8-inch mini-plugs, which are included.

Model B, with a price tag of $289, has the same features as Model
A, plus a built-in sound board, and can record and play sound files
through the speaker or handset. since SoundXchange has the sound
board built-in, it is not necessary to open the computer to install
the device, says the company. Model B connects to the PC through
the parallel printer port with the supplied cable, which also
allows the printer to be connected. It also comes with a
Microsoft Multimedia Extensions driver.

Interactive says it uses proprietary frequency doubling as well
as compression to minimize the disk storage space needed for
voice files.

(Jim Mallory/19921008/Press contact: Michael Pulizzi,
Interactive Inc, 605-363-5117; Reader contact: Interactive, Inc,
605-363-5117)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(DEN)(00022)

Cray Research Loses Japanese Computer Purchase Appeal 10/08/92
EAGAN, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- A Japanese
government review board says it has rejected an appeal by
supercomputer maker Cray Research for reversal of a decision by
a Japanese institute to buy a Japanese-made supercomputer.

Cray Research had claimed that the institute's selection procedure
was unfair and violated a 1990 bilateral agreement on public
supercomputer purchases. However, according to Dakihito Goda, a
spokesperson for Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa's office,
the review board decided there were "no major problems with the
decision process." The appeal was filed in July.

Cray's appeal claimed that its top-of-the-line C90 was superior,
and lost in the competitive bidding process to NEC Corporation, a
Japanese firm, because the National Institute for Fusion Science
had awarded more points in its evaluation to performance
criteria where the NEC SX-3 was strong. With a maximum of 66
points in the evaluation, NEC's computer got 65 points, while
Cray's system received a score of 56.

In the 1990 agreement, Japan agreed that public institution
supercomputer procurement processes would be open, selection
standards would be clearly defined, and competing computers
would be thoroughly evaluated, a Cray Research spokesperson
told Newsbytes recently. The pact also created an appeal
process.

Cray says it won three of the four bids for Japanese public
supercomputers it submitted during 1990 and 1991. Chairman
John Rollwagen said only three public supercomputers were
being purchased this year.

So far, Cray officials declined to comment on the decision,
however, Rollwagen is scheduled to hold a news conference to
address the issue on Friday, October 9.

(Jim Mallory/19921008/Press contact: Steve Conway, Cray
Research, 612-683-7133, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00023)

 ****Compaq To Layoff 1,000 Workers 10/08/92
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Compaq Computer has
announced that it will layoff 1,000 of its worldwide workforce,
and take $85 million in restructuring and other special charges in
the third quarter.

The company said the layoffs would begin this month, with about
700  workers getting their pink slips. A Compaq spokesperson said
some employees have already been notified, and the rest would be
told by the end of the month. The company said it will offer a
severance package and job placement assistance for those workers
losing their jobs. The reductions were attributed to competition
in the PC market.

Compaq spokesperson John Sweney told Newsbytes that about 600
of the cuts would take place in Houston, with the remainder
affecting jobs worldwide. "Actually, we're adding jobs in
manufacturing, marketing, and customer support," he said.

Sweney also told Newsbytes that the company would close its
Sterling, Texas warranty and parts center, moving that operation
and its employees to Erskine, Texas. Asked what type jobs were
being affected, Sweney declined to be specific, saying, "We haven't
really broken down what type jobs are being eliminated. All
departments, all geographical areas are affected in some way."

The restructuring charges will be offset by a third quarter gain
of about $86 million on the sale of Compaq's equity interest in
Conner Peripherals. The official third quarter results are
expected to be released October 20. Compaq is predicting "record
revenues and unit shipments" for the quarter. The company has
said it has been hard pressed to keep up with the demand for its
new lower-priced PC line introduced in June.

Compaq said its operating earnings for the third quarter are
"comfortably above" second quarter levels, when it earned $29
million, or $0.35 per share.  It lost $70 million, or $0.82 per
share, in the third quarter of 1991, and Compaq's board ousted
co-founder Rod Canion.  Eckhard Pfeiffer was named as president
and chief executive officer. In that restructuring, 1,400 workers
lost their jobs.

(Jim Mallory/19921008/Press contact: John Sweney, Compaq,
713-374-1564)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00024)

Lotus Announces Two Notes Deals 10/08/92
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Lotus
Development has signed agreements with two companies
concerning its Notes work group software. Lotus and PictureTel,
of Danvers, Massachusetts, will work together to incorporate
PictureTel's videoconferencing technology into Notes. Meanwhile,
EDS, the Dallas-based systems integrator, will sell, install, and
service Notes worldwide.

Launched in 1989, Notes is a development environment for
creating applications that support groups of people working
together on networked computers. There are currently more than
250,000 Notes users around the world, according to Lotus.

PictureTel, which has been named a Lotus Notes Alliance Partner,
will integrate its dial-up videoconferencing technology with Notes
to add live visual communications capabilities to the work group
environment. Both PictureTel and Lotus have exchanged technology
under the terms of the agreement.

Chris Herot, director of advanced technology for Lotus, said both
his company and PictureTel have been getting requests from users
for videoconferencing capabilities. A key application, he said,
would be the ability for users in different locations to look at
and annotate video data at the same time.

For instance, Herot said, those working in businesses where video
is important, such as television and marketing communications,
want to include video clips in their Notes databases. Lotus has
been working on that capability, he added. But once the video is
there, users want to share it live -- hence, videoconferencing.

"The obvious thing when people talk about this is they think about
having a talking head like Captain Kirk calling Star Fleet," Herot
said. Videoconferencing in Notes will do that, but "where it gets
really interesting" is the ability to share video images.

Lotus expects to have prototypes of the Notes videoconferencing
capability as early as the end of this year, Herot said, but
commercial products probably won't be forthcoming until late in
1993.

At its newly opened Application Showcase Center, PictureTel
recently showed its first phase of integration, allowing a user
to dial a videoconference with a Notes application.

The EDS agreement expands on a contract the two firms
announced last year, under which EDS was authorized to sell,
install, and support Notes in Europe and at worldwide locations
of its parent company, General Motors.

Lotus will provide training for EDS' sales and technical support
representatives. EDS will be responsible for installation, phone
support, application services, and training for its Notes
customers.

EDS has operations in 30 countries and employs more than
70,000 people. The company reported revenues of $7.1 billion
in 1991.

(Grant Buckler/19921008/Press Contact: Bryan Simmons, Lotus
Development, 617-693-1697; Ron Taylor, PictureTel, 508-762-
5178; Nancy Scott, McGlinchey & Paul for Lotus, 617-577-8500;
Pete McLaughlin, EDS, 214-301-3998; Public Contact: Lotus
Development, 617-577-8500)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TOR)(00025)

New For Unix: Xerox Unbundles Scanworx Software 10/08/92
PEABODY, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Xerox
Imaging Systems is now offering the software part of its
ScanWorX document  recognition system separately. Previously
sold only in a bundle with a Xerox scanner, the stand-alone
software for Unix supports Fujitsu's M3096G scanner as well
as two Xerox models.

The software has been sold in the past as part of a $17,950
hardware-software bundle with Xerox's XIS 7000 scanner. The
new software version also works with the XIS 7650 scanner as
well as the Fujitsu model, a spokeswoman said. No comment was
available on whether Xerox Imaging may extend the software to
support other scanners in future.

"There is a tremendous growth opportunity in the Unix environment
for office automation applications, such as document recognition
solutions, and XIS and Fujitsu are equally committed to this
marketplace," said Wayne Crandall, vice-president of sales and
corporate marketing at XIS, in a press release.

The ScanWorX software will sell for $1,995 for the first license,
and $1,450 for additional licenses. It runs under Unix with Unix
Systems Laboratories' Open Look graphical user interface on Sun
3X, 4, SLC, and Sparc workstations.

The Fujitsu M3096G scanner, rated at 400 to 1,000 pages per
day, sells for $7,500 with a compression board and automatic
document feeder.

According to Xerox the ScanWorX intelligent character recognition
(ICR) software will recognize virtually any typeface and point
size, including those that are underscored, or in italic or bold
face.

(Grant Buckler/19921008/Press Contact: Janet Knudsen, Xerox
Imaging Systems, 508-977-2125; Laura Antonucci or Kelly
Morris, The Weber Group for Xerox, 617-661-7900; Public
Contact: Xerox Imaging Systems, 800-248-6550)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00026)

Pen Software Developer PenMagic Gets Venture Funding 10/08/92
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) --
PenMagic, a software company set up in the fall of 1990 to
develop applications for pen-based computers, has obtained its
first venture capital. The money comes from two California
companies: Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and Integral Capital
Partners.

In return for a total investment of US$2 million, the two
companies will get equity stakes in PenMagic, said Keith Wales,
vice-president of research and development. Doug Mackenzie, a
partner in Kleiner Perkins, will also get a seat on PenMagic's
board of directors, joining Wales and PenMagic President Norm
Francis.

Wales said the companies are not making public what stakes the
two investors are taking in PenMagic or what proportion of the
money is coming from each firm. He did say that Kleiner Perkins
is making the larger investment, and that the investors' stakes
do not add up to a majority interest in PenMagic.

The new financing is to be used to expand marketing of PenMagic's
first product, a financial work processor for Go's PenPoint
operating system called Numero, and to develop and market new
software. Of the planned new applications, Wales would say only
that they will be designed for mobile computing.

In addition to the standard Numero product, PenMagic also sells a
special edition of the product called The Executive Assistant and
a software development kit intended to let programmers link
other applications to Numero.

(Grant Buckler/19921008/Press Contact: Norm Francis or Keith
Wales, PenMagic, 604-988-9982, fax [phone]; Carol
Moran, Eastwick Communications for PenMagic, 415-306-4194)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00027)

Battle For European Videophone Standards Rages 10/08/92
PARIS, FRANCE, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- While AT&T and MCI slug it out
in the battle of the videophones in the US, the market for look-
see phones here in Europe looks like it is stabilizing with the
announcement that France Telecom has settled on the British
Telecom unit for its pilot trials of the new technology.

The BT videophone, which sells for around the $800 mark -- about
half of the cost of the AT&T unit unveiled earlier this year --
was recently taken on board by MCI in the US. France Telecom
says that, as part of its trialing of videophone technology, the
telecommunications giant has agreed contracts with 15 major
companies in Europe to field test the technology.

Perhaps more importantly, France Telecom -- long regarded as a
trendsetter in the European telecoms marketplace -- has
revealed it is working closely with other European PTTs, notably
those in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and the UK, on
establishing an international videophone standard.

If all goes well with the trials over the next few months,
France Telecom will contract with a manufacturer for the supply
of 10,000 compact videophones during 1993. Most experts agree
that the BT/MCI videophone standard looks a likely winner in this
respect.

What's interesting about the French telecoms market is that, as a
sole supplier of the technology, France Telecom can charge pretty
well what it likes for videophones. Sources suggest that the
company will sell its videophones for around the FF 80,000 mark -
- about four times the trade price of a BT unit here in the UK.

The profits, France Telecom officials say, will be ploughed
back into research and development on establishing the still-
fledgling videophone technology standard.

(Steve Gold/19921008)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00028)

All Change At IBM UK As 50 New PCs Unveiled 10/08/92
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- IBM UK has announced no
less than 50 new PCs. At the same time, company Personal
Systems (PS) Director Howard Ford has said that Big Blue is
undergoing a major change in the way it does business.
Announcing the new product range here in London, Ford said that
IBM is not only changing its product line, but is also changing
itself.

The new machines, which range from home and small business PS/1
and PS/2 machines up to corporate heavy-duty systems, are all
priced at, what IBM calls, competitive prices. Ford was quick,
however, to dismiss suggestions that Big Blue is starting a price
war.

The changes come as IBM in the US has announced plans to phase
out its 80386DX-based PCs by the end of the year, owing to heavy
competition in the PC marketplace. Analysts suggest that the
revamped UK range of computers takes the US lead into account
in this respect.

According to Steve Walker, head of IBM's PS division, the new PCs
are "IBM's response to the increasing segmentation of the PC
marketplace."

"But even more significant than the products themselves is the
way in which today's announcements represent a dramatic shift in
the way IBM takes part in the personal computer marketplace,"
Ford commented.

The changes in IBM's strategy with its PS/1 and PS/2 machines
mean that Big Blue, for the first time in the British computer
marketplace, has publicly admitted to being forced to cut prices.
Previously, Big Blue officials have maintained that IBM has been
a trend setter, rather than a trend follower.

While the prices on IBM's revamped range of PCs are nothing to
write home about, they will make potential buyers of the
company's direct-sell Ambra range of machines think twice.
Sources in the British computer industry have suggested that the
Ambra range has failed to take on the Compaq Prolinea family of
low-cost PCs and, as a result, will be phased out before the end
of the year.

IBM, for its part, has strenuously denied such suggestions.
Newsbytes notes that, only a few months ago, however, the
company denied suggestions that it would phase out 80386DX-
based machines owing to increased competition in the PC
marketplace.

(Steve Gold/19921008)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00029)

Wang Shuffles Management 10/08/92
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- Continuing
its efforts to emerge from Chapter 11 of the US bankruptcy laws,
Wang Laboratories has shuffled management and announced plans
to cut costs in its Office 2000 systems business.

Wang said three executive vice-presidents -- Donald P. Casey,
Michael F. Mee, and Joseph M. Tucci -- will join Chairman and
Chief Executive Richard W. Miller in an operations group which
will oversee Wang's restructuring programs.

Casey continues as chief development officer but will also take on
the job of establishing Wang's new open software business. Under
its Office 2000 strategy, Wang is developing advanced office
productivity software for open systems.

The company also announced first shipments of Open/image for AIX,
the first product in the Office 2000 stable. The image processing
software runs on Wang reduced instruction set computing (RISC)
systems, which are relabelled IBM RS/6000 machines. Additional
products are in final stages of testing and development, officials
said, with announcements scheduled over the next few months.

Wang said Casey will oversee the addition of new channels of
distribution and industry alliances and partnerships to help sell
the Office 2000 products. He will also take on corporate
planning and corporate MIS functions.

Chief Financial Officer Mee will assume operating responsibility
for the company's service business, plus its manufacturing,
purchasing, and real estate operations.

Tucci will continue to have responsibility for the company's field
sales, services, and marketing activities, which include reporting
relationships from Wang's regional and country managers
worldwide. Tucci and Mee will coordinate closely on all customer
services matters.

The company is also consolidating its PC systems and Office 2000
systems business with the field operations headed by Tucci.
Officials said this will permit significant cost reductions and
will provide increased coordination for Wang's product and
service offerings.

James J. Hogan, senior vice-president, US commercial operations,
will retain responsibility for personal computers while adding
responsibility for supplies and the Wang Express telemarketing
operation, alternate channels marketing, AS/400 conversions,
and some of the installed base of Wang's older, proprietary VS
minicomputer line.

William P. Ferry, senior vice-president, marketing operations,
will have worldwide responsibility for field marketing support,
the development of new value-added service offerings, and the
further implementation of Wang's Office 2000 strategy.

(Grant Buckler/19921008/Press Contact: Frank J. Ryan, Wang,
508-967-7038; Ed Pignone, Wang, 508-967-4912)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00030)

 ****Supreme Court Upholds Symantec In "Look & Feel" Suit 10/08/92
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 8 (NB) -- The struggle
in a "look-and-feel" suit brought by Brown Bag Software against
Symantec in 1988 is finally over. The Supreme Court has upheld
the decisions of two federal courts, the last being the Ninth
Circuit Court of Appeals, that Grandview from Symantec does
not violate copyrights on Brown Bag's PC-Outline package.

The entire computer industry is watching this case as well as
the Lotus/Borland, the Apple/Microsoft/Hewlett-Packard, and
the Sega/Accolade suits to see how the US legal system will
interpret pre-existing copyright law in the new area of
software copyrights.

Symantec's Attorney Mitchell Zimmerman said in a prepared
statement: "The Brown Bag decision is part of an important
emerging trend, limiting the scope of copyright protection for
computer programs. The decision makes it easier for defendants
to dispose of baseless 'look and feel' infringement claims."

However, the Symantec/Brown Bag suit never went to trial. Judge
Robert P. Aguilar of the Federal District Court in San Jose
granted Symantec a motion for a summary judgement on August
24,1989, claiming: "No reasonable jury could find that the screens
(for the two programs) are substantially similar." Brown Bag
appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals where Judge
Aguilar's decision was upheld, and then to the Supreme Court
where it just recently lost.

Borland has lost a summary judgement recently in the "look and
feel" suit Lotus brought over the similarities between
Borland's Quattro Pro spreadsheet and Lotus' 1-2-3 spreadsheet.

Newsbytes asked Tom Lemberg, Lotus vice president and general
counsel, how similar the Symantec/Brown Bag suit is to the
Lotus/Borland suit. Lemberg asserts the two suits are totally
different, because Borland has duplicated a menus from Lotus
1-2-3 in Quattro Pro, and has advertised that Quattro Pro is
like Lotus 1-2-3.

Federal Judge Robert E. Keeton of the United States District
Court in Boston said in a 45-page memorandum July 31, 1992
that Lotus 1-2-3 is copyrightable, that Borland did copy 1-2-3,
and that Borland is liable. Judge Keeton said: "I conclude that no
reasonable jury could find for Borland, that Borland did not
take the menu commands, menu command structure, macro
language, and keystroke sequences substantially as they were."

In the Apple/Microsoft/Hewlett-Packard suit, a summary
judgement has placed Apple in the position of having to define
specifically what items are able to be copyrighted.

In the Sega/Accolade suit, an August, 1992, ruling by the Ninth
Circuit Court of Appeals has dissolved an injunction by the
Federal District Court that game producer Accolade could not
sell or develop new game titles for the Sega Genesis game
system. The injunction was lifted so Accolade could continue
marketing compatible game titles for the Sega Genesis game
system. However, the extensive paperwork in such a landmark
decision outlining the reasoning of the court has yet to be
released.

What appears to be clear in these decisions is that they are
being decided on a case by case basis. Apple has expressed a
strong interest in getting before a jury, but isn't expected to
do so.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921008/Press Contact: Terri Sammonds,
Symantec, tel [phone], fax [phone]; Sandra Hawker,
Borland, 408-439-1659, fax [phone]; Richard Eckel, Lotus
Development Corporation, tel [phone], fax [phone];
Cindy McCaffrey, Apple, tel [phone], fax [phone];
Waggener Edstrom for Microsoft, 503-245-0905; Charlotte Skeel,
Accolade, tel [phone], fax [phone])