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/1993/NB091393

Text File | 1993-09-13 | 82KB | 1,744 lines

(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEL)(00001)

Indian IT Professionals Overseas "Want To Come Home" 09/13/93
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- While Indians are one of the
most widely travelled people in the world, a recent survey of the
country's computer students and professionals located abroad has
come up with the conclusion that 75 percent of them want to return
home.

The survey, conducted by the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur,
one of the leading engineering colleges in the country, has blasted
quite a few myths about Indians in the US, the most important being
that the majority of computer-literate Indians want to return to
India to obtain employment.

Interesting, two facts have emerged from the survey, the first being
that, despite the disparity between Indian and US salaries, the US-
based Indians' salary expectations are not that far off what is
actually available in their homeland.

Secondly, most US-based computer-literate students and professionals
are unwilling to return to their native India without a firm job
offer in their pockets.

Other important conditions mentioned as important for returning to
India include assistance with housing, travel opportunities (which
most companies offer), and career opportunities (which are good).

The survey clearly shows that there is a substantial pool of highly
trained professionals in the US which can be tapped by the Indian
computer industry to alleviate the current manpower shortage. But,
in order to tap this resource, the Indian computer industry will
have to actively recruit in the US.

One of the main complaints of most respondents to the survey was
that, when they enquire with Indian companies about possible
positions, they either do not get a reply or are asked to "contact
us after you have returned."

Many of the survey respondents said that they are looking for what
they call "interesting work" and are worried that any jobs they
eventually get will unexciting and low-tech. This implies that these
professionals are looking for -- and will not move without -- a
commitment to employment in keeping with their levels of expertise.

Newsbytes notes that these requirements are not, in themselves,
insurmountable, but the foreign-held image of the Indian computer
industry being "body shops" and "assemblers" needs to be dispelled.

Other interesting findings of the survey showed that: Most
respondents are in the 20-35 age group; about 75 percent were under
30. Only about 25 percent of the respondents had no work experience,
with the rest had under 10 years' experience.

About 70 percent of the survey respondents had M.S. degrees, and
about 15 per cent had Ph.D. degrees. Most of the respondents said
that they would only return to India if the offer is made to them in
the US, and not on their return.

(C T Mahabharat/19930913)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEL)(00002)

Locally-Produced Wordstar 7.0 To Ship In India 09/13/93
BOMBAY, INDIA, 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- Sujata Data Products of Bombay
has been granted a licence to begin producing copies of Wordstar 7.0
for DOS and Wordstar 1.5 for Windows for local Indian consumption.
The company has been the local distributor for Wordstar products for
the past two years although, according to Alok Gupta, the company's
director, these earlier versions have only been imported on a
shrink-wrapped basis.

Gupta has appointed Datapro's Indian operation as the national
distributor for the new word processing software. Plans call for the
company to offer free and advanced (chargeable) training at a number
of sites throughout India.

Sujata also plans to sell the two new versions of Wordstar directly
to its chain of 35 to 40 dealers. According to Randall Rendenius,
Wordstar International's director, the new packages are being
progressively rolled out internationally. "We launched these
versions in the US at the end of last December and have since
introduced them in 60 to 70 countries."

The local production of the two packages bodes well for Indian
pricing on Wordstar. Until local production commences, Gupta said
that the US source price of 6,500 Rupees ($210) was bumped up to an
Indian price of R13,000 ($420) owing to the imposition of local
taxes. Gupta claims that, once local production has started, Indian
pricing should be more in line with US pricing.

Sujata has high hopes for the packages. It wants to sell around
10,000 copies in its first 12 months.

Newsbytes notes that Wordstar has been in the news recently also
because of its collaboration with Softkey of Canada and Spinnaker
from the US. Plans call for products of these two companies to be
introduced at a later date by Sujata.

(C T Mahabharat/19930913)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(WAS)(00003)

Browsing the Internet 09/13/93
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- Newsbytes thought that
it might interest non-Internet readers to see just what sort of
message traffic is running around on the Internet network. The
Internet is the world's largest electronic mail and file-sharing
network (it also has a number of other features), and is the model
for what the Clinton-Gore Administration sees as a
national/international information highway.

The following threads were found on the GEnie Internet Forum in just
one day's summary of astronomical discussions as digested in the
ASTR1083.ZIP ASCII text file from Internet's sci.astro newsgroup:

Someone at University of North Texas Observatory helped a science
fiction role playing game author by answering a question about how
fast the earth's region of the Milky Way Galaxy is rotating.

There was a weeks old summary mission report from the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory on the still non-functioning Mars Observer.

A translated German-language scientific report on meteor showers was
included.

Other discussion threads looked at low cost CCD (charged coupled
device) cameras, which are used in measuring astronomical events),
and how spacecraft are used to take stereo pictures.

Another report came from Galileo Project Manager Bill O'Neil, who
pointed out that not all space missions are spectacular failures and
that Galileo is operating normally, transmitting coded telemetry
information at 40 bps. That is a shockingly low rate to modem users,
but is reasonable enough for a spacecraft sending telemetry rather
than images, and is actually four times the rate of a slower 10 bps
speed which is also used.

Those topics were covered in just one day's download from a single
Internet topic area and they included both highly technical reports
from scientists, and comments from amateur astronomers.

Typical daily Internet discussion ZIP files range in size from 4
kilobytes (K) to over 140 K and topics include: astronomy, medicine,
computer security, Unix, computer languages, culture, short wave
radio, music, and metaphysical philosophy.

Although these files were viewed on GEnie, many other commercial and
local Internet links exist and anyone seeking the latest information
on nearly any topic will probably find experts ready to help on the
Internet.

Newsbytes is also carried on Internet through Clarinet, toll-free
800-USE-NETS, or 408-296-0366.

(John McCormick/19930913)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00004)

ACM Announces Fifth Hypertext Conference Schedule 09/13/93
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- The Association for
Computing Machinery has released its conference schedule for
Hypertext '93, which is to be held this November 14-18 in Seattle,
Washington. Subjects to be covered in technical papers and seminars
will range from commercial publishing topics to computer science-
oriented presentations.

Hypertext and hypermedia, the publishing systems which allow
developers to link related ideas and users to quickly jump to other
parts of compound documents to follow information threads, is seen
by many as the major new publishing venue for the next century.

Saturday will see workshops covering hypertext in engineering and
hyperbase systems design.

Sunday will feature courses in classroom use of hypermedia; the
HyTime (ISO 10744) SGML-based multimedia standard; publishing a
CD-ROM; SGML for writers; and hypermedia in museums.

Monday's symposium will feature multimedia authoring and viewing
tools; hypertext writing and publishing; and related topics.

Scientific papers are presented starting on Tuesday, along with
panel discussions on hypertext fiction writing.

The ACM program appears to provide a wide range of beginning-
through advanced information on hypertext theory and production

(John McCormick/19930913/Press Contact: 206-292-9198 or fax 206-292-
0559)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SYD)(00005)

 ****NEC To Unveil Power Saving Monitors In October 09/13/93
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- While exact details are
under embargo until October 5, Newsbytes has learned that Japanese
electronics giant NEC has a new range of power saving monitors
streaming off its production lines for an October 5 launch in the US
and Australia, as well as October 15 in Europe.

With the US government taking the lead in demanding drastic power
cuts from new PCs -- especially those to be purchased for government
use -- many manufacturers are readying their 'green' product lines.
In the case of PCs, most will have progressive shut-down procedures
that sense when the machine is not being used. They will have to
consume less than 30 watts at rest, or around a quarter of the
normal consumption.

Many users already have a screen-saver program running on their
computer, but rather than save power, this simply prevents an image
from being burned into the screen. New monitors such as the NEC
range are expected to reduce power at rest by turning off all drive
to the picture tube, by shutting down some sections of the
electronics, as well as reducing power to the picture tube heater.
This means that the system will not re-start instantly, but will
take a couple of seconds to come back to full intensity.

As the monitor itself will not be able to detect when a machine is
idle (an unchanging screen alone is not a guide as the user may
simply be reading the screen) most will rely on a signal from the
PC. And this really means a video driver card that is capable of
indicating a power-down signal such as by suppressing one of the
drive circuits going to the monitor.

(Paul Zucker/19930913)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00006)

CardGrabber Business Card Scanning System For Windows Debuts 09/13/93
NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- How do you
keep track of all those business cards that accumulate from
trade shows, business meetings, and the like? Pacific Crest
Technologies has introduced a Windows-based scanning system aimed at
displaying the cards in an easy-to-read manner, as well as storing,
organizing, and retrieving them for you.

The company's new CardGrabber consists of a Walkman-sized scanner,
along with address book and personal information manager (PIM)
software for business card data and images. According to Richard
Sondheimer, company president, the user inserts a business card into
the scanner and, within eight minutes, the card's image is clearly
displayed on the screen.

Through optical character recognition (OCR), the card's image is
then converted into text and stored for future use. The user can
search the data for such information as company name, address,
telephone and fax number, and then place the information in the
corresponding database field.

Another feature, an address book for business card files, makes it
possible to search for and retrieve information on the business
cards by logo or card style, or by alphabetical order, database
field, or key word. Users can print out business card images
retrieved from the address book as well as information from the
text-based database, Sondheimer said.

Unlike competing business cards scanners, CardGrabber does not
require the user to install a special board into the host PC, the
company president maintained.

"CardGrabber also has a unique `auto-contrast adjustment' feature
that improves image quality," noted Avram Grossman, inventor of
CardGrabber and co-founder of Pacific Crest. This feature eliminates
the need to repeatedly scan a business card in order to obtain a
readable business card image, he added.

CardGrabber is scheduled to be available this fall in computer and
office superstores, by mail order, and through computer dealers. The
product will list for $395, but the expected street price is about
$325, company officials said.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19930913/Reader contact: Pacific Crest
Technologies, tel [phone]; Press contact:  Les Goldberg Public
Relations for Pacific Crest, tel [phone])


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

ATI Ships 14,400-bps Modems 09/13/93
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- ATI Technologies has
announced shipment of two new 14,400-bit-per-second (bps) data and
facsimile modems -- the 14400 ETC-I and ETC-E units.

The 14400 ETC-I is an internal model and the 14400 ETC-E is
external. Both support 14,400-bps data transfers using the
V.32bis standard, and can also send and receive fax messages at
speeds up to 14,400 bps, ATI officials said.

The modems also support commonly used data compression and error
control standards, including V.42bis, which ATI said can increase
transmission speeds by as much as a factor of four. The fax
component of the modems is EIA Class 1 compliant and is claimed to
be compatible with Group 3 fax machines and fax cards.

Both modems come with the full retail versions of the FaxWorks
facsimile software and COMit communications software from SofNet,
both of which are designed for use with Microsoft Windows.

The internal modem comes with Multiple Interrupt Select (MIS) to
allow serial ports to be assigned to alternate interrupts for
compatibility with multiple expansion cards. The external version
has an Easy-Set front panel meant to make it easy to set frequently
used functions such as auto-answer and redial without using
software.

The 14400 ETC-I has a suggested retail price of US$249 or C$299.
The 14400 ETC-E's list price is US$299 or C$369. Both are shipping
now, company officials said.

(Grant Buckler/19930913/Press Contact: Andrew Clarke, ATI
Technologies, 416-882-2600 ext. 8491, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00008)

 ****Sony Unveils Portable CD-I Player 09/13/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- Sony has unveiled a powerful
compact disc interactive (CD-I) player that comes in a portable
format. Known as the IVON7, the 120,000 yen ($1,200) unit is
actually an upgraded version of the company's existing desktop CD-I
player, but without the integral four inch liquid crystal display
(LCD) screen.

Instead, Sony is selling the LCD screen as an extra clip-on device.
The unit can also be hooked up to a TV set for display purposes.

Because the machine does not have an integral display, the IVON7
tips the scales at 900 grams -- 300 grams lighter than the desktop
unit. In use, it supports 260,000 colors and, using the built-in
battery pack, can be continuously used for 160 minutes, Sony
officials claim.

The player is unusual in that it supports the Kodak Photo CD system
as well as the expected CD-I format. This means that the unit can
display photo CD images as well as allowing CD-I sessions. Newsbytes
notes that the player also supports multi-session type photo CDs.

Other features of the player include a world time clock and a
calendar. The on-screen command system works in both Japanese and
English.

Since this is a portable version of an existing unit, there is a
wide selection of software available for the player. Software
packages vary from a series of travel guides to multi-lingual
dictionaries. Several more packages have been scheduled for release
later this year, Newsbytes understands.

Sony has been working hard on gaining support for its fledgeling
CD-I technology from a number of other Japanese electronics
companies. Sony has already licensed the technology to two other
Japanese companies, Matsushita and Sanyo. Both of these third-party
companies have released their own versions of the Sony unit.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930913/Press Contact: Sony, +81-3-
5448-2200, Fax, [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00009)

Wordperfect Ships Interim Version Of Dataperfect 09/13/93
OREM, UTAH, U.S.A., 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- Wordperfect Corporation has
released interim version 2.3 of its Dataperfect software that it
claims will allow users to take advantage of referential integrity
without programming.

Referential integrity refers to the automatic update of a linked
record when the master record is changed or deleted. Dataperfect is
a menu driven database package that allows the user to create
relational database applications without knowing a programming
language.

The interim version of Dataperfect is shipping with a test drive
version of PaperClip for DOS, a personal file management tool from
PaperClip Imaging Software that allows Dataperfect users to store
and view text, spreadsheet and scanned image files that are
associated with a record in Dataperfect.

Wordperfect claims to have added security to its Dataperfect
applications by creating a User ID database panel that prompts users
for their User ID and password. A full screen view feature allows
the user to see the database record in a full screen panel, and a
Wordperfect Shell 4.0 is shipping with Dataperfect.

Wordperfect Corporation says that the interim release supports 99
panels in every database application, and 125 fields per panel. Text
field capacity has been doubled to 64,000 bytes, or about 25 pages
of text. Wordperfect 6.0 merge files are now supported, and when a
user imports a record specified fields in matching records can be
replaced instead of replacing the entire existing record.

Dataperfect now ships with 20 pre-defined application, double the
previous number. The applications include a telephone directory,
personnel records, business contacts, budgets, work project
tracking, and pilot flight hours Others are for tracking library
information, hours worked by employees, loan value calculation, and
amortization schedules.

Wordperfect Corporation says that the test drive version of
PaperClip being bundled with Dataperfect will give users the
opportunity to see how the two products work together. PaperClip
allows users to switch between it and a Dataperfect application with
a hot key in order to view other files associated with the
Dataperfect application.

"From any record in Dataperfect, users can hotkey into a PaperClip
folder and access scanned images, word processing documents, forms,
faxes, e-mail and other software files," explained Helaine Fischer,
PaperClip's vice president of marketing.

Dataperfect 2.3 has a suggested retail price of $495. If you're a
user of Dataperfect 2.3 presently, you can get the interim release
for $15 plus shipping and handling. Other Dataperfect users can
upgrade for $89, and Wordperfect users can purchase the full retail
package for $129. Users of competing packages can also purchase
Dataperfect for $129.

A coupon from PaperClip Imaging Software is included with the
PaperClip test drive version included with Dataperfect. If you like
PaperClip and want to buy it, the coupon gets it for $99.
Paperclip's regular price is $595.

(Jim Mallory/19930913/Press contact: Hank Heilsen, Wordperfect
Corporation, 801-228-5035 or Helaine Fischer, PaperClip Imaging
Software, 201-487-3503; Reader contact: Wordperfect, 801-225-5000 or
800-451-5151, fax [phone]; PaperClip Imaging Software,
201-487-3503 or 800-929- 3503, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00010)

Canadian Product Launch Update 09/13/93
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- This regular feature,
appearing every Monday or Tuesday, provides further details for the
Canadian market on announcements by international companies that
Newsbytes has already covered. This week: IBM's new ThinkPad 750
models and AS/400 client/server features, and Lotus Development's
SmartSuite for OS/2.

IBM Canada, in tandem with its US parent, announced the ThinkPad 750
notebook computer (Newsbytes, Sept. 9). Both English and Canadian-
French models were announced.

Prices in Canada are: C$4,242 for the monochrome 750 with 170-
megabyte (MB) hard disk; C$4,848 for the same model with 340-MB hard
disk; C$5,353 for the passive-matrix color 750Cs with 170-MB hard
drive; C$5,959 for the 750Cs with 340-MB hard drive; C$6,262 for the
active-matrix color 750C with 170-MB hard drive; C$6,868 for the
750C with 340-MB hard drive; C$4,646 for the 750P with 170MB hard
drive; and C$5,252 for the 750P with 340-MB hard drive.

The 750P, which allows for input from a pen as well as a keyboard,
is not available in a Canadian-French model.

IBM Canada also joined its parent company in launching three new
models in the AS/400 mid-range computer line and an assortment of
peripherals and software aimed at client/server computing
(Newsbytes, Sept. 7 & 8). Canadian prices for the new AS/400
models start at C$22,300, IBM said.

Lotus Development Canada has announced SmartSuite for OS/2
(Newsbytes, Sept. 9). In Canada, the package will sell for C$959, or
C$719 for the upgrade. SmartSuite for OS/2 is to be generally
available here by mid-October, the company said.

(Grant Buckler/19930913/Press Contact: Janet Carnegie, IBM
Canada, 416-485-1582 [ThinkPad 750]; Anne Hay, IBM Canada,
416-474-3900 [AS/400]; Marsha Connor, Lotus Canada, 416-364-8000)


(CORRECTION)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00011)

Correction: Frame Relay Service Launched In Canada 09/13/93
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- A story with the above
title, which appeared in Newsbytes' daily edition Sept. 9, contained
some errors because of incorrect and incomplete information provided
by Bell Canada.

The MegaStream frame relay service is available from all Canadian
regional telephone companies that are members of the Stentor
consortium.

In urban areas, monthly rates are C$300 for 56-kilobit-per-second
(Kbps) service and C$1,750 for 1.5-megabyte-per-second (Mbps). In
other areas, rates are C$375 for 56-Kbps and C$2,000 for 1.5-Mbps.

There are three rate levels for data transmission, not two as stated
earlier. Customers will pay five cents per megabyte (MB) for local
transmission, which is defined as within 40 miles. The rate for
regional transmission is 12 cents per MB, as stated, but regional
transmission is defined as covering a distance of 40 to 1,000 miles,
rather than within a given telephone company's serving area as
Newsbytes was told earlier. As stated, national transmissions (1,000
miles and up) cost 18 cents per MB.

There will also be an initial connection charge of C$500 for
connection of 56-Kbps service and C$750 for connection of
1.5-Mbps service, but Bell is waiving this charge until Nov. 27.

(Grant Buckler/19930913/Press Contact: Lissa Ellsmere, Bell
Canada, 416-581-4253)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00012)

Traveling Software Ships Windows Communications Software 09/13/93
BOTHELL, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- Traveling Software,
the company that brings you Laplink, is now shipping CommWorks for
Windows, a collection of tools that includes Laplink V.

Carrying a $199.95 suggested retail price, CommWorks includes TS
Online, a windows-based communications program that performs the
usual tasks associated with communicating with other computers, and
uploading or downloading files as well as other features. "CommWorks
moves Traveling Software beyond file transfer," said Traveling
Software's chairman and CEO, Mark Eppley.

What makes CommWorks unique are the other features, all accessed
from the Control Center. In addition to TS Online and Laplink V (a
tool for transferring data between computers, including laptops),
CommWorks includes Laplink Remote Access, TS Fax, and Laplink Alert.

Remote Access allows the user to control another computer, sharing
files or transferring them over a modem, serial or parallel cable,
or infrared link. For example a computer user on the road could dial
into the computer at the desk back home, update information in a
file or add an appointment to a scheduling program without
downloading the file, making the changes, and uploading the file.

Remote access also provides access to network printers or
workstations on a network. Remote Access works in the background,
allowing a user at the remote computer to also use the system. TS
Fax lets the user send, receive, mark up, store, and manage faxes.
It can schedule faxes to be sent at a specified date and time in the
future, or send a fax to a group of addressees using the fax numbers
listed in the TS Fax phone directory.

If a fax fails to send for some reason, the program will continue to
try at a user-specified interval until the task is accomplished. The
program also receives faxes in the background while you work on
other task. The software package does not include a fax modem.

Features of TS Online include pre-defined scripts to log on to
several of the popular bulletin boards and services such as MCI
Mail, Compuserve, GEnie, Dow Jones, and AT&T Mail. You can define
your own post-logon scripts to perform tasks such as downloading
mail or files, checking stock quotes, and other frequently performed
tasks.

The post-logon scripts can be linked to the logon script to execute
automatically once you are online. TS Online automatically keeps
track of your time online, and if you enter the hourly connect
charge will keep track of each online session cost. It will also let
you mark several services for dialing sequentially.

Combining that feature with the post-logon script feature allows the
user to let TS Online dial into each of the services used, perform
pre-defined tasks, then go on to the next online service.

Laplink V is Traveling Software's flagship product, allowing the
user to transfer data over a serial or parallel cable, modem, or
Novell network. It is a DOS-based program that provides Windows
background operation and SmartXchange for automated file transfers.
File transfer can be set up for automatic execution on a user-
defined schedule.

Laplink Alert notified a user when a file, message or fax arrives.
It monitors the directories specified by the user, and when there is
a change to the directory, a dialog box pops up to let you know the
action has occurred. the message in the dialog box is defined by the
user, and you can also attach a sound file to the process. Suppose a
fax arrives.

Your computer will pop up the dialog box and catch your attention
with the sounds of Big Ben, bugs Bunny, or whatever sound you
choose. For sounds other than the usual PC chime, you need a sound
card. Laplink Alert also lets users send messages to other users
running the program on a Novell network.

CommWorks for Windows has a suggested retail price of $199.95, but
is available directly from Traveling Software through the end of the
year for $149.95. If you already use a Traveling Software product
you can get CommWorks for $69.95 until the end of October. Purchased
separately, TS Fax sells for $119, TS Online for $139, Laplink Alert
for $15, Laplink Remote Access for $100, and Laplink V (without
cables) for $119. Cables are $39.95.

(Jim Mallory/19930913/Press contact: Marci Maule, Traveling
Software, 206- 483-8088; Reader contact: Traveling Software,
206-483-8088, fax [phone]. To order: 800-343-8080. To upgrade:
800-364-1927)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00013)

Microsoft Ships BallPoint Mouse 2.0 09/13/93
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- Now shipping,
Microsoft's latest version of the BallPoint mouseball/trackball
device, which the company invented in 1991, comes with new software
and a better ball surface which Microsoft says will improve the feel
of the device.

Intended primarily for use with laptop computers, the BallPoint
mouse is actually a miniature trackball device designed to provide
easy Windows cursor control to users who don't have room to operate
a conventional mouse.

Along with changing the surface texture of the ball itself to
improve user comfort and control, Microsoft's latest version of
the pointer device provides five different tilt angles on the
BallPoint mount, adds a rubber backing to the base, and features
an increase in the size of the three control buttons.

Attached to the side of a notebook computer, the BallPoint is
essentially an inverted mouse where the user moves the sensor
ball directly rather than moving the entire mouse which causes a
flat surface to move the sensor.

Users should find the latest version of this opto-mechanical mouse
easier to mount and more convenient to use because it comes in a
two part form designed for quick removal and remounting.

After attaching a mounting clip to the side of the keyboard,
where it does not need to be removed in order to close the
computer's lid, the user can quickly attach or remove the
BallPoint mechanism using the clip.

Part of the improvement which users can expect to see with this,
the second major version of the Microsoft BallPoint device, will
come from version 9.01 of the mouse driver.

Probably the two biggest innovations are the magnify tool which
enlarges a small portion of the screen in the vicinity of the
cursor, and screen wrap which eliminates the need to traverse the
entire screen when trying to get from one extreme edge to the
other.

Upgrades from BallPoint 1 are available through Microsoft for
$50, and new purchasers can buy the BallPoint 2.0 at a suggested
list price of $125. Driver software upgrades only are $20.

(John McCormick/19930913/Press Contact: Deborah Caldwell Waggener
Edstrom, 408-986-1140 Public Contact: Microsoft sales, 800-426-
9400)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00014)

WordPerfect Hopes To Strengthen Canadian Presence 09/13/93
OREM, UTAH, U.S.A., 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- WordPerfect is looking at
ways to increase its presence in Canada, though the company does not
plan a separate Canadian subsidiary in the foreseeable future.

Stanley Weiss, director of Canadian business development for
WordPerfect, said that WordPerfect's status as a privately held
company stands in the way of setting up a formal Canadian
subsidiary.

He said that the company is looking at other possibilities,
including the opening of a Canadian office or offices, or the
creation of an operation to serve Canada from corporate headquarters
in Utah. "We certainly feel that we can do even better in Canada than we
have in the past," he said.

According to Weiss, Canada is already WordPerfect's third-largest
market world-wide. The company hopes to decide on a course of action
by the end of this year, he said.

WordPerfect's products are currently distributed in Canada by two
major distribution companies, Merisel and Ingram Micro, both of
which have Canadian subsidiaries based in the Toronto area.
WordPerfect's original Canadian distributor, J.B. Marketing of
Cornwall, Ontario, went out of business earlier this year.

(Grant Buckler/19930913/Press Contact: Stanley Weiss,
WordPerfect, 801-225-5000)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00015)

Canada: TelRoute Gets Thumbs Up To Build Own Network 09/13/93
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- TelRoute, a reseller
of long-distance telephone service, has gained approval from
Canadian regulators to build its own network using microwave
technology.

While continuing to lease lines from the established telephone
companies, TelRoute will shortly start installing microwave links
between major centers, starting in the next two to three months with
a connection from Toronto to Buffalo, just across the US border.
Links eastward to Ottawa and Montreal are planned for later this
year, said Douglas Lloyd, president of the company.

Lloyd said that the microwave links will evolve to provide service
to the "Golden Horseshoe," as the densely populated area around the
western end of Lake Ontario is known.

TelRoute has been paying Bell Canada C$15,000 per month per 24 lines
between Toronto and Montreal, Lloyd said. The microwave installation
will save the company money and let it offer customers better rates,
he said.

TelRoute's rates are already 30 to 35 percent below those Bell
Canada offers, Lloyd claimed. He added that TelRoute customers do
not have to dial extra digits to use TelRoute's service, as they
currently do with Unitel Communications, the national long-distance
competitor to the regional phone companies.

TelRoute plans to concentrate on Ontario and Quebec for the next
year to 18 months, Lloyd said, noting that these two provinces
together account for the lion's share of the Canadian long-distance
market.

From there the company plans to expand to other provinces, focusing
on the most populous areas, though Lloyd said service to the four
Atlantic provinces, though they are not densely populated, would
make sense once connections are in place to neighboring Quebec
anyway.

TelRoute plans to spend C$50 million to C$55 million building the
network, Lloyd said.

(Grant Buckler/19930913/Press Contact: Douglas Lloyd, TelRoute,
416-733-3311, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00016)

Central Point Releases Beta Of OS/2 Anti-Virus Package 09/13/93
UXBRIDGE, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- Central Point
Software has announced that its anti-virus software (CPAV) for OS/2
has begun beta testing. The package is billed as the computer
industry's only true 32-bit application for virus protection that
supports key OS/2 functions such as the High Performance File System
(HPFS) and the Presentation Manager user interface.

According to Central Point, the new package emphasizes the company's
commitment to provide an enterprise-wide solution for virus
protection. Central Point's anti-virus software currently includes a
server-based Netware product, as well as desktop packages for
Windows, DOS and Apple Mac platforms.

According to Eli Shapira, Central Point's research and development
manager, CPAV for OS/2 brings the most advanced anti-virus
technology to the OS/2 2.x operating system. The package's virus
analyser is the only virus tool, he claims, that can detect unknown
viruses without ant information about a file's pre-infected state.

Shapira added that Smartchecks, another CPAV for OS/2 facility,
enables both detection and cleaning of unknown viruses without virus
signatures.

"We used the same virus detection and cleaning engines that were
instrumental in our DOS anti-virus product receiving a top rating in
an independent test," Shapira explained. The DOS version of CPAV,
Newsbytes notes, recently received the highest overall rating of a
leading anti-viral package at a series of tests undertaken by the
National Software Testing Laboratory.

Plans call for the shipping version of CPAV for OS/2 to be launched
later this year. Pricing, including site licensing arrangements and
volume purchase agreements, will be announced closer to shipment
date, officials with the company said. The package runs on an
80386SX-based or better PC with 4 megabytes (MB) of memory and 2MB
of hard disk space.

(Steve Gold/19930913/Press & Public Contact: Central Point Software
- Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00017)

 ****Olivetti Targets Compaq With M4 Modulo PCs 09/13/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- Olivetti has unveiled its new
flagship PCs, the M4 Modulo series. The new range of 80486-based PCs
are targeted at what the company describes as professional users who
are looking for a wide range of features at a very competitive
price. The M4 series is also billed as highly upgradeable and
provide users with better value for money and investment protection.

"In recent months, we have re-vamped our entire product line to
compete with the new dynamics of the market-place," explained Paul
Evans, Olivetti UK's PC product manager, who added that the M4
series has been introduced to bring high specification machines to
market at very competitive prices.

According to Evans, the new machines are pitched head to head with
Compaq. He argues that the M4-40 Modulo has 30 percent more hard
disk space than a Compaq Prolinea 4/25s configured to the same
specification. He added that the Olivetti machine outperforms the
Compaq under Windows and still costs UKP 150 less.

The M4 Modulo series consists of two micro desktop series -- the M4-
40 and the M4-46. Both machine families can be stood vertically or
horizontally. There are also three desktop ranges -- the M4-62, the
M4-64 and M4-66. Each model range spans the 486SX, the 486SX and the
486DX2 chip technologies.

Olivetti claims that the M4 series bridge the existing and future
technology gap. Graphics have been optimized for Windows performance
and every machine comes with compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)
interface. All models come bundled with a mouse, and pre-loaded with
MS-DOS 6, Windows 3.1 and online documentation.

Pricing on the complete range of M4 Modulo machines kicks off at UKP
99, which gets users the M4-40, a 4MB RAM, 85MB hard disk-equipped
system. This price point, Newsbytes notes, includes an 14 inch SVGA
color screen, MS-DOS 6.0 and Windows 3.1 as standard.

(Steve Gold/19930913/Press & Public Contact: Olivetti UK - Tel: 081-
785-6666)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEL)(00018)

Pentafour Setting Up Joint Venture Firm In Tashkent 09/13/93
MADRAS, INDIA, 1993 SEP 10 (NB) -- Madras-based Pentafour Software
and Exports has announced it is setting up a joint venture in
Tashkent for the manufacture and assembly of computers. Its partners
in the venture include the Tashkent authorities and a Hong Kong-
based company, Grandlight Trading.

The venture involves a cash investment of $125,000. Of this the two
overseas partners will contribute $25,000 each, with the Tashkent
authorities putting in the remaining $75,000. Pentafour's
contribution will be in the form of training, personnel and
services.

According to V. Chandrasekaran, Pentafour's managing director, his
company will organize things on the component and training side of
the business. The initial production target has been set at 5,000
PCs and printers a year, although Newsbytes notes that the
production will also eventually include TVs, VCRs, two-in-one audio
players and washing machines.

According to Chandrasekaran, the new company will start production
of PCs in january of next year. After a year he plans to expand
production to a variety of other white and brown electrical goods.

Chandrasekaran said that, as part of his company's agreement with
the Tashkent authorities, Pentafour will procure cotton, urea, paper
and chemicals from the Tashkent and export them to a number of other
countries, including Hong Kong.

In addition to the Tashkent venture, Pentafour claims to have
identified three other possible joint venture partners in specific
areas such as multimedia, image processing and CAD/CAM applications
for offshore projects, products and training. Newsbytes understands
that the partners include Falcon Technologies, Graphic
Communications and Intersource Enterprises, all of which are US-
based companies.

(C. T. Mahabharat/19930913)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00019)

 ****Psion Launches $500 PDA With Digital Voice Processing 09/13/93
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- Psion has
launched the Series 3a, a new personal digital assistant (PDA)
priced at under $500 and billed as the first in the category to
offer on-board digital voice processing.

Designed to fit comfortably into a jeans or jacket pocket, the 6.5-
by-3.3-by-0.9-inch unit features a microphone, loudspeaker, and a
record-and-playback application for making quick voice messages and
for recording sounds to be used as personal alarms.

The new PDA also incorporates a large, 480-by-160 pixel LCD screen,
a windowed GUI, a page preview option, built-in database,
time/agenda management, word processing, and spreadsheet
applications, the ability to share documents with desktop PCs, and
drivers for 16 popular printers.

"The Series 3a heralds the beginning of real voice interface
development. In the future, we expect to see combined computer and
telephony products, and also a degree of voice recognition," said
David Potter, chairman of Psion PLC, announcing this latest pocket
computer in his company's long line of machines.

Barry Balcourt, vice president of Psion Inc., told Newsbytes that
the Series 3a uses a proprietary multitasking operating system
running on an 8088 microprocessor.

The 80 character-by-17-line screen is equivalent to that of a
standard computer monitors, he added, in an interview with
Newsbytes. A variety of fonts and font sizes are available. The PDA
never switches off, and can run for months on two AA batteries
without battery replacement, according to Balcourt. In the near
future, Psion plans to support the Series 3a with gateways to
specific e-mail systems, he told Newsbytes.

The Series 3a will be sold in 5000 European retail outlets, as well
as all in major chains and many independent stores in North America,
Balcourt noted.

The product is on the cover of this week's Sharper Image catalog,
and will be available in all 75 stores operated by that North
American chain. Other large North American outlets include Sears,
CompUSA, Silo, Circuit Cities Impulse Stores, The Wiz, Lechmere, J&R
Computer World, Best Buy, and Good Guys.

The new PDA is priced at $495 for a 256K model and $595 for a 512K
model, according to Balcourt. Shipment starts today.

(Jacqueline Emigh/1930913/Reader contact: Psion Inc., tel 508-371-
0310; Press contact: Barry Balcourt, Psion, tel [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00020)

 ****Amiga World: US CD32 Intro, 4000 Tower Demonstrated 09/13/93
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- Commodore has
announced its new answer to home entertainment with the CD32, a
television-based game system for under $400 that includes a double
speed compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive, and will also
play audio and Kodak Photo CDs.

The unit, which looks more like a CD player than a computer, is
built with the capability to add a special video compression-
decompression (CODEC) board and Commodore says it will be able to
play the video CDs planned by Philips and Paramount.

The CD32 has already been announced in Europe and Commodore says it
has put all its resources into the development of the units for
retail distribution both in the US and abroad. Company officials
hope the CD32 will make consumers take another look at its computer
systems as well, since the CD32 is based on the same Advanced
Graphics Architecture (AGA) chipset as is in the Amiga 4000 desktop
computer.

Based on the 68EC020 microprocessor chip, company officials said
that the unit boasts built-in cache and performance in the four
million instructions per second (MIPS) range. The CD32 offers the
Amiga Disk Operating System (ADOS) but officials said Commodore has
gone to great pains to be sure the operating system is available
when needed, but stays out of the way of programmers.

While the same high hopes had been expressed at the introduction of
Commodore's CDTV company officials said they now realize CDTV was
too expensive and there weren't enough software titles available for
it to spur consumer demand. Company president Jim Dione said he
hopes CD32 will become the next Commodore 64, the home entertainment
system that literally sold millions of units back in the 1980's.

Commodore officials boast that the CD32 can display 256,000 colors,
which is one color for each pixel dot on the average television
screen. Two controller ports are available and controllers may be
"daisy chained" off those ports. An 11-button controller is provided
with the unit. The CD32 does not have an infrared controller or
infrared controller interface although company officials said they
left themselves the option of adding it in the design of the unit.

However, distribution quantities of the CD32 are limited at best.
Commodore officials said they're shooting for the Winter Consumer
Electronics Show (CES) where they plan to make a big push for the
CD32. Over 50 titles are in development for the CD32 which are
expected to be available for the holiday season.

Other CD formats that will work with the CD32 include: audio CDs,
CD+G, Karaoke (Video CD) using the planned MPEG addition, and CDTV
titles if they are written to the correct specifications. Not all
CDTV titles will work in the CD32, company officials added.

Representatives from C-Cube Microsystems, developers of the Motion
Picture Experts Group (MPEG) 1 single chip decoder, were on hand as
Commodore is using the C-Cube decoder chip in its MPEG addition for
the CD32. To add the MPEG capability, CD32 users will need to use a
screwdriver to take off the back plate of the unit, insert the MPEG
card, and put on a new backplate supplied with the MPEG card. The
MPEG addition is expected to cost consumers about $250.

Commodore also announced the Amiga 4000 Tower unit, which was on
display at the show. The 4000 Tower should be in production in the
next two months, with availability at the end of the third quarter,
Commodore representatives said. Most of the production capability is
being eaten up by the CD32, which company officials claim is being
produced at the rate of 20,000 a week in Commodore's Philippines
facility.

Jim Sachs, known for his expertise in game development for the Amiga
platform, came up with a demo that offered a look at the graphics
capabilities of the CD32. While the demo was impressive, the actual
games shown for the unit look very much like games for Nintendo
systems. However, video was played on the unit and Commodore said
that the CD32 could play back video without the MPEG decoder, just
with not as much video.

Other tidbits of interest from company officials are: there could be
no extended graphics array (EGA) upgrade for the Amiga 3000
computer, and an upgrade path for Amiga 2000 and 3000 users may be
available once the 4000 Tower moves into production quantities.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930913/Press Contact: Lauren Keffer,
Commodore Business Machines, tel [phone], fax 215-431-
9465)


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

 ****Apple Debuts Applesearch Software, New Powerbook Bundle 09/13/93
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- Apple Computer
has announced it is offering a new search tool for use on computer
networks. In addition, the company has begun offering new retail
outlets for a rejigged bundle of its Powerbook notebook computer.

Applesearch is designed to search central computers on small-to
medium-sized computer networks for information "needles in a
haystack." The company says the technology is similar to other full-
text indexing and retrieval software, but allows prioritizing of the
information searched for and brings back a report in the form of a
newspaper-like update.

Apple claims that the product can also be used in on-line and
compact disc (CD) searches as well as searches conducted on the main
or "server" computer.

Applesearch is $1,799 for the Server/Client 5-Pack and $499 for a
Client 10-Pack. An Applesearch Client Developer's Kit is also
available for $299 through Apple's developer tools division, APDA.

Apple also said that it will begin offering a special bundle of its
notebook computer, the PowerBook 145B Plus Pack, through mass
merchants including Circuit City, Montgomery Ward, Best Buy,
Staples, and Officemax.

The Powerbook 145B Plus Pack offers a Motorola 25 megahertz (MHz)
68030-based Powerbook notebook computer with 4 megabytes (MB) of
random access memory (RAM), an 80 MB hard disk, and an internal
Global Village Powerport/Bronze fax modem with send and receive
capability.

The Powerbook is equipped with the System 7.1 operating system and
will offer a software bundle including Touchbase Pro, Datebook Pro,
Macintosh PC Exchange software for moving files to and from IBM
compatible personal computers (PCs), Applelink Online Services, and
Zterm terminal emulation software.

Consumers are expected to see prices between $1,549 and $1,699
for the new Powerbook bundle, Apple Computer said.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930913/Press Contact: Emilio Robles, Apple
Computer, tel [phone], fax [phone]; Apple Catalog,
800-795-1000; APDA Information Line, 408-862-3385.)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00022)

 ****14,400 BPS Modem For Less Than $200 09/13/93
LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- A 14,400
bit/second data-fax modem, with software, for under $200? Yes, and
that's just the retail price, according to Cardinal Technologies,
which expects a $139 "street price" for its new MVP144DSP, part of
its Cardinal Modem Value Pack series sold at computer "superstores"
like Computer City and Comp USA.

The new modem costs about $80 less than the current retail prices on
Hayes Accura and US Robotics Sportster models. It's based on an
Analog Devices digital signal processing chip, which means it can be
upgraded through software to even faster speeds, or new protocols
and other features. The new modem also bundles both Windows and DOS
fax and data software, and features a limited lifetime warrantee.
The new modem will ship this month, along with a companion 9,600 bps
model at $169 retail.

At the same time, Cardinal has cut prices across its line by up to
38 percent. The company makes 15 different modems now at its
factory, and will increase that to 23 this fall. In a prepared
statement, president Harold Krall chided US Robotics and Hayes as
"recent converts" to the notion of affordable modems. He also said
that, this fall, Cardinal will roll out new pocket modems, and
19,200 bps Vterbo modems developed with AT&T.

One of Cardinal's biggest successes has been its MVP Series, co-
marketed with Prodigy. The company said that the 2,400 bps MVP
product now ranks Number four on Ingram Micro's Best Sellers List,
and has been in the Top 10 for over 40 weeks.

While fighting the modem price wars aggressively, Cardinal is also
trying to branch out into other areas, spokesman Stacey Pierson told
Newsbytes. "We also released a multimedia upgrade kit two weeks
ago," she said, which will be going into the same channels. "We want
to be known as more than just a modem company. You can go to
Cardinal for many different products and upgrades."

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930913/Press Contact: Cardinal Technologies
Stacey Pierson, 717/293-3114; FAX:[phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00023)

Cirrus Unit Wins IBM CDPD Contract 09/13/93
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- Cirrus Logic has
announced that its Pacific Communication Sciences division will
supply the modules used in IBM ThinkPad 750 portable computers which
will access cellular packet networks under the Cellular Digital
Packet Data (CDPD) protocol.

CDPD was first announced a year ago by IBM and a coalition of
cellular service providers, including regional Bell companies and
McCaw. It turns unused calling channels into digital data streams at
speeds up to 9,600 bits/second.

Cirrus claims that the ThinkPad 750s are the first computers
designed to accept internal CDPD modules, and that it worked closely
with IBM's IBM PC Company to design the module. In addition to
handling packet data functions under CDPD, the module can also
handle regular cellular data calls, called "circuit switched" data
calls.

Donald Burtis, PCSI's vice president, explained that with the
module, "the mobile worker can use the ThinkPad 750 as a cellular
telephone, send packets of data using CDPD protocols, or use the
wireless modem for cellular data or fax transmission." This makes it
a long-term data solution, according to IBM PC Co. executive James
D. Bartlett. The product will be available by the end of the year.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930913/Press Contact: Pacific Communication
Sciences Inc., Donald Burtis 619/535-9500)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00024)

Identity Intros 800DPI Scanner 09/13/93
RICHARDSON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- Identity Systems
Technology has introduced an 800 dots per inch hand held hardware-
based gray scale scanner and will include Micrografx Inc's Picture
Publisher Limited Edition software.

Scanners can be used to capture graphics images and text without
having to re-enter the keystrokes. Scanned text is converted to a
computer readable form that can then be read by your favorite word
processor.

Identity's new IDSCAN-GS8P has a suggested retail price of $199, and
comes with an interface card that goes into an expansion slot inside
your PC, the Micrografx software, and scanning, paint, and OCR
(optical character recognition) software. The software stitches the
four inch scans into a full page image. IDSCAN-GS8P comes with a
video that shows the user how to install the device.

Identity's John Truetken, manager of engineering and product
development, said that hardware-based gray-scale scanning improves
scanned images by limiting the number of conversion generations, or
steps, the image has to undergo in order to be useful in
applications.

It also avoids potential conflicts between scanner conversion
software that creates the gray-scale and the software that is used
to interface the image file with the final application.

"With the Identity scanner, you scan directly into the final
application software, not an intermediate program," he said.

The limited edition of Picture Publisher included with the scanner
allows users to enhance their graphics applications. Windows users
can import or scan color and black-and-white photos, line art, and
other graphic material. Picture Publisher was named "Image
Manipulation Solution of the Year" in 1992 by Business Publishing
magazine and "Best of Its Class" by Infoworld the same year.

Identity Systems first bundled Picture Publisher LE with its
handheld scanners in January of this year. The software is a 24-bit
photo image scanning and editing program that supports TWAIN, OLE,
and Kodak's Photo CD system. The limited edition does not include
the "thumbnail image" feature during file open and save, some of the
masking tools of Picture Publisher are not available, and the number
of retouching tools and filters have been reduced, according to
product manager Grant Wickes.

TWAIN is an imaging applications program interface and protocol for
integration of software programs that use images, with peripherals
such as scanners, video boards, and cameras. OLE, or object linking
and embedding, is a program interface that allows images, sound,
video or text to be embedded into other files. The full version of
Picture Publisher has a suggested retail price of $495.

(Jim Mallory/19930913/Press contact: Troy Cooper, Identity Systems
Technology, 214-235-3330; Reader contact: Identity Systems
Technology, 214-235-3330)


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

Microsoft Intros New Pay-For-Support Programs 09/13/93
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- Breaking a long-
standing tradition, Microsoft says it will now charge customers who
need help with Windows, MS-DOS 6, Windows for Workgroup and
development tools. The new policy, which goes into effect October 1,
1993, establishes a multi- tiered support plan that will charge
customers for support after an initial free support period of 90
days, beginning with the first time you call for help.

Microsoft spokesperson Lynann Marcelius explained the new policy for
Newsbytes. Marcelius said that support has been segmented into four
categories: desktop applications, personal operating systems,
development tools, and advanced systems. They have also developed a
tiered support structure that starts at the bottom with electronic
services.

That level gives each Microsoft product user free access through a
toll-free number to Fast Tips, recorded information about the 10
most commonly asked questions about Microsoft products. Fast Tips
can also be faxed to the user. The Microsoft knowledge base, a
collection of 20,000 articles Microsoft engineers use to answer user
questions, is also available on Compuserve at no cost except connect
time.

Marcelius said that Microsoft set the 90 day period because its
support information shows that only about one-third of users ever
call for help, and about two-thirds of those that do call within the
first 60 to 90 days. "Most problems occur during set-up and
installation." Starting the 90 day period when the first call comes
in is advantage to the user who buys a product but doesn't install
it immediately.

The second tier is standard support for users with questions about
desktop applications such as DOS 6, Windows, Microsoft Excel or
Microsoft Word. Standard support is available 12 hours each work
day, on a toll-free number. Each desktop product has its own special
number, meaning you would call one number for Excel support and a
different number for Word help. Standard support is free for the
first 90 days, with the clock starting on the day you make your
first call for assistance.

The third tier is designated Priority support, and is available
around the clock. Callers will be connected with a support
technician. For applications and operating systems, Priority support
costs $2 per minute up to $25 per incident. Users can call a 900
number and the cost of the call will appear on the phone bill, or
you can call on a toll-free number and use a credit card to pay for
the support. You can also subscribe to Priority service for $195
annually.

Developers using Microsoft development tools and applications can
pay for support at the rate of $2 per minute after the 90 day clock
has expired, with a maximum of $95 per call. They can also purchase
an annual subscription that provides unlimited support for all
Microsoft products for $1,495. Support for advanced systems such as
Windows NT, Mail, and LAN Manager is available for $150 per incident
or an annual subscription of $7,500.

The top support level, called Premier, is designed primarily for
large corporations. The annual subscription for Premier starts at
$20,000, provides unlimited support and assigns a support engineer
to the account.

To expedite support, Microsoft has set up its Customer Incident
Tracking System (CITS), a database that will contain configuration
information and a record of support calls for all of its customers
regardless of service level.

"The one-size-fits-all model of technical support doesn't work any
more," says Bob Johnson, associate director for the Microsoft
Support Network. "This type of tiered support gives customers the
opportunity to choose the level of service that best meets their
needs."

(Jim Mallory/19930913/Press contact: Lynann Marcelius, Waggoner
Edstrom for Microsoft 206-994-8080)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00026)

Novell Ships NetWare 3.12 09/13/93
PROVO, UTAH, U.S.A., 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- Novell's NetWare network
operating system (NOS) commands nearly 70 percent of the NOS
market. Version 3.11 has been the de facto industry standard, albeit
proprietary, for some time, and the product that most other
networking applications try to support. Now the company has finally
announced shipment of NetWare 3.12.

NetWare 3.12 includes Basic MHS (Message Handling Service) and
NetWare for Macintosh at no additional cost. According to the
company, it also offers "seamless migration" from previous versions
of NetWare, provides increased performance, updates LAN (local area
network) and disk drivers as well as print and management utilities,
and ensures compatibility with NetWare 3.11 NetWare Loadable Modules
(NLMs) that use Novell's standard APIs (application programming
interfaces).

Newsbytes notes that NetWare 3.12 is a NOS used with a dedicated
server. This is different from popular peer-to-peer NOS products,
such as NetWare Lite, Artisoft's LANtastic, and Microsoft's Windows
for Workgroups, which do not require a dedicated server. Peer-to-
peer NOS products allow all computers on the network to act as
either a client or a server or both, thus allowing easy access to
all available resources, such as hard drives and printers. However,
they do not include many advanced network features and make a number
of network functions more difficult, such as the backing up of
vital data which is dispersed on different hard drives.

Announcing the product, Bob Young, vice president of marketing for
Novell's NetWare Systems Group, said: "The NetWare 3.x product line
is a key member of Novell's family of network operating systems.
With the release of NetWare 3.12, Novell is reinforcing its
commitment to NetWare 3.x customers by significantly updating the
product and increasing functionality without increasing the price."

The company says that version 3.12 also gives NetWare 2.x users,
who have been waiting to upgrade to NetWare 3.x, incentive to do so
now by offering new features and advanced network services not
currently available in the NetWare 2.x environment.

Newsbytes notes that the new high-end NetWare 4.01 is designed
more for enterprise wide networks, and is likely to compete more
effectively with Banyan Systems' Vines NOS, which has generally
been regarded as the better product for linking geographically
dispersed networks. NetWare 3.12 is designed more for medium- to
large-sized networking environments.

The company says that key features of version 3.12 include: all
previously available performance enhancements, updates and new
utilities for version 3.11, such as support for packet burst
and large internet packets; compatibility with existing NLMs from
Novell and from third parties; and a five-user version of NetWare
for Macintosh, designed to support Macintosh workgroups within
NetWare 3.12 environments, along with a new set of Macintosh-
based utilities that allow system administrators to perform most
network administration functions from the Macintosh.

The company says that basic MHS (message handling service)
facilities are also included at no extra cost. Basic MHS is an NLM-
based NetWare MHS engine that provides local delivery of MHS
messages for such applications as electronic mail, fax services,
forms processing and workflow automation among  the users on a
single NetWare 3.12 server. Additionally, Basic MHS includes a
starter electronic-mail application called FirstMail that gives DOS
and Macintosh users immediate access to the messaging services.
Additionally, Basic MHS supports Novell's NetWare SMF API.

The version also includes updated Novell and third-party LAN and
disk drivers; a CD-ROM installation option (version 3.12 also
provides support for CD-ROMs as NetWare volumes); new Universal
NetWare client, with a choice of Virtual Loadable Module (VLM) or
NETX client architectures. A new version of NetWare Btrieve key-
indexed record manager -- version 6.1 -- is also included.

Novell says that NetWare 3.12 began shipping to distribution on
September 3, 1993. A five-user version costs $1,095, a 10-user
version costs $2,495, a 25-user version costs $3,695, a 50-user
version costs $4,995, a 100-user version costs $6,995, and a
250-user version costs $12,495.

(Ian Stokell/19930913/Press Contact: Michael Adams,
801-429-5809, Novell Inc.)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00027)

Adobe Premiere/Windows Available; CIS Acrobat Offer 09/13/93
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1933 SEP 13 (NB) -- Adobe Systems
has announced the immediate availability of its Adobe Premiere
software product for Microsoft's Windows graphical user environment.

Adobe has also announced an exclusive product marketing deal with
CompuServe, whereby Adobe Acrobat Reader will be available via the
on-line service at a special price.

According to Adobe, Premiere 1.0 for Windows allows users to
combine video footage, video, audio, animation, still images and
graphics to create digital movies in either the MS-Video for
Windows AVI (Audio Video Interleaved) or Apple's QuickTime format.

The program carries a suggested retail price of $295 and is
available immediately from Adobe authorized resellers.

Announcing the availability of the package, Bryan Lamkin, senior
product marketing manager for Adobe's Application Products Division,
said: "Adobe Premiere for Windows brings a robust video editing
solution to Windows graphics users for a very affordable price. We
expect to see a broad usage of Adobe Premiere for producing high
quality digital video among corporate desktop training and
presentations professionals, as well as graphics professionals and
multimedia content developers."

Adobe claims that Adobe Premiere 1.0 for Windows offers several
features similar to those of the Macintosh version, including
an "intuitive" user interface, easy clips management through a
single project file, automatic clips preview, and a broad range of
file support.

The program also offers over 30 transition effects and a library of
35 image processing and audio filters, including support for
additional Adobe Photoshop-compatible filters. Users can also
perform advanced keying functions with chroma, luminance and alpha
channels for isolating portions of a clip and super-imposing it on
another clip.

Said Lamkin: "Over the next six months, we should see a whole new
generation of hardware introduced to support a broad range of
customers producing video in the Windows environment. We expect to
see products catering to the full range of video enthusiasts, from
the hobbyist to the video professional."

Adobe Premiere 1.0 for Windows is designed to work with other Adobe
graphics and digital type products, according to the company. Adobe
Illustrator for Windows graphics can be imported into Premiere for
Windows and combined with video and sound. The program also supports
Adobe Photoshop plug-in filters, and, according to the company, its
film strip file format allows video clips to be exported to Adobe
Photoshop for retouching and painting on individual frames.

The minimum system requirements for Adobe Premiere 1.0 for Windows
are an Intel 386-, 486- or Pentium processor-based PC with 8
megabytes (MB) of RAM and 100MB hard drive, running Windows 3.1 and
MS-DOS 5.0 or greater, and either QuickTime/Windows or MS-Video
software.

Newsbytes reported on the official introduction of the Windows
version of Premiere in August, just a couple of weeks after the
newest Macintosh version was introduced.

At the time, a company spokesperson told Newsbytes that, because the
hardware available for the Mac is of a more advanced level, the
Windows version is designed "for more of an internal audience," such
as "integrating interactive multimedia presentations and
employee training," whereas Premier for the Macintosh is "targeted
at an external audience - post-production houses, for broadcast
quality. (The Windows version) is also going to be for the home-
hobbyist at this point."

The available hardware is the problem. "The fact that there are not
really any JPEG boards out there right now. So that doesn't really
give you the high quality that you need for outside marketing of
video with Windows," said the spokesperson at the time.

The Adobe/CompuServe Acrobat offer, which expires on December
31, 1993, is only available to current CompuServe members.

According to Adobe, Acrobat Reader is a software application that
enables users to view, navigate and print documents in the Acrobat
program's Portable Document Format (PDF). PDF files are claimed to
preserve the essential look and feel of a document regardless of the
hardware platform, operating system or application software used
to create the original.

Acrobat Reader viewing software for the Macintosh or Windows
platform is available to CompuServe subscribers for $24.95.

(Ian Stokell/19930913/Press Contact: LaVon Peck, 415-962-2730,
Adobe Systems Inc.)


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

Viacom Buying Paramount 09/13/93
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- The company once
lampooned as "Engulf & Devour" by moviemaker Mel Brooks is itself
being devoured.

Paramount Communications, formerly called Gulf + Western, said it
will acquired by Viacom in a cash and stock deal estimated to be
worth about $8.2 billion. The new company has a value of about $18.2
billion. Viacom will be the surviving entity under the name
Paramount Viacom International, but Paramount head Marvin Davis will
be chief executive. Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone will own a
majority of the new company's stock.

The deal caps the career of Redstone, 70, who started his company as
National Amusements Inc. with a drive-in movie theater in Valley
Stream, New York, and later bought Viacom when it was the television
syndication business of CBS, which had been spun off under the 1970
"fin-syn" decision dividing the networks' production and
distribution. He parlayed that into cable television, where Viacom
owns such channels as MTV, Nickelodeon and Showtime.

Redstone has won high praise for getting young executives attuned to
their markets, who have dominated their niches on surprisingly small
budgets.

Paramount, which takes its name from the old-line Hollywood movie
studio, producers of "Star Trek" and "Cheers," is a conglomerate
which also owns the Simon & Schuster book publishing company and its
computer book arm, Prentice Hall, which recently moved into expanded
offices in Indianapolis. The company also owns the New York Knicks
and Rangers, their Madison Square Garden home, as well as an
amusement park, King's Dominion.

Analysts said that changing technology makes the merger attractive,
as major media, computer, and telecommunications concerns vie for
control of new digital "electronic highways." Rupert Murdoch's News
Corp. now controls 20th Century Fox, cable pioneer Turner
Broadcasting now owns two Hollywood studios, and all the broadcast
networks have used the cable re-regulation deal's "retransmission
consent" provisions to create new cable networks for themselves.

There remains a question of whether Washington will approve the
merger, of course. Paramount was created by a government-ordered
split between content and delivery in the 1940s. Viacom was created
through a similar split in the 1970s. The Clinton Administration's
policy remains unclear, but the anti-trust division of his Justice
Department, under Anne Bingaman, is taking a close look at
Microsoft's market domination, and the incoming head of the Federal
Communications Commission, Reed Hundt, is an anti-trust lawyer by
training.

The final terms are that Paramount stockholders will receive a total
of about $69.14 per share in cash and stock. Viacom will acquire
Paramount by exchanging each outstanding share of Paramount stock
for 0.1 of a share of Class A Viacom common stock, 0.9 of a share of
Class B Viacom common stock, and $9.10 in cash.

Paramount has also granted Viacom an option to acquire approximately
20% of Paramount's common stock at an exercise price of $69.14 per
share exercisable under certain circumstances. In addition, should
the agreement be terminated under similar circumstances before
completion of the merger, Paramount will pay Viacom $100 million.

After the merger, Redstone, through National Amusements, will hold
about 69.8 percent of the combined company's Class A voting stock
and about 38.5 percent of the combined company's common stock on a
combined basis.

In a press conference Redstone seemed fully in control of the
situation, as he'll be in control of the company. He was ebullient,
painting it as a "win-win" deal, and a true merger. He seemed to
think his was the major news of the day, although the conference
began just as PLO chairman Yassir Arafat was speaking on the White
House lawn.

"I was not motivated by the dollar," he said. "This was an act of
destiny." He also emphasized the two companies' opportunities in
multimedia. "Before this acquisition we were prepared for a new age.
It is like the Industrial Revolution, a sweeping change in
technology. turning the computer and television into a single
appliance providing programmers with a superhighway to the home.
This will form the single, I guarantee you, most powerful
entertainment and communications company in the world. There is no
combination that anyone could envisage which could provide more for
its stockholders -- more challenges, excitement and economic rewards
than inherent in these companies," he said.

"It is indeed possible to effect, perhaps to a miniscule way, human
events for the better. Our responsibility is awesome, and we hope to
make you proud of the way we respond to that responsibility," he
added.

Redstone also took a few shots at Time Warner, created by a 1989
merger which created no synergies. "This is Time Warner without
the debt. This is Time Warner with one company and not two."
Some have called this a marriage made in heaven. But unlike other
marriages, this marriage will never be torn asunder. Martin and I
guarantee that. So many you have heard me say this company would
never do a deal unless 2 and 2 make 5. Our commitment is it will
equal 6, 8, 10, 1,000 if possible. Nothing is impossible for
those with a commitment to excellence and an insatiable will to
win. We have enormous power, and will use that power responsibly,
not motivated only by the financial rewards," he said.

At the end of the news conference, questions were asked about
possible tie-ups with regional Bell companies, like US West's buy
into Time Warner Cable. Redstone and Davis confirmed that talks have
been held with the regional Bells, but said no decisions have been
made.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930913/Press Contact: Viacom, Raymond A.
Boyce, 212/258-6530 ; Paramount, Carl Folta, 212/373-8530)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00029)

Tandem In Development & Marketing Deal With BSW 09/13/93
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- Electronic
mail is one of the more popular office applications that can add to
productivity and improve communications. File servers are
designed specifically for networking, typically in corporate and
departmental environments. Now Tandem Computers and the Boston
Software Works (BSW) have signed an agreement under which Tandem
will offer BSW's messaging integration products on the Tandem
NonStop Himalaya range of servers.

Tandem says that the new product combination forms its Message
Integrator family -- "a fault-tolerant, standards-based electronic
mail integration solution."

It combines the Boston Software Works' InterOFFICE Message Exchange
with Tandem's NonStop Himalaya range of parallel-processing servers
to provide "messaging interoperation and directory synchronization
between multiple commonly used electronic mail systems."

Announcing the deal, Ross Gale, president of the Boston Software
Works, said: "This agreement adds important new standards-based,
high-availability messaging solutions to the InterOFFICE Message
Exchange product family and brings us the benefits of Tandem's
market position and global reach."

The company says that by taking advantage of Tandem's powerful
Himalaya range of parallel servers, the Message Integrator reduces
electronic-mail operation costs while "simultaneously assuring
performance, linear scalability, data integrity, and availability."

According to the companies, the Message Integrator lets users with
different electronic-mail products "transparently send and receive
messages and transparently convert electronic-mail formats,
synchronize user directories, and perform multinational character
set translation."

The Message Integrator supports the interoperation of such
electronic-mail products as IBM OfficeVision/VM (PROFS), IBM
OfficeVision/400, DEC All-in-1, HP DeskManager, Microsoft Mail,
Lotus cc:Mail, Novell MHS, and Unix mail.

Tandem says that its partnership with BSW allows for a "continuing
release of InterOFFICE software to incorporate new upgrades of LAN
(local area network) electronic-mail systems and integration
of additional LAN messaging technologies."

Tandem has been having a tough time of it lately. In July, Newsbytes
reported that Tandem reported losses of $44 million in its third
fiscal quarter. The Fortune 500 company also said it will probably
report a loss in its next quarter and will lay off 15 percent of its
workforce, or about 1,600 to 1,800 people, in the next 12 months.

That would represent its second restructuring in as many years.
The company started 1992 reporting that it expected to lose money
and laid off nine percent of its workforce during the year.

Also in July, Newsbytes reported that Calcutta-based BFL Software
Ltd., had entered into a strategic alliance with Tandem, under
which BFL would develop software both on-site and offshore for
Tandem customers world-wide.

(Ian Stokell/19930913/Press Contact: Sally R. Smith, 408-285-7515,
Tandem Computers; or Jeanne Gorman, 617-482-9898, The Boston
Software Works)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00030)

Aspec Licenses Portfolio Design Tool To ASIC Vendors 09/13/93
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- Aspec
Technology is licensing its Portfolio electronic design tools to the
commercial application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) market.

The company also says that it has concluded "strategic manufacturing
agreements" for its technology with semiconductor manufacturers
Samsung Semiconductor Corp., of Seoul, Korea, and Sanyo
Semiconductor Division, of Osaka, Japan.

Mike Peak, a spokesperson for the company, told Newsbytes that the
deal allows Samsung to manufacture ASICs for their customers and
also allows their users to license the technology. A separate  deal
allows Sanyo to "create ASICs for their customers."

Aspec says it is marketing its Portfolio design library under
licensing agreements to systems, peripheral and telecommunications
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). According to the company,
the turnkey product line enables OEMs to design ASICs, which can
then be multiple-sourced by high-quality, low-cost silicon suppliers
Samsung or Sanyo.

Aspec claims that its proprietary HDA (high-density array) ASIC
design technology allows system and semiconductor companies to
"rapidly and predictably design high-density, high-performance ASIC
circuits for rapid design turnaround and market penetration, all at
lower costs."

Once a design is complete, customers then deal directly with silicon
producers for prototypes and production. The technology also enables
semiconductor manufacturers to rapidly and predictably service the
ASIC silicon market.

Announcing the strategy, Conrad Dell'Oca, co-founder, president and
CEO, said: "Our Portfolio design family enables our customers to
control their ASIC destiny. Our HDA technology - expected to be the
industry standard ASIC architecture -- along with traditional design
automation products and services, are a revolutionary breakthrough
for the ASIC market. Such ASIC user design and manufacturing
independence guards costs and provides rapid design turnaround,
market entry and competitive advantages for electronics companies."

Aspec says that all its Portfolio products are available for
license, including the full design library, circuit blocks,
compilers, and documentation. This also includes access to silicon
manufacturing operations fully qualified for Aspec's design
technology.

The basic set contains all the libraries for design, from high-level
syntheses through mask database and masterslices of various sizes.
The cost of the basic set is under $250,000. The company says that
the libraries run on most third-party CAE (computer-aided
engineering) tools.

(Ian Stokell/19930913/Press Contact: Conrad Dell'Oca, 408-988-4411,
Aspec Technology Inc.; or Mike Peak, 408-446-0407, Peak Public
Relations)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00031)

Discreet Logic Announces New European Plans 09/13/93
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, 1993 SEP 13 (NB) -- Discreet Logic has
created a European subsidiary and entered into a partnership in the
UK for distribution of its digital editing and visual effects
software. The moves fill a gap left when a bitter legal dispute
broke out between the company and its European distributor,
Montreal-based Softimage Inc., during the summer.

In parallel with the European deal, Discreet Logic has also named
new distributors in Hong Kong, Japan and Korea.

A new Paris-based subsidiary, Discreet Logic Europe, will take over
distribution of the company's products in France and Italy,
according to Pat Hunter, a spokeswoman for Discreet Logic. These
were two of the countries where Softimage formerly sold Discreet
Logic's Inferno, Flame, and Flint software packages.

The third was the UK, where another company, Discreet Logic UK, will
take over distribution. This firm is a partnership between Discreet
Logic and its two UK principals, Simon Shaw and Andy Wray, who
Hunter said also run a prominent broadcast post-production company
called Boxer.

The company's existing distributors in Germany and Spain will
continue in their present roles, Hunter said.

Softimage, also a maker of digital video software, had an agreement
to distribute Discreet Logic's software in Europe, but in July a
dispute broke out between the companies over ownership of the
software.

Softimage claimed an Australian company for which one of Discreet
Logic's principals had formerly worked still held rights to the
Flame software, and that it had acquired rights from that firm.
Discreet Logic maintains it owns the software, and terminated the
distribution agreement because of Softimage's actions.

That dispute is still before the courts, Hunter said.

Discreet Logic also named Asia Computer Consultants in Hong Kong,
Holovision in Korea, and Photron in Japan as distributors. The
company's only other distributor in the Far East is Image 4D in
Singapore, Hunter said.

(Grant Buckler/19930913/Press Contact: Pat Hunter, Artemis Hunter
PR for Discreet Logic, 613-247-0588)