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/NB101593

Text File | 1993-10-15 | 65KB | 1,464 lines

(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00001)

UK - Interactive PC Fax-Back System Unveiled 10/15/93
COBHAM, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Von Bulow
Associates has announced the Voice Tree & Fax Tree System, a
programmable interactive computer-based fax response system.
Based around a PC equipped with voice and fax modem cards, the
system allows users to call in and interactively select which
faxes can be sent to them.

The idea behind the system is that the human element of fax
requests is removed, so saving companies fax information services,
the cost of manning phone lines constantly, as the Voice Tree does
at no extra charge.

Olaf von Bulow claims that the system has been on sale in the US
and, to date, more than 120 sites have been installed there.

In use, the system allows the full automation of processes which
previously required human intervention -- i.e. the taking of
requests for fax information. Von Bulow claims that, unlike
competing systems, the Voice Tree & Fax Tree System can be
reprogrammed very easily, using a special scripting language.

The system is based on a single PC, yet can handle up to 32 calls at
one time. A basic two voice line entry level system, complete with
hardware. software and full fax facilities, costs UKP5,300, while a
four line system boosts this price to UKP6,200.

"Experience in the American market has shown that the Voice Tree &
Fax Tree System raises levels of efficiency and, at the same time,
cuts operating costs," explained von Bulow. "It can be bought and
installed directly by experienced users, but the big market is where
there is no information technology (IT) expertise, yet the need for
the efficiencies of the system are plainly obvious. This is the
market for value added resellers."

Von Bulow added that, over the last 50 years, there have been a
number of changes in the introduction of new technologies. "I
believe that this system is a new business tool, as basic as the
fax and the word processor, and will become as widely used, as
it opens up for real voice information processing," he said.

Von Bulow Associates was formed in 1987 by Olaf von Bulow to
focus on the merging automated call distribution market and
related technologies in Europe.

(Steve Gold/19931013/Press & Public Contact: Von Bulow
Associates - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00002)

Visa Intros Cardshield - Credit Card Protection 10/15/93
SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Visa
International has launched Visa Cardshield, which it claims is a
comprehensive program that provides Visa member financial
institutions with the most complete range of high technology
weapons to protect their cardholders against payment card fraud.

Cardshield is billed as a program of upgrades to Visa cards which
will take member financial institutions several years to implement.
The list of enhancements include counterfeit-proof magnetic
stripes, integrated circuit cards, neural networking, and special
card activation programs.

The idea behind the program, according to Roger Peirce, Visa
International's executive vice president, is to turn up the heat on
the card criminals.

"Visa Cardshield represents the most aggressive assault on card
fraud in Visa's history. Thanks to the hard work, enthusiastic
support, and wise investment in Visa's delivery system, our
members are dealing a devastating blow to criminals around the
globe," he said. "Maximizing the strength of Visa's centralized
systems, we will deploy, in rapid succession, Visa Cardshield's
anti-fraud initiatives to ensure Visa cardholders receive the
maximum protection."

According to Peirce, Cardshield will form an integral part of
Paymentservice 2000, Visa's strategic plan for streamlining
payments and accommodating the meteoric demand for cashless
payment services. Visa claims that, by the end of the century
Visa transactions are expected to reach more than $1,000,000
million worldwide per annum.

The most immediate security feature, which Visa affiliates are
currently implementing, is the Card Verification Value (CVV)
system. The CVV system, which began in April of this year, adds
a checksum to the card number but only on the magnetic strip on
the back of the card.

This number is checksummed in a way that only EFTPOS (electronic
funds transfer at point of sale) and other on-line transaction
machines can verify, Visa claims. The CVV of a card actually varies
between cards, and depends on the type of card, rather than just on
the account number. This makes it extremely difficult for forgers
to copy a card with the correct CVV.

(Steve Gold/19931013/Press Contact: Albert Coscia, Visa
International - Tel: [phone]


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

Wordperfect Ships Language Modules For WP 6.0 10/15/93
OREM, UTAH, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Wordperfect Corp., is
now shipping 20 different language modules for its Wordperfect
6.0 for DOS. The modules allow users to combine international
versions of a hyphenation module, thesaurus, spell checker,
and/or keyboard with the word processing program.

The available modules include Afrikaans, Danish, Dutch, English-
Australian, English-Canadian, English-UK, Finnish, French-
Canadian, French, German, German-Swiss, Greek, Italian,
Norwegian, Portuguese, Portuguese-Brazilian, Russian, Spanish,
and Swedish.

Launched nearly three months ago, Wordperfect 6.0 for DOS has
already shipped about 700,000 copies. The company says the
program accounts for more than 90 percent of all domestic DOS-
based word processor sales.

The language modules have a suggested retail price of $99 and are
available through software outlets or direct from Wordperfect.

(Jim Mallory/19931014/Press contact: Blake Stowell, Wordperfect
Corp, 801-228-5063; Reader contact: Wordperfect, 801-225-5000,
fax [phone])


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

Microsoft Offers 2 Versions Of Windows Sound System 10/15/93
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Microsoft
says it will begin shipping two versions of its Microsoft Windows
Sound System version 2.0 by the end of the month.

One version includes the Sound System software and a directional
microphone. The other version adds an audio board and headphones.
The MS Sound System 2.0 audio board package provides Sound
Blaster compatibility under the MS-DOS operating system without
requiring Windows.

Microsoft says Sound System 2.0 supports virtually all audio
boards and includes drivers for Creative Labs, Media Vision,
Microsoft, and Microsoft-compatible audio boards. Since the
software is hardware-independent users who already have an audio
board in their PC can add voice recognition, annotation and other
voice features to their applications.

Microsoft says version 2.0 has increased voice-recognition
accuracy as well as audio-compression technology that greatly
reduces the size of the audio files. The compression algorithms
allow one minute of audio to take up just 62 kilobytes (KB) of
disk space. The voice recognition technology, called Voice Pilot,
allows users to create custom vocabularies, automatically
extract vocabularies from any Windows-based application, or
use the existing vocabularies.

While recording, the user can issue a verbal "Go to sleep"
command that shuts down the audio pickup. When ready to resume
work, a "Wake Up" command resumes the operation. The microphone
can be attached to the PC monitor or sit on a desktop stand.
Microsoft says a feature called "Quick Train" enables the user to
train the program to recognize his or her voice in three minutes
by reading a Microsoft-developed list of 52 phonetically balanced
words.

The software also includes VoiceWizards that allow the user to
create voice macros that automate tasks such as launching the
spell checker by issuing a "spell check" verbal command.

The software version, which includes the microphone, has a
suggested retail price of $79. The audio board version will sell
for $219. System requirements include windows 3.1 or higher, an
available expansion slot in your 386SX 25 megahertz or better PC,
at least 2 megabytes (MB) of system memory, 10MB of space on the
hard disk, a floppy drive, and at least a VGA monitor.

Microsoft plans to ship French and German language versions of
Sound System 2.0 in the first quarter of 1994, with Japanese,
Italian, and Spanish versions to follow.

(Jim Mallory/19931014/Press contact: Julie Basnaw, Microsoft,
206-882-8080; Reader contact: Microsoft Corp, 206-882-8080,
fax [phone])


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

20/20 Ships Windows Version Of PC-Install 10/15/93
PORTLAND, OREGON, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- 20/20 Software
has introduced a Windows version of its PC-Install program the
company says makes it easier to distribute software.

Developers, consultants, and corporate system administrators
can use PC-Install to distribute applications or data files
instead of having to build batch files or developing their own
installation routines.

To use PC-Install the creator tells the program what files need
to be copied or decompressed and what messages to display. All
the disk recipient has to do is type "install." PC-Install checks
for adequate disk space on the target computer, checks for a
particular CPU (central processing unit) type, and updates
autoexec, configuration, and Windows .INI files.

The Windows version of PC-Install includes PC-Shrink, a file
compression utility that keeps the number of disks needed to a
minimum and also splits large files across multiple diskettes.

PC-Install for Windows has a suggested retail price (SRP) of $179.
Users of the previously released DOS edition can upgrade for
$129. The DOS version has a SRP of $149, which includes PC-
Shrink, or 20/20 will sell you a bundle of both versions for $249.

(Jim Mallory/19931014/Press contact: Tom Gifford, 20/20
Software, 503-520-0504; Reader contact: 20/20 Software,
503-520-0504)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00006)

New Forums On CompuServe, AOL 10/15/93
COLUMBUS, OHIO, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Major consumer
on-line services continue to add forums and news.

America Online said the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has
agreed to host a forum on its network, which serves about
350,000 people. The forum offers a window to the nation's largest
and most comprehensive library on multiple sclerosis as well as
the opportunity to monitor breaking news on the disease.

As with other services on the network, it is part of a five hour
per month, $9.95, bundle. The deal is non-exclusive, however, and
the society said it plans to expand its representation on "other
key computer networks." later this year.

On CompuServe, U.S. News & World Report said it will make news
stories and other information from its weekly publication available
by the end of the year, with postings scheduled the weekend
before the magazine reaches subscribers.

The magazine will also host forums on various topics, and its
editors will have electronic mail boxes on the service. CompuServe
has nearly 1.5 million members in 120 countries, and hopes to add
400,000 members this year.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19931014/Press Contact: Arney Rosenblat
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 212-476-0436; Jean
Villanueva, America Online, 703-883-1675; Dave Kishler,
CompuServe, 614-457-8600)


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00007)

Learning Company Intros Reader Rabbit 3 10/15/93
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- The Learning
Company has released Reader Rabbit 3, the fourth in what has
become its flagship series of programs which teach reading
skills to youngsters on IBM PCs and compatibles.

The company, which said its sales were up 32 percent for the
quarter ending September 30 from a year earlier, credited the
new program with helping improve its numbers.

Other programs in the series include: "Reader Rabbit's Ready for
Letters," which teaches basic letter recognition to pre-schoolers;
"Reader Rabbit 1," which teaches pre-reading skills; and "Reader
Rabbit 2," which is aimed at beginning readers.

The new program, unlike previous programs in the series, requires
use of an IBM AT-type computer and VGA graphics. Earlier
programs, including the best-selling "Reader Rabbit 2," could
run well on an old IBM XT.

The new program concentrates on recognition of sentence structure
and parts of speech, although it replaces such terms as noun and
verb with descriptors of what those words mean. While earlier
programs used the motif of a factory and a farm, the new program
uses a newspaper office as its unifying theme, and after students
finish an exercise on each of four skills, they are rewarded with
the ability to print-out a "newspaper."

(Dana Blankenhorn/19931014/Press Contact: The Learning Co.,
Sharyn Fitzpatrick, 510-792-2101; Customer Contact:
800-852-2255)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(WAS)(00008)

Dataquest Survey Finds Interactive TV Hot 10/15/93
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- In the wake of the
merger frenzy in the telephone and cable TV industries,
Dataquest, the San Jose, California-based subsidiary of Dun &
Bradstreet, has released a $3,495 study of potential consumers
for interactive television that shows a strong interest in the
concept, at least in upscale households which already have
computers or video games.

According to Dataquest, which surveyed 200 consumers having a
minimum income of $30,000, more than 67 percent say that they
would purchase interactive television services, especially when
it comes to customized news reports.

More than 80 percent of the 200 households surveyed already have
cable television, and 47 percent of those, or about 80, also
subscribe to premium channels, mostly those that provide movies.

Video on demand was cited as a desirable feature by 73 percent,
but interactive news and educational programming ranked even
higher.

The company said that more than 40 percent of the sample
population own a television-based video game system, while
seven percent of the sample own a CD-ROM drive for use with
their personal computer.

In announcing the survey, Bruce Ryon, principal analyst of
Dataquest's Multimedia service, said: "There is a very receptive
audience for interactive products in  the home, but execution and
pricing will be key for product success. Consumers want more
control over the type of information and entertainment that comes
into their homes, especially when it comes to television news.
They are looking to interactive television and computer-based
interactive titles to help them get control of all possible options."

Respondents indicated a willingness to buy interactive devices
to be connected to the television when the price reaches $76 to
$100, according to the survey results.

"Demand for Multimedia in the Home," is available from Dataquest.

(John McCormick & Ian Stokell/19931014/Press Contact: Paul
Wheaton, Dataquest, 408-437-8312)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LON)(00009)

UK - New Business Security Guidelines Published 10/15/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- A group of information
technology (IT) managers from all areas of British business have
thrashed out a set of guidelines, published by the British Standards
Institute (BSI), designed to allow data processing and IT managers
to secure their computer data to a much greater degree.

The idea behind the guidelines is to protect businesses from the
massive potential losses caused by breaches of the systems on
which their companies now depend.

The group, which includes the Midland Bank, British
Telecommunications, Shell, and Unilever, says it is concerned about
the growing vulnerability of companies that use computer networks
to talk to organizations outside their own. They claim it is no
longer sufficient for a company to be conscious of its own weak
spots.

If a supplier's system is open to attack, for example, from a
computer virus, an infection could spread quickly owing to
communications links with other companies they exchange data
with.

According to John Nicholas, the deputy director general of the
Institute of Directors, the new code of practice covers all manner
of threats to computers, ranging from "computer viruses, hackers,
bombs, industrial espionage, fraud, and petty crime."

The guidelines include suggestions on how companies should handle
aspects of physical security, as well as the latest virus and trojan
horse programs that may attack their computer systems.

The Department of Trade and Industry, which helped put together
the new guidelines, estimates that security failures cost British
businesses about UKP1,100 million a year. Half of this can be put
down to disasters such as flood, fire and power failures, while the
other half is attributable to malicious intrusions.

The guidelines are published in "A Code of Practice for Information
Security Management" available from BSI Publications in Milton
Keynes in the UK, priced at UKP5.

(Steve Gold/19931014/Press & Public Contact: BSI Publications -
Tel [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00010)

UK - Abbey National Admits ATM Ghost Withdrawals Exist 10/15/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Abbey National Bank has
admitted that its automated teller machines (ATMs) are not
infallible. It claims, however, that its systems can catch errors
and that any money lost is reimbursed to customers in due course.

In common with other ATM card issuing institutions, the Abbey
National has, to date, claimed that its cash machines are infallible
and card holders experiencing problems should check that their
personal identity numbers (PINs) have not been compromised.

The admission that the banks' ATMs are not infallible adds to the
concern over the so-called "phantom withdrawals" case that is
passing through the courts.

The Abbey National Bank was forced to admit to its ATMs having
problems after Bill Phillips of Glasgow turned to the Guardian
newspaper for help in an argument with the bank.

Phillips said that he used his Abbeylink ATM card in an attempt to
withdraw money from his current account via a cash machine on
September 21. When the machine refused, saying that his daily
UKP250 withdrawal limit had already been used up, he complained
to his branch.

"I told them I'd been a victim of a phantom withdrawal. I had not
previously taken any money out of my account that day, my card had
been with me the whole time and no one else knew my PIN. Yet money
had somehow disappeared from my account without my permission,"
he said.

After interviewing Phillips as to his whereabouts on the day in
question and whether the security of the card had been compromised,
bank staff said that they would look into the affair. Two days
later, he received a letter from Abbey's card services center in
Milton Keynes saying that it had also identified an error on his
account and arrangements were in hand to re-credit his account.

The bank described the problem was a "rare and temporary
occurrence which has now been corrected" and apologized for
the distress and inconvenience caused.

As Newsbytes goes to press, Phillips was writing back to request
an explanation, something that as a customer and shareholder, he
felt he was entitled to.

Abbey claims that the problems with Phillips' account have yet to be
identified, but has suggested that the problem was caused by one of
the bank's two computer systems going off-line. One computer
controls the ATMs, while the other controls the branch computers. If
one or the other computer goes down, then a communication problem
can occur. Bank officials have suggested that this is the problem
that Phillips' account experienced.

(Steve Gold/19931014/Press & Public Contact: Abbey National
Bank - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00011)

Apple Spends $100M On Mac/DOS Multimedia 10/15/93
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Apple
Computer's executive vice president of its personal computer
division, Ian Diery, said Apple continues as a technology
leader and will continue to prepare the market for multimedia
advances.

Diery said Apple is willing to make sacrifices for those advances,
even if it means selling some products without profit, in his speech
titled, "Building on the Standard" given at the Multimedia Expo
in San Jose.

Ian Diery pointed to Apple's sale of its CD-ROM drives, which it is
selling at cost and incorporating into all its new desktop products,
as an example. Diery said the company plans to bring down
technology barriers to multimedia in its own Macintosh market
and in the DOS world as well.

Diery pointed to the introduction of the Macintosh 128K in 1984
and said by having the computer introduce itself Apple was
foreshadowing its vision for the future. Now the Macintosh
Quadra 840AV offers text-to-speech via a digital signal
processor (DSP) and the company's Plaintalk technology that
allows the Quadra to phonetically interpret written text. Diery
also highlighted Quicktime, the video technology for the
Macintosh and DOS-based computers running Microsoft Windows.

Apple sees text-to-speech and video compression becoming
mainstream in the company's product offerings as part of
establishing multimedia as mainstream technology. "Building
a critical mass of people with CD-ROMs connected to their
computer systems should not be the concern of the developer
community. That is our problem," Diery said.

Over $100 million has been invested by Apple to jumpstart the
multimedia industry, Diery said. He quoted market research
figures that indicate the industry is growing, with projections
of 4.5 million CD-ROM drives in active use by the end of 1993,
and over 10 million CD-ROM players in use by 1995.

With such a large market opportunity out there, Apple sees
itself linked to the developer community in the effort to
develop multimedia products for both the Macintosh and the DOS
platforms.

Paul Wollaston of Apple Computer joined the presentation to
demonstrate Rika from Supermac and Picard from Radius, products
for a CD-Mastering system that will allow product development
for both Macintosh and DOS on the same CD.

Diery emphasized Apple's technology leadership. "Sometimes
that leadership is great, other times that leadership is small.
But it is always a technology leadership edge."

Apple recently announced that Diery will head the company's Apple
USA division after the resignation of Robert Puette. Diery was
Puette's boss, as well as leader for the heads of the other two
Apple divisions, Apple Europe and Apple Pacific.

(Linda Rohrbough/19931014/Press Contact: Lynn Waller, Apple
Computer, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00012)

Opus 'n' Bill Screen Saver Recall Ordered 10/15/93
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- After
granting Berkeley Systems a preliminary injunction against
Delrina Corp., recently, United States District Court Judge Eugene
Lynch has ordered that Delrina must recall all copies of its "Opus
'n' Bill Screen Saver."

The controversy began when Delrina started shipping the screen
saver that depicts Outland comic strip characters Opus, a
penguin, and Bill, a cat, shooting at toasters with
Michelangelo wings. Berkeley filed suit, claiming the flying
toaster is a trademark and cannot be used by Delrina at all.

Delrina says the judge made it clear it is specifically
toasters with Michelangelo wings and that Berkeley's toasters
are not original but are a take-off of a 1960's album cover "30
Seconds Over Winterland" from rock group Jefferson Airplane.

Berkeley representative Joan Blades said while the Jefferson
Airplane predates its screen saver, the company was unaware of
the album cover until two years ago and the Jefferson Airplane
toasters have wings and clocks.

Last week's preliminary injunction required Delrina to halt the
selling, marketing, advertising of the Opus n' Bill product.
However, Berkeley went back to the court and asked for a
clarification of the injunction and says the court has specified
a recall of the Opus n' Bill product.

Delrina will also have to account to Berkeley for the software
in the distribution channel. This includes copies of a special
notification to be sent to distributors before week's end,
lists of distributors and retailers carrying the recalled
product, as well as an itemization of all product on store
shelves, and in distributor warehouses.

To comply with the court, Delrina representatives said the
company intends to simply put propellers on the toasters
instead of wings and rename the screen saver the "Censored
Toaster Module." However, Delrina officials were unavailable
for comment concerning the recall announcement.

(Linda Rohrbough/19931014/Press Contact: Michelle Mihalick,
Neale May & Partners for Berkeley Systems, tel [phone],
fax [phone]; Shelly Sofer, Delrina, tel [phone],
fax [phone])


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

Zeos Upgrades Ambra PC Line 10/15/93
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Zeos
International has announced six new models of its Ambra
personal computer line, all using 486 microprocessors.

Zeos spokesperson Rick Apple told Newsbytes the new systems are
available with 25 megahertz (MHz) and 33 MHz SX and 33MHz DX
chips. All systems ship with Super VGA color monitors, one floppy
drive,  MS-DOS 6.0, and Microsoft Windows software pre-installed,
a mouse, 128 kilobyte (KB) cache, and local bus video. Standard
configuration includes four megabytes (MB) of RAM and a 214MB
hard drive, or 8MB of memory and a 340MB drive.

The 4MB 486SX 25MHz system with a 214MB hard drive is priced at
$1,295, while the 8MB of RAM system with a 340MB hard drive sells
for $1,595. For either system with a 486SX 33MHz chip add $100.
An Ambra with a 486DX 33MHz microprocessor adds $200 to the
base price.

Apple told Newsbytes there is no connection between the Zeos
Ambra family of PCs and personal computers with the same name
built by IBM. In August 1992, IBM established ExperComp Services
to sell its Ambra PCs in Canada, and later offered the line in
Europe. About three months ago IBM said it would establish a US
subsidiary to distribute its Ambra in the US. Big Blue opened
Ambra Computer Corp., in Raleigh, North Carolina in early
August. IBM's Ambra PCs range from 486SX desktop models to dual
Pentium-processor models, with prices starting at $999. An Ambra
Computer spokesperson told Newsbytes the company would offer
new or refreshed systems every three to four months.

Asked about two companies using the same name, Apple told
Newsbytes there is no connection between the two models. "It's
unusual, but we believe we have the right to the name. We're
selling a product named Ambra and they are selling a product
named Ambra, but they are not associated."

Apple said ads for the new Zeos systems will appear in various
trade publications in about two weeks. The systems are shipping
now.

(Jim Mallory/19931014/Press contact: Rick Apple, Zeos
International, 612-633-5877 ext 1096; Reader contact:
Zeos International, 612-633-5877 or 800-423-5891)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00014)

Roundup: Stories Carried By Other Media This Week 10/15/93
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Roundup is a brief
look at some computer stories carried in other publications
received here this past week.

Computer Reseller News dated October 4 reports that Borland
International has been sued by its own insurance companies
because they fear the massive potential losses in the ongoing
copyright infringement case brought by Lotus Development.

Unix World for November looks at the choice between Pentium- and
RISC-based Unix servers, but while the author decides that either
platform is far superior to 486s he says the choice between the
two is both technical and emotional. The article does point out
that Pentium's major advantage over the 486 - fast coprocessor
speed - is largely irrelevant to file servers.

October's Software Magazine explores the uses of BLOBS (binary
large objects), which can be images, sound, text, or even video.
All major new database systems for IS (information systems)
departments either include BLOB support or have plans to build
in such support.

Network World for the week of October 4 reports that one way MCI
Communications stays ahead of its competitors is by streamlining
its batch-processing. IS efficiency lets this $12 billion company
implement entire new marketing schemes, such as "Friends and
Family," in only six weeks.

HighTech Marketing News for October carries a large feature on
why PR types can't crack TV news shows. The main conclusion is
that the PR pros don't understand the visual needs of television.
KRON-TV's (San Francisco, Calif.) Richard Hart says "software
companies have consistently made the worst pitches."

Informationweek for October 4 reports on lax security at large IS
departments and says that its study of IS departments shows that
20 percent of the surveyed group having 5,000 or more employees
have suffered a loss of $100,000 or more during the last two
years due to data security breaches.

November's Macworld evaluates 14 color flatbed scanners priced
less than $2,000 and finds them good. With street prices under
$1,000 for some scanners, Macworld says they "are on their
way to becoming mainstream Mac accessories."

(John McCormick/19931015)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(TOR)(00015)

 ****Two Arrested In Toronto Phone-Fraud Scheme 10/15/93
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Metropolitan
Toronto Police have arrested two people in a telephone scam that
involved computers with auto-dialers and 976 numbers.

Martin James Halcro and Zena Conery have been charged with
defrauding the public and fraud over $1,000.

According to the police, the accused ran a business from May 1992
until recently, under the name Info Bureau, which sold personal
computers equipped with auto-dialling equipment to a number of
individuals. At least 110 small investors paid about C$2,100 each
for the computers, which they were told would make calls to
people in their areas and encourage those people to call a 976
number for information on travel vouchers, financial
opportunities, and other discounted goods or services.

The 976 exchange is used for calls where the caller pays for
access to a message. In this case, each caller to the 976 numbers
was to be charged C$10 through his or her telephone bill.
Investors were told they would get C$6 of the charge from each
call their machines produced. They never received the money,
police said.

Investors were also offered the chance to pay C$595 for
"exclusive" sales territories, which police said were never made
exclusive.

Police spokesman Tom Rataj told Newsbytes he knew of a number
of schemes of this sort in the Toronto area, which "walk the fine
line between fraud and poor or shady business dealings."

The basic idea of selling or renting the equipment to make
automatic calls that solicit calls to a 976 number is legal, but
such schemes often mislead investors as to the returns or what
will be expected of them.

In this case, for instance, while investors were told their
computers were soliciting 976 calls that would bring them
revenues, Rataj said the machines in fact spent much of their
time soliciting more investors for the scheme.

However, the grey areas could be eliminated in the near future.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
(CRTC), which regulates telecommunications in Canada, has made
public a proposal to ban auto-dialers for all purposes except
certain public-service uses and product recalls.

(Grant Buckler/19931015/Press Contact: Tom Rataj, Metropolitan
Toronto Police, 416-324-3010)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00016)

Canada To Get National Gov't Computing Magazine 10/15/93
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Hum Magazine, a
two-year-old Ottawa publication, has announced plans to expand to
national circulation and go after the government computing market
nationwide.

Hum, which started life as a local computer magazine, has given
increasing prominence to the subtitle "The Government Computing
Magazine" on the covers of recent issues. With its November
issue, the publishers plan to start distributing the magazine
across Canada, although Ottawa, as the national capital, will
clearly still be a major market.

Publisher Lee Hunter said there will be no dramatic changes in
the magazine's editorial content as a result of the move. "We've
been very much evolving toward being a government computer
magazine for quite some time now," he said.

A few cosmetic changes will reduce the emphasis on Ottawa -- for
example, a section called Ottawa Innovations will become simply
Innovations. But Hunter said the issues the magazine covers will
remain much the same as in recent issues. There will be some
increased emphasis on provincial and local government concerns,
he said.

Hum reported qualified controlled circulation of 8,255 for its
May, 1993 issue. The publishers expect to increase that figure to
about 11,500 with national circulation, and said that number
represents the people with important influence on the buying of
computers for government in Canada.

(Grant Buckler/19931015/Press Contact: Lee Hunter, Hum
Communications, 613-237-0957)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00017)

Micom Releases Voice Piggyback System 10/15/93
SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Micom
Communications Corp., has released Sprinter, a product that lets
companies put voice or fax calls onto the data links now
connecting their local area networks (LANs). The result, according
to the company, can be to eliminate office-to-office long-distance
toll-call charges, at a price of $1,450.

Sprinter can work with any data network, including IBM's
proprietary SNA (Systems Network Architecture) and AS/400 links,
the public X.25 protocol, and commercial bridges and routers. Voice
calls are sent as 56,000 bits-per-second (bps) or 64,000 bps data
calls, while faxes are multiplexed at 9,600 bps each.

Since many fast-data lines are leased by the month instead of
metered by the minute, the result is that voice or fax calls go
out without per-minute charges. The caveat, of course, is that
this is available only between offices that already have a data
connection for use of LANs.

Micom noted that if a remote bridge is already installed on a
corporate network, a company can simply add Sprinter to it.
Micom is a unit of publicly traded MB Communications Inc.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19931015/Press Contact: Micom
Communications, Sharon Porter, 805-583-8600)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00018)

International Phone Update 10/15/93
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Communications
stocks around the world got a big boost from the US
announcement of a pending merger between Bell Atlantic
and TCI.

British and Canadian stocks were especially favored with
rallies, although communications stocks also rose sharply in
Stockholm, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo. Singapore prices were
also helped by a domestic event, the float of about eight percent of
Singapore Telecom by the government. Many analysts began
marking-up the values of telecommunication shares, hoping that
the merger-mania between cable and telephone companies will
extend to their markets.

In the Philippines, stock in near-monopoly carrier PLDT rose
despite growing competition. Globe Telecom, which is backed by
Singapore Telecom, and International Communications Corp.,
backed by Telstra of Australia, said they would form an alliance to
build a digital switching systems linking telephone networks in
different parts of the country. The government of President Fidel
Ramos has encouraged competition to PLDT, which faces a huge
backlog of orders for service and has been the subject of
corruption charges. PLDT has also been active, announcing it will
switch US-bound calls to MCI of the US as well as AT&T. The
rise in PLDT shares was attributed to foreign buying -- the
shares are listed on the American Stock Exchange in the US.

Elsewhere, Ericsson of Sweden won a $40 million contract from
Malaysia's Mobikom cellular network to supply a system which is
both analog and digital. Digital services will be offered in
major cities, analog channels in the countryside. Frequencies and
standards are along the US model. Nationwide service for the
new system is due in 1995.

In Latin America, the state of Aragua said it may file suit
against AT&T of the US because one of its back-hoes, busy
installing a long distance link for the nation's CANTV phone
network, hit a natural gas pipeline which exploded. As many as 60
commuters may have been killed by the blast, but AT&T notes that
a local firm had been contracted for the work.

Also, Crowley Maritime bought a very small aperture terminal, or
VSAT, communications system from MCI, which will link its 40
offices to a central system in Maimi via the Intelsat VI
satellite, with services provided by Comsat, that consortium's
US affiliate. Also, SR Telecom of Canada won $2.4 million in
additions to a contract with TelMexi of Mexico, mainly for spare
parts on an existing rural telecommunications system.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19931015)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00019)

 ****Lotus Strategy Includes Skytel Paging, Client Upgrades 10/15/93
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- In addition
to previously spelled out products and services, Lotus Development
Corp.'s new messaging strategy will include wireless connectivity
over the Skytel paging network for both cc:Mail and Notes,
Newsbytes has learned.

The strategy also calls for new client versions of cc:Mail,
including cc:Mail Windows Mobile 2.0, cc:Mail for Macintosh 2.1, an
upgrade to cc:Mail for DOS, and ports to new Unix platforms.

Lotus has demonstrated a Skytel gateway to Notes, Mark McHarry,
a company spokesperson, told Newsbytes. The gateway to Notes
is now in beta, and will ship by the end of the year, he said. "There
will absolutely be a Skytel gateway to cc:Mail, too, but we don't
have a delivery date on that yet," McHarry added.

The cc:Mail client is now available on Unix for Open Look only, but
versions are also planned for Motif, according to McHarry. A new
Open Look version for Solaris x86 is currently in beta, he said.

The cc:Mail client also resides in ROM, together with Lotus 1-2-3,
on the HP 100LX Palmtop. "We've certainly been talking with
(other) PDA (personal digital assistant) suppliers, but we don't
have any announcements to make," he told Newsbytes.

McHarry also confirmed reports that cc:Mail Windows 2.0, cc:Mail
for Macintosh 2.1, and an upgrade to cc:Mail for DOS, are now in the
works.

As announced recently at InterChange '93, Lotus' new messaging
strategy will revolve around the Lotus Communications Server
(LCS), along with two enhancements of the cc:Mail client -- the
new cc:Mail Post Office Edition and cc:Mail Client/Server
Edition -- and special editions of cc:Mail for use with other
vendors' messaging transports.

In a written statement, officials described LCS as a cross-platform,
multiprotocol messaging service that will be based on cc:Mail and
Notes technology, with the addition of SMTP/MIME and (1988) X.400
open systems transports and native X.500 directory support. The
company said that LCS will run on DOS as well as multitasking
operating systems such as OS/2, Unix, Windows NT, and Novell
NetWare.

On the client side, cc:Mail Post Office Edition, cc:Mail
Client/Server Edition, and Notes will share a common user
interface and set of services, according to the announcement.

The company also stated that cc:Mail will continue to run on
Windows, Macintosh, DOS, Unix, and PDAs, and that services for
cc:Mail and Notes will include support for dial-in servers using
standard protocols, synchronization of mobile and LAN messages,
and improved support for mobile security and mobile wireless
operation.

Further specifics on client platforms or wireless support were not
provided in the statement. Some reporters and analysts, however,
have been briefed on Lotus' messaging strategy.

In addition to elaborating on Lotus's plans for Skytel paging and
PDA and Unix clients, McHarry corroborated an account published
elsewhere earlier this week about upcoming Windows, Macintosh
and DOS clients, cc:Mail Post Office Edition, and cc:Mail
Client/Server.

According to the report, the new cc:Mail for Windows Mobile 2.0
will offer the functionality of cc:Mail 2.0, which shipped last
spring, along with wireless connectivity, filters for incoming
mail, and added security. The product will be released this
quarter.

The new Macintosh version will offer a spelling checker, improved
performance, and support for Apple Events, AppleScript, and the
Vendor-Independent Messaging interface for Macintosh. The
upgrade is due next year.

The next version of cc:Mail for DOS, also planned for release next
year, will feature tighter integration with Lotus 1-2-3 and the
forthcoming Lotus Organizer for DOS personal information manager,
plus a new user interface with character-based windows, mouse
support, pull-down menus, and an on-line help system. The DOS
upgrade will be delivered simultaneously for LAN (local area
network) and mobile use.

Also according to the report, cc:Mail Post Office Edition is based
on a post office, or message store, with hierarchical directories
and folders for better control over messaging and mail traffic.
The post office will use the LCS for DOS as its back end. Further,
the new cc:Mail Client/Server Edition will provide server-based
processing and "selective replication" for mobile users.

Analysts briefed on Lotus' strategy expressed enthusiasm to
Newsbytes about the vendor's comprehensive messaging approach.
"Lotus is continuing to come at the market from both sides, placing
an emphasis on both the client and the infrastructure.  Now, with
the LCS, a much more powerful long-term infrastructure alternative
will be provided," David Whitten, an analyst at the Gartner Group,
told Newsbytes.

Some analysts, however, held a few reservations over how Lotus is
going to carry out the strategy, or whether the goals can be fully
achieved. "Lotus is saying they're going to do a lot -- solve the
current problems, become more open, be able to deal with other mail
systems better, become an X.400 backbone. The question is how well
they can deliver. But I think the commitment is definitely there,"
said David Marshak, an analyst at the Patricia Seybold Group.

Mike Osterman, manager of market research at Creative Network
Strategies, stated that Lotus has done a good job of delivering on
its promises in the past. Integrating cc:Mail and Notes is a
logical next step for the company to take, he added. "But one of
the things that is unknown at this point is whether people will
really want a Notes back end for cc:Mail mail services. It's
really too early to tell," he told Newsbytes.

Responded David Ferris, president of Ferris Networks: "What
Lotus has described is a substantial development effort. The
requirements they've defined are really quite right, but I think
they need to fill out the gaps and say how they're going to address
those requirements. It's going to be interesting to see how they
proceed to the details of implementation."

(Jacqueline Emigh/19931015/Press contact:  Mark McHarry,
Lotus Development Corp., tel [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00020)

India - BPL Transfers Technology To Foreign Firms 10/15/93
BANGALORE, INDIA, 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Bangalore-based BPL
Systems and Projects Ltd., is offering a technology transfer
deal to foreign companies for the manufacture of solid state
digital answering machines.

The two foreign companies involved are Taiwanese and will
be supplying devices to Analog Devices Inc., the US-based
supplier of mixed signal integrated circuits.

The answering machine is reported to be priced at $75 each.
BPL will receive a four to five percent royalty on the sale of
each machine. The device records speech directly on a
microchip and offers voice prompts and speech recognition
in any one pre-set language and an ability to integrate
networks for audio, video and data.

A novel feature is that of speech compression, which deletes
silent pauses that normally account for about 20 percent of
the speech time, but reintroduces them in the playback.

BPL is a leader in consumer electronics goods - from televisions
to electronic digital exchanges. The company also has a
collaborative relationship with the Japanese giant Sanyo.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19931015)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00021)

Japanese Pen-ups Application Builder Debuts 10/15/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Slate Japan, a subsidiary of
an Arizona-based software developer, says it will release the
Japanese version of the pen-computer application software
development tool, called "Pen-ups Application Builder" this
November.

The firm will get help from Tokyo-based Softbank concerning
distribution of the product in Japan.

Slate Japan says it has almost developed the Japanese version
of Pen-ups Application Builder. The program operates on Go's
pen-computer operating system, and is claimed to provide a
smooth operation just like using a regular pen and a piece of
paper. Also, the program is said to support a database feature.

Under the distribution deal with Softbank, the Japanese firm
has already sold the product to a number of pen-computer vendors,
such as Fujitsu, Mitsubishi, Hitachi, and Oki Electric through
Softbank's subsidiary Softbank Giken.

Also, Softbank has been requesting Japanese software makers to
develop application programs for pen-computers using the Pen-ups
Application Builder. It is reported that about 10 developers are
currently building such software.

Slate Japan released the Windows version of Japanese Pen-ups
Application Builder last September.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19931013/Press Contact: Slate
Japan, [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(HKG)(00022)

Hong Kong - ITS To distribute Cisco Net Products 10/15/93
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- ITS Asia Pacific, one
of Asia's leading data communications system integration
companies, has been chosen by Cisco Systems to be a systems
integrator for the company's complete line of routers throughout
the Asia Pacific region.

Cisco's family of more than a dozen remote access routers range
from the Cisco CS 500, which delivers routing and telecommuting
services to small offices and individual users, to the Cisco 4000,
which is claimed to provide the modularity and performance
needed to address the requirements of the largest offices.

Cisco's broad product line is attractive, said Barry Bonnett,
managing director of ITS Asia Pacific. "The company offers
everything from full-featured modular devices with high
performance and expandability to specialized dial-up routers
that support asynchronous routing and telecomputing."

"Our relationship with ITS is an important part of our global
distribution strategy," said Bill Messer, regional director of Cisco
Systems (Hong Kong). "Our products, combined with ITS's
acknowledged strengths in providing integrated solutions to banks,
multinationals and airline networks, should prove to be a strong
relationship for years to come."

"Cisco products have been adopted as standards in the airline
industry," said Bonnett, "The company has already shipped in excess
of 80,000 routers to various customers around the world and we
are confident we'll be able to help them continue this strong
record of growth. Our global maintenance capability, including
complete turnkey solutions for LAN/WAN (local/wide area network)
applications, will allow us to provide Cisco users with a single
point of contact for both sales and service, particularly where
international communications are required."

All Cisco remote access routers are equipped with simple network
management protocol (SNMP) software and are able to participate
in an integrated network management strategy by providing
resource accountability, network performance monitoring and
tuning, fault detection and correction, and configuration
management, said the company.

SNMP also allows communication between remote agents running
in the routers and centrally located management stations. From
these management stations, managers can ascertain the status
of remote devices and networks, fix problems, determine
configurations, and tune performance.

Current Hong Kong customers include Chase Manhattan Bank,
Citibank, Hewlett-Packard, Hong Kong Polytechnic, Hongkong
Telecom and Motorola.

(Keith Cameron/19931015/Press Contact: Wayne Merrick,
852-831-0506, ITS)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00023)

Tool For Developing Apps With Multiple Databases 10/15/93
NORTH SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 15 (NB) --
Unify Corp., has announced Vision, an object-oriented tool designed
for point-and-click development of client-server applications
using the Unify, Oracle, Sybase, Informix, and Ingres databases.

Vision offers simultaneous access to multiple databases and also
allows heterogeneous database joins within a single application,
according to the company.

The product is unlike most other database-independent development
tools, which access multiple databases with a minimal common set
of structured query language (SQL) statements that ignore the
specific features of each database, officials claimed.

Instead, Vision is fully SQL-compliant, and also has intelligence
for each database built-in, the company said. Access to the
intelligence comes through SmartView, an graphical environment
that is intended to automatically exploit the specific functionality
of each target database.

SmartView also automates forms design, pre-forms and post-forms
processing, and graphical user interface programming and debugging,
Unify asserted. As users proceed to build applications, they are
prompted to set preferences, create icons, and customize the
application to the company's business requirements.

Vision is built on an object-based architecture aimed at allowing
reuse of components without additional programming, the company
maintained. Components can also be shared among multiple
programmers.

Beta versions of Vision are available now for PCs running Microsoft
Windows and Sun SparcStations and SparcServers, HP 9000, and
RS/6000 workstations running Unix and Motif or Open Look.

Production versions for these platforms are slated for November.
The company said that support for Windows NT and Macintosh
System 7 will follow. Pricing starts at $1,459.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19931015/Press contacts: Mary Camarata,
Unify Corp., 916-928-6321; Stacy Pena or Susan Thomas,
Thomas Associates, 415-325-6236)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00024)

Australia - New Computer TV Show 10/15/93
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Australian PC Week
Editor Geoff Ebbs is giving up his choice job to try his hand at
television. The SBS network is buying a new computer show, called
"The Big Byte," and Ebbs will become its story producer.

"I'm excited by the new opportunity, though naturally I'm
disappointed to be leaving PC  Week, Australia's best computer
publication." Ebbs told Newsbytes. The show has already been sold
to New Zealand TV and Star satellite TV which is beamed
throughout Asiafrom Hong Kong.

Production will start later this year and the first show will air in
the second quarter of 1994. Ebbs is set to leave PC Week by the
end of 1993.

The show is aimed at educating home and small business computer
and office technology users. Ebbs told Newsbytes that he was
unsure if he would face the cameras or not. "I still have to
convince the producers." he said.

SBS or Special Broadcasting Service is the fifth of five Australian
TV networks. It is a government-funded public broadcasting system
with a high proportion of non-English programming, together with
high quality education and news programming which would not
necessarily fit into the programming of other networks.

While SBS has no advertising, unlike the other public broadcaster,
the ABC, it does have sponsors who get to play a "message" at the
beginning and end of programs. SBS is available only on UHF bands
throughout the country and only has a small market share (less
than five percent).

(Paul Zucker/19931015)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00025)

Texas Instruments Reports Record 3Qtr 10/15/93
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Texas Instruments (TI)
has reported a record third quarter for 1993, with earnings-per-
share nearly tripling over the same period last year.

TI reported revenue of $2.16 billion for the period and net
income of $146 million. For the 1992 same period net revenue was
$1.89 billion, while net income was $57 million. Earnings per
share were $1.54, up from $0.58 for the same quarter last year.

TI spokesperson Buddy Price told Newsbytes that although defense-
related electronics orders were down from the third quarter of
192, semiconductor orders and shipments reached record levels due
to strength in end equipment markets, particularly computers and
telecommunications. Semiconductor margins were also stronger
than in the second quarter, the sixth consecutive quarter of
improvement.

Price said TI is accelerating its investment in research and
development (R&D), allocating $570 million for R&D in 1993,
up about $100 million over last year.

The third quarter results reflect an accrual of $26 million for
employee profit-sharing plans, bringing the total for the year to
$52 million. Year to date profit after tax return on assets was
7.6 percent, compared with four percent for the full year of
1992. The company says it has set a goal of after-tax return on
assets of eight to 10 percent.

In a letter to TI shareholders, Chairman, President and CEO Jerry
Junkins said semiconductor orders and shipments were better than
the typical seasonal pattern. "TI semiconductor revenues grew
faster than the total market, supported by increased shipments of
linear mixed-signal and advanced bus interface products, memory
and application-specific products," Junkins told stockholders.

He also said the company continues to ramp up its joint wafer
fabrication venture with the Singapore Economic Development
Board, Canon, and Hewlett Packard. "This facility is ramping up
production of super-shrink 4-megabit dynamic RAM chips and is
scheduled to begin producing 16-megabit DRAMs in 1994."

The company also announced construction of a new TI
semiconductor wafer fab plant in Dallas in the second quarter
which will produce circuits on eight-inch wafers.

(Jim Mallory/19931015/Press contact: Buddy Price, TI,
214-995-2355)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00026)

 ****Apple's Sculley Out, Revenue Up/Earns Down 10/15/93
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Apple
reported that while it has enjoyed the highest quarterly sales
level ever, its net profit is less than three percent of the
year-ago figures. In addition, John Sculley, who stepped down as
chief executive officer (CEO) this summer, has now resigned his
post as chairman of Apple's board of directors and is no longer
employed by Apple, effective today.

There have been accusations that some of the executives that
have left Apple were forced out, due to the company's sagging
bottom line. Apple announced recently that Apple USA division
manager, Robert Puette would resign effective today as well.

Apple denies the allegations, claiming the resignations
of key officers were just part of the restructuring process.
However, Albert Einstat, former executive vice president and
member of the board of directors who resigned last month filed
suit against Apple charging he and Sculley were forced out by
the new CEO Michael Spindler.

Sculley, former CEO of Pepsi before his ten-year tenure at
Apple Computer, has been looking at various CEO positions since
before the company's restructuring announcement in June.

He told interviewers he was considered by the CEO search
committee engaged by IBM earlier this year and reports are that
he is in the running for the CEO position at Kodak.

Kodak representatives will neither confirm nor deny Sculley is
being considered for the CEO slot, but in September Kodak retailers,
led by Mich Goldstone, owner of privately held 30-Minute Photos
in Irvine, California, began petitioning the company's CEO search
firm to hire Sculley. Kodak officials told Newsbytes the company's
board of directors has postponed their decision once, but has
promised to announce the new CEO by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Apple is changing direction. Michael Spindler said
regarding today's earnings statement: "We have challenges ahead
of us, but I believe we are beginning to turn the corner."

Apple has been cutting prices all year on its Macintosh product
line and unit shipments of the Macintosh line are up 36 percent
compared to a year earlier. The new Workgroup server line is
strong as well. Revenue for the fourth quarter was $2.14
billion, up 21 percent from the same quarter last year. But net
income was $2.7 million down from $97.6 million for the same
quarter a year ago. International revenues were up 22 percent
compared to last year, accounting for 41 percent of the
company's total revenues.

Executive vice president of the company's personal computer
division, Ian Diery, said recently that Apple is intent on building
the market for multimedia software, even if it has to sell
products without a profit to do so. Diery said Apple has invested
over $100 million to jumpstart the multimedia industry, including
selling compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) drives for both
Macintosh and DOS computers at its cost. The company's gross
margins were down to 25.7 percent of sales this quarter, down
from 42.7 percent of sales in 1993.

Apple again pointed at the whopping 50,000 Newton Messagepads
and the 1,500 Newton developer kits being sold worldwide.
However, investors have expressed concern that margins on the
Newton are too small. This appears to be another case of
investment to build a market base on the part of Apple.

The company appears to be shifting its business plan to earning
profits from its software and not its computer hardware
products. Apple reported that Claris, its wholly owned
applications software subsidiary grew 48 percent compared to
its fourth quarter a year ago with software products for both
the Macintosh and Windows. Taking a hint from Claris, Apple
has announced a new CD of applications software which
allows a look-see at the software but requires a telephone call
to Apple and a credit card to unlock a particular application.

The applications software on the CD is from a variety of
developers, some of whom have complained their profit margins
are too small. However, Apple representatives told Newsbytes no
one has turned down the chance to offer their products on the
first CD. The CDs are free to users and over 80 applications
populate the first disc for distribution. A Microsoft Windows
applications CD has also been announced for delivery in early
1994, Apple said. Apple was going to announce a deal with
Citibank in New York last week, which the company would neither
confirm or deny was an announcement of an Apple/Citibank credit
card, but Citibank backed out at the last minute.

For the year, Apple's revenues were $7.98 billion, an increase
of 13 percent, despite the $321 million before taxes
restructuring charge in the third quarter that drove that
quarter into the red $188.3 million. Net income for 1993 was
$86.6 million compared to $530 million in 1992. Spindler
credits much of the black ink to Apple's cost cutting measures
in the fourth quarter which saved the company $80 million.

(Linda Rohrbough/19931015/Press Contact: Christopher Escher,
Apple Computer, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00027)

IBM Begins PC Production In Russia 10/15/93
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- IBM has announced that PC
production has begun at its Kvant factory at the Nauchny Center
near Moscow.

The starting of the production line, which officially began
rolling on October 7, is the culmination of a two years joint
project between IBM UK, several Russian partners, and IBM's
Russian subsidiary.

The bulk of the staff working at the Kvant factory have been
trained at IBM's production facility at Greenock in Scotland,
Newsbytes understands.

The Nauchny Center is a science park on the outskirts of
Moscow, which as been open for the past few years. IBM was
one of the first companies to commit to the park, which is
designed to attract foreign investment and capital into Russia.

The irony of the situation has not escaped Newsbytes. Just five
years ago, when IBM was busy building flagship 386-based PCs
around the world, Big Blue's executives got very upset when PC
clone manufacturers in the former USSR, unable to find the funds
to license Western technology, began cloning IBM's 8086-based
machines without a license.

Despite IBM's annoyance, the local production of PCs is Russia seems
to have spawned a new generation of PC users who, as they became
aware of the "power" machines available in the West, took steps to
ensure that such technology was imported into Russia. This strategy
has led to the opening of IBM's Kvant factory last week.

(Sylvia Dennis/19931015/Press & Public Contact: IBM UK - Tel:
[phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00028)

Dell Shuts Italian/Finnish Operations 10/15/93
ROME, ITALY, 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Citing the effects of the
recession sweeping Europe, plus extraordinary financial pressures
in Italy, Dell Computer Corp., has shut down its Italian and Finnish
operations.

According to Philippe d'Argent, Dell's vice president in charge of
European operations, the Italian operation, which employed 30 staff,
has been closed due the effect of creditors stretching payment
terms to 190 days, as is the norm in Italy. "Italy will be covered
from now on from our telemarketing center in Montpelier
(France)," he said.

No specific reason has been given for the closure of the Finnish
operation, which has been open for almost two years. D'Argent said
that Finland will now be covered from the company's Swedish
operations.

Other European country operations are not spared the knife either.
Dell Germany, which has 150 staff on the payroll, will shed around
30 employees in the coming months, d'Argent said.

All is not doom and gloom with Dell's European operations, however,
as Dell France has reported that sales are booming in that country.

(Sylvia Dennis/19931015/Press & Public Contact: Dell Computer
Corp. (Sweden),  Tel: [phone])


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

Philips Declares Italian Job Creation Project A Success 10/15/93
ALPIGNANO, TURIN, ITALY, 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Philips, the Dutch
electronics group, claims that its job creation project at
Alpignano, a city in the Turin Province of Italy, is a great
success.

The result of the project, which has been under way for about year,
has been the re-employment of around 190 of the 380-odd staff
who worked at the company's lamps and component manufacturing
facility at an industrial park in the area. Philips says that around
100 staff have been retained on the payroll, working in a new
tubular lamp factory on the site.

The industrial park, set up as a joint project between Philips and
the Dutch industrial redevelopment consortium, and run by a joint
venture company - Alpignano Development Corporation (ADC) - has
already seen 89 new jobs created with the opening of mini-
production lines operated by Farg-Seram-UTM, Frime and Osaf -
all Italian companies.

To encourage more companies to set up operations on the industrial
park, ADC is offering tax and rental breaks, including a three year
rent-free tenancy and staff training. Part of the deal also offers
up to 50 million lire for every ex-Philips employee taken on. In the
longer term, ADC officials claim that as many as 500 new jobs
will be created at the park.

(Sylvia Dennis/19931015/Press & Public Contact: Philips -
Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00030)

First Computer Superstore Opens In Germany 10/15/93
DORTMUND, GERMANY, 1993 OCT 15 (NB) -- Computer Company,
the Dutch computer group, has opened up Germany's first PC
Superstore, in Dortmund.

According to the company, the Dortmund store is an experiment in
computer stores which, if successful, could see other stores open
up across Germany. The floor space of the store is around 2,000
square meters.

Computer Company has distribution deals with Compaq, Hewlett-
Packard, IBM, and Toshiba, set up for the new store, which is
modeled after the US superstores such as Frys, Newsbytes notes.

Computer Company was set up as a computer hardware and
software discount "cash-and-carry" operation in the Netherlands
in the late 1980s. In 1989, the company was acquired by Reiss
en Co., a Dutch investment group, which has been opening
superstores steadily since then, Newsbytes understands. Today,
the group has six computer superstores in Belgium and the
Netherlands.

According to Jos Houben, chairman of the German operation,
around 3,000 product lines are being carried by the store. The
bulk of those are branded products, which he claims will appeal
to a target group of computer professionals.

(Sylvia Dennis/19931015)