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/NB111293

Text File | 1993-11-12 | 71KB | 1,596 lines

(NEWS)(TELECOM)(WAS)(00001)

ATM Will Take Center Stage at ComNet'94 In Washington 11/12/93
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- The ComNet'94
Conference and Exhibition scheduled for January 24-27, 1994
in Washington, DC, will highlight ATM or asynchronous transfer
mode high-speed data transfer technologies. ComNet is one of the
major communications industry forums in the US and always draws
a large number of companies wanting to demonstrate their latest
products both to government buyers and business users.

As part of the plenary session, a special market research panel
will discuss ATM's place in the communications net and the second
annual LiveNet event will feature a coast-to-coast ATM
demonstration that seamlessly connects legacy and advanced
network technologies including ATM, Ethernet, FDDI or Fiber
Distributed Data Interface Standard, Fast Ethernet, Token Ring,
and others.

More than 40 companies will be involved in demonstrations of
hardware and software during the LiveNet operation.

The Tuesday, January 25 plenary session given by Dr. John M.
McQuillan will feature a multimedia presentation titled "ATM:
Strategies for Success."

Market analysts participating in the panel include Berge Ayvazian
from the Yankee Group, Joel Noel of Dataquest, Doug Gold of IDG,
and Charlie Robbins of the Aberdeen Group.

A number of conference sessions and tutorials will be held on
topics that include ATM transition, moving beyond the ATM hype,
and an overview of broadband services.

Other IDG-sponsored ComNet events scheduled for 1994 include the
May 25-27 Prague, Czech Republic and September 12-15 Seoul, Korea
shows.

(John McCormick/19931111/Press Contact: Rachel Winett, IDG, 508-
820-8608, fax [phone], MCI Mail 601-3136, or Internet 601-
[e-mail])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00002)

 ****Sharp Develops Ultra-thin Color LCD 11/12/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Japan's Sharp has developed an
extra-thin color liquid crystal display (LCD) which it expects
will be used on handheld multimedia telecom terminals and business
organizers.

Sharp has a 40-percent share of the worldwide LCD market and is
expected to further increase its share with this new color
LCD.

The LCD consists of thin-film-transistor (TFT) technology and
has a 6.4-inch screen, only 6mm to 8mm thick. This is even thinner
than the 10 millimeters of current LCDs used in notebook-type
personal computers. The screen resolution is 640 x 480 pixels,
which is compatible with VGA mode. This LCD supports over
5,120,000 colors and offers extremely clear screen contrast.
The LCD is also energy-saving in that it consumes only 1.5 watts,
which is about a fourth of the energy consumption of Sharp's
8.4-inch LCD.

Sharp is expected to begin quantity production by the end of
next year. The first place this new LCD will appear is on a
Sharp handheld terminal which currently has a monochrome LCD.
Sharp will also sell them to other personal computer makers
for use on multimedia PCs and other devices. Apple Computer
is expected to buy them for a future color version of the Newton.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19931111/Press Contact: Sharp, +81-43-
299-8212, Fax, [phone])


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

Japan - PC Shipments Slow 11/12/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Personal computer shipments in
Japan for the first half of 1993, according to the Japan
Electronic Industry Development Association, were up, mostly
due to a new counting system which includes shipments by four
new foreign firms.

According to the Association, total PC shipments for the
April-September period went up by 31.7 percent over the same
period last year. Some 1.441 million units were shipped
during this period. This does not mean that Japan's PC market is
recovering. Rather, this is due to the different counting system.

The Association was not counting shipments by the foreign firms
in Japan last year, but began doing so in April. Now included
in the survey are IBM Japan, Apple Computer, Japan Digital Equipment,
and Japan Unisys. Without counting the shipments by these four
firms, total shipment in Japan be about 5 percent less than that of
the same period last year.

The survey also indicates that more Japanese PCs were sold in
overseas -- about 420,000 units were shipped to the North American
market -- 2.4 times more than that of the same period last year.

Sales of color notebook-type personal computers were a large part
of the gain. Notebook-type PCs made up 39 percent of total PC
shipments -- 5 percent more than last year.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19931111/Press Contact: Japan
Electronics Industry Development Association, [phone],
Fax, [phone])


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00004)

 ****Accounting Rule Change May Harm High-Tech Firms 11/12/93
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- As part of a proposed
overhaul of accounting practice standards, the Financial
Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has proposed a change in the
way stock purchase options, which are often used by small high-
tech companies to attract talented workers that they could not
otherwise afford, are carried on the company books. Under the
proposed changes all options granted would be charged as expenses
to reduce reported earnings, even though the workers have not
exercised their options.

Stock options, the right to purchase a specified number of shares
of a company's stock at a set price, usually for a specified
period of time, have led to the creation of many new millionaires
among workers and even consultants working for emerging high-tech
companies because the usually cash-poor start-up companies can
dole out large numbers of options at no current cost, offering
workers the promise of eventual riches if the company succeeds
and the public starts clamoring for its stock.

The Software Publishers Association recently testified before the
Senate Subcommittee on Securities that the proposed new rules
would greatly hamper the ability of small growth companies to
fund research and development.

According to the SPA, a 1991 survey of high-tech companies showed
that nearly seventy percent of those with one hundred or more
employees used stock options as a means of compensating all
workers. By way of comparison, only about thirty percent of all
businesses make extensive use of stock options for any workers
outside the executive suite.

In addition to the opposition voiced by the SPA, which represents
more than 1,000 computer software publishers, a number of major
accounting firms have also stated their opposition to the
proposed rule change.

One Washington insider told Newsbytes that an implementing bill
submitted by Senator Carl Levin (D. Mich.) was being pushed
because the Senator was responding to the recent backlash against
high executive compensation and that he apparently did not
understand the differences between small high-tech companies
where stock options went to all employees and multinationals
where this form of compensation mainly went to senior executives.

Since the small companies are generally already owned by the
executives, the only people getting rich from stock options were
the workers who were willing to accept lower pay with an eye to
possible future profit sharing.

According to Mark E. Nebergall, Counsel for the SPA, there has
been no further activity in Congress since the SPA testified
against the proposed FASB rule back on October 21, but members of
the Subcommittee were definitely not friendly to the proposed
rule, or to Senator Levin's attempts to force through this change
"using a cattleprod on the FASB" as one committee member said.

(John McCormick/19931109/Press Contact: Mark E. Nebergall, SPA,
202-452-1600)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00005)

Fall COMDEX To Feature Biggest PCMCIA Display Ever 11/12/93
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, U.S.A., 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- The largest array of
PCMCIA products ever put together in any one place is set to be
showcased at Fall COMDEX '93.

This year's 4000-foot PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory Card
Industry Association) Gallery will feature PCMCIA cards, compatible
computers, and Card and Socket Service software from more than 100
member companies of the PCMCIA.

The goals behind the massive gallery are to show not only how many
PCMCIA-compatible products are now available, but how well they
work with one another, according to Anthony Wutka, PCMCIA chairman.

"In there past, only a limited number of products was available,
and users had concerns about functionality and compatibility. Now,
with the broader presence or Card and Socket Service software,
users really have a choice of quality products that do what they
are expected to do," said Wutka.

"This is a great example of how much support there is for the PC
card technology and how rapidly the technology is being adopted
across the board," he explained.

Added Brendan McGuire, executive director of the PCMCIA: "Never
before have so many vendors worked so closely to demonstrate such
a breadth of PCMCIA-compatible products. And with the broad mix of
attendees at the Fall COMDEX show, it's only fitting that this
venue be chosen to showcase them."

PCMCIA cards that will be on view in the Gallery include memory
cards, data/fax modems, LAN (local area network) adapters,
combination modem/LAN adapters, wireless cards, rotating disk
drives, and more.

To encourage attendees to see as many of the products as possible,
PCMCIA buttons will be awarded to those who visit a given number of
exhibitors' booths.

An updated PCMCIA Reference book, listing all of the latest PCMCIA-
based products, will be distributed in the Gallery. Also at
COMDEX, a panel discussion on PCMCIA will be held Monday, November
15 at 2:30 pm.

The PCMCIA, the group that has established the PCMCIA standard, is
a nonprofit international association with over 475 members.
Members of the association manufacture computer systems, software,
semiconductors, components, connectors, and peripherals.

Executive members of the PCMCIA include Advanced Micro Devices,
Apple Computer, AT&T Paradyne, Cirrus Logic, Compaq Corp., Dr.
Neuhaus, Fujitsu Microelectronics Inc., Fujitsu Personal Systems,
Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, M-Systems, Maxtor Corp., and Motorola.

Other executive members of the association are National
Semiconductor, Phoenix Technologies Ltd., SCM Microsystem,
Motorola, National Semiconductor, Phoenix Technologies Ltd., SCM
Microsystem, Sierra Semiconductor, SunDisk Corp., Syquest
Technology, Texas Instruments, Toshiba Europe (I.E.) GMBH, Unisys,
and Zenith Data Systems.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19931112/Reader contact: PCMCIA, tel 408-720-
0107; Press contacts: Brendan McGuire, PCMCIA, tel [phone];
Tony Wutka, PCMCIA, tel [phone])


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

Japan - New Product Roundup 11/12/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Fujitsu has released a low-cost
and powerful multimedia personal computer. Canon has released a
color scanner for the Macintosh, Kodak Japan has released a
portable Photo CD player, and Fuji Xerox has released a handy
copier.

Fujitsu's latest multimedia personal computer is from
the FM Towns family. It is equipped with a CD-ROM drive, a high
quality stereo sound recording feature, and a microphone.

The price is competitive with existing multimedia personal
computers at 198,000 yen ($1,980). The processor on the basic
unit is a 25-megahertz 80486SX and the high end version offers
a 66-megahertz 80486SX processor.

This multimedia PC is expected to directly compete with NEC's and
IBM Japan's multimedia personal computers, which were recently
released.

Canon's color scanner, called the "IX-4015," is the smallest in
the industry, according to Canon. It is slightly larger than an
A4-sized document, and is less than 10-cm thick. Despite the size,
it supports full-color scanning at about 20 seconds per document.
It is intended for use with Apple Computer's Macintosh, and
comes with color scanning software called Color Management
System. The retail price of this latest color scanner is
138,000 yen ($1,380).

Kodak Japan's photo CD player, the "PCD970," is portable
and looks similar to Sony's CD Walkman. The device weighs only
540g, and costs 49,800 yen ($498). It can be connected to
a regular television set. Kodak Japan will process images and
write them directly to the CDs.

Finally, Fuji Xerox has an upgrade to its handy copying machine
called "Sharaku." The latest version has an electric motor to
automatically scan the document. The device moves along a piece
of paper with a push of a button. The result is a crisp and
clear copy of a document. It weighs only 680g, and is sold ]
at 64,800 yen ($648).

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19931110/Press Contact: Fujitsu, +81-3-
3215-5236, Fax, [phone], Canon, [phone], Fax, +81-
3-3349-8765, Kodak, [phone], Fuji Xerox, [phone],
Fax, [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(DEN)(00007)

AT&T Postpones Voicespan 11/12/93
LARGO, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Less than two weeks
after AT&T Paradyne said it would make announcements regarding
Voicespan at Fall COMDEX in Las Vegas next week, the company now
says it has postponed the announcement.

Voicespan is a technology AT&T Paradyne says can send and receive
still images, graphics, or data while the user is talking on the
phone. The conversation and the multimedia all use the same
phone line by splitting the line into two virtual channels.

AT&T Paradyne Media Relations Manager Garrick Case told
Newsbytes the announcement delay was not related to Voicespan,
but rather to announcing the companies that would be licensing
Voicespan, calling the delay a logistics problem. "We were probably
too ambitious in trying to get everything organized," Case said.

The AT&T Paradyne spokesperson said the company still plans to
demonstrate Voicespan at COMDEX using an AT&T Dataport 20001
Multimedia Communicator, a modem-like device that makes it
possible to transmit the mixed signal types.

AT&T Paradyne says users can send text, slides, music, graphics
and voice using the Dataport 2001, and describes it as ideal for
distance learning, for meetings and sales presentations, and to play
interactive PC games while talking with another player.

Jean-Claude Vrignaud, AT&T Paradyne's VP of Personal
Communication Technologies, says the Dataport 2001 is just a step
towards the company's final goal, full motion video transmission.

Dataport 2001 can also be used as a regular 14.4K bps data or fax
modem, and is expected to ship before the end of the year with a
price tag of under $600.

(Jim Mallory/19931112/Press contact: Derrick Case, AT&T Paradyne,
813-530-2000)


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

 ****Microsoft To Offer Windows NT for PowerPC Machines 11/12/93
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Microsoft
Corporation confirmed rumors that began in August of this year,
saying it has teamed up with Motorola Inc to develop a port to
connect the Microsoft Windows NT operating system to the PowerPC
architecture.

PowerPC is a reduced instruction set computer (RISC)-based
architecture being developed jointly by IBM, Apple, and Motorola.
Microsoft says it will offer Windows NT for PowerPC as original
equipment manufacturer (OEM)-licensed software as well as a
Microsoft packaged product.

Motorola, Apple Computer, and IBM teamed up to make chips for the
PowerPC technology that is supposed to make Apple and IBM
personal computers compatible. The three companies opened an
80,000-square-foot, $500 million design center and put 300
engineers to work on the project.

PowerPC is actually an acronym for Performance Optimization With
enhanced RISC. IBM shipped the first PowerPC chips to Apple in
October 1992. In May 93 Apple demonstrated a prototype 80
megahertz Macintosh PowerPC system and said it expected the unit
to come to market by the first half of 1994. IBM began shipping
production volumes of the first PowerPC chip in September 1993.

Hundreds of developers are reported to be working on software for
the PowerPC. A Unix-based operating system is available for the
systems. Only time will tell whether Windows NT will be the
prevailing choice for users over Unix, an operating system
which has never become as popular with PC users as DOS and later
Windows.

No announcement date was released for Microsoft Windows NT for
PowerPC.

(Jim Mallory/19931112/Press contact: Microsoft Corporation, 206-882-
8080)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00009)

Washington Post Creates Own Online Service 11/12/93
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- While major online
services continue to draw new offerings, there are also new
players emerging.

The Washington Post newspaper has announced that starting
next year the entire publication will be made available to
computer users in the greater Washington, DC area. Post stories
are currently available on CompuServe (Executive News Service),
but the new service will offer images and advertisements as well
as news and editorials.

In addition to the straight text news reports and editorials
carried on electronic services, the Washington Post's new
publishing arm, Digital Ink, will provide a full electronic
newspaper which includes soundbites, classified advertisements,
and supplemental information related to stories carried in the
day's issue.

Readers will also be able to communicate with Post editors and
reporters using e-mail.

The head of the new publishing enterprise is Donald K. Brazeal.
According to a Post representative who spoke with Newsbytes,
Brazeal was named both publisher and editor of the project
which has so far involved only a very few Post employees such
as Post new media editor, Mike Potts.

Neither Mr. Brazeal or Mr. Potts were available for comments
before today's deadline.

The Post already has an audiotex system called Post Haste,
but this is its first formal move into online services.
An article in the newspaper described a prototype which
looks much like the newspaper itself, with the same typefaces and
graphics. By contrast, newspapers on conventional online
services usually list headlines in a box -- the Newsbytes wire
uses four *s to indicate lead stories.

While the Post noted that 150,000 area households have the modems
and PCs needed to get the new edition already, it seems aimed
more toward an age beyond modems, where fast-data services at T-1
speeds and higher can allow immediate delivery of interactive
graphics. With Bell Atlantic re-building its networks for cable
service, and Southwestern Bell buying a local cable
service, the Washington area seems poised to have such services
in abundance.

Brazeal described today's links this way: "Right now, the
superhighway is a dirt road and the tools we are using are like a
Model T." The Post hopes, in time, to bring its advertisers into
Digital Ink, and make their ads interactive.

(John McCormick & Dana Blankenhorn/19931112/Press Contact:
Washington Post, Donald K. Brazeal, 202/334-6000)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00010)

Online Services Update 11/12/93
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Major online
services keep forging ahead with new features, products.

Prodigy added sound and graphics to its services, offering
pictures of baseball games, for instance, and launched a
new "Live on Prodigy" ad campaign. The pictures require
fast modems, 9,600 bits/second and faster. They're most
important in showing merchandise -- Prodigy's business
plan has always depended heavily on advertising and home
shopping revenues.

The service also added four new color-coded categories to
its main screens, up from six, and began offering an e-mail
link to the Internet.

The Quote Track service on Prodigy was also upgraded to allow
more calculations and more company news. Finally, Prodigy will
begin shipping is long-awaited software for Windows this month,
and current members will get it as a free upgrade.

CompuServe's big move has been to win IDG's PC World as a major
information provider. This means both major computer publishers
are allied with CompuServe -- Ziff Publishing's Ziffnet has
run its service on CompuServe for years. Like Ziff, PC World will
offer forums with its editors, and a shopping service. CompuServe
also continues to push into Europe, hoping to increase the
proportion of its total user base overseas. Its latest addition
there is the Deutsche Presse-Agentur, a German-language news
service. Just 85,000 of the service's customers are in Europe,
but Prodigy and America Online have no presence there.

America Online surged past the 450,000 subscriber mark,
solidifying its place as the number three service in the market.
The company unveiled its new Internet Center, which includes
access to news groups and databases, and announced an alliance
with Hachette Filipacchi Magazines to create online editions of
popular special-interest magazines including Road & Track,
Popular Photography and Stereo Review. In a press release,
President Steve Case took another dig at Prodigy. "Instead of
going the Prodigy route of spending millions on slick TV
commercials, we've invested directly in our subscribers by adding
dozens of new features and reducing our prices." AOL is also
looking for divine intervention to win the marketing battles --
it announced a live, interactive event with evangelist Billy
Graham for November 12 at 8 PM Eastern Time. Graham will
personally go online with subscribers from his office in North
Carolina.

Finally, Apple's AppleLink made a major announcement, adding the
HeadsUp service from Individual Inc., to its roster of offerings.
HeadsUp delivers a customized report of news chosen by customers
through profiles in their e-mail boxes. HeadsUp access over
10,000 articles each day from over 300 news sources. Individual
and Apple Online Services, a unit of Apple's PIE division, are
offering free 30-day trials of HeadsUp to AppleLink users.
AppleLink currently has an estimated 60,000 members, and HeadsUp
usually costs $39.95 per month, or $795 per year.

(Dana Blankenhorn & John McCormick/19931112/Press Contact:
Prodigy Services, Brian Ek, 914/993-8811; Jean Villanueva, America
Online, 703/883-1675; Individual, Rich Vancil, 617/354-2230ext.
403; Apple Computer, Lynda Lucero, 408/974-7899)


(EDITORIAL)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00011)

Editorial - The Online Future 11/12/93
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- By Dana Blankenhorn.
There's a great and growing paradox online. Users remain tied
to modems running, at best, at 9,600 bits/second. Their main
choices are among CompuServe, GEnie, America Online,
Applelink, and Prodigy on the consumer side, Dialog, Dow
Jones, or Mead Data Central on the business side. Meanwhile,
billions are being spent to "dominate" the coming world of
multi-megabit services linked to cable TV.

While information providers and service providers work at arms-
length in today's online world, and anyone with an idea has a
shot at the market, there's a growing assumption that only "brand
names" need apply in the future. The need to control such brand
names has created a feeding frenzy among players, who like
BellSouth, are determined to be "survivors" in a game that hasn't
really started.

I don't know if anyone has noticed it or not, but Prodigy has yet
to turn a profit, and will never, ever, make back the $500
million IBM and Sears invested to open it. This is because
Prodigy continues to think it can control what people say and
read online, choices best left to free people and free markets.
The same hubris is now consuming such otherwise intelligent men
as Bell Atlantic's Ray Smith, BellSouth's John Clendenin and
TCI's John Malone.

The reasons for it can be found in the Bells themselves. The
networks they offer are, compared to their promises, pitiful. If
I were Ross Perot, comparing the Bells' promises and performance,
I'd be a little crazy too. A decade ago the Bells promised a raft
of new services based on a digital standard called ISDN. ISDN
delivers two 64,000 bit/second data channels and a 16,000
bit/second signaling channel to residential customers. Today ISDN
is offered in only a few places, and I still can't get it in
Atlanta, despite living just a block from a major urban switch.

Even Bell-heads are in on this joke -- if the Bells were selling
sushi they'd call it cold dead fish. Bell-head suppliers were
happily pinning "cold dead fish" buttons to their lapels at this
year's Supercomm trade show, and the Bell-heads were laughing
right along.

The problem today remains the same as it was 10 years ago, when
ISDN was the big buzzword. The Bells like to talk about
competition, but all they really understand is monopoly. They
won't make investments in plant and equipment unless they see a
guarantee of profit. The same is true of the cable companies.
That's what this feeding frenzy over Paramount is really all
about -- control. The Bell-heads and cable-head ends figure if
they don't control what goes over their systems, its cost, and the
ability to keep others' content off, investments in the
"information superhighway" just aren't worth it.

As Ross likes to say, "I find that fascinatin'." Every other
business in the world seems to have figured out there's a
difference between content and distribution. The former must
always be risky, in the way that art and science are risky. There
can be no guarantees the product will be as promised. There's no
way to guarantee against a movie like "Ishtar" or "Popeye," no
way to prevent a "Paula Poundstone Show" from reaching the air
for two weeks. The risks are inherent in the process of trying
something new. Distribution risks are different. They're about
balancing the cost of obtaining business with the cost of
providing service. Producers don't know if there will be any
business. Distributors just worry about getting their share, and
at what price.

My point -- billions and billions of dollars are going to be lost
in the next few years, billions and billions of dollars that
could have been profitably invested in fiber wires and high-
capacity switches, billions and billions of dollars which will go
instead to lawyers, deal-makers and accountants. The Japanese
thought they had this game wired too, so Sony bought Columbia
while Matsushita bought MCA-Universal. Now Matsushita wants out --
even deep pockets have a bottom to them. You'd think the Bell-
heads would take a lesson from that and stick to their knitting.
Not a chance -- like those old ladies fleeced by Zero Mostel in
Mel Brooks' "The Producers" a quarter-century ago, they've got
stars in their eyes and sawdust in their veins. The tragedy is
this time we'll all pay for that, in the form of higher phone
rates, and less technology online than we'd like, that we
deserve, and that we'd pay for.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19931112)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00012)

Roundup - Stories Carried By Other Media This Week 11/12/93
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Roundup is a brief
look at some computer stories carried in other publications
received here this past week.

Informationweek dated November 8 asks the burning question
"What's Next for Novell?" and partially answers it by saying that
it definitely isn't going to be Unix. The article quotes insiders
as pointing out that Windows NT, the Microsoft networking
software, isn't the first Redmond attempt to challenge Novell in
this market, notable earlier failures being OS/2 and LAN Manager.

Computerworld for the week of the 8th points out that Cyberpunks
aren't just influencing art, comic books, and literature, they
are also working in many MIS departments. Some departments treat
them as a threat while others see them as an important high-tech
resource.

Communicationsweek for the 8th of November says that National
ISDN or Integrated Services Digital Network, a telecommunications
network standard that allows voice and data transmissions on the
same line, is gaining ground as far as increasing availability,
but this isn't resulting in more ISDN-compatible installations,
because less than one percent of ISDN-capable lines actually meet
ISDN standards. The story says that there are only a few thousand
Bell Communications Research National ISDN-1 standard lines
installed in the US.

(John McCormick/19931112/)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00013)

BellSouth Joins QVC Bid For Paramount 11/12/93
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- After a week of
rumors and what was apparently some hard bargaining, BellSouth
joined QVC Inc., in its bid for Paramount Communications.

The BellSouth investment of $1.5 billion is contingent upon QVC's
success in its struggle with Viacom, which presently has an $85
per share bid on the table, topping QVC's $80 cash offer.
If QVC wins, BellSouth will buy $1 billion of its common at $60
per share, and another $500 million in preferred stock
convertible into about 7.6 million more shares of QVC common, at
almost $66 per share.

BellSouth would get three seats on the QVC board, and along
with Arrow Investments and Comcast become controlling
shareholder, with BellSouth holding a 14 percent stake.
Each of the three will also be permitted to acquire
additional shares, and even if QVC loses Paramount, BellSouth has
a six-month option to buy $500 million of QVC common at $60 and
join the controlling shareholder group. QVC was recently trading
at under $52 per share.

In addition Liberty Media Corp., which is being acquired by TCI
which in turn is being acquired by Bell Atlantic, agreed to sell
its interests in QVC if the Paramount bid succeeds, and withdrew
its offer of $500 million in financing for Paramount. That would
clear up antitrust problems with the QVC bid. Viacom had sued to
block the bid claiming it was part of a plot by TCI head John
Malone to monopolize the cable industry. That part of the deal
has already been cleared with the staff of the Federal Trade
Commission, which would have to approve any merger. If the full
commission approves the deal, what is called the Hart-Scott-
Rodino waiting period relative to the QVC bid would be ended.

The next moves by QVC head Barry Diller are expected to be a bid
topping Viacom's present offer, and a move in court to void
Paramount's "poison pill" agreement with Viacom, which was
designed to thwart an outside bid for the company. Sensing a move
like the one made by BellSouth, Viacom had previously amended its
antitrust suit, naming Comcast along with Liberty Media.

The head of BellSouth's union slammed the agreement, which came
just after the company announced an additional layoff of 2,200
employees, mostly union members. BellSouth becomes the fourth
regional Bell to announce a major investment in the information
services business since the rules prohibiting such investments
were thrown out by the courts. Bell Atlantic plans to buy TCI and
Liberty Media, US West has a $2.5 billion investment in Time-
Warner Enterprises, including its entertainment unit, and NYNEX
is an investor in Viacom.

In a statement on the move, BellSouth Chairman John Clendenin
also noted a separate joint venture being formed with QVC to
pursue interactive television. "This alliance provides us with a
valuable foundation to pursue other interactive entertainment
opportunities and to capitalize on opportunities within
electronic retailing and entertainment programming," he wrote.

In addition to its QVC deal, BellSouth also has an agreement
with Cox Enterprises, which previously announced a QVC
investment, in audiotex services, and an agreement with Prime
Management, the 14th largest US cable operator, which includes
an option to buy that company.

And what of Malone? The CNBC cable channel reported he may be
planning a bid for MCA, the largest of Hollywood's movie studios,
which is now owned by Matsushita but has been an earnings
disappointment for the Japanese.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19931112/Press Contact: Michael Rourke, QVC,
212-371-5999; Tim Klein, BellSouth, 404-249-4135)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00014)

Canada - Calls For Telecom Deregulation Continue 11/12/93
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Canadian federal
regulators have been hearing continued calls to ease controls on
the country's telephone companies.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
(CRTC) is now in the midst of hearings aimed at updating the
regulatory structure. It recently heard from Stentor Resource
Centre inc., an arm of the Stentor consortium of regional
telephone companies.

Like one of the Stentor member companies, AGT Ltd., that made its
own presentation at the hearings' outset, Stentor urged the CRTC
to loosen the regulatory reins on all but critical monopoly
services, and to reconsider the way it controls telephone
companies' profits.

Stentor also called for an end to controls on the businesses in
which the phone companies can operate. "Customer choice should be
extended beyond long distance to include access to all
information and interactive services, including cable TV," says a
document prepared by Stentor for the hearings. Currently, the
telephone companies in Canada cannot enter the cable TV market.

Stentor also argued that its member companies, which have a
monopoly on local telephone service and until recently controlled
all long-distance service as well, should not be treated
differently from their new competitors in the long-distance
market. "We maintain that AT&T/Unitel, Call-Net/Sprint and
resellers are as well equipped as Bell (the largest of the
Stentor member companies) and its Stentor partners to attract a
solid customer base," the document says.

Unitel Communications Inc., of Toronto is partly owned by AT&T,
and Call-Net Telecommunications Inc., also of Toronto, has a
relationship with US long-distance carrier Sprint. Both are now
competing with Stentor in long-distance service.

Stentor said the long-distance revenues of the telephone
companies should be separated from the local-service operations
which are still monopolies, and the long-distance service freed
from regulation.

The consortium also called for a move away from the present way
of regulating the companies' prices and earnings. Currently, the
CRTC sets a range into which the telephone companies' return on
investment must fall. This is outdated, Stentor said, and should
be replaced with an alternative such as price caps on basic
services.

(Grant Buckler/19931112/Press Contact: Marg Eades, Bell Canada,
613-781-2456, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SYD)(00015)

Microsoft Mega Discount Deal With Australia 11/12/93
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Microsoft Australia has
done a deal with the Australian federal government which means
dramatic reductions in price on software for government
departments. The prices are believed to be 60 percent below list.

Announcing the deal, Australian Senator Bob McMullen said that
Microsoft was a good corporate citizen and had made a strong
commitment to Australia and the development of Australian
software. He said the price reduction was immediate and he
expected it to flow through to state and local governments as
well.

"The contract could result in up to $5 in savings to the
Commonwealth in the first full year of operation, based on
current purchasing trends."

The contract allows government users to purchase additional
licences for the low price, copying their existing disks.
Industry observer John Hilvert told Newsbytes "You can
imagine how easy that makes it for the departments. They
get a new employee, raise the purchase order and immediately
copy the software onto the user's PC."

Hilvert said he believed that under the terms of the arrangement,
the department of administrative services received a five percent
processing fee from each purchase, with the nominated dealer and
distributor also getting a small cut, but around 86 percent of the
money going to Microsoft.

Lotus is also believed to have struck a deal to supply its
SmartSuite software to government departments - not in the
standard form, but a customized version including Improv, to suit
government preferences.

(Paul Zucker/19931112/Contact: Ken Erwood at Purchasing Australia
on phone [phone] or fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00016)

Dell Computer To Create PC Plant In Asia 11/12/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Dell Computer is planning to
create a personal computer manufacturing plant in Asia
to mainly supply the Japanese market.

Dell Computer is now considering whether to locate the plant
in Japan, Korea or Taiwan. The goal is to reduce production
costs by purchasing cheaper PC parts in the region.
The final decision on the location of the will be made soon.

Actual production is expected to start in mid-1994. Dell Computer
will produce desktop-type personal computers at the new plant.

Dell is currently seeking a Japanese partner to produce
notebook-type personal computers on an OEM (original equipment
manufacturer) basis. Dell is reportedly talking with several
Japanese PC firms on this agreement.

Currently, Dell Computer is manufacturing personal computers at
plants in the US, Ireland and Mexico. Dell recently created a
customized integration center in Kawasaki, Japan where personal
computers are made-to-order based on customer requests.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19931112/Press Contact: Dell Computer
Japan, [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00017)

Sumitomo Chemical To Resume Epoxy Resin Production 11/12/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Sumitomo Chemical will resume
production of epoxy resin in early December. Epoxy resin is
necessary to produce memory chips, and the return of
production means a worldwide shortage of memory chips may
end soon.

Sumitomo Chemical has dominated worldwide production of epoxy
resin. The supply was interrupted in July with an explosion at
the plant. That led to a reduction in the general chip supply.

Sumitomo Chemical will not resume production of a 16-megabit
DRAM yet. The company says it must await a report from the
fire department and the police concerning the actual cause
of the explosion.

Meanwhile, another chemical firm, Nippon Kayaku, says it will
produce resin for 16-megabit DRAM. Its production line
is currently under the construction.

Since the accident, most Japanese semiconductor firms
have started to look for other materials to replace
epoxy resin. But due to the costs, that search is expected to
take some time.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19931112/Press Contact: Sumitomo
Chemical, [phone], [phone])


(REVIEW)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00018)

Review of - Fujitsu 3.5-inch Magneto-Optical Drive 11/12/93

Runs on: Macintosh or PC under Unix, MS-DOS, Windows, or System
7.

From: Fujitsu Computer Products of America, 2904 Orchard Parkway,
San Jose, CA 95134. Actual source - Insight/Hard Drives
International, 2415 S Roosevelt, Tempe, AZ 85282. Phone 800-
767-3475.

Price: $1,000 street price as delivered with four blank discs.

PUMA Rating: 4 on a scale 1=lowest to 4=highest

Reviewed for Newsbytes by: John McCormick, 11/12/93

Summary: This removable, rewritable optical drive offers
unlimited archival and online storage at a reasonable price.

======

REVIEW

======

Running out of hard disk space? Sure, we all are. The first hard
lesson learned by anyone new to personal computers is that no
hard disk is ever large enough to hold everything that users find
a need to have online.

Floppy diskettes are not the solution, nor are tape drives nor
even the well-known Bernoulli and other brands of disk drives
with their removable magnetic disks - the only real solution
currently available is optical because of its high storage
density and very rugged design.

But the large business-grade 600 megabyte to 1.2 gigabyte magneto
optical drives are priced in the $3,000 range, out of the
question for home or small business users who often have less
than that invested in their computer and laser printer together.

WORM or write-once drives are less expensive, but for many users
their inability to rewrite data on the same disc makes the medium
cost too high.

M-O drives, on the other hand, are highly reliable and, unless
subjected to vigorous physical abuse, the removable disc itself
comes as close to permanent storage as most users need.

The particular drive reviewed has been operating in the Newsbytes
Washington Bureau for about four months and, as originally
expected, the 128 MB data limit has posed no problem because
although gigabytes of data and programs are accessed in this
office, no single research task requires more than about 100 MB
of archival data to be online except for the massive databases
which are already stored on CD-ROMs.

The relatively inexpensive M-O drive is perfect for many
businesses both as a way to backup data and as an inexpensive way
to move data around between offices. Even multimedia productions,
which are notorious for requiring vast amounts of storage, can
use relatively small chunks of images and sounds stored on these
3.5-inch discs.

Break even costs for this drive, compared to purchasing a sealed
hard drive, comes at about 2 gigabytes (GB) of storage capacity,
but this is not an easy to determine point for many users because
removable storage is slower and sometimes less convenient than a
massive internal hard drive.

On the other hand, the removable media is far more durable. For
instance, backups can be removed and stored off-site, and if the
drive mechanism fails, the data is not endangered.

Because they offer different advantages, intensive data users
would generally want both a hard drive and an M-O drive.

The removable discs cost $40 each, but the $1,000 street price
paid for our external unit included about 500 MB of discs so even
the starter package provided archival, removable storage at a
price of about $2 per megabyte, only about double the cost of
more vulnerable hard drives and, of course, it actually has an
unlimited capacity. Counting the drive and media costs, storing 3
GB of data only costs about 60 cents per megabyte.

These M-O drives are SCSI-2 based and either come with a SCSI
board that can daisy chain CD-ROM or other devices, or can be
connected directly to computers, such as Macintosh systems, which
come with a SCSI port built-in.

The disc comes low-level formatted and only needs about 20
seconds processing to be ready to accept data, and the disc can
also be used to boot the system, so this provides an easy way to
access different operating systems on the same system.

Average access time for the Fujitsu drive is 30 milliseconds
(ms.) compared to the average hard drive which is about twice as
fast. The external drive (internal mount version is also
available) is quite small, measuring only about 1.5-inches high,
by 5-inches wide, by 8-inches deep. The M-O media is hard cased,
much like a 3.5-inch floppy diskette, and only a bit larger.

Installation, including the internal Trantor Systems' SCSI board,
was very easy and the system has performed flawlessly since
installation.

Because support is a very important part of any purchase of such
exotic equipment, I want to point out that Insight/Hard Drives
International, the mail-order hard drive supplier where our
system was purchased, was extremely helpful both in helping to
select the proper drive to meet this bureau's needs, and in
clearing up a minor confusion that resulted in the drive arriving
without the SCSI-2 adapter. The correct hardware arrived less
than 24-hours after we discussed the problem - and at no charge!

M-O drives are not for everyone, but anyone dealing with
relatively large amounts of data or large numbers of programs
that can easily be segregated into about 100-megabyte chunks,
will find that these drives are not only highly cost-effective,
but may even be easier to use than gigantic hard drives because
there is far less data to search through and you can easily
archive less-often used data, while keeping it available with
only a few second's delay.

============

PUMA RATING

============

PERFORMANCE: 4 At 30 milliseconds, it is a bit slow for today's
users, but certainly fast enough for most users who will
keep programs on 12 ms. hard drives while using the M-O
for data storage.

USEFULNESS: 4 Puts an unlimited amount of online data on the
desktop and also provides archival and backup storage.

MANUAL: 4 Very short, but entirely sufficient.

AVAILABILITY: 4 Mail order suppliers such as Insight carry the
drive and media in stock and ship same day.

(John McCormick/19931112/)


(REVIEW)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00019)

Review of - New Optical Storage Technology 11/12/93

From: By John A McCormick. Irwin Professional Publishing,
1333 Burr Ridge Parkway, Burr Ridge, Illinois, 60521,
800-634-3961, ISBN 1-55623-907-6

Price: $30.00

PUMA Rating: 3.0 (1 lowest, 4 highest)

Reviewed for Newsbytes by: Linda Rohrbough, 11/12/90

Summary: The New Optical Storage Technology is a good resource
book for those interested in distributing vast amounts of
information via optical storage.

======

REVIEW

======

The most interesting thing about John McCormick's new version
of Optical Storage Technology is the benefit the reader gains
of John's thorough understanding of both analog and digital
storage technology. The book itself is aimed at companies
interested in taking advantage of the storage advantages of
compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) and users who are
looking for the types of CD-ROM titles available in the
marketplace.

Using metaphors that anyone can understand, John does an
excellent job of explaining how analog technology is different
from digital and the situations in which one is more desirable
than the other. He also thoroughly covers the different formats
in which digital storage technology comes, including optical
tape, which I didn't know existed. John spends the majority of
his time on CD-ROM and Compact Disc Interactive (CD-I)
technologies.

Half of the book's approximate 350 pages is devoted to
information on optical technology. The remainder is divided
into 15 appendixes of resource material on titles in various
optical media and resources for both hardware and manufacturing
of optical storage media. These resources would be especially
useful to someone who wanted to investigate publishing a CD-ROM
title. And, as John points out, CD-ROM publishing is a very
practical and cost-effective way to distribute a mass of
information, even if as few as 10 copies are needed.

The only criticism I have of the book is it could have been
better organized. The introduction isn't an introduction that
lets you know what to expect, but is instead a short overview
of the types of optical media. The problem with being hit with
the amount of detail offered in the introduction so early on is
it sets a precedent that the rest of the book is going to be
that way and could discourage potential readers from going any
further. I would advise readers to skip to Chapter 1, read up
through Chapter 2, then go back and read the Introduction.
If readers can hang on through the first few chapters, however,
they will be richly rewarded.

As a reference book for those interested in CD-ROM publishing,
it's definitely an excellent resource that would be turned to
again and again. John offers excellent explanations and has
done his homework researching publishing via optical
technology. As a resource book and guide to CD-ROM
publishing, Optical Storage Technology is excellent.

The publisher has a toll-free number and takes credit card
orders, and only charges about $3.50 for shipping and handling
on a single book. The book is retail priced at $30.00.

(Linda Rohrbough/19931110)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00020)

Tandem Sells Applied Coms Subsidiary To Management 11/12/93
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Tandem
Computers Inc., has reached an agreement with senior management
of its Applied Communications Inc. (ACI) subsidiary under which
the group will buy Tandem's complete interest in ACI, as well as
Applied Communications Incorporated Limited (ACI Ltd.), based in
the United Kingdom.

Michael E. Carter, spokesman for ACI, told Newsbytes that, "Tandem
is a hardware provider, while we are a software provider. The
hardware industry of late is becoming increasingly competitive
as far as price and profitability goes. Tandem has an array of
assets of subsidiary companies that represent opportunity to raise
resources for them, that they can use to remain competitive in
their market."

Under terms of the deal, Tandem will sell all of the outstanding
capital stock of ACI and ACI Ltd. for an undisclosed amount in cash.
The purchase is subject to the "completion of due diligence on
behalf of outside investors. According to the company, it is set to
close on December 31, 1993.

In announcing the deal, James G. Treybig, president and chief
executive officer of Tandem, said: "ACI became a subsidiary more
than two years ago. As an independent company (ACI) can now be
even more aggressive in pursuing new markets, new products, and
new opportunities. ACI will remain a key partner for Tandem."

Continued Carter to Newsbytes, "(The deal) does not represent any
departure, or decrease in the relationship between Tandem and ACI.
We sell solutions that run exclusively on Tandem platforms. For
what we do -- electronic funds transfer -- we believe that Tandem
is the best platform for that."

Asked by Newsbytes whether Tandem will be keeping any financial
interest in the company, Carter replied, "No they are not."

ACI develops, markets and supports application software products
for electronic payment systems. The company claims that it
partners with 300 customers running over 600 systems in 47
countries.

(Ian Stokell/19931112/Press Contact: Tom Waldrop,
408-285-7277, Tandem Computers Inc; Michael E. Carter,
402-392-7406, Applied Communications)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00021)

Novell Confirms Noorda Replacement Search 11/12/93
PROVO, UTAH, U.S.A., 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Novell Inc., has
confirmed that it is looking for a successor to Raymond J. Noorda
to take the position of chief executive officer at the networking
software vendor. Noorda is expected to stay on as chairman of
the board focusing principally on "strategic issues."

Peter Troop, spokesman for Novell, told Newsbytes that the
announcement today confirms what Noorda has been saying for a
year. "He has publicly said that the company is looking to identify
his successor. When he has been asked why he has said that he is 69
years old, and he will be 70 next year. He has consistently made
that point."

The company says that the board of directors has been "conducting
an executive search and a number of candidates are being
interviewed."

In a prepared statement, Noorda is quoted as saying, "At 69, it's
natural for me to be looking for a successor, and I expect to have
one in place long before my birthday in June of next year. Novell
is in an excellent financial, technology and market position
to name a new president and chief executive officer from either
inside or outside the company. The Office of the President,
organized last summer, is performing very effectively."

The Office of the President was formed in August. Since then,
Noorda has maintained his focus on "strategic relationships and
company direction," with day-to-day operations being centered
in the office of the president, with Mary M. Burnside as chief
operating officer and James R. Tolonen as chief administrative
officer. The company also says that Kanwal S. Rekhi assumed an
expanded role as executive vice president corporate technology,
responsible for coordination of product and technology strategies.

As to whether it would involve any restructuring of the Office
of the President, Troop said to Newsbytes, "Not necessarily. It
is hard to say. The Office of the President is a device that has
been created as part of this process of Ray transitioning away
from being CEO. It is certainly integral to the way this is
unfolding. What has become clear is Ray's expectation that he
will be able to identify a successor before June of next year,
which is his birthday."

Novell is the supplier of the market-leading NetWare network
operating system (NOS) and associated networking products.
NetWare holds as much as 65-70 percent of the NOS market.

(Ian Stokell/19931112/Press Contact: Melanie King,
408-473-8381, Novell Inc.)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00022)

Netherlands PTT Hit By Phone Line Fraud 11/12/93
THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS, 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Police in the
Netherlands are reported to be receiving an increasing number of
complaints from phone subscribers concerning allegations of fraud.
The Postal and Telecommunications Arbitration Commission has
reported a big rise in the number of complaints about the size of
customer's phone bills.

Complainers are claiming that unauthorized persons have been
illegally making use of their phone lines, and rumors are
circulating of an alleged conspiracy between hackers and operators
of telephone sex services, to boost the income of the operators.

M. Plaschek, a spokesman for PTT Telecom, the state-controlled
telecom company in the Netherlands, has told the Dutch press that
the country's phone system is not absolutely watertight, but said
that in the majority of cases the subscribers themselves were
responsible for incurring the large phone bills.

He added that in many households it was unusual for family users to
admit that they had been ringing phone sex services, since that
could lead to embarrassing situations if the company's
investigations revealed this to be the case.

Following an extensive complaints procedure, however, he admitted
that a number of cases remain where there is no evidence of blame on
the part of the subscriber. Of all the cases examined by the
arbitration commission, approximately 10 percent appear to have some
foundation, he said, adding that, in such cases, the subscriber had
been given the benefit of the doubt.

Both the commission and police investigating alleged phone fraud
face a serious problem, however, as they are wholly dependent on
information from PTT itself, while the criminals must be sought
from within the company's own ranks.

PTT Telecom has not disclosed whether it has found any evidence of
fraud involving the illegal use of subscribers' lines. Some of those
alleging fraud have been faced with bills totalling several thousand
guilders, and in extreme cases the situation has led to
disconnections, the confiscation of goods by bailiffs, and court
orders for the automatic deduction of the sum involved from the
victim's wages.

According to the commission, complainant's bills show a remarkable
similarity, with sex line numbers being called for hour-long periods
at times when subscribers have proven they were not even at home.
PTT officials have said that the disputed calls are usually very
short in duration, with new numbers being dialled in quick
succession. Victims have argued that it is not physically possible
to dial new numbers so rapidly, and that the fraud must have been
carried out with the help of a computer.

Unlike in the UK and US, where the bulk of premium rate calls are
billed for in time units, PTT Telecom's premium rate services are
billed on a per-call basis. This means that several short calls
to different services can quickly rack up a large bill.

(Sylvia Dennis/19931112/Press & Public Contact: PTT Telecom - Tel:
[phone]; Fax: [phone])


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

 ****AST Entering PDA Arena 11/12/93
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- AST, which
became the fourth-largest US computer maker by buying Tandy's
computer operations, announced it will offer a personal digital
assistant (PDA) next year. The company has made no secret of
the fact it planned to use the technology acquired from Tandy's
Grid pen-based manufacturing to enter the PDA market, but
demonstrations of the Model 2390 at COMDEX are the first actual
glimpses of a product from AST.

The Model 2390 was made by AST's Grid Systems unit, a long-time
leader in pen and mobile computing technology acquired with the
Tandy operations. Tandy moved Grid to Fort Worth, and now that
AST has taken over, the company will base its North American
manufacturing, repair and service out of the Texas location to
take advantage of lower labor and land costs. Grid has the
largest installed base of pen-based systems, the largest number
of corporate users, and the broadest range of products in the
market.

The Model 2390 will, like Tandy's own Zoomer, be based on the
Geos operating system from Geoworks, and will include a suite
of personal information management (PIM) and financial
management software built-in. PenRight, an operating
environment developed by Grid, will be available as an option,
opening that system's software to Model 2390 users.

PenRight will run off a Personal Computer Memory Card Industry
Association (PCMCIA) Type II card from SunDisk and supports
over 1,000 vertical market applications. International Data
Corporation says 80 percent of the pen-based applications
available have been developed under Penright and AST says most
applications will run on the Model 2390 with just minor
modifications.

PIM software announced from the unit will be from Palm
Computing and includes an address book, note book, to-do list
manager, travel data, calculator, dictionary, foreign language
translation dictionary and thesaurus. Palm Computing has
developed a similar application that ships with the Zoomer.
Pocket Quicken financial management software from Intuit will
also be built-in and will be linkable to the version of Quicken
for desktop computers. There's also an option for the America
Online electronic consumer service, and the EAASY Sabre travel
service.

The Grid 2390 weighs in at 1 pound, about 1/2 kg., and has a
320 by 256 line touch-sensitive liquid crystal display (LCD)
screen, a stylus for detailed input, and a battery life of over
100 hours with three standard "AA" batteries. The main chip is
an Intel 8086-compatible 7.4 MHz model made by Casio, which is
also a partner on the Zoomer.

The product comes standard with a megabyte (MB) of random
access memory (RAM), and 4 MB of read only memory (ROM) which
holds the built-in software applications. The retail price of
the unit is estimated under $1,000. The company is offering
evaluation units to independent software vendors (ISVs) to
encourage application development when the units ship in
quantity early next year.

(Dana Blankenhorn & Linda Rohrbough/19931112/Press Contact: AST
Research, Lauren Baker, tel [phone], fax [phone];
Public Contact 800-876-4AST)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00024)

 ****Apple's Mac/PC -- Quadra 610 With DOS Extensions 11/12/93
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Apple
Computer briefed analysts Thursday on its new Macintosh that
will run IBM-compatible personal computer (PC) software. Dubbed
internally "Houdini," Apple is expected to unveil the unit next
week, although Apple representatives will not comment on the
product now.

What was demonstrated to analysts was a color Quadra 610 with
DOS Extensions. The DOS part is on a board that is inserted
into the Quadra, called internally the "Houdini," containing an
Intel 486SX chip. Apple has already licensed DOS 6.2 from
Microsoft for the new Quadra, but users who want to run Windows
will have to add it themselves, Newsbytes sources said. The
board will also be available separately as an option for
addition to existing Quadras.

Walter Miao, an analyst with Link Resources, told Newsbytes the
board was very clean and appeared to be ready for production,
and he was surprised Apple doesn't plan to release the product
until next year. "I told them 'Move it into the educational
market now!'" Miao said.

Also, a window of opportunity is open to Apple now with a
tremendous number of buyers who are wavering between a PC and a
Macintosh, but who will purchase one or the other in the next few
months, Miao asserted. If the price isn't too high, those
buyers could very well choose this new Apple product, according
to Miao.

Some reports are the Quadra 610 with DOS Extensions could be as
much as $1,000 more, but Miao says that's too much. "If it's
that much more I can go down to Orange Micro and get a board
that will do the same thing." Miao said he understood the DOS-
equipped Mac would be $300 to $500 higher than a Quadra 610
without the card. "But we're talking a pretty well-equipped
Quadra here, with at least 12 to 14 megabytes of memory. Apple
is clearly not on an economy kick."

Apple's hold-off on releasing the new Quadra has to do with
usability testing issues and sound capability. There's an
incompatibility between Macintosh and PC sound files and right
now there's no way to add a PC sound board right now. Also,
there is no compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) yet, though
Apple says there will be.

The hard disk is divided into a PC and Macintosh portions, each
of which is kept separate, according to Newsbytes sources.

Eric Lewis of International Data Corporation said the unit
performed without a hitch. Other reports are Apple was running
Excel 4.0 and transferring graphics and data back and forth
between the Windows and Macintosh.

Will this Macintosh/PC hybrid help Apple? Lewis says it will.
"Apple is looking to lessen the issue of compatibility to
increase its sales. But don't over-blow this announcement. This
isn't changing the face of Macintosh, it is just offering an
additional option. It is not Macintosh trying to compete as a
better Windows machine."

(Linda Rohrbough/19931112/Press Contact: Constance Clark, Apple
Computer, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(MSP)(00025)

 ****Newsbytes Reports From Comdex Next Week 11/12/93
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Newsbytes
News Network will spread out across the Fall COMDEX trade show
in Las Vegas to deliver up-to-the-minute coverage of the
most newsworthy products and happenings of the show.

Newsbytes will have seven reporters on the scene from Monday
through Friday, to supplement the rest of the US and worldwide
coverage of the computer and telecommunications industries.

Managing editor for the week will be Ian Stokell. Editor-in-chief,
Wendy Woods, will serve as field editor for the Newsbytes
team in Las Vegas.

(Newsbytes staff/19931112)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LON)(00026)

Germany - Privatization Agency Hit By Possible Computer Fraud 11/12/93
BONN, GERMANY, 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Prosecutors raided a series of
offices and private flats in 10 cities across Germany at the end of
October, on suspicion of an organized fraud against the Treuhand
privatization agency.

According to media reports in Germany, several packets of documents
were confiscated during the raids, which were in connection with
allegations that Funk und Zenkner, the investment house, used
computers to manipulate the costs of cleaning up environmental
damage when it acquired East German-based Plasta, Kunstharz-
und Perssmassenfabrik Erkner from the agency.

Prosecutors in Germany say they are also investigating an official
at Treuhand and an executive of Funk und Zenkner who used to work
for Treuhand. Sources suggest that the privatization agency may have
lost as much as DM 10 million on the contract.

(Sylvia Dennis/19931112/Press & Public Contact: Der Treuhand - Tel:
[phone])


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

Ireland - Police Smash UKP250,000 Int'l Phone Fraud 11/12/93
DUBLIN, IRELAND, 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Telecom Eireann (TE) claims
that it has broken a sophisticated and elaborate international fraud
that has cost the Irish telecom company more than UKP250,000.

Detectives in Dublin Criminal Court were told this week that Anjum
Zaida, a 23-year-old university graduate from India, was the
mastermind of the electronic conspiracy, whereby he forged
electronic serial numbers for connection to Eircell, the Irish
analogue cellular phone network, and used the phone lines to link up
conference calls between various countries.

Zaida was sentenced to a four years suspended sentence after
pleading guilty to having sold his services to businesses in
Ireland at a cut-price rate. He was accused of defrauding TE of
IR262,238 (approx. $350,000) by unlawfully using the Eircell
cellular network. He also admitted to conspiring with persons
unknown between May 28 and July 14 of this year to provide
international telephone services in Ireland without holding a
licence.

According to Detective Sergeant Mike Clifford, a spokesman for the
Garda, the Irish police force, Zaida arrived in Ireland in early May
to work as a cook and cleaner. Clifford told the court that he
investigated incidents involving legitimate Eircell subscribers
who were billed for international calls they did not make.

Investigations carried out in conjunction with TE led the Garda to
Zaida's flat, where he was arrested on July 9 this year. Police and
TE officials found computer hardware and software, plus around 20
mobile phones being used to make conference calls linking people in
different countries.

After he was arrested, Zaida is quoted as admitting to Garda police
that he knew what was going on and admitted he knew it was "dodgy."
The court heard he had no previous convictions and was told by Zaida
this type of crime was prevalent in the US and the UK.

Garda officials say that Zaida is only the little fish in a bigger
scam, but seniors involved in the fraud were not accessible to the
Irish courts. Garda police said that they are aware of those
involved in the case who are abroad and have notified the
appropriate authorities.

(Steve Gold/19931112/Press & Public Contact: TE - Tel: [phone]-
1111)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LON)(00028)

Dutch Anti-Fraud Computer System May Violate Public Laws 11/12/93
THE HAGUE, THE NETHERLANDS, 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- The Dutch banking
industry association, Nederlandse Vereiniging van Banken (NVB), may
be coming into direct conflict with the population registration
office.

Several years ago, the banks established a blacklist of cheque
fraudsters, money launderers, and loan defaulters which is stored on
computer known as Iris and distributed to banks. NVB officials have
admitted that the compilation of the list may have infringed on
citizen privacy laws.

As a result of this, the Dutch Data Registrar's office is discussing
the Iris computer system with NVB. Officials with the NVB say that
the issue at stake is the free exchange of data on bank frauds,
involving customers, details of which are swapped via the Iris
computer.

Newsbytes understands that, under current Dutch legislation, anyone
included on a blacklist must be notified of this. Banks and NVB
officials say they are uncertain as to whether those included on the
banks' blacklist have been informed.

Under the Iris system, if anyone suspected of fraud is identified by
the system, other banks may contact the institution responsible for
his or her inclusion on the list.

The NVB claims that anyone responsible for deliberately defrauding a
bank of more than DFl 10,000 is put onto the blacklist, which also
includes details of those bank borrowers who are in arrears with
their payments.

(Sylvia Dennis/19931112/Press & Public Contact: Nederlandse
Vereiniging van Banken - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00029)

Motorola Licenses Handwriting Technology 11/12/93
SCHAUMBURG, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Motorola,
known for its wireless communications and its development of
chips that power Apple Computers, announced it has acquired
Palo Alto, California-based Lexicus Corporation. Lexicus is a
privately held developer of hand-writing recognition software.

Hand-writing recognition is the basis of the new personal
digital assistants (PDAs), hand-held computers that recognize
handwriting and convert it to characters as though it had been
typed on a computer keyboard. Lexicus' product is Longhand, a
handwriting recognition product that started shipping this
fall.

AST just jumped into the PDA market by announcing its one-
pound Model 3290 PDA, planned for demonstration next week
at the computer trade show COMDEX in Las Vegas. Apple Computer
says it has sold 50,000 Newton Messagepads since the introduction
of the unit in August and Tandy and Casio have just released
Zoomer, a Geos-based PDA compatible with the IBM personal
computer (PC) platform.

(Linda Rohrbough/19931112/Press Contact: Terri Green, Motorola,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


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

Watcom, Cognos Sign Bundling Deal 11/12/93
WATERLOO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 NOV 12 (NB) -- Watcom
International Corp. has announced a bundling deal that will see
Watcom's database software, Watcom/SQL, sold along with the new
Axiant line of client/server development tools from Cognos
of Ottawa.

It is the second such bundling deal for Watcom, noted Dave
Boswell, vice-president of sales and marketing. The first was
announced in April, with PowerSoft Corp. of Burlington,
Massachusetts. Earlier this week, PowerSoft announced its
intention to acquire Watcom.

Boswell said further bundling deals for Watcom/SQL are likely.
The company is "aggressively pursuing a strategy of making
Watcom/SQL the standard desktop database," he said.

Watcom/SQL supports American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
standard Structured Query Language (SQL), and according to the
vendor it provides advanced development capabilities. It also
supports Open Database Connectivity (ODBC), a standard for inter-
database communication backed by Microsoft Corp.

In launching Axiant last month, Cognos said the tool set
introduces features needed to develop serious business
applications using client/server architecture. The company said
existing tools do not address such needs at complex application
logic, portability across many operating systems, hardware
platforms, and graphical user interfaces (GUIs), scalability from
small to large systems, concurrent access to multiple data
sources, and version control.

Cognos said it will provide Axiant first for Microsoft Windows
client PCs and servers running Unix, DOS, and Digital Equipment
Corp.'s VMS operating system. This software is to be available by
the end of this year. Software for IBM AS/400 and Hewlett-Packard
Co. MPE iX servers is planned later, the company said. Software
development tools for resellers and third-party developers are
due to be available in the second quarter of 1994.

The Windows-based development environment will cost from $3,000
to $5,000, Cognos said, and full deployment of Axiant will cost
about $1,000 per user.

Boswell said he could not discuss financial terms of the deal
such as how much revenue it might bring Watcom.

(Grant Buckler/19931111/Press Contact: Hans Galldin, Cognos, 613-
738-1440 ext. 3133; Dave Boswell, Watcom, 519-883-6303)