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/NB930125

Text File | 1993-01-25 | 66KB | 1,477 lines

(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00001)

Software Publishing In Clip Art Deal With Imageline 01/25/93
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- Clip art is
considered a basic necessity of graphics and presentation program
users. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive selection,
Software Publishing Corp., has signed strategic agreement with
Imageline Inc., for the exclusive development of all future clip
art libraries for its Harvard Graphics product line.

At the same time, Software Publishing is launching a promotional
campaign for those who purchase Harvard Graphics for Windows
or DOS from select resellers. The promotion calls for customers
to receive a free copy of Imageline's ValuePak1 clip art library.
Available in Harvard Graphics file format (SY3/SYW), ValuePak1
is valued at $99. The company says that the promotion runs from
February 1 through March 31, 1993.

Speaking of the agreement, Thea Grigsby, director of graphics
marketing, for Software Publishing, said: "This agreement and
promotion with Imageline is an ideal example of Software
Publishing's commitment to our customers. It provides our users
with the highest-quality, editable clip art on the market in
Harvard Graphics' native file format."

Grigsby told Newsbytes that, "The importance of the agreement
is that we intend to provide as much value as humanly possible
to our users. In line with that, this is the first of a series of
relationships that we are offering which offer, not only more
clip art assortment, but more customized services and a higher
level of support for every aspect of presentations."

According to the company, the PicturePak promotion provides
Harvard Graphics customers with a "special edition" of
Imageline's clip art library in Harvard Graphics' native file
format for both DOS and Windows. The company says the clip art
images have been "optimized" for Harvard Graphics using
gradient fills and a special color palette.

Grigsby said to Newsbytes, "Our goal is to speak more and more
about how to help our users find solutions for their presentation
needs, not just pre-packaged software."

ValuePak1 includes more than 640 color clip art images with
editable vector objects. Clip art categories range from
presentation-oriented images to specific symbol libraries.

Said Gary Gray, vice president of Imageline Inc., "In the future
we plan to provide Harvard Graphics users with additional
customized accessory products, such as multimedia clips,
vertical market clip art and customized logos and seals."

(Ian Stokell/19930125/Press Contact: Dorothy Meunier,
408-450-7637, Software Publishing Corp.)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00002)

Informix Software In Licensing Deal With CS Computing 01/25/93
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- In an effort
to expand the installed base of its SmartWare II office integration
software package, Informix Software has given exclusive
worldwide distribution rights to CS Computing Services Inc.

In addition, the licensing deal also extends the rights to
SmartWare 3.10 to CS Computing.

According to the companies, CS also gains rights to market,
develop and support SmartWare II, including customer support as
well as modifications and additions to the product, such as new
platform compatibility and product support for CS' unique
ANGOSS system.

An Informix spokesperson told Newsbytes that SmartWare has
been an important program for a number of corporate users
and value-added resellers.

Speaking of the deal, Phil White, chairman of Informix Software,
said: "We want to ensure that support and enhancement of
this valued product will continue under the expertise of CS
Computing. We selected CS Computing because of their strength
in the distribution channel and its commitment to bringing
SmartWare to a wider number of platforms and operating
systems."

The company claims that the DOS-based SmartWare II integrated
office automation software package has an installed base of over
500,000 users. The network-ready system integrates database
management, word processing, spreadsheet, and communications
capabilities. It also includes the Smart Programming Language for
application development across modules.

Interestingly, CS Computing, which will become ANGOSS Software
Corp., a publicly traded company, in February, has worked with
SmartWare since 1984 and considers the product "central to its
development and business strategies."

(Ian Stokell/19930125/Press Contact: Brenda Hansen,
415-926-6651, Informix Software)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00003)

Australia - Utility Company's Video On Info Security 01/25/93
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- Sydney Electricity, the
largest power utility in Australia, has developed a video to
raise end user awareness of information security. The tape
covers issues vital to any medium to large organizations,
including password security, and the need for information
confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The video covers security on the stand-alone PC and takes
a look at workstation and local area network issues. It
emphasizes the responsibility of each employee to maintain
security, as well as laws surrounding privacy.

"We had two main objectives in developing this training video,"
said Sydney Electricity's data security manager, Ian Collier.
"To point out to end users that they are personally responsible
for data security, and to break down the barrier between end
users and data security officers. It's important that end
users understand the officer's roles in ensuring that data
is available to the appropriate people."

"We've had a good reaction to the video from Australian and
international organizations when we've shown it at security
training seminars," said Collier. Price for the video starts
at AUS$100 (US$67) for ten copies, with volume discounts available.

(Paul Zucker/19930122/Contact: Ian Collier at Sydney Electricity
on phone [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00004)

New For Networks - Accton TROPIC Adapters, Price Drop 01/25/93
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- Accton Technology
is joining the growing chorus of companies introducing Token Ring
network adapter cards that use the IBM TROPIC chip.

Accton is making available two new cards to support ISA and
Micro Channel-based machines. These new models will not replace
existing cards.

The two new models are called the RingPair-4/16T (model #TR1615)
which is the ISA version. And the RingPair-MC4/16T (model #TR1616)
which is the Micro Channel version. Both cards comes with essentially
the same feature set. They both feature the TROPIC chip; they both
auto sense the data transmission rate and the bus width; they both
have switch-selectable connectors that support shielded or unshielded
twisted pair wiring; and they both supply the same number of
diagnostic LEDs (light emitting diodes).

Both cards are scheduled to ship by February 1 and will retail for
$549 each.

Accton is also cutting in half the price of its EISA-based
Ethernet combo card. The EtherCombo-32 used to retail for
$699 when it was introduced less than a year ago. Now that
same card will retail for $349.

"Economics of scale have made it possible for us to increase
production of the EtherCombo-32 and halve the price of our EISA
NICs (Network Interface Cards) without redesigning the adapters,"
said Marshall Behling, director of marketing for Accton. "In order
to maintain our competitive edge, we are passing these savings along
to our customers. The EISA market has been expanding rapidly over
the past 10 months, and we will continue to be as aggressive in the
EISA market as we have been in the ISA adapter market. We believe
we have a unique competitive advantage with the EtherCombo card
since we are offering EISA support for three different cable types
at an unprecedented low price."

(Naor Wallach/19930119/Press Contact: Tom Woolf, Woolf Media
Relations for Accton, 415-508-1554/Public Contact: Accton Technology,
510-226-9800, 800-926-9288)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEL)(00005)

India - Computer Training School Vanishes 01/25/93
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- A thriving computer
institute has vanished. And the 1,500-odd students, each having parted
with sums ranging between Rs 2,000 to Rs 6,000, are left deprived.

The Delhi-based Central Institute of Computer Sciences (CICS), run
by the year old Shrimati Indu Goswami Charitable Memorial Trust,
closed shop without prior notice on the day a new course, with
nearly 500 students was to start. And the proprietor, S.K. Sharma,
police say, sneaked away after amassing over Rs 50 million.

A year-and-a-half-long course on computer programming and a
six-month diploma on desktop publishing were some of the courses
being offered by the academy. With five branches in the capital,
CICS had been operational for nearly a year. Classes for a new
batch with approximately 500 students were to begin from the 11th
of January. However, students were asked to delay the start of classes
for two days on the pretext that renovation work was going on.
On coming back on the unlucky 13th, the place was found abandoned
with no information on the whereabouts of the principal or the
staff. The story is the same for all the branches.

While the Police has already nabbed one of the Trust members,
the hapless students are planning to lodge a complaint in the
Consumer Cell of the Delhi district court, in hopes of
recovering their money.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19930125)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEL)(00006)

India - Braille Output In Hindi Available 01/25/93
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- A larger quantum of reading
material in Hindi for the visually handicapped is now available
courtesy the Delhi-based Blind Relief Association.

The organization had installed a computer-aided Braille printer
from Enabling Technology of the US almost two years ago, but the
lack of adequate software defeated attempts at printing Hindi
Braille books. It could print books only in English Braille.

That changed when Cognitive Systems Pvt. Ltd. developed
software that allowed books to be printed in Hindi too.

The Association is now in a position to roll out Braille books in
Hindi, Sanskrit, and English. The text is keyed in with the help
of an ordinary IBM-compatible keyboard, which is then embossed
with the aid of an instant interface.

While a conventional Brailler cannot print more than one or two
Braille characters a second, the embosser speeds up the process
to around 40 characters per second. Thus a page which normally
takes 15 minutes to be transcribed comes out in few seconds.
Moreover, the operator does not need to have proficiency in
Braille.

Financial assistance to the tune of $10,000 (about Rs 3 lakh)
from the Embassy of Japan made the whole project possible.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19930125)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(BOS)(00007)

CAD/CAM Revenues Flat, But Software On The Rise 01/25/93
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- Global CAD/CAM
revenues were practically flat last year, but the field also felt
growth in several areas, and a significant rebound is on the way,
according to results of a new survey from Dataquest.

Revenue for CAD/CAM turnkey systems, or systems that include both
hardware and software, stepped up only 4.2% in 1992, to a worldwide
total of $15.6 billion. But over the same period, CAD/CAM software
revenue climbed 10.5% to a sum of $4.93 billion, Dataquest
determined.

Certain vendors, including Hewlett-Packard, Autodesk, and Cadence,
also enjoyed double-digit growth, said Mike Sealy, Dataquest's
director of CAD/CAM research, in an interview with Newsbytes.

The slow growth of CAD/CAM systems last year was due less to
sluggish sales than to hardware pricing, added Sealy. "Unlike the
CAD/CAM software market, where prices have remained high,
workstation prices keep sliding downward," he explained.

Applications for technical workstations, including Unix, accounted
for more than 60% of 1992 CAD/CAM software revenues, increasing 12%
over 1991, Sealy told Newsbytes. Revenues rose 5% for PC-based CAD
software and 18% for LAN (local area network) server-based
software, but dropped 9% for host-based midrange and mainframe
applications.

Hewlett-Packard showed the greatest revenue growth of any vendor in
the CAD/CAM systems market, rising 12.4% to $933 million for third
place behind IBM, with $1.89 billion, and Intergraph, with $1.27
billion. "HP has been really aggressive over the past two or three
years at building high performance systems for affordable prices,
and now they're reaping the benefits," Sealy commented.

Sun took the fourth spot in the systems market with $878.5 million.
Industry veteran DEC, showing gains of only 0.6%., ended in fifth
place with $821.1 million.

In the CAD/CAM software market, Cadence jumped into third place
with $350.3 million in revenues, a startling 90% increase over the
previous year. But most of that figure is attributable to
corporate acquisitions, Sealy noted. "Cadence is becoming a major
player, but its actual growth, without the acquisitions, was only
around 10 to 15%," he told Newsbytes.

In contrast, Autodesk demonstrated 26% in actual growth, sneaking
past Cadence to grab $353.6 million in revenues and a second place
finish. CAD/CAM software market leader IBM claimed $464.3 million,
for an 8% hike. Fourth place winner Intergraph grew an impressive
11.1%, to $ 311.4 million, and Computervision was a distant fifth
at $234.1 million, down 5.4% from 1991.

"Autodesk has been a dominant factor for some time now, and it's
easy to see why. The company is active in almost all application
areas, its distribution channel is strong, and its market
awareness is among the sharpest in the industry," Sealy told
Newsbytes.

But although the 1992 CAD/CAM market boasted some bright spots,
general performance could have been better, a fact that can be
blamed on recessionary pressures as well as on the need for further
development of new software applications, he remarked.

Software for GIS (geographic information systems) was the fastest
growing single market segment for 1992. But many any CAD/CAM
systems today are still being used for such simple tasks as
drafting and documentation. Meanwhile, demand is accelerating for
such sophisticated applications as design optimization and design
synthesis, according to Sealy.

"In design synthesis, you literally duplicate the design of the
product inside the computer. Then you test all aspects of the
design, whether weight or stress or speed, to make sure the product
will function the way you want," he reported.

Another burgeoning need is software for concurrent engineering, a
method aimed at speeding time to market by having engineers,
marketers, and managers work together simultaneously on the same
products, Sealy told Newsbytes.

In support of concurrent engineering, vendors are now offering
software for building "what if" scenarios and sharing documents, he
stated. "But putting really high quality into a product is a
subtle art. Computer systems need to be created that will let
everyone add value, and will also make sure that high quality is
what gets shipped," he suggested.

Software is also available for the other design optimization and
design optimization, but much of it is costly and difficult to use,
he added.

Yet the emerging CAD/CAM applications also present vast
opportunities for the future, Seely emphasized. Over the next few
years, vendors will begin to meet users' expectations in these new
areas, spurring even greater sales, he predicted.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19930125)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(MOW)(00008)

Russia - Unigraphics CAD Software Available 01/25/93
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- The Russian TOPS company
reports that Unigraphics' CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and
manufacturing) system, developed by McDonnell-Douglas, is now
available in Russia.

The complete system is suitable for Russian aircraft and other
high-tech design and manufacturing enterprises, according to
Ivan Kachinsky, TOPS' director.

The Unigraphics software is offered either as a complete system
or is available in parts, depending upon the needs of the buyer.
Only an English language version is available, although the
company is considering the possibility of partial localization.

The package is offered at standard US prices, according to
the TOPS representative.

In addition to the software, TOPS offers a full range of Hewlett-
Packard Apollo workstations, which are the best environment for this
CAD/CAM system, Kachinsky said.

(Kirill Tchashchin & Vladimir Shliemin/19930119/Press & Public contact:
Ivan Kachinsky, TOPS, phone [phone]; e-mail [e-mail])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00009)

Japan - NTT Develops AI-Based Japanese Chess Program 01/25/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- Japan's former domestic telecom
monopoly NTT appears to have entered into the entertainment business
with the development of a powerful "Shogi" (Japanese chess) program
which incorporates artificial intelligence.

NTT's Shogi program, NTT reports, is capable of finding the best
moves fast. The program was tested, running on a workstation,
with questions from an historical Shogi book, a collection of
dating back to Japan's Edo period 200 years ago. NTT's program
was able to solve about 70 percent of the problems correctly,
NTT reports, with solutions found in about two minutes. This
is considered impressive for computer-based Shogi programs.

NTT's Shogi program even came up with a few surprises. For
instance, when the software was given a problem that requires 265
moves to win, it found a better and faster solution in 133 moves,
or about one minute. Most existing Shogi programs cannot determine
solutions to a problem that require in excess of 40 or 50 moves.
NTT's Shogi program is expected to compete with professional,
human Shogi players in the near future.

NTT has come up with an original algorithm, called "Best Movement
Priority Method," in this Shogi program.

Although this Shogi program may appear to herald NTT's entry into
entertainment, that may not be the case. The company says the program
was intended to apply principals designed for other applications --
namely programs to find bugs and defects in telecommunication
software and to design a defect-free computer network.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930120/Press Contact: NTT, +81-3-
3509-5035, Fax, [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00010)

Digital, Adaptec Share Disk Drive Technology 01/25/93
MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- Digital
Equipment Corporation (DEC) and Adaptec have signed a deal that will
give each company access to some of the other's disk-drive
technology.

The technology exchange calls for Adaptec to provide Digital with
Adaptec technology for the AT and Small Computer System Interface
(SCSI) buses, allowing disk drives to achieve higher data rates
and densities.

In turn, DEC will provide Adaptec with a version of its advanced
error-correction code (ECC) technology, which helps disk drives
significantly increase their densities and, thus, their
capacities. Adaptec also gets access to Digital's advanced
simulation modelling methodology, which the firms said will help
Adaptec bring its products to market faster.

The agreement includes both technology transfers and engineering
support from each company. Officials said they expect disk drives
using the exchanged technologies to reach the market by midyear.

Digital will use the technology in disk drives sold as part of
complete computer systems and in drives sold separately, said
company spokesman Tom Madden. The SCSI interface technology could
be used in systems of all sizes and not just in personal
computers, he added.

Adaptec makes Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) host
adapters and software for personal computers, proprietary SCSI
and AT-interface integrated circuits, imaging controllers, and
SCSI development systems. It has about 1,400 employees in the
United States, Asia, and Europe.

(Grant Buckler/19930122/Press Contact: Jerry Steach, Adaptec,
408-945-6761; Lois Long, 408-957-4893; Gloria Bates, Digital,
508-841-6544; Tom Madden, Digital, 508-841-5365)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00011)

Natural Gas Industry Moves To BBSes 01/25/93
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- A former chair of the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has suggested that the
industry use a PC-based bulletin board system to collect
information about the natural gas supply industry. In response,
a leading industry group has suggested a standard format for
displaying and exchanging such information.

Martha Hesse, who was appointed chairman of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission under former President Reagan, and
reappointed by former President George Bush, told Newsbytes this
timely exchange of information has become increasingly important
since regulations known as Order 497, on marketing affiliates,
first passed on her watch in 1989. In 1991, after leaving the
government, she formed Hesse Gas Co., which markets natural gas
products and uses such systems extensively in its work.

What's most important, she told Newsbytes, is that information on
gas availability be offered in a standard and understandable
format, to give small companies equal access to data. "An ideal
situation would be having one single bulletin board for the
industry, so the information would be consolidated and
standardized," she said. And the industry should maintain that
system, not the government. She suggested that the Interstate
Natural Gas Association of America, or INGAA, "should be the
logical and natural group to do this."

Before joining the government, Ms. Hesse added, she had a data
processing consulting company, so she knows the technical details
of BBSs and other online systems. "But a BBS is a reasonably
common thing. One thing I did while at the Office of Management
and Budget was install the first electronic link between the
White House and the agencies, using electronic mail," she noted.

In response, INGAA did form a group to look into the four major
sets of data which gas pipeline companies must exchange. Samir
Salama, assistant vice president of INDAA, told Newsbytes the
association decided to specify a file format for the data, either
a flat file or EDI transaction set, and not mandate use of a
specific brand of BBS software. "Our proposal is that the
pipelines would put the information in this flat file, then
people could download it and reformat it if they want. This is more
productive and gives the users more control of what they want to
do with the data.

"We got into the idea of standardizing on a board, but discarded
it. Each pipeline has different customers who need different
degrees of sophistication. Some are simple, some are more
complicated and need more sophistication."

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930122/Press Contact: Samir Salama, INDAA,
202-626-3200; Martha Hesse, Hesse Gas, 713-871-9261)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00012)

UK - Vodafone Uses Digital Phone Net For Text Messaging 01/25/93
NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- Vodafone, one of
the UK's two mobile phone network operators, has been
experimenting with its global system for mobile communication
(GSM) digital mobile phone technology to transmit text messages
in recent months.

According to Vodafone, the transmissions have been a success,
with messages of up to 160 alphanumeric characters being received
on a Nokia 1011 mobile phone linked to the GSM network.

The technology involved in transmitting text messages over GSM is
inherent to the digital network. Instead of the analog voice
signal converted to digital data and transmitted over the
network, digital text data is fed across the link.

Newsbytes understands that the original plans for the GSM
standard included data transmissions, but, because of the high
development costs, the companies behind GSM cut down the initial
implementation to exclude data transmissions.

The use of conventional GSM mobile phones to receive text
messages is, therefore, a major step for the technology. According
to Chris Gent, Vodafone's managing director, the transmissions
conform to the GSM short message service (SMS) standard, which
was agreed at the end of 1992.

"We're delighted to be the first GSM operator to have
successfully tested the SMS on our GSM network and we're
looking forward to implementing the new service," he said.

"This unique feature provides the first true example of
simultaneous text and speech transmission in mobile telephony
and opens the door to a whole series of value-added services. We
expect some of these will become available later this year," he
added.

According to Vodafone, the SMS technology implementation on its
GSM network will allow text messages to be sent or received over
the network, even at the same time a voice conversation is taking
place. If a phone is off the network, either because it is
switched off or out of range, messages are stored by the network
and then "forwarded" when the phone links back to the system.

Newsbytes notes that the technology could be developed further so
that two-way message units could be used over GSM, much as the
packet radio networks in the US and UK are developing for
commercial use.

(Steve Gold/19930122/Press & Public Contact: Vodafone - Tel:
0635-33251)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(DEN)(00013)

Florida Gators Get Credit Cards 01/25/93
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- Florida Gators
will soon carry plastic cards that allow them to check out library
books, open locked doors, and pay for meals ad tickets. Gators is
the mascot name for the University of Florida.

Students who carry the Gator One card can already put money into an
account, then use the card to pay for meal on campus and buy snacks
and sodas from vending machines. Now Lyn White, manager of the
university's identification service, says that within a year or two
students won't need to carry money at all. "The idea is security on
campus," says White. "If you're not carrying around cash, there's no
reason for someone to rob you."

The card is the size of a standard credit card, and has a photo of
the bearer as well as a bar code that the machine scans, similar to
using an automated teller machine at your local bank.

White says the card is the result of a campaign promise made by a
former student body president in 1988. Scooter Willis thought
students would gladly exchange fee cards, library cards, football
vouchers, dining plan cards and a myriad of other documents for a
single card that they could use for almost any transaction on
campus. An engineering student, Willis designed the cards and
formed a company to market the necessary hardware and software. He
later sold the license to the university.

Issuance of the cards also had a side benefit. While some
university officials thought the idea wouldn't catch on because
students would have to stand in long lines for the cards, Willis
proved that it takes less than 60 seconds to issue the card,
actually shortening the waiting period.

White said that soon students will even be able to pay their
tuition, buy books, make photocopies, operate washers and dryers,
and pay overdue book and parking fines. By next January the
school expects to have the necessary technology online to allow
students to register by telephone using the cards. Someday they may
even be used to record class attendance or vote in student
government elections.

(Jim Mallory/19930122/Press contact: Lyn White, University of
Florida, 904-392-3261)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00014)

Virtual World For Windows 01/25/93
CARY, NORTH CAROLINA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- Now anyone with a
PC can tour imaginary worlds using Virtus WalkThrough for
Windows, an interactive 3D modeling program announced at the
fourth annual Winter Windows & OS/2 Conference. The program
requires no special hardware, such as the goggles, joysticks,
or data gloves, often necessary for so-called "virtual reality"
applications.

In its simplicity and straightforward operation, WalkThrough for
Windows more closely resembles a presentation graphics or 2D
modeling package than a complex CAD package. To create a "world"
or model, users work on 2D and 3D views simultaneously. An object
placed in the 2D view appears automatically in the 3D
view. Users can then manipulate the object's position, size,
color, opacity, and other characteristics.

The program comes with dozens of pre-made items such as
home furniture and office equipment, which the user can copy
and paste into models.

With a mouse, the user can navigate around and through objects
in the 3D view. WalkThrough also allows users to "record" a
particular path through a model for later demonstration. The
program has import and export facilities that allow it to work
with other design applications, and users can integrate both 2D and
3D views into drawing, word processing, and page layout programs.

Virtus WalkThrough for Windows is the Windows version of Virtus
WalkThrough for Macintosh, which was introduced in January, 1991
and won MacUser's Eddy award in that year. The Macintosh version
has attracted a variety of professional designers, from architects
and multimedia authors to graphic designers and set designers.

In advertising, producers are using Virtus WalkThrough to determine
the best setup and positioning for photo shoots and commercials,
minimizing expensive time with photographers, camera operators,
and models. The program will also make a cameo appearance in a
Warner Brothers movie about an architect, to be released next
summer.

Later this year, Virtus plans to introduce Virtus Voyager for Windows,
a playback system that will allow run-time distribution of Virtus
WalkThrough models. A Macintosh version currently exists. A more
advanced modeling and rendering product for professionals is also
in development.

WalkThrough for Windows requires an IBM PC or compatible with a
386 or better processor, 4 MB of RAM, a VGA monitor, and Microsoft
Windows version 3.1 or later. It is available for $595 by mail order,
at selected retailers, or directly from Virtus.

(Audry Kalman/19930122/Public Contact: Virtus Corporation,
1-800-VIRTUS-1 or 919-467-9700)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SFO)(00015)

CompuServe Info Manager for Windows 01/25/93
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- At the fourth
annual Windows & OS/2 Conference, CompuServe announced the
CompuServe Information Manager for Windows (WinCIM) 1.0. The
program provides easy interactive access to the CompuServe
Information Service through the familiar Windows graphical user
interface.

WinCIM uses the desktop metaphor to help users organize and store
information online and offline using features such as an address
book, in and out baskets, and a filing cabinet. The program also
takes full advantage of the Windows environment with such features
as context-sensitive help, an icon bar, a floating palette of
icons, and the ability to minimize the WinCIM window and run
it in the background.

Another useful feature of the Windows version is the ability to
view .GIF files "on the fly," rather than having to download them and
then look at them using a graphics package.

The preliminary version of WinCIM is now available to CompuServe
members for $25, which includes a $25 online usage credit. Disks
can be ordered online by typing "GO WINCIM." Members who obtain the
preliminary version will be able to download subsequent updates and
will receive a production version in early February at no additional
charge. Starting in March, WinCIM will be available to
new CompuServe members in a new membership kit.

(Audry Kalman/19930122/Public Contact: CompuServe Incorporated,
614-457-8600)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00016)

New for PC - ImagePals 1.2, A Graphics Utility 01/25/93
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- U-Lead Systems
is offering version 1.2 of ImagePals, its complete utilities
program for graphics and publishing users. The new version, shown
at the fourth annual Winter Windows & OS/2 Conference, adds support
for many new file formats, incorporates more advanced image editing
features such as cloning and smudging, and includes a slide show feature
to allow users to create presentations. It also supports Object
Linking and Embedding (OLE).

ImagePals helps users organize and manipulate graphic images stored
on their hard disks. Using an "album" metaphor, the program lets
users view all the graphic elements associated with a project in
thumbnail form.

The addition of OLE capabilities means that users can place an
icon representing another application, such as a word processing
or page layout program, directly in an ImagePals album of associated
images. Clicking on that icon launches the program with which the
images are associated. Users can also search image files by
description, file type, or other attributes.

ImagePals offers sophisticated image manipulation techniques such as
masking, airbrushing, cloning, blurring, or sharpening. The program
provides advanced color correction commands and image processing
filters. A number of compression options are available to help reduce
image storage requirements.

The program requires Microsoft Windows 3.0 or higher; an IBM PC or
compatible with at least a 386 processor; 2 MB RAM, a hard disk with
8 MB free; EGA, VGA, Super VGA, XGA, 8514A, 15-, 16-, or 24-bit
Windows-compatible display; and a mouse. Version 1.2 will ship
February 1, 1993, for $249. U-Lead Systems is offering the program
at a $99 introductory price for a limited time.

(Audry Kalman/19930122/Public Contact: U-Lead Systems, 800-858-5323
or 310-523-9393)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00017)

MacTV Schedule for January 25-29 01/25/93
MARLOW, NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- MacTV, the
daily one-hour satellite computer product news program broadcast
every day on Galaxy 6, Channel 22 starting at 8 a.m. Eastern
time, has supplied the following schedule for first part of
December. Some shows are also broadcast on the Mind Extension
University cable channel.

Previously broadcast programs are available at $9.95 plus $3
Shipping.

MacTV Schedule for Week of January 25, 1993:

Monday, January 25: Networking Solutions, using Farallon products
to build networks; NetMounter, Novell network access via the
Macintosh; System 7: File Sharing, details on System 7's file-
sharing; Timbuktu 5.0, how to control, diagnose, and view
Macintoshes and PCs; Network Vital Signs, software to manage
network monitoring.

Tuesday, January 26: Power Cache, adds more processing power to
the Macintosh; Voice Impact/Pro, a way to give sound to the
Macintosh; Turbo Mouse 4.0, a great trackball device; and Input
Devices, a introduction to various input devices.

Wednesday, January 27: TaxCut: Headstart, an "easy way" to do
your taxes; CheckWriter4/0, another personal finance program;
Alice to Ocean/CD, interactive technology puts you right into a
trek through Australia; NightWatch II, how to secure your
Macintosh easily and safely; HAM 1.0, the Macintosh gets
hierarchical Apple menus; Excel 4.0, ongoing detailed examination
of the Excel software; PageMaker 4.2, cassette/disk self-guided
program tutorial.

Thursday, January 28: 4th Dimension 3.0, a tutorial for Flat
File and Relational Database; FileMaker Pro 2.0, a general
description of the software; Helix Express, a powerful relational
database; FoxBase+Mac 2.01, another relational database with
power and quickness.

Friday, January 29: Quicken 3.0, how to organize your finances
very quickly; Best Books, software to put financial bookkeeping
on the Macintosh; MacInTax, tax preparation made easy;
Hi!Finance, all you need to take care of your finances; Managing
Your Money, the newest version, in depth.

(John McCormick/19930122/Press Contact: Wayne Mohr, Executive
Producer PCTV and MacTV, 603-863-9322)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00018)

 ****CD-ROM Drive Prices Supported by Shortages 01/25/93
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- Although low-end CD-
ROM drives are maintaining historically low prices, the much
faster "double-speed" drives now entering the market are not
dropping in price as readily as some insiders expected because of
shortages being reported by a number of value-added resellers.

The surge in demand for CD-ROM drives has apparently reached the
point where demand is exceeding supply for the first time in
several years, especially for the newest double-speed drives.

Computer Reseller News has recently reported that Apple is
experiencing delays in obtaining the high-performance drives used
in its Performa 600 and Mac IIvx lines.

Other companies which asked not to be named have told Newsbytes
that they are experiencing similar order backlogs of CD-ROM
drives for their high-end systems.

Larry Schiller, chief executive officer of the Parsippany, New
Jersey-based Bureau of Electronic Publishing, confirms that some
of his CD-ROM title customers have commented that they are having
trouble obtaining the double speed drives from Sony, NEC, and
other companies. Delivery delays of 4-6 weeks are being
experienced on quantity orders of double speed drives.

The Bureau, one of the major publishers and distributors of CD-
ROM titles, has recently dropped all CD-ROM drives except for the
Pioneer Changers which automatically switch between a number of
CD-ROM discs under software control. The latest Pioneer DRM-640x
is a quad-speed drive with data transfer times of 640 kilobytes
per second and a list price of $1,799 (Bureau price is $1,599).

Mr. Schiller told Newsbytes today that he is experiencing no
supply shortages of these high-end multi-disc changers and that
The Bureau has the drives in stock.

CD-ROM technology has experienced a rapid growth over the past
few years, with sales of drives doubling every year for the past
five years and the number of popular CD-ROM titles surging.

The biggest complaint about CD-ROM drives has been the slow
access times and limited data transfer rates. With the advent of
multimedia presentations which demand high-speed data transfer to
produce seamless video, the need for ever faster CD-ROM drives have
become very important.

Among the products announced at the recent COMDEX were a number
of double-speed CD-ROM drives which provide data transfer at
greater than 300 kilobytes per second, about double the speed of
most earlier drives.

Data transfer rates determine just how fast information can be
moved between the storage device and the computer. With hard
drives the bottleneck is mostly the due to limitations of the
computer bus but with CD-ROM drives the bus transfer speeds are
restricted by how quickly the drive can read data from the disc.

For reasons of compatibility double-speed CD-ROM drives operate
at two different rotation speeds -- standard, and twice the
standard speed. This speeds data transfer rates and reduces
average access times to as low as about 250 milliseconds.

(John McCormick/19930122/)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00019)

Business Outlook Good, Slow Growth, MCI Survey Said 01/25/93
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- Things are
looking up for retailers, but slowly, according to an MCI
Telecommunications Corporation poll. The company conducted the
poll at the National Retail Federation's 82nd Annual Retail
Convention and Expo this week in New York City.

Of the 400 respondents, 56 percent said retailers should fare
better in the coming months as economic recovery proceeds.
However, 44 percent said retailers can expect slower growth
overall as a decrease in purchasing patterns continues.

By a nearly a three-to-one margin, respondents said the
proposed North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and
Mexico will help US retailers.

Jack Schultz, president and executive director of the National
Retail Federation, said the survey shows guarded optimism.
"Consumer confidence is up, and at the same time people are
waiting to see the direction President Clinton's new
administration is taking," Schultz said.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930122/Press Contact: Rick Aspan, MCI
Telecommunications Corporation, tel [phone], fax 312-819-
6745)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(NYC)(00020)

 ****Firearms Ban Sought In Internet-Distributed Petition 01/25/93
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- A petition drive
aimed at the tighter control of firearms is being circulated through
the worldwide collection of networks know as the Internet. The
campaign is expected to present signatures to President Clinton and
was set in motion by an incident in which a visiting Japanese
student was killed by a handgun in October, 1992.

The originators of the petition, Professor Richard Haymaker of
Louisiana State University (LSU) and his wife, Holley Galland
Haymaker, were the host family for an exchange student, Yoshihiro
Hattori, a 16-year-old Japanese young man from Nagoya, Japan.
On October 17, 1992, Hattori and the Haymaker's son Webb,
in costume en route to a Halloween party, went to the wrong
house. The woman who answered the door, according to the Haymaker's
understanding, became frightened and summoned her husband who
came to the door with a .44 magnum handgun and told the
boys to "freeze."

It is the Haymaker's belief that Hattori did not understand
and told the man that he was "here for the party" and began
to move. The man shot then fatally shot Hattori at close range.
The shooter, arrested by the Baton Rouge Police and subsequently
charged by grand jury with manslaughter, claims self-defense.

Richard Haymaker told Newsbytes that his family formed a close
bound with Hittori's parents when they came to the United
States and the reaction of the Hittoris to the fact that
"a democracy at peace can be so violent" caused them to re-look
at the place of guns in our society. Together with the Hittoris,
the Haymakers began a petition drive to ask the government of
the United States to re-think the role of guns in our society.

Haymaker told Newsbytes that it was at the suggestion of a colleague,
Rodger Kamenetz, that the Internet was considered as a vehicle for
publicizing the drive. Haymaker said, "Rodger posted the petition
and its background on the Buddhist conference in the Internet
because Yoshi was a Buddhist -- his funeral in Japan was a 35-day
Buddhist ceremony." It is now being published on other lists
(Newsbytes first saw the notice on the "Discussion of Ethics
in Computing List," maintained at Marist College).

Haymaker continued, "The petition is not a substantive proposal;
it is rather a statement from the heart. It focuses on the problem
and calls for reflection. We will present it to President
Clinton in the spring. We already have 800,00 signatures and we
hope that, through the vast reaches of the electronic network,
we will reach millions of people."

The operative part of the petition says, "We call upon the
President of the United States to reassess the easy availability
of guns in this country and, in doing so, help prevent the
thousands of similar incidents or accidents that will, no doubt,
occur in the future."

The most well-know campaign to date that spread through
the Internet was the reaction against the release of the
Lotus Marketplace product in 1991. The product was opposed by
many privacy advocates and it is believed that Lotus CEO
Jim Manzi received more than 30,000 e-mail messages opposing
the product. Lotus then announced that Marketplace would not be
released as a product.

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/Press Contact: Richard
Haymaker, Louisiana State University, [e-mail] (e-mail);
504-388-8471 (voice)/19930125)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00021)

UK - Cellnet GSM In 4 Phone Roaming Agree'ts 01/25/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- Cellnet has reached agreements to
provide international roaming for its planned global system for mobile
communications (GSM) digital mobile phone network with four existing
Nordic networks.

Unlike Vodafone, Cellnet's GSM network is still in the beta test
phase. Plans call for a launch this summer, almost 18 months after the
Vodafone GSM network went live. The summer '93 launch will be
regional-only, Newsbytes notes, clearing the way for a national launch
in early '94.

Cellnet's strategy with GSM seems to be one of taking its time,
ensuring that its network is up and running nationally, rather than
launching the system on a piecemeal basis, as Vodafone has. This
strategy may have cost Cellnet the dominant place in the market,
however.

The roaming agreements with the four Nordic networks -- Telemobil of
Norway, Telecom Finland, Tele Danmark Mobil and Televerket Radio of
Sweden -- does make the Cellnet GSM network more competitive with
Vodafone's GSM. Vodafone has roaming agreements with at least
five European GSM networks in place.

Stafford Taylor, Cellnet's managing director, said he is pleased with
the early roaming agreements. "GSM provides Cellnet with a great
opportunity to offer customers further choice in mobile
communications. These agreements with our GSM partners in the four
Nordic countries will help to realize the truly international aspects
of Cellnet's GSM-based services," he said.

The agreement cover areas such as data transfer, billing arrangements
and customer service support. Plans call for a further six roaming
agreements to be in place by the end of the year.

(Steve Gold/19930125/Press & Public Contact: Cellnet - Tel: 0753-
504814; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00022)

Borland Wins Awards At Windows & OS/2 Show 01/25/93
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- Borland
International's Quattro Pro for Windows and Borland C++ 3.1,
were awarded "best products" at the 1993 Windows & OS/2
show in San Jose, California last week.

Quattro Pro for Windows received the "best spreadsheet" award
from Windows User Magazine, beating both Microsoft Excel 4.0
and Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows. It has also been given the award
for "best spreadsheet" from Windows Magazine.

The company's Borland C++ 3.1 programming software also won
Windows Magazine's award for "best programming tool."

During 1992, Borland introduced Quattro Pro for Windows 1.0 and
Quattro Pro 4.0 for DOS. The company claims that Quattro Pro for
Windows won industry awards soon after its release, including
PC Magazine's "Technical Excellence Award."

As reported previously by Newsbytes, Quattro Pro for Windows
includes two new features, Spreadsheet Notebooks and Object
Inspectors.

Spreadsheet Notebooks are based in appearance on the tabbed
paper notebook in order to build on what users already know
about spreadsheets, according to Borland. Object Inspectors
allow users to see a display of a list of available options
that can be performed on an object with a click of the right
mouse button.

Other features include point-and-click access to functions,
presentation graphics, access to external databases, and
visual application building tools.

Sebastian Rupley, of PC/Computing, wrote: "The long-awaited
Windows version of Borland's spreadsheet is one of the slickest PC
applications we've used. Not surprisingly, the same concepts that
made Quattro Pro a rising star on the DOS platform -- superior
graphics, fine multi-page capabilities, and a smart interface --
distinguish the Windows version."

Quattro Pro 4.0 for DOS was released in February 1992.

In 1992, Borland shipping five new multi-platform language tools,
including Borland C++ & Application Frameworks 3.1, Borland C++
3.1, Turbo C++ for Windows 3.1, Turbo Pascal for Windows 1.5,
and ObjectVision 2.0 for OS/2.

(Ian Stokell/19930122/Press Contact: Sandra Hawker,
408-439-1659 or Vallee Ghosheh, 408-439-4705, Borland
International)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(PAR)(00023)

Alcatel Acquires Control of Turkish Cable Maker 01/25/93
PARIS, FRANCE, 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- Alcatel Cable, a unit
of the French group Alcatel-Alsthom, said it had acquired 90 percent
of the capital of the Turkish cable maker Izka Kablo, which is the
second-largest Turkish maker of cables used in telecommunications.
The purchase price was not disclosed.

Izka Kablo, which enjoys about 20 percent of the Turkish market,
employs 170 people and has annual sales equivalent to $25 million
(25 million US dollars).

In a separate development, Alcatel's Spanish unit, Alcatel Standard
Electrica, said it won a contract to provide numerical branch exchanges
in Turkmenistan that would enable the cities of Askhabad and Nebit-Dag
to install 30,000 new phone lines. The value of the contract, for
Alcatel model 1000 S12 exchanges, was not disclosed.

The deal in the former Soviet republic comes only a few days after
the chairman of Alcatel Cable, Claude Bovis, disclosed that his
company aimed to penetrate the markets of the former Soviet Union
via the southern route.

Mr. Bovis also said that he expected 1992's results to show "an
improvement" over those in 1991, although he gave no figures. He
added that he expected 1993 to be "a particularly difficult year."
Alcatel's sales for 1992 should increase to 35 billion franc ($7
billion US dollars) from 27.5 billion a year earlier, thanks
largely to the consolidation of some recent acquisitions.

(Andrew Rosenbaum/19930125/Press Contact: Alcatel
Cable, tel. [phone], fax. [phone], Alcatel Cable,
16, rue la Baume, 75008, Paris)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00024)

Massive Undersea Cable Planned By NYNEX, Others 01/25/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- Japan's private telecom firm
International Digital Communication (IDC) will participate in a
major telecom cable project called the Flag. The project,
designed to create one of the world's longest undersea cables,
was started by US-based NYNEX. Some 13 firms are expected to join.

As envisioned by NYNEX, the Flag project will lay optical
telecommunication cable between England and Japan via the
Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea. The total length
of this undersea cable will be 29,000 kilometers and it is expected
to provide about 120,000 telephone lines to users. With these
lines, IDC will be more competitive against other rival Japanese
telecom carriers such as KDD and ITJ.

This project is expected to cost a total of $1 billion. 13
firms have pledged to participate in this project, including
Mercury in the UK and Korean Telecom in Korea. The project is
slated to start soon, and the cable is expected to be complete
by mid-1996. Actual usage is set to begin at the end of 1996.

Currently, IDC is using space satellites as well as its existing
own undersea cables. The new cable will provide quality,
large-scale telecommunications including voice and digital
lines to users.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, KDD is planning to lay
undersea optical cable with AT&T and other overseas telecom
firms.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930125/Press Contact: IDC, +81-3-
5470-5181)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00025)

IDB Buys TRT For Stock 01/25/93
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- IDB
Communications Group Inc., best-known for its international long-
distance services between the US and Russia, and owner of a
communications teleport in Houston, said it is buying TRT
Communications Inc., for 4.5 million shares of its common stock,
worth about $107 million. The deal makes it the leading provider
of international private line services, IDB said.

TRT is a good fit with IDB's current business, which it greatly
expands. It provides long-distance telephone, private-leased line
and telex services. In 1992, it had revenues of about $108
million, while IDB and its WorldCom unit together had long-
distance and private line revenues of about $85 million. The
company expects to have annual revenues of over $350 million
after this deal is completed.

The two companies also signed operational assistance and related
agreements effective March 1, 1993 that will generate $1 million
per month in revenue for IDB while the transaction is closing.
That closing is due in the third quarter.

The seller is Pacific Telecom, which is best known for its
investments in undersea cables between the US and the Far East.
The deal is structured as a two-tiered, stock-for-stock
transaction. IDB will pay 1.3 million shares now to acquire TRT's
teleport near San Francisco, which is already home to IDB Mobile
Communications' West Coast facilities and includes 347 acres of
prime real estate. The teleport will pass to IDB control
immediately. Pacific Telecom will also get a seat on the IDB
board.

In a press statement, IDB President Edward R. Cheramy says the
deal will increase his company's earnings per share, both in the
near and long term. He noted the deal is structured much like its
acquisition of WorldCom, then known as World Communications Inc.,
last year. IDB began managing WorldCom in April 1992, and
acquired it effective December 30. In its statement on the deal
Pacific Telecom, which is based on Vancouver, Washington, a
suburb of Portland, Oregon, noted that after this deal is done,
its International Communications Holdings Inc., unit, of which it
holds 85.1 percent of the shares, will hold 24 percent of IDB
common. PacifiCorp, in turn, owns 87 percent of Pacific Telecom.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930125/Press Contact: Brian M. Wirkkala,
Pacific Telecom, 206-696-0983; Doug Sherk, for IDB, 415-296-
7383)


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

Canada - Radio Shack Operator Loses Money 01/25/93
BARRIE, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- InterTan Inc., which
runs the Radio Shack chain in Canada, Europe, and Australia, has
posted a six-month loss and defaulted on certain terms of its
loans. However, the company claimed it has more than enough
equity to deal with the problems.

Keith Wettlaufer, vice-president of finance and administration,
said InterTan lost C$7.7 million in the six months ended December
31. This puts the company in default of some "operating test" rules
of its bank credit agreement.

InterTan is renegotiating the credit agreement with its banks,
Wettlaufer said. He stressed that InterTan's outstanding loans
amount to between C$40 million and C$45 million, whereas the
company has equity in excess of C$200 million. "Financially we
have lots of resources to work with," he said.

However, that flexibility did not stop InterTan's stock from
reaching a 12-month low of US$8.87 on the New York Stock Exchange
late last week.

Two of InterTan's lenders, banks in the Netherlands and Spain,
have asked to pull out of the lending syndicate. Wettlaufer said
this is mainly because his company has closed its operations in
those countries.

Last spring, InterTan announced a restructuring that involved
closing about 150 stores in Europe, as well as about 20 each in
Canada and Australia.

InterTan has been an independent company since 1986. It sells
products from Texas-based Tandy Corporation and uses the Tandy and
Radio Shack trademarks under license with its former parent.

(Grant Buckler/19930125/Press Contact: Keith Wettlaufer,
InterTan, 705-728-6262)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00027)

Toronto Stock Exchange Puts Off Full Automation 01/25/93
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- After reviewing its
progress to date on a plan to replace its trading floor with
fully automated trading, the Toronto Stock Exchange has put off
closing the floor until early 1994. The delays have to do with
ensuring the reliability of the trading system, improving
customer support, and making the system easier to use, officials
said.

John Thornton, vice-president of markets and market development
at Canada's largest stock exchange, said the review was a normal
step in the automation process, which was announced early last
year. There will be several more reviews before the project is
completed, he added.

Thornton said that after showing prototype trading workstations
to traders, the exchange decided some changes would be needed.
These include ease-of-use improvements as well as measures to
safeguard the entire trading system against failure, he said.

The decision may have been influenced by glitches in the existing
Computer-Assisted Trading System (CATS) earlier in January that
left traders relying mostly on the trading floor.

Closure of the exchange's trading floor had originally been set
for this spring, and was delayed to the third quarter of this
year. Now the exchange is aiming for the first quarter of 1994.

Three stages remain in the project, according to a notice issued
to member firms of the exchange. They are: extensive testing of
the prototype trading workstation and network; a pilot period
during which a group of traders will use the system for live
trading; and the final move of all floor traders to computerized
trading in their firms' offices.

When the project is completed, the TSE will be among the first
exchanges in the world to close its equity trading floor
entirely. At present the exchange plans to keep a small trading
floor for futures trading.

(Grant Buckler/19930125/Press Contact: Steve Kee, Toronto Stock
Exchange, 416-947-4682; John Thornton, Toronto Stock Exchange,
416-947-4203)


(CORRECTION)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00028)

Correction - Ron Zambonini Is New Cognos President 01/25/93
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- Due to a typing
error, a Newsbytes story published January 19 identified the
incoming president of software vendor Cognos Inc. as Rob
Zambonini. The correct name is Ron Zambonini. Newsbytes regrets
the error.

(Grant Buckler/19930125)


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

Supercomputer Systems Closes After IBM Funding Cut 01/25/93
EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN, U.S.A., 1992 JAN 25 (NB) -- Supercomputer
Systems Inc., the company set up by supercomputer designer Steve
Chen in 1987 to build the world's most powerful computer, has
closed its doors. The move came close on the heels of IBM's
announcement that it would not fund the company further.

A statement from SSI said all its facilities are closed for
normal operations and employees have been laid off.

"Over the past few weeks," the SSI statement said, "SSI has
engaged in an aggressive search for funding. Unfortunately, these
efforts have failed to meet with success. While it is still
possible that the necessary funds will be secured, we are not
optimistic."

IBM spokeswoman Marta Decker said IBM had agreed to fund SSI
through the end of 1992, and had been funding the company on a
day-to-day basis since then while it sought new financing.

IBM did not extend its funding because it had seen no products
and no immediate promise of results from the company, Decker
said. She said IBM's cost-cutting efforts and its recent
announcement of a $6.865-billion loss in 1992 had little bearing
on the decision.

IBM is carrying on with other supercomputing efforts, and in fact
Decker said the company's Highly Parallel Supercomputing Systems
Laboratory will have a major announcement within the next couple
of weeks.

(Grant Buckler/19930125/Press Contact: Marta Decker, IBM,
914-642-5467; Lee DeLorme, SSI, 715-839-8484)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00030)

Sequent Intros Windows NT Servers 01/25/93
BEAVERTON, OREGON, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- Sequent Computer
Systems has announced the introduction of a new family of Windows NT
servers for use in workgroups, departments, and enterprises. Called
WinServer, the hardware will come with the Windows NT operating
system pre-installed.

Sequent President Casey Powell sees the company's current Unix
systems and the WinServer as complimentary products, and says
Windows NT will become a leading operating system for
mission-critical applications. "Our WinServer, together with our
Unix-based systems, will enable customers to seamlessly integrate
high-performance servers to meet their increasing needs for
client-server computing."

The company says it has been demonstrating Windows NT on Sequent
systems with two to 16 Intel 486 processors running Microsoft SQL
Server and Oracle software. It's also demonstrated Microsoft's LAN
Manager and Sequent's version of Novell SPX/IPX protocols, with
client-server applications connected via Windows-based PCs.

Sequent says it will develop some of the high end systems
exclusively, while other family members will be developed jointly
with Tricord Systems Inc. Sequent will retain exclusive marketing
rights for the entire product line.

(Jim Mallory/19930125/Press contact: Mike Green, Sequent Computer
Systems, 503-626-5700, Cheryl Snapp, Network Associates for Tricord
Systems, 801-225-7888; Reader contact: Sequent Computer Systems,
800-243-6768)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00031)

WordStar/ZSoft Finalize Merger 01/25/93
NOVATO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 (NB) -- Six months after
announcing their intentions to merge, WordStar International
and Marietta, Georgia-based ZSoft have finally tied the knot, as of
January 22, 1993.

The merger plans were originally reported by Newsbytes in
July 1992. The terms provide for issuance of 4,475,000 shares
of WordStar common stock to be issued to ZSoft shareholders.

According to the companies, "additional shares will be issued
to certain ZSoft shareholders and other persons in connection
with related agreements and transactions."

ZSoft shareholders also reportedly provided ZSoft with a
$500,000 secured convertible subordinated loan, convertible
into shares of WordStar common stock based on the average
market price of WordStar common stock for the five trading
days before the closing of the merger.

In July Newsbytes reported that the merger was an effort
on the part of Wordstar International to move into the document
processing and graphics software markets. Zsoft is a privately
held graphics, paint, and image editing software publisher
whose products are geared to the DOS and Windows markets.

WordStar claims that the combined businesses will make the
company one of the top 20 independent software vendors in
North America in terms of revenues.

ZSoft previously was acquired by Mediagenic, which later
declared bankruptcy due to problems in other divisions. ZSoft
reportedly once dominated the graphics software market for
the old IBM PC.

At the time of the original announcement, A Wordstar
spokesperson told Newsbytes it had been WordStar's desire "to
diversify the company with complimentary product lines that
make sense with the word processing customer base that we have."

WordStar claims to derive 56 percent of its revenue from
international sales, while ZSoft's international sales account
for only about 10 percent of its total revenue. WordStar's
international distribution channels are expected to help ZSoft
considerably.

(Ian Stokell/19930125/Press Contact: Ron Posner,
415-382-8000, or Kristin Keyes, 415-513-8800, McLean
Public Relations)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00032)

Dry IC Printing Process Could Cut Chemicals, Costs 01/25/93
MURRAY HILL, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1993 JAN 25 (NB) -- Chemical
solvents used to print circuit patterns on silicon chips for
use in building computers are environmental and safety concerns.
But researchers at AT&T's Bell Laboratories believe they may
have found a "dry" process for printing the circuit patterns
using a gas instead of liquid solvents.

The old process is much like development of a photographic
image in film. When applied to a silicon wafer, a photoresist
records images of semiconductor circuits projected from masks,
which are similar to photographic negatives. Traditionally,
using a photoresist has involved application of a light-
sensitive solution to a silicon surface, exposure, and wet
development. The technique is repeated for each layer -- which
involves more than 20 passes for a 256-megabit random access
memory (RAM) chip -- until the entire circuit has been built.

Each processing step must be performed in expensive and
specialized clean room facilities where even the air is
filtered for dirt and standards for cleanliness are higher than
a hospital operating room.

Bell Labs researchers say all-dry processing involves
depositing the photoresist from a gas rather than a liquid and
reduces the number of processing steps. A gas such as
methylsilane is used to excite the material with low power
radio frequency energy which creates new molecules that bind
together to form much larger molecules that deposit as a
uniform coating on a silicon wafer. Halogen-based gases are
used to remove the unexposed region, leaving the original
substrate accessible. Patterns can then be etched into the
substrate to provide device functions, often in the same
process chamber used for development.

The dry process may some day allow semiconductor devices to be
fabricated completely inside a series of atmospherically
controlled, interconnected chambers without the need for
costly, extensive clean room facilities.

Microprocessors developed with the dry method may also provide
faster signal processing, as transistors may be more densely
packed on an integrated circuit (IC). The smallest ICs are 0.25
microns in size, or about one-third of one percent the size of
a human hair.

Researchers say high resolution ICs can be made well below the
0.35 micron dimensions needed for the next generation of
silicon technology. The only limitation is development of a
wavelength of light which can be used in the exposure tool to
create the circuits.

Larry Thompson, head of Bell Labs Lithographic Materials
Department said in a prepared statement: "Lithography
represents the greatest challenge in the coming implementation
of all-dry processing, and these new materials and processes
are a significant breakthrough in achieving this goal."

Executive director of research in Bell Labs Materials Science
Division, Kumar Patel, said: "The all-dry photoresist
represents the crucial missing piece in the puzzle to complete
cluster-processing schemes for manufacture of integrated
circuits. Such schemes, a prerequisite for the all-integrated
processing paradigm that could become reality in 2005, are
being extensively explored today."

(Linda Rohrbough/19930125/Press Contact: Russ Glover, AT&T Bell
Labs, tel [phone], fax [phone])