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/NB930504

Text File | 1993-05-04 | 71KB | 1,499 lines

(NEWS)(GOVT)(NYC)(00001)

Internet Talk Radio Publishes Markey House Hearing 05/04/93
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Internet Talk Radio has
announced that it has published the recorded proceedings of the April
29th meeting of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and
Finance.

The subcommittee, chaired by Representative Edward Markey (Dem --
Massachusetts), focused in this meeting on the rights and
responsibilities of individuals and organizations in cyberspace. The
meeting consisted of a technology presentation highlighting various
technical issues and a panel discussion concerning the issues of
encryption, computer crime, civil liberties and privacy.

The demonstration was performed by a team of four engineers from Sun
Microsystems and the San Diego Supercomputer Center, led by John Gage
of Sun. In the demo, the team used an HDTV, an ATM switch, an ISDN
switch, a Russian satellite dish, a Xerox Liveboard, a Barco projector
with special video equipment, four Sparcstation 10s, a few
Sparcstation 2s, and miscellaneous other equipment.

Among the items demonstrated was how that, while DES (Data Encryption
Standard) code could be pulled off anonymous FTP systems in Finland,
US industry was unable to export the technology required to decrypt
the code. Present government restrictions on such exporting are the
subject of intense debates before the committee with opponents of the
restrictions maintaining that the restrictions cause a competitive
imbalance against United States software companies.

The panel consisted of Raymond Kammer, acting director of NIST
(National Institute of Standards and Technology); Bruce Sterling,
science fiction writer on cyberspace and author of the non-fiction
book, "The Hacker Crackdown: Law and Disorder on the Electronic
Frontier"; John Lucich, State Investigator with the New Jersey
Division of Criminal Justice; and Joel Reidenberg, Professor of Law at
Fordham University Law School.

In his talk, Kammer spoke about the new government-endorsed "Clipper
Chip" encryption technology while Sterling, Lucich and Reidenberg
focused on the often overlapping areas of civil liberties, criminal
investigation and privacy. Lucich stressed problems of on-line child
pornography and reviewed his procedures of electronically infiltrating
the underground computer bulletin boards of the "hacker" and "phone
phreak" community in his investigations of crime.

Sterling told Newsbytes that he thought the hearing was useful, adding
"Representative Markey is aware of the issues involved in the new
frontiers of technology and is trying to get ahead of the curve in
planning for the future of cyberspace."

Carl Malamud, founder of Internet Talk Radio, told Newsbytes: "Although
we originally planned to focus solely on technical matters, we have
added a channel, `Internet Town Hall,' to cover topics such as this."

"There is certainly a need for the Internet community to be aware of
things involving its future and, although National Public Radio often
provides coverage of such matter, its audience is not international
and it does not reach all segments of the Internet Community," he
said.

Malamud added that the Internet Talk Radio files for the hearing are
050293_spec_01_HALL.au (Testimony of John Gage) and
050293_spec_02_HALL.au (Testimony of Panel). A listing of Internet
Talk Radio sites may be obtained through e-mail request to
[e-mail] and further radio on the service by e-mail to
[e-mail].

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19930504/Press Contact: Carl
Malamud, Internet Talk Radio, 703-548-1126, [e-mail])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00002)

Version 2 Of Omnis 7 Integrated Development Environment Debuts 05/04/93
FOSTER CITY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Blyth Software has
announced a new and more powerful edition of its Omnis 7 integrated
client/server development environment for the Mac and PC Windows.

The company that produced the first Mac database application in 1986,
the first Windows database application in 1987, and the first
Mac/Windows cross-platform development environment in 1989, plans to
take several more pioneering steps with the forthcoming Omnis 7
Version 2 package.

A localization feature for faster porting of applications among
languages, a "meta tool" for application cloning, and two new add-ons,
CMS (Change Management System) and Version Control System (VCS) are
among the advancements.

Taken together, the enhancements mean faster development of fuller
featured commercial and corporate database applications, including
accounting, marketing, and PIM (personal information management), and
mission-critical SQL (Standard Query Language)-based client/server
applications, officials explained in a series of interviews with
Newsbytes.

The improvements apply across the product life cycle, emphasized
Michael J. Minor, president and CEO of Blyth, previewing Version 2 for
Newsbytes in Boston. Philip K. Edholm, vice president of worldwide
marketing, added that Mac and PC users are becoming increasing
familiar with the life cycle concept, as more corporations integrate
Macs and PCs into enterprise client/server environments.

As with past versions of Omnis 7, Version 2 will let developers create
applications that will run unchanged across Macintosh and Windows.
"You can literally use the same disk on either a PC or a Mac," noted
Steve Weller, product marketing manager.

The software includes a local RDBMS (relational database management
system), with an SQL (Standard Query Language) interface that can be
used to access data from Oracle, Sybase, RDB, DB2, Informix,
SQLServer, and corporate legacy databases running on a variety of
platforms. The program is written in a 4GL programming language that
lets developers build reusable libraries of objects.

Because the programming environment is interpreted, or "tokenized," no
compiling is required. Through a capability known as modeless
operation, developers can switch instantly from development to
execution.

Developers can employ Omnis 7 to produce standalone or file-sharing
applications based on the RDBMS, as well as standalone and client-
server SQL-based applications. The RDBMS permits data caching,
allowing information to be stored locally to minimize network
traffic or quicken response time.

The new localization feature in Version 2 will be used in design
and prototyping, the first phase of the product life cycle. According
to Gerry Kessler, director of consulting services, the feature will
allow applications to be rapidly ported from one language, such as
English, to others, such as French, for example.

The new meta tool cloning feature, dubbed "the notation," and the new
VCS add-on will each speed up development, the second phase of the
life cycle. "The notation lets the developer procedurally manipulate
objects at runtime. The developer can create libraries that write
other libraries, or even build applications out of other
applications," Kessler commented.

The new VCS add-on permits teams of developers to work
collaboratively, sharing and reusing centrally stored source code
libraries. The code can be kept in either a central RDBMS or on an SQL
database server.

Rules incorporated in the RDBMS provide author management and overall
application linking, Kessler told Newsbytes. The tool will be
available in a "locked" version, as well as an "unlocked" version that
allows developers to modify the rules.

CMS will come into play during the third stage of the life cycle,
deployment, and the fourth phase, maintenance and revision. The new
add-lets developers deploy and update database applications on
multiple desktop computers, without sending out a disk to each and
every end user.

CMS stores applications in a central database as series of linked
objects. At deployment -- which can be pre-timed to a certain time and
day, such as next Monday at 8:00 a.m. -- these objects are downloaded
to end-user Macs and PCs.

As changes are made to screens, reports, and other elements of the
application format, these updates can be automatically deployed, as
well. Any Mac or PC that has these modifications already installed
will "ignore" the changes.

CMS consists of two main components: CMS Server, which resides on the
file server, and CMS Deploy, which sits on the end user's desktop
computer. Currently, CMS operates with the Omnis RDBMS only. "But it's
likely that CMS will take advantage of the SQL interface in future
versions," Kessler told Newsbytes.

Omnis 7 Version 2 contains other enhancements as well, including the
ability to create applications that can keep unlimited numbers of
Omnis databases, libraries and tables open at the same time. The
package is scheduled for release this summer.

Blyth will be elaborating on Version 2 to the 8,000 developers who
currently use Omnis 7, as well as to interested potential users,
during its first annual users conference.

Set for May 11 to 13 in San Jose, the conference will include 30 in-
depth technical seminars, organized into three primary and concurrent
tracks: Omnis 7 Technology, Omnis 7 Customer Applications, and
Client/Server Technology.

Dr. Donald Haring, a member of MIT's research staff and a noted
expert on client/server technology, will be delivering a half-day
seminar entitled "Understanding Client/Server Architectures and How
to Apply Them" during each of the three days of the conference.

Other speakers will include Frank Michnoff, vice president and
securities analyst at Needham and Company; Albert Yu, senior vice
president and general manager of the Microprocessor Products Group
at Intel, and Glorianna Davenport, associate professor of media
technology at MIT.

Blyth has also announced the company's selection as both a member
of IBM's AS/400 Application Development Program (ADP) and a
Client/Server Tools partner to Apple.

ADP is intended to expand the application development portfolio for
IBM's AS/400 mid-range computer systems. Vendors such as Blyth have
early access to AS/400 developments and are licensed to use an
emblem identifying their software as participating in the program.

Under the Apple partnership, Blyth's Omnis 7 will support
AppleScript and the Apple Open Collaborative Environment (AOCE),
giving users tools for developing applications within the Virtually
Integrated Technical Architecture Lifecycle (VITAL) framework.

VITAL is a set of guidelines that help corporate customers design
information systems for integrating desktop computers into
enterprise systems.

(Jacqueline Emigh/05041993/Press contact: Denise Burrows, Capital
Relations for Blyth, tel [phone], or Eileen Quinn Smith,
Capital Relations for Blyth, tel [phone]; Reader contact:
Blyth Software, tel [phone])


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

Microsoft's FoxPro Resource Directory Unveiled 05/04/93
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Computer users have
two choices when it comes to setting up a software program to meet
their needs -- buy it off the shelf or have someone develop it for
them. Unfortunately, off the shelf programs seldom, if ever, are
perfect for the user's needs. But where do you find someone to
develop a custom program?

There is a good chance that someone already has a program that does
what you need, whether your business is church management, health
services, running a hotel or motel, importing and exporting, or doing
physical conditioning and testing of athletes. You might start by
looking at the 1993 Microsoft FoxPro Resource Directory. Microsoft
calls this 667 page soft cover book "A quick reference to developers,
consultants, and training centers around the world."

The book lists more than eight hundred "vertical specialists",
software developers that use the FoxPro or FoxBase+ database software
to develop a specialized application for a particular industry. It
also includes companies that provide training, courseware, and books
for users who want to develop their own applications but need to
sharpen their skills to do so.

The first section of the directory lists individuals and companies,
sorted alphabetically by state, that offer database design,
application development, consulting and training services. Each
listing includes the developer/company name, address and phone, what
platforms (DOS, Windows, Macintosh, local area networks) they work
in, and the developer's specialization area. The second part
contains descriptions of vertical market applications written using
FoxPro or FoxBase+.

The directory is organized alphabetically by the type of application,
i.e., Academic, Construction and Contracting, Home and Hobby, or
Subscription Management, just to mention a few of the categories. Some
of the companies listed have purchased ads in the directory that
provide additional information about their services, although that's
not necessary in order to be listed.

In the Indexes section, the applications are listed alphabetically,
by category, by platform, and alphabetically be developer.

Microsoft spokesperson Julie Briselden told Newsbytes that more than
30,000 copies of the directory have been distributed to registered
developers and through trade shows and seminars. North American
readers can contact Microsoft at a tollfree number to order the $19.95
directory. International readers can obtain the directory by
contacting their local Microsoft representative.

(Jim Mallory/19930504/Press contact: Julie Briselden, Microsoft,
206-882-8080; Reader contact: Microsoft Corporation, 800-426-9400)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00004)

Sculley To Speak At American Film Institute 05/04/93
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- John Sculley, the
head of Apple Computer is scheduled to appear May 24, 1993 at the
American Film Institute in a special session entitled, "An Evening
with John Sculley."

The session is a part of AFI's celebration of its two year old AFI-
Apple Computer Center to which Apple donated $1 million in computer
equipment. Founded in 1967, AFI is focused on education of media
professionals in the area of the integration of computers with film
making and holds 70 seminars, workshops, and special events each term.

Subjects range from hands-on Macintosh training, to use of computers
in media production, to exploration of the emergence of digitally-
based media and its impact on traditional media arts.

The Institute also annually holds awards to honor outstanding
achievement on the part of both professionals and students in the area
of computer-aided film making. The session with Sculley will be a
moderated forum with topics to be announced. AFI is charging a $25
admission fee and recommends advanced reservations as seating is
limited.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930504/Press Contact: Katie Cotton, Allison
Thomas Associates for AFI, tel [phone], fax [phone];
Public Contact, AFI, 213-856-7664)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00005)

Do-It-Yourself Hard Drive Upgrades 05/04/93
RICHARDSON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Identity Systems has
signed an agreement with Maxtor Corporation to distribute that
company's hard disk drives in upgrade kits through mass merchant
channels.

Identity Systems distributes a selection of computer subsystems and
peripherals that can be installed by the user by following the
directions contained in the kit, which for some products, such as the
hard drive kits, includes an instructional video and essentials like
as static grounding straps.

The company says that available Maxtor hard drive upgrade kits include
storage capacities from 130MB to 345MB, and come in a one-inch high
form factor that can be used in almost any PC or Macintosh. Identity
says it will also market and merchandise Maxtor drives with storage
capacities up to 1.7 gigabytes (GB) to selected customers within the
mass merchant channel. Identity spokesperson Alan Weinkrantz told
Newsbytes that upgrade kit prices will range from $339 to $579.

Several PC manufacturers, including Dell and Acer, have recently
announced they will distribute their PCs through mass market channels.
Weinkrantz said: "People are not only buying through those channels,
but will want to upgrade through those channels. We're tagging on to
the success of those vendors. If they are buying their systems there,
they might as well buy their upgrades there also."

Weinkrantz told Newsbytes that the kits will be available through
office product stores, warehouse clubs, consumer electronics and
appliance outlets, and discount department stores such as Sam's
Warehouse, Price Club, Lechmere's, and Incredible Universe. Identity
is expected to announce a distribution deal with Wal-Mart shortly.

(Jim Mallory/19930504/Press contact: Troy Cooper, Identity Systems,
214-235-3330; Reader contact: Identity Systems, 214-235-3330, fax
214-807-9227)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(NYC)(00006)

 ****Hewlett-Packard Introduces HP 100LX Palmtop 05/04/93
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Hewlett-Packard has
announced the introduction of the HP 100LX palmtop personal computer.
The 11 ounce unit is available immediately at a suggested retail price
of $749.

Hewlett-Packard spokesperson Lucy Honig told Newsbytes that the HP
100LX "represents a significant upgrade from our highly successful
95LX product. In the same size unit, we now have a graphic icon-based
interface, a full 80-column screen rather than the 40-column on the
95LX and greater ROM capacity for applications software."

"We have added e-mail provisions with Lotus cc:Mail and all of the
95LX software has been upgraded. Beyond cc:Mail, we have also enhanced
the communications handling that was found in the 95LX. The 100LX
supports file transfer by the Y-modem and Z-modem protocols as well as
x-modem," she said.

The 100LX contains, like the 95LX, a ROM-based version of Lotus 1-2-3;
in this case, release 2.4, up from 2.2 found in the earlier machine.
Likewise Microsoft DOS version 5.0 replaces the earlier 3.22 while an
outline and database retrieval have been added to the memo capability.

Additionally, Hewlett-Packard stated that the use of the Intel 80c186
processor, rather than the earlier NEC V20h, provides a 50% increase
in processing speed. The rated speed of the Intel chip is 7.91
megahertz (MHz) while the NEC V20h speed is 5.37 MHz.

The communications feature of the 100LX are utilized through connection
to an external data modem as well as through packet radio modems into the
RAM and ARDIS nationwide wireless radio networks.

Announcing the integration of cc:Mail into the new product, Larry L.
Crume, vice president of Lotus cc:Mail and Mobile Computing Division,
said: "By placing cc:Mail, our award winning e-mail package, on such a
highly mobile device, Lotus can now offer an unparalleled level of
portability for our cc:Mail customers."

"With cc:Mail on the HP 100LX, HP and Lotus have together magnified
the power of the palmtop by dramatically increasing its communications
capabilities," he said.

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19930504/Press Contacts: Lucy
Honig, Hewlett-Packard Company, 503-750-2038; Dave Grip, Lotus
Development Corporation, 617-862-4514)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00007)

Tallgrass Upgrades Network Storage Management Software 05/04/93
LENEXA, KANSAS, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Tallgrass Technologies has
upgraded NetSecure, its server-based storage management software
program.

NetSecure is an integrated storage management package to control
backup, restoration, and archiving of data, and is designed to
optimize server-based performance and maximize unattended operations.

Some of the NetSecure features include a tape rotation manager to
maintain daily, weekly, monthly and yearly tapes, disk grooming to
make more tape space available by ageing files that aren't accessed
frequently so they can be moved to off-line tape archives, and
background operation without interrupting client or server processing.

Tallgrass spokesperson Karen Saper told Newsbytes that the rotation
manager recommends when a particular tape should be retired, based on
tape wear. "It's a really nice feature," she said.

New features of NetSecure 5.0 include a Windows interface,
installation of Windows programs on the network from a single
workstation, and synchronous processing, which allows up to seven tape
devices to be operated concurrently by a single SCSI (small computer
system interface) host adapter. Concurrent operation allows users to
simultaneously backup multiple data volumes to multiple drives.

Version 5.0 supports Novell NetWare 4.0, including directory services
and extended attributes. A real-time statistics feature provides
information about each backup, including time to completion, file
size, the name of the file being processed, and the total number of
files and bytes in each. The new version also includes System
Independent Data Format (SIDF) support which allows for interchange of
data across hardware and software platforms.

According to Jeff Platon, product marketing manager for the company
and chairman of its SIDF committee, the entire PC LAN environment is
shifting to Windows-based applications and administration.

"NetSecure 5.0 addresses these user requirements for an easy-to-use,
graphical user interface in a data storage management environment. The
SIDF support ensures that a user's investment in hardware and software
is well protected and ensures data transportability," he said.

Saper told Newsbytes that NetSecure 5.0 is expected to ship by mid-
June. Version 5.0 will have a suggested retail price of $1,395 for a
20-user pack. Pricing of other packs has yet to be determined.

(Jim Mallory/19930504/Press contact: Karen Saper, Tallgrass
Technologies, 913-492-6002; Reader contact: Tallgrass Technologies,
800-825-4727 or 913-492-6002, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(MOW)(00008)

 ****Hewlett-Packard Announces New Printers In Russia 05/04/93
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- As happened yesterday with the HP
100LX palmtop, Hewlett-Packard has unveiled several new laser and
inkjet printers at the Comtek computer show, ahead of their launch in
the West. The printers include the expanded Laserjet 4 series, plus
the Deskjet 510 and the Deskwriter 510.

The Laserjet 4L is a small 300 dots per inch (DPI) printer that
features HP's proprietary resolution enhancement technology. The
printer, which is based around a 16 megahertz (MHz) 68000 processor,
features HP's page control language (PCL) 5, as well as 26 scalable
fonts built in.

HP claims that the printer is the cheapest in its range currently
available, although no price announcements were made at the show. The
printer, which has a footprint of 14.5 x 13 inches and stands 6.5
inches high, is around half the size of the current Laserjet 4
machine. It also has a very low power consumption -- around five
watts, compared to the 40 watts consumption on the Laserjet 4.

The Postscript version of the unit is called the Laserjet 4ML. It is
scheduled to ship in mid-summer, while the 4L is available
immediately.

Another announcement made by HP at Comtek was the DeskJet 510 and
DeskWriter 510, two inkjet printers which are destined to replace the
DeskJet 500 series. Both printers are expected to retail for $480.

According to sources close to Hewlett-Packard, HP Moscow obtained
special authorization to announce and show the new printers at the
Comtek show. Press announcements of the new machines will take place
this week around the world by other HP operations, Newsbytes
understands.

(Kirill Tchashchin/19930504/Press Contact: HP Moscow, phone [phone]-
8002; fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(NYC)(00009)

SEA Announces New York General Meeting 05/04/93
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- The Society for
Electronic Access (SEA) has announced that it will hold a general
membership meeting on Wednesday, May 5, at 6:30PM. The meeting will be
held at Science Fiction Mysteries & More bookstore, 140 Chambers St.
(near West Broadway in downtown Manhattan).

The SEA was originally constituted with the intention of becoming a
New York City chapter of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).
While the group, at that time called the NTE ("Not-The-EFF"), was
debating the merits of the association, the EFF announced it was
changing direction to become a Washington-based policy group and would
not be setting up or affiliating with local chapters. The fledging NTE
group then changed its name to SEA, formed its own mission statement,
and began recruiting as a membership organization.

The mission statement enacted by the SEA follows: "The purpose of SEA
is to help make our corner of cyberspace a civilized place to live,
work and visit. We believe that the world of computers and the
communications links that bind their users together should be open to
everyone. Furthermore, if this new medium is to have a chance of
fulfilling its great potential, the same civil rights that protect our
freedom in the physical world must prevail in cyberspace."

"Therefore SEA will work to educate people about computer networks and
how to use them to find information and to communicate with one another.
We will also reach out to computer users, government officials, legislators
and the media to foster better understanding of cyberspace and to ensure
that laws are written and enforced to enhance individual rights rather than
to curtail them. Finally, we will do our best to bring into cyberspace those
who might not otherwise have the opportunity or awareness to make use of
it, in the belief that doing so will enrich our lives as well as theirs."

Stacy Horn, SEA chairman, told Newsbytes: "It is important that people
become involved with the issues that the SEA has articulated. Whether or
not people feel that they are involved with technology, they will be affected
by decisions made now and in the immediate future."

"The Clinton Administration clearly has the development of the
telecommunications infrastructure as an early agenda item and
decisions are being made about who builds it, who owns it, who pays
for it, and who has use of it. Decisions made in these areas will have
lasting impact on all of us," he added.

Horn continued: "We are trying to involve groups such as women and
minorities involved with defining the structure and access issues of
cyberspace. Presently, it is the same relatively small cast of
characters that has guided the Internet to its present state that is
defining its future. We would like to broaden that."

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19930504/Press Contact: Simona
Nass, Society for Electronic Access, 212-982-4320,
[e-mail])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(MOW)(00010)

Texas Instruments Enters Russian Marketplace 05/04/93
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Texas Instruments has unveiled a
complete range of computers and peripherals to the Russian market,
courtesy of Elti-Kudic, the fledgeling sales and marketing operation.

E-K is busy expanding its dealership network in the region, so as to
offer Texas Instruments the widest possible exposure in Russia. E-K is
also offering service facilities for TI kit in the region, according
to Sergey Averin, the company's general director.

Elti-Kudic is a relatively new company that was formed in 1992 to
promote TI equipment on to the Russian market. Its marketing program
concentrates on the educational establishments in and around the
Moscow area.

(Kirill Tchashchin/19930504/Press Contact: Elti-Kudic, Sergey Averin,
phone [phone]; fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00011)

Philips Sells Matsushita Stake To Staunch Red Ink 05/04/93
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, 1993 MAY 5 (NB) -- Philips has sold off
its 35 percent stake in Matsushita Electric Industrial (MEI) for three
billion guilders. The Dutch electronics giant claims that it will use
the money to cut its hefty balance sheet debts.

The deal effectively gives Mitsubishi complete control of its destiny
once again. The company, which has operations in Japan, Malaysia,
Singapore and the US, manufactures semiconductors, TV tubes and
lighting equipment.

Officials with Philips say that the sell-off was decided after it
realised that MEI had become too big for a joint venture. Neither
company has said who approached whom in the transaction.

The three billion guilders stemming from the sale will go a long way
towards satisfying shareholders who have been complaining about
Philips' current 15 billion deficit on the balance sheet.

(Steve Gold/19930504)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00012)

IBM, Ingram Micro In Distribution Deal 05/04/93
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- IBM and computer
products distributor Ingram Micro have announced that Ingram will
provide fulfilment services to IBM's mass-market retail customers
under the manufacturer's Easy Options Program.

Plans call for Ingram Micro to stock a variety of IBM-branded PC
products, take orders directly from IBM retail customers, ship
products to those customers and provide end-user support, officials
said. The deal applies only in the United States.

Ingram Micro has appointed Mary Galvin as program director for the IBM
Easy Options program. Galvin joined Ingram Micro in January, after
more than 12 years at Microware Distributors, where she held a variety
of executive positions. Her last job with Microware was as vice-
president of the products division.

While Galvin would not put a specific number on the contract, she said
it represents "a large volume. Certainly we feel that it's the largest
fulfilment contract that we know of in the channel," she told
Newsbytes.

The contract covers such IBM products as memory chips; PC expansion
boards (video and audio adapters and modems); disk and tape drives;
uninterruptible power supplies and surge protectors; and input devices
such as mice, trackballs, and keyboards. The deal does not include
complete systems, Galvin told Newsbytes.

Ingram Micro said that the deal is of strategic importance to its
fulfilment services business, which officials said has been attracting
a growing amount of interest among computer vendors.

A fulfilment deal differs from a distribution arrangement in that
Ingram Micro will provide the products to IBM's customer base rather
than to its own base of dealers.

Ingram Micro is the world's largest wholesale distributor of
microcomputer products, claiming sales of $2.7 billion in 1992. It
sells to 60,000 resellers in 65 countries.

(Grant Buckler/19930504/Press Contact: David R. Dukes or Mary
Galvin, Ingram Micro, 714-566-1000)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00013)

IBM Adds Two New ThinkPad Models To Its Range 05/04/93
SOMERS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- IBM has extended its
ThinkPad 700 notebook computer line with new color and monochrome
models.

The new ThinkPad 720C has the same 10.4-inch active matrix color
display as the ThinkPad 700C. IBM said it is the largest active-matrix
color screen on the market. Both the 720C and the monochrome 720
replace the 25 megahertz (MHz) IBM 486LC processor in the older models
with a 50 MHz version of the chip. They also offer larger hard disks
and added power-management features that IBM said will improve battery
life by 20 percent.

IBM also launched a port replicator -- a sort of docking station
without expansion slots -- which the company said will simplify quick
transition between mobile and desktop use for both ThinkPad 700 and
new ThinkPad 720 users.

The new units are available immediately, and a spokesman for the
company said IBM booked orders for more than 100,000 units in the
United States alone on the day of announcement.

The spokesman acknowledged that the existing 700 and 700C models have
been so popular that IBM has been having trouble meeting the demand.
There is a backlog of orders for the machines, he said, and the
introduction of the new models will help to relieve it.

IBM will continue selling the 700 and 700C at least for the time
being, he added.

IBM said that improved power management, more extensive use of 3.3
volt components, and a cut in the power consumption of the color
display bring a 20-percent gain in the 720C's battery life. It will
run up to 2.4 hours in continuous use and up to 4.8 hours in a typical
workday environment, IBM said. Comparable figures for the monochrome
unit are 3.8 and 7.5 hours.

The new 720 machines are available with a 160-megabyte removable hard
disk drive. The ThinkPad 720 is also available with a 120-megabyte
drive.

The larger drive will be available as an upgrade option for 700
owners, as will a 240-megabyte drive due later this year. The 700
comes with a 120-megabyte removable hard disk.

Owners of the 700 and 700C machines can also upgrade their
processors to the 50-megahertz chips.

IBM officials said that the ThinkPad 720C and 720 are the first two
notebook computers to support Level 2.01 Personal Computer Memory Card
Interface Association (PCMCIA) standards, providing compatibility with
newer memory and expansion cards as well as with most based on earlier
levels of the PCMCIA standard.

The 720C, with a 160-megabyte hard drive, has a list price of
$4,695, while a similarly configured ThinkPad 720 is $3,355. A
720 with a 120-megabyte drive is $3,195. The port replicator will
sell for about $75.

(Grant Buckler/19930504/Press Contact: Steve Hoechster, Jennings
& Co. for IBM, 914-251-5997; Jonathan Gandal, Jennings & Co. for
IBM, 914-251-5989)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00014)

Olivetti Predicts Black Ink On Balance Sheet Next Year 05/04/93
IVREA, ITALY, 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Olivetti, the troubled Italian
computer and electronic company, has revealed its will break even this
year, returning to profitability in the next calendar year.

Speaking with analysts and shareholders late last week, Olivetti's
chairman, Carlo de Benedetti, said that sales rose by a healthy 5.5
percent in the first quarter of 1993. This was, he said, "the first
time in a long time" that sales had actually risen.

The shareholder's meeting was held in Italy to formally approve last
year's results from the company. During 1992, Olivetti reported a loss
of 650 billion lire, compared with a loss of 460 billion in 1991.

Despite the fact that Olivetti is returning to profitability, de
Benedetti was honest enough to admit that he still does not know when
the company will report a share dividend. Like so many other European
computer companies, Olivetti is treading water, waiting for the
recession to end.

(Steve Gold/19930504)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00015)

Canada's Geac Acquires Two British Companies 05/04/93
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Geac Computer Corporation
has announced its purchase of MAI (UK) Ltd. and Tekserv Computer
Services, both of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire in the UK.

Geac said it paid less than C$1 million in total for the two
companies, both of which sell and service MAI Basic Four and other
brands of computer hardware in the United Kingdom. No further details
of the deal were available.

Geac said the two companies have annual sales of more than C$2
million. According to Geac spokesman Harrison Cheung, Geac recorded
about 36.4 percent of its C$83.5 million in total revenues last year
in Europe. That amounts to about C$30.4 million.

Geac has been operating in Europe for about 15 years, Cheung said, and
the UK, along with France, is a major part of its European business.
He added that the latest acquisitions will help boost Geac's profile
in the UK because MAI Basic Four equipment is quite widely used there.

Hardware service, including service of its own proprietary
hardware as well as that of other manufacturers, accounts for
about 43.1 percent of Geac's business worldwide, he said.

The Canadian company is also known for its vertical-market
software, particularly in the library automation, insurance, and
manufacturing markets.

(Grant Buckler/19930504/Press Contact: Harrison Cheung, Geac,
416-475-0525)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00016)

European "Super-Airline" Proposals Announced 05/04/93
SURUCH, SWITZERLAND, 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Four of Europe's major
airlines have announced plans to form a joint venture company
together. The aim of the new company, which will be formed by
Austrian Airlines, KLM of the Netherlands, Scandinavian Airlines
Systems (SA) and Swissair, is to compete more effectively with the
international carriers.

According to Swissair, which is co-ordinating the plans for a new
company, the new operation will be jointly owned and managed by the
group of four, in order to offer customers "a high-quality product at
a competitive price."

Plans call for Austrian Airlines to take a 10 percent stake in the
combined operation, with the other three taking a 30 percent stake
each. According to Swissair, the operation will consist of a multi-hub
system, with each airline operating several hubs, and co-ordinating
traffic flow between these hubs.

While the airlines aim to increase their overall share of the world's
airline revenue, Newsbytes notes that such a combination of resources
could be considered an activity counter to the free market objectives
of the European Community. For this reason, the whole proposal may be
passed to the European Commission (EC) for its approval.

In the meantime, all four airlines say that they expect to sign a
memorandum of understanding on the project later this summer.

(Steve Gold/19930504)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00017)

Delrina's FormFlow For Windows Arrives 05/04/93
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Delrina Corporation, best
known for its forms processing software, is branching out into work-
flow management with the announcement of FormFlow for Windows. The new
software builds on Delrina's PerForm forms software with links to
electronic mail creating a work-flow management package for personal
computers running Microsoft Windows.

Delrina also announced a marketing and sales agreement with NCR, the
Dayton, Ohio, computer maker, under which it will sell FormFlow
through its direct sales force. Plans call for the two companies to
work together to build future products based on FormFlow and
communications services from AT&T, NCR's parent company.

FormFlow will require electronic-mail software, Delrina spokesman
Shelly Sofer said, and is compatible with the messaging specifications
used by Lotus' cc:Mail, Microsoft Mail, DaVinci Mail, Beyond Mail, and
Reach's MailMan. It also supports other mail systems through Dynamic
Link Libraries, according to the company.

Forms are created and filled out much as they are in Delrina's
existing PerForm and PerForm Pro software. An Intelligent Forms
Language (IFL) allows the creation of scripts that control what
happens once the form is filled in.

The software can also work with popular database management packages,
including Borland's dBase IV and others that follow the Xbase
standard, Borland's Paradox, IBM's DB2, Oracle, Microsoft's SQL
Server, and IBM's OS/2 Data Manager.

As an example, Delrina cited a sales order coming into a company.
Filling out an order form would trigger a check against an
inventory database. If enough inventory were on hand, the form
would go directly to the shipping department. If not, one form
would go to shipping for shipment of the inventory on hand, while
another would go to accounts receivable to modify the invoice to
reflect the back-order, and a third would go to operations to
build or order more inventory.

Scripts created with IFL are portable, Sofer said -- users can
change e-mail or database systems without having to rewrite their
scripts.

Delrina is recruiting more value-added resellers to help sell the
product. Sofer said that more than 100 VARs already selling PerForm
and PerForm Pro will handle FormFlow too, but the company wants to add
more VARs as well.

FormFlow consists of manager and user modules. The manager module
for developing applications costs US$399 or C$479. Users packs
are available for five, 10, 25, or 50 users. A 10-user pack lists
for US$1,840 or C$2,280. The software is due to be available in
June.

(Grant Buckler/19930504/Press Contact: Shelly Sofer or Josef
Zankowicz, Delrina, 416-441-3676, fax [phone]; Randy Popson,
NCR, 513-439-8498; Public Contact: Delrina, 800-268-6082; NCR,
513-539-8404)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00018)

Sequent's New Winserver To Be Telemarketed 05/04/93
BEAVERTON, OREGON, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Sequent Computer Systems
has this week introduced its WinServer family of scalable SMP
(symmetric multiprocessing) application servers designed specifically
for Microsoft's Windows NT operating system. Plans call for WinServer
to be marketed through a telemarketing channel called WinCentral
Direct.

Sequent says that WinServer will be an ideal complement to Windows NT.
"WinServer is the only family of Windows NT servers that can scale to
meet the needs of all corporate computing environments, from
workgroups to departments to the data center. It will provide a great
complement to our continuing leadership in Unix-based solutions,"
explained Sequent president and CEO Casey Powell.

Microsoft VP for systems strategy Jon Lazarus, said: "Windows NT was
designed as an enterprise-wide, multiprocessing operating system, and
Sequent WinServers will provide ideal, high performance SMP systems
for its deployment."

The WinServer family is made up of four systems that use up to 16
processors and come preconfigured with Microsoft Windows NT Advanced
Server and network and database software. Sequent claims that
WinServer 1000 is the right platform for use by workgroups and small
departments for client-server, business critical applications.

The WinServer 1000 uses one or two Intel i486 66 megahertz (MHz)
processors and 512 megabytes (MB) of memory. The company says it can
also use Intel's Pentium chip when that chip becomes available. The
1000 system uses up to nine 3.5 inch disks and SCSI (small computer
system interface) channels. Priced beginning at $29,900, the system is
expected to ship concurrently with Microsoft's Windows NT Advanced
Server.

WinServer 1500 is designed for LAN (local area network) consolidation,
decision support and workgroup computing. It also uses up to two Intel
486 processors, or the Pentium chip, and up to 21 disks and 4 SCSI
channels. It's price starts at $39,300. According to Sequent, it is
expected to ship when Windows NT Advanced Server does.

Sequent calls the WinServer 3000 a high end system that supports large
scale LAN consolidation, transaction processing and decision support.
With up to six Intel 486 66MHz processors or Pentium chips, it offers
up to 16 SCSI channels, one gigabyte (GB) of memory, 192 disks,
optional fault tolerant data protection and redundant power supplies.

Pricing for the 3000 series starts at $75,300, with the same
availability as the other units.

The top of the line WinServer is called the 5000, a 384 disk, 32 SCSI
channel Pentium or 486 50MHz-based system that can have as many as 30
processors. It comes with two GB of memory, and has the high
bandwidth needed to support enterprise-level LAN traffic. The 5000 is
scheduled to ship in the fourth quarter of this year, with pricing
starting at $246,900.

The WinCentral Direct program is described by Sequent as a telephone
based sales channel that puts customers in direct contact with
experienced Sequent technical and business consultants who will help
customers make appropriate technology and configuration decisions
using one of the WinServer family of servers.

Windows NT-certified staff members will work with the customer to
develop a system configuration, and take the order. Sequent will then
build the system and deliver a turnkey system. "The objective of
WinCentral Direct is to give customers convenient access to experts -
not just order takers," Powell said.

WinCentral Direct has a tollfree number, and is staffed from 6AM to
6PM Pacific Time.

(Jim Mallory/19930504/Press contact: Mike Green, Sequent Computer
Systems, 503-626-5700; Reader contact: Sequent Computer Systems,
800-243-6768)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(SFO)(00019)

Software Ventures' $99 Microphone For NextStep 05/04/93
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- With all the
confusion surrounding the Next platform, Software Ventures claims that
its MicroPhone Pro 1.0 for NextStep communications software is selling
well. The price tag of $99 may have something to do with it, down from
the normal list price of $395.

The promotion lasts through May 31, 1993, when customers order
through Next Connection's mail order service at (1-800-800-NEXT).

Greg Ogarrio, a spokesman for Software Ventures, told Newsbytes that,
while the promotion is planned to coincide with the release of the
NextStep operating system for Intel Computers, scheduled for May 25,
1993, the MicroPhone for NextStep product is for the "Motorola
version" of NextStep, adding: "we don't have an Intel version." He
told Newsbytes that the company wanted to take advantage of all the
market interest currently surrounding NextStep.

Recently, Newsbytes reported on Next's decision to get out of the
hardware business and concentrate on its NextStep software product.
Canon originally announced its intention of buying up the hardware
business, but is now playing hard to get.

Said Kevin McGrath, director of channel sales for Software Ventures:
"We saw our Next sales more than quadruple in April, thanks to the
special price. Obviously, users are responding to the discount."

MicroPhone Pro for NextStep was introduced in September 1992.
According to the company, it gives Next users a flexible set of tools
to transfer data, communicate with remote computers, build custom
scripts and design graphical interfaces. Using scripting tools, users
can automate much of their communications, without having to memorize
log-in and navigation sequences.

Protocols supported include Text/ASCII, XMODEM, YMODEM, ZMODEM and
Kermit. Terminal immulation includes TTY, VT100, VT102 AND VT 220.
Also, TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) support
allows users to connect directly to TCP/IP networks, such as the
Internet.

(Ian Stokell/19930504/Press Contact: Greg Ogarrio, 510-644-3232,
Software Ventures)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00020)

Cable Rate Regulation Not So Bad, Says Industry 05/04/93
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- The Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) has released 500 pages of rules for
enforcing the new cable television law yet, amazingly, the industry
isn't griping too loudly.

To get a rollback, local governments must first certify that the local
cable company is a monopoly, starting in about a month. Those
certifications would not go into effect until 30 days later, and the
cable companies then have another 120 days to change rates. This means
rates can't really change for at least another six months. The FCC
estimates consumers will save about $1 billion through regulation.

Then there are 16 tables of pricing schedules, based on how many
channels an operator has, the number of subscribers and how many
signals come in through satellites. The tables tell operators how much
they can charge per channel, and if they exceed that by over 10
percent, they have to cut rates 10 percent.

Once rates are lowered, cable monopolies then fall under price caps,
maximum prices they can't exceed until a competitor emerges in their
market. Satellite-delivered channels, which cost the cable companies
more per-subscriber, can also be priced higher under the new
regulations. Estimates are that the average cable channel will cost
about 45 cents, once everything if figured in, so the fair price for a
50-channel system will be about $22.50, which is slightly less than
most basic cable charges now.

Early reaction from cable industry analysts is that it could be worse.
They recommended the purchase of big cable stocks like Tele-
Communications, Time Warner and Comcast Corporation, all of which rose
slightly in late trading May 3.

TCI had threatened to tie-up the new regulations in court if they were
too strict, and chairman John Malone was quoted as saying that
anything worse than the FCC's original proposal was unacceptable and
would harm the industry. The FCC will have jurisdiction over cable
operators' appeals of local rate decisions.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930504/Press Contact: FCC Press, 202-632-
5050)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00021)

Allen Moves Closer to America Online Bid 05/04/93
VIENNA, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- America Online executives
were huddled together and unavailable for comment as Microsoft co-
founder Paul Allen increased his stake in the company's common stock
to 24.9 percent, just short of the 25 percent needed to spark a
"poison pill" plan approved by directors just last week.

AOL originally set what it calls a shareholder rights plan, designed
to give new shares to existing holders and make an unwanted takeover
prohibitively expensive, to kick-in when an investor took a 20 percent
holding. Practically before the ink was dry on that, AOL officials
learned Allen was over the 20 percent threshold, and the bar was
quickly raised to 25 percent. Now Allen is hovering just under that
number, with about 1,431,000 shares.

Allen became a billionaire from his Microsoft holdings, but left the
company in 1983 and now runs Asymetrix Corp. of Bellevue, Washington,
which produces multimedia software. He also owns the Portland
TrailBlazers' basketball team. Allen bought his stock at prices
ranging from about $20 to nearly $30 per share, and it may be
impossible for him to earn a short-term profit on the open market.

Analysts speculate that his stake is large enough that, combined with
the roughly 500,000 shares or warrants held by a number of AOL
"strategic partners," like the Tribune Corporation, Apple Computer and
Sprint, it would represent a controlling interest in AOL. Analysts
think Allen's move could spark a bidding war among the partners, each
fearing another will takeover AOL.

The risk to Allen is that the partners could get-together with AOL
management and agree not to pursue a takeover. At that point, however,
Allen could still look for a single buyer for his big stake, and
companies like AT&T have expressed interest in buying an online
service.

In previous filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
Allen described himself only as an investor. In his latest
filing, however, he outlined several methods for increasing his
influence over the company, including a tender offer, a seat on the
board, an asset acquisition, a merger, or just buying more stock on
the open market.

Allen, now 40, left Microsoft after getting Hodgkin's Disease, a
treatable form of cancer whose best-known victim right now is
Pittsburgh Penguins' star Mario Lemieux. He still holds a large
Microsoft stake, and Forbes' Magazine has estimated his fortune at
$2.8 billion.

He started buying AOL heavily after it announced the price cut, which
now offers users 5 hours of service each month for $10. That
announcement sent the price of AOL stock tumbling to a low of $22 per
share, before the company announced the alliance with Sprint that
seems to assure it can make a profit at that lower price.

The AOL price cut came just weeks after Prodigy, which unlike AOL is
not profitable, was forced to impose time-based charges on its $15 per
month service for the first time, in a bid to become profitable.
Allen's buying has raised the price of AOL common to over $30.

In his SEC filing, Allen also said he had talked with AOL executives
for about a year about possible business relationships, during which
AOL suggested he keep his holdings to 20 percent. Allen declined that
request, and added that he has been unable to obtain a copy of AOL's
shareholder rights plan, under which current shareholders get the
right to puchase 1 share of a new series of preferred for every 100
shares of common they own, if an investor gets over the 25 percent
threshold. He said the "poison pill" plan led him to reconsider his
status as a passive investor.

In cases like this, it's usually normal for the two sides to have
a formal meeting. No such meeting has yet been scheduled in this
case.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930504/Press Contact: America Online, Jean
Villanueva, 703-448-8700)


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

 ****Hacker Insurance Offered To PABX Owners 05/04/93
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Travelers has
combined with Xiox Corporation, which makes security systems for
telephone networks, to offer insurance against computer criminals who
"hack" their way into your private business switch.

Here's the deal. Install Xiox' anti-fraud software on your private
automatic branch exchange (PABX) according to the company's
instructions, and you will be warranted against $100,000 in losses due
to fraud. You can also get additional insurance from Travelers' at a
discount.

Telephone toll fraud is estimated to be a $4 billion a year
problem for businesses and government agencies in North America,
with "hackers" illegally tapping into phone networks to make
thousands of dollars worth of toll calls. Hackers also sell
illegally obtained phone service to drug traffickers so their
calls cannot easily be traced.

The average incident of telephone fraud loss in 1992 was $168,000,
according to telecommunications experts. Xiox Fort Knox line of
security products includes an artificial intelligence-based system
that restricts telephone system access. It can distinguish between
authorized and unauthorized use, thwarting criminals through several
levels of access protection while leaving the system available to
authorized users.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930504/Press Contact: The Travelers, Francis
Onofrio, 203/277-8510; Xiox -- Michael O'Connell 415-375-8188;
Ford Kanzler, for Xiox, 408/253-5042)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00023)

Adobe Signs Distribution Deal With Tech Data 05/04/93
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Adobe Systems
has signed a distribution agreement with Tech Data. The company has
also announced that the new HP DesignJet 650C color plotter offers the
option of Adobe's PostScript Level 2 software.

According to the companies, the deal gives Tech Data the rights to
distribute Adobe's full line of type and application software on all
platforms beginning in June 1993. Adobe says that it now has four
major software resellers: Tech Data, Ingram Micro, Merisel and Douglas
Stewart.

Announcing the deal, John Brandon, vice president of sales for Adobe's
application products division, said: "Tech Data's knowledge and
experience with value-added resellers and networked environments adds
more breadth to our distribution channel. Tech Data is also an
excellent provider of technical support service, one of the
requirements for expansion of our distribution channel."

Adobe also says that Hewlett-Packard's new HP DesignJet 650C plotter
is the first wide-format color inkjet plotter from HP to offer Adobe's
PostScript Level 2 software as an option. According to the company,
the plotter is targeted for CAD (computer-aided design) and graphics
applications.

The HP DesignJet 650 plotter comes as either the E size, which is 36-
inches wide, or the 24-inch wide D size. A PostScript Level 2 software
upgrade kit is available as an option for both models and includes 39
of Adobe's Type 1 typefaces.

The HP DesignJet 650C plotter is priced at $9,995 for the E
size and $8,495 for the D size. The PostScript software
upgrade kit sells for $1,195 and is expected to be available
by August 1.

(Ian Stokell/19930504/Press Contact: Patricia J. Pane,
415-962-3967, Adobe Systems Inc.)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SFO)(00024)

3Com Settles Shareholder Class Action Suits 05/04/93
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- It seems that
shareholder class action suits are an occupational hazard for
publicly-traded companies. Now networking vendor 3Com has reported an
agreement "in principle " with the plaintiffs to settle four pending
consolidated class action shareholder suits.

The suits date back to August 1989, and alleges violations of the
federal securities laws by 3Com and certain individuals between
December 1988 and August 1989.

According to the company, the principal terms of the agreement call
for the establishment of a settlement fund of $9.85 million. The
company says that "a significant portion of which will be paid by the
Company's insurance carrier."

The agreement is subject to "execution of definitive settlement
documents and Court approval." In a prepared press release
the company said that, "3Com and its management continue to
believe that the claims asserted in the shareholders suit are
without merit.

Nevertheless, the company believes it is in the best interest of
shareholders and customers to settle the cases due to the continuing
substantial costs of defense, the distraction of management's
attention and the uncertainties inherent in any litigation."

(Ian Stokell/19930504/Press Contact: Kate Patterson,
408-764-6802, 3Com)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SFO)(00025)

Dataquest To Host Its First Mobile Computing Forum 05/04/93
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Mobile computing is
one of the fastest growing areas of the computer industry. Recognizing
the demand, Dataquest is planning its first "Mobile Computing Forum"
from June 21-23, 1993, at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, Texas. The
three-day conference is targeted at corporate end users, government
consultants, and systems integrators.

The company claims that the conference will offer hands-on product
demonstrations in order to allow attendees to become "familiar with
the technology that is available to implement corporate-wide mobile
computing applications."

Co-sponsors for the event include PC Computing Magazine, Apple
Computer, Electronic Data Systems (EDS), Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba
America Information Systems, RadioMail, and McCaw Cellular
Communications.

Announcing the forum, J. Gerry Purdy, vice president and chief analyst
of mobile computing at Dataquest, said: "Mobile computing products and
services are rapidly emerging and end users need to understand how
they can harness these resources to improve their corporations'
efficiency and productivity."

"Our forum, is designed to provide decision makers with information on
the technologies, applications, and implementation of mobile computing
systems in corporate settings," he added.

The forum will allow attendees to actively participate in a live,
RadioMail wireless electronic-mail network demonstration in a
"controlled environment." HP will loan each attendee one of its
palmtop PCs to use for the duration of the conference. EDS will
design, implement and support the forum's integrated local area
network.

The conference program will include presentations from senior
managers of such companies as Apple, AT&T/NCR, IBM, Motorola,
and Toshiba. Author George Gilder will give an address entitled
"Telecoms" from his forthcoming book of the same name. Also,
PC Computing Magazine editors John Dvorak and Paul Sommerson
will debate the future of personal digital assistants (PDAs).

The conference fee is $1,395. A special early registration price of
$1,195 is available for those signing up by May 31. Registration by
phone is available at 800-457-8233 and 805-298-3262 if calling from
outside the United States.

(Ian Stokell/19930504/Press Contact: Beth Johnson, 415-968-4033,
Edelman Technology Communications)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00026)

Microsoft Gets Injunction Against U-TOP Printing 05/04/93
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Microsoft announced
today that a federal judge has granted its request for a preliminary
injunction in its software piracy lawsuit against U-TOP Printing
Corporation and its owners.

US Marshals, acting on a complaint filed by Microsoft, raided 10 U-
TOP-affiliated locations in California and New Jersey in September
1992, seizing more than 150,000 allegedly counterfeit copies of
Microsoft's MS-DOS version 5.0 operating system software. Microsoft
alleges that the software, with an estimated street value of more than
$9 million, was illegally manufactured and distributed by U-TOP.

The injunction freezes an estimated $1 million in assets of U-TOP and
owners James and Shirley Sung. The judge also dismissed most of U-
TOP's counter-claims against Microsoft, which alleged that Microsoft
had engaged in unfair competitive practices and asked for nearly $9
billion in damages. The judge reportedly dismissed all of U-TOP's
counter-claims.

Microsoft attorney Jim Lowe sees the ruling as a signal that Microsoft
will probably win when the case comes to trial. "By imposing a
preliminary injunction that continues to freeze assets, the court has
affirmed that in the end Microsoft will likely prevail at trial," said
Lowe. The defendants assets had been frozen temporarily when the
Microsoft suit was filed, reportedly to keep the Sungs from
transferring their assets out of reach.

The seized software packages contained the trade names of several
former Microsoft licensees whose software reproduction rights were no
longer valid, including MTD and Firenze. Microsoft says that any
of its software still in the marketplace that contains those trade
names should be considered counterfeit. Microsoft operates a toll free
hotline for the reporting of possible software piracy or to answer
questions about the legitimacy of software bearing the Microsoft name.

"Microsoft takes counterfeiting very seriously. With the release of
MS-DOS (version 6) we have initiated innovative security features to
better protect our customers and resellers from buying illegally and
poorly produced counterfeits," says Lowe. "All genuine MS-DOS 6
product sold with new computer systems must now carry a Certificate
of Authenticity which has a hologram and many other security devices
on it. In addition, all genuine MS-DOS 6 upgrade product carries a
distinctive Microsoft hologram affixed to the outside of the box."

(Jim Mallory/19930504/Press contact: Marty Taucher, Microsoft,
206-882-8080; Reader contact: 800-662-6796 (to report piracy))


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00027)

DOS 6 Sales Top 3 Million, While Problem Reports Persist 05/04/93
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Microsoft says that
sales of its MS-DOS 6 upgrade topped three million in April, just one
month after the company begin shipping what may be its most
controversial product. Controversial because despite Microsoft
assurances, problems continue to be reported, particularly with the
DoubleSpace data compression feature.

Microsoft says DOS 6 upgrade sales are greater than the previous
record for MS-DOS 5 and Windows 3.1 upgrades combined. Microsoft told
Newsbytes last month that sales of DOS 6 had exceeded expectations and
there were some delays in meeting demand. However, Microsoft
spokesperson Collins Hemingway now says the order backlog is clearing
up. "We have spot shortages as opposed to significant backlog."

The company says that its product support lines have been jammed with
inquiries and some customers have had what Hemingway described as
"significant wait times" to get their calls answered. He claims that,
although Microsoft strives for a wait of no more than one minute, many
callers have hung up in frustration. "We are gaining on the problem,"
he said.

Despite the frustration of would-be buyers of DOS, Hemingway told
Reuters news service the call volume per number of units sold is
lower than it has been on any of the other top 10 Microsoft sellers,
and there is no pattern to indicate any serious problems or bugs in
the program.

However, industry publication InfoWorld, which operates its own
testing laboratory, reported that it experienced varying types of
problems of its own when it was attempting to replicate reader
reports of bugs.

InfoWorld said that the problems included "sector not found", "damaged
CVF", "cross linked files", "lost cluster", and other problems
resulting in data corruption. Many of the problems appear related to
DoubleSpace, and some DOS 6 users report they don't have problems if
DoubleSpace is not installed.

Microsoft continues to insist that the problems are a very low
percentage of the number of units sold, but with over three million
units already sold even a very tiny percentage is a high number of
frustrated users. So many, in fact, that InfoWorld says some of the
corporate users it contacted have decided to wait until Microsoft
finds the problem or IBM introduces its version of DOS 6, which is
expected to be priced lower than Microsoft's DOS.

(Jim Mallory/19930504/Press contact: Collins Hemingway, Microsoft,
206-882-8080; Reader contact: 800-426-9400 or 206-882-8080)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00028)

 ****VITAL Guides Now Available From Apple 05/04/93
SAN ANTONIO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Originally
announced over a year ago, the San Antonio, Texas-based Enterprise
Systems Division of Apple Computer has finally announced that the
encyclopedic VITAL Technical Architecture Guides are now available.

The Virtually Integrated Technical Architecture Lifecycle (VITAL)
guides contain connectivity documentation for corporate management
information systems (MIS) executives interested in migrating to
client/server computing. The series is a "blueprint for connectivity,"
according to Apple, which adds that VITAL contains both directions and
software engineering techniques.

VITAL consists of more than six volumes of information, which Apple
describes as information for developing systems that will talk to each
other. "We have had a significant nine-month effort underway to
completely update and revise the architecture guides originally
developed in Apple's IS&T organization," explained Morris Taradalsky,
vice president and general manager of Apple's Enterprise Systems
division.

VITAL categorizes enterprise systems into four interrelated
pieces: desktop integration, data capture, data access, and a
repository for data. While originally announced to cover systems
infrastructure as well, Apple has dropped that piece from its
description of VITAL.

Along with VITAL, a qualification program for systems integrators is
being implemented by Apple so third parties can provide fee-based
training, as well as architecture and project consulting. Bear River
Associates, Kpmg.exis, Martin Marietta Information Systems, and RWD
Technologies all plan to begin VITAL training and consulting beginning
in July of this year.

Toll-free information lines at Apple have been established to provide
information on training and consulting and purchase information.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930504/Press Contact: Eric Wee, Apple
Computer, tel [phone], fax [phone]; Public Contact
training and consulting 800-767-2775 ext 943, VITAL Guide
purchase information, part number C1883, 800-795-1000)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00029)

 ****Apple Unveils Toolkits For Electronic Book Authoring 05/04/93
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Apple Computer is
offering two new multimedia software tools for multimedia software
development. The new tools are The Author's Solution for Interactive
Electronic Books and The Apple Media Kit.

Electronic books is one of the fastest growing areas of multimedia
development, but author's have complained about the complexity of
developing multimedia titles. Apple says that The Author's Solution
for Interactive Electronic Books is aimed at helping multimedia book
authors develop new titles. Included in the author's development kit
are tools from Wings for Learning/Sunburst and the Voyager Company.

Available in two versions, the author's kit comes as a Level I kit
which acts as a starter product for designing multimedia documents,
especially for internal distribution within a school or company,
according to Apple. The product is based on Mediatext, a Wings for
Learning/Sunburst product. Mediatext is much like a word processor in
its approach, but allows incorporation of media clips such as
graphics, sound, and Quicktime movies, Apple maintains.

The Level II Kit is based on Voyager's Expanded Book Toolkit product
and allows the production of professional quality electronic books,
Apple said. Voyager uses the product internally to create its own
books, such as Jurassic Park and The Autobiography of Malcom X.
Interactive books with automated word-search and annotation options in
addition to multimedia elements may be produced using the Level II
Kit, Apple maintains.

Apple is inviting would-be authors to join its The Apple Multimedia
Program (AMP) which it describes as an organization for developers of
multimedia products and projects. AMP members receive quarterly
mailings, including technical guidebooks, market research reports, as
well as discounts on Apple and third-party products, videos on human
interface design and information on Apple's directions in
multimedia.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930504/Press Contact: Marcella Wucher, Apple
Computer, tel [phone], fax [phone]; Public Contact,
AMP, 408-974-4897)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00030)

Symantec Acquires Contact Management International 05/04/93
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAY 4 (NB) -- Symantec is buying
companies again. This time the company announced it has signed an
agreement to purchase Carrollton, Texas-based Contact Management
International, makers of the contact management software ACT!.

Symantec will account for the acquisition as a pooling of interests in
which the company will issue three million shares of its common stock
for the current outstanding shares of Contact Management
International. At the current price of Symantec stock, the acquisition
will cost Symantec over $40 million.

Contact Management International says it has shipped over half a
million copies of its ACT! software product geared use by salesmen and
service providers. ACT! is available on several platforms including
DOS, Windows, the Macintosh, and the Hewlett-Packard palmtop HP95LX
computer.

The market for ACT! continues to expand in the US with 14 million
individuals involved in sales, 5.9 million laptops installed, and an
anticipated 16-percent annual growth in computer automation for the
small business segment, according to Contact Management International.

Patrick Sullivan, former president and chief executive officer of
Contact Software International will now head Symantec's newly formed
contact management group.

Symantec has relied heavily on acquisitions for new products. In the
last three years the company purchased Peter Norton Computing, The
Whitewater Group, Multiscope, Certus International Corporation, and
DMA. Symantec just reported losses of $11.5 million for its 1993
fiscal year ending March 31, 1993.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930504/Press Contact: Brian Fawkes,
Symantec, tel [phone], fax [phone]; )