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/nb930201

Text File | 1993-02-01 | 62KB | 1,384 lines

(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00001)

Chipcom Discusses Strategy 02/01/93
SOUTHBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- Chipcom,
the networking company, has revealed its future strategy,
which involves both new products and moving old products to
new platforms.

Chipcom plans to incorporate new technology into the ONline
family of intelligent switching hubs. This new technology is
called ATM (which stands for Asynchronous Transfer Mode). ATM
has taken the networking world by storm as more and more vendors
commit to supporting it. Chipcom is planning to develop
modules that will fit into the ONline hubs which will bring ATM to
the hub. ATM may then be brought to the desktop in other Chipcom
products.

Chipcom will also be introducing a RISC-based multiport switching
module for the ONline hubs. This product, expected to
be available around the middle of the year, will expand Chipcom's
internetworking product line.

Chipcom will also expand its OnDemand Network Control System
(NCS) software by adding new management features like a "pathfinder"
which will automatically track the movements of end user devices
from the hub without the need for network administrator
intervention. Secondly, Chipcom will be translating OnDemand NCS to
work on Hewlett-Packard's OpenView system as well as Digital
Equipment Corporation's Polycenter platform.

(Naor Wallach/19930129/Press Contact: Christine LeCompte, Beaupre &
Co. for Chipcom, 603-436-6690/Public Contact: Chipcom, 508-460-8900)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00002)

"Smart" Saw Developed For Chipmaking 02/01/93
WILLOW GROVE, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- Kulicke &
Soffa, one of the world's leading suppliers of high-end microchip
manufacturing systems, has announced a major upgrade for its
Model 797/798 wafer dicing saw. These tools cut the large discs
which contain hundreds of semiconductor devices into individual
chips.

Damaged cutting saws cause broken edges on microchips, making
them unusable and currently manufacturers avoid this costly loss
by replacing saws on a regular basis. This means balancing the
costs of discarding good blades against the cost of possibly
damaging the wafers. The upgrades offered by Kulicke & Soffa make
it easier for manufacturers to skate near the edge.

The $6,000 broken blade detector immediately recognizes the need
to replace a blade which is actually broken, not just old,
reducing the costs of new blades, system downtime for unneeded
replacements, and reduced damage to wafers from blades which
break earlier than expected from statistical predictions.

A new vector-based parallel-processing pattern recognition system
which, along with the other upgrades, is actually included on a
new Model 918 dicing saw, uses artificial intelligence to guide
the cutting tool in properly aligning the wafer so cuts are made
in exactly the correct place.

A higher pressure cooling and chip-clearing water pump reduces
maintenance, and a new SCSI interface kit allows users to operate
the cutting saws directly from an easy-to-programmable PC rather
than the internal EPROM (erasable programable read only memory)
chip-based control processor. This change should make
modifications and changeovers much quicker and easier.

(John McCormick/19930122/Press Contact: Leon Oboler, Kulicke &
Soffa, 215-784-6818, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(DEL)(00003)

India's Nicnet Launches Census Service 02/01/93
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- National Information
Centre's (NIC) Nicnet census service will make available the primary
census abstract of 1991 throughout the country on Nicnet, with
the help of a query software. Nicnet is a national Indian
computer network of the Indian government, linking
about 450 district headquarters and state capitals.

The primary census data offers information on number of
residential houses, male-female ratio, population in different age
groups, literates, and a ninefold industrial classification of workers
for all villages and wards. Stored on the mainframe computer at the
NIC, the data has been so organized that its aggregation, starting
from block or town level up to district, state and all-India levels, is
possible.

Collection, compilation and computerixation of data over 6.3 lakh
villages and about 4,615 towns is considered important for micro
and macro-level planning and also to ascertain the acceptability and
effectiveness of schemes launched by various government departments.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19930201)


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

Xyplex Offers New Hubs, Modules 02/01/93
BOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- Xyplex has
unleashed a barrage of new products which include a new workgroup
hub and a pair of modules that will work across several of Xyplex's
hubs and concentrators.

The new hub is called the Network 9003. This is a smaller version of
the Network 9000 Intra-networking Hub that Xyplex introduced in the
third quarter of last year. The Network 9003 is aimed at the smaller
workgroup which might include a department or a small company. It has
three slots which can accomodate as many connections as 48 10Base-T
ports.

Other Xyplex modules as well as any Network 9000 compatible modules
will also fit in these slots so that the hub can be tailored to the
specific installation.

One advantage of the Network 9000 series is its manageability.
Each component in the systems has on-board network management
via the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). In
addition, each module has its own asynchronous management ports which
bring full modem control. If any of the links between the hub and
network administrator break down, it is always possible to reach the
hub via dial-up modems.

The Network 9003 hubs are available now for $1745.

Xyplex has also introduced a new module for the Network 9000 that
brings a single WAN (wide area network) connection to the network.
The 6800 module actually has two ports but one of them is
connected to the internal bus and is not used externally. The 6800
module supports Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), Exterior Gateway
Protocol (EGP), and RIP (Router Independent Protocol) on networks
that use TCP/IP, IPX, DECnet, or Appletalk routing protocols.

The 6800 is completely managable like all other Network 9000
compatible components. It is compatible with SNMP MIB I, MIB II,
and Xyplex's own MIB extensions. The module is also compatible with
Xyplex's MAXserver 4000/5000 hub family.

Xyplex has established a list price of $3495 for the 6800
Bridge/Router module. The module is available now. Xyplex has also
announced plans to incorporate X.25 capabilities into the 6800
module in the middle of the year. When such capabilities are offered,
Xyplex expects to make an upgrade kit available to current
customers.

Finally, Xyplex announced a new security module. The 211 Security
Processor works on an Ethernet network, each node listening to
all of the traffic that the other nodes generate. The unit is
designed to address the security concerns inherent in open,
star architectures.

The 211 module sits in the hub and looks at each of the packets
that come through the hub. The 211 will allow the packet to proceed
to its destination address unchanged. All other nodes on the
network will be sent a jamming packet letting them know the
network is busy, but not allowing anyone to intercept the data
intended for someone else.

Xyplex is touting this new modules as another step in its continuing
efforts to make networking more secure where needed.

The 211 Security Processor retails for $1650 and is available now.

(Naor Wallach/19930127/Press Contact: Rich Nagle, Copithorne & Bellows
for Xyplex, 617-252-0606/Public Contact: Xyplex, 508-264-9900)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00005)

New For Networks - Translators From Lancast 02/01/93
AMHERST, NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- Lancast has added
to its Mini Translator series a full line of translators so that
network administrators can match up almost any kind of wiring to any
other kind of wiring. The ENT-4318 Mini Translator series is now
comprised of five different members.

The idea behind the translators is to allow full compatibility
between different kinds of wiring. In some cases, using
transceivers is not possible due to cable length limitations or
number of nodes that need to be attached. In these cases it is common
for sites to apply bridges or other, expensive, systems to the
problem. With the mini translators, Lancast is hoping to capture a
large part of that market.

The five mini translators and their prices include: twisted pair
to fiber optic with ST connectors, $495; twisted pair to fiber
optic with SMA connectors, $495: twisted pair twisted pair,
$295; twisted pair to AUI, $195.

All of these models will be available in early March.

Lancast is also dropping the price of its special offer on
the ENT-4321 Micro Transceivers. The new price brings these micro
transceivers to $49.90 apiece.

Lancast spokespoeple attribute the special pricing as a
response to competitive pressure. Newsbytes has learned that other
companies like Allied Telesis may have started this price war
and initiated the $50 dollar price for transceivers. Lancast
is responding to these marketing moves. Lancast president,
Hong Yu, told Newsbytes, "Lancast will not be undersold. We will meet
or beat the competition. The Lancast micro transceivers are the most
compact and cost effective transceivers on the market."

(Naor Wallach/19930127/Press Contact: Roberta Corbinand, Lancast,
603-880-1833/Public Contact: Lancast, 603-880-1833, 800-725-2768)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(DEL)(00006)

India - Dell Motherboard Supplier Launches Superminis 02/01/93
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- The Delhi-based Pertech
Computers Ltd. (PCL) seems to have developed a penchant for staying
in news. Soon after the Rs 1.5 billion (around $50 million) order
from Dell for PC motherboards, it has now launched the Hallmark XMP
series of superminis. The system is positioned against HCL HP 800
series and Synergy from Wipro Infotech, India's top two computer
companies.

In a series of advertisements in the national press, PCL has
challenged the latter "to confess" the former's superiority,
feature by feature. But the big two may have chosen to ignore it,
since PCL is generally seen as a PC player.

The cost of the PCL's superminis varies from Rs 1.4 million
($47,000) for an entry-level model with one CPU running at 66 MHz
with 16 MB RAM, to Rs 5 million (around $0.17 million) for a unit
with six CPUs with 256 MB RAM. PCL claims the XMP is based on
symmetric multiprocessing architecture, which is endorsed by
companies such as NEC, Digital, and Siemens.

The XMP supports Intel 486 DX2 processors running at 66 MHz.
Each CPU has an external write-back cache of 1 MB. The product
is structured around the triple bus architecture.

The XMPs can scale up from one to six 66 MHz CPUs, 300 MB to 30 GB
of online Small Computer Standard Interface (SCSI)-2 HDDs, and
from 16 to 250 simultaneous users. It can run Unix, DOS, Netware
and Windows operating systems. It can be configured with a
back-to-back server mirroring option.

PCL has already sold several XMPs to clients like Steel Tubes
of India, Sundaram Clayto,n and Mafatlal Consultancy Services.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19930128)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00007)

More Clip Art For Harvard Graphics 02/01/93
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- Software
Publishing Corp. (SPC) has signed Imageline to prepare fully
editable images for use in future Harvard Graphics presentation
packages, off-the-shelf multimedia clip art, custom logos and
seals, and vertical market clip art.

To promote the pact, SPC plans to bundle Imageline's PicturePak
ValuePak1 library with Harvard Graphics for DOS and Windows from
February 1 through March 31.

ValuePak1 for Harvard Graphics offers 640 clip art images, also
fully editable. Produced in Harvard Graphics' native file
format, the images have been optimized for presentation purposes
with gradient fills and a special color palette.

Clip art categories range from presentation-oriented images, such
as "Borders & Backgrounds" and "Highlights & Introductions," to
specific symbol libraries, including "People & Places," "Time &
Money," and "Travel & Entertainment."

Imageline also offers PicturePak clip art packages that are
tailored to other major software programs, including WordPerfect
and Quattro Pro, said Gary Gray, Imageline's vice president of
marketing, in an interview with Newsbytes.

Imageline's editable art allows images to be separated into
completely functional independent parts, according to Gray. For
example, an image of a man standing behind a desk can be divided
into two pictures: a desk and a man standing. "Clip art that
isn't fully editable might give you a man with no legs," he
illustrated.

Fully editable images also impose fewer constraints on
scalability and color adjustment, according to Gray. The ability
to edit the Imageline images is based on the use of vector
objects.

In the new agreement between the vendors, Imageline has been
assigned exclusive development of all future clips art libraries
for the Harvard Graphics product line.

The hundreds of clip art images included until now in Harvard
Graphics were created by another developer, and only some are
fully editable, an SPC spokesperson told Newsbytes. "We've also
been highly impressed with the overall quality of the Imageline
art," she noted.

Gray told Newsbytes that SPC and Imageline have already worked
together on preparing clip art with a military theme for the US
government. Images have included representations of soldiers and
the various military branches.

The upcoming off-the-shelf multimedia clip art packages will
include video, sound, and digital photography, the marketing vice
president added.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19930128/Reader contact: SPC Customer Service
Department, tel [phone]; Press contacts: Dorothy Meunier,
SPC, tel [phone]; Gary Gray, Imageline, tel [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00008)

New For PC - HandiWord For Windows 02/01/93
FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- Microsystems
Software has released a Windows 3.1 version of its HandiWORD
word prediction and abbreviation expansion software for
mobility impaired users or non-typists. HandiWORD for MS-DOS has
been available for years and has proven very popular for its
ability to add word prediction capabilities to nearly any
program, but it is especially useful for word processing.

HandiWORD is a pop-up word-prediction program that works with
most MS-DOS programs, including WordPerfect, Microsoft Word,
WordStar, Borland SideKick, and others, as well as at the DOS
command prompt.

In operation HandiWORD detects what ever alphabetic characters
are typed at the cursor and instantly displays a selection of
nine possible words in a one-line reverse-image display at the
top of the screen.

More predictions, if available, are scrolled by pressing the
period key in English mode or the semicolon key in the French
language mode.

If one of the numbered words is the one which the user intends to
enter then it can be transferred to the cursor position by merely
pressing that number key.

An "OOPS" key - the zero key - will instantly remove the wrong
selection.

Since the user may want to input numbers as well as words,
HandiWORD only uses either the row of number keys or the keypad
and ignores numbers pressed on the other, letting that be used to
insert numbers in the application program.

Although this word input method is not as fast an operation as
would be achieved by any good typist, two finger non-typists
might benefit from the software and nearly any mobility impaired
user who can only select keys slowly will have their data input
speed increased by judicious use of this utility program.

Because HandiWORD does not restrict the user by forcing its own
limited word processing capabilities on the system, it enhances
rather than restricts normal computer operation.

If a person types erratically, that is, sometimes fast and
sometimes much slower, he or she can just ignore the HandiWORD
suggestions and continue typing in a normal manner, then select
an occasional word using the prediction feature as needed.

As more letters are typed the selection of possible words changes
and usually narrows.

This is an intelligent word prediction program which
automatically pushes the most often selected words to the left of
the prompt screen and thus the lower number keys. Therefore
HandiWORD's usefulness increases as a person uses it and these
changes are stored on disk so over a number of weeks or even
months the program will continue improving its ability to "guess"
what word is being typed.

There are both persistent and on-demand modes for HandiWORD's
prediction feature which can be toggled from the keyboard during
operating.

In the persistent mode the prediction feature is always active
and constantly displays the predicted words.

When in the on-demand mode the TSR will continue to track input
and predict words but will not display the predictions unless
activated by pressing the Ctrl-Spacebar combination.

HandiWORD for Windows uses MSI's unique "On-Top" feature which
allows the word prediction box to reside on top of the word
processor screen without effecting its operation. The Windows
version can use a mouse to select words and the program includes
a "sticky-keys" utility. The word prediction box can be custom
configured to provide either a horizontal or vertical list, or
even a combination of both.

HandiWORD for Windows lists for $295 but owners of the DOS
version can upgrade for less. A Macintosh-compatible version is
scheduled for release in June.

Microsystems Software offers a line of inexpensive and easy to
use software for vision-impaired and mobility-impaired MS-DOS
users: HandiWARE, HandiWORD, HandiCODE, HandiKEY, HandiTALK,
HandiCHAT, HandiVIEW, HandiSHIFT, MAGic, and SeeBEEP.

(John McCormick/19930129/Press and Consumer Contact: Debra
Gorgens, Microsystems Software, 800-828-2600 or fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00009)

Wordstar Bundling Deal 02/01/93
NOVATO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- Citing the
increasing number of people who are working out of their homes,
Wordstar has put together a package of several of their program that
it is offering as a bundle at significant cost savings.

Wordstar has noted the growing trend of people who are establishing
home offices. These may be people who have decided to start their
own companies, or who have been forced out of work and are trying to
make a go of it as a consultant, or who are trying to develop a
second career while still working on the first. In all cases there
is a common denominator which is the need for these people to own
a computer with the appropriate software for their nascent business.

Wordstar is planning a series of offers where it would combine
several packages that will make sense to use together as part of a
small home business. The complete series will go under the moniker
of SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) Series. The first entry in the
SOHO series has just been announced and is being called Box Office
by the company.

In Box Office, Wordstar has combined the one tool that is universally
acknowledged to be the bedrock of any business, a word processor,
with other tools that enhance the basic word processor and fax
control software. The specific packages involved are: Wordstar for
Windows, The American Heritage Dictionary, Correct Grammar, UltraFax
LE, and Under Cover. All of these are products that are currently
made by Wordstar.

With these products as a basis, Wordstar believes that a small or
home office can take care of its most pressing needs. Wordstar does
not believe that these tools are the only tools that a small office
might need, but that they comprise the initial needs that such offices
require. If purchased individually, all of these products retail at
slightly more than $700. However, under the Box Office rubric, the
whole bundle can be purchased for $249.

"We've found that small and home office users acquire products for
different reasons than corporate users," said David Patrick,
executive vice president at Wordstar. "They see their PC as a
communications center and are looking for products that aid in
productivity, enhance their appearance to the outside world, and
help the communication and management process. We've created Box
Office to specifically meet these needs."

(Naor Wallach/19930129/Press Contact: Kristin Keyes, McLean Public
Relations for Wordstar, 415-513-8800/Public Contact: Wordstar, 415-
382-8000)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00010)

President Clinton Immortalized On CD-ROM 02/01/93
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- President
Clinton is already being immortalized on multimedia compact
disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). Amazing Media is offering a CD-
ROM entitled "Clinton: Portrait of Victory" and Journal
Graphics is preparing a series of CD-ROM titles, with the first
entitled, "The Clinton Economic Conference: History in Little
Rock from CNN."

Amazing Media's CD-ROM is a collection of 300 black and white
photographs taken by photographer P.F. Bentley. Bentley
received exclusive permission from Clinton to not only travel
with the President during the campaign but to enter places
other photographers were not allowed to go, such as Clinton's
home and the front of the plane when he traveled.

Time Magazine published a few of the photographs, but Bentley
retained the rights to the pictures, now being distributed on
CD-ROM by Warner New Media. Also included on the CD-ROM are
movies and narrative.

"Clinton: Portrait of Victory" offers three formats, one each
for CD-ROM equipped Macintosh computers, IBM compatible
personal computers (PCs) with the ability to display 256
colors, and PCs which can display 16 colors. Microsoft Windows
is not a requirement on the PC platform and the retail price is
$39.99.

New York-based Journal Graphics says its CD-ROM series is being
published in cooperation with CNN and published by Unidisc of
Soquel, California. The first CD-ROM title focuses on the two
day summit and allows users to see and hear, as well as read,
presentations and statements of the finest minds in the US.

The CD-ROM contains presentations from John Sculley of Apple
Computer, Paul Allaire of Xerox, and Robert Allan of AT&T. The
position papers from economics experts such as John White of
Harvard, and Alan Blinder of Princeton will also be featured.
Educators and children's rights advocates Johnetta Cole of
Spelman College and Marian Wright Edelman of the Children's
Defense Fund are also available for viewing.

Journal Graphics says the user can review the entire
conference, or go to select portions by conference day, agenda
item, or individual speaker. CNN's post-conference analysis and
background reporting are also included.

The first CD-ROM in the series will run under DOS or Windows on
CD-ROM drive equipped PCs. Retail price has been set at $129.95
and is slated for availability March 31, 1993. Two additional
titles are planned for later release this year -- "The Path to
the Presidency: The Complete Election '92 Coverage from CNN"
and "CNN: The Year In Review, 1993 Edition."

(Linda Rohrbough/19930129/Press Contact: Steve Cherneff,
Amazing Media, tel [phone], fax [phone]; Shira Kavon,
Journal Graphics, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00011)

UK - Windows Software Races Ahead Of DOS Sales 02/01/93
MAIDENHEAD, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- Figures just
out from Romtec, the market research company, show that Windows
has exceeded DOS in sales terms for the first time in November of
last year.

According to Romtec, during November, Windows accounted for 52
percent of sales compared with 44 percent for DOS. Mac software
sales accounting for the remaining seven percent. In the 11
months to November '92, Windows held 32 percent, with DOS holding
58 percent. Mac sales accounted for 7 percent.

The projected figures for 1993 make for some interesting reading,
Windows is projected as taking 58 percent of total market share
by the end of 1993, with DOS holding onto 32 percent. The Mac
will continue its upward swing, holding on to eight percent by
the end of 1993. OS/2 and Unix had, respectively, 1 and 2 percent
of the market.

Andy Brown, Romtec's panel research manager, said that the
success of Windows applications has fuelled growth of more than
40 percent in the UK software market in 1992. "Over the next five
years we expect DOS-based application sales to decline to a
single figure market share," he said.

(Steve Gold/19930129/Press & Public Contact: Romtec: 0628-770077;
fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00012)

IBM UK Expands Service Options For PCs 02/01/93
PORTSMOUTH, HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- IBM United
Kingdom's customer service operation has announced the extended
cover option which gives PC and Lexmark printer customers the
option of extending warranty to three, four, or five years.

The main features of the option include a guaranteed same-day
response, on-site repairs or exchange, IBM spare parts, and
competitive pricing.

Announcing the warranty arrangements, Peter Hagger, IBM's
business development manager, said that the company is committed
to providing a high level of service to Personal Systems users.

"This new offering reaffirms our determination to play a major
role in this important business area. It also represents another
step forward in our drive to provide a comprehensive multi-vendor
service for PS products," he said.

IBM, as usual, remains coy on the subject of exact pricing. The
company, which calls the warranties highly competitive, is
charging customers a single flat-rate fee rather an annual fee,
which covers parts and labour, as well as travel costs.

Thinkpads, Notebooks and PS/1s will continue to be repaired by
the IBM Servicepoints. To prevent such users from feeling "left
out" of the new scheme, IBM will be offering to deliver and
collect these machines at no extra charge.

IF IBM fails to adhere to its same day response, IBM is offering
a UKP 50 refund if CS fails to respond on the same day, provided
users call before 11 am. The offer is limited the UK mainland and
anywhere within 50 miles of an IBM service point.

(Steve Gold/19930129)


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

Accelerator Card Improves PS/2 Performance 02/01/93
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- A California
company recently announced a family of upgrade products that it says
can increase the performance of IBM's PS/2 personal computers by as
much as 20 times.

According to Reply Corporation, its TurboProcessor System upgrade
family accelerates performance of the PS/2's microprocessor, memory,
disk storage, and video all in one easy-to-install package for less
than half the price of purchasing an entire new system offering
equal performance.

TurboProcessor increases the system memory up to 128 megabytes (MB)
depending on the PS/2 model in which the accelerator board is
installed. Video performance is boosted to Super VGA with 1 MB of
video memory and a graphical users interface accelerator, and data
storage capacity is upped to as much as one gigabyte (GB). The
company says TurboProcessor does not interfere with the user's Micro
Channel Adapter (MCA) networking, memory, and communications
option cards.

Steve Petracca, Reply's president, says the TurboProcessor will be
manufactured at IBM's facility in Austin, Texas an will allow PS/2
users to run Microsoft Windows and the OS/2 operating system without
having to purchase a new system. InfoCorp estimates that there are
about seven million installed PS/2 systems.

The system also adds one or more additional MCA expansion slots, and
and an additional bi-directional parallel and serial slot. Reply
spokesperson Ava Shen told Newsbytes upgrade boards for PS/2 models
50 and 50Z are shipping now, while boards for models 60, 70, and 80
are expected to ship later this quarter.

(Jim Mallory/19930129/Press contact: Allison Johnson, Reply
Corporation, 408-956-2727; Reader contact: Reply Corporation,
408-942-4804, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00014)

Nintendo To Offer Device For Novice Game Creation 02/01/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- Kyoto-based Nintendo and
Nomura Research Institute plan to jointly develop and sell a device
which will allow novice users to create game software.

The design of this new game development device is still on the
drawing boards, and both firms have yet to work out the technical
details. However, what is known is that it will have a 32-bit
processor and a special operating system. The device will be
connected to a television set. Both firms are also thinking of
developing a device capable of being connected to a personal
computer. The price of the standard device will be around 90,000
yen ($720). The operating system will be produced by Nintendo.

Meanwhile, Nomura Research Institute, an affiliate of Nomura
Securities, is expected to help Nintendo create a telecommunication
network and develop a modem for the device.

Nintendo reports it has received requests from game machine
users who also want to also create games, and seek an easier way
to do it.

Meanwhile, Nintendo may be ready to enter another venture --
the space satellite network business. Nintendo may purchase an
equity position in Saint Giga, a debt-ridden space satellite
firm in Tokyo. Saint Giga is currently broadcasting music programs
in digital sound. Nintendo may use this system to broadcast game
software. The medium also presents the potential to broadcast
stock prices, weather forecasting reports, and fax signals, among
other data.

Saint Giga was created by a consortium of 130 firms in 1990. The
business started in 1991, and the firm has yet to make a profit.
It was initially expecting to acquire 200,000 registered users but
has gained only around 41,000 users. The Asahi newspaper says there
is almost no hope for the firm to break even by the end of
fiscal 1994.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930201/Press Contact: Nintendo, +81-
75-541-6111, Fax, [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00015)

Japan's DDI May Join Motorola Iridium Project 02/01/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- Japan's domestic telecommunication
carrier Daini Denden (DDI) has participated in the Iridium Project
Forum, held by Motorola in Geneva, Switzerland. DDI was
the only Japanese firm which participated in this forum. The
Iridium project is space satellite-based worldwide mobile
telecommunications project.

The forum was intended to help firms invest in the Iridium
project. However, a DDI spokesman tells Newsbytes that DDI
representatives were just observing. He said the firm has not
decided whether to participate.

According to Motorola, 21 firms are interested in investing
in this project. Actual names of the participating firms are
being withheld.

At the forum, 18 firms, hailing from North and South America, Europe,
Asia-Pacific regions, Africa and the Middle East, participated and
signed business participation agreements at the forum. Total investment
fees amounted to more than $8 billion.

Although these firms signed on the dotted line, these are tentative
agreements and the firms could change their minds and withdraw
from the project later.

DDI has been studying the Iridium project through a special
working team created last year. Other Japanese telecom firms are
still undecided as to whether to participate. Japan's major
international telecom firm KDD once considered participation, but
is still undecided.

In the Iridium project, Motorola is planning to launch 66
space telecommunication satellites to provide a worldwide
mobile phone network. Motorola estimates the project will cost
$3.37 billion with business planned to start in 1998.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930201/Press Contact: DDI, +81-3-
3222-0077)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00016)

Japan - Hitachi To Get PC Supply From IBM 02/01/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- Hitachi will link with IBM Japan
concerning sales of DOS/V-based desktop personal computers. Hitachi
has already been getting notebook-type personal computers from
IBM Japan. This represents an extension of both firms' agreement,
which was signed in 1992.

Hitachi has received IBM Japan's notebook PCs on an OEM (original
equipment manufacturer) basis. The new agreement will cover
desktop personal computers. Hitachi will get IBM Japan's
DOS/V-based desktop personal computers, the PS/V series. These PCs
have powerful Japanese language processing features as well as
original English language programs. A big advantage of these
PCs is the price. The low-end model costs 198,000 yen ($1,590),
which is about 20,000 yen ($160) cheaper than comparable models
from NEC.

Hitachi currently markets its own DOS/V-based personal
computers in Japan. However, during the PC price war,
Hitachi has chosen to get supplies of the machines from IBM
Japan instead of doing its own manufacturing. Currently in
Japan, many personal computer firms including Compaq, Dell,
NEC, and IBM Japan are in a fierce battle to lower prices on their
PCs.

IBM Japan has similar OEM-agreements with other Japanese firms
including Ricoh.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930201/Press Contact: Hitachi, +81-3-
3258-2057, Fax, [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00017)

Japan - Compaq Improves Service, Lowers Prices Again 02/01/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- Compaq (Japan) plans to expand
the free service and repair period on PCs it sells from one year
to three years. Also, Compaq plans to cut prices on its latest
DOS/V personal computers.

A Compaq spokeswoman reports that the free maintenance
period will be expanded as early as mid-February. According to
the Nikkei newspaper, Compaq will provide on-site maintenance
service free of charge for the first year and during the
last two-year period, the firm will charge only a travel fee for
service employees concerning on-sight maintenance at a customer's
home or office. Other services will be totally free.

Compaq is already preparing to beef up its maintenance services.
A deal has been hammering out with Tokyo-based major PC
maintenance firm Uchida Esco. Compaq anticipates the service of
2,300 maintenance engineers through this arrangement.

Meanwhile, Compaq is also planning to cut prices on its latest
personal computers. This price cut is still in the planning stage
and details are unknown, but the cut is expected to be between 10
to 20 percent in order to vie with Dell's low-cost PCs.

Compaq released low-cost DOS/V-based personal computers in October
1992. Those PCs were about half the prices of Japanese,
counterparts at that time. Now, Dell Computer, IBM Japan,
NEC, and Seiko-Epson have also gone on a price-cutting spree
following the footsteps of Compaq. Fujitsu is also planning to
release low-cost PCs this month. The situation may reach the
boiling point this April when the new school term begins in Japan.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930201/Press Contact: Compaq, Tokyo,
[phone], Fax, [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00018)

Japan - Satellite ISDN Hardware 02/01/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- Matsushita Electric has developed
a satellite-based audio-visual educational bundle that brings together
a telecom satellite system and ISDN (integrated services digital
network) services. At a million dollars, however, the education
market Matsushita is aiming at is corporate and not scholastic.

Matsushita's system consists of camcorders, an NTSC-type satellite
device, and PCM (pulse code modulation) devices for audio data
transmission. This system connects space satellites and NTT's
ISDN line called the INS Net 64. Pictures can be sent every 2 to
8 seconds, meaning this is not motion pictures, but close.
The sound is sent digitally, making it extremely crisp. This system
can be expanded to include additional camcorders, still cameras,
and monitors.

The total system costs a whopping 173 million yen ($1.4 million).
Matsushita aims to sell this system to governments and firms for
corporate education. Matsushita expects to gain 1 billion yen ($8
million) in sales during the first year, and expects to triple sales
within three years. According to Matsushita, the price seems
expensive, but the operating cost is low because no operators are
required and it is easy to use. Matsushita expects this kind of
telecom-based corporate education will be popular in the near
future.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930201/Press Contact: Matsushita
Electric, [phone], Fax, [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00019)

Canada Product Launch Update 02/01/93
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- Newsbytes this week
starts a regular feature, which will appear every Monday or Tuesday.
The feature will detail Canadian launches by international companies ]
in the past week. This week's launches included the much-awaited
Paradox for Windows database software and systems from Silicon Graphics
and Sun. The following provides details for the Canadian market to
supplement other Newsbytes coverage of these announcements.

On January 25, only a few days behind its parent company in the
US, Sun Microsystems of Canada unveiled its Network Terminal Server
(Newsbytes, January 21), saying the system will be available in
February for C$10,150.

Silicon Graphics Canada launched the company's Onyx advanced graphics
supercomputers and the new Indigo2 Extreme workstation (Newsbytes,
January 26), as well as its Challenge and Power Challenge servers,
in the Canadian market January 27. Prices for the Extreme workstation
will start at less than C$14,000, the company said. Prices for the
top-of-the-line Power Challenge supercomputing servers will begin
at about C$170,000.

Borland Canada Software said Paradox for Windows (Newsbytes,
January 28) is available immediately in Canada. The introductory
price in Canada is C$167.95 until April 30. David McGlaughlin,
president of Borland Canada, said the list price will rise to
about C$575 after that, although upgrades and competitive
upgrades will remain in the C$170 range.

Borland Canada also announced a 90-day price promotion on its
Quattro Pro spreadsheet software, which will be available for
C$124.95 until April 30.

(Grant Buckler/19930130/Press Contact: ; Public Contact: Bev
Buckton, Borland Canada, 416-229-1831 ext. 141, fax [phone];
Pamela White, Silicon Graphics Canada, 416-625-4747; Michael
Douglas, Sun Canada, 416-477-6745)


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

Cellular Phone Scare Spreads 02/01/93
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- Despite attempts to
dispel an image problem, cellular service and equipment stocks
worldwide were hit by a wave of panic selling in the wake of
charges that handheld phones can cause cancer.

Newsbytes reported the charges of David Reynard of Madeira Beach,
Florida on January 4. The panic set in after Mr. Reynard appeared
on CNN's "Larry King Live" and two corporate chieftains had been
diagnosed with brain cancer. Corporate leaders are big users of
cellular phones and one of the men, Reginald Lewis of TLC
Beatrice, has already died of the disease.

In response, Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association
President Thomas Wheeler held a news conference and displayed his
own cellular phone, insisting it was safe despite being the same
NEC model subject to the Reynard suit. He also promised to fund a
$1 million study on the health risks of such phones, and asked
the government to appoint a "blue ribbon" commission that would
review the results. McCaw Cellular has already funded a study on
the medical impact of cellular waves, which with handheld phones
are just one-tenth the power levels deemed dangerous by the
Federal Communications Commission. The US House of Representatives
has also asked for a report on existing data concerning cellular
phone safety.

Still, investors panicked. Motorola stock lost nearly $10 on the
week, to near $50, and international stocks involved in the
business were also down. Some analysts, however, called the falls
merely a correction, noting that Motorola in particular had been
trading at speculative levels following AT&T's decision to invest
$3.8 billion in McCaw Cellular Communications. Many cellular
operators are volatile because, despite positive cash flow, they
are seldom profitable due to continuing investments in new
technology. Only one analyst joined the herd of sellers, with
Josephthal Lyon & Ross downgrading Pacific Telesis to a sell
because of the health concerns. PacTel has said it will divide
itself between regulated wireline and non-regulated wireless
units, and its stock fell to under $44 per share during the week,
inside its regular trading range for the first time since the
break-up announcement.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930201)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00021)

AT&T, Unitel Complete Deal 02/01/93
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- AT&T and Unitel
Communications have finalized a deal, announced earlier in
January, that gives AT&T a 20-percent stake in the Canadian
long-distance and data communications company.

With the completion of the deal, AT&T gets 20 percent of Unitel
and two seats on the firm's board of directors. The two previous
partners in Unitel, Canadian Pacific Ltd. and Rogers
Communications, now own 48 and 32 percent of the firm
respectively.

The deal announced in early January gives Unitel access to AT&T's
intelligent network software in exchange for the 20-percent
equity stake. Unitel values the deal at about C$150 million, said
Jan Innes, the company's vice-president of public affairs.

Unitel needs the intelligent network software to offer advanced
telecommunications services to customers. The deal comes in
response to one signed in September by Stentor Canadian Network
Management, the consortium of Canada's regional telephone
carriers, and the US-based long-distance operator MCI
Communications. That deal gave Stentor access to MCI's
intelligent network software, though not in exchange for equity.

Meanwhile, the deal will let AT&T and Unitel offer consistent
telecommunications services to multinational companies with
offices in both the United States and Canada, said Suzanne
Berman, a spokeswoman for AT&T Canada in Toronto.

The companies plan to begin joint marketing of selected services
by the middle of this year, officials said. Initial offerings
will include virtual network services, packet and frame relay
data services, digital private lines, and enhanced audio
teleconferencing.

Unitel won approval from Canadian regulators last spring to offer
long-distance telephone service competition with the regional
telephone companies in seven of the 10 provinces, and is awaiting
rulings on providing service in two more provinces. The company
has already begun signing up long-distance customers in a handful
of major centers.

(Grant Buckler/19930201/Jan Innes, Unitel, 416-345-2767; Suzanne
Berman, AT&T, 416-756-5034)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00022)

UK - Truetype For DOS 02/01/93
FORT FAREHAM, HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- Fontware has
announced Truetype for DOS, which it claims is a revolutionary new
package that provides DOS users with access to the Truetype scaling
technology seen in Microsoft Windows 3.1.

The UKP 69-94 package has been specifically designed for use with
Wordperfect, as well as Microsoft Word and Works. In use, it allows
DOS users to print any size type from 2 to 999 points and create a
variety of special effects using 36 high resolution fonts.

"Most DOS users have very limited access to different fonts, normally
only the ones included with their printer. With Truetype for DOS, they
have the opportunity to use a huge variety of scalable fonts, such as
those currently enjoyed by Windows 3.1 users," explained Ivor Smith,
Fontware's technical director.

Smith went on to say that Truetype for DOS supports a host of
printers, including Canon, Epson, HP and NEC.

Truetype for DOS comes with 36 fonts in total, which includes 24 body
text fonts, 10 decorative fonts and two symbol fonts. Fontware claims
that users can print any number and combination of patterns, outlines,
shadows and reverse effects with any of the fonts.

Newsbytes notes that the fonts included in Truetype for DOS can also
be used in all Windows 3.1 applications. Fontware claims that, when
run in a DOS window under Windows, the package has a superior printing
capability thanks to its special effects and triple the selection of
typefaces.

Systems requirements for Truetype for DOS are a PC with at least 640K
of memory and three megabytes (3MB) of available hard disk space.

(Steve Gold/19930201/Press & Public Contact: Fontware Limited - Tel:
0329-822857)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LON)(00023)

UK Printer Market Survey 02/01/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 FEB 1 (NB) -- Context Market Research has
released preliminary details of how indirect (dealer) UK printer
market sales went during 1992. The figures run up to the end of
November, 1992. The results show dot matrix down, laser down,
and inkjet up.

During the year (December '91 to November '92), sales of dot matrix
printers were 575,000 units, down 17 percent on the previous year's
figures.

Laser printers, meanwhile, dropped two per cent from 283,000 to
277,000 units, which came as something of a surprise, given the 1990
to 1991 rise of 31.5 percent reported a year ago.

Inkjet printer sales continue their meteoric rise, turning in unit
sales of 244,000, up 47 percent on the 166,000 reported for the year
to November, 1991.

When all three categories are added together, along with other types
of printers sold, unit sales for the year were 1,112 million -- down
five percent on the 1,169 million reported for the previous year. This
compares with a nine percent rise in unit sales when 1991's figures
are compared to 1990's.

Printer pricing, meanwhile, continued its steady fall during 1992. Dot
matrix printers went down 6.5 percent, while laser printers dropped 9
percent over the year. Inkjet prices shuffled downwards by five
percent. Overall, printer prices dropped 11 percent over the year.

According to Context, the total printer market in the UK
experienced a fall in sales during the course of 1992, compared to
those achieved in the previous year. In volume terms, 1991 was a boom
year for the market with a growth rate of nine percent.

Lawrence Ower, Context's printer research analyst, told Newsbytes that
the general trend of printer sales was downward. This, he surmised,
was because of the recession.

"The laser sector fell by just over two percent in 1992 and saw the
largest decrease in average unit price of all three technologies (dot
matrix, laser and inkjet). This is further evidence of the challenge
of the top-end inkjet in providing an economical, quality printing
solution," he said.

(Steve Gold/19930201/Press & Public Contact: Context - Tel: 071-937-
3595; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00024)

HP In HDTV Broadcast Encoders Deal With Zenith/AT&T 02/01/93
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- High definition
television (HDTV) has been threatening to reach the mainstream
for a number of years. As with most developing technologies,
one of the main stumbling blocks has been standards. In
anticipation of the Federal Communication Commission's adoption
of the HDTV system developed by Zenith and AT&T, Hewlett-
Packard said that it plans to develop and manufacture broadcast
encoders for the companies.

In a prepared statement, the companies said that, under a deal
in principle with AT&T and Zenith, HP would "support rapid
deployment of digital HDTV encoder equipment to broadcasters
following FCC adoption of the new HDTV broadcast standard."

In announcing the deal, James D. Olson, general manager of HP's
Stanford Park Division, said: "HP's strength in measurement,
computation and communications positions us well to help
speed the conversion of HDTV technology into commercial
products. These products align well with our strategy of
developing and manufacturing products for the digital
video-communications market. HP is fully committed to
playing a key role in the launch of the US HDTV industry."

HP says it will license technology from AT&T and Zenith if the
FCC were to adopt the Zenith/AT&T Digital Spectrum Compatible
HDTV system.

HDTV encoders are electronic systems used by broadcasters to
process and compress HDTV signals. According to analysts,
the earliest prototypes are expected to be available six-12
months after the FCC selects an HDTV standard. Commercial
products are expected to take at least a year.

One of the characteristic of HDTV services already operational
in Japan is the high cost of television sets to the consumer.
HDTV is only in the experimental programming stages there.

(Ian Stokell/19930201/Press Contact: John Minck,
415-857-2060, Hewlett-Packard)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00025)

Borland Paradox For Windows On Shelves, DIP Pkg Expected 02/01/93
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 1 (NB) --
Struggling Borland, in open competition with Microsoft, is
launching Paradox for Windows. Borland also announced a
companion product for Paradox, Discovery Edition Document Image
Processing (DIP), from Palm Springs, California-based Watermark
Software for the storage and manipulation of scanned documents
in Paradox for Windows

Borland says over 50,000 copies of Paradox has been shipping
to retailers since mid-January in preparation for today's
worldwide launch. In open competition with Microsoft's Windows
database product, Access, Borland says it will offer Paradox
for Windows at an introductory price of $139.95 for the first
90 days ending April 30, 1993. However, the Discovery
product from Watermark is not expected to ship until the second
quarter of 1993 and is expected to be retail priced at $149.

Microsoft, however, is expected to ship the long-awaited Foxpro
for Windows shortly, which means Borland will be up against
both the Access and Foxpro products. Borland has a Foxpro for
Windows counterpart, dBASE for Windows, but since it missed its
original shipping date of the Windows database product set
early last year, company officials have been unwilling to
comment about when the Windows dBASE product can be expected.

The DIP angle is an attempt to attract the growing numbers of
networked government and corporate users who face mountains of
paper. As paper documents, such as invoices, resumes, faxes,
contracts, and applications come in, the original can be scanned
and placed in a database for network access along with other
standard database information.

Both Paradox and Discovery employ Window's Object Linking and
Embedding (OLE) to allow users to store and manipulate the
scanned images of documents in Paradox for Windows. In Paradox,
the Image Objects are represented by a miniaturized
reproduction or "thumbnail" of the image. Double clicking on
the thumbnail image launches Watermark's product and displays
the full image, which can be viewed, annotated, or copied to
another application.

Borland maintains Paradox for Windows offers transparent access
to data from previous DOS-based versions of Paradox as well as
dBASE data, including dBASE III+ and dBASE IV. A structured
query language (SQL) server, called Borland SQL Link, is
expected in another three to six months. It provides access to data
residing on remote SQL servers including Borland's Interbase,
Oracle, and Microsoft/Sybase.

Borland has been struggling financially off and on since it
bought the failing database giant Ashton-Tate two years ago. In
its most recent financial statement the company reported losses of
$61.3 million in its third quarter, has announced layoffs, and
its stock prices have been dropping for months. Reports are
Borland has talked with spreadsheet giant Lotus about a merger,
but so far nothing has come of the talks.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930201/Press Contact: Allison Niday,
Borland, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GOVT)(DEL)(00026)

 ****India - High Tech "Cold War" Involves Russian President Yeltsin 02/01/93
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- The Russian President arrived
in New Delhi on January 27th on a three-day visit to India. But,
Boris Yeltsin almost never made it to India.

The Russians threatened to cancel the presidential visit because
of a haggle over setting up a communications base in Rashtrapati
Bhawan. This is the official residence of the President of India
and the place where British Prime Minister John Major stayed until
the day before Yeltsin's entourage was to arrive.

The flashpoint arose because the Indian government had not taken into
account the complications involved in hosting two high-level
visits, one of whose leaders carries with him the box which can
trigger a global nuclear war.

The Anglo-Russian "cold war" erupted last Thursday as dozens of
Russian technicians landed with tons of highly sensitive
communications equipment to set up an advance base for their
president.

The British, already ensconced in the presidential residence with
their own communication equipment and security systems,
objected to the Russian presence.

Never before had the Kremlin's top level communication system
operated in such close proximity to that of Whitehall and the
British feared that Moscow would break into Mr Major's messages
to London and even tap what was going on within his entourage to India.

The British High Commission in India demanded an undertaking from
the Indian government that the Russians would not operate their
equipment anywhere in the vicinity of their communication
headquarters, an undertaking the Indians readily made available.

The matter, however, did not end there. The British found out that
the Russians had set up a temporary communications room right
below their own and were attempting to transmit messages to
Moscow. Panicky Indian officials pleaded with the Russians not
to install their equipment and create a diplomatic incident.
After haggling for a day, the crisis that threatened to blow into
a major diplomatic disaster for India was resolved when the
Russians packed their bags and left Rashtrapati Bhavan last Friday
with their equipment.

It is understood that under a painfully worked out compromise,
the men from the Kremlin agreed to test their equipment and set
up a temporary communications base at their embassy.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19930129)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEL)(00027)

IBM Takes 3 Delhi Shops To Court For Illegal Copying 02/01/93
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- Three Delhi-based shops have
been restrained by court orders from dealing in counterfeited IBM
software and related manuals. IBM came to know about the illegal
practices being carried on in Computerzone, Micro Computers &
Peripherals, and Vikman's Peripherals in the course of investigations
on software piracy.

The shops were raided and illegal copies of Storyboard 2.0
(an IBM graphics presentation program), IBM DOS, and a number
of manuals were taken into custody. Said Mac Jeffrey, manager,
media relations, IBM Asia Pacific, "We will continue to monitor
the situation in India."

Other countries where IBM has taken similar action include
Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, Italy, US, Japan, and Malaysia.

On the flip side, Pankaj Verma, president, Computerzone, says,
"No pirated packages were recovered from here," and that "we will
continue to deal in IBM software since no one needs permission
to market original packages."

(C.T. Mahabharat/19930129)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(BOS)(00028)

Localized French and UK Versions Of Mac-Based WriteNow 02/01/93
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- T/Maker
Company has introduced UK and French editions of its award-winning
WriteNow 3.0 word processing program for Apple Computer's Macintosh.

European sales of the new packages are being handled by Marisel UK
and Principal, two British distributors, and BR Publishing, a
French republisher, a company spokesperson told Newsbytes.

The UK and French editions are similar to the previously released
English-language version, except that a localized thesaurus,
spelling checker, and grammar checker take the place of the US-
oriented equivalents.

Each edition of WriteNow is highly compact, the spokesperson
stressed. A low RAM requirement of 490K makes the program suitable
for use even on a PowerBook, Performa, or Classic model.

The word processor also provides System 7 compatibility,
page preview, paragraph and character style sheets, online help,
mail merge, and a large array of fonts in a wide range of
sizes.

Priced at 149 British pounds, the UK version comes with British
editions of the Grammatik Mac grammar checker and WordMaster
spelling checker and thesaurus.

The French version is available in two ways. When accompanied by
a French thesaurus and spelling checker, plus Sans/Faute Grammaire
1.5, a French grammar checker from ACI, the package is priced at
2,490 French francs. With the thesaurus and spelling checker only,
the price is 990 French francs.

Sans/Faute Grammaire features extensive explanations of French
grammar rules, as well as an "automatic punctuation checker"
that corrects punctuation and spacing as the user types along.

All three editions of WriteNow 3.0 are being distributed
in the US and Canada. The French version is targeted not just
at native speakers of French or Canadian French, but at language
students who are fluent enough in French to understand the
grammar explanations in Sans/Faute Grammaire.

The original English-language version holds an Editor's Choice
award from MacWorld magazine. The package lists for $249. For
more information on pricing and distribution, call T/Maker Company.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19930201/Reader contact: T/Maker Company, tel
415-962-0195; Press contact: Gwendaline Mazzara, T/Maker Company,
tel [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00029)

 ****New Graphics Protocol For BBSes - RIPScript 02/01/93
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- Galacticomm,
a maker of bulletin board system software, has formed an
alliance with communications software vendor deltaComm
Development and TeleGrafix to support a new graphics protocol for
BBSs called RIPscrip.

TeleGrafix is the developer of RIPscrip, which stands for Remote
Imaging Protocol. It is designed as an efficient way of
delivering graphics to online services, and competes with the
NAPLPS system used by Prodigy. TeleGrafix head Jeff Reeder said,
"Almost any BBS can implement RIPscrip support," noting the
importance of the Galacticomm announcement is to make this an
integrated feature in its The Major BBS. The support of RIPscrip
by Telix, which has over 800,000 users, will create a larger
group of online system users anxious to try out the system.

Galacticomm vice president Scott Brinker said the announcement
means that in the near future anyone will be able to walk into
set-up a service much like Prodigy or America Online for as
little as $1,000, simply by buying the Major BBS and a computer
with a modem. Integrated support of RIPscrip is expected in
Version 6.1 of The Major BBS, due for release this spring.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930201/Press Contact: Sherri Robert,
Galacticomm, 305-583-5990)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00030)

Ambra Enterprise PCs From IBM Canada Unit 02/01/93
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 FEB 1 (NB) -- ExperComp Services
Ltd., the clone-making subsidiary of IBM Canada Ltd., is
broadening its horizons to include mid-sized corporate buyers as
well as the home and small business market.

ExperComp has launched the Ambra Enterprise and Enterprise Max
lines of personal computers, which have hardware specifications
similar to those of its existing models but are aimed at
corporate buyers. ExperComp has also chosen a different
distribution approach for the new models: rather than selling
through deals as it does with its Hurdla and Sprinta desktops and
Treka portables, it will market the Enterprise and Enterprise Max
machines through a toll-free telephone order line.

While home buyers like to look at PCs before they buy, said Andre
Turgeon, chief operating officer of ExperComp, corporate buyers
usually know just what they want. "What they're looking for is a
convenient way to acquire the product."

Turgeon said that while the new models cover about the same range
of processors as other Ambra models, they tend to have more
features than the machines aimed at home and small-business
buyers. For instance, he said, the Enterprise and Enterprise Max
PCs have full PS/2 keyboards and are generally shipped with
larger hard disks and more memory as standard equipment.

The Ambra Enterprise line consists of six models, ranging from a
33-megahertz 386SX-based computer to a 66-megahertz 486DX2
machine. Prices range from C$1,699 to C$3,399, Turgeon said.
Machines in this line come with three bays for hard drives and
other storage devices and three expansion slots. Four megabytes
of memory is standard, and 100- or 200-megabyte hard disk drives
are included, depending on the model.

All Ambra Enterprise models are supplied with DOS 5.0 and
Microsoft Windows 3.1.

The Enterprise Max line has six models, based on various 486
processors ranging from a 25-megahertz 486SX to a 66-megahertz
486DX2. Six expansion slots and six drive bays are standard.
Depending on the model, the Enterprise Max machines come with
four or eight megabytes and a 100- or 200-megabyte hard drive.
Prices range from C$2,149 to C$3,799.

The Enterprise Max models are sold with either DOS 5.0 and
Windows 3.1 or, optionally on some models, IBM's OS/2 2.0.

All the models include an Ultra VGA display monitor, a mouse, and
a 3.5-inch, 1.44-megabyte diskette drive.

(Grant Buckler/19930201/Press Contact: Kate Jobling, Goodman
Communications for ExperComp, 416-924-9100; Public Contact:
ExperComp, 800-AMBRA-05 [800-262-7205])