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/nb930225

Text File | 1993-02-26 | 73KB | 1,607 lines

(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEL)(00001)

Zenith To Manufacture Acer PCs In India 02/25/93
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Following IBM's formal
launch of its products in India, and Digital Equipment (India)
offering a taste of the future with its Alpha-based workstations
and servers, Zenith has now announced that it will manufacture
and distribute the complete range of Acer Computer's products
in India, from notebooks to servers and multimedia PCs.

The Zenith-Acer partnership has a political overtone as well. As
R. Kumaramangalam, the Minister for Communications points out,
it is the first direct economic tie-up between India and the
Pacific Rim, and "for certain political compulsions, we've not
been able to have a complete political tie-up with Taiwan."

Acer is not totally new in the Indian market. The company has
been supplying computer parts to original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) for over six years. Zenith introduced
the Acer K386S notebook four months ago. The price of the
386SX-based notebook has also come down from the
introductory Rs 0.15 million (around $5,000) to Rs 75,000
($2,500). The 486-based slim-line model is priced at for Rs
0.1 million (around $3,333), while the color model costs
Rs 0.175 million (around $ 5,833).

Among the other offerings are the Acer Power chip-upgradable
ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) and EISA (Extended ISA)
desktop computers, Acer Frame and Acer Altos dual and multiple
CPU (central processing unit)-based LAN (local area network)
and Unix servers, priced at Rs 0.3 million (around $10,000) and
Rs 0.7 million (around $23,333) respectively. The ace in the pack
is possibly the Acer Pac multimedia personal activity center.

A 386SX-based system with MS-Windows with Multimedia
Extensions, Microsoft Works for Windows, Winfax, Microsoft
Bookshelf and Prodigy bundled in, Acer Pac 150 is designed for
fully integrated communications. Apart from normal computing
capabilities, it also has a telephone answering device, fax,
AM/FM radio and compact disc player. The price tag is Rs 0.15
million (around $5,000).

"Prices will, of course, change if there is a change in customs
duty," said Raj Saraf, Zenith's chairman and managing director.

Zenith, however, will not scrap its existing products. "We're not
bringing in Acer Mate workstations for they are similar to our
Agni," said Ganesh Iyer, Zenith's marketing manager. York Chen,
managing director of Acer, expects revenues over $10 million
by the end of the next financial year, and expects the Acer
power chip upgradables (from 386SX to 486 DX2) to sell the
most.

Manufacturing will be on a small scale initially. While the
notebooks will be imported. "When we start full-fledged
manufacturing, we will go for a joint venture, and take an
equity stake like our ventures in Brazil or Malaysia,'' stressed
York Chen.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19930225)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(DEL)(00002)

India - More Sun Servers From Wipro 02/25/93
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Wipro Infotech is vying
for a place in the high-end RISC/Unix server market. The company
recently launched Sparcstation 2000, a powerful, multiprocessing
server, with expandability up to 20 processors. The machine was
launched by Sun Microsystems in the US about three months ago.

The machine, according to Ashok Soota, president of Wipro
Infotech is being targeted at financial services, engineering and
scientific computing markets with high database intensive
applications.

At the entry-level, a two processor configuration is offered. The
product can be upgraded to a 20-way multiprocessor system by
adding processor modules. The machine supports a maximum of
3,000 terminals. Sun claims a peak performance of 269 million-
instructions-per-second (MIPS), a high-speed Sbus channel with
up to four expansion options, and 4.2 gigabytes of disk storage.

In other words, Wipro has an almost mainframe class machine
to compete with IBM's RS/6000 980 and HP's HP 890. It is priced
upwards of Rs 10 million (around $0.33 million).

Wipro also extended its Sun range by launching Sparcstation LX
and the Sparc Classic server, based on the Microsparc chip
which integrates four chip modules. These are the first systems
from Sun to have Solaris 1.2. The Sparcstation LX is a desktop
system featuring a GXplus accelerator and CD-quality audio.

The Sparc Classic server is also being positioned as a
departmental server. Priced between Rs 0.6 million ($20,000)
and Rs 1 million ($33,333), the two are targeted at education
and research markets besides CASE (computer-aided software
engineering). All the new systems are ready for shipment.

With 1,000 installations of Sun, Wipro Infotech is the
workstations market leader. Soota expects to make larger
inroads with these additions, especially on the high end of
the RISC/Unix market.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19930225)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00003)

Japan - Rhythm Clock Develops 3D Scanner For PCs 02/25/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Tokyo-based clock maker
Rhythm Clock has developed a three-dimensional (3D) handy
image scanner, which can be connected to a personal computer.
It is a combination of a scanner, a digital camera, and an
electronic book player.

Called the Visimo, it is capable of taking the image of an object
into its memory and using it in a personal computer. The device
is equipped with a four-inch monochrome LCD (liquid crystal
display) and a CCD (charged coupled device) camera.

At a glance, it looks like a pocket television. It can displays
scenery on this monitor screen just like a camcorder. With a
push of the shatter button, the device takes the spot scenery
into its memory in a digital form. The digital still photo can
be re-displayed on this screen or it can be displayed on a
personal computer screen, including an Apple's Macintosh or
DOS/V-based  PCs.

A total of 18 pages of still photos can be stored in the device's
memory. Also, these photos can be stored on an integrated
circuit card.

The retail price of this unique device is 148,000 yen ($1,200)
with the proprietary cable and the telecommunication program.
Rhythm Clock aims to sell this device mainly for business
applications, such as to create personnel or project files.
Rhythm hopes to ship 30,000 units in the initial year.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930225/Press Contact:
Rhythm Clock, [phone], Fax, [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00004)

Zenith To Open Office In Japan 02/25/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- US-based Zenith Data
Systems is planning to set up a subsidiary in Japan this
coming June, in order to enter the personal computer market.

The new office will be capitalized at 50 million yen ($420,000),
with 50 percent being financed by the directors of the Japanese
office. Zenith will pay 10 percent, with the remainder being
owned by dealer firms in Japan. It is reported that Zenith is
currently recruiting for participating firms in this project.

The office will be located in the Western part of Japan at
7-1-3 Doicho, Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo-ken. The new firm
will start with 20 employees. It hopes to increase that number
to 35 by the end of 1993. Hideaki Kikuchi, a manager of a
Japanese computer board firm, will assume the presidency
of the office.

Zenith is planning to bundle DOS/V into the firm's Z series of
personal computers, for sale in Japan. The PCs will compete
with those of Compaq and Dell Computer in the Japanese ]
market.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930225)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00005)

UK - Unipalm Intros New Release Of PC/TCP For OS/2 02/25/93
CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND, 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Just when you thought
OS/2 was faltering, along comes Unipalm, which, curiously, claims
to be the leading supplier of PC to Unix connectivity products,
with an updated version of its PC/TCP for OS/2.

PC/TCP is a PC version of TCP/IP (Transmission Control
Protocol/Internet Protocol), an industry standard networking
protocol that major companies use to communicate between
relatively incompatible computing platforms and networks. As
well as acting as a "lowest common denominator" for switching
data between heterogeneous networks, TCP/IP allows data to
be moved on an error-checked basis, but at the best possible
speeds.

PC/TCP for OS/2 1.2 has been updated to take account of OS/2's
latest multitasking facilities. The new version includes a
client-server implementation with the PC acting as the client,
server and full workstation simultaneously, and a PCMail server,
which provides PC/TCP for DOS users with access to company-wide
electronic mail systems using their existing PCMail programs.

According to Steve Barnett, Unipalm's product manager, PC/TCP
for OS/2 makes complete use of OS/2's multitasking capabilities.
The new version includes support for client-server architectures,
including a new bootserver that allows clients without a hard
disk to boot from the server.

Other features worthy of note are the introduction of graphical
user interfaces (GUIs), as well as improved error messaging and
enhanced logging of background server activities. This, the
company claims, provides significant performance improvements.

"In large corporations there is an urgent need to integrate OS/2
systems into a wider enterprise client-server model, and PC/TCP
for OS/2 enables them to do just this," he said, adding that the
real benefit to the end user is increased personal productivity.
"Hence the new e-mail and GUI support. Any corporation with a
strategic commitment to OS/2 and PC/TCP as the network
protocol really should take a look at this new product," he said.

Pricing on the new version has been set at UKP350, with
discounts available for bulk orders and site licenses. The
package was developed by FTP Software in the US and is
marketed, as well as supported, by Unipalm in the UK.

PC/TCP for OS/2 1.2 runs on any PC (80386 or better) capable of
running OS/2. Unipalm claims that the package is compatible
with most network interface cards on the market. The package
is claimed to be compatible with IBM's OS/2 version 2.0.

(Steve Gold/19930225/Press & Public Contact: Unipalm -
Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(UNIX)(LON)(00006)

UK - Uniplex Intros Ongo For Unix 02/25/93
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, HERTS, ENGLAND, 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Uniplex
has unveiled Ongo, which it claims is a package that combines
personal and group productivity tools with a unique, scaleable
messaging infrastructure designed to unite a wide range of
popular computer systems.

The open systems specialist describes Ongo as "the definitive
open systems solution." Key features of the package include, what
the company describes as, a true client-server architecture that
includes native Windows, Motif, and character clients supported by
a multi-platform Unix server application. The server application
can be distributed across local and wide area networks.

Ongo's client-server applications include Ongo Office and Ongo
Write/Paint/Draw. Ongo Office features X.400-compatible mail
(X.400 is an industry standard for inter-system messaging),
company-wide directory services, as well as wide area
calendaring and scheduling.

Ongo Write/Paint/Draw, meanwhile, is available in a standalone
and mail-enabled basis. The package is an object-oriented
WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) document processor and,
in use, provides frame-based page layout for compound (combined)
documents that incorporating text, graphics, image, and tabular
numeric information.

Uniplex claims that the Ongo range of products have been designed
to support and promote teamwork plus specialization. The idea is
that users can use their own applications, with Ongo acting as
the "glue" that holds them together.

"Ongo is the first part of our Nouveau strategy that we announced
a year ago. It delivers the infrastructure and several key
applications for business computing on what we call "extended"
open systems," explained Patrick Regester, Uniplex's managing
director.

Pricing on Ongo depends on site license requirements. The
company describes the package's pricing as "competitive."

(Steve Gold/19930225/Press & Public Contact: Uniplex -
Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00007)

DIP Markets Sharp PC-3000/3100 Handheld PCs In UK 02/25/93
GUILDFORD, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Distributed
Information Processing (DIP) Systems, the designers and
developers of the Sharp PC-3000 handheld PC, has secured the
exclusive marketing rights for the machine, as well as its
updated PC-3100 model, in the UK.

DIP is pitching the PC-3000 as an ideal handheld notebook PC,
owing to its turbo mode, screen enhancer, and extended battery
life compared to the competition.

"The PC-3000 is the ultimate handheld computer for people who
need processing power away from their desks. With a full-size
screen and MS-DOS, two PCMCIA slots a relaunched price of
UKP299, it's the best value desktop PC in your pocket," said
Oliver Tucker, DIP Systems' sales director.

DIP teamed up with Sharp of Japan to develop the PC-3000. As an
active member of the PCMCIA development consortium (PCMCIA
is an international standard for RAM and ROM cards, plus other
peripherals, that plug into a "PCMCIA-compatible" slot), DIP
Systems was the designer of the Atari Portfolio pocket PC
released in the late 1980s.

The company currently handles a variety of products, including
the now aging Portfolio, Hewlett-Packard's HP95/LX handheld,
and Olivetti Quaderno notebook PC.

Anyone buying a Sharp PC-3000 through DIP can obtain a free
laplink cable and PC Personal Information Manager (PIM) software
worth UKP99 through a redemption voucher scheme. This,
Newsbytes notes, compensates for the price differential between
US and UK pricing on the machine.

(Steve Gold/19930225/Press & Public Contact: DIP Systems -
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00008)

Azlan To Market Emerald DAT Backup Systems In UK 02/25/93
WOKINGHAM, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Azlan has
announced that it will be marketing Emerald Systems' automated
digital audio tape (DAT) backup systems for the archiving of Novell
Netware systems.

The latest archival product from Emerald, which is being
promoted by Azlan, is a 24 gigabyte (GB)DAT autoloader with
Xpress Librarian. The combination, according to Steve Lockie,
Azlan's product sales manager, is a completely automated data
storage management package that simplifies the data backup
and protection process.

"It means that the network manager does not have to worry about
the tedious tasks involved in network monitoring and data storage
management because it allows them to automate the whole process
without having to compromise on accuracy and data security," he
explained.

So how does the system work? Xpress Librarian 2.0 functions as
an automated package that backs up all data on the file server,
transparently, over the network to the DAT tape drive. All the
required backup parameters are set by the network administrator
and then operate in the background.

One interesting feature of the DAT unit is the autoloader, which
is attached to the workstation. In use, it automatically changes
the tapes when full and even cleans the tape drive head. Azlan
claims that an entire library of 12 DAT tapes can be stored on
the autoloader.

However, the whole ensemble will set you back a pricey
UKP11,000. The 24 GB DAT autoloader costs UKP10,315,
while the Xpress Librarian 2.0 software with the autoloader
driver costs UKP790.

Azlan claims to be the UK's leading trade-only supplier of
network computing products and services. The company has been
an authorized distributor for Novell Netware since 1985 and now
carries products from a variety of companies, including 3Com,
Digital, Madge, Microsoft, Novell, Retix, and Xircom.

(Steve Gold/19930225/Press & Public Contact: Azlan -
Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SYD)(00009)

Australian Government IT Buyers On Disk 02/25/93
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- The latest version of
the list of Australian federal government computer buyers is
now available. The "Government Information Technology Decision
Makers" is a book that also comes with a 3.5-inch PC disk with
the same information in text format.

It contains double the information than the last edition, detailing
names, addresses, and phone numbers for each contact, together
with comprehensive departmental data. This includes hardware,
operating system, software, and an description of what the
department does.

There is also a listing of many state government IT (information
technology) decision-makers. One of the sections most popular
with computer suppliers is the one which describes the way
Australian government departments purchase IT technology. It
suggests further appropriate reading.

The book is published by Purchasing Australia - a division of the
Department of Administrative Services (DAS). It costs AUS$120
(around US$85) and this includes three quarterly updates, but not
overseas postage.

(Paul Zucker/19930225)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SYD)(00010)

Australia - BBC World Service On Encoded Radio 02/25/93
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- The British Broadcasting
Corporation (BBC) - judged by many to be the premier radio
broadcaster in the world - is narrow casting to people in certain
Australian cities. The service is by subscription only.

Although the BBC World Service is locally broadcast in other
countries around the world (including New Zealand), until now it
was only available by shortwave or expensive leased line in
Australia. Now the BBC has set-up a local office to sell a new
encoded transmission of the program which is broadcast by local
FM stations. The mono BBC signal is transmitted as an FM
subcarrier in the same way that canned music is distributed in
many countries.

The signal cannot be received by normal FM receivers, and in the
case of the Australian BBC service, subscribers are provided with
a modified FM receiver that can be switched from normal to BBC
operation.

The subscription cost is AUS$99 per year (around US$68), with
AUS$50 deposit on the radio. The BBC's Worldwide monthly
magazine which contains program information is available for
an extra AUS$48 per year. Programming is 24 hours per day and
includes such topics as news, sport, music, and religion.

It is also possible to tune in to RPH ( Radio for Print Handicapped)
stations in Sydney and other capital cities. They cater for people
who cannot read, and cover the content of the popular and
specialist press. From 11pm till 6am they also carry the BBC
program.

(Paul Zucker/19930225/Contact: Marilyn Eccles,
BBC (Australia), [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00011)

 ****Borland's Dbase For Windows To Ship In 1993? 02/25/93
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- The
database for Windows market has taken on a new fervor since
Microsoft's introduction of its low-cost Access product. Borland
International, data base management system power-house, and
publisher of the market-leading dBASE product, has been saying
its dBASE for Windows product is just around the corner.
However, some press reports claim the product has been delayed.

Allison Niday, Borland's public relations manager for database
products, told Newsbytes that, "(Everyone) has been thinking
that we would deliver it sooner that we (had been planning).
What we are saying now is that we are shooting for 1993, but
we'll ship the product when it's ready. That's different from
what people were saying."

As reported by Newsbytes previously, Borland bought Wordtech's
database technology - Arago for Windows - in December, 1992.
Borland also bought dBASE, along with Ashton-Tate, two years
ago. The Arago purchase, which included the company's database
development staff as well, has played a large part in Borland's
introduction of dBASE for Windows.

"A decision was made a long time ago that we were not going
to do a port from DOS to Windows - which is a relatively
easy, quick thing to do," Niday told Newsbytes. "We are building
the product from the ground up. In December we acquired
Wordtech - part of their development team, and a product base
called Arago. After evaluating that product over a series of
months we've determined that there are a many technological
capabilities and features in that product that we'd like to
integrate into the dBASE for Windows that we were developing."

According to Niday, the company's intention to integrate the
Arago features into dBASE for Windows is important.

"That puts us on a little bit of a different course. We originally
said the product was going to be just a compiler. What the
Arago technology will allow us to do is add more end-user
tools to the product. It is going to have more features and
end-user capabilities than what we had originally planned,"
she said.

Microsoft set the data base world on its head with its
low-priced introduction of Access. Aimed at the corporate
environment, data base management systems had typically
enjoyed higher than normal prices.

In terms of pricing for the dBASE for Windows product, Niday
told Newsbytes that it was too early to be specific about pricing.
"But you can tell we are ready to play the game (with Microsoft)
by our Paradox pricing. Paradox for Windows is currently being
offered for $139.95 through April 30. At that point we will
decide whether the (retail price) changes or whether we
manipulate the 'street price.' Pricing has changed in the
software industry and we are ready to play in that market."

As with virtually all products designed for WIndows, the eventual
appearance of Microsoft's high-end Windows NT operating
system has to be factored into any upcoming release. Said Niday,
"We lead most of out technology at Borland with our languages.
And right now our C++ (personnel) are working very closely
with Microsoft on NT technology. So what you will probably see
is products coming out from our languages group first for NT.
Applications will begin to roll out after that. Right now, we are
working on getting the Windows dBASE product out the door.
Then we will decide at that point what makes the most sense
and where to go to next. Of course, NT is on that list."

Borland has faced some financial problems following its
merger with dBASE-developer, Ashton-Tate.

(Ian Stokell/19930225)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00012)

Samsung Upgrade Kit Brings 1200 DPI Printing To Desktop 02/25/93
RIDGEFIELD, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- In a move
intended to bring professional quality printing to the desktop,
Samsung Electronics has upgraded its low-cost, high-speed
Finale 8000 laser printer with 1,200 dpi (dots-per-inch)
resolution.

The enhancement is being offered through Image1200, a $995
upgrade kit to the Finale 8000, a 300 dpi printer introduced by
Samsung last fall at a price of $1,995.

"You can now have an eight-page-per-minute 1,200 dpi printer on
your desktop at a price thousands of dollars less than (that of)
comparable products," said Kevin Kilroy, senior director of
marketing and general manager for Samsung, in an interview
with Newsbytes.

Other laser printers with 1,200 dpi output capabilities typically
cost in the neighborhood of $10,000, Kilroy claimed. For example,
Laser Master's Unity printer lists for $9,995, he told Newsbytes.
In contrast, two close price competitors to the Finale 800 - the
TI Turbo, which lists for $1,749, and the Okidata 830, which lists
for $1,999 - are not upgradable beyond 300 dpi, said Kilroy. The
top limit for the HP Laserjet 4M is 600 dpi, and the HP printer
lists for $2,999, he added.

The availability of 1,200 dpi printing on the Finale 8000 will
make it cost-effective for small businesses to perform
professional printing jobs in-house, he maintained. For a relatively
low initial investment, companies can eliminate the need to send
work to expensive outside services.

"A small real estate agency, for instance, could scan in images of
properties and then use the Finale 800 to print out fliers right in
the office," he illustrated.

The Finale 8000 is the first printer to be produced by Samsung, a
12-year-old company known for its monitors, desktop and
portable PCs, disk drives, and networking hardware.

The RISC-based laser printer provides such features as PostScript,
PCL 4 and PCL 5 fonts, a 500-sheet paper capacity, and two
megabytes (MB) of standard memory, expandable to 18 MB. The
printer comes with a two-year warranty.

The new Image1200 upgrade kit incorporates a 4 MB SIMM
(single in-line memory module) and Finale 8000 expansion board,
along with an extra fine toner kit.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19930225/Press contact: Lydia Trettis, HWH
Public Relations for Samsung, tel [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00013)

Shiva Bundles Apple Remote Access With LANRover 02/25/93
BURLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Shiva,
has announced a new bundling arrangement for customers
interested in trying out the company's LANrover products.
LANrovers are used when a company wants to allow dial-in
capability to their local network.

In order to make it easier for customers to integrate LANrovers
into networks, Shiva has undertaken a series of bundling deals
with third-parties in recent months.

Shiva has been bundling No Hands Software's Magnet product with
each LANrover sold. Now, with Apple's recent decision to
discontinue giving Apple Remote Access (ARA) software away as
a part of the operating system, Shiva has realized that ARA is a
more fundamental need for their customers than Magnet. Hence
the new bundling arrangement.

A Shiva LANrover can be configured with either four or eight
modems. With telephone lines attached to the modems and the
LANrover sitting on the network, it is possible for people to use
their home machines or portable machines if they are out in the
field, and still call in to the home office network and use the
local LAN (local area network). This way, remote users can have
complete access to all of the information and tools stored and
maintained at the home office.

Shiva offers two version of the basic LANrover: the LANrover/L
is for dedicated Appletalk installations, while the LANrover/E is
for Ethernet networks. A further refinement has Shiva offering
Appletalk and Novell-compatible software for use with the
LANrovers.

The company says there is no set end-date on the bundling deal.
Also, customers who have purchased a LANrover after November
11, 1992 can get a copy of ARA by sending proof of purchase to
Shiva. Customers who purchase a LANrover now will find the ARA
software available on two disks included in the LANrover package.

(Naor Wallach/19930225/Press Contact: Carol McGarry, Schwartz
Communications for Shiva, 617-431-0770)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00014)

General Software Offers OEMs Protocol Analyzer 02/25/93
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Not long
after General Software's introduction of the Snooper software-
only protocol analyzer, the company is now making the product
available to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) on a
royalty basis.

General Software is offering the software at a low price.
Royalties begin at $35 per copy, but will drop as low as $1 per
copy. The company is copying a strategy that its larger neighbor -
Microsoft - has used to good effect in getting DOS, and now
Windows, established in the market.

General Software is offering the Snooper product at a retail
price of $350.

The Snooper software installs on any DOS-based PC and will
interface with most network interface cards. Specifically, the
Snooper will operate with network interface cards that are
compatible with Novell's NE1000 and NE2000, and 3Com's 3C501
and 3C505.

(Naor Wallach/19930225/Press Contact: Steve Jones, General
Software, 206-391-4285)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00015)

 ****IBM Head-Office Cuts Will Include First Layoffs 02/25/93
ARMONK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- IBM plans to cut
more than 500 jobs from its corporate staff and service
operations at its headquarters and elsewhere. For the first time,
the company has come right out and said some of these cuts will
be made through involuntary layoffs.

Even though IBM has cut tens of thousands of jobs in the past
couple of years, all the reductions have been made through
various incentives to employees to leave, including early
retirement plans and separation bonuses. The company has never
laid off an employee in its history. IBM had hinted in recent
months that its practice of avoiding layoffs would not last much
longer, but this is the first time the company has announced
specific layoffs.

Exactly how many employees will get laid-off is not certain yet,
company spokesman Jim Ruderman told Newsbytes, because it will
depend on how many jobs IBM is able to abolish through other
means. He said that by mid-March employees in IBM's corporate
staff and service operations will find out which jobs will be
eliminated.

IBM's corporate staff - many, but not all of whom work at the
firm's world headquarters - include treasury and communications
staff and other corporate functions. Service operations perform
jobs that are billed to IBM's business units, including financial
services, management of the company's real estate and its
retirement fund, and personnel management. Service operations
jobs are spread across a number of locations, Ruderman said.

The company said it will cut about 150 of roughly 1,000 jobs in
corporate staff and about 350 of the roughly 3,500 jobs in
service operations. Ruderman said the cuts will affect
management as well as "staff positions at all levels."

(Grant Buckler/19930224/Press Contact: Jim Ruderman,
IBM, 914-765-6631)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00016)

Western Union PC Software Sends Mail 02/25/93
UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 25 (NB) --
Western Union Priority Services has launched DeskMail, a
software package that, with the aid of a modem link, allows PC
owners to send Western Union Mailgrams and other expedited
mail from their computers.

DeskMail, which combines word processing and communications
capabilities, works with a modem and a toll-free phone
connection to Western Union to send Mailgrams, Priority
Letters, and Business Class Letters, the company said.

The cost of sending a one-page Mailgram with the package is
$3.90, a Priority Letter is $1.59, and a Business Class Letter is
$1.39, a spokesman for the company said. Additional pages are 50
cents for Mailgrams and 25 cents for the other services. There
are discounts for volumes of more than 1,000 letters.

The service delivers letters within the United States and Canada,
on the next business day in some cases, Western Union said.

The software costs $29.95 and requires a PC with at least
512 kilobytes of RAM, DOS 2.0 or later, one diskette drive, a
Hayes-compatible modem, and a telephone connection.

Users can have signatures or logos added to their letters by
placing them on file with Western Union, a spokeswoman explained.
Western Union can also send certified mail or enclose business
reply envelopes, and will look up and add Zip-Plus-Four codes to
speed delivery in the United States.

While the software has a built-in text editor, it can also import
files from other word processors, the company said.

(Grant Buckler/19930224/Press Contact: Jean Stritt, Western
Union, 201-818-5843; Phil Hall, G.S. Schwartz & Co.,
212-696-4744)


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

CA Ships Clipper 5.2  For PCs 02/25/93
ISLANDIA, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Computer
Associates International has begun shipping CA-Clipper 5.2,
an updated version of the Xbase application development system
it acquired along with Nantucket last year. CA said the upgrade
boosts performance, extends functionality, and gives better
access to data in other vendors' database systems.

List priced at $795, CA-Clipper 5.2 is available to registered
CA-Clipper developers for a limited time at $149. The
limited-time offer also provides the company's CA-dBFast
database development software for Windows, CA-Clipper Tools,
or the CA-Clipper/Compiler Kit for dBase IV for an additional
$50. CA has not set a date for the expiry of this offer, a
spokesman said.

Users of other Xbase systems, such as Microsoft's FoxPro
or Borland International's dBASE, can receive the upgrade
and one of the above products for $199 upon registration.

A new version of CA-Clipper Tools, with a complete interface to
Novell's NetWare network operating system, is also shipping. CA
officials said the new version adds more than 250 new CA-Clipper
functions that access NetWare to give multi-user applications
more efficiency and integrity. They include functions for working
with multiple servers and volumes, and tools for enhancing data
security and access.

Among the changes in CA-Clipper 5.2 are: new and enhanced
replaceable database drivers, including an NTX driver that
provides conditional indexing and over-all performance
improvements; an MDX driver for dBase IV that supports multi-tag
and conditional indexes; and drivers for Paradox and FoxPro that
let CA-Clipper applications read and modify data in those
databases.

CA has also published an application program interface (API) for
replaceable database drivers and virtual memory management
systems, providing access to internal specifications previously
unavailable.

CA also claims that the Clipper documentation has been
dramatically improved and support for expanded memory has
been upgraded. The addition of Relocatable Screen Interface
Specification (RSIS)-compliance and improved screen display
performance round out the selling points for the new release.

CA-Clipper 5.2 requires a DOS PC with 640 kilobytes (KB) of RAM
and DOS 3.1 or higher. A hard disk is required for development
work. The software works with all networks compatible with
DOS 3.1 or higher, CA officials said. Expanded memory support
calls for version 3.2 or higher of the Lotus-Intel-Microsoft
expanded memory specification (LIM 3.2).

CA-Clipper Tools, list priced at $695, is available to registered
users of CA-Clipper Tools II (formerly Nantucket Tools) at a
special price of $129. System requirements include CA-Clipper
5.2, 640KB of RAM, and DOS 3.1 or higher. A hard disk is
recommended.

The products are now shipping in the United States and Canada,
the spokesman said. Shipments in other countries will be
announced later.

(Grant Buckler/19930225/Press Contact: Bob Gordon, Computer
Associates, 516-342-2391; Public Contact: Computer Associates,
800-225-5224)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00018)

 ****Microsoft Denied a Trademark on Windows Name 02/25/93
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- A preliminary
decision the US Patent and Trade Office has dealt a setback to
Microsoft by denying the company's application to make
"Windows" a protected trademark name.

Although the damage to Microsoft is likely to be small in
comparison to the company's massive market share, if the
decision had gone the other way it could have been significant
for other publishers. If "Windows" had been approved as a
private trademark it would have made it much more difficult
for competitors to market Windows-compatible programs.

In denying the application, the Patent Office said that the word
"windows" was just too generic to warrant granting Microsoft
any trademark protection which would have allowed the company
to block other software publishers from advertising any product
with the word "windows" in its name.

This would have made it difficult for competitors to promote
their programs which are designed to operate in the Microsoft
Windows environment.

The decision did not affect Microsoft's ownership or copyright
protection of its Windows program in any way, and it remains
highly illegal to copy and sell Microsoft's programs. What the
decision does affect is the way Microsoft utilities and
applications programs can compete with third-party developers.

Many people confuse patents, trademarks, and copyright. Each
usually covers different types of creative properties and
offers different protection.

Patents must be granted by a government agency and to be approved
they must either contain new ideas or processes, or incorporate
a major improvement on existing processes. Patents prevent others
from not only duplicating a patented product, but also from making
slight changes and then arguing to be free of patent claims.

Trademarks must also be individually granted by the federal
government and only protect the use of a name, such as "Kleenex,"
and not the actual product. Thus many companies make tissues,
but only one can sell "Kleenex."

A copyright, which is often used to protect software from
piracy or illegal copying, can receive official recognition and
registration, but actually has legal standing as soon as an
author records text or information in a permanent form -
whether the author is writing a book or creating a word
processor program.

Software can be patented, copyrighted, and/or protected by
trademark. Microsoft Windows is already copyrighted so it
cannot be copied, but the word "Windows" is not protected.

Microsoft, which had been up sharply before the announcement of
the rejection of the company's trademark application, was only
down slightly soon after opening the next day, indicating that
the news had little impact on investors. The company can still
appeal the ruling.

(John McCormick/19930225)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00019)

More On White House Electronic Records 02/25/93
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Remember those
White House computer records which President Bush wanted to
delete but historians wanted to keep? The last most people
heard about the records was that they probably would not be
destroyed.

However, the story did not stop there because a deal was struck
with the head of the National Archives which negated the court
decision by rendering the records unavailable.

A major controversy during the transition period erupted over
the Bush Administration's plans to delete all of the "unimportant"
electronic mail files in White House computers rather than
turning them over to the National Archives. Just which files
were not important enough to be kept would have been decided
by Bush staffers.

An effort by reporters and historians to block this move was
successful to the extent of obtaining a court order which
directed the Bush Administration to retain all of the records,
not just the ones they though important.

This should have been the end of the matter, making the records
available to public and press scrutiny after they went to the
National Archives.

However, President Bush signed a January 19 agreement with
Don H. Wilson, retiring head of the National Archives, under
which the files would be kept intact, but would become the
personal property of George Herbert Walker Bush.

Wilson announced soon after that he would leave his position
on March 31 to accept a new job as executive director of the
George Bush Center for Presidential Studies at Texas A&M
University.

Sen. John Glenn (D-Ohio), chairman of the Governmental Affairs
Committee, recently complained in letters to the Justice
Department and the Office of Government Ethics that Wilson
had engaged in private employment negotiations since election
day in November, but had also signed a highly unusual agreement
with President Bush during the same time. The letters were
co-signed by Sens. David Pryor (D-Ark.) and Joseph I. Lieberman
(D-Conn.)

The coincidence has resulted in both a civil lawsuit against
Wilson and the recent announcement of a criminal investigation
now being conducted into the events by the Clinton Justice
Department.

John Conyers Jr., Democratic Representative from Michigan and
the chairman of the Government Operations Committee, has asked
the General Accounting Office to conduct a separate investigation
into possible violations of federal laws, which some observers
contend prohibit just the sort of actions taken by the former
President and head of the National Archives.

The law referred to by Rep. Conyers prohibits anyone in
government from negotiating with or making any decisions which
would affect a company or individual with whom he or she is
conducting employment discussions.

The Washington Post reported on the 17 of February that Wilson
said through a spokesperson that he "welcomed" an investigation
and that he was assured by all parties that these agreements
were proper and legal.

The Presidential Records Act of 1978, which was passed into law
to block former President Nixon from destroying the infamous
Watergate tapes, gives the government complete ownership and
control of all presidential records.

Some observers argue that this law was bypassed by the
agreement between President Bush and the head of the National
Archives - which was signed on the last day of George Bush's
Presidency.

(John McCormick/19930225/)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00020)

Japanese Study - Too Many Dry Eyes In The Office 02/25/93
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Many office workers
who work at computers all day long have complained of eyestrain,
but until now there were few clues as to what actually caused the
reported problems. According to a recent Japanese study the
problem may be due, not to any sinister electromagnetic effect,
but to a simple, easily correctable dryness caused by reduced
blinking.

The human eye must be kept moist or it will cause discomfort.
This is not usually a problem because people usually blink far
more often than necessary to keep their eyes sufficiently moist,
but it seems that some computer users tend to stare at computer
monitors much more steadily than they do at the pages of a book
or other documents, which must be constantly moved to read new
sections of text.

The Japanese study, according to a Reuters report, found that
those computer users who suffer from eyestrain blink far less
often than they do when working at other tasks, and even fewer
times than when sitting reading a book. In addition, the eyelids
are kept open wider when looking up or out at a monitor as
opposed to looking downward at a book or other document.

Some results of the study are said to be published in the current
New England Journal of Medicine, in the form of a letter written
by Dr. Kazuo Tsubota of the Tokyo Dental College and Katsu
Kakamori of the Taisho Pharmaceutical Co.

(John McCormick/19930225)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00021)

Congressional High-Tech Spending Bills 02/25/93
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- S4, one of the
first bills submitted to the new Senate, calls for a massive
increase in funding for high-tech spending on the Advanced
Technology Program from $68 million to $210 million for
fiscal year 1994, and to a huge $420 million in fiscal 1995.

These numbers are small when compared to military spending and
many other parts of the federal budget. However, some observers
claim they would nevertheless have a great impact because they
would dramatically increase spending on generic, high-tech
research which could directly benefit US businesses.

As part of the National Competitiveness Act, S4, sponsored by
Senator Ernest Hollings Democrat for South Carolina and HR 820,
a similar bill proposed in the US House of Representatives by
Tim Valentine a Democratic Representative for North Carolina, are
much like some bills proposed last year, but have been modified so
they are more in line with the new Clinton Administration's high-
tech investment goals.

Some of the money would go to the National Institute of Science
and Technology (formerly the Bureau of Standards) to fund further
work on computer controlled manufacturing.

The basis of both bills is the former Senator Gore's (now Vice
President) Senate 2937 Information Infrastructure and
Technology Act which was introduced in 1992.

In addition to those areas already mentioned, the new Senate bill
would include funding for the Internet and the National Research
and Education Network. This is missing from the original version
of the House bill, but may be addressed in separate legislation.

(John McCormick/19930225)


(NEWS)(IBM)(NYC)(00022)

 ****IBM's Layoffs Unsettle Organization 02/25/93
EAST FISHSKILL, NEW YORK, U.S.A.(NB) 022592 - Employees in
IBM's East Fishskill, New York, manufacturing facility have told
Newsbytes that the February 24 announcement of the end of IBM's
long-term "no-layoff" policy has caused tremendous depression
throughout the workplace.

One employee told Newsbytes, "I was in a meeting discussing the
changes  and a woman ran out of the room crying. People are saying
that it's the end of IBM; that the company is doomed and are having
all sorts of other overreactions. One of the problems is that they
haven't yet chosen who will lose their jobs and there is tremendous
apprehension. There aren't comparable jobs in the Hudson Valley
and for many, lucky enough to find jobs, there will be dislocation.
There are also many families in which both spouses work for IBM.
In those cases, the loss of one job can be a permanent reduction in
family income as it is unlikely that both would be able to find
jobs in another part of the country."

Another employee told Newsbytes, "There were rumors that people
from the Poughkeepsie were going to have a protest on Route 9
about the changes but, quite frankly, I don't know what that would
accomplish."

The announcement said that IBM will have to depart from its
long-term no layoff policy to reach the more than 25,000 personnel
 reduction that it plans to make this year. The announcement also
said that the reduction will be greater than the 25,000 originally
announced but it is not yet clear how much larger.

The areas specifically mentioned in the announcement were 500
positions at the corporate level, many in its Armonk, New York,
headquarters and the Mid-Hudson, New York, area where another
2,500 jobs will be eliminated from the East Fishskill,
Poughkeepsie, and Kingston plants. The Mid-Hudson figure brings
to 6,000 the number of employees reduced from those sights
this year.

Employees of IBM, enrolled in Master's programs at Poughkeepsie's
Marist College, told Newsbytes that the layoffs might have a real
impact on their ability to continue their education. One student
said, "IBM has a tremendous tuition program. While they say that
the educational program will not change, the benefits will not
continue for those terminated. I know that I couldn't go into more
debt for education loans if I were to lose my job."

A member of the Marist staff told Newsbytes that the cuts could
have a major impact on the Computer Science and Management
Information Systems Masters programs, saying, "Over 60 percent
of our enrollees are IBM employees. If a large majority of them
with forced to withdraw, the effect would be devastating."

A senior IBM executive told Newsbytes that the end of the
no-layoff policy is greatly disturbing to even those not directly
affected by the cuts. He said, "This is a message that we will not
be able to keep our policies that are out of line with others in
the industry. Even with layoffs, the benefits package being given
is far above the industry norm. The continued health-care, a
year's salary and the bridge to retirement for those will less
than seven years to go are very generous by industry standards.
There is a fear already that a new CEO will see these programs
as something that not reasonable to continue if we are to be
truly competitive."

He added, "I think that we have shown by our recent PC pricing
initiative that we are now in a position to respond rapidly to
industry moves. We can, however, only be profitable in such an
environment if our costs are in line with our competition. Our
employees recognize this, but fear the ramifications. So we now
have the discontent both felt by those in immediate danger for
loss of job and those who recognize that the end of any real job
security at IBM is here. While the changes are ones that had to
be made, they have led to a very depressed work force."

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19930225)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(DEN)(00023)

 ****Microsoft Countersues Stac Electronics 02/25/93
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Microsoft has
filed a suit against Stac Electronics in the US District Court in
Los Angeles in response to the Stac infringement suit Newsbytes
reported on recently.

Microsoft says it denies Stac's claims of patent infringement
and has asked the court to declare Stac's patents invalid and
unenforceable. The Microsoft suit charges Stac with infringement
of a Microsoft patent, for breach of contract, and for civil
conspiracy to commit fraud.

In November 1990 Stac Electronics introduced Stacker, its
real-time data compression system which the company said
can effectively double the capacity of most PC hard disks.

Three versions of Stacker were introduced - a software-only
version, a combination of a half-size card and software, and a
coprocessor chip designed for installation by personal computer
makers in their PCs.

Stac President Gary Clow says the proprietary compression is
fast enough that compression and decompression, which is done
on the fly, is generally transparent to the user. A second
generation chip released in October 1991 reportedly operates at
speeds up to 50 megahertz, fast enough to keep up with most
computer microprocessor chips. The technology is also available
for Bernoulli removable media disks from Iomega.

In June, 1992, Stac sued Integrated Information Technology,
charging that its yet-to-be released XtraDrive coprocessor card
violates Stac's patent. A Stac spokesperson said that suit is still
pending.

IIT Vice President of Marketing and Sales Richard Johnson told
Newsbytes that XtraDrive came to market as a software-only
product with a suggested retail price of $99. In late January,
1993, Stac filed suit against Microsoft, charging that Microsoft's
DoubleSpace compression technology which was scheduled to be
included in MS-DOS 6.0 violates Stac's patent. Stac is seeking an
undisclosed amount of monetary damages.

A Microsoft spokesperson told Newsbytes that for legal reasons the
company is unable to comment on the suit except to confirm the
nature of the charges. He did tell Newsbytes that Microsoft denies
it violates the two Stac patents. It has asked the court to declare
those two patents invalid and unenforceable. Microsoft also claims
that Stac violates one of Microsoft's patents.

The breach of contract claim alleges that Stac violated a formal
nondisclosure agreement with Microsoft that prohibits signees
from showing or revealing DOS 6.0 or its documentation to anyone
except those parties to the NDA. The agreement also prohibits
the product code from being de-compiled, reverse engineered or
disassembled. The Microsoft suit alleges breach of contract
relating to those terms.

In July, 1992, Newsbytes reported that some Stac shareholders
had filed a class action suit against the company claiming they
were misled about the company's performance by statements
made by management. The suit named the company and officers
and directors Gary Clow, Douglas Whiting, Robert W. Johnson,
and Arthur Collmeyer, and charged that the defendants misled
the plaintiffs concerning the financial condition and prospects
of the company, and also claimed violation of federal security
laws.

In response to the Microsoft suit Stac told Newsbytes that
Microsoft's response and counterclaims demonstrate the weakness
of the software giant's position. Clow said that Microsoft had to
resort to a 16-year-old patent in order to assert a claim against
Stac.

Speaking about Microsoft's charges Clow said, "We believe the
counterclaims are without basis." A Microsoft spokesperson
reportedly told the trade publication Computerworld that
Microsoft lawyers advised removal of the MaxCompress portion
of DOS 6.0's data compression code in response to Stac's lawsuit.
"We view removal of MaxCompress as further admission of
infringement," Clow said. "But it's not enough. DoubleSpace itself
infringes our patents."

Stac has 20 days to respond to Microsoft's suit, then a docket date
will be set and various legal procedures such as discovery and the
filing of briefs will take place. Either party could seek an
injunction to stop the other party from shipping its product,
although that has not happened yet. DOS 6.0 is scheduled to ship
in the next 90 days.

Microsoft confirmed an earlier Newsbytes story that the initial
shipment of DOS 6.0 will not contain network or mail features,
even  though the company says it is committed to providing
networking as a fundamental part of its operating systems. The
company told Newsbytes that the network part of the operating
system was incomplete and has been pulled. That decision was
apparently reached at least partly because of feedback from
corporate customers.

Microsoft says DOS 6.0 will still have compression/decompression
on the fly, but has removed from the beta version its add-on utility
MaxCompress, which runs in the background and does additional
compression to already compressed data for an additional five to
ten percent compression. Asked if MaxCompress was removed
because of the Stac suit, the spokesperson said, "It was removed
as a precautionary measure. We may or may not put it back in."

(Jim Mallory/19930225/Press contact: Microsoft Public Relations,
206-882-8080; Stac Electronics, Joanne Rush, 619-431-7474)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(DEN)(00024)

TI Predicts Semiconductor Industry Growth 02/25/92
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Texas Instruments
personnel have told financial analysts and media
representatives that it expects the worldwide semiconductor
market to grow by 17 percent, to a $70 billion industry this year.
That would be an increase over the 10 percent growth to $59.9
billion experienced in 1992.

TI said the upturn in worldwide growth is spurred primarily by an
improved US market as well as strong growth in the Asia-Pacific
region.

Expanding on its prediction, company officials said they expect
the US market to grow by 25 percent due primarily to strong
demand for computers and communications products. TI says the
North American market will be bigger than the Japanese market
for the first time since 1985.

TI officials said the Japanese market will grow by about five
percent this year compared to a seven percent drop there in 1992,
and predicts the beginning of a slow recovery of the Japanese
economy in the second half of 93, based on lowering interest
rates and additional government spending. It also expects the
Asia-Pacific market to grow by 28 percent and surpass Europe
as the world's third-largest semiconductor market.

TI officials said the company's strategy is built on the integration
of silicon technologies, software tools, and support that it can
provide as electronic systems move from circuit boards to
chip-integrated systems.

The company officials also said they expect to see continued
market opportunities for TI's software as companies redesign
their management systems in response to changing customer
requirements. TI expects software to emerge as the largest part
of its information technology business, becoming a billion-dollar
business by the  mid-1990's.

Ron Brittian, VP/GM of the Advanced Information Management
Division told Newsbytes that the division's flagship product is
the Information Engineering Facility, a computer-aided software
engineering (CASE) product. CASE automates the development of
computer software. Brittian said CASE tools generate about $2
million annually for TI. AIM also markets some products which
were originally developed for internal use, such as procurement,
order management, and electronic data interchange applications.
He estimates sales will reach the billion dollar mark by the
mid-1990's.

Officials told the analysts and media representatives that it sees
radio frequency identification technology and digital micromirror
devices used in imaging applications as other potentially
profitable markets.

TI Vice President Dave Martin told Newsbytes that radio frequency
identification communicates data between a transponder, or ID tag,
and an interrogator, or reader. An internal coil energizes the
transponder without the need for an internal power source. The
system allows the user to identify various objects, even if they
are moving, without having physical contact. Typical examples,
Martin said, include work tracking, inventory control, traffic
management, security, waste management, and even live stock
management. The technology replaces bar code or microwave
systems and offers advantages such as not being affected by dirt,
weather, distance or speed.

As reported by Newsbytes recently, TI thinks its prototype
imaging projection display system can be a major player in the
emerging high-definition television (HDTV) market. The company
has already demonstrated the system for the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency on a 60-inch screen. The digital
micromirror device (DMD) reflects light rays from an external
source into the pupil of an imaging lens, which then projects the
digitized image onto a screen.

(Jim Mallory/19930225/Press contact: Terri West, Texas
Instruments, 214-995-3481 (Do not publish!); Reader
contact:800-232-3200)


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

Novell 1Qtr Net Earnings Up To $71 Million 02/25/93
PROVO, UTAH, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Network software
company Novell has announced that its first quarter net earnings
are up 36 percent over the same period last year, to $71 million.

Novell said net revenue for the quarter, which ended January 30,
was $260 million. That is a 27 percent increase over the previous
year. Per share earnings were $0.23 compared to $0.17 last year.

The company said sales of its Netware 3.11 network operating
system software was up six percent as computer users continue
to move to networking systems. Sales of Netware SFT III version
3.11 fault tolerant software, which includes multi-processor
support, also increased.

Novell reported that major accounts and OEM (original equipment
manufacturer) licensing programs also contributed to the
favorable results. Large organizations buy site licenses as they
shift from departmental to enterprise-wide network environments.
The company has begun providing master license agreements for
its products through a program that partners the company with
resellers like Dell, Compaq, and other PC makers who are
pre-installing network software for their customers.

Novell President Raymond J. Noorda says the company's efforts
over the last decade have placed it in the midst of the market's
move to downsized or rightsized systems. "We see this in the
requirements of the customers we serve, and in the growing
diversity of our revenue stream," said Noorda. He says the fastest
growing segments of the company's business are products that
provide services such as system fault tolerance, network-to-
mainframe integration, and enhanced manageability of networks.

Novell's sales are split about evenly between domestic and
international business - with US business up 28 percent over the
first quarter last year. International business grew 26 percent
during the period.

Earlier this year Novell bought Unix Systems Laboratories from
AT&T, the company that developed the Unix operating system 20
years ago. Unix and IBM's OS/2 are the two challengers to
Microsoft's entrenched DOS (disk operating system). Many experts
consider Unix the better operating system but it has never been
able to capture significant market share with business users.
Novell is reportedly working to integrate Unix and Netware as a
competitor to Microsoft's soon-to-be-released multiuser
Windows NT.

(Jim Mallory/19930225/Press contact: Sharon Cornelius,
Novell, Inc, 408-473-8657)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00026)

Cray Research Intros Data Storage Management Program 02/25/93
EAGAN, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Cray Research has
announced a new product that works in conjunction with its
supercomputer UNICOS operating system to better manage data
storage.

Called DMF (Data Migration Facility), the software continuously
tracks file system space and automatically moves inactive or
infrequently used files from the on-line disk storage to less
expensive off-line tape storage devices. Threshold parameters
and criteria are set by the user. When a file reaches that
threshold, DMF software moves the inactive file to the tape
storage device. Once moved, the file is transparently retrievable
as if it were still stored on-line.

Cray Research has also announced its REELibrarian software, a
volume management and cataloging system that administers large
volume tape libraries. The user can reference a file without
knowing what volume it is stored on using REELibrarian, and files
can be created and accessed by file name only. When that data is
needed, the user accesses it merely by entering the file name.
REELibrarian tracks the tape volume listing media type, data
format, location, and other characteristics.

Irene Qualters, VP of software at Cray Research, says that data
storage management can lead to faster solutions for users storing
huge amounts of data. The company has released various
enhancements to UNICOS over its nine-year life, supporting
distributed files systems, hierarchical storage management,
tape cataloging and management, relational database management,
and support for Storagetek's STK4400 Automated Cartridge
system. Cray Research has also entered into an agreement with
E-Systems to support the ER90/DataTower.

The cost of the DMS package starts at $35,000, while
REELibrarian software starts at $33,000.

(Jim Mallory/19930225/Press contact: Mardi Schmieder, Cray
Research, 612-683-3538)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00027)

New CD-ROM 3D Explores Everyday Objects 02/25/93
VANCOUVER, CANADA, 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Wonderworks Virtual
World Series is the name of a group of CD-ROMs being developed
by Motion Works of Vancouver. The series is designed to be an
interactive alternative to the "How it Works" series of books that
have been in vogue among children's literature.

The first in the series, due for release in the second quarter,
is for Macintosh, but a Windows version is slated to follow within
a few months. It is called Wonderworks, The Virtual House. This
CD-ROM  explains the inner workings of household items, such as a
toaster, a blender, and a vacuum cleaner, through interactive
2D-3D animation, graphics, text, audio, speech, and video. Users
can interact with a light switch, door bell, stereo, washer,
dryer, television set, microwave, furnace, and musical
instruments. Its creators say that users, in interacting with
these objects, will also learn about natural phenomenon in a
home such as static electricity, sound, magnetic fields, gravity,
water pressure, even microwaves and radio waves.

Rajiv Aggarwal, in product development at Motion Works, tells
Newsbytes that how-it-works books are "static, you can't interact,
so you have to visualize all the pieces and how they fit together.
Wonderworks lets you interact with objects on the screen, and
build them. Once built, they can be animated and you can see
how they work."

A blender for instance, taken apart and put back together, will
start to run. If put together the wrong way, the pieces of the
blender will snap back apart or the machine will not work, he added.

"What we're trying to aim at is courseware development, tutorials,
and educational development. Our studies show learning retention
increases when students interact with the information they are
dealing with. A teacher lecturing is good, but in a lab situation
with the student interacting, a student retains (knowledge) better,"
Rajiv Aggarwal said.

The series is aimed at kindergarten through 12th grade students
but can be of interest to any age group.

The next discs in the Wonderworks series will involve how a
computer or cellular phone works. Discs are planned on home
repair and high technology subjects.

Set up in 1988 to create the series, the founders were delayed
in implementing the project due to the scarcity of multimedia
tools at the time, Aggarwal added. So, they spent the first few
years creating the tools, which have also been used to build
interactive kiosks for private and public clients. For instance,
Motion Works created a kiosk that explains the process of filing
a small claim in court for the British Columbia attorney's
general's office.

Motion Works has also developed interactive animation engines and
conversion tools that will allow the company to deliver titles
on the Macintosh first, then quickly adapt the products for the MPC
platforms and Tandy VIS.  The company ultimately plans to move
these titles to the Sega and Nintendo Game/CD-players.

No pricing on the products is available yet, and is ultimately up
to Corel Corporation. Both companies have formed a partnership
to produce and market multimedia tools and CD-ROM titles.

Motion Works will receive cash payments, advance royalties, and
a royalty percentage on products published by Corel. Corel will
publish these products in as many as twenty-two languages
worldwide, according to their agreement, and  will provide Motion
Works with development funding for CD-ROM titles in the form of
advanced royalties.

(Wendy Woods/19930225/Press Contact:  Michelle Villas,
604-685-9975, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00028)

Apple Co-Sponsors Hungarian Info Conference 02/25/93
BETHESDA, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Apple Computer
is cosponsoring, along with two Hungarian government
organizations, a conference devoted to the information technology
needs of Central Europe and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent
States) organizations.

The conference, the second in a series, is actually devoted to
what organizers call "informatics" -  the process of information
creation, gathering,  processing, and transmission. Information,
and access to it. These are the  basis of decision-making
throughout free market economies.

IIA '93 - the conference name - is slated for May 3-6,1993, in
Balatonfured, Hungary. Three hundred delegates from 23
countries are expected to attend.

Topics to be discussed include successful frameworks for
informatics sector policies, national and organizational models;
developments in the four main informatics markets - computer
hardware, software, and services, telecommunications, and
electronic data services; low-cost applications of informatics
in rural development; technical problems and issues in the supply
of innovative and competitive informatics goods and  services;
innovative applications of information technologies; and
financial considerations.

The International Planning Council is requesting international
organizations in informatics, computing, and telecommunications
groups and private industry to participate in this conference.

For additional conference information, conference printed material
or conference registration please contact John Oeffinger (member,
planning council) by EMAIL: Internet (1):  [e-mail]
Internet (2):  [e-mail], Compuserve: 70703,3570, or
Applelink: CG0861, or the IIA '93 Secretariat, Congrex, Inc.,
7315 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 606W, Bethesda, Maryland 20814
USA, Telephone: [phone]; Fax: [phone]

(Wendy Woods/19930225)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(SFO)(00029)

SoftPC With Windows For Next Computers Ships 02/25/93
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 25 (NB) --  Insignia
Solutions now has versions of its DOS and Windows emulation
programs for Next workstations, in addition to those for the
Macintosh.

SoftPC with Windows and SoftPC Professional are shipping with
MS-DOS 5.0 pre-installed, and SoftPC with Windows ships with
Microsoft Windows 3.1 pre-installed. The new versions of SoftPC
replace the current SoftPC 2.0 product.

"These new versions of softPC are our response to the changing
needs of the Next marketplace. As the use of commercial
Windows applications increase, corporate Next users need better,
faster solutions for accessing mission-critical information
available only through DOS- and Windows-based applications,"
said Bill McCarthy, vice president of Unix Packaged Products at
Insignia Solutions.

The company recommends that SoftPC with Windows is best used
with Microsoft Windows-based applications including graphics
packages such as presentation and draw programs. SoftPC
Professional is best used with most PC applications such as
database, word processing, communication, and spreadsheet
applications as well as other applications requiring extended
memory or SVGA graphics, they say.

SoftPC with Windows users can interchange data between the
Windows clipboard and the Nextstep clipboard. SoftPC supports
file transfer between the MS-DOS and the Next file system using
standard MS-DOS commands. SoftPC users can cut-and-paste
graphics and text between Next and PC applications. Users can
also configure the type of PC hardware, disk size and memory
emulated by SoftPC using the familiar Next user interface.
Windows applications can be run in the Nextstep environment.

Insignia says it has written special Windows display and mouse
drivers that improve performance of windows applications in the
Nextstep environment. The Windows display driver maps Windows
display calls directly to Nextstep Display Postscript. The
Windows mouse driver maps Microsoft Mouse calls to the mouse
driver in the Nextstep system software.

SoftPC Professional replaces SoftPC 2.0 for the Next, and
now includes protect-mode emulation of the 80286 processor,
and supports  extended memory and SVGA, VGA, EGA, and CGA
graphics.

The SoftPC 3.0 Family for Next ships on Next-formatted CD-ROM
discs. List prices on SoftPC with Windows is $695, SoftPC
Professional is $499. Special upgrade pricing is also available.

(Wendy Woods/19930225/Press Contact: Allison Thomas Assoc.,
415-775-8599; public contact: sales at 508-682-7600)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00030)

Borland Ships 2 New C++ Products 02/25/93
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 FEB 25 (NB) -- Borland
International claims it has shipped more than a million copies
of Borland C++ and Turbo C++.  It is celebrating by offering
Turbo C++ Visual Edition for Windows, an entry-level visual
compiler and tools for  creation of C and C++ applications, at a
special price of $79.95 for 120 days. The product ships March 8.

Stated Philippe Kahn, chairman, in a press statement: "We are
thrilled we hit the one million mark for C++.  In the true Borland
tradition, the Turbo C++ Visual Edition for Windows promotion
gives customers and developers a superior product at an
incredible price."

Turbo C++ Visual Edition for Windows is a third-generation C++
compiler product with full support of ANSI C and AT&T C++
standards. Borland's C++ implementation includes complete
support for templates and nested classes, and closely tracks
compliance standards, the firm says. A key visual programming
tool is ProtoGen, an interface design and code generation tool
which allows users to draw interface elements, link them
visually, and use Borland's visual IDE to compile the
automatically  generated C or C++ code.

After the 120-day promotion, Turbo C++ Visual Edition for
Windows will carry a suggested retail price of $199.

Borland International has also introduced Borland C++ for OS/2,
an object-oriented development tool for developing 32-bit, OS/2
applications. The product offers all of the tools necessary to
develop OS/2 2.0 applications using C or C++.  Like Borland C++
3.1, the product includes a graphical user interface (GUI)-based
integrated development environment (IDE), global optimization,
support for C++ 3.0, object-oriented debugging, precompiled
headers, the ability to transfer to user-defined programs and
tools, and smart project management.

Borland C++ For OS/2, due March 1, will cost $149.95 for 90
days, after which it will  sell for $495.

(Wendy Woods/19930225)