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/nb930301

Text File | 1993-03-01 | 65KB | 1,429 lines

(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BOS)(00001)

Alloy In Marketing Alliances 03/01/93
LITTLETON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- In the
first of a series of planned strategic alliances, Alloy Computer
Products has announced an exclusive rights agreement to market
Micro Advice's JETstream! printer accelerator card through its
worldwide reseller channels and participating distributors.

Company officials said in a prepared statement that the alliances
represent a company move to leverage Alloy's extensive sales
channels and marketing infrastructure over a broader portfolio of
PC and network-oriented products.

Last June, Alloy filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and
also announced plans to reorganize the company, deemphasizing such
items as tape backups and diskless PCs and concentrating instead on
the multiuser systems that had long made up a major part of its
business.

At the same time, Alloy introduced MultiNode, a new networking
software product. Officials commented at the time that MultiNode
would add peer-to-peer networking features to the multiuser
capabilities offered in Alloy's previous release, Multiware.

The recently introduced JETstream! card that Alloy will now start
to sell works on IBM-compatible 386- and 486-based PCs to maximize
laser printer performance without degrading the performance of the
host computer.

Alloy officials claimed that the card's super-fast parallel port is
able to push out more than 150,000 characters per second, in
comparison to the 8,000 cps produced by DOS and network software.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19930226/ Press contact: Toni Cameron, Alloy, tel
508-486-4108)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00002)

Remote Access Forum Set For April 03/01/93
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- Remote
local area network (LAN) access is becoming increasingly
important for many corporations with mobile personnel and
sales forces that spend time away from the home office.
Catering to that market, Service Plus Technology is planning
a one-day "Remote Access Forum" on April 7, at the Hyatt
Regency in Burlingame, California.

Victor Hanna, spokesman for the company, told Newsbytes
that, "We are bringing in nine vendors and manufacturers, and
between 200 and 250 corporate end-users and value-added
resellers. We are going to talk about the technologies related
to remote access."

One of the experts will be Frank Derfler, senior network
editor and founder of PC Magazine LAN Labs. He will be
moderator and panel guest. The company says that other
vendors will include Novell, Centrum Communications, Triton
Technology, and Cross Communications.

"It is one full day," said Hanna. "We are going to reveal all of
the myths and the realities (related to remote access)."

The forums will run from 9am to 3pm with four focus
sessions. Topics to be discussed include "Remote Access
Today - Applications and Justifications," "Remote Client
versus Remote Control," and 'The Future of Remote Access."

Said Hanna, "We are separating remote access from the rest of
the networking market to demonstrate the importance of this
burgeoning market. Remote access is an area of specialization
that can open up many doors for VARs willing to understand
the technologies that exist."

The cost of the one-day event is $45. That drops to $35 for
two or more attendees.

(Ian Stokell/19930226/Press Contact: Victor Hanna or Jim
Stone, 800-536-7100, Service Plus Technology Inc.)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00003)

Ramtron Shipping FRAM Product 03/01/93
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- Ramtron
International Corporation says it's now shipping production samples
of its first serial ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM)
product the 4-kilobit (Kb) FM24C04. The chip is the newest addition
to Ramtron's FRAM product family, which includes other 4Kb to 64Kb
products.

According to Jack Morgan, Ramtron senior VP of marketing and sales,
the FM24C04 is a pin-for-pin plug-in replacement for existing 24C04
EPROMs (erasable programmable read-only memory) and combines no
write delay, fast sequential writes, 100 million write cycle
endurance, and low power requirements.

The company says applications for the FM24C04 include televisions,
computer monitors, printers, and modems as well as power meters,
industrial controls, and other applications where nonvolatile data
storage is necessary.

FRAM is a potential replacement product for conventional memory
chips including those used for system memory, or RAM, in personal
computers once higher capacity chips are developed. That is
because unlike the RAM chips currently in use, the data stored
in FRAM is non-volatile and is not lost when power is interrupted
or the computer turned off.

The FM24C04 is organized as 512 X 8 bits and is manufactured using
1.5 micron silicon gate CMOS technology with integrated
ferroelectric storage cells. It operates from a single +5 volt power
supply and is TTL/CMOS compatible. Ramtron says production samples
of the chip are now available in standard 300 mil, 8-pin mini dual
in-line and small outline packages. Qualified production units are
scheduled to be available in the second quarter, with high volume
pricing expected to be under $2.

(Jim Mallory/19930226/Press contact: Lee Brown, Ramtron
International, 719-481-7000; Reader contact: 719-481-7000,
800-545-3726, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00004)

New For PC - Mail Order Management Software 03/01/93
MONTVILLE, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- Dydacomp
Development Corporation (DDC) has announced version 5.0 of its Mail
Order Management (M.O.M) automation program.

Developed to run on IBM PC and PS/2 systems, M.O.M. is written in
dBase III+ and can be run a freestanding PC or on a local area
network (LAN) operating under network software from companies such
as Novell or LANtastic, said the company. DDC President David Kopp
told Newsbytes M.O.M. will run on any system with 640K of RAM
(random access memory). Kopp estimates that a company entering 100
orders per day would need a 60MB hard drive for data and program
storage. Source code for the program is not provided.

Kopp says the program is highly integrated to provide flexible
data access and efficient system modification. "M.O.M. ties all
customer functions closely together for any type of direct sales."
He says the vertical market application integrates order entry,
inventory control, shipping, accounting, telemarketing, and
reporting.

DDC spokesperson Tracy Fisher told Newsbytes version 5.0 will handle
the functions of all types of direct sales and marketing companies.
Said Fisher, "Considering that direct marketing and sales have
exploded recently, M.O.M. is a perfect tool to organize all these
aspects of any company."

M.O.M. has a user interface similar to Microsoft Windows, and uses
function keys and pull-down menus. The base system includes order
processing, inventory control, prospect management, accounting, and
profit analysis. Optional modules include a list management module,
automatic shipping calculations, a word processing module that has a
mail-merge feature, a telemarketing log module, an interactive
credit card authorization system, a state/town database that
automatically fills those two fields when the ZIP code is entered,
and a multi-company controller that allows one copy of M.O.M. to be
used to run up to 50 separate companies. There's also a
subscription management and a point-of-sale module. Since the files
are stored in a dBase format, the data created can also be
integrated into other DOS-based programs.

Cost of the optional modules ranges from $125 to $385. The company
has a working demonstration system that includes the main system,
automatic shipping, customer notices and telemarketing modules and a
user manual for $25. The cost of the demo is refundable if you buy
M.O.M. or return the demo within 60 days.

The program has a suggested retail price of $1,195 for a single
workstation and is immediately available. Each additional network
station, up to 12, costs $595. For networks of 13 stations or more,
additional workstations can be added for $95 each.

(Jim Mallory/19930226/Press contact: Tracy Fisher, Dydacomp,
708-291-1616; Reader contact: 800-858-3666)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00005)

New For Windows - PentaCalc, A Five-In-One Calculator 03/01/93
BOUNTIFUL, UTAH, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- Headgate Inc., says it's
now shipping PentaCalc, a five-in-one calculator that runs under
Microsoft Windows.

The company says the name PentaCalc comes from the fact that the
calculator can perform scientific, tape/10-key, financial,
statistics and unit conversions. Calculations can be performed with
either RPN or algebraic notation in one of six different bases:
decimal, binary, octal, hexadecimal, seconds, or days. Clicking on a
key brings up a context-sensitive help system on how to use the
various functions.

Headgate says the scientific mode can handle trigonometric,
logarithmic, hyperbolic, exponential, and other scientific
functions. The tape/10-key allows you to open, edit, print, save,
add comments, and recalculate the on-screen tape.

The financial calculator consists of two interfaces, Cash Flow, and
Time Value of Money. The Cash Flow module allows the user to compute
internal rate of return, net present value, net uniform series, and
net future value. The Time Value of Money calculator will solve for
any variable, and can generate, print, and save an amortization
table.

The statistics calculator has mean, standard deviation, median,
range, maximum, minimum, and sort features. The Unit Conversion
feature can convert about 30 different types of units from the
common mass or area to the obscure (except to scientists and
engineers) viscosity or conductance.

Pentacalc has a suggested retail price of $59.95 and will run on any
machine running windows 3.0 or later with at least a 640 by 400
video resolution, 850 kilobytes of available hard disk space, and
200 kilobytes of available RAM (random access memory).

(Jim Mallory/19930226/Press contact: Mark Merrill, Headgate Inc,
801-298-3800; Reader contact: Headgate Inc, 801-298-3800, fax
801-298-9169)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(BOS)(00006)

CompTel '93 - Massive Telecom Convention In Boston 03/01/93
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- CompTel '93, the
annual convention and expo of the Competitive Telecommunications
Association, stepped into action yesterday and moves into full
swing today, with an agenda that will include a keynote speech by
the Hon. Edward M. Markey, chairman of the House Telecommunications
and Finance Subcommittee.

Being held in Boston this year, the four-day event brings together
more than 1,000 senior executives representing the 120 long
distance carriers and supply companies that belong to the CompTel
industry association.

The convention got started yesterday with welcoming remarks from C.
Alan Peysar, president of Cable & Wireless Communications, and a
talk by internationally known motivational and sales speaker
Alan Cimberg on "How to Sell in Tough Times to Difficult People."

Additional opening day highlights included a roundtable
discussion by major suppliers on emerging network technologies that
benefit third-tier carriers, plus a presentation by Ashok Rao,
president and CEO of Mid-Com Communications, on "The New
Entrepreneurs - Switchless Resale."

Rao is also chairman of the Telecommunications Resellers
Association (TRA), a group of more than 130 companies engaged in
switchless resale. These companies are similar to other long
distance carriers, except that they do not own switching equipment
or transmission lines. Instead, they buy bulk long distance
services, reselling the services at a discount together with custom
billing, customer services, and consultation.

In his talk yesterday, Rao explained that switchless resale was
initially spurred by the excess transmission capacity and increased
price competition that arose in the wake of divestiture of the
AT&T-Bell system during the early '80s.

Since then, the practice has been furthered by improvements in
switching technology that have allowed large carriers to create
virtual networks, or multilocation networks with consolidated
billing, Rao added.

Today's convention activities will begin with the opening of the
Comptel '93 Trade Exposition. Then, early in the afternoon, Rep.
Markey and Ivan Seidenberg, chairman of the Telecom Group for Nynex
Corp., will each deliver presentations.

Three panel discussions are in store for later in the day: "The
Face of the New Congress: How Will Telecom Policy Change Under
Bill Clinton?" "Access Alternatives I: What the CAPs Can Offer
Your Business," and "Access Alternatives II: How the LECs Are
Evolving to Meet IXC Needs."

The roundtable talks will roll on into Wednesday and Thursday.
Wednesday's topics will include "The Face of the New FCC: Impacts
on Key Interexchange Issues," "The NAFTA: Impacts on Telecom,"
"Europe: Opening or Curtailing of Competition?" and "Quotations
from the Chairmen: News and Views from the Leaders of CompTel."

On Thursday, speakers will appear in an "OSP Public Policy Update"
and consider the issue of "ABS (Alternative Billing Services):
Managing Fraud after LIBD." The last day of the show also
features the delivery of two mini reports: "FCC Final Report to
Congress on Operator Services Act Implementation" and "What the
Clinton Administration Portends for OSPs."

The CompTel Trade Expo takes place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday. More than 30 carriers and suppliers will be
displaying their wares, including such household names as MCI,
Sprint, Northern Telecom, Ameritech, Bell Atlantic, BellSouth,
Nynex, NEC, GTE, and Siemens.

(Jacqueline Emigh/030193/Press and reader contact: CompTel, tel
202-296-6650)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(BOS)(00007)

CAD/CAM, CAE Workshops Open Tomorrow In Cambridge, MA 03/01/93
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- What's the
meaning of the major technological and business changes that are
now sweeping through the CAD/CAM and CAE (computer-aided design,
manufacturing, and engineering) industry? At CAD/CAM,
CAE Strategy Workshops '93, an event that starts tomorrow in
Cambridge, MA, more than 20 top company officials will give their
answers to end users.

This year's list of workshop speakers boasts at least a dozen
company presidents, including the chiefs of Intergraph,
Computervision, Autodesk, Cadam, Matra Datavision, Dassault,
CadKey, CimLinc, MCS, Cisigraph, IBM's Industrial Sector Division,
and the Unigraphics Division of EDS.

These and other experts will provide two days of dialogue on issues
that include the upcoming battle between Windows NT and Unix for
high-end systems, competition among vendors to set solids and
parametric modeling standards, and overall industry directions in
North America, Europe and Japan.

Tomorrow evening, business users will take their turn in the
spotlight at the annual Users Forum. In an informal, after-dinner
setting aimed at promoting networking, top executives from the
automotive, process, and aerospace fields will present their
perspectives to fellow end users.

Also at the forum, Dr. David Grossard, professor of mechanical
engineering and director of the CAD Lab at MIT, will put forth his
views on how users are being impacted by emerging design
technologies.

Other issues set for examination tomorrow night include vendor and
system evaluation techniques, management of support and maintenance
costs, and the current status of the PDES/STEP specification.

Now in their eighth year, the CAD/CAM, CAE Strategy Workshops are
sponsored by Daratech Inc., a market research and technology
assessment firm specializing in CAD/CAM, CAE, CIM and GIS markets
and technologies.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19930301/Press and reader contact: Daratech, tel
617-354-2339)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(NYC)(00008)

 ****Ohio ACLU Sees FBI Raid Possible Test Case 03/01/93
COLUMBUS, OHIO, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- The January 30th raid by
FBI agents upon the home-based bulletin board system and Russell
and Edwinia Hardenburgh may serve as the basis for a test case
concerning constitutional protection of BBSes.

FBI agents, exercising a search warrant which alleged that the BBS
was distributing copyrighted software, seized the computers on
which the BBS was running, other equipment, business records,
and other materials. Kevin O'Neill, legal director of the Ohio
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), told Newsbytes that
the FBI, in executing the warrant, broke into the Hardenburgh's
home while they were attending the wedding of their daughter. No
charges have been filed to date in the case.

The BBS, a commercial service, has 124 phone lines, over 14,000
subscribers worldwide, and handles over 4,000 calls daily. According to
wire service reports it is the largest BBS in Ohio, one of the
largest in the Unites States, and has logged more than 3.4 million
calls since 1987.

O'Neill told Newsbytes, "I have spoken to Hardenburgh and it seems to be
that there is considerable overreaching here. First, on the merits of the
case, Hardenburgh takes a number of precautions to insure that he is not
violating copyright. He has an employee that is charged with physically
reviewing the contents of the BBS for copyrighted software. As you
probably know, this is a difficult task to do in a constantly changing
environment but it was of importance to the Hardenburghs."

O'Neill continued, "Our concern at the ACLU is the extension of First
Amendment protection to BBSes. We see them as analogous to small
newspapers -- after all the 14,000 subscribers to this BBS are greater
than the readership of many small papers -- and I doubt that the FBI
would have closed a newspaper because of alleged copyright violations.

"I understand that Rusty has already obtained a criminal attorney to
represent him and we have no desire to interfere with his defense. I do
think, however, that there may be a role for the ACLU as a friend of the
court. I will further investigate the particulars of the case and then
present my recommendations to our board of directors.

"We are extremely interested in finding a test case from which we can
make good law in assuring that BBSes, our new electronic town halls,
receive the First Amendment protection that they so richly deserve."

O'Neill also told Newsbytes that he has been contacted by the Electronic
Frontier Foundation which has also taken an interest in the case.

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19930301)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00009)

UK - Freelance Graphics For Windows V2.0 Unveiled 03/01/93
STAINES, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- Lotus Development has
unveiled Freelance Graphics for Windows Release 2.0, which is
available immediately. The presentation graphics package is billed a
major update on the earlier version.

Tim Davenport, vice president of Lotus' graphics products group,
says new features on Release 2.0 of Freelance Graphics for Windows
include an updated Quickstart tutorial, 12 new Smartmaster
designs (on top of the original 53), plus new page layouts, charts,
and tables. A series of context-sensitive help files and "tips" boxes
are accessible from most points within the program, the company
claims.

Pricing on Release 2.0 has been set at UKP 415 for the standard
(network) edition and UKP 335 per single-user licence. A 20 and 50-
licence pack costs, respectively, UKP 5,820 and UKP 14,000.

Existing users of the package can upgrade to Release 3.0 for UKP 99,
with a UKP 20 discount on this price tag for single users. Plans call
for Release 2.0 to be made available as part of Lotus Smartsuite,
which also includes 1-2-3 for Windows, cc:Mail for Windows and Ami
Pro, the word processor.

Freelance Graphics for Windows Release 2.0 requires 3 megabytes (MB)
of RAM, a hard disk plus mouse, and Windows 3.0 or later. The package
will run on an 80286-based or better PC equipped with EGA or better
graphics capabilities. The sound facility requires an MPC-compatible
PC or a PC equipped with an external sound device.

(Steve Gold/19930226/Press & Public Contact: Lotus - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00010)

UK - Cognito Radio Data Net Powering Ahead 03/01/93
NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- Cognito, one of three
mobile packet radio network providers in the UK, now claims to be the
largest in terms of coverage when compared to Chubb Paknet and RAM
Mobile Data. According to the company, the Cognito network now has 80
percent service coverage in the UK, despite the fact that the network
has only been operational since the beginning of the year.

According to Ashley Ward, Cognito's chairman, Cognito now has 175
network base stations operational in the UK -- a figure that he
intends to push to more than 200 by the end of the year. He estimates
that around half a million messages are currently being carried by the
network each month to more than 1,000 users whose companies are
subscribing to Cognito. The organizations include GEC, Siemens
medical, Response Computer Maintenance, and Modern Security Systems.

"We've worked to ensure that the network covers as wide an area
of the UK as possible. We're now confident of providing
our customers with a first rate data communications service that
ensure their messages are delivered quickly and securely over the
network," he said.

The Cognito packet radio network makes use of two devices to transmit
data, the Emissary messenger and the Radio Transmission Unit (RTU).
Both devices are portable. The Emissary messenger is a two-way
radiopager unit with a Qwerty keypad and an LCD screen. The battery-
powered unit comes in a box the same size as an Atari/DIP or HP95LX
portable PC, with a flip-up aerial.

The RTU, meanwhile, is designed as radio modem -- essentially an
Emissary unit without the keyboard and screen, but with the same
built-in levels of intelligence and driver software. The addition of a
serial port on the unit gives it the same flexibility as a
conventional telephone network modem. The data transmission rate of
the RTU is the same as the Emissary two-way messaging terminals -- an
average of 6,000 bits per second (bps).

(Steve Gold/19930226/Press & Public Contact: 0635-508216; Fax: 0635-
550783)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(NYC)(00011)

Computer Security Conference Slated November 3-5 03/01/93
FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA, U.S.A. 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- The SIGAC (security)
special interest group of the Association For Computer Machinery (ACM)
has announced that Dorothy Denning, chair of computer science,
Georgetown University, and Raymond Pyle of the Bell Atlantic
Corporation will co-chair the "First ACM Conference on Computer and
Communications Security," to be held November 3rd - 5th, 1993.

Hosted by George Mason University and Bell Atlantic Corporation,
the event is being held in cooperation with the International Association
of Cryptologic Research, the IEEE Communications Society TC on
Network Operations and Management, and the IEEE Computer Society
TC on Security and Privacy.

Denning told Newsbytes that the event is " a research conference designed
to help facilitate and advance our understanding of how to design secure
systems in the commercial world."

The conference planners are accepting submissions for papers up to May
15, 1993. Papers are to be addressed to Revi Ganesan at Bell Atlantic;
11720 Beltsdrive Drive (7th Floor); Beltsville, MD 20705.

The Program Committee for the conference includes Victoria Ashby,
MITRE Corporation: Eugene Spafford, Purdue University; Steve Bellovin,
AT&T Bell Labs; Whitfield Diffie; Sun Microsystems; and Yacov Yacobi,
Bellcore.

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/Press Contact - Raymond
Pyle, Bell Atlantic, [e-mail]/19930225)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00012)

Apple Intros Spanish/English Educational Software 03/01/93
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- Apple
Computer's Macintoshes have always been very popular in
education, due both to targeted marketing and because the
graphical user interface set up makes it relatively easy to
navigate through screen and select choices. Apple has now
introduced an educational software product aimed at bilingual
Spanish/English children.

According to the company, the "Apple Early Language
Connections - Spanish/English edition" package is a literature-
based early language arts package designed to provide
kindergarten through second grade bilingual Spanish and English
students with a balanced reading, writing, listening, and
speaking curriculum.

The hardware/software package was developed in collaboration
with bilingual experts and teachers. The package will be available
for purchase by K-12 institutions later this summer. The company
says it is the follow-on offering to the English version announced
last May.

The Apple Early Language Connections product includes learning
tools, materials, and peripheral devices. Included in the
package is a Macintosh LC III computer; an AppleCD 150
CD-ROM drive; an Apple OneScanner scanning device; and an
Apple ImageWriter II color printer. That package also includes
a classroom library of more than 350 books from Scholastic
and a selection of story and music audiotapes.

Interestingly, the package also features EdMark's TouchWindow
panel that converts a Macintosh computer monitor into a touch-
sensitive screen. It also comes with the Muppet Learning Keys
by Wings.

Teacher training and on-going support will also be included.
Apple intends to offer in-service training and newsletter
updates for teachers as well as a toll-free hotline.

The systems comes pre-configured as either teacher or student
stations, with software already installed on the Macintosh. The
teacher's station software includes desktop publishing and
teacher productivity software.

The package includes a two-volume teachers manual featuring
seven, four-week thematic curriculum units - two each for
grades K through 2, with an additional four-week unit for
kindergarten. All of the units are based on such themes as
fantasy or animals, and are supported by lesson plans for
literature, music, math, and science activities.

The Apple Early Language Connections - Spanish/English edition,
package will be available later this summer in multiple
configurations. Prices will be announced later.

(Ian Stokell/19930226/Press Contact: Bill Keegan,
408-974-5460, Apple Computer Inc.)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00013)

Watch Japan's Or US TV Programs -- For A Price! 03/01/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- KDD Teleserve, a subsidiary of
Japan's major international telecom firm KDD, will send you a
TV program originating either on Japanese or US airwaves, in
cooperation with Utah-based picture transfer service firm
Keystone.

KDD's new service, called "Interbird," allows users to have access
to TV programs aired in the US or Japan via direct TV transmission
or on video cassette tapes. The TV programs are first transferred
from Keystone to KDD Teleserve's Tokyo office via satellite, or
vice versa. Then, they are sent to users. Video tapes are delivered
to users in Tokyo within one hour of recording at KDD
Teleserve's office.

This service will include not only regular TV programs but other
events such as concerts, seminars, or conferences.

The price of this service is $520 for the first 10 minutes, and
$30 per additional minute. The price to get the programs in
video is additional 100,000 yen ($830) plus delivery fees of
10,000 yen ($83), making it affordable mainly for well-heeled
corporations.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930301/Press Contact: KDD Teleserve,
[phone], Fax, [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEL)(00014)

India - Modi-Xerox Captures 45% Of The Copier Market 03/01/93
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- Modi Xerox Limited, a joint
venture between Rank Xerox of the UK and the B.K. Modi group, is
set to cross the Rs 200 crore ($ 67 million) turnover mark in the
current year, with a target of doubling the turnover in the
next two years.

The company, claiming to have 45 percent of the domestic
copier market, plans to increase its distributor network to
reach more than 500 cities. It has also launched a variety of
products from the Xerox range to position itself as a documents
company.

Chairman B.K. Modi claims the company has become the largest
supplier of fax machines just eight months after it launched the
products. Modi Xerox is unveiling a range of products including
advanced copiers, fax machines, and heat rolled laminators for
processing and preserving office documents. Modi says less than
20 percent of offices in India use office automation and
documentation systems. However, with the need for increased
office productivity more of them will want to go in for automation.
He estimated that the office automation and information technology
industry will grow tenfold from the present volume of Rs 4,000
crore ($13.33 billion) to Rs 40,000 crore ($133.3 billion), in
several years.

D.C. Oliver, regional director (India operations) of Rank Xerox,
claims the two companies have identified a number of products
to be introduced in the Indian market over the next two years.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19930301)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(DEL)(00015)

India Entering World Of Global Handheld Phones 03/01/93
BANGALORE, INDIA, 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- India will enter the
world of global hand-held satellite phone systems by the end of
the decade, if all goes according to plan. The Indian Satellite
Research Organization (ISRO) and the Videsh Sanchar Nigam (VSNL)
are showing a keen interest in the Inmarsat P series of low orbit
geostationary satellite systems.

The two Indian public sector units are signatories to the technical
and economic studies for the project being implemented by the
London-based satellite consortium, Inmarsat. One of the reasons
for India's interest in Inmarsat may be that VSNL already has
an arrangement with them for providing marine communications
systems. Recently, an earth station, for direct link-up with
the Inmarsat satellite was set up near Pune, India, to make available
mobile satellite communication systems in the country.

Motorola had been trying to get the Indians interested in their
Iridium project. The Department of Telecommunications, of the
Government of India, had rejected the proposal as its priority
was on land connections within the country. But with ISRO showing
an interest in the Inmarsat P project, satellite communications
may get a boost in the country.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19930301)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00016)

Sony Develops Advanced CCD Sensor 03/01/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- Sony has developed a highly
sensitive CCD (charged coupled device) sensor that provides
extremely clear and crisp pictorial images, and can be applied
to various high-tech products including computers and industrial
robots, the company reports.

Sony's latest CCD sensor is capable of producing quality pictorial
displays due to the number of pixels on the device -- a whopping
380,000 in a half-inch area. This sensor can also display
570 x 480 lines and all of the pixels can be activated at the
same time. This translates to a response speed for screen refresh
that's twice as fast as conventional CCDs, according to Sony. The
result is an extremely clear screen.

This CCD can be applied to pictorial data processing applications in
computers, industrial robots, or cameras. Sony wants to release
the device commercially within 2 to 3 years.

In an unrelated announcement Sony will stop producing Japanese
word processors. The firm has sold Japanese word processors since
May, 1985, starting with the Produce family, which has a 2-inch
floppy disk, an LCD screen, and a printer. At the peak period,
Sony shipped 10,000 units per month but now, has been
producing only 500 per month. Sony suffered an operating income
loss of 20.5 billion yen ($170 million) in fiscal 1992, which
has led to the decision to discontinue production of new word
processors. Sony announced it will continue to support Produce
users.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930301/Press Contact: Sony, +81-3-
3448-2200)


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

Sharp, NEC Beef Up LCD Production 03/01/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- Sharp and NEC are planning to
invest heavily in the production of LCDs (liquid crystal display),
a move with indicates a slight recovery in the industry.

Sharp says it will spend eight billion yen ($65 million) on
facilities to produce LCDs during fiscal 1993 and 1995. In fiscal
1993, Sharp will invest 25 billion yen ($210 million) to beef up
its TFT-type (thin film-transistor) LCD production lines at its
plant in Nara Prefecture. In fiscal 1994, the firm will spend
another 40 billion yen ($330 million) to create a new plant in
Mie Prefecture. Sharp will also beef up the LCD facility at its
Yamato plant in Nara Prefecture between fiscal 1993 and 1995.

Currently, Sharp has an agreement with Apple Computer and is
currently incorporating its LCD technology into Apple's new
multimedia device called the Newton.

NEC is also planning to spend heavily on LCD production. The firm will
create an LCD plant in Kyushu where TFT-type LCDs will be produced
within a couple of years. NEC is expected to pay 40 billion yen
($330 million) for this facility. NEC's new plant will be designed
to produce 10 times more LCDs than it is currently shipping, which
number about 24,000 10-inch LCDs per month.

The LCD market is expected to grow to a 2 trillion yen market
($16 billion) by the year 2000, a number which has inspired others
to join in LCD production. They include Seiko-Epson, Mitsubishi,
and Fujitsu. Canon is preparing to produce LCDs with larger and
brighter screens, which are different from TFT technology,
indicating competition will heat up in the near future.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930301/Press Contact: Sharp, +81-43-
299-8212, Fax, [phone], NEC, [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00018)

Canadian Product Launch Update 03/01/93
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- This regular
feature, appearing every Monday or Tuesday, details Canadian
launches by international companies over the past week. This
week's news includes new products from Computer Associates, Acer,
and Toshiba, and a new Canadian office for Software Spectrum, a
US-based software reseller.

Computer Associates Canada Ltd. announced CA-Clipper 5.2 at the
same time as its U.S. parent company (Newsbytes, February 25).

List priced at C$795 in Canada, CA-Clipper 5.2 is available to
registered CA-Clipper developers for a limited time at C$179. 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 C$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 C$225 on registration.

CA-Clipper Tools, list priced at C$850, is available to
registered users of CA-Clipper Tools II (formerly Nantucket
Tools) at a special price of $179.

Acer Canada rolled out service and support programs
announced earlier in the United States (Newsbytes, February 9).
Acer will now provide service and support directly for its
AcerPower 486e, Acer ACROS, AcerAnyWare K386S, and V386SL
notebooks and its AcerPac product lines. The program includes a
limited one-year, on-site warranty, plus telephone support for as
long as the customer owns the system (toll-free for the first
year only).

Acer also offers facsimile and bulletin board support services
and a 24-hour system replacement program for owners of its
notebook computers. To support the new services, Acer Canada
upgraded its telephone system, saying it can resolve 95 percent
of customer inquiries within 10 minutes.

The Information Systems Group of Toshiba of Canada Ltd., in
Markham, Ont., began shipping a new version of its T6400 portable
using a 50-megahertz Intel 486DX2 processor. The T6400/200 comes
with a 200-megabyte hard disk and four megabytes of memory, and a
color version, the T6400C/200, is also available. List prices are
C$7,149 for the T6400/200 and C$10,649 for the T6400C/200.

Finally, Software Spectrum, the Dallas-based software reseller,
opened its first Canadian office in Toronto. With annual sales of
not quite US$160 million, Software Spectrum has relationships
with most of the major software publishers, including Microsoft,
Lotus, IBM, Borland, and WordPerfect.

(Grant Buckler/19930301/Press Contact: John Schoutsen, Computer
Associates Canada, 416-676-6700; Andrea Dimock, Access
Advertising for Acer Canada, 416-250-5885, fax [phone]; Sam
Orthlieb, Toshiba Canada, 416-470-3478, fax [phone];
Margaret Riggs, Software Spectrum, 214-864-5958, fax
214-864-7878)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(TOR)(00019)

Ottawa Firm Suing Systemhouse Over Contract 03/01/93
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- A contract dispute
between systems integrator SHL Systemhouse Ltd., and a small
Ottawa consulting firm has erupted into a legal dispute.

Team Consultants, which was a subcontractor to Systemhouse until
recently, is accusing the large integration firm of raiding its
offices and stealing its property. Systemhouse officials deny the
charges, saying Team failed to meet terms of a contract and its
employees were asked to leave office space that belongs to
Systemhouse, not Team.

A court date of March 10 has been set to consider an injunction
which Ron Allen, vice-president of business development at Team
Consultants, said would allow his company back into the disputed
office space.

Meanwhile, Allen said Team is preparing a claim against
Systemhouse for "large" damages. A press release issued by Team
talks of damages of more than C$50 million.

Scott Eaton, senior legal vice-president at Systemhouse, said
Team has no case and the damages being hinted at would be out of
line in such a situation anyway. The issue is "a routine contract
dispute," he said.

Allen said Team has been working with Systemhouse since 1991. The
company has helped to input data for a document imaging system
for Canada Post and done some software development, according to
officials.

Systemhouse ended the contract because Team had not paid a number
of its subcontractors, Eaton said, and these subcontractors had
begun withholding services, threatening Systemhouse's ability to
deliver on its promises to Canada Post.

Last year, Allen said, Team needed extra office space to handle
its work with Systemhouse. According to Allen, because of Team's
small size, Systemhouse was asked to co-sign the lease, and
Systemhouse then insisted on having the lease in its name. The
space remained in Systemhouse's name, he admitted, but Team's
employees should not have been asked to leave without proper
notice.

Eaton said Team's "only right to occupy those premises was under
the contract which we had terminated." Responding to Team's
charges that Systemhouse had confiscated some of the
subcontractor's property, Eaton admitted some of Team's equipment
was in the vacated office when the employees were asked to leave,
but has since been returned to Team.

Systemhouse offered jobs to a number of Team employees when the
contract was ended, Eaton said, and most accepted.

(Grant Buckler/19930301/Press Contact: Ron Allen, Team
Consultants, 613-233-0404, fax [phone]; Scott Eaton,
Systemhouse, 613-536-8326)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00020)

IBM, Marcam In Manufacturing Alliance 03/01/93
PURCHASE, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- IBM and Marcam
Corp. have announced an alliance to develop, market, and support
manufacturing software.

The immediate effect of the deal is to give Marcam worldwide
marketing rights to IBM's Manufacturing, Accounting, Production
and Information Control System (MAPICS). The companies will
MAPICS and Marcam's Prism products cooperatively, officials
said.

In return for the MAPICS marketing rights, IBM gets 1,615,000
shares of Marcam common stock. IBM may also additional payments
from Marcam based on the future success of MAPICS.

No details of the companies' future development plans are
available at the moment, IBM spokeswoman Liz Arends said, except
that Marcam plans to apply its own development methodologies to
future development of MAPICS.

MAPICS is an integrated manufacturing system aimed at production,
planning, plant operations, marketing, distribution, financial
management and business control. According to IBM, it is the most
widely installed materials requirement planning software in the
world.

Marcam's Prism product line provides process manufacturers with
functions for production, logistics, maintenance, and financial
operations. Marcam's software runs on IBM and compatible
hardware.

(Grant Buckler/19930301/Press Contact: Ken W. Sayers, IBM,
914-697-6537; Liz Arends, IBM, 914-642-5408; John Cingari,
Marcam, 617-965-0220)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00021)

Iomega Intros New Floptical Drives 03/01/93
ROY, UTAH, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- Iomega Corporation has
announced three new Floptical drive models for personal computers,
including a parallel port version of its 21-megabyte (MB) Floptical
drive.

In the past Newsbytes has reported on internal and external versions
of Iomega's Floptical drives for both IBM-compatible and Macintosh
computers. The new announcement includes SCSI (small computer
system interface) models for ISA, EISA, and Micro Channel-based
personal computers, and a version that connects to the parallel port
of laptop, notebook, and desktop computers.

"The new Iomega Parallel Port drive makes Iomega's Floptical
technology available to the fastest growing segment of the PC
market," according to Iomega Senior VP Anton Radman, the man
responsible for corporate development and president of Iomega's
Floptical development group. Radman says the notebook PC market in
the US is projected to grow 47 percent by 1996, compared to 13
percent for the general PC market. Radman said he also thinks the
parallel port version of the Floptical drive will increase
acceptance of the Floptical technology as the next standard for
floppy drives.

There's no printer port built into the new drive, so if your PC only
has one parallel port you'll have to disconnect the printer in order
to connect the Floptical drive, Iomega told Newsbytes.

A Floptical drive uses holographic optical technology to improve
tracking and reliability. Floptical drives can read and write
conventional 720-kilobyte (K) as well as 1.44-megabyte (MB)
3.5-inch floppy disk. An internal Floptical drive can replace a
half-height conventional drive mounted in the drive bay of a
computer, and can operate as a boot device. With the data capacity
of 21MB it could also be used to backup data.

Iomega says the transfer rate of the new drives is up to three times
faster than standard floppy drives, transferring data to and from
the drive at up to 1.6 megabits-per-second. Each drive ships with
one diskette, software, and cables.

Iomega spokesperson Cara O'Sullivan told Newsbytes the street price
for the parallel-port drive is expected to be slightly over $500,
and the disks sell for about $20. The external SCSI model is
expected to start at just under $400, while the internal model will
carry a price tag of about $359. The drives are immediately
available. Iomega does not publish suggested retail prices.

(Jim Mallory/1930301/Press contact: Cara O'Sullivan, Iomega,
801-778-3712; Reader contact: 800-777-6179)


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

MCI Fighting Ameritech Move 03/01/93
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- Ameritech's call to
enter the long distance market is being opposed by MCI in part
because it claims Ameritech's Michigan Bell unit is acting as a
monopolist in the same market.

At issue are long distance calls made within a local calling
area, or LATA, inside Michigan. Dialing "1" before the number
currently gets you Michigan Bell for this service, and there is
no provision for designating another carrier. MCI wants state
regulators to let it into the market, saying it's worth $500
billion per year. But the Michigan Public Service Commission has
sided with Michigan Bell, which wants to maintain control of such
"local services," noting the state legislature could overrule it.
But such an override is unlikely, since legislators pushed
through a state deregulation bill favoring Michigan Bell just two
years ago, and are not anxious to revisit the issue.

Bill Levis, director of regulatory and government affairs
for MCI, called Michigan Bell's actions hypocritical. They
could call into question Ameritech's motives and actions
generally, observers say, and keep it from getting into the
long distance market between states, which is what it wants.

MCI is also fighting uphill to get into the wireless business. It
has filed papers with US regulators asking that microwave-based
PCN licenses be granted to nationwide consortiums which would
coordinate the work of local licensees. This would automatically
give it a major place at the table for the new wireless phones.

Now it wants to form a similar group to help cellular companies
with their nationwide roaming needs. Most likely, the company
may wind up negotiating with the new MobiLink cellular group,
formed mainly by the cellular units of regional Bell companies.
Since AT&T is buying a major stake in McCaw Cellular, with its
Cellular One brand, that may be the best shot at getting in.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930301/Press Contact: MCI, 800-289-0073, 202-
887-3000)


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

US VideoTel In Houston Shuts Down Local Network 03/01/93
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- US Videotel, which
was begun in 1987 and operated Southwestern Bell's SourceLine
information gateway, is shutting down its local network to
concentrate on the National Videotex Network it bought last year.

USV, whose general manager is former GEnie head Bill Louden, will
now host its own services on NVN, and seek other services to link
with the network. This makes it both a service provider and a
network operator.

USV is owned by a Lebanese investor now living in London named
Said Ayas, but Louden denied to Newsbytes that Ayas' investment
has been anything like the $50 million claimed in a recent
article on the service. Press reports also stated incorrectly
that US Videotel was going out of business, he said. The NVN
network is based on AT&T's Accunet national network, and the
company is also doing co-promotions with AT&T.

In fact, they're more in business than ever. "We have Dun &
Bradstreet company profiles, the Execugrid clipping service, TRW
Business Credit profiles, and a host of bulletin boards covering
everything from PC computing to photography and multiplayer
games," he said in an interview. "We have close to 200 products
online today, 50 plus are forums. Most are in the basic services
area, on the bulletin board side." Most service providers hosted
by USV get about 10 percent of total connect-time revenues as
their cut, which is typical for the industry.

USV is charging users $5.95 per month, with unlimited access to
basic services. Enhanced services cost $6 per hour at night, $9
per hour by day. "We host quite a few of these ourselves,
especially the bulletin boards," similar to CompuServe forums,
said Louden. "The only investment the sysop has is time."

Louden also discussed the technical environment he is now
working in. "We have a unique environment. We're a Unix-based
environment, which is new to the industry. We use a lot of
Hewlett-Packard platforms, some minis. We use a lot of Intel 486
platforms. That's exciting, because we can now use some fast,
small 486 boxes, and I can put a lot of users on. Then we can
leverage the development efforts of a guy in his home, using SCO
Unix. That's helping us get more developers online, especially
multiplayer games.

"We're focusing on the multi-player game market, because that
transcends technology. We think there's growth there. We're also
focusing on the work at home-small business market. We're trying
to provide a lot of databases I'd consider a la carte -- like
access to Dialog, Commerce Business Daily, etc."

As to advertising, NVN has done some advertising both on local
cable systems and in magazines. "We're testing cable ads. It
really drives the volume of inquiries up. We're still fine-tuning
that, trying to get people who are inclined to use the service.
The cost of acquisition there is pretty acceptable."

Cost of acquisition of new subscribers is important to Louden.
"We think we have a low-cost platform. The name of the game is
low cost customer acquisition and high retention. That's a factor
of good customer service and building the right communication for
the client."

He concludes, "It's clearly a tough market out there. But we have
the financial resources from our investor to keep growing that
market."

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930301/Press Contact: US VideoTel, Pamela
Maxwell, 713-840-9777)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00024)

Novell Intros Network Navigator OS/2 Client Support 03/01/93
PROVO, UTAH, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- In response to customer
demand for electronic software distribution (ESD) capabilities
for OS/2 clients in NetWare networking environments, Novell has
introduced Network Navigator OS/2 client support for the
recently released Network Navigator DOS LAN Distributor.

According to the company, Network Navigator provides a means
for controlled distribution, installation and maintenance of
software applications and data in heterogeneous networks and
host-based environments.

Network Navigator DOS LAN Distributor was released in
October, 1992. According to Barbara Goldworm, product line
manager with NetWare systems group, it was Novell's first
release of the product.

Goldworm told Newsbytes that, "A variety of other products in
the family had been released prior to Novell's acquisition of
the company that developed the Network Navigator product."

In describing Network Navigator to Newsbytes, Goldworm
said, "Essentially what it does, is to provide the electronic
software distribution remote management capability. DOS
LAN Distributor provides it across local area networks
(LANs) - either NetWare networks, or other LANs, but
optimized for NetWare."

OS/2 client support operates with IBM OS/2-compatible
desktops that use OS/2 Extended Edition 1.2 or above. It
requires Network Navigator DOS LAN Distributor ESD software.

Goldworm told Newsbytes that there are two significant
benefits in adding OS/2 client support. "The original Network
Navigator DOS LAN Distributor product distributed only to DOS
and Windows workstations. So one of the significant aspects
of the OS/2 client support is to allow distribution to OS/2
clients from the DOS LAN Distributor. (Also) you can use the
OS/2 client Presentation Manager graphical user interface
as your administrator interface. So it simplifies the
distribution process."

(Ian Stokell/19930301/Press Contact: Kelli Christensen,
801-429-5933, Novell Inc.)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00025)

AST's New PC Line, Cuts Prices 03/01/93
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- AST Research
has introduced the new Premmia PCs family and at the same
time cut prices of its established Power Premium PCs by $100.
The company has also introduced the AST Customer Care support
program which is claimed to offer users quicker response times,
lower prices, and improved convenience through longer operating
hours.

According to the company, Premmia is designed with a
sophisticated local-bus video subsystem, yielding a reported
200 percent faster performance in Windows environments than
its earlier generation Power Premium desktop systems.

The systems feature a high-performance LocalLink graphics
subsystem, an Intel 486 processor and memory cache design,
Intel Pentium processor upgradeability and CPU (central
processing unit) upgradeability through Intel OverDrive
Processor technology. The systems also include AST FlashBIOS,
increased security features, sound capabilities and a 32-bit
EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture) input/output
bus.

The Premmia line-up includes the Premmia 4/66d and 4/50d,
equipped with the i486 DX2 66 megahertz (MHz) and i486 DX2
50MHz clock doubling processors, respectively. The Premmia
4/33 has a 486 DX 33MHz microprocessor which includes cache
memory and an integrated numeric math coprocessor.

The Premmia 4/66d, 4/50d, 4/33 and 4/33s are equipped with
eight megabytes (MB) of RAM as standard with the exception of the
Premmia 4/33, Model 3 (base model) and Premmia 4/33s, Model 3,
which feature 4MB of RAM standard. System RAM can be expanded to
128MB. Each unit includes a 3.5-inch 1.44MB floppy drive. Prices
range from $2,095 for the base Premmia 4/33s up to $4,195 for
the Premmia 4/66d

AST has also reduced prices by $100 on all Power Premium
models.

AST's Power Premium desktop systems are available in seven
CPU offerings with prices ranging from $1,445 for a Power
Premium 3/25s, equipped with a 25-MHz 386SX to $3,795 for a
Power Premium 4/66d, with a 486DX2 running at 66-MHz.

The new AST Customer Care user protection program for its line
of file server, desktop, and notebook PCs is designed to offer
owners longer and more thorough protection for their PC
investment, claims the company. It refines and expands AST's
warranty coverage and technical support programs, both of
which have been operating for more than 12 years.

Effective in March, the company says its toll-free technical
support will be expanded to 24 hours per day, seven days per
week, while on-site and/or carry-in warranties are extended
to three years.

AST Customer Care is a collection of service and support
programs that include: on-site, carry-in, mail-in and replacement
warranty programs; a lifetime toll-free technical support hot
line for PC systems; the AST On-Line! bulletin board with 24-hour
access; AST Info-FAX facsimile services, which is also 24-hours;
and technical support agreements with leading network and
operating systems companies.

(Ian Stokell/19930301/Emory Epperson, 714-727-7958,
AST Research)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00026)

 ****World's Lightest Digital Cellular Hand Portable 03/01/93
BASINGSTOKE, HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- Motorola has
unveiled what it claims is the world's lightest GSM (global system for
mobile communications) handportable phone, the Microtac International
5000 unit.

Tipping the scales at just 285 grams, the unit still accepts a full
size SIM (subscriber information module) "smart card." According to
Don Burns, who previewed the phone at last week's Geneva Motor Show,
when Swiss Telecom powered up its GSM network for Switzerland, the
unit is "a remarkable fusion of marketing vision and engineering
achievement."

According to Burns, the unit was developed in double quick time
and, he boasts, "is further testament to Motorola's innovation
and technological superiority."

Newsbytes note that this is fourth Microtac hand portable in the
series. The original "flip phone" Microtac was launched in the UK four
years ago and has two major updates. According to Burns, the Microtac
series has become one of the most popular cellular phones
in the world.

The International 5000 version of the Microtac is being manufactured
at Easter Inc., in Scotland. The UKP 100 million plant already
manufactures and exports analogue cellular phones to more than 30
countries.

Two versions of the "Microtac 5000" are being produced. The 5080 which
has a 0.8 watt output and the 5200 which has 2.0 watts output. Both
phones offer 60 minutes talk time and 12 hours on standby with a slim
battery.

(Steve Gold/19930301/Press & Public Contact: Motorola European
Cellular Divn - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00027)

UK - Elonex Unveils/Ships 17 New PCs 03/01/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- After two months of production
delays, Elonex has finally launched its much-publicized new range of
17 new PCs at its London factory.

Announcing the new machines, Mike Spiro, Elonex's financial director,
said that the delays have been caused partly be a demand for the
company's existing PCs and a shortage of key TTL components.

"The upshot has been lead times stretching beyond the five to seven
working days in which we normally turn around orders. Some customers
have had to wait for up to a month for delivery and, in many such
cases, we've avoided further delay by delivering a higher specified
machine than was originally ordered," he said.

Spiro said he is aware that Elonex is not alone with
the problem of production problems, with some of the company's
competitors making customers wait as long as three months for
supplies. "With improved chip supplies and the smooth introduction of
the new Elonex product ranges, however, we're confident that things
are now back to normal," he said.

The new PCs from Elonex include upgradable PCs with local bus video,
a new entry-level desktop system, integrated LAN workstations and
fault-tolerant server systems based on Novell Netware SFT III v3.11.
The company also expects to be shipping its modular notebooks later
this month.

All the new desktop machines are what Elonex describes as "Pentium
ready." A total of eight desktops have been announced with local bus
video and with five processor options and a choice of two case styles.
The PC524X and PC433 comes with, respectively, 25 and 33 megahertz
(MHz) processors. The PC450 and 466 machines, meanwhile, feature DX2
processors running at, respectively, 50 and 66MHz. Pricing starts from
UKP 1,095 and goes to UKP 1,745. A range of upgrade cards, allowing
users to move to a higher specification PC, are available, with prices
starting at UKP 155.

Further upmarket, Elonex has unveiled a range of higher specification
desktops. The pC-425XM and PC425XB series. These machines feature a
25MHz 80486SX processor and 512 kilobytes (upgradeable to 1MB) of
video memory. Pricing on he upgradeable machines starts at UKP 1,095.

The LAN workstations are the WS400 series. This series claims to
provide 32-bit processing power in a network workstation measuring 280
x 280 x 55 mm. Four models are in the range, with processor options
starting at 25MHz 80486SX ranging to 66MHz 486DX2. Pricing starts at
UKP 945.

The SFT (system fault tolerant) file servers are the PC 433F, the PC
450F and PC 466F SFT III series. Based on Novell Netware SFT III, each
system consists of two mirrored Elonex servers connected by a high
speed data link. If the first server fails, the other can cut in
almost immediately. Spin-off advantages from SFT include a faster disk
access times. Pricing depends on user configurations.

(Steve Gold/199300301/Press & PUblic Contact: Elonex - Tel: 081-452-
4444)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00028)

 ****Bull Job Cuts On Eve Of Annual Results 03/01/93
PARIS, FRANCE, 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- As industry analysts' interest in
the company begins to heighten due to the immediate proximity of its
annual financial results, Bull has revealed plans to shave around
seven percent of its French work force this summer.

The staff cuts, which will take place in May and June of this year,
will mean a reduction of between 800 and 900 staff from the company
payroll, which totals 13,500 in France. Newsbytes notes that, in 1990,
the company employed more than 17,000 staff in France.

That was when the troubled French computer giant revealed it had
problems on the (lack of) profits front. Since then, the company has
revealed set after set of disappointing financial results.

The cuts could be just the right amount of "blood letting" that
analysts want. Sources close to the company suggest that 1992
losses will be significantly reduced when compared to 1991's
figures. George McNeil, Bull UK's CEO, went on record recently as
staying that UK division has done significantly better than the rest
of the group.

According to McNeil, Bull UK had "a very satisfactory year" last year,
with orders up 4 percent and results "very solidly in the black." The
main reason for the surge in profits, which will be announced this
week, Newsbytes understands, is a 25 percent growth in software and
services operations -- more than 60 percent of Bull UK's revenues now
comes with software and services.

Full details of Bull's French divisional layoffs are expected to be
announced later this week when the results are revealed.

(Steve Gold/19930301)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00029)

Media Vision To Acquire Pellucid 03/01/93
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- Multimedia
hardware company Media Vision has set its sights to acquire
Pellucid Inc., a company developing graphics and video accelerator
engines, highly integrated chip sets, PC board products,
and proprietary software.

The wedding is made in heaven for Media Vision, which anticipates
that with its technical and marketing skills and product line,
including multimedia chip sets and sound cards, and Pellucid's
complimentary products, they will be able to create affordable,
high-performance graphics and video products for PCs.

Pellucid's products will support Windows 3.1 and Windows NT
from Microsoft, Macintosh System 7 from Apple, and Open GL, Silicon
Graphics' graphics application library, the companies said.

Media Vision plans to acquire all outstanding shares of Pellucid
capital stock through a merger of a newly formed subsidiary
of Media Vision into Pellucid, in exchange for the issuance of
approximately $15 million of Media Vision Common Stock.

(Wendy Woods/19930301/Press Contact: Steven Allan, Media Vision,
510/770-8600)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(ATL)(00030)

 ****"Radio" Program Distributed On The Internet 03/01/93
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 1 (NB) -- Book author
Carl Malumud has launched "Internet Talk Radio," delivered over
linked data networks as a file, then decompressed and played by
listeners.

Since people with access to the technology needed to listen to
Internet Radio files are highly technical, Malumud is starting
business with programming tailored to network managers. It's a
half-hour weekly interview program called "Geek of the Week,"
due to debut near the end of the month.

Malamud is the executive producer, O'Reilly & Associates of
Sebastopol, California, and Sun Microsystems of Mountain View,
California, are the sponsors.

Early guests include Dr. Marshall T. Rose, NASA Science
Internet manager Milo Media and Interop Co. founder Daniel Lynch.

Malumud explained what he's doing. "I started a 'radio' station.
I'm producing voice programs, and instead of using airwaves to
distribute them I'm using Internet, which reached 14 million
people in 106 countries. Not everyone on the Internet can
receive my programs -- it takes a decent-sized network connection
and decent disk.

"What I'm doing is producing a file, which can be copied from
network to network. Eventually it gets to a local network and
needs to be played. It can be converted to formats for the PC,
Macintosh, Next machine, you name it."

A half-hour is a 15-megabyte file. It can get bigger or slightly
smaller, depending on the compression technique. It is possible
to play the file on a TCP/IP network through a technique called
MultiCasking, developed by Xerox PARC or on the Ethernet, he
added. That means the data is being sent to multiple people who
turn in. "I like to think of it as random access radio. "

He says he's starting with a technical show "because it's a brand new
medium. We're starting with the radio metaphor, but we'll change
it to suit." TV started very radio-like, but it was adapted to fit
the new medium as it because popular, he suggests.

Malamud says he'll add programming for physicists, Unix,
entertainment, and programmers, and will eventually depart from
the radio metaphor to add data types from video to text to
graphics, "and other methods of interacting, so people can talk
to the radio station as they're listening, as with a game show."
The equipment needed to create the current files is not expensive,
he added.

UUNET Communications in Virginia serves as the initial spool area
with several gigabytes available. From there, the data moves to
the IIJ network in Japan and EUnet in Europe. These three sites
serve as the primary distribution points for the world. From
there, regional and national networks move the data closer to the
users. Eventually, a network manager takes the files and
broadcasts them on a local area network or stores them on a file
server.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930301/Press Contact: Carl Malamud Internet
Talk Radio, 703-548-1126, Internet: carlradio.com)