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/nb930302

Text File | 1993-03-02 | 72KB | 1,540 lines

(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00001)

UK - Microsoft Foxpro 2.5 For DOS/Windows 03/02/93
WOKINGHAM, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- Microsoft has
unveiled Foxpro 2.5 for Windows and DOS. The company claims that the
package performs up to three times faster in multi-user and multi-
table operations, enabling network users to access data rapidly from
multiple databases.

"Bringing Foxpro 2.5 to the Windows platform adds a vital element to
our entire Windows application strategy," explained Shaun Orpen,
applications group marketing manager with Microsoft. "We realize that
the power of the Xbase language is important to our customers and
we're confident that the new benefits of Foxpro 2.5 will convince
existing database users to follow the Microsoft upgrade route."

In use, Foxpro 2.5 allows data to be move to and from other Windows
applications. When running concurrently, Windows' dynamic data
exchange (DDE) facility allows data to be moved without saving to
disk.

Despite the enhancements, Foxpro 2.5 is claimed to be compatible with
v2.0 and earlier versions. The data file format is also compatible
with Borland/Ashton-Tate's dBase III, III Plus and IV packages. The
package sells for UKP 395 to first time customers, with additional
licenses costing UKP 316 each. Users of earlier versions can upgrade
for UKP 99, although users of Foxpro 2.5 for DOS can move to the
Windows version can migrate for free.

(Steve Gold/19930302/Press & Public Contact: Microsoft - Tel: 0734-
270001)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00002)

UK - Wordstar Bundles Fax/Data Modem 03/02/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- Wordstar International has begun
shipping what it claims is a "plug and play" fax/data comms system by
combining a copy of its Ultrafax software with a Group III external
fax modem from Ascom Data Networks.

Until the end of April, the entire package will sell for UKP 248 --
UKP 51 less than the May '93 plus price. Ultrafax on its own sells for
UKP 99 making the modem/comms package ensemble look to be good value
for money.

"Normally, fax modems are supplied with a "lite" edition of fax
software. It's not often that a modem of this quality can be purchased
with a comprehensive fax software product at such a highly competitive
price," he said.

Ultrafax is a Z-Soft package (Z-Soft was acquired by Wordstar last
year) that runs under Microsoft Windows. The package is claimed to
be the only software of its type capable of "cleaning up" fax
images. When used with other Ultrafax software/modem combinations,
the package switches to binary data file transfer mode to ensure
a clean image is transmitted.

The Ascom modem, meanwhile, is a V.22Bis (2,400 bits per second) modem
that supports V.42Bis and MNP Class 10 error correction and data
compression. The quad standard modem also supports the EIA Class 2 fax
protocol.

(Steve Gold/19930301/Press & Public Contact: Wordstar International -
Tel: [phone]; Email on the Internet: [e-mail]
& [e-mail])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SFO)(00003)

Cirrus GUI Accelerator Chip, Multimedia Designs 03/02/93
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA. U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- Cirrus Logic has
introduced a graphical user interface (GUI) accelerator processor
which the company claims offers the best price/performance available.
The company also plans to offer a variety of multimedia board designs
in the next quarter.

The new GUI chip is called the CL-GD5428 True Color VGA GUI
Accelerator. According to the company, the chip, and its accompanying
software drivers, have been "optimized" for use in the Windows 3.1,
Windows NT, and OS/2 2.x environments.

The company claims that the only components required to implement a
complete graphics display subsystem are the CL-GD5428 and as few as
one standard DRAM. External timers, RAMDACs, and other devices --
along with their associated direct and indirect costs -- are
eliminated. Cirrus says that this significantly decreases the cost of
creating a high-performance graphics subsystem.

Among other features, the new chip offers an enhanced Windows-
compatible bit-block-transfer (BitBLT) engine, an improved VESA VL-Bus
local bus interface that allows zero-wait-state data transfers at 50
megahertz (MHz), and an optimized DRAM interface that provides high
frame buffer bandwidth. The CL-GD5428 also supports refresh rates of
up to 72 hertz (Hz), non-interlaced, and 80 MHz dot clock operation.
It has a 16-bit CPU interface.

The CL-GD5428 is packaged in a 160-pin quad flat pack. It is
already sampling at a price of $30 each in quantities of 1,000.
Volume production is planned for the second quarter of 1993.

During the next quarter, the company will make available a number of
multimedia designs for Windows and modular Windows, covering such
applications as low-cost video capture, Video for Windows
acceleration, video editing, video conferencing, business audio, and
Windows Sound System.

Plans call for the design licenses will include complete schematic and
bill-of-materials information, as well as Windows-compatible drivers.

In announcing plans for the designs, George Alexy, Cirrus Logic vice
president of marketing, said: "We view this as a service to those of
our customers who want to quickly enter the multimedia market with
competitive and cost-effective products."

(Ian Stokell/19930302/Press Contact: Joe Fowler, Cirrus Logic, 510-
226-2239)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00004)

Expansion Chassis For Mac Centris 610 03/02/93
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- Second Wave says that users
of Apple Computer's recently introduced Centris 610, the mid-range
Mac, can use multiple NuBus expansion cards through its chassis
expansion systems.

The company produces the Expanse NB4 and NB8 expansion chassis, which
can handle four or eight expansion cards respectively. The Centris 610
can house only one NuBus card. Second Wave's expansion chassis
connects to the 610 with a Second Wave NuBus interface card and cable.
The interface card connects to the Apple NuBus adapter in the 610's
Processor Direct Slot (PDS).

Second Wave says that it introduced the multi-card capability because
of the many NuBus cards users might need, such as multi-media, data
acquisition, industrial control, image processing, and digital signal
processing (DSP). The four-slot expansion chassis has a 50-watt power
supply, while the eight-slot model has a 130-watt supply. Both systems
include a cooling fan and the electrical and mechanical hardware and
connections to mount a 3.5-inch half height SCSI (small computer
system interface) device internally.

Both units are 14 inches long by four inches tall. The NB8 is 14.3
inches wide, while the NB4 is 9.5 inches wide. The eight-slot version
has a suggested retail price of $1,895 while the smaller version sells
for $995.

A Newsbytes story reported the introduction of the Centris 610 and its
sibling, the 620, at MacWorld in Tokyo in early February. That was the
first time Apple products had been introduced outside the US, and was
in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Apple Japan, the computer
manufacturer's Japanese subsidiary.

The Centris range, powered by a Motorola 68040 chip, is designed for
use by mainstream business and professional users. The 610 has a
suggested retail price of $1,859.

Second Wave introduced a similar set of expansion units for Apple
Powerbook laptop computers earlier this year.

(Jim Mallory/19930302/Press contact: Lark Doley, Second Wave,
512-343-9661)


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

Laplink For PC Upgraded, Network Version 03/02/93
BOTHELL, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- Traveling Software has
announced a new edition of its popular file transfer program Laplink,
with new features and network compatibility. The company officially
unveiled Laplink V at the New York Personal Computer Users Group
meeting in the Grand Ballroom at the Ramada Hotel in New York City
last night (Monday).

Major features of Laplink V and Laplink V for Netware include an
automated file transfer routine, the ability to operate in the
background under Microsoft Windows, and for the Netware version peer-
to-peer transfer on a network using Novell's operating system
software.

According to TS Chairman and CEO Mark Eppley: "Laplink V is the single
most significant step we have taken with our Laplink product." Eppley
says the changes in the program are a result of feedback from TS
customers.

File transfer products such as Laplink let the user transfer files
from one computer to another, usually from a laptop used in the
field to a desktop system. The files are transferred via a cable or
modem. Laplink provides a special transfer cable which has different
connectors on each end to accommodate different serial port
connections without the need for adapters. It can also be used to
backup software.

The company says a feature called SmartXchange in the new version
automates most of the work to transfer files. It can refresh
directories, synchronize the two systems, and clone a directory on
one PC to another. The Synchronize function makes files in two
directories -- one on each computer -- identical by comparing
date/time stamps and copying the newer file over the older one.

SmartXchange can also schedule unattended file transfers through its
Recorder and Playback features. The Recorder memorizes the
keystrokes necessary to transfer specified files or directories,
while Playback executes those commands. A calendar interface allows
the user to schedule any recorded event to automatically play back
monthly, weekly, or daily at a specified time.

TS says that the peer-to-peer Netware transfer can handle data
transfer at up to eight megabytes per minute. Netware-connected
workstations use Internet Packet Exchange (IPX) to transfer files to
any other PC on the network, even when connected to a different file
server.

TS spokesperson John Scott explained the pricing structure of
Laplink V to Newsbytes. The Netware version, which will ship in
April, will have a suggested price of $99.95, and does not include
TS's special cable. A cabled version will sell for $169.95. Scott
said both versions of the software are essentially the same.

Present users of Laplink can upgrade to the new version directly
from TS for $49.95 without cables, or $64.95 with the cables.
Upgrades are also available through retail outlets. The company is
offering the program with and without cables to accommodate users who
already have the cable from an earlier version, or don't need it
because they are using Laplink on a network only.

(Jim Mallory/109930302/Press Contact: Marci Maule, Traveling Software,
206-483-8088; Public Contact: Traveling Software, 206-483-8088)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00006)

MUSIC Intros 24-bit Color Palette ICs 03/02/93
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- MUSIC
Semiconductors has announced a new line of 24-bit direct color
graphics palette ICs that provide direct color mode and monitor
sense comparators, pixel replication, and an asynchronous
microprocessor interface. According to Tom Weldon, director of
product planning with MUSIC, "The new chip provides the system
designer with the next generation in color palette devices."

The company says that in the direct color mode, the MU9C4910 series
can generate almost 17 million colors in 24-bit Blue-byte-first
format, over 65,000 in 16-bit XGA and almost 33,000 15-bit TARGA
displayable colors.

In its pseudo-color mode, the monolithic chip displays 256 colors
from a palette of 262,144 colors. In direct color mode it can
display up to 16.7 million colors. The flexible mode of operation
supports the screen resolution and color capability necessary for
high performance notebook and desktop computers and desktop
publishing systems.

The MU9C4910 uses an external current source to set the current for
the eight-bit digital to analog converters (DACs) while the
MU9C4910V can use either an external voltage reference or its own
on-chip voltage reference. Both chips are compatible with VGA, Super
VGA, TIGA, VESA, and 8514/A industry video standards.

Weldon added that the 4910 is able to maintain compatibility with any
VGA controller because the direct color data is clocked into the
device on two or three consecutive rising edges of the pixel clock.
The direct color features may be accessed through an industry-standard
key sequence, allowing the chip to directly upgrade standard VGA
system designs.

The company claims that its proprietary Pixel Replicate feature allows
read and write access to the 9410's internal look-up table when the
display is active without producing "sparkles" or other noise in the
display. The chip also has two power-down sleep modes which reduce
power consumption, important in battery-operated notebook and laptop
systems. Pixel rates of 125 megahertz (MHz), 100 MHz, and 90 MHz are
supported.

The chip architecture features a 256-word by 18-bit look-up table RAM
(random access memory), 24-bit direct color bypass, and three eight-
bit video DACs (digital audio converters). The VGA-compatible look-up
table accepts up to eight bits per pixel from a frame buffer and
performs a translation into three six-bit values for conversion into
red, green, and blue analog signals. It can also sense the presence
and type of monitor connected to the system. MUSIC is an acronym for
Multiuser Specialty Integrated Circuits.

(Jim Mallory/19930202/Press contact: Bruce Threewitt, MUSIC
Semiconductors, 719-570-1550; Reader contact: 800-788-6874, fax
719-630-8537)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00007)

Another Mobile Phone Gold Rush Looms 03/02/93
WOODLAND HILLS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- By using
digital technology and roaming techniques borrowed from cellular
telephony, holders of specialized mobile radio (SMR) licenses have set
off a gold rush and merger mania. Now the gold rush appears to have
reached the Southeast of the US.

SMR frequencies, as they're called, were first licensed in the
early 1980s and are close to cellular frequencies on the
electromagnetic spectrum, between 800-900 MHz. They were designed
for use by groups like taxi and ambulance companies, which use
local licenses to coordinate their fleets. But early-on, Federal
Express turned a network of such licensees into a powerful data
network which made it the leader in overnight package deliveries.

A few years ago Fleet Call, which owns SMR licenses in major
markets, announced it would use Motorola digital technology to
greatly increase both the voice and data-handling capacity of its
networks, and replace single antennae covering entire metro areas
with a network of antennae scattered around its service areas,
much like the cellular networks use.

In addition to increasing system capacity in this way, Fleet Call also
said it would link its licensed systems, allowing for "roaming"
between cities for SMR customers, and opening up direct competition
with cellular operators for commercial customers. Since then Fleet
Call has been accumulating capital and seeking to buy-out other SMR
licensees.

The result, among other SMR licensees, has been merger mania. In the
latest move three such operators, American Mobile Systems, JCC
Holdings and Transit Communications, announced plans to merge into a
new public company. AMS is currently publicly held, but its holders
would own just 41 percent of the new combine, with Transit getting 40
percent and JCC 19 percent. The ratios are subject to due diligence
and a look at each company's books, followed by a definitive merger
agreement, shareholder and regulator approvals.

AMS operators SMR networks in the Southeast, mainly in Florida, and
has already asked the Federal Communications Commission for permission
to convert its networks to the all-digital Enhanced SMR (ESMR) system
being used by Fleet Call. JCC operates in northeastern Florida,
Atlanta, Georgia and Memphis, Tennessee.

Transit also operates in Atlanta and has been acquiring other SMR
licenses around the Southeast. All three say they'll convert to ESMR
after their merger is complete, providing service to up to 20 million
potential customers, or POPs as they're called in the cellular
business.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930302/Press Contact: American Mobile Systems,
Linda Fraser, 818/593-3000 x112)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEL)(00008)

Support In India - From Myth to Reality? 03/02/93
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- The era of "customer support" as
a sales gimmick is about to end in India, if the computer business is
anything to go by. As the international computer industry blossoms in
India, hardware vendors are waking up to the fact that they need a lot
more than having products that are "better, faster and cheaper" in
order to win customers over.

And many are also waking up to the fact that "customer support" may be
just the magic formula that will give them the edge.

The signs of the changes appear to be all around the computer industry
in India. Tata Information Systems Limited (TISL), a partner with IBM
in India, claims that its services are comparable to those of Big
Blue.

Microland's customer support division, meanwhile, was boosted recently
when the company tied up with Compaq. Over at HCL Hewlett-Packard, the
company has appointed Robert Cogdon, a veteran from HP in the US as
head of its consumer support division -- the aim is to concentrate on
"customer service."

Even Digital is not immune, as Digital Equipment Indis Limited (DEIL)
has been following the customer support aspect of its US parent
company with great interest. Modi Olivetti is tackling the problem
from the other direction, meanwhile, aiming to maintain its sales
support staffing numbers, while reducing the numbers of service
engineers.

Most Indian companies are adopting a largely similar approach when
tackling the support issue. TISL, which is setting up its support
network, is concentrating on training. TISL also plans to introduce
online access to Retain, IBM's technical support database in the near
future. This will involves, Newsbytes understands, TISL equipping its
engineers with terminals and phone lines at their homes for after-
hours support.

Telephone lines are not as reliable as leased lines, nor can they
support very high data transfer speeds. For this reason, TISL has said
it plans to switch to leased line support at the earliest opportunity.
Access to IBM's central distribution center is also being worked out.

At HCL Hewlett-Packard, Congdon claims to be using his 17 years of
experience with HP in setting up a complex support process to cater
to the Indian consumer. Consultancy, project services, networks,
education, performance tools, site services, systems integration,
maintenance services, maintenance watch, and escalation management are
self-sufficient units within the division, and Congdon boasts of
"speedy assistance whenever and wherever you require it."

Over at Microland, the emphasis is on manpower when it comes to
customer support. "We have three customer support engineers for every
marketing man," explained Pradeep Kar, Microland's managing director,
adding that, in places like Bombay the ratio is now 4:1.

While Kar is not in favor of introducing a "remote support" service as
such, he doubts "if customers would be willing to invest on
communication servers with WAN interface cards."

Anantharaman, the vice president of support at Wipro Infotech feels
differently: "We have been logging into the machines of some customers
and they have been willing to let us do so," he said.

Wipro Infotech has been experimenting with remote support for
sometime, and offers software support this way. The company has set up
a database -- QSS -- to store details of the problems its engineers
have encountered. Plans are in hand to put QSS online, allowing
engineers in remote areas to have ready access.

Providing support at any cost is not a key issue as far as Wipro is
concerned, however. The company views support as a customer obligation
rather than a profit centre in its own right.

Customer service in India is improving in the computer industry. The
prospects for a continually improving service are looking rosier as
time goes on. But there are a few obstacles -- airlifting products for
the electronics industry is not allowed in India, while the
transportation and communications infrastructure remains relatively
pedestrian. The ability of a company to work around these problems
will be a key issue when it comes to providing a high level of
customer service.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19930302)


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

UK - Microsoft Word Leads PC Word Processing Market 03/02/93
WOKINGHAM, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- As Microsoft Word's
10th anniversary is celebrated, Microsoft claims that the
package is firmly ahead of its rivals. According to the latest figures
from Romtec market research, Microsoft Word for Windows and DOS has 45
percent of the UK PC word processing market.

"At Microsoft, we have always listened to our customers and developed
our word processors based around their needs and uses," explained
Shelagh Marsh, Microsoft's product marketing manager, who added that
the feedback has enabled the company to stay ahead with Word.

"It's been this user feedback that has helped break new ground in
making everyday word processing tasks easier. Innovations, such as
drag and drop, plus usability testing, have pushed Word to the number
one spot in the overall PC word processing market," she said.

Marsh points to the significant changes that have taken place in the
word processing market over the last year, shifting the emphasis away
from DOS and over to Windows. During this time, Word claims to have
widened the gap on its competitors in the Windows word processing
sector and maintained a strong position in the total PC word
processing market.

According to Romtec's figures, during July, 1992, Microsoft had 36
percent of the PC word processing market in the UK, as against
Wordperfect's 45 percent. By December, 1992, the roles had reversed,
with Microsoft holding 45 percent, compared with 27 percent for
Wordperfect.

No doubt to keep its sales figures riding high, Microsoft is promoting
its new trade-in deal, which runs until the end of June of this year.
Existing users of earlier versions of Word, together with users of
competing PC word processing packages, are being encouraged to upgrade
to Word 2.0 for Windows for, respectively, UKP 99 and UKP 129.

(Steve Gold/19930302/Press & Public Contact: Microsoft - Tel: 0734-
270001)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00010)

UK - Olivetti Signs New Distributor 03/02/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- Olivetti's consumer products
division has signed with Westcoast, the distributor, to handle its
mass market products: the Quaderno portable PC, the PCS series of
desktop machines, and the JP350S and 150 series of bubble inkjet
printers.

Olivetti seeks to streamline its distribution outlets in the UK.
Westcoast has been handling Olivetti's PCS series since last
December on a trial basis, and, according to Mike Chandler,
Olivetti's retail sales and marketing manager, fits in with the
company's plans to sharpen up its distribution network.

"The primary aim is to ensure we have a distributor base that is as
tightly focused as possible. Westcoast brings a great deal of
expertise in supplying PCs and will be an important channel for the
Quaderno and our bubble inkjet printers," he said.

Over at Westcoast, Joe Hemani, the distributor's managing director,
said that his initial attempts at handling the PCS range of desktop
PCs have been successful over the last three months, hence the
expansion to full distributorship.

"We believe there's a large and very profitable market for branded
volume products and so we've now taken the Quaderno and bubble inkjets
as well. We're particularly excited about the prospect of supplying
the Quaderno for the corporate marketplace," he said.

(Steve Gold/19930302/Press & Public Contact: Olivetti UK - tel: 081-
785-6666; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00011)

Sunsoft Opens Software Operation In Ireland 03/02/93
DUBLIN, IRELAND, 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- Sunsoft, the system software
subsidiary of Sun Microsystems, has announced plans to open a European
Software Center in Dublin, Ireland.

According to the company, the announcement marks the growing
importance of Ireland in relation to Europe. The company plans to
manage the development of European versions of its Solaris operating
system at the Dublin operation.

"The European Community will play a major role in the global computing
market throughout this decade," said Edward Zander, Sunsoft's
president, announcing the plans "Ireland, with its large pool of
engineering and software talent, is the ideal location for us to
manage software development to meet the needs of the European Unix
market," he added.

The software center, which will commence operations this summer, will
be headed up by Dick McQuillen, who claims to have more than 20 years
of experience in the computer industry. McQuillen, who has been with
Sun with five years, has opened operations for the company in Europe
and the Far East.

Recruitment for the new facility starts this month.

(Steve Gold/19930302/Press & Public Contact: Sunsoft - Tel: [phone]-
3890)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00012)

Philips 1992 Losses Expected 03/02/93
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- Philips' 1992 results
are expected this Thursday and the signs are not good. Analysts are
already talking about a depressed consumer electronics marketplace and
hefty restructuring costs as making for a loss from the Dutch
electronics giant for 1992.

Press sources are talking about 1992 losses in the range of 100 to 150
million guilders, as against a profit of 1.2 million guilders for
1991. Newsbytes notes that anticipated 1992 red ink would have been
black were it not for restructuring charges of between 300 and 400
million guilders. The reorganization, which took place all last year,
affected the company's consumer electronics and components divisions.

The figure in which most analysts are interested, however, is the
bottom line -- the net profit generated from normal operations -- which
they predict could be anywhere between 100 and 270 million guilders,
way down on the 981 million reported for 1991.

(Steve Gold/19930302)


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

Multi-protocol SNMP Manager For NetWare LANs 03/02/93
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- Network Computing
Incorporated (NCI), has announced availability of LANAlert SNMP
Manager, a component of NCI's LANAlert Management System product suite
for networked computers.

According to the company, the LANAlert SNMP Manager provides LAN
(local area network) administrators with a powerful, distributed way
to manage SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) devices such as
PCs, Apple Computer Macintoshes, routers, network hubs, bridges,
printers, and uninterruptible power supplies, as well as the NetWare
network.

Anne C. Desautels, a spokesperson for the company, told Newsbytes
that, "This is an industry first, in that we are providing this
distributed multi-protocol support which allows us to link IP, IPX,
AppleTalk, and then the SNMP suite over a NetWare network. We take
advantage of the installed protocols that ship with the NetWare server
to provide a seamless and cohesive interface."

According to the company, traditional software packages designed to
manage SNMP devices require the user to install the appropriate
protocol stack on each management station. This involves added
installation time, as well as added cost in license fees -- per
management station. This approach is limiting, as the network manager
does not have the option to use any workstation on the LAN as a
management station.

Desautels also told Newsbytes that she thought the product
was significant, because, "If you look at the trends, you see a
lot of the desktop applications networked into more of an
enterprise platform. Clearly, being standards-based, SNMP-
based gives us an edge. We are more than just NetWare-specific."

The LANAlert SNMP Manager is intended to be easy to use
and cost effective. This is achieved by taking advantage of the
Novell-installed protocol stacks that ship with every NetWare
server. The network manager can also use any workstation on the
LAN as a management station.

The LANAlert SNMP Manager has a built-in MIB compiler which
supports any standard or enterprise MIB written in concise MIB
format. This means that devices supporting MIB 1, MIB II, RMON,
or any vendor-specific SNMP device can be monitored and
managed. "All the different devices, as long as they have a MIB that
can be compiled, can be added," she said.

LANAlert SNMP Manager is scheduled to be available by the end
of the first quarter, 1993, for $995 each. One LANAlert SNMP
Manager is suggested for each domain to be managed on the
network.

Desautels concluded to Newsbytes that: "We believe that the
networks of tomorrow are going to be standards-based. We also
believe that, by offering network management as a service on
the network, rather than as part of the network, an application
on the network, or a network-reliant offering, we are giving a
next-generation management product today."

(Ian Stokell/19930302/Press Contact: Anne C. Desautels,
408-296-8080, Network Computing Inc.)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00014)

Canon Cuts BubbleJet Pricing Up To 30% 03/02/93
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- In an effort
to entice prospective customers away from more expensive laser
printers, Canon Computer Systems has cut the pricing on
its line of Bubble Jet printers by up to 30 percent. The price
reductions are effective immediately. According to the company, Bubble
Jet printers are designed for the small office/home office (SOHO)
market.

In addition to the price cuts, the company has launched a three-month
$50 end user rebate program for its BJ-200 desktop printer. The
program begins March 1, and ends May 31. According to the company,
that will cut the street price of the printer down to less than $299
in most areas. The company claims that, currently, street prices for
24-pin dot matrix printers range from $200 to $400.

For example, the BJ-10ex Portable is down from $499 to $349, a cut of
30 percent; the BJ-300 Business is down from $699 to $499 a cut of 29
percent; the BJ-330Wide Carriage is cut from $849 to $699, a reduction
of 18 percent; and the BJC-800 Color for the PC is down from $2,795 to
$1,999, a cut of 28 percent.

According to market research firm International Data, in 1992, ink jet
printers accounted for 16.5 percent and serial dot matrix printers
accounted for 52 percent of the 8.9 million units sold in the United
States. BIS Strategic Decisions estimates that dollar sales of ink jet
printers will reach more than $2 billion by 1995.

(Ian Stokell/19930302/Press Contact: Karen Lippe, 714-438-3075, Canon
Computer Systems)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00015)

Symantec Updates AntiVirus For The Mac 03/02/93
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- Programs
designed to recognize computer viruses before they activate are
only effective if they are continually updated to incorporate
new strains. Symantec's new Symantec AntiVirus for Macintosh
(SAM) version 3.5 recognizes and protects against both the T4-C
Macintosh virus and the mutation of the CDEF virus.

According to the company, the T4-C is a new strain of the T4
virus which attempts to alter the system file (System 6) and
prevent INIT files from being loaded. In some cases, the virus
prohibits the system from booting up. T4-C may also modify
application files on the start-up volume, which affects both
System 6 and 7.

These alterations can damage applications by overwriting locations
with the infectious code. Also, damaged applications cannot be
repaired and must be reloaded from the original disks. The company
claims that SAM 3.5 currently detects the T4-C.

To repair files infected with T4-C, SAM 3.0 users can download
the new virus definitions file free-of-charge from the Symantec
Bulletin Board at 408-973-9598, CompuServe, America Online,
or Applelink. A virus update disk is also available from the
company for $12.

The company says that the mutation of the CDEF virus is
similar to the original CDEF virus, with only slight differences
existing in the code. All versions of SAM 3.5 and SAM 3.0 detect
this virus and repair infected files.

SAM version 3.5 is available through Symantec's network of
distributors and resellers for the suggested retail price of $99.

(Ian Stokell/19930302/Press Contact: Jackie Brinker,
408-446-7490; Brett Smith, 408-446-8977, both of Symantec)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00016)

Que Reduces RightWriter Price 03/02/93
CARMEL, INDIANA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- Que Software has
announced that it has reduced the suggested retail price of all
versions of RightWriter, its grammar, style and spelling checker.
The new price for version 6 for DOS and Windows, and version 5 for
the Macintosh, is $49.95. Previously RightWriter sold for $99.95.

According to David Israel, Que vice president, the market and
pricing expectations for applications software are changing. "Price
competition is an increasingly strategic direction for many software
companies as customers have come to expect lower prices and, at the
same time, more functionality," he said.

RightWriter is an interactive grammar and style checker that
proofreads documents for errors in grammar, style, word usage,
structure, capitalization, punctuation and spelling. The program also
recommends changes.

RightWriter has "hot keys" which provide quick access to a number of
popular word processing programs. It also appears on the menus of
some Windows-based word processors. It can detect over 25,000
errors and uses more than 5,000 grammar rules, including those in
Strunk & White's "The Elements of Style." A paperback copy of that
book ships with the software.

In addition to its other features, RightWriter has an Equalizer
feature that allows the user to control the detail of error checking,
adjustable from only the major errors down to everything the program
finds questionable.

To use RightWriter, you need a 286-based system or better, one
megabyte of system memory, a hard disk, and a CGA or better video
display. The program does not support color. The Windows version
requires Microsoft Windows and a mouse.

Que spokesperson Sue Earabino told Newsbytes that this price reduction
does not signal release of an upgrade to RightWriter. "Version 6 was
released last fall, and it's doing really well," Earabino told
Newsbytes. The company said there are about 750,000 RightWriter users
worldwide. Earabino said there are no current plans to announce
reductions in other Que products.

In addition to RightWriter, Que publishes Computer Users Dictionary,
Electronic Edition; Typing Tutor, a keyboard and typing instruction
program; and Arco's SuperCourse Software for the SAT.

(Jim Mallory/19930302/Press contact: Susan Earabino, The Marketing
Partnership for Que Software, 617-876-9516; Reader contact: Que
Software, 317-573-2500, 800-992-0244,fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00017)

Phase II of MCC's Open Systems Project 03/02/93
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- The Microelectronics and
Computer Technology Corporation has launched the second phase of its
Open Systems Project, with several new member participants.

MCC says that the Open Systems Project is designed to bring together
a diverse collection of electronics companies to identify optimal
electronic packaging technologies for high-performance, cost driven
applications, as well as to facilitate the establishment of a
supporting infrastructure.

Joining companies like Eastman Kodak, Hewlett-Packard, Hughes,
Northern Telecom and Tandem Computers in the second phase of the
project are 3M, Computing Devices International, Motorola, and
Unisys. MCC notes that membership is also being discussed with other
companies.

Launched in 1990, the first phase of the project was aimed at
accelerating the industry's adoption and use of multichip modules
(MCMs) by providing participants with knowledge of and early access
to MCM technologies and suppliers. MCMs are an emerging packaging
technology developed to accommodate the increasing processing speeds
and functionality of integrated circuits, combining several ICs and
supporting devices on a single substrate to increase signal speed
between ICs.

According to MCC, Phase II will investigate packaging technologies
where clock speeds will be in the 150 to 300 megahertz (MHz) range.
"Performance requirements are continuing to escalate and the
aggressive technologies needed to meet these requirements are not well
understood, accepted or demonstrated," says Hewlett-Packard liaison to
MCC, Bob Gardner, who heads the project.

Phase II has task teams addressing specific packaging issues, such
as electrical performance, heat management, cost effectiveness,
reliability, availability, assembly, testability, and
how well it connects. The teams are drawn from the participating
companies. Once those issues have been resolved, several experimental
assemblies will be built incorporating combinations of the optimal
technologies.

The assemblies will then be tested and evaluated for strengths and
shortcomings. Based on the results, the project will build a final set
of test vehicles which will be fully integrated, functional
microprocessor cache memory modules. Cache memory is a buffer between
the main memory and the central processing unit to improve effective
memory transfer rates and raise the effective speed of the processor.

"MCC's Open Systems Project creates a "think tank" environment which
allows its members not only to share technical information and
expertise, but also to mature their thinking about MCMs and other
key technologies, and to focus on the critical issue of
infrastructure," says Dennis Herrell, director of MCCs High Value
Electronics Division.

(Jim Mallory/19930302/Press contact: Cathy Martin, MCC,
512-338-3746; Reader contact: MCC, 512-343-0978)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00018)

Quick Mail 2.6 - Mac Acts As PC Mail Server 03/02/93
DES MOINES, IOWA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- CE Software has announced
plans to ship a new version of Quick Mail which will integrate DOS,
Windows, and Macintosh electronic mail with the Mac acting as the mail
server.

CE Software calls Release 2.6 a "reliability upgrade." The company
says it has spent a lot of time isolating problems and reworking key
components of the server design so the program is both more flexible
and more reliable. To do that, says the company, it's isolated the
code modules for the various functions, instead of everything being
in one big program. CE expects that will make the tracing of
problems easier.

It will also make it easier to add new modules as the program expands.
CE says it has also added features to make the life of e-mail
administrators easier. Both these areas were improved in response to
customer input received during site visits as well as from focus
groups and input from CE's technical services staff.

New features in release 2.6 include compatibility with AppleShare
3.0 and Personal File Sharing for Apple Computer's operating system
System 7. Apple also addressed the compatibility problem by releasing
AppleShare 3.0.1. The AppleShare compatibility mode check box is
accessed from the Server Control Panel, with the default being "on."
The program now allows 32 active sessions simultaneously. CE says
that's all that is practical because of the available bandwidth of the
network and the processor speeds available today.

Other new features include a single version of Store & Forward,
rather than the two versions offered previously. The new version
uses AppleTalk self-send, which allows QuickMail to use only the
network access module and eliminates the need for a local delivery
store and forward module, as well as reducing the amount of code
needed. An enhanced send and forward tracking feature now allows
administrators to look at what activities are being performed and
track their progress.

The new look for administrators includes a Move User function that
allows administrators to export a user and their mail and to import
them into a new MailCenter. That is accomplished by creating a
record for that user and copying the mail to an external volume,
such as a floppy disk, a hard drive, or an AppleShare server. The
administrator then moves to the other MailCenter machine and imports
the user.

CE says one of the most exciting new tools is the Verified Backup
Tool, which allows administrators to verify and backup the entire
QuickMail contents of a mail server. The verification procedure
looks for files that may have been corrupted or left behind and
moves them from the active MailCenter to "dead mail." The resulting
MailCenter folders are then cleaned and can be backed up before the
QuickMail server is re-started.

The company has also reworked the QuickMail Administrator so it is
faster. Users should notice a drastic reduction in the time it takes
to forward mail to and from the file-based system. Remote
administration has also been put back into the program.

CE spokesperson Sue Nail told Newsbytes that Quick Mail 2.6, which is
scheduled to ship March 26th, will have a suggested list price of $650
for a 10-user pack. Current Quick Mail users can upgrade for $40 per
site, regardless of the number of workstations at that single site.
The upgrade price gets you one set of software, the new getting
started manual, a Windows manual, and a QuickReference card for each
user. Additional manuals and install disks are available at an extra
cost.

Other new features include DOS client zoom which zooms the size of
text fields to full screen size and allows editing, including cut,
copy, and paste; and faster sorting of list boxes, which CE says has
been cut from about one minute to just a few seconds. They've also
expanded the DOS look-and-feel to provide drag-and-drop, support for
tab style spacing has been enhanced, and color support for the
buttons has been added. The buttons have also been enlarged to
provide for additional international translations, and a text Undo
feature has been added.

(Jim Mallory/19930302/Press contact: Sue Nail, CE Software,
515-224-1995, fax [phone]; Reader contact: CE Software,
515-224-1995, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00019)

Macintosh Front-End For GEnie In Development, Says GM 03/02/93
ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- GEnie General
Manager John Barber told Newsbytes this week that developers have
begun working on a graphical user interface for Macintosh users and
he expects a beta version of the program to be available by the end
of the year.

Barber said that development has also started on a Windows graphical
user interface and he expects that program, which will have a look and
feel very similar to the Mac product, to be ready for beta testing by
the end of 1993 also. "The idea is to try and build products that are
functionally the same and have somewhat the same look and feel,"
Barber told Newsbytes.

Barber said the new products will be different from Aladdin and
much more of a graphical user interface, as well as an easier-to-use
tool. Functionality of the new front end program will be broken up
into several separate releases.

"Our thought right now is to start out with the easier to use
graphical user interface capabilities, then add the Aladdin-type
capabilities for the more sophisticated user," according to Barber. He
was candid in telling Newsbytes that the intent is to have a product
that is competitive with the user interfaces offered by America Online
and CompuServe.

GEnie developers had previously been working on an approach similar to
porting Aladdin to the Macintosh platform, said Barber. However that
approach has now been discarded, mostly because it wouldn't have the
same conventions that most Macintosh application users are used to.

Barber, who took over the reins at GEnie about two years ago, feels
that Mac users want all the programs they use to have the same look-
and-feel, like most Mac applications being sold. "If we are going to
do something, it should do a good job of looking and feeling like a
Mac," he told Newsbytes.

Barber also acknowledged the frustration of GEnie users who experience
a slow system, particularly at certain times of the day. "We think it
is an issue, and it's going to continue to be an issue. It's a very
important part of the perception of quality. Users are expecting
faster and faster access, and if we're going to be viable, we're going
to have to be able to do that. It has to be one of your top two
priorities," the executive said.

He told Newsbytes that the systems are being tweaked on a weekly basis
to provide improvement, even if it's only one-half of one percent.
Engineers and managers are also looking at the overall hardware
strategy, perhaps moving to a Unix-based system. GEnie currently runs
on supercomputers sold by Honeywell but built by another manufacturer.
"We think we can do better in a scalable technology," he said.

GEnie also has several games in beta test at the present, and there's
no shortage of beta testers, according to Barber, even though the
testers pay to test the software. "We consider games to be one of
the areas we pride ourself in," he told Newsbytes.

In an effort to provide access to more users at a lower phone cost,
GEnie recently announced availability to Genie through a WATS (wide
area telephone service). Using the WATS line is more expensive than
a local call from your home or office, but cheaper than a regular
toll call.

The service has also recently added a gateway to Internet, although
the response hasn't been as great as he had expected, Barber said. "We
haven't seen as much usage as we might have expected."

The GEnie Internet gateway only provides an electronic mail connection
to the Internet. Other Internet services such as bulletin boards
aren't available. Asked if those additional services would be offered,
Barber told Newsbytes that would depend on the demand by users. "Let's
see what people ask for next. If the market is there, absolutely,"
said Barber.

(Jim Mallory/19930302/Press contact: Vivian Kelly, GEnie Media
Relations Manager,301-340-4494)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00020)

MS Office For Mac Now On CD-ROM Disc 03/02/93
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- Just two months
after releasing the Windows version, Microsoft has announced that
its software suite Microsoft Office For the Apple Mac is now available
on a CD-ROM (compact disc read only memory) disc.

MS Office is a collection of the most recent releases of spreadsheet
Microsoft Excel version 4.0; Microsoft PowerPoint 3.0, a presentation
graphics program; Microsoft Word 5.1, the popular word processing
program; and Microsoft Mail version 3.1 Workstation License, an
electronic mail package for AppleTalk networks.

Word, reportedly the best selling word processing program for the
Macintosh, and Excel take advantage of the Publish and Subscribe
features introduced in Apple Computer's operating System 7 to
share information through a dynamic link. For example, charts created
in Excel can be used in a word processing document and any changes in
the spreadsheet would automatically appear in the word document.

Like its Windows-based counterpart, Office for the Mac has a suggested
selling price of $750. All the documentation comes on the CD-ROM disc,
which requires a CD-ROM player attached to your personal computer. A
Microsoft spokesperson told Newsbytes that the advantages of the CD-
ROM based program are the elimination of the bound manuals and an
integrated installation procedure that allows all of the applications
to be installed in one sequence.

Research firm Freeman Associates estimated recently in its CD-ROM
Drive Forecast that the installed base of CD-ROM enabled computers is
already close to three million, and is expected to jump to nearly 10
million within five years.

Microsoft VP of Desktop Applications Pete Higgins says the change to
an integrated installation process and putting the documentation
online is in response to feedback from customers. Elimination of the
paper manuals eliminates about 11 pounds of paper. The company also
says the integrated installation procedure saves disk space, since
only one copy of any files shared by different applications is
installed.

(Jim Mallory/19930302/Press contact: Erin Carney, Microsoft,
206-882-8080)


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

 ****Cellular Voice Dialing Introduced 03/02/93
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- Buffeted by claims their
phones cause cancer, the nation's cellular industry has gathered in
Dallas for its annual convention and tuned into a new technology
called voice dialing.

McCaw Cellular said it was installing the capability in its
Dallas Metrocel Cellular operation, using equipment from Brite
Voice of Wichita, Kansas as well as speech recognition
technology from Voice Control Systems of Dallas.

The new service, to be sold under the name VoiceTouch, lets customers
access their service by pressing the asterisk, or *, and "send" keys
on their phones, then speaking any telephone number. They can also use
this capability to develop a personal dialing directory, with which
they can simply say "call" followed by the name of a person or
location. Service is priced at $5.95 per month.

Brite is selling the technology under the name Voicetone Dialer.
It said VCS has patents pending on the voice dialing technology
and already has patents on speech verification and alphabet
speech recognition technology.

Since Brite installs the technology at the cellular switch rather than
in telephones, all users of a system can access it at once. Brite is
best known or its voice processing platforms sold for newspaper
"talking Yellow Pages" applications, and for its voice processing
platforms used by Sprint and Bell Canada for toll-free 800 and caller-
paid 900 lines.

VCS President Peter Foster claims that his company already has over
80,000 telephone/cellular voice recognizers in use. "The technology is
ready for the marketplace, and users tell us they find it easy to use
and reliable," he said.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930302/Press Contact: McCaw Cellular, Bob
Ratliffe, 206/828-1851; Brite Voice, Linda Steele, 316-652-6500;
customer contact: 800-SEE-BRITE)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(BOS)(00022)

CompTel '93 - RBOCS Are Working At Building Relationships 03/02/93
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- Due to greater
sophistication among customers and growing competition in the
"local loop," the regional Bell operating companies (RBOCS) are
working to build stronger relationships with suppliers and other
carriers, speakers said yesterday at CompTel '93.

"We are increasingly abandoning the language of marketing warfare
for the language of diplomacy, service, alliances and partnerships,"
noted Ivan Seidenberg, vice chairman of the Telecom Group at Nynex, in
a special address at the telecom convention.

For the RBOCs, this "new language" goes hand in hand with a new,
decentralized corporate structure that replaces the military-style
organization of the past, he stressed.

Originating in the days when AT&T/Bell constituted a
telecommunications monopoly, the militaristic attitudes and
practices actually intensified in the first years after
divestiture, and are only starting to turn around now, he said.

"The basic reason for this change is a compelling one," he
explained. "New technologies are shifting more and more power and
control into the hands of the customer, who is increasingly
knowledgeable and demanding."

Nynex exemplifies the new emphasis on service, Seidenberg suggested.
"We believe our role is to help people communicate, whenever and
wherever they want to, in whatever format they need -- from voice to
fax, from video to complex streams of data.

"But we also believe that no provider can be all things to all people
any more. There are just too many demands for any company to be a
literal one-stop shop," he said. "We need partners and teammates."

In a panel discussion later in the day, four other RBOC officials
underscored the new type of attitude outlined by Seidenberg, but
focused on competition as the main reason why.

The panel "Access Alternatives II: How the LECS (Local Exchange
Carriers) Are Evolving to Meet IXC (Interexchange Carrier) Needs,"
came just after another roundtable talk, "Access Alternatives I:
What the CAPS (Competitive Access Providers) Can Offer Your
Business."

In the earlier roundtable, officials of Teleport, MFS, and other
CAPS described the value-added services their companies offer IXCs
as an alternative local access method to the LECS.

Stated Richard Goldberg, moderator of the LECS roundtable: "We
would like to continue to have your business in what is clearly an
increasingly competitive marketplace."

The speakers on the LECS panel represented companies with something
important in common, noted Goldberg, managing director of Access
Markets for Telesector Resources Group, a marketing research and
planning facility for New England Telephone and New York Telephone.
"What we want is to be the carrier of choice for (local) access,"
he said.

US West is pursuing that goal by working closely with the IXCs,
said Dan Sutherland, vice president of marketing. In one program,
Corporate Service Measurement (CSM), the RBOC uses customer input
to grade its own service. In another, Career Focus Group, US West
meets with IXCs once each quarter to find out what the long-
distance carriers want and need.

BellSouth is holding IXC focus groups, as well, said Richard
Robertson, assistant vice president for Carrier Services. In
addition, a company reorganization has produced three separate
groups that deal specifically with IXCs: product management,
service, and sales.

The Product Management group has cut response time to IXC requests
by 50% over the past year, he said. The Service group has established
a single point of contact for each IXC.

Bell Atlantic's Peg Ricca spoke of the need for strategic partnering
with suppliers of systems software and other technology as well as
with IXCs. The RBOC has recently formed partnerships of this kind with
11 suppliers, added Ricca, who is director of sales and marketing for
Carrier Marketing & Sales.

These partnerships involve long-term relationships based on mutual
interests, and replace the previous practice of short-term supply
contacts, she said. Suppliers are selected on such grounds as
technological innovation, experience, and skill, instead of
competitive pricing alone. Bell Atlantic and the suppliers collaborate
closely in efforts to improve quality and contain costs.

"On the other side of the equation, where we are the supplier, we
are working to showcase our strengths and emphasize our own track
record in knowing and meeting customer needs," concluded Ricca.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19930302)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00023)

Systemhouse To Buy AST TransAct 03/02/93
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- SHL Systemhouse
has announced plans to acquire AST TransAct, a banking and financial
services systems company based in London. Formerly owned by the Royal
Bank of Canada and its own management, AST TransAct will be integrated
into Systemhouse's UK operations, a company spokesman said.

AST operates a data center in London which was formerly the
European data center of the Royal Bank of Canada, Canada's
largest bank. It is 75 percent owned by the bank, with the remaining
25 percent held by members of AST TransAct management.

Harry Schlough, a spokesman for Systemhouse in Toronto, said that AST
management and the majority of the company's employees will remain
with the organization, which will be merged into Systemhouse. He would
not divulge the terms of the transaction.

The company will continue to provide systems operations and
applications development services to the Royal Bank of Canada's
European operations and to other European financial institutions,
officials said.

AST TransAct's customers include Marks and Spencer, AIB Group of
Ireland, Diner's Club, and Westpac Banking Corp.

SHL Systemhouse is a Canadian systems integrator with more than
4,000 employees around the world and 1992 revenues of almost
C$740 million. AST TransAct has about 130 employees and had
revenues of more than C$22 million in 1992, officials said.

(Grant Buckler/19930302/Press Contact: Paul Damp or Harry
Schlough, Systemhouse, 416-366-4600; Kenneth Smee, Royal Bank of
Canada, 416-348-5971)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00024)

Bitstream Offers Novelty Font Packs 03/02/93
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- Bitstream has
added three titles to its Li'l Bits line of novelty font packs for
Microsoft Windows 3.1, and unveiled its first Li'l Bits novelty fonts
for the Apple Macintosh. Bitstream announced fonts based on the Star
Trek television series and on the Jetsons and Looney Tunes cartoon
characters.

For Windows, the company is offering the Star Trek - The Next
Generation, The Jetsons, and Looney Tunes 1 font packs. The first
offerings for the Macintosh are the Star Trek and Star Trek - The
Next Generation font packs.

The Star Trek - The Next Generation font pack for Windows and the
Macintosh contains the two typefaces used in the "Star Trek" and
"The Next Generation" portions of the TV show logo. Bitstream has
licensed the typeface designs from Paramount Licensing Group.

The pack also contains a font of symbols and emblems, the two
typefaces used in the show's credits and episode titles and for
all computers, control panels and equipment in the Enterprise,
and one other text face.

The Jetsons pack for Windows contains three original typefaces
designed by Bitstream based on the logo from the TV series. One
has Jetsons characters hugging or looking through every letter.
Bitstream has licensed the property from Hanna-Barbera
Productions. The pack also includes three other text faces.

The Looney Tunes 1 pack, also for Windows, features a font
Bitstream original font with a Looney Tunes character highlighting
every letter, the same typeface without cartoon characters, and Looney
Tunes Tilt, the font used in the Looney Tunes logo. Bitstream has
licensed the property from Warner Brothers. In addition, the pack
offers the two fonts used, respectively, in the Sylvester and Elmer
Fudd logos, plus a third text face.

The Star Trek pack for the Macintosh includes the two typefaces
used for credits and titling in the original TV series and the
movies. Also included are: a symbol font with Enterprise crew
emblems and Klingon language symbols; Starfleet Bold Extended,
the typeface used for the external markings on the USS
Enterprise; and two text faces.

The Windows packs use TrueType font format. For Macintosh
systems, the packs are offered in PostScript Type 1 format.

Due to be available at the end of March, the new font packs will
be sold through distributors and retailers in the United States
and Canada, as well as directly from Bitstream. The suggested
retail price of each font pack is $19.95 in the United States and
C$24.95 in Canada.

(Grant Buckler/19930302/Press Contact: Hanne Herwick, Bitstream,
617-497-6222 ext. 421)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00025)

"Micro-Tower" PCs Debut From DEC 03/02/93
MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- Digital
Equipment is following up the LP line of PCs it launched last summer
with three new models in a "micro-tower" configuration it said will
fit on top of a desk. All three new DECpc MT models use Intel's 80486
microprocessor and come with five bays for storage devices, six
expansion slots, and a 260-watt power supply.

Roger Matus, director of marketing for DEC's PC business unit, told
Newsbytes that, while the LP line has been very successful and now
accounts for about three quarters of DEC's PC sales in North America,
some customers have been asking for systems with more room for
expansion. The LP machines have only four drive bays and three
expansion slots.

So, Matus said, DEC set out to build systems with five bays and
six slots. But the company concluded that standard desktop
systems with that much expansion space take up too much space on
the desk. Customers therefore turn them on end on the floor,
which makes access awkward. So DEC decided, "people are using
these things vertically, let's design them vertically."

While the tower design is not new, DEC's variant of it is different
from most. The machines are seven by 17 by 17 inches, and Matus said
they are small enough to sit on top of a desk rather than on the
floor. For easy access, one side panel unlocks and slides out.

The machines are also supplied with a 14-inch Super VGA color monitor
that meets Swedish radiation standards, Matus said. He added that the
system's low-noise, variable-speed fan meets German office noise
standards.

The three models in the new line are: the 433dx MT, with a base
price of $2,349; the 450d2 MT, with a base price of $2,499; and
the 466d2 MT, starting at $2,799. The prices are $250 more than
comparable LP models.

Digital plans to sell the machines worldwide, and they are
available now in North America. The PCs are being built at DEC's
plant in Kanata, Ontario, Canada, Matus said.

(Grant Buckler/19930302/Press Contact: Edward Canty, Digital
Equipment, 508-264-7485)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00026)

 ****HP Announces Fault-Tolerance On HP 3000 Series 03/02/93
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MARCH 2 (NB) -- Hewlett-Packard
has announced software that allows its HP 3000 computers running the
proprietary MPE operating system to work together as clusters no
matter how far apart they are, and to transfer processing to remote
sites in the event of a disaster.

Using a combination of HP's OpenView systems management software
and the NetBase software from Quest Software, HP 3000 systems
will mirror data across any number of systems located anywhere on
a network, a company spokeswoman said. If one system is put out
of commission, users can continue working using the mirrored data
on another system.

Standard networking capability, such as X.25 packet switching or
T1 communications lines, are adequate to support the cluster
capability, the spokeswoman said.

Besides the disaster-recovery capability, HP said, the
SharePlex/iX software provides the traditional benefits of
processor clusters, including the ability to manage all systems
in the cluster as if they were a single system, transparent
balancing of workloads across systems, data shadowing, and
transparent printer spooling throughout the network.

SharePlex/iX will be especially interesting to organizations with
distributed computer networks and a need to keep their systems
running all the time, the spokeswoman said. As examples, she
cited companies that are constantly processing telephone orders,
and financial institutions such as stock or currency traders.

The cluster capability will cost from $25,000 to $150,000,
depending on the hardware the customer is using and the number of
users, HP said.

(Grant Buckler/19930302/Press Contact: Michelle Pritchard,
Hewlett-Packard, 408-447-1259)


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

Epson Printer Networks To Macs 03/02/93
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- Hoping to appeal
to companies requiring specialized forms printing, Epson has
introduced Epson Talk, a connectivity kit for Epson LQ dot matrix
printers.

According to the company, Epson Talk enables Apple Mac users to access
printers in Epson's LQ 70 printer series and select ActionPrinter
products. The kit includes a LocalTalk Interface and Chooser-level
driver.

The target markets for the product include those firms requiring
wide format spreadsheets, multi-part forms applications, labels,
invoices, and checks.

Jan Marciano, spokesperson for Epson, told Newsbytes that the
product is also aimed at "businesses with (a combination of)
several PCs and Macs, that are looking for increased flexibility."

In announcing the product, Charles Gunderson, director, imaging
product management at Epson, said: "Epson Talk gives Macintosh
users a cost-effective, high-quality printing alternative."

Epson Talk is claimed to work with all popular Macintosh software
packages. The company says that installation for the kit is quick
and easy with users just sliding the LocalTalk interface board into
the printer option slot. They then connect the printer via an
AppleTalk cable and install the driver.

Epson Talk will be available on March 15 at a suggested retail
price of $229.

The company has also introduced a kit that allows its EPL-8000
and new ActionLaser 1000 and 1500 laser printers to be connected
to a Macintosh. This kit includes a LocalTalk interface and Adobe
PostScript integrated circuit (IC) Card.

In November, 1992, Newsbytes' Australian bureau reported that Epson
had unveiled Epson Connect! -- a hardware and software combination
that allows most Macs to connect to any Epson printer. The Connect!
package consists of cabling, drivers, manuals and a quick-installation
guide that allows users to set-up quickly. The product was developed
in Sydney, Australia.

Epson told Newsbytes that the two products sounded "similar," but they
were unaware if they were the same product.

(Ian Stokell/19930302/Press Contact: Jan Marciano, 310-782-5161,
Epson)


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

 ****Apple Macs Win Industry Accolades 03/02/93
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- Apple Computer's
Macintosh Centris computer and the System 7 operating system
software have received awards from PC Week and Computerworld.

Apple's new midrange 68040-based Macintosh Centris line
received PC Week magazine's product of the year award. The
product was introduced on February 9, 1993, and was recognized
by PC Week Labs for its aggressive price/performance ratio.

In announcing the award, PC Week said: "The Macintosh Centris
650 delivers impressive speed and flexibility. This computer will be
the obvious choice for buyers looking for a powerful mainstream
Macintosh at an affordable price."

The two new systems are the Macintosh Centris 610 and 650.
They carry base suggested retail prices of $1,859 and $2,699,
respectively.

Meanwhile, Apple's System 7 received the highest customer satisfaction
score in a Computerworld Buyers' Scorecard, in which one hundred and
eighty respondents were asked to rate desktop operating systems on
individual features and functions. Computerworld emphasized System 7's
"high stability and ease of use."

Computerworld is quoted as saying, "The 32-bit Macintosh operating
system lived up to its reputation of providing exceptional ease of
use, respondents said." Other operating environments that were
included in the survey were Microsoft's Windows 3.0/1; IBM's OS/2
2.x; and SCO's Open Desktop.

System 7.1 began shipping in October, 1992. The new version
incorporates Apple's WorldScript technology and QuickTime 1.5,
Apple's multimedia architecture for the Apple Mac.

(Ian Stokell/19930302/Press Contact: Pat Kinley, 408-974-2589;
or Cindy McCaffrey, 408-974-1578, both of Apple Computer)


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

 ****911 Emergency Line Flooded By Cellular Callers 03/02/93
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- On many cellular
systems, the most popular numbers are *123 and *911. The former
number gives traffic and weather information, often using the
services of a vendor like California's Shadow Traffic which also
delivers reports to radio stations. The latter number goes
directly to the police.

In California, so many people are calling *911 to report accidents
it's flooding the system, according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP offices around the state sent out press statements about the
problem a week ago. PacTel Cellular, the "wireline" cellular operator
covering the state, has been dealing with the problem through new
pamphlets, as explained by spokesman Melissa May.

"We're developing a brochure to educate people on when to call 911.
One of the things that's happening is that people are seeing accidents
on the street and calling to report. But when others have reported the
same accident, it's overkill. We tell people that if an accident has
been there a while, don't call 911. We're meeting with law enforcement
to get their recommendations, and develop materials," she told
Newsbytes.

May suggests that if drivers are unsure, they should call *123 first,
unless someone's life is obviously at risk.

"We had been working on this for a month before CHP spoke," May
continued. "I imagine police are getting the message in many ways."
The MobiLink consortium, of which PacTel is a member, is working to
standardize the numbers used for information and police reporting.

Cellular phone operators are also continuing to deal with
the cancer scare started in January with reports that a Florida
woman had died of brain cancer after using a cellular phone.

Researchers at the Environmental Protection Agency, with natural
scientific caution, have called for vast research on possible
dangers from all types of electromagnetic fields, at all
frequencies. Such fields can reach consumers from hair dryers or
overhead power lines, as well as TVs and radios, and of course
cellular phones. Hand-held cellular phones, however, may be of
special concern since their transmitting antennae are located so
close the user's head.

Of course, where there is the perception of a problem, there is
bound to be someone seeking to profit from it. A Washington
company is expected today to unveil a device which connects to
major cellular phones and shields the head from most of their
radiation.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930302/Press Contact: PacTel Cellular,
Melissa May, 714/222-8781)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00030)

 ****World Trade Disaster Generates Bonanza for Some 03/02/93
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 2 (NB) -- The explosion
under the World Trade Center February 26 was a blessing to
companies which specialize in coping with disaster.

AT&T's NCR unit operates a Crisis Management Center in Rochelle
Park, New Jersey, across the Hudson from the blast site, which
insures that some customers can continue operations. Comdisco is
the best-known company in this business of "computer insurance,"
and its New York center has been filled since the blast occurred
as well. Even better than the use of the center is the fact that
many businesses may buy this kind of protection in the wake of
the blast, even if they never use it.

As a result of these companies and firms like Arcus Data Security,
which specialize in data back-ups, many World Trade Center businesses
were back in operation very soon after the blast. That is important,
since the brokerages and exchanges which use the center control many
important markets around the world.

A "mutual aid" pact among AT&T and 13 other telecommunications
carriers, signed under heavy pressure from New York City Mayor David
Dinkins after cable cuts and power outages at AT&T centers in 1988 and
1989, was also instrumental in getting businesses back on-line,
officials said. While the main Nynex cables serving the center were
not cut by the blast, power generators for Teleport, a major alternate
access carrier, were knocked out. Teleport got help from competitors
in obtaining pumps which prevented burst pipes from flooding its
operations center.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930302/Press Contact: NCR, Jim Mazzola,
513/445-6148)