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/nb930309

Text File | 1993-03-09 | 69KB | 1,468 lines

(NEWS)(GOVT)(TYO)(00001)

Japan's 5th Generation Computer Project Goes Commercial 03/09/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- ICOT, the fifth generation Japanese
computing project, has begun promoting its parallel processing software
and hardware on a worldwide basis.

Backed as a nonprofit-making concern by the Japanese Ministry of
International Trade and Industry (MITI), the ICOT project officially
finished late last year, although the primary aim of the project is
now to feed information back to the computing industry.

ICOT has now reached its 10th birthday, ending a decade of study into
the so-called fifth generation of computers. The group has quite a lot
to show for its efforts, the centerpiece of which is a prototype
parallel processor known as the PIM, together with driver software for
the chipset.

Plans now call for the ICOT project to move into its second phase, a
two-year period, during which time it will actively promote its
technology to the commercial world. This will involve some degree of
compromise on the part of the academics, the first sign of which seems
to be the redesign of the group's software to run on a Sun SPARC
workstation.

Among the several packages being ported to the Sun SPARC environment,
is ICOT's original parallel processing language known as KLIC. The
idea of the software port is that Unix users can experience the
benefits of parallel processing.

The ICOT project appears to be turning into quite a major boost for
the Japanese government, which has been criticized by Western
Governments of late, accused of being too commercial in its approach.
The government can at least point to the ICOT project and claim that
the decade of not-for-profit technology advancement is its own idea.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930309/Press Contact: ICOT, +81-3-
3456-2511)


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

UK - Artisoft Lantastic Version 5.0 03/09/93
SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Artisoft announced
the immediate availability of Lantastic 5.0 in the UK. This version
of the company's network operating system claims to offer multi-
platform connectivity capabilities, as well as advanced network
administration, security and printing facilities.

A new Windows scrapbook facility allows text, graphics, and audio
files to be exchanged across a network. The feature is similar
in operation to the Windows DDE (dynamic data exchange)
facility that allows data to be piped between Windows
applications run in parallel with each other, but runs across
the network.

Announcing the new version in the UK, Jack Schoof, Artisoft's
chairman and CEO, said that the features, when combined with the
improved support for multiple platforms, make Lantastic 5.0 one
of the most advanced peer to peer networking systems available
today. "It retains the ease of use, flexibility and low cost that
smaller businesses demand while maintaining the power, security and
connectivity support to manage larger networks," he said.

Existing users of Lantastic will be offered an upgrade to v5.0
free of charge, provided they bought their v4.1 software after
February 24 this year. Other users will be offered the software
at what Artisoft claims is a modest cost.

In parallel with the new release of Lantastic, Artisoft has
unveiled a range of new starter kits based on the Lantastic
Noderunner 2000/C Ethernet adapter. The kits cost UKP 449 and
includes necessary hardware, cables, and software to get two PCs
onto a network.

Software-only pricing starts at UKP 79 for a single DOS node and
UKP 99 for a single Windows-DOS node.

Primary enhancements of Lantastic are an increase in number of
users on a peer-to-peer Lantastic network to 500 (from 300), as
well as the ability to bridge to OS/2, HPFS, WORM and other non-
DOS drives. Unix bridging is also supported by Release 5.0.

Another interesting feature of R5.0 of Lantastic is the ability
to run a PC server as a Novell Netware client, which then acts as
Netware bridge. In plain English, this means that Novell
Netware and Lantastic networks can be linked together
transparently.

(Steve Gold/19930309/Press & Public Contact: Artisoft - Tel:
0753-554999)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00003)

Goodbye Program Manager, Hello Packrat 03/09/93
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 9 (NB) -- Polaris Software has
introduced PackRat version 5.0, which it claims has evolved from a
contact management package into an Windows information manager
designed to replace the Program Manager.

According to Polaris, the package is now just another Program Manager
replacement, however, but is a well thought-out, elegant, user
interface that allows greater integration between Windows
applications.

In use, the package uses screen-size folders with colored tabs at the
top for organizing the Windows desktop. It offers a "Smartstart"
installation feature so users do not have to start all over from
scratch when building their Windows desktop. The Smartstart
installation facility claims to offer almost 50 occupations users can
select to have Packrat design their desktop, but once things are set
up, everything can be customized.

The package also claims to offer a higher level of integration in
Windows, as, once an application is in a Packrat folder, Packrat
"owns" that application. Scripts can be recorded for replay, and users
even have the ability to tag an item, such as a cell in a spreadsheet,
so that they can be notified if it changes.

In use, once a folder is opened, all the applications in the folder
are started up. All the applications needed for a task can be placed
in a folder and customized. Folders are selected by clicking on the
colored labels at the top of the screen and the number of folders is
unlimited.

Packrat also allows users to select multiple views of their daily and
monthly calendars, such as yesterday, today, and tomorrow or three
months at a time.

Contacts can be recorded by simply dragging the person's name from the
phone book and dropping it on the contact list. Packrat will then open
a box where you can record what the contact is for. The software will
dial the phone, record the time, date, and duration of the call, and
can schedule follow-up alerts. It also supports a project scheduler,
using colored line Gantt charts, can log documents for search and
retrieval, and financial management features.

Polaris says that plans are in the works to interface the software with
other packages such as mapping programs like MapLinx, This will, the
company claims, allow users not only to schedule appointments, but
have the computer estimate how long it takes to get there.

Packrat 5.0 costs $395, but version 4.1 users can upgrade for $99 for
a limited time. A three-user network version expected in thirty days
at a retail price of $695.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930309/Press Contact: Carol Foster, Polaris
Software, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00004)

Superbase Offers Video Player Free To Existing Users 03/09/93
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 MAR 9 (NB) -- Software Publishing
Corporation (SPC), the developer of the Superbase database application
development software for Microsoft Windows, announced at the
Windows Summit '93 conference in Carlsbad, California the availability
of Video Player for Superbase 2.0. According to the company, Video
Player allows users to incorporate multimedia information into a
Superbase application.

Video Player works with both Microsoft's AVI and Intel's DVI
video formats so that users can store and retrieve full-motion
digital video, sound, musical instrument digital interface
(MIDI) music, plus animation, to and from Superbase applications.

The company claims that the package also works with other
applications, such as SPC's Harvard Graphics for Windows.

Video Player requires a minimum of a 386-based IBM or compatible
personal computer (PC) with four megabytes (MB) of random access
memory (RAM) running Microsoft Windows 3.1 and a video graphics array
(VGA) card and monitor capable of displaying 256 colors.

An 80MB hard disk is also recommended for fast access to video
images, and the company recommends a compact disc read-only memory
(CD-ROM) drive for storing video files due to the demands that video
files make on storage space. The Video Player will make use of a video
board for playback such as the Intel Actionmedia II board if it is
available.

Superbase users can get the Video Player free through April 30,
1993 by contacting SPC's customer service department directly.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930309/Press Contact: Carolyn Karr, Software
Publishing, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00005)

UK - Rabbit CT-2 Phones Fall Below UKP 100 Mark 03/09/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993, MAR 9 (NB) -- One of the criticisms raised
against the Hutchinson Rabbit CT-2 (cordless telephone type two)
roaming digital phones when they were introduced 18 months ago was the
cost compared with an analogue full facility cellular unit. Analysts
pointed to the fact that, though similar in purchase price, the Rabbit
phone could only make calls on an outgoing basis, and then only within
city areas. Now Rabbit has answered that criticism, shaving handset
prices below the psychological UKP 100 mark.

Instead of selling Rabbit handsets through dealers, Hutchinson is now
selling the Rabbit handset on a direct sales basis, meaning that
dealer margins are out of the price. This has enabled the company to
reduce the price from UKP 127-65 to UKP 69-00.

The Rabbit Recall package, meanwhile, has been cut from UKP 176-59 to
UKP 99. This package includes a Rabbit handset, a tone page, and a
voice mailbox. The idea is that inbound calls are routed to the voice
mailbox and a message left. The mailbox beeper is then activated and
the Rabbit phone used to (a) retrieve the message and (b) call the
caller back.

The Rabbit base station, which is used for home or office, now costs
UKP 69, compared with the previous price of UKP 85. The base station
allows the Rabbit handset to "double up" as a standard digital
cordless phone for use within 100 metres of the home or office base
station.

As well as the GPT Rabbit, Hutchinson Rabbit's direct sales force have
shaved pricing on the Motorola Silverlink CT-2 phone with charger and
stand from UKP 169 to UKP 139. The Recall package, including voice
mailbox and pager now costs UKP 179 -- down from UKP 199. The Motorola
base station continues to sell for a rather hefty UKP 199.

Subscriptions to the basic Rabbit mobile service remains unchanged,
however, at UKP 15 to sign up and UKP 6 a month to rent a "line" on
the service. The Recall subscription, including tone pager and voice
mailbox, has been cut from UKP 11-50 to UKP 10 a month.

So why the downward shuffle of prices? Is the Rabbit service failing,
as was widely predicted when the service was launched? Neill Macklin,
Hutchinson Personal Communications' marketing director, claims the
price is merely an aggressive marketing promotion.

"This is the first time a telepoint handset has been priced at less
than UKP 100. It's a new aggressive price that will make Rabbit an
even more competitive alternative to the cellular phone for small
business users," he said.

Rabbit claims that its service is a lot cheaper than cellular because
of its low subscription rates. The company claims that executives can
save around UKP 500 on their "low cost" cellular phones by opting for
Rabbit.

The company cites the example of someone making 20 minutes of calls at
peak time and 10 minutes of calls at off-peak rates per week. In
London, the cost is UKP 900 a year, while outside of London and the
M25 it costs UKP 800 a year. Rabbit, by way of contrast, costs UKP 350
a year, the company claims.

(Steve Gold/19930309/Public Contact: Rabbit - Tel: [phone] (local
call rate UK only); non-UK information [only] & press contact: Paragon
Communications - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LON)(00006)

Olivetti Takes Byte From Apple, IBM, Compaq's UK Sales 03/09/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Latest figures released by
Context Market Research show that Olivetti is increasing its market
share steadily. According to Context, the last two months show that
Olivetti has increased sales through computer resellers at the expense
of Apple, Compaq, and IBM.

In terms of units sold, Olivetti's sales rose by 4.9 percent over the
November-December 1992 period, while Compaq's dipped by 2.9 percent.
IBM dipped by 0.6 percent, while Apple's dipped by 2.2 percent. These
figures are, Newsbytes notes, despite an increase of 14,500 sales
units in the months concerned.

"These figures vindicate Olivetti's approach to the market and
reinforce our ongoing commitment to the indirect channel," explained
Paolo Tosi, Olivetti UK's managing director, who added that the
company's strategy of giving every possible assistance to its
resellers is paying off.

He also warns the big three that he plans to continue the trend
throughout 1993, by "offering products which are competitively priced
and specified, and by building on our understanding of the reseller
market."

"We aim to double our market share in 1993 versus that in 1992," he
said.

(Steve Gold/19930309/Press & Public Contact: Olivetti UK - Tel: -
081-780-8232)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00007)

British Telecom Wants FCC Approval For US Phone Service 03/09/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- In what the US telecom market
should take as a clear warning of things to come, British Telecom has
announced it intends to apply to the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) for permission to resell international private line services in
the US.

The telecom company also intends to ask for a licence to provide
switched services in the US, allowing it to offer international
virtual network (IVN) services, a low-cost and flexible method of
offering the data equivalent of public switched telephone network
(PSTN) services on a commercial scale. British Telecom wants to
link US business voice, data and fax calls directly with Europe,
through a single bill. The carrier calls its $1 billion
plan to create the network "Cyclone."

Major long distance carriers in the US, specifically AT&T, are
challenging the move, claiming they don't have such "equal access"
in BT's home country, the UK. The UK does have a relatively open
market for telecommunications, but it lacks "equal access" even
for basic services like long distance. In the US, consumers
are able to choose any long distance carrier and have the call
carried on their local numbers.

BT in its home market is both a local and long distance carrier,
and has yet to offer this power competitors such access to its
networks. Thus, both its local and long distance networks are being
replicated by rivals, locally by cable television operators and in
long distance by rivals such as Mercury. One of the cable firms it
competes with is partly-owned by US West, a local phone company for
the Rocky Mountain states of the US.

In the UK, BT is being forced by European regulatory pressures
to open its home market. BT is attempting to move from being a
state-owned local carrier into a deregulated worldwide network.
The British government is continuing moves to divest its entire
stake in the carrier.

BT has entered the US market before -- it started a US-based
unit called Syncordia a few years ago seeking to win the total
network business of multinational companies, most of them US-based.
But that effort has gone nowhere, in part because other international
carriers, like those in Germany and Japan, have declined to join it.
BT also owns the international Tymnet data network.

Regardless of the outcome of the coming battle, many stock analysts
expect good things from BT. The company's stock has broken out of a
trading range and is expected to rise in price over the next few
months.

"BT's strategy is clearly driven by our customers' need for simpler,
more robust cost-effective international services from a single
supplier," commented BT North American President Gerald Thames.

Will BT succeed in its request? Press opinion in the UK seems mixed.
The recent trade wars between Europe and the US could put a stopper on
the FCC grant of open access to the US telecom market. This would be
seen as a dangerous precedent, however, as it would almost
certainly force the British Government to take retaliatory action
against all US carriers offering services in the UK.

(Steve Gold & Dana Blankenhorn/19930309)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00008)

Guide Helps LAN Managers Optimize Net Performance 03/09/93
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- An
advanced-level guide, LAN Performance Optimization, shows LAN
managers and consultants how to analyze the performance of a
local area network, assess performance data, and tune a network
for optimal results.

After demonstrating how to establish appropriate goals and
related performance benchmarks, author Martin Nemzow describes
how to locate and eliminate bottlenecks in data communication
networks including ARCnet, Ethernet, FDDI, and Token Ring
by using the powerful modeling and analysis software, LANModel,
included on disk.

The diagnostic tools provided are equally effective with Banyan
Vines, Novell NetWare, UB Access One, Unix, Sun NFS, IBM LAN
Server, and Microsoft LAN Manager network operating systems.
The guide teaches administrators how to use the program's unique
modeling features to monitor LAN data, protocol trends, traffic
workloads, and node counts, so that inefficiency and blockage in
the transmission of data can be more easily pinpointed.

LAN Performance Optimization, a 160-page hardcover book, is
published by Windcrest/McGraw-Hill for a suggested retail
price of $29.95 including the analysis software. For further
information, call the publisher at 800/233-1128.

(Computer Currents/19930309)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00009)

Mitac Plans Major Expansion In UK 03/09/93
TELFORD, SHROPSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Mitac International
has announced plans to build a European manufacturing facility at its
existing Telford office site in the UK. The two-year project will cost
the company around $6 million and mean 200 new jobs for the area.

Announcing the plans, Lawrence Lu, a Mitac veteran of four years in the
UK and now vice president of European manufacturing, said that this put
the company at the forefront in terms of Taiwanese computing presence
in Europe. "The new facility allows us to respond to the changing
needs of our markets faster, and that means we can be more
competitive," he said.

According to a spokesman for Mitac UK, the first phase of the plant
will be completed during the third quarter of this year and will house
the company's administration and production staff. Phase one will
allow the company to build up to 5,000 PCs a month.

The real production facilities, however, will go live in the summer of
1994 when a large warehousing and production facility comes onstream.
This will increase the production facilities greatly, allowing Mitac
to adapt to changing needs, producing notebook PCs if required.

The European plan mirrors that of Mitac US, which began mass producing
PCs in the US last year instead of importing them from Taiwan.

(Steve Gold/19930309/Press & Public Contact: Mitac UK - Tel: 0952-
670370; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(UNIX)(LON)(00010)

UK - SCO PC Parallel Port Tape Backup System 03/09/93
STONEHOUSE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Cristie, the
data recording specialist, has announced an SCO Unix and Xenix version
of its parallel port data cartridge and digital audio tape (DAT)
drives. The drives -- the Cristie TS4000 cartridge and TS5000 DAT
unit -- are unusual in that they can be plugged directly into the
PC's parallel printer port without the need for extra card to be
fitted.

According to Cristie, this combination of features makes the TS4000
and TS5000 dives ideal for low-cost sharing of backup devices. The
company also claims that because it uses a parallel port connection
into the PC, it is unique in not requiring an extra card slot.

In addition, Robin Burton, Cristie's marketing director, said that
because they use a standard tape format, the units be used to load the
operating system quickly from the standard Santa Cruz Operation
(SCO) release tape.

"This saves an enormous amount of time. Anyone who has installed SCO
Unix knows that it takes at least two hours and a lot of care to load
from diskette. From a TS4000 it takes only 40 minutes. And, during
those 40 minutes you can do something else -- you're not tied to the
PC playing disk jockey," he said.

Pricing on the tape drives depends on user requirements and system
configurations. Prices start from UKP 1,199 upwards, with SCO Unix or
Xenix drivers adding a further UKP 99 to the cost.

(Steve Gold/19930309/Press & Public Contact: Cristie Electronics -
Tel: [phone]; fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00011)

 ***Remote Access PC Communications Heats Up 03/09/93
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- The battle in remote
access products is heating up, with manufacturers lining up behind new
standards like Novell NetWare and Microsoft Windows in order to get an
edge.

Symantec has announced Norton pcAnywhere version 1.0 for Windows,
which not only provides file transfers, but also claims to allow the
control of a host computer from a remote location. It's aimed at
workers traveling or working from home. It uses the Windows interface,
and offers a complete set of general communications functions,
including popular terminal emulations and file transfer protocols.

Data compression and error correction facilities are also included,
and installation on a local area network offers a software gateway
for modem sharing, with drivers for over 90 modems. There's also a
built-in script editor. The retail price is $199.

Microcom has responded with Carbon Copy for Windows 2.0. Launched in
the UK last week, this package offers point-to-point connections
across a LAN, dial-out connections to LANs, and PC-to-PC communication
via modems. Super VGA is also supported, and the new product is
compatible with the DOS Host program in Microcom's Carbon Copy for
DOS. Its US list price has been set at the same level as pcAnywhere --
$199 -- and free upgrades will be provided to buyers of Version 1.0
after February 1. Users of any brand of remote software can upgrade to
the new version through June 30 for $49.

Traveling Software's entry, which does not offer remote control but
only file transfers, is LapLink V for NetWare, which it calls the
"single most important step we have taken with our LapLink product,"
in the words of CEO Mark Eppley.

The new package includes SmartXchange, providing the ability to
automate any file transfer over cables, modems, or a Novell network.
File transfers can be scheduled to run unattended, and a "record"
function, like that used to automate scripting on communications
software products, is included. The software also features the
Universal Communicating Object (UCO) technology allowing for links
with computers that don't have the program. The retail price is $99
with deliveries expected in April.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930309/Press Contact: Mark Williams,
Microcom, 617-551-1681; Jackie Brinker, Symantec, 408-446-7490;
Marci Maule, Traveling Software, 206-483-8088)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00012)

Data Race Buys Into OmniTel 03/09/93
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Data Race
plans to acquire the assets of OmniTel in order to expand its
customer base. OmniTel recently emerged from bankruptcy.

OmniTel had been driven into bankruptcy following a long legal
fight with Hayes Microcomputer Products over its "escape sequence with
guard time" patent. Data Race's modems use a competing escape sequence
from Multitech called the Time Independent Escape Sequence, or TIES.

"They have to resolve that themselves," Data Race President Herb
Hensley told Newsbytes. "But we are taking the agreement to pay
royalties for their old products. We don't use their technology in our
existing products."

OmniTel has been concentrating on slow-speed modems for notebook
computers, sold on an OEM basis to makers of the computers. Data
Race has been in a similar market -- high-speed modems sold to the
same companies. Hensley noted recently that many of OmniTel's
customers in Europe will make good prospects for his company's higher-
speed products.

Under the agreement, OmniTel transfers all its license agreements,
contracts, product designs and rights to make and sell products using
its designs. Data Race, in turn, is responsible for fulfilling all
existing purchase orders and contractual commitments using those
designs. "We'll probably move most of their production to San Antonio
over time," added Hensley. "We're taking the contracts. All the
manufacturing assets are being acquired.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930309/Press Contact: Data Race, Herb
Hensley, 210-558-1900; OmniTel, Venkat Mohan, 510-490-2202)


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

Hand Scanners 4X Faster Thanks To 16 Bits 03/09/93
CARROLLTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- NISCA is shipping
two new 16-bit hand held scanners. The company says the NISCAN/GS
Plus and NISCAN/GS Plus OCR are about four times faster than other
hand held scanners and are equal to any true gray scale
flatbed scanner in image quality.

Touting the speed of the two scanners, NISCA President Tai Nakamura,
said: "(They) are so fast we had to add wheels." Actually, Nakamura
added, the company did come up with a new rear wheel design that tilts
the wheels slightly inward, which forces a straighter scanning path
and helps prevent skewing.

Both scanners are equipped with 64 kilobytes (K) of static RAM (random
access memory) cache that buffers the scanned image and reduces the
compressed or elongated effect that can occur when using scanners
without a cache. Both systems have a single button to press and
release to start and stop the scan, and the software provides on-
screen prompts.

NISCA claims that both systems are true 8-bit gray-scale scanners,
able to scan photos and line art in 256 shades of gray. Resolution of
up to 400 dots-per-inch (dpi) is provided through the use of a 2,048
cell CCD array.

Included with both scanners is Picture Publisher LE from Micrografx.
The NISCAN/GS Plus and software has a suggested retail price of $399.
The NISCAN/GS Plus OCR also comes with Perceive Personal OCR software
from Ocron, Inc and has a bundle price of $499. Both scanners carry a
lifetime warranty.

The bundled Picture Publisher LE (for Light Edition) allows the user
to merge, or "stitch" multiple scanned passes together into one
picture. It also allows the user to manipulate the image with a series
of drawing and painting tools. Texture and patterns can be added, and
lines smoothed and sharpened. Picture Publisher also allows the user
to apply various masks which can then be saved, whether created by the
software or the user.

Both scanners support TIFF compressed and uncompressed, BMP, Targa,
PCX, and GIF file formats. EPS support is provided for export only.
The Perceive Personal OCR (optical character reader) software can
recognize text from document sources such as newspapers or
typewritten letters, and requires no character training, according
to the company. It recognizes from 50 to 150 characters per second
and NISCA says the recognition rate is 99.99 percent. Typefaces from
6 to 36 points are recognizable.

The OCR software can recognize eleven languages, including English,
Spanish, French, and German. Recognized text can be saved in ASCII,
ANSI, Microsoft Word, Wordperfect, AMI and other popular document
formats.

System requirements include a 386-based or higher IBM-compatible PC,
Windows 3.1 or higher, a hard drive, and a graphics display card.

(Jim Mallory/19930309/Press contact: Kristal Blanchone, NISCA
Incorporated, 214-242-9696, 800-466-9096; Reader contact: NISCA,
214- 242-9696, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00014)

Dell, Compaq Offer Multimedia PCs 03/09/93
AUSTIN & HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Competitors Dell
Computer and Compaq Computer have both announced new multimedia PCs
that fall at the low-cost end of their product lines.

The two new Dell offerings, one a 386-based system and one powered
by a 486 chip, bring to a total of five that company's multimedia
systems currently shipping. Compaq is introducing one 486-based
system, its first multimedia PC.

The Dell systems, called ValueStation 386 and ValueStation 486
include a CD-ROM drive, Sound Blaster card, speakers, a microphone,
a variety of software, and a VGA color monitor. The basic platform
can be powered by either a 386SX-based 33 megahertz (MHz) or a 486SX
25 MHz chip. The 486 ValueStation also includes a 2400 baud modem
and a one-month free subscription to the Prodigy online information
service. Software includes Microsoft Bookshelf for Windows and
the game "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego," PFS Windows Works,
DOS 5.0 and Windows 3.1.

The 486 version includes Multimedia MS-Works, Where in the World is
Carmen Sandiego Deluxe, and Just Grandma and Me, as well as DOS and
Windows. Prices for the Dell systems range from $1,499 to $1,999.
Various hard drive, data modem and monitor options are available.

Dell provides unlimited lifetime round-the-clock technical support
by phone. Customers can also select from a list of nearly 60
software applications packages for factory installation. There's a
$15 per PC fee for that service in addition to the software. "Our
software prices are comparable with what you find in the stores,"
Dell spokesperson Jill Shanks told Newsbytes.

The new Compaq multimedia personal computer, the first announced by
the company, is called the ProLinea CDS, a 486-based system which
includes a CD-ROM drive, sound card, modem, and some software,
including four CD-ROM programs. Compaq, which no longer publishes
suggested retail prices, says that the street price will be about
$1,699. With a color monitor, expect to pay about $1,999. The system
comes with a free three-year parts and labor warranty, with the first
year's work performed on site if it's needed.

Included with the CDS is a MediaVision Pro Audio Spectrum 16 sound
card, a 375 millisecond CD-ROM drive, external speakers and
microphone, an installed data/fax modem, Prodigy software, a mouse,
DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1, and PFS:Windows Works, and a 120MB hard drive.

The CD-ROM software included with the CDS includes Graphics Works
for Windows Limited Edition, Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia for
Windows, The Mayo Clinic Family Health Book Interactive Edition, and,
you guessed it -- Where In the World is Carmen Sandiego Deluxe edition.

While system prices are difficult to compare unless you can match
all aspects of the two systems including such features as video RAM,
memory cache, make and access speed of hard drives, Dell and
Compaq have argued about the comparative prices of the "comparable"
systems for several years.

In February 1992 Newsbytes reported that the two Lone Star State
firms had settled pending litigation relating to claims and
counter-claims concerning each other's advertising. At the time
Newsbytes reported that a Compaq spokesperson said Dell had made
a cash payment to Compaq in an undisclosed amount and had agreed
to the entry of consent decrees in the US and the United Kingdom
prohibiting violations of law in any future ads.

This week, Compaq is alleging that its new multimedia system is $400
to $600 less than Dell's offerings. Responding to the Compaq claim,
Dell spokesperson Jill Shanks told Newsbytes: "One of the systems we
announced today is very similar to the Compaq system being
announced."

"If you compare our $1,999 system (with their system) feature for
feature including the software, you'll see that they compare pretty
well. We have a lot of the same hardware and software for about the
same price," she added. She pointed out to Newsbytes that Compaq
systems are not custom configured, a feature offered by Dell.

Neither company belongs to the industry group which established the
multimedia personal computer standards, so officially none of the
systems being announced are Multimedia PC (MPC) compliant, so they
can't display the MPC-compliant sticker.

However, Compaq spokesperson Yvonne Donaldson told Newsbytes that the
MPC standard calls for a 386 or higher microprocessor, at least a 30
megabyte hard drive, a CD-ROM drive with a sustained transfer rate of
150 kilobytes per second and an average seek time of less than one
second, 8-bit wave audio or better, and Windows 3.0 with multimedia
extensions or Windows 3.1. Donaldson says Compaq's new CDS system
meets or exceeds all of those standards.

(Jim Mallory/19930309/Press contact: Jill Shanks, Dell Computer,
512- 794-4100; Yvonne Donaldson, Compaq Computer, 713-374-0484)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00015)

PC-Kwik Upgrades WinMaster 03/09/93
BEAVERTON, OREGON, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- PC-Kwik says it will
start shipping an upgrade to its Microsoft Windows program WinMaster
next week, which will include about 50 program enhancements, and will
come bundled with the company's proprietary disk cache software.
Buyers will also be offered a free copy of the CD-ROM cache program
scheduled for release in mid-May.

New features added to WinMaster's launching module Toolbox include
the ability to run as the Windows shell, with support for startup
groups and working directories. Other features include borders that
can be sized, icon support, optional help lines, auto-start
features, font control, keyboard shortcuts, and automatic conversion
of program manager groups.

PC-Kwik has also added KwikFind, a file locator tool that can search
across volumes, search for specific text strings, and view, launch,
or delete files once they're located. A Power Disk feature can
automatically unload Windows, reorganize the disk, then re-start
Windows.

The company notes that it has also upgraded PowerScope, its disk
viewer and analyzer tool in WinMaster, with support added for CD-ROM
disks, SuperStor volumes, and Microsoft RAM disks. A RAM disk is a
portion of the computer's memory that acts like a physical drive.
Files can be loaded into the RAM disk and are more quickly accessible
than when accessed from a physical drive. RAM drives are volatile, and
the data stored there is lost if power is removed from the computer.

The KwikVault compression and archiving utility now has password
protection and the ability to protect selected files and directories
from accidental compression. Files can also be copied to and from the
vault, leaving a copy in the original location.

PC-Kwik says it will release an extension to its Super PC-Kwik disk
cache that will support CD-ROM drives in mid-May. Similar to a hard
disk cache, CD-ROM data can be stored in the cache, a special section
of memory, so that multiple reads of the same data don't have to come
from the drive. That speeds up data access. There's also a read-ahead
buffer, with the buffer size user-selectable from 0-48 kilobytes. The
main cache can be up to 16 megabytes (MB).

WinMaster has a suggested list price of $129.95, which includes both
the disc cache and the RAM disk.

(Jim Mallory/19930309/Press contact: John Davis, PC-Kwik, 503-644-
5644, 800-759-5945, fax [phone]; Reader contact: PC-Kwik, 800-
759-5945, 503-644-5644, fax [phone])


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

 ****Five SNA Vendors Jump On Windows NT Bandwagon 03/09/93
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Five IBM Systems
Network Architecture (SNA) vendors have announced they will support
the Windows NT operating system.

The companies, which reportedly represent more than 70 percent of
the market for connecting corporate desktop computers to IBM hosts,
say they will offer native 32-bit versions of their products for
Windows NT soon after that operating system is released. NT is
expected to be shown at the Spring Comdex computer show and ship a few
weeks later.

Announcing their support for Windows NT are Attachmate Corporation,
Digital Communications Associates, Eicon Technology, Network Software
Associates, and Wall Data. Microsoft says support of the vendors is
important to Windows NT because of the current downsizing trend in
large companies.

"We are pleased that these leading SNA vendors will provide our
customers of Windows NT with the tools necessary to build client-
server applications that integrate information across the enterprise,"
said Dwayne Walker, Microsoft's director of Windows NT and networking
products. Walker says the support will give customers the tools needed
to build systems that require connectivity to enterprise data. He
believes that's a critical component in fulfilling Microsoft's vision
of Information At Your Fingertips.

Microsoft Windows NT is a self-contained operating system that
promises multitasking, multiprocessing, increased security, fault
tolerance, integrated networking, and support for both 16 and 32-bit
applications. Microsoft has said that it envisions Windows NT as a
tool that provides multiple implementations of a single scalable
operating system, accommodating a range of hardware platforms,
calling NT a set of operating systems software "underpinning" for
the next decade.

Attachmate says it is already developing a Windows NT version of its
Extra! product line, which it expects to ship within 90 days after
NT is available. Digital Communications Associates says it will
offer a 32-bit version of its IRMA Workstation for Windows NT, also
within 90 days of NT's availability. DCA also plans to offer the
Microsoft SNA Server for Windows NT.

Eicon has already demonstrated its Access for Windows NT 3270
emulator, which is scheduled to ship about 60 days after NT, and the
company is also working on its X.25 toolkit for Windows, which
should be ready at the same time as Windows NT.

Network Software Associates says it will have several NT offerings,
including its DynaComm/Elite 3270 package about a month after NT. That
will be followed by a 32-bit version of the NSA Elite/400 line of 5250
emulation products. Wall Data says it will offer native versions of
its RUMBA program for the mainframe and the AS/400 within 60 days of
NT's release.

(Jim Mallory/19930309/Press contact: Bev Auld, Microsoft,
206-882-8080; Reader contact: Microsoft Corporation, 800-426-9400 or
206-882-8080)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00017)

 ****Microsoft's Hermes "Big Brother" For System Admins 03/09/93
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Microsoft has
demonstrated a new, unannounced product for Windows NT users it plans
to release this year called Hermes. Hermes is designed for system
administrators and was dubbed an Orwellian "Big Brother" by some
attendees of the Windows Summit '93 conference in Carlsbad,
California, where the package was demonstrated.

Hermes is the name of the messenger of the gods taken from Greek
mythology. The character was bestowed with a caduceus -- a magic wand
that bestows wealth and prosperity and turns everything it touches
into gold. Microsoft's Product Manager David Berry called Hermes the
"Greek god of software distribution."

Hermes is capable of collecting hardware and software information on
every computer on a network, then allowing a central administrator on
a single workstation to control all the hardware and software on the
network. The system administrator can "look" at each machine logged in
on the network. Hermes offers functions very much like a system
diagnostics software application would about the central processing
unit, amount of memory, peripherals, printer, and ports on the system
the administrator is viewing.

Like a remote communications package, Hermes allows the system
administrator and the user to both operate software or give commands
at the same time. Also the system administrator has the ability to
switch to a different view than the user sees, such as a memory map,
to help troubleshoot and diagnose problems. The information about each
computer on the network is stored in a database that can be queried,
so an administrator can query for information. One such query might be
how many computers on the network have less than ten megabytes (MB) of
memory.

But Hermes is not only capable of telling the system administrator
what software is on any given system, it is also capable of installing
software remotely on a computer on the network. Microsoft says
software installation is a time-consuming process for most companies,
but Hermes allows the system administrator to create an automatic
installation script for software to be installed and then install the
software remotely at a prescheduled time to any computer. The script
language is MS Test, a commercially available language that will be
bundled with Hermes.

The administrator also has the ability to identify each piece of
software and to know how many of each type of software is installed.
Hermes can track the software packages and not allow installation of
any more than a certain number of copies. It can also identify the
software even if a user renames the .EXE file to something else in an
attempt to hide an unauthorized copy.

The question was raised as to whether or not this would hurt the
software retail distribution channel, but Berry said Egghead and other
retailers are excited about the product. Berry explained that one
scenario is where retail stores could sell copies of the software to
customers over the phone, download the software to the customer via
their network, and then send a bill to the customer at the end of the
month for the software purchased.

Berry added that Hermes uses a file copy metaphor to operate so it
will work with any existing server and will support all the major
networks.

Microsoft has yet to officially announce Hermes, but Berry said that
the package is expected in the second quarter of this year. Berry
declined to comment on pricing or packaging for the new product.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930309)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00018)

Geac Acquires Concord Management, Mentat 03/09/93
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Geac Computer has
completed two acquisitions that will help expand the company's
presence in the manufacturing and construction markets. Geac closed
the purchase of Concord Management Systems of Tampa, Florida, and that
of Mentat Computer Systems of Australia.

Concord is the largest developer of software for construction
companies in North America, said Harrison Cheung, a spokesman for
Geac. Before the acquisition, Geac was number three in that market, he
said.

Mentat, meanwhile, is a maker of manufacturing software, with its
products installed in manufacturing and distribution firms throughout
Australia and New Zealand.

Geac paid about C$5 million for the two acquisitions. While an
exact breakdown was not available, Cheung said that the bulk of that
amount was paid for Concord, which is much the larger of the two
firms. Between them, according to Geac, Concord and Mentat have annual
sales revenues of about C$13 million.

Geac plans to absorb both companies into its own operations and offer
jobs to all employees of Concord and Mentat, Cheung said, though an
effort to eliminate redundant positions may mean some employees will
be asked to move to different jobs.

Cheung said that Geac's commercial systems business, which
includes both manufacturing and construction software, accounted
for about 20 percent of its revenues in 1992. The largest part of
Geac' revenues comes from library automation systems, but the
company also produces vertical-market software for the financial
sector, hotels, property management, and distribution, as well as
construction and manufacturing.

(Grant Buckler/19930309/Press Contact: Harrison Cheung, Geac,
416-475-0525, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TOR)(00019)

Ontario Firm Claims Largest Image Sensor 03/09/93
WATERLOO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Dalsa, a manufacturer of
image sensing devices, has claimed to have the world's largest image
sensor. The 26-million-pixel charge coupled device (CCD) is intended
for uses such as still photography, astronomy, and computer vision.

Dalsa currently has working devices, and intends to have a commercial
product ready for sale by the fourth quarter of this year, said Rob
Ambrose, a spokesman for the company. It will be part of a family of
devices that will carry the Megasensor label and will consist of
devices ranging from one million to 26 million pixels. The smaller
devices are due for shipment in the second quarter, the company said.

Arranged in a grid of 5,120 by 5,120 elements over an active area 2.5
inches square, the chip's 26,214,400 active picture elements (pixels)
provide image resolution that meets or exceeds the requirements of
many standard film photography applications, according to the company.

Single-unit prices for the 26-million-pixel device will be in the
$20,000 to $50,000 range depending on image quality, the company said.
Smaller Megasensor devices will start at about $5,000.

Dalsa is a 13-year-old company spun off from the University of
Waterloo, which is noted for its computer science and mathematics
programs. With about 110 employees, the company specializes in making
high-performance, solid-state CCD image sensors and expandable
cameras, used in document scanning, image capture, surveillance,
manufacturing inspection, and process monitoring.

(Grant Buckler/19930309/Press Contact: Rob Ambrose, 519-886-6000,
fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00020)

Progress Offers Gateway To Sybase SQL Server 03/09/93
BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Progress Software
and Sybase have announced the Progress Sybase Gateway, which the firms
said will help developers build on-line applications with the Progress
Application Development Environment (ADE) that read and update data in
Sybase's SQL Server software.

The gateway's capabilities will be similar to those of gateways
Progress already offers for the Oracle, DEC RDB and RMS, IBM AS/400,
and C-ISAM database management systems, said Steve Zamierowski, a
spokesman for Progress Software.

It also supports database triggers and stored procedures, which
Zamierowski said are important to SQL Server users. It will allow
applications to do almost anything with SQL Server data that they
could with data stored in Progress's own relational database
management system (RDBMS), except for a few functions supported in the
Progress RDBMS but not in SQL Server, he said.

According to Progress, the Sybase Gateway is designed for Sybase-
specific application development and for situations where applications
need to integrate information from multiple data sources including the
Progress RDBMS and SQL Server.

The gateway uses Sybase's native DB-Library to access SQL Server.

Progress Software developed the gateway and will market it with
help from Sybase's Synergy Program for independent software
vendors, which provides for cooperative efforts such as joint
marketing seminars, Zamierowski said.

The gateway is due to be available in March on Sequent PTX and
Sun SPARC systems, and in the second quarter on Data General
Aviion, Hewlett-Packard 9000, and IBM RISC System/6000 machines,
Progress officials said. Other versions, including a client for
Microsoft Windows, are planned for later this year.

Pricing for the Progress Sybase Gateway on the announced
platforms ranges from $400 to $47,690.

(Grant Buckler/19930309/Press Contact: Steve Zamierowski,
Progress Software, 617-280-4000; Cynthia Fetty, Sybase,
510-596-3439)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00021)

Supercomputer Pacts 03/09/93
WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Supercomputer
maker Kendall Square Research today announced strategic pacts aimed
at providing direct marketing specialist Neodata with the world's
largest commercial relational database and American Airlines with
a way of processing huge volumes of data.

In the Neodata deal, Kendall Square and Oracle Corp., will supply a
hardware and software development environment to Neodata's partner,
EDS, for a pioneering direct marketing program to be called NCORE
(Neodata Customer-Oriented Relational Environment).

Containing more than a terabyte of data, the NCORE database will be
designed to offer a comprehensive view of demographic,
"psychographic," order history, and other information that will lead
to development of new kinds of services for Neodata's clients.

In the American Airlines application, Kendall Square has signed a
letter of intent with AMR, parent of the airline, to collaborate
for five years on a project designed to help American reach
strategic decisions more quickly through faster analysis and
manipulation of data.

The American Airlines and Neodata applications will both be run on
KSR's highly parallel KSR1 supercomputer. AMR has agreed to
purchase a KSR1 computer later this year.

Commented Max D. Hopper, senior vice president of American
Airlines: "Kendall Square offers the parallel processing and
shared memory programming capabilities we need to implement our
information technology plans for the 1990s. We have been
exploring ways to process huge volumes of highly complex data, and
we are pleased with the solution Kendall Square offers."

In the Neodata pact, the companies involved will attempt to show
that only a supercomputer can supply the high performance and low
unit cost required to make an application such as NCORE feasible.

Initial deployment of NCORE is slated for fall of this year. A
KSR1 system has already been installed at Neodata marketing
operations in Boulder, CO, and customer testing of the massive
Oracle 7 database has begun.

Officials plan to install a second system at the EDS-GM lab in
Detroit, MI for the development and porting of systems management
tools.

AMR Corp. and Neodata are the first commercial customers for
Kendall Square Research. The Waltham, MA-based supercomputer
vendor has an installed base of more than 20 systems, 44% of which
are in Western Europe.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19930309/Press contact: Susan Parrish, Kendall
Square Research, tel [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00022)

 ****Wordstar Acquires WriteNow, Enters Mac WP Market 03/09/93
NOVATO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Wordstar is
heavily into acquisitions these days, and its latest is rights
to the WriteNow product from T/Maker.

Ron Posner, chief executive officer at WordStar, told Newsbytes that
the acquisition of WriteNow, "increases our position in the Macintosh
market overall, and brings with it a very well-respected group of
developers. It allows us to expand our product position, our overall
market position in the Macintosh, which is important to us
strategically."

The companies said that WriteNow's Macintosh development team will
join WordStar to continue development of the program. Financial terms
of the acquisition include an undisclosed amount of cash and royalty
payments.

Posner told Newsbytes that currently the company gets 10 to 15 percent
of its total revenue from Macintosh product sales. However, he said
that, "it is our objective to get up to between 25 and 30 percent of
the total as soon as possible."

Heidi Roizen, chief executive officer at T/Maker, said that, "WordStar
(has) the distribution infrastructure, especially in the international
markets, to give WriteNow maximum exposure. We believe that WordStar
is putting tremendous efforts into its Macintosh development."

WriteNow will be targeted towards the small office/home office market.
WordStar claims that WriteNow's strengths are its small size, speed
and powerful feature set. The suggested retail price for WriteNow is
currently $249.

Posner told Newsbytes that WriteNow will be marketed worldwide. "We
have worldwide distribution," he said. "Sixty percent of our revenue
comes from the US and 40 percent comes from overseas. There is an
obvious opportunity to increase the sale of WriteNow overseas, since
they haven't done much with it overseas. But we will be marketing
worldwide as we do with all our products -- wherever Apple Macintosh
has market share is where we are going to focus."

The companies also say that, beginning March 15, technical
support will be managed by WordStar's technical support group.

T/Maker maintains that it is divesting itself of WriteNow to
"aggressively pursue the rapidly growing electronic content
market."

(Ian Stokell/19930309/Press Contact: Kristin Keyes, 415-513-8800,
McLean Public Relations; Ron Posner, 415-382-8000, WordStar
International)


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

 ****Sony Pushing Digital To Broadcasters 03/09/93
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Broadcasting's high
quality and bandwidth requirements have made it a last bastion of
analog production techniques. Most broadcast producers use expensive,
customized devices for specific functions, and while some have gone
digital -- Qantel Paintboxes are now glorified Unix workstations --
digital production has remained a far-off dream.

Now Sony, the largest factor in producing cameras and other
broadcast equipment, is saying that digital is the way to go. At
the heart of its 47 new products for release at the coming
National Association of Broadcasters' show in Las Vegas are new
digital products aimed at broadcast post production.

Leading the list are new Digital Betacam videotape recorders. The
format is compatible with its existing Betacam cassettes, which
are a big standard for program producers if not consumers, and
there's a migration path to coming widescreen picture formats.
The launch is supported by a full line of switchers, editors,
edit suite mixers, and monitors.

Sony is best known to TV producers for its D-2 format, and the
new migration path supports that standard. Included in the product
line are an external processor which lets D-2 video tape recorders
record and playback component as well as composite digital signals.

A big highlight of the new line-up is its first desktop editing
system, the DES-500. It's based on a PC and combines many of the
features of its existing DFX-500 effects device with a four-input
video editor, audio processor, and optional character and paint
software.

As a sign that these are real, usable products, Sony said that
Hughes' DirecTv direct satellite broadcast unit will use its new
Digital Betacam technology as its house broadcast and production
format. The company gave Sony a $50 million contract in 1992 to
design, integrate, and maintain its new broadcast center in Castle
Rock, Colorado.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930309/Press Contact: Gerri Schmidt, Sony,
201-930-7454)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00024)

Bell Atlantic Opens Intelligent Home 03/09/93
LOUDOUN, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Bell Atlantic has
opened what it calls the Intelligent Home in a new subdivision in
Loudoun, Virginia called Cascades. The demonstration features
fiber cable and a menu of multimedia services.

Creative Perspectives of Charlottesville, which is served by
Centel, created the information services which are part of the
demonstration. The services are transmitted via a fiber system
from Broadband Technologies of Research Triangle Park, combined
with phone and cable TV signals in an underground vault,
transformed from light to electricity before being sent to the
home. The home itself uses ordinary copper wiring.

The home TV is the interface for these services. Using a special
remote, viewers can tour an on-screen menu offering shopping,
including grocery shopping, and other information services. The
home is being seen as a demonstration of what the phone company
can provide with new, state-of-the-art technology, fulfilling
promises made by Bell Atlantic executive Arthur Bushkin to
re-invent his company using video and other interactive offerings.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930309/Press Contact: Thomas W.J.C.
McCrystal, Creative Perspectives, 804-971-6795)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00025)

Vodafone Signs GSM Roaming Agreement In Germany 03/09/93
NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Vodafone has a
roaming agreement with Deutsches Bundespost Telekom (DBT), the
operator of the D1 network, one of Germany's two GSM networks. The
agreement means that subscribers to both network operator's digital
phone services can use each others networks without pre-registering.

GSM stands for global system for mobile communications, a digital
mobile phone system that centers around the use of "smart cards" that
contain the subscriber details. If a subscriber smart card is removed
from one GSM phone and placed into another, it "becomes" that
subscriber's phone as far as the network is concerned. This concept
works between different country GSM networks, provided the operators
have agreed to recognize each other's subscribers.

The D1 network agreement is effective immediately. According to Chris
Gent, Vodafone's managing director, the deal is important for the two
companies, owing to the nature of the markets involved. "The UK and
Germany are two of the most important markets in Europe and we're
delighted that our network subscribers will now be able to use their
mobile phones while on the move between our respective countries," he
said.

Vodafone's GSM network now covers 90 percent of the UK. The company
has already signed full GSM roaming agreements with Denmark, Finland,
and Sweden.

Newsbytes notes that GSM has been adopted by 27 operators in 18
countries and is currently being introduced as far afield as
Argentine, Australia, China and South Africa.

(Steve Gold/19930309/Press & Public Contact: Vodafone - Tel: 0635-
33251)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00026)

Faster Drivers For Video Seven Boards 03/09/93
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Video Seven says it
now has faster drivers for its Win.vga Super video graphics array
(VGA) cards for computers with VGA monitors. The company claims that
the software drivers offer 20 to 50 percent better performance in
Windows than its previous drivers.

According to the company, the new drivers offer 20 percent better
speed in both 16 and 256 color resolution on 386 33 megahertz (MHz)
personal computers (PCs). Over 50 percent better performance was
measured with the new drivers on 486 66 MHz PCs.

Win.vga users may download the drivers from the company's bulletin
board or can call to request the drivers on disk from Video Seven's
Technical Support Group. The drivers are updates of the HT16.DRV or
the HT256.DRV and will support any resolution monitor from 640 x 480
to 1024 x 768. The drivers are free to Video Seven users.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930309/Press Contact: Eric Christenson,
Video Seven, tel [phone], fax [phone], technical
support tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00027)

Rasterops Lures Supermac Users With Freebies 03/09/93
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Rasterops
is trying to get Supermac Digitalfilm users to literally give
up their Digitalfilm boards in exchange for its Editing Aces
Suite and $600 worth of coupons. Supermac has stopped shipment
of its Digitalfilm boards for bug fixes, and Rasterops has said
it is taking advantage of Supermac's shipping halt.

Rasterops says it will give Digitalfilm users the Editing Aces
Suite which includes the Moviepak, Adobe Premiere 2.0, Media
Grabber 2.1., Mediatime, and Video Expander II until April 15
in a no-money exchange for the Digitalfilm board. The company
has a toll-free number for users who want to trade.

Steve Bank, vice president of marketing for Supermac, told Newsbytes
Supermac has stopped shipment of the Digitalfilm boards for three
weeks so far and estimates another 2 weeks before the company will
resume shipment of its product. However, Bank said he is not worried
about Rasterops' announcement. "We've sold over 1,000 Digitalfilm
boards and we took orders for another 200 during the stop
shipment," he told Newsbytes.

As for Rasterops marketing tactic, Banks said: "Traditionally,
companies who are unable to sell products to end users resort
to upgrade programs."

(Linda Rohrbough/19930309/Press Contact: Michele Janin,
Rasterops, tel [phone], fax [phone], toll-free 800-
729-2656; Deborah Doyle, Supermac, 408-773-4446)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TOR)(00028)

 ****IBM, Apple, Others Launch PowerOpen Association 04/09/93
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Seven founding
members, including IBM, Apple Computer and Motorola, have announced
the creation of the PowerOpen Association, a consortium that will
promote the PowerOpen architecture being developed jointly by those
three firms.

PowerOpen is a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) architecture
being developed by IBM, Apple, and Motorola. It is based on the RISC
processor technology used in IBM's RISC System/6000 workstations and
servers. The companies announced the plan in 1991. The first systems
using PowerOpen are expected to reach the market late this year or
early in 1994.

Along with IBM, Apple, and Motorola, the new body's initial
membership includes France's Compagnie des Machines Bull and
Thomson-CSF as founding sponsors, with US-based Harris Corp.
and the British firm Tadpole Technology as founding principals.

About 25 software developers have already signed on as associate
members, Chuck Linton, PowerOpen operations manager at IBM, told
Newsbytes.

Stan Tims, manager of open systems programs at Apple, said the
organization expects to sign up at least one or two more sponsors
and a number of additional principals and associate members
within the coming year.

The PowerOpen Association is to be an independent operation with
a small full-time staff and a structure of committees and working
groups that will deal with PowerOpen standards issues and
interfaces. It also plans to provide tools and services to
companies developing software for the PowerOpen environment.

Tims said the new organization's committees and working groups
will provide a forum for software developers to have input into
the development of the PowerOpen architecture. Associate
membership will cost those vendors $100 per year, though there
will be extra charges for some services.

With a staff of about 12 headed by veteran computer-industry
executive Domenic J. LaCava, the organization will serve as an
"initial point of contact" for independent software developers
and will draw on the resources of member firms, Tims said.

Linton said the PowerOpen Application Binary Interface (ABI)
specification, the basis for making software run on PowerOpen
systems from many vendors, is already available on a limited
basis, subject to non-disclosure agreements, through the new
organization. It will be generally available this summer. Further
tools and services will be available toward the end of this year,
shortly before systems reach the market, he added.

Tims added that "at least two announcements" on the availability
of technical support services through the PowerOpen Association
can be expected in the next 90 days.

Developers will be able to choose to work in either the Apple
Macintosh or the Open Software Foundation (OSF) Motif user environment
or in a combination of both, officials said. Many applications written
for the Macintosh or for IBM's AIX variant of Unix will be able to run
unchanged on PowerOpen systems, according to Tims.

About 42 independent software developers have publicly stated their
support for the PowerOpen architecture. Linton said substantially more
than that are probably planning to develop software for the systems.
"I think that we'll see kind of a rapid raising of hands over the
next few months, Tims said.

Tims added that the PowerOpen Association has been in the works for
some time and an acting board of directors has been in place for the
past six months. "We feel very comfortable that this organization is a
keeper," he said.

Officials said the new consortium is comparable to other industry
groups such as the Open Software Foundation. Tims said the
PowerOpen Association will be somewhat more focused than some
other industry bodies. Linton said it will complement the work of
the OSF by extending standards set by the OSF to deal with
specifics of the PowerOpen architecture.

(Grant Buckler/19930309/Press Contact: Norm Kalat, PowerOpen
Association, 508-294-4514; Christine Williams, PowerOpen
Association, [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00029)

UK - Copam Moves Into Component Supply 03/09/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- Copam UK has announced plans to
diversify into the supply of PC components. According to Grant
Jeffrey, the company's UK national sales manager, the move is not as
unusual as it sounds, since Copam's sister company, CDS, which is on
the same site in London, already has a thriving wholesale components
operation.

Copam already uses CDS for its own maintenance supplies, so expanding
the catalogue to offer it to PC users is a fairly easy step. Some
sources in the industry have suggested that the components move by
Copam heralds a move away from PC supplies from the company.

Jeffrey has refuted these suggestions. What is actually happening, he
claims, is that the company is strengthening its position by signing
up resellers to handle its PCs alongside the direct sales operation.

(Steve Gold/19930309/Press & Public Contact: Copam - Tel: 081-961-
9555; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(UNIX)(SFO)(00030)

 ****SPARC Vendors Intro SPARCware 03/09/93
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 MAR 9 (NB) -- In an effort to
reduce the hardware and software purchase costs for end users, as well
as lower the support costs and expand the market for independent
software vendors (ISVs), leading SPARC vendors have "announced"
SPARCware.

According to the companies, the program is specifically
designed to evolve current SPARC-based applications to the
Unix SVR4 operating system.

Phil Huelson, president and chief operating officer for SPARC
International, told Newsbytes that: "(SPARCware) was defined
and developed through a committee process that we had within
SPARC International.

"People put together their best heads on how to create a robust and
attractive technical and business environment for applications
development to run on SPARC platforms. That started the SPARCware
program. It was originally called the Migration Partners program. The
concept here is partners and business development relationships as
well as technical development," he said.

SPARCware was originally a brand designation used in Sun
Microsystems Catalyst program, but, according to the
companies, it now stands for products that have been validated
to work with all other compliant SPARC hardware and software.

Huelson told Newsbytes that: "Sun Microsystems is one of eight equal
members in the program. The SPARCware trademark itself was originally
a Sun trademark. We did get that transferred to label the program. The
brand was originally a Sun brand. (However) the brand name is in fact
a very small component of all this. It happens to be the name of the
program."

Among the SPARC International vendors supporting the
program are Amdahl, Axil Workstations (Hyundai Electronics
of America), Cray Research, Fujitsu, HaL Computer Systems,
Matsushita Electric, Solbourne Computer, Sun Microsystems
Computer, SunSoft, and Tatung Science & Technology.

In announcing the change of "management" of the product, Derek
Meyer, director of SPARC marketing at Sun Microsystems, said:
"It is with great pleasure that we hand off SPARCware to the
SPARC community. As we had originally anticipated, the demand
for a wide range of SPARC platforms -- from laptops to high-end
systems -- is coming from many segments of the marketplace.
SPARCware as a universal brand of compatible SPARC hardware
and software signals the expansion of the SPARC marketplace."

According to the companies, SPARCware compliance assures ISVs
that their products will be available across a wide variety of
platforms. They also claim that SPARCware, "decreases the costs
of software quality assurance and support and provides an easy
and economical migration to SVR4 and the SPARC market."

Among the ISVs supporting the SPARCware program are Cognos,
Elan Computer, Frame Technology, Hunter Systems, Lotus Development,
Oracle, Quorum Software Systems, Unidata and WordPerfect.

All SPARCware branded applications are "guaranteed" to be
binary-compatible with all compliant SPARC platforms, which
allows end-users to create a "plug-and-play" environment.

(Ian Stokell/19930309/Press Contact: Darline Michol,
415-321-8699, SPARC International)