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/nb930624

Text File | 1993-06-24 | 72KB | 1,573 lines

(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00001)

Lincoln Mint Aims Home Shopping At Japan 06/24/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- California-based cable TV
program producer Lincoln Mint Network has linked up with
Spring Arrow of Japan to launch a home shopping network in
the Japanese market. They will use satellites and cable TVs for
the broadcast and reception of the network.

Lincoln Mint Network Japan, as it will be called, will established
in Tokyo within a couple of months. According to a spokesman from
Spring Arrow, Lincoln Mint is currently developing a home shopping
program for American cable TV in which customer payments will be
processed through a special device with a modem. This service is
slated to start by the end of this year.

The Japanese joint venture will get these programs via
space satellite and will transmit them to subscribers equipped
with the modem devices through cable TV real-time. There are
no plans to charge customers for usage of the modem device,
which will be connected to their TV set.

The new firm will be capitalized with $12 million, and
an additional $20 million will start the business in Japan. A
Spring Arrow spokesman tells Newsbytes that the firm is seeking
another partner to join the Japanese venture. A cable TV firm or
a department store in Japan are likely candidates. But first,
the new firm must clear the Japanese government's red tape
hurdles in order to set up this new business.

Lincoln Mint has reportedly gained rights to broadcast on
General Electric Americom Communications space satellite
transponders. Lincoln Mint also has a studio in Hollywood,
California.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930623/Press Contact: Spring
Arrow, [phone], Fax, [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00002)

IBM Closes Acquisition of CGI Informatique 06/24/93
ARMONK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- IBM's bid for
French software and services company CGI Informatique has
succeeded. IBM will take over 98.11 percent of CGI's stock today,
in exchange for convertible bonds from IBM France.

The former CGI shareholders who agreed to exchange their stock
for the IBM France bonds will be able to trade them in for IBM
stock any time in the next five years, IBM spokesman Jon Iwata
said.

Other financial details of the transaction were not available.
IBM announced plans to buy CGI on April 6.

Iwata said CGI will keep its present name and operate as a
subsidiary of IBM France. The company's employees can expect to
keep their present jobs, he added.

IBM officials said buying CGI gives the firm an experienced
subsidiary in many countries and regions where CGI is
established. Also, they said, IBM's worldwide marketing and
services companies will be able to offer customers CGI's software
and related services.

CGI's primary businesses are in computer-aided software
engineering (CASE), application software, custom application
development, consulting, and real-time control systems. In the
year ending August 1992, CGI had revenue of about $350 million,
some two thirds of that generated in France. The company also
operates in other countries including the United States, Germany,
Italy, the United Kingdom, and Spain.

(Grant Buckler/19930623/Press Contact: Jon Iwata, IBM,
914-765-6630)


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

India - Radio Paging Is DOT's New Headache 06/24/93
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- Coming as it does in the
wake of the cellular scandal (in which the Department of Telecom
was taken to the courts by the companies that missed out and its
selection was considered "arbitrary, irrational, and even
whimsical"), the bids for radio paging tenders may prove
to be another headache for India's Department of Telecommunications
(DOT).

The licence fee, quoted by 17 bidders for 27 cities, range
from a low of around Rs 2 lakh to over Rs 10 crore (around $6700 to
$3.3 million), for a three-year period.

As the industry pundits see it, if the licence fee amounts are accepted
at face value, it may be difficult for the major players in the
telecom sector to stay in the race, even if they score high on other
parameters.

According to the tender documents, the smaller companies have quoted
the highest, while the bigger companies are somewhere in between the
lowest and highest bids. For example, for Bombay city, BPL (a tie-up
with Sanyo of Japan and a market presence in almost all segments of
consumer electronics) has quoted Rs 7.5 lakh (around $25000) while
the highest bid is by Efsjoy Telecom, over Rs 10 crore (around $3.3
million).

If DoT rejects the highest bids on the grounds of lack of
experience, it may find itself embroiled in a legal battle. While
the debate of the what and how of the parameters of selection may
continue to rage, it is interesting to look at the economies of
scale of providing such a service.

Is it feasible to pay a fee of over Rs 10 crore (around $3.3
million) in three years to DoT. DoT has made it clear that there
will be at least four operators per city and no company will get more
than 10 cities. DoT has also fixed the rates to be charged from
subscribers. Companies have to charge Rs 1,500 per (around $50)
month, per subscriber.

Sources say that an operator can hope to get around 40,000
subscribers in three years. This means maximum revenue that can be
earned in this period will be Rs 13 crore (around $4.3 million).
"How can you think that the operators will give nearly 70 percent
of their total earnings as licence fee to DoT?" wondered an
industry insider. For the investment too is quite huge. Companies
will have to have huge establishments for running these services.

The only answer seems to be that the operators are willing to take a
loss, initially, to get selected. But this means that from the
fourth year, they will ask DoT to reduce the licence fee. So even if
revenue is the only consideration, the question remains if DoT will
really gain in the long run.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19930624)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(DEL)(00004)

Intergraph Workstations Made In Bombay 06/24/93
BOMBAY, INDIA, 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- To strengthen its hold in the
computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) market, the
Bombay-based Rolta India Ltd., is all set to introduce a new set
of Intergraph workstations and servers. The systems are being
manufactured at the company's new facility in Bombay set up in
technical collaboration with Intergraph of the USA.

The Roltastation 7700, 7750, 6730 and Roltaserver 8400 are expected
to be available from the next month, informed J.K. Das, Rolta's
director, marketing.

The Roltastation 7700 will come with single and dual 19 and 27-inch
monitors. Also incorporated into these workstations is the EDGE II
Plus color graphics system. The 7750 workstations are equipped with
the CT II graphics system which processes 830,000 2D vectors and
60,000 3D vectors per second. The recently launched 3 megapixel 21-
inch monitor is also an option with the 7750 workstations. The
6730 series is configured for entry-level 2D/3D applications.

The company has also formalized a pact with Magellan Corporation of
the US for distribution of the microprocessor-based global
positioning system (GPS) in India. The systems, priced between
Rs 5-10 lakh ($16,000-$32,000), depending on the configuration,
are used for determining locations in terms of latitudes and
longitudes. These can be of use to survey conductors, aircraft,
fishing crawlers, and security operations.

For facilitating communications with Rolta International Corp, its
subsidiary in Alabama and Intergraph, Rolta has recently established
a 64 kbps datacom link at its head office in Bombay.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19930624)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00005)

NEC Shifting Game Machine Production Overseas 06/24/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- NEC Home Electronics, a wholly
owned subsidiary of NEC, plans to shift manufacturing of its game
machines to overseas plants. This is part of the firm's
restructuring plan to fight an industry slump as well as
the surging Japanese yen.

NEC Home Electronics is currently scouting sites for the new plant,
and while Southeast Asian countries, such as Taiwan and Thailand
figure prominently, Thailand is said to hold favor. That is
because Thailand is already the location of an NEC subsidiary.
NEC expects to have chosen the site, and have actual production
of games underway by the end of this year.

Production isn't expected to be hard to ramp up since NEC supplies
most of the parts to its plants -- workers just have to assemble them.
Gradually, NEC Home Electronics expects to shift all production
to these overseas plants.

To start, the plant will produce a CD-ROM-based game machine
called the PC-Engine which competes in Japan with Nintendo's
Super Famicom and Sega's Mega Drive.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930624/Press Contact: NEC Home
Electronics, [phone], Fax, [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00006)

TDK Supplying Mini-Disks To Konica 06/24/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- TDK has expanded its market
for Mini-Disks by shipping supplies to Konica, a company
which previously has not sold them.

TDK will supply blank Mini-Disks to Konica on an OEM (original
equipment manufacturer) basis. The blank Mini-Disks will be sold
under Konica's brand name. Actual shipment is expected to begin
at the end of this year. A total of 50,000 to 60,000 units will
be shipped to Konica per month.

TDK is currently making 100,000 Mini-Disks monthly at its
Chikuma plant in Nagano, Japan. The firm has been adding new
production lines at this plant, spending 2 billion yen ($18
million). With these new lines, the firm expects to raise
the production rate to 500,000 units per month by this fall.
Then, it will supply part of these disks to Konica.

The relationship between TDK and Konica was established when
TDK began supplying videotapes and floppy disks to Konica on
an OEM basis. Also, TDK started to supply 3.5-inch optical disks
to Konica this past April. The supply of Mini-Disks further
deepens their relationship.

The original Mini-Disk technology was developed by Sony and it
competes with the budding DCC (digital compact cassette)
technology, which was jointly developed by Matsushita Electric
and the Netherlands' Philips. Interestingly Konica
has no plans to sell DCC (digital compact cassette) tapes at
present.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930624/Press Contact: TDK, +81-3-
3278-5235, Fax, [phone], Konica, [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00007)

Microsoft Golf For Windows, Multimedia Version 06/24/93
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- Microsoft has
announced a multimedia edition of its Golf For Windows that takes
advantage of multimedia effects such as video, customizable
sound, and interactive help.

Anthony Garcia, manager of the entertainment product unit at
Microsoft, says the new software is a great example of how
multimedia technology can make entertainment products for the PC
more compelling. "We are excited to add the multimedia dimension
to Golf and expect that users who are new to PC simulations will
find this game easy to use and engaging. Also, it's more fun!"
according to Garcia.

Golf for Windows, Multimedia Edition is a cooperative effort
between Microsoft and Access Software, the company that developed
Access Links The Challenge of Golf for DOS-based computers.

Just like the pros entered in a real life tournament, Golf for
Windows players can take a complete course tour of the Torrey
Pines golf course before they play in order to plan their
strategy.

As the player arrives at each hole, he or she can call up a quick
video "flyby" of the hole that resembles the overview you see at
a televised game. The program offers a Tip button that the user
can click on before taking a shot that runs a video showing a
golf pro offering advice on how to play that particular hole. For
more detailed instruction, the user can select an online video
demonstration on swinging and aiming, and your own computerized
swing is user-controlled to add realism to the game.

The wags at Microsoft have also added some interesting sound
effects capabilities that are user-selectable. You might choose
Egyptian music when the ball is hit into a sand trap, or a
fanfare when it lands near the pin. Serious players can select
traditional background course sounds like the wind blowing, while
less serious players can choose exotic bird calls or wildlife
noises. You can choose a male or female voice for the
commentator, and personal computers equipped with a microphone
can even add their own audio comments.

Microsoft has announced several new entertainment offerings
recently. Newsbytes reported recently a new version of Microsoft
flight Simulator, said by Microsoft to be the best selling PC
entertainment title of all time. The company also announced new
scenery packs for Flight Simulator that let the electronic
aviator fly over and land at New York and Paris. For less
earth-bound gamers the software giant announced Space Simulator,
an off-world version of Flight Simulator.

The multimedia edition of Golf for Windows is scheduled to ship
in early August 1993, and will have a $64.95 price tag. System
requirements include a multimedia personal computer or a PC with
a multimedia upgrade kit. You will need a PC with at least a
386SX running at 16 megahertz, MS-DOS CD-ROM extensions 2.2 or
higher, a VGA or better monitor, Windows 3.1 or higher, 4
megabytes (MB) of system memory, 5MB of available disk space, a
CD-ROM drive with faster than one-second access and 150
kilobytes-per-second transfer rate, an audio board, speakers or
headphones and a mouse.

(Jim Mallory/19930624/Press contact: Julie Larkin, Microsoft
Corporation, 206-882-8080; Reader contact: Microsoft Corporation,
206-882-8080 or 800-426-9400)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00008)

 ****Seybold - Apple's 1st Demo EZ TV Interactive Interface 06/24/93
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 24 (NB) -- Apple
Computer Chairman John Sculley demonstrated publicly for the
first time Apple's interface for interactive television, EZ TV.
While the interface had a stylish, crisp look and feel, Apple
had no announcements as to how television providers might
actually use the interface.

Like Modular Windows from Microsoft, EZ TV offers larger icons
that can be seen from a distance on a television screen and is
controlled via a remote control. For users who like to view
several channels at once, the interface allowed 12 channels to
be displayed with the main viewing channel in the center and
the other channels running in real time in boxes spaced around
the outside. For pay-per-view movies, the interface had icons
for a preview, information about the movie, and an icon of a
ticket. A click on the ticket icon starts an animation in which
the ticket tears in half and the user is informed as to how
long it will be until the movie starts.

Sculley said Apple has expanded its concept of the virtual
educational environment demonstrated last year to include
virtual malls and virtual shopping. In the virtual mall, users
can "move" from place to place by simply moving the arrow in
the window in the direction that they want to move. The
experience is much like viewing the environment through a video
camera. Sculley took users into a hat shop, clicked on a hat on
the wall, and the hat was displayed. The hat could also be
rotated to different viewing angles. In the case of a bill
fold, a click on the remote started a video explanation of the
features by a store clerk. As each item was purchased, EZ TV
kept a running total of the amount spent.

The Company Store, Apple's consumer outlet in Cupertino, was
also part of the demonstration. Sculley went in the virtual
store over to a new Duo Docking Macintosh with the new split
keyboard and started up a video in which the features of the
unit were demonstrated. He purchased the unit, which was retail
priced at over $4,300. Sculley commented on how expensive it
was.

When asked why no public announcements of deals with
interactive television providers have been made along with
the EZ TV announcement, Sculley did an about-face.
Historically, Apple has talked about new products and services
a year or more before they're announced and has been criticized
for going for "mind share," but this time Sculley said Apple
wants to focus on products instead of making long term
announcements.

Rumors are rampant that Apple Computer is in talks with
American Telephone & Telegraph (AT&T) possibly for the purchase
of Apple. However, Sculley would neither confirm nor deny the
rumors, but he did hint at an inclination toward partnerships
with telephone companies. When asked if he favored cable
delivered systems for EZ TV, Sculley said telephone companies
should not be dropped for consideration as a delivery channel.
"Even though we haven't seen the higher bandwidths yet, don't
count out the telephone companies," Sculley asserted.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930624/Press Contact: Frank O'Mahony, Apple
Computer, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00009)

 ****Seybold - Sculley's Live Demo Of Newton 06/24/93
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 24 (NB) -- Apple
Computer Chairman John Sculley, who last week stepped down as
the company's chief executive officer (CEO), demonstrated the
company's Newton personal digital assistant (PDA) at the
Seybold Digital World conference in Beverly Hills.

Sculley first asserted the Newton is on track for delivery and
emphasized the product is not behind schedule for shipment this
summer. He said the read-only-memory (ROM) in the unit had only
one bug and the product is in the "golden master" stage,
meaning it is ready for manufacture.

In the short demonstration, the already announced features of
the Newton were demonstrated, including translation of
handwriting to text and the ability to look up a name in the
unit's address book and place the correct address on a letter.
The letter contained a graphic which the Newton centered on the
page and the letter could also be translated from the narrow
page format on the Newton to a full page format. A page preview
of the document could also be viewed. Once the letter was
completed, it could also be faxed by connecting the Newton to a
telephone outlet.

Sculley said the Newton would have a few surprises for users
and one was an animation of paper wadded up and tossed into
an on-screen trash basket when a document is discarded.

Since Newton has no moving parts, Sculley said it could be used
in other applications such as in automobiles. Also, the newly
announced Apple Media Kit was demonstrated for application
development for the Newton. In one specific example, an Apple
employee showed an application that allowed him to measure his
blood pressure, which he said was "probably a little high these
days." The application was developed with the Apple Media Tool
the evening before, using a Powerbook on the plane in-route to
the conference.

Newly introduced, the Apple Media Tool allows development of an
application without programming by connecting icons that
represent functions. For programmers, Apple is offering the
Apple Media Tool Programming Environment which offers the
ability to use the object-oriented tools as well as a
traditional programming language approach. Apple claims code
developed in the Apple Media Tool Programming Environment is
portable between Macintosh and IBM-compatible personal
computers (PCs) running Microsoft Windows and offers access to
toolboxes in both environments through a C language interface.

Turmoil at Apple these days has sparked public interest. Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) John Sculley told various publications
he suggested IBM buy Apple when interviewed by the search
committee looking for a new chairman for IBM. Shortly
afterward, Sculley announced he was stepping down as CEO to be
replaced by Michael Spindler former chief operating officer
(COO). Apple has announced investors can expect lower earnings
compared to last year when it releases its financial statement
next month and rumors are rampant that the company will lay off
2,000 employees soon. In addition, there have been hints of
talks that American Telephone & Telegraph (AT&T) could buy
Apple, but neither company will confirm the report.

Sculley said during his talk at the Seybold conference that
he stepped down at Apple because he loves high technology and
hasn't had time to fully explore the field as CEO. His new
responsibilities are to look for new technology opportunities
for Apple.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930624/Press Contact: Tricia Chan, Apple,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(BOS)(00010)

Printers Should Meet "Real World" Needs 06/24/93
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- When printing
products are under development, users' needs for compatibility,
performance and quality should come first, stated Randy Troast,
manager of Color Testing Products for Genoa Technology, at the
Color Hard Copy Conference in Boston this week.

Printers rarely hit the market until compatibility problems are
ironed out, but vendors' ideas of performance and quality are often
far removed from users' "real world" experiences, he elaborated.

Troast's employer, Genoa, supplies a range of printer and Group III
fax testing products and services. Major magazines like Byte,
InfoWorld, and MacWorld are among the customers for the testing
products.

"Compatibility is just assumed. Vendors don't get any points for
it," commented the testing specialist. Awareness that printers
will be rated by computer magazines, and the practice of
demonstrating the products at trade shows, help spur the vendors
toward compatibility.

Companies also try hard to offer performance and quality, indicated
Troast. Frequently, though, the measurements they use are overly
objective.

"What do users really expect?" he asked. "If we're talking about
a one-page document, the printing can't be fast enough. If it's a
two- or three-page document, users want to see the first page right
away. They're willing to wait a few moments for the rest."

For documents of five pages and up, users are more or less resigned
to waiting quite a while, he added. "We've found that they usually
walk away from their computers. They say to themselves, 'I hope
it's done by the time I return from getting coffee,'" he commented.

According to Troast, traditional performance criteria -- measured
in pages per minute (PPM) for monochrome printers and minutes per
page (MPP) for color hard copy -- assess the time it takes from
"pressing print" to successfully output the first page and last
page.

Manufacturers also evaluate the time required to "return to
application" (RTA), and in the instance of Windows applications,
the time it takes to close the print manager ("Print Manager
close," or PMC).

Beyond these measurements, though, users are interested in
regaining "unburdened" control of the application, he asserted.
"RTA means I can get back to work. Regaining unburdened control
means I can get back to `useful work,'" he explained.

Performance tests should also be more tightly geared to "real
world" computer hardware, operating environments, and applications,
said Troast.

"Performance tests calculated with `bleeding edge' hardware -- 486
and faster -- don't represent the typical user," he remarked. When
downloaded fonts, lines, shapes and patterns fills, or imported
graphics are added to a document, any application will lose
printing speed. Windows-based applications are still particularly
prone to slowdowns, he said.

Manufacturers also need to make changes in how they evaluate print
quality and color quality, he urged. Traditional objective
measurements of print quality -- edge definition, registration
accuracy, dot size and shape, and halftoning/dithering options --
have their place, but subjective assessments are more significant.
"Somehow you have to answer the question of whether the results are
pleasing to the eye," he pointed out.

Criteria for assessing color quality should be application-
specific, Troast recommended. "How can `good enough' color be
measured?" he inquired. "For business graphics, it's simple. If
I want orange, do I get orange? Or red with yellow polka dots?
For graphic arts, the results need to be good enough to be used
as the basis for creative decision-making."

(Jacqueline Emigh/19930624/19930624/Press contact: Martha
Popoloski, BIS Strategic Research, tel [phone])


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

SRI Report On "Security In Cyberspace" 06/24/93
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- SRI International
has completed a year-long study of the state of security
within the public and private communications networks throughout
the United States and other countries, and concludes that
security-wise, cellular phones are in the worst shape.

The study determined that vulnerability to unauthorized access
varies from one type of communications system to another. It
said that public switched telephone networks (PSTNs) are the least
vulnerable; packet data networks (PDNs) are somewhat more
vulnerable than the PSTN; the Internet is relatively insecure;
and the cellular phone system is the most vulnerable of all.

The study said, "The main vulnerabilities in most communications
networks involve procedural, administrative, and human
weaknesses, rather than purely technical vulnerabilities of
network management, control systems, and hardware, and software.
There are technical vulnerabilities -- poor system design and
specific flaws in software -- but they are mainly exploitable
because of the above problems."

The study reports that "malicious attackers on most networks
and networked systems cannot be completely prevented, now or
in the future," and that "there is some evidence that the
newest generation of hackers may be more motivated by personal
gain than the traditional ethic of sheer curiosity."

SRI offers six recommendations to tighten security with special
emphasis on defenses against "social engineering" (the ability
of hackers to convince employees through subterfuge to
provide security data to them) and on the promotion of ethical
values through training in school and throughout the workplace.

The study will continue through 1993 and offers anonymity to any
hackers and other interested parties who wish to participate.
While specifics of the entire study are proprietary to SRI,
the summary report will be provided to interested parties.

Donn Parker, SRI senior consultant, told Newsbytes, "The study
shows us that there is a new breed of malicious hacker -- one
who violates the hacker ethic by (doing) illegal things for
financial gain rather than for the enjoyment of learning. We
feel that education is an important deterrent to such criminal
activities by the young and we are asking communications companies
to work with us in developing an indication program for use in
schools. Such a program will educate young people in the
seriousness of such actions and the possible legal consequences."

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/Press Contact: Stuart Hauser,
SRI International, 415-859-5755 (voice); 415-3154 (fax);
[e-mail] (e-mail)/19930624)


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

Quello Settling-In at FCC 06/24/93
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- James Quello has
been interim head of the Federal Communications Commission for
five months, and may be in for a long stint.

Quello, first appointed to the commission in 1974 by Richard
Nixon, is the kind of man who can still walk through the National
Association of Broadcasters' press room, carrying a copy of his
next speech, without causing a stir. Anyone can approach him, and
any reporter can call him. Beyond being protective of the
interests of radio, the business he came up in, Quello is mainly
known for being good at sniffing the political winds and moving
accordingly. To some, that makes him the perfect Clinton
appointee.

After some hesitation, Quello's antennae appear to have come up
with a renewed emphasis on breaking the walls between telephony
and cable. Before the agency's regular meeting, scheduled for
today, he indicated that the problems he's found in enforcing the
new cable act may prompt a move to let telephone companies into
the business, creating competition that would do away with it.
That means he'd support a bill by Democrat Rick Boucher of
Virginia, and Ohio Republican Michael Oxley, that would let phone
companies offer cable television services in their home
territories, but prevent them from buying cable systems in those
areas.

Quello is also anxious to move ahead on auctioning 200 megahertz
of spectrum for new microwave-based cellular services, called
Personal Communication Networks, or PCN. A 200 megahertz piece of
spectrum sounds like a lot, but it's no more than what's held by
a single FM radio station. He told a reporter recently he'd
support moves to hold out some FM licenses for broadcasting data,
if the proposal were made.

Where Quello's antennae don't tell him to move, he doesn't move,
and so he's postponing a decision on whether over-the-air home
shopping channels must be carried on local cable systems. Most
cable systems have their own shopping channels. Most of the
channels are affiliates of Home Shopping Network, and if cable
nets are forced to carry them, HSN will be getting free what it
used to pay for. Weighing politically on the other side is that
most of the over-the-air shopping channels are minority-owned.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930624/Press Contact: FCC Press, 202-632-
5050)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00013)

Motorola Flex Paging Protocol 06/24/93
BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- Aiming to
increase the number of customers a paging service can have, and
the amount of information each customer can send, Motorola has
announced FLEX, a paging protocol that can move data at up to
6,400 bits/second on the tiny slices of spectrum used by pagers.
Products implementing FLEX could be available this year.

FLEX operates at 1,600, 3,200 and 6,400 bits per second,
Motorola noted, compared with the 1,200 bits/second used by
current paging systems. That means it can handle over 600,000
numeric pagers per paging channel at typical US call rates.
FLEX is also compatible with the majority of the paging systems
worldwide, and can mix easily with existing protocols. Motorola
said FLEX also provides more data integrity, meaning missed
messages can be flagged if the intended recipient wanders out of
range.

To help make FLEX a real standard, Motorola signed licenses
with Glenayre and NEC to implement it. The deal with NEC is a
cross-license of patents, allowing NEC to provide FLEX paging
when it establishes its own paging service company in the US
NEC also sells pagers which use the new European Standard
protocol, the European Radio Messages System or ERMES system.

FLEX can handles tones, ASCII text, hexadecimal code, numbers,
numbers and letters or unformatted binary data streams, in any
mix and unlimited lengths. Long messages are automatically
segmented into packets up to 220 bytes, avoiding delays of
subsequent messages.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930624/Press Contact: Dan Blanton, Motorola,
407/364-2895; fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00014)

US West To Sell FastComm Frame Relay Gear 06/24/93
STERLING, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- FastComm
Communications said US West agreed to resell its frame relay
network access devices.

Frame relay is a technology that allows data to move at speeds
from 56,000 bits/second up to 1.544 million bits/second by
placing it in "frames" which are retransmitted later in case of
errors. In slower X.25 networks, by contrast, each bloc of data
is checked for errors and re-transmitted if necessary before
another block moves. Frame relay is considered a primary
technology for linking local area networks over large distances,
since the routers many companies have to link LANs on a campus
can also link to frame relay services.

According to Joe Noel of Dataquest, WilTel was the frame relay
market leader in 1992, and WilTel has been the most aggressive
provider in cooperation with regional Bell companies like US
West, testing their services in conjunction with its offerings
so that companies can buy local and long distance frame
relay as a package.

Frame relay access devices, called FRADs by FastComm, can handle
any number of data protocols, including the TCP/IP networks known
as the Internet. The US West frame relay network carries a
permanent virtual circuit from each FastComm FRAD to a central
site, where they're combined on a so-called T-1 trunk line
moving at 1.544 million bits/second. The FRADs can also be used
in SNA networks linking to IBM mainframes.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930624/Press Contact: FastComm. William
Flanagan, 703/318-4362)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00015)

TIA Moves Toward Approving CDMA 06/24/93
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- Qualcomm
claimed that members of the Telecommunications Industry
Association, or TIA, indicated strong support for its version of
the Code Division Multiple Access, or CDMA, digital cellular
technology. That increases the likelihood that Qualcomm's CDMA
will be made an industry standard.

The re-balloting, which started May 18, followed reports that
InterDigital Communications claimed Qualcomm's technology might
infringe on its Broadband CDMA patents. The two companies are
now in court over that issue. According to Qualcomm, the results
of the re-balloting were 23 votes in favor of issuing its
standard, four votes against and one abstention. The results go
to the group's Technical Standards Subcommittee, which will
review the proposal and could give final approval for
publication of the standard within three weeks. If the
committee approves, the CDMA standard, known as IS-95, could be
issued as early as August, Qualcomm said.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930624/Press Contact: Qualcomm, Thomas
Crawford, 619/597-5715)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00016)

NMC Vision Upgrade Launched In Asia 06/24/93
WANCHAI, HONG KONG, JUN 24 1993 -- ITS Asia Pacific and UK-based
Network Managers Ltd have announced the launch of Version 3.0 of the
NMC Vision range of independent network management software
throughout Asia Pacific region.

The two companies have signed a partnership agreement under which ITS,
one of Asia's leading systems integrators and data communications
suppliers, will provide both sales and support for Network Managers
network management systems.

Version 3.0 adds enhanced graphics, faster database access, and
support for both Novell environments using IPX and X.25 environments
to the product range. In addition to using Microsoft Windows 3.1,
Sun Microsystems Sun OS and IBM RS 6000 platforms, the launch of
Version 3.0 will see the addition of Sun Microsystems' Solaris
platform and Microsoft NT.

The architecture and modules available are standard across the product
range and provide a protocol independent system to the complex task
of managing heterogeneous data networks.

"Networks are already very complex and the situation is only getting
worse," said Karl Feilder, Network Manager's international sales and
marketing manager and one of the co-founders of the company. "Most
users now realize that network management is not an optional part of
the network but rather the backbone of the network."

Network Managers began in 1987 as a subsidiary of California-based OSI
technology leader Retix Inc. In 1990 it became an independent company
dedicated solely to providing independent network management software.

Since then the company has signed OEM agreements with 26 leading
hardware manufacturers in the data communications industry and has an
installed base of almost 1,000 network management systems.

Today, the NMC Vision range manages devices from more than 55
different vendors' hardware products, using 11 different protocols and
running on three different platforms, the company claims.

"We think that ITS, with regional offices throughout the region
including China, is uniquely suited to providing our customers with
superior service and support in the complex area of network
management," said Mr Fielder.

ITS' efforts throughout the region are bolstered by its relationship
with parent company SITA, which enables it to tap into the world's
largest communications network. The SITA network links the computer
systems of every major airline throughout the world.

"Controlling and managing networks has been one of ITS' specialties
during the past 15 years," said Wayne Merrick, director of business
development with ITS Asia Pacific. "We have a lot of experience in
network management and have found Network Managers' NMC Vision to be
superior in all respects."

(Brett Cameron/19930624/Press Contact: Wayne Merrick (ITS),Tel: +852-
831 0506;HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00017)

Egghead's First Software Developed In-House 06/24/93
ISSAQUAH, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- Software retailer
Egghead Software announced this week it will introduce its first
software package developed in-house later this month.

The company said the new program, Egghead Express, will be unveiled
at the PC Expo trade show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center
in New York City next week. The show runs June 29 through July 1.
Pricing has not been announced yet.

Egghead Express, which runs under Microsoft Windows, allows users to
send and manage orders, receive product information, and maintain
24-hour electronic access to Egghead Software. The company says
the software will allow users to streamline ordering, selection,
and delivery while cutting administrative costs and increasing
efficiency. It's designed for use by corporate and government
customers.

Egghead President and Chief Executive Officer Timothy Turnpaugh
says the company is constantly looking for ways to serve its
customers better. "Egghead Express...adds significant power to
our suite of services for our corporate and government customers."

Earlier this month Egghead reported earnings of $2.2 million, or
$0.13 per share, for its fourth quarter. That was a drop of 47
percent from the same period one year ago, when the company
reported earnings of $4.2 million, or $0.24 per share. Eghead
officials attributed the poor results to price wars, restructuring
charges related to the reorganization of its corporate and
government sales group, and investments in new stores, systems,
and services to support future growth.

Egghead operates 205 retail outlets, and reported sales of
$195.6 million for the most recent quarter. That was an increase
over the $155 million for last year but the company had 23
fewer stores then, and the period had one less week.

(Jim Mallory/19930624/Press contact: Megan McKenzie, Egghead
Software, 206-391-6266; Reader contact: Egghead Software,
206-391-6266 or 800-344-4323)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00018)

 ****Jurassic Park, T2 Directors Talk About Technology 06/24/93
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- Four
distinguished motion picture directors, described as "digitally
hip," formed an informal panel at the Digital World conference
to discuss digital technology, how it is affecting filmmaking,
and the future of the medium.

They were Mike Backes, involved in the production of the new
hit "Jurassic Park;" James Cameron director of two "Terminator"
movies; John Badham director of "Short Circuit" and
"Blue Thunder;" and Gale Hurd, producer of the first two
"Terminator" movies.

Mike Backes started the discussion by asserting the best thing
about digital technology is it forces a lot of preproduction
preparation work. "You cannot have too much prep," he added,
noting two and a half years of prep work went into Jurassic
Park. The general agreement was that the opportunity for
computers to allow the directors and producers of films to lay
out a three-dimensional space and walk around in it is also
productive. In addition, word processing was mentioned as one
of the best tools in aiding how films are written.

Cameron maintains stop-motion animation has gone the way of the
slide rule, and will probably not be used widely anymore. Both
producers hired Industrial Light and Magic to perform the
effects in the films. Cameron said when he originally wrote
"Terminator," he intended for the plot lines of both movies to be
in the first film, but was unable to get the morphing
technology right for the second "terminator" character and so
had to shelve the idea for several years. Cameron said he first
experimented with creating a photorealistic subject by computer
in a feature film in the Abyss, but Terminator was a much
larger risk because the entire plot line is based on being able
to make the technology work. In T2, Cameron was able to go
forward with the technology and create a villain around the
concept of digital morphing techniques and did it in a
twelve-month production cycle.

John Badham applauded the use of the technology in T2 and said,
"If you don't make a good, organic use of the technology then
you're wasting your time. If you just try to do the technology
you end up with something like TRON (where a kid gets stuck in
a video game) which is not as satisfying an experience."

Gale Hurd expressed concern that the most important aspect of
narrative films, story telling, could get lost in technology.
She mentioned lots of people come to her and say, "I have this
great concept," and that's all it is -- a concept.

On the downside, the group talked about the expense of
equipment and the trouble they have getting studio executives
to invest in computer technology. The other problems had to do
with incompatibility between hardware platforms and between
various software products. Hurd mentioned she has a program for
scheduling and budgeting that will run on her IBM-compatible
386-based personal computer (PC) but will not run on her 486-
based PC.

As for the future, Cameron insisted that soon he'll be able to
do anything he can conceive of. Backes said the problem he
thinks computers can solve is the complaint that movies are
getting "smaller." "Batman has a very claustrophobic feel to it
and that's because it's so expensive to build elaborate sets."
Building the sets inside computers is the next step, according
to Backes, who joked that "gladiator" movies might come back
when that happens.

The directors agreed that every filmmaker's dream is to get rid
of the actors, but they all doubt if computer technology will
allow that to happen. Actors might be able to energize or drive
a synthetic character using computers, such as is done now with
Waldo devices that connect to the actor and imitate the
movements on a animated character or mechanical device.
But pulling actors out of old movies with computer
animation and manipulating them via computer is something this
group thinks the public will never see. Backes said, "I keep
hearing Ted Turner wants to put Elvis in 'Gone With The Wind,'
but it won't happen."

The biggest complaint the group had about the computer
technology is the tools are not easy enough to use. While good
technology and good computer code were acknowledged to be an
art form, it has to be something that can be used and not an
end in itself. "You don't go to an art gallery to look at
paintings painted by paint brush designers," Backes stressed.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930624/Press Contact: Johnathan Seybold,
Seybold Seminars, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00019)

Multimedia PC For $999 - Beethoven 06/24/93
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- Wearnes
Technology has unveiled Beethoven MPC-1, a fully configured
multimedia PC with a TV screen hookup, an internal CD-ROM drive,
and a sound board, speakers and software, available at a price of
only $999.

The new PC provides an VGA-to-NTSC converter, known as the
Beethoven Home Video Option, that lets the user play a full VGA
image on a standard TV screen. The converter offers S-Video and
composite output, according to officials.

"The Home Video option is designed for the person who would rather
fly a flight simulator through a 25- or 40-inch TV screen than
(through) the 14-inch screen of a computer monitor," commented
Richard Hsiao, company president.

All components in the system have been optimized to run multimedia
applications as well as standard computer operations without loss
of power, Hsaio said.

Other features include an internal LMSI CD-ROM drive from Philips,
audio passthrough, a 16-bit sound board, Labtec speakers, and a
variety of bundled multimedia software.

In its initial shipment, the PC provides a 386SX 33 MHz processor,
4 MB of RAM, a hard disk of up to 100 MB, two serial ports and one
parallel port, a keyboard and mouse, and a 3.5-inch floppy drive.

The company expects to ship similarly equipped 486-based models in
August, at pricing of $1,295 for a 486SX, 25 MHz system and $1,595
for a 486DX 40 MHz system.

The CD-ROM drive that is built into the system complies with
Kodak's PhotoCD single-session standard, and is also compatible
with DOS, Windows, Windows NT, and NetWare, the company stated.

The drive will play audio, data and game CDs, as well. Other
capabilities include 32K cache memory, average access time of 375
milliseconds, and a sustained data transfer rate of 153.6 KB per
second.

The PC's audio passthrough feature allows standard audio CDs to be
played in the background while standard applications run in the
foreground.

The Beethoven sound board that accompanies the product is
compatible with Sound Blaster, AdLib and Thunderboard. The card
provides an on-board MIDI port, plus a joy stick port with an
output amplifier of four watts.

In addition, the board is optionally upgradable for digital 16-bit
sound, SCSI connectivity, and MIDI, with 128 recorded samples of
musical instruments.

Software bundled with the new PC includes Windows 3.1, DOS 6.0, DOS
Command Line Player, Band-in-a-Box, Voyetra's MIDI Sequence Plus
Junior, Wearne's Beethoven's Mixer, and Animation's MSC MusicRack,
along with SelectWare CD, a software demo test drive package.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19930624/Press contact: Chad Hill or Len
Fernandes, Hill Communications for Wearnes, tel [phone];
Reader contact: Wearnes Technology, tel [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LON)(00020)

 ****Fundamental Flaws In ATM Security Revealed In Court 06/24/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- Newsbytes has been tracking a
civil case through the British courts for the last year and can now
reveal a lot of what is going on with the case. If you ever have or
ever will use a plastic card in an automated teller machine (ATM),
you should read this news item, since it has far-reaching
international consequences for the legal issues surrounding the
usage of these cash machines.

The past few years have seen a number of customers of banks and
other financial institutions in the UK report "ghost" withdrawals
from their plastic card-accessible accounts, usually through an ATM.
A ghost withdrawal is defined in colloquial bank parlance as a debit
transaction that appears on an ATM cardholder's statement, but for
which no cash was withdrawn.

Although these cases have been well publicized by the media, the
financial institutions concerned have claimed -- as one -- that
their machines are infallible. In many cases, accusing fingers have
been pointed, and even prosecutions started, against members of the
cardholder's family, work colleagues, and friends.

Several UK cardholders, fed up with bank's stonewalling approach to
their problem, joined forces last year to take out collective legal
action against the banks and building societies, not only to get
their money back, but to compensate them for the distress caused.

In the British legal system, the cost of litigation normally far
exceeds the costs involved. This is why ghost withdrawal customers
have not taken legal action against the banks in the 20 years or so
that ATMs have been in common usage. Last year, a barrister,
Alistair Kelman, applied what he terms an innovative legal procedure
that gets around this problem.

Dennis Whalley, a solicitor with J Keith Park & Co, a Liverpool-
based solicitor, obtained legal aid for a group action initially on
behalf of seven people who had disputes with their financial
institutions over ghost ATM withdrawals.

This action was against several banks, including Barclays, Lloyds,
Midland, and the TSB, as well as the Nationwide Building Society. The
Abbey National and Halifax Building Societies (which have parallels
with S&L's in the US) are to be brought into the case at a later
stage, Newsbytes understands, as is National Westminster and several
other UK banks.

At the hearing, Dennis Whalley swore a massive 150-page affidavit
setting out known instances of fraud and error, which make
astonishing reading.

One woman was convicted by a court of withdrawing money without
permission from her disabled father's bank account. Six months
later, the bank admitted that another customer had "inadvertently"
been allocated her father's account number, hence the apparent ghost
withdrawal.

Another incident revolved around a customer's ghost withdrawal from
an account, where the TSB suggested that the customer's 80-year-old
mother may have withdrawn the amount. When the customer produced the
bank's sealed "advice of PIN" envelope, they went quiet.

Another cardholder was told that three disputed withdrawals
totalling UKP 150 must have been made by him. He too was able to
produce a sealed PIN advice envelope from his bank.

All four banks tried to destroy the group action by requiring each
claim to be heard separately. Before Judge Hicks, the judge in the
High Court, Barrister Kelman defeated these applications. He also
indicated that all of the plaintiffs who have suffered from ghost
withdrawals will be claiming damages for the distress they suffered
under UK Data Protection legislation, the claims for which could be
far higher than the money withdrawn, Newsbytes understands.

A further 27 plaintiffs are to be joined to the action with a
further 1,000 already on the books of the Liverpool solicitors.
Newsbytes understands that the plaintiffs are considering making a
promotional video to attract more people to the case.

The British banks have now issued a code of practice on plastic card
use to their customers. Among other "clarifications," this limits
the customer's liabilities in the event of a card or its PIN being
compromised or stolen, provided the customer has not acted
illegally.

Newsbytes notes that, in the British banking ombudsman's report for
last year, a total of 879 ATM-related complaints were handled by the
ombudsman's office. 346 of these were investigated and around 65
percent were ruled in the bank's favor.

This week saw the case come to a head, with Judge John Hicks giving
the customers leave to take a combined action for UKP 20,000 against
their financial institutions for losses relating to ghost
withdrawals.

What's interesting about Judge Hicks' clearance is that he rejected
the banks' request that each claim should be heard individually.
This introduces the possibility of other cardholders joining in the
action.

According to media reports on the case, a further 30 customers are
likely to join the case as a result of this clearance.

In court, Judge Hicks said that there is "no reason why the present
plaintiffs should not use any means properly open to them to make
known the existence of this litigation and the possibility of
applying to join it."

Newsbytes notes that no formal defence has yet been filed by the
banks.

Barrister Kelman, meanwhile, told Newsbytes that the case has far-
reaching consequences for the banks, since it will eventually force
the banks -- unless they admit defeat before the end of the case --
to admit in court that their ATM systems are fallible. To admit that
this is the case could open the floodgates to all manner of
allegations relating to ATM card usage.

The banks have admitted, however, that the terms and conditions
relating to card usage are only applicable for use with a legitimate
card and PIN.

Reports suggest that, if a PIN from a legitimate ATM card is "lifted"
from one of the three tracks on an ATM card, and then re-recorded
onto another ATM card, then the PIN from the first card can be used
with the second card.

If true, then this would seriously undermine the banks' claims that
their ATM systems are secure against fraud and ghost withdrawals.

So what does Kelman think about the ghost withdrawals case as a
whole? "It's very interesting from both a legal and a technical
viewpoint. There's no doubt that the banks have a lot to lose, but
the case will take some time to go through the courts entirely," he
told Newsbytes.

(Steve Gold/19930624)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LON)(00021)

Euro-Telecoms Group Accused Of Violating EC Competition Laws 06/24/93
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- The Computer and Business
Equipment Manufacturers' Association (CBEMA), a US-based
organization, has taken the unusual step of accusing the European
Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) of violating European
Commission (EC) anti-competition laws. The group has filed a formal
complaint with the EC as a result.

The ETSI is a standards group based in Brussels that works on
technical standards that are usually turned into formal EC
legislation. CBEMA claims that, because its members could not agree
on new licensing requirements, they faced expulsion from ETSI.

The issue at stake was the ETSI requirements that CBEMA members
should allow ETSI to use their technology in future ETSI directives
and standards. CBEMA claims that this is the equivalent of handing
ETSI a "blank check" on its member's technologies.

"Not only will companies no longer be able to contribute to European
telecommunications standards development, but their access to the
European market will be jeapordized," CBEMA said in a prepared
statement.

CBEMA notes that its complaint with the EC is filed under Articles
85 and 86 of the Treaty of Rome covering restrictive trade practices
and abuse of a dominant market position.

So what does CBEMA want? According to the statement, it does not
want its members expelled from ETSI, nor does it want its members'
abilities to contribute to European standards development. ETSI has
not made any formal reply to the CBEMA complaint.

(Steve Gold/19930624)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00022)

Ericsson Forms Joint Telecoms Venture In China 06/24/93
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- Ericsson has revealed that it
has formed a new joint venture company with Guangdong Public
Telecoms Board (GPTB) and Guangdong Machimpex. The new company has
the express brief of handling the delivery and installation of
Ericsson's telecoms equipment deliveries in China.

Ericsson is the major shareholder in the new company, which is known
as the Guangdong Ericsson Engineering Company (GEEC). For the next
two years, the company will remain largely dormant, while facilities
in China are built up and the contracts for the supply of exchange
equipment are formalized.

According to Ericsson, the establishments of the new company is a
major step in the development of the company's trading links with
the Republic of China. It will also serve as a springboard for the
company's activities in other countries of the region, officials
said.

(Steve Gold/19930624)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00023)

UK - Mercury Communications Signing 1,000 Users A Day 06/24/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- Mercury Communications claims
that it is busily signing up around 1,000 new subscribers to its
residential 2300 "indirect" telephone network. This is a substantial
boost on last year's figures and means that Mercury has around
500,000 subscribers to its service -- twice what it was this time
last year.

Mercury attributes its success to the fact that the areas which have
access to the Mercury network from BT have increased from 70 to 90
percent of the UK in a little over 18 months. It's now possible for
most of the UK's BT subscribers to access Mercury for their trunk
and international calls, saving up to 40 percent on BT-switched
calls in the process.

According to Newsbytes' calculations, this places Mercury as having
more than 10 percent of the UK's telecoms market-place, compared
with 8.4 percent just a year ago.

(Steve Gold/19930624/Press & Public Contact: Mercury Communications
- Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00024)

IBM's Fireworks Define Multimedia 06/24/93
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- At the
Digital World conference, Bob Carberry, president of IBM's
multimedia business unit, Fireworks Partners defined the term
multimedia by who uses it and how, and gave examples of the use
of the technology in different situations.

Fireworks did an informal survey at the trade show COMDEX,
asking, "What is multimedia?" While most people didn't have an
answer, one of the most telling descriptions came from a
gentleman who said, "I picture a bunch of video monitors
flashing, and people thinking they're learning something."

The first example was NBC desktop news, an interactive,
customizable news service that is expected to cost consumers
$15 to $200 per month. Another example showed multimedia in an
office environment, but instead of videos of office workers
using multimedia, Fireworks had animated human figures that
were stiff and artificial performing the actions. One viewer
commented that the office workers reminded him of black actor
Eddie Murphy, who does a comedy routing where he acts like a
white man. The animations did get across the idea of how office
workers might use multimedia and touch screen computers to send
and receive video conversations, and transmit information.

Fireworks also showed how an office worker at an airport might
use a hand-held cellular computer/telephone to work and make
calls without video. The phone had a touch screen and a voice-
only cellular connection.

One of the most interesting displays was one of how airlines
are now placing local area networks in planes. The networks
connect liquid crystal display (LCD) screens in the back of
each of as many as 270 seats, so each passenger can have access
to the network. The system offers flight and plane location
information, airport maps and city information, a cellular link
to the ground, and games that are interactive with the other
passengers. Carberry said airlines like the idea because, while
fliers only pay three dollars to use the system, studies show
they eat less when playing games and so will cost the airline
less.

Carberry, like an earlier demonstration by Apple, also showed a
virtual mall application of multimedia. But in this case the
animated character is a teenager who goes to the mall with two
virtual friends, who shop with him.

The digital server technology planned for Blockbuster video
stores was also demonstrated. A user can view rock videos and
hear music from an in-store kiosk, can order the compact disc
(CD), and the CD will be produced on demand for pick up by the
customer on the way out of the store. This reduces inventory
and shelf space, Carberry said. A rock group called "Snow Hat"
was featured in the demonstration. Snow Hat, as it turns out is
a Russian rock group and Carberry said it was the only one
for which Fireworks Partners could get the intellectual property
rights.

The CD on demand technology came out of an agreement with
Soundsational, a small company with which Fireworks formed
an alliance. Carberry said he sees Fireworks' role as one of bringing
alliances and adding value to the joint ventures, and not just
one of a venture capital firm.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930624/Press Contact: Bob Carberry,
Fireworks Partners, tel [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00025)

Kaleida, 3DO, Apple Offer MM Development Toolkits 06/24/93
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUN 24 (NB) --
Developers will have no shortage of multimedia application
development toolkits if the announcements made by major
companies at the Digital World are any indication. Kaleida,
3DO, and Apple have all announced developer kits for each one's
environment.

Kaleida President and Chief Executive Officer Nat Goldhaber
announced the Scriptx Developer Kit and says the company will
begin accepting applications for entry into its developer
program. Scriptx is described by Kaleida as a platform-
independent environment for multimedia that the company hopes
to have released on hardware platforms by the end of 1994.

Developers can sign up for The Kaleida Developer Program at
either the "Vanguard" or "Associate" level. Vanguard members
receive both Alpha and Beta ScriptX Software Development Kits,
along with four days of training and four days of consulting at
no additional charge. They will also have the opportunity to
attend Kaleida's title building workshops. Associate members
receive Beta ScriptX Software Developer Kits and access to
training and consulting on a fee basis. Applications from
interested developers are due October 1, 1993. Goldhaber also
mentioned that the company is planning a referral program so
those who are looking for Scriptx application developers can
make contacts through Kaleida.

Apple announced the Apple Media Tool for development of an
applications for the Newton personal digital assistant (PDA)
without programming. The applications are developed by
connecting icons that represent functions. For programmers,
Apple is offering the Apple Media Tool Programming Environment
which offers the ability to use the object-oriented tools as
well as a traditional programming language approach. Apple
claims code developed in the Apple Media Tool Programming
Environment is portable between Macintosh and IBM-compatible
personal computers (PCs) running Microsoft Windows and offers
access to toolboxes in both environments through a C language
interface.

3DO Company announced the 3DO Authoring Toolkit for developing
software for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer due out this fall
under the Panasonic brand name. The 3DO Authoring Toolkit
consists of title creation software tools including two-
dimensional animation and imaging, three dimensional modeling,
video and file translation tools, as well as Macromedia's
Director, Macromodel, and Three-D. The company claims the
toolkit will be important for those without programming
experience as well as for the 311 licensed software companies
who have committed to title development for the 3DO player.

The toolkit will be especially useful for the estimated 75,000
Macromedia Director users on the Macintosh computer platform
who are already familiar with the Macromedia environment, 3DO
added.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930624/Press Contact: Tricia Chan, Apple
Computer, 408-974-3886; Diane Samples, Kaleida, 415-966-0764;
Diane Hunt, 3DO, 415-574-6786)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00026)

Visual Cybernetics Intros eNotes 2.0 for Windows 06/24/93
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- Visual Cybernetics
Corporation (VCC) says it will begin shipping in July a new version
of its electronic mail and messaging product.

VCC President and CEO Joseph DiMauro says eNotes version 2.0 is
greatly improved over its predecessor, but still retains the
intuitive ease of use and stick-on note look and feel. New features
include groupware functionality, drag and drop operations, remote
capabilities, folders, a spell checker, context searching, and
support for MHS and DDE. Users with suitably equipped personal
computers can also add sound and voice recordings to their written
notes using eNote's support for multimedia, and the program also
supports pen computing.

eNote uses a floating control panel and drag and drop to perform
its functions. The user writes the message to an individual or
group, then drags it over the icon that represents the addressees
and clicks the mouse button to send the mail. At the receiving PC
the message pops up on-screen over whatever application is running.
eNotes can also be received and saved in folders for later
retrieval.

VCC says eNotes does not require a dedicated file server, and can
be installed on a network PC in just a few minutes. The built-in
MHS support allows eNotes to interface with other electronic mail
packages.

The company says it plans to add several new features by the end
of this year, including teleconferencing with real-time voice
communication, messaging to alphanumeric pagers, and support for
mobile wireless data transfer. Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
and realtime videoconferencing products are expected to ship in
early 1994.

VCC Executive Vice President Mujahid Bashir told Newsbytes eNotes
is available in five, 20, 50, and 100-user packs, with pricing of
$399, $999, $1999, and $3199 respectively. Bashir said the company
is offering the five-user pack for $249 on an introductory basis.

(Jim Mallory/19930624/Press contact: Mujahid Bashir, Visual
Cybernetics Corporation, 212-564-7791; Reader contact: VCC,
800-743-8645 or 212-564-7791, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00027)

Spinnaker's PFS:PowerAlbum Tracks Images 06/24/93
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- If you're
tired of trying to find the graphic image you want among a tangle
of eight-character DOS file names scattered among several
directories, the people at Spinnaker Software think they have
something you'll like.

Spinnaker's PFS:PowerAlbum is software for Microsoft Windows that
is meant to keep track of graphics files. It creates an on-screen
"album" of thumbnail images, organized into categories that do
not have to correspond to the file formats used or the
directories in which the actual files are stored. It also lets
you assign keywords to your images to aid in searching.

PFS:PowerAlbum leaves the graphics files in their original
directories, but creates small thumbnail representations, which
users can view on-screen or print out at 48 per page with file
names.

Keywords can be assigned to images and then used for searching
later. Users can choose any keywords they find meaningful, said
Dan Chmielewski, a spokesman for Spinnaker.

Users can select an entire directory of files to be catalogued
automatically, though they must assign keywords to each file
manually, Chmielewski said.

Having found an image, you can cut and paste it from
PFS:PowerAlbum into another application such as a graphics or
desktop publishing program, he added.

The software works with the TIF, PCX, BMP, WMF, CGM, and DRW file
formats at present, Chmielewski said. More may be added in
future. PFS:PowerAlbum also comes with 1,000 full-color WMF
images, organized into 15 categories and with keywords assigned.

The software is available now at a list price of $59.95.
Spinnaker is also offering it in a bundle with Calendar Creator
Plus for Windows, Chmielewski said.

(Grant Buckler/19930624/Press Contact: Dan Chmielewski, Spinnaker
Software, 617-494-1200 ext. 458)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00028)

VTech Offers Five-Year Limited Warranty In Canada 06/24/93
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- Warranties on
personal computer products are getting longer. The latest
development is a move by VTech Computer Systems to offer a
five-year limited warranty on VTech Laser computers sold in
Canada.

Although VTech computers are made in Hong Kong and sold in a
number of countries, the new warranty applies only in Canada at
the moment, said company spokesman David Ward.

VTech also is not guaranteeing all parts of its PCs for a full
five years. The monitor, keyboard, hard drive, tape drive, and
mouse remain subject only to VTech's existing two-year warranty.
Some components that are supplied to VTech by other
manufacturers, such as compact-disk read-only memory (CD-ROM)
drives, have only one-year warranties, Ward said.

The added three years of factory service also don't apply to
notebook models, the company said.

"More than ever," Ward said, "people are concerned about the
longevity of their computer purchases." Responding to some other
vendors' move to a three-year warranty, he said, VTech decided to
go a step farther and try to boost sales in the traditionally
slow summer months.

The warranty applies to all VTech Laser PCs bought in Canada
after June 1 of this year, the company said.

(Grant Buckler/19930624/Press Contact: David Ward, VTech Computer
Systems, 416-477-2818, fax [phone]; Public Contact: VTech,
800-465-2737)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00029)

First Interactive Media Festival Slated For Next Year 06/24/93
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- The
first Interactive Media Festival, designed to find and define
the best in interactive multimedia, was announced at the
Digital World conference to be held a year from now in
conjunction with the next Digital World conference. The
Festival is being created by Cunningham Communications and
Seybold Seminars with support from the American Film Institute,
and is being sponsored by Motorola.

A worldwide search for interactive multimedia works will begin
this summer by a seventy-five person international delegation.
Twenty-five works will be selected for the final judging next
year and a separate nine-member jury will judge the entries. It
was decided the works should be viewed in person and no
categories will be used for the judging.

A gallery exhibit of the works will be open to the public May 4
through 6, 1994 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, where the
next Digital World conference will be held. Chris Galvin,
senior executive vice president and assistant chief operating
officer of Motorola said, "The Interactive Media Festival will
focus on what people can do with this new form of expression
and the ways it will change our lives."

(Linda Rohrbough/19930624/Press Contact: Leslie Kesselring,
Cunningham Communications, tel [phone]; Public contact:
800-573-1212)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00030)

Apple Distributing CD-ROM Titles, Selling Drives At Cost 06/24/93
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUN 24 (NB) -- Apple
has entered several compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)
publishing deals with Sony, Kodak, Time Warner, and
Interoptica. Most of the new titles are educational and to
promote the distribution of CD-ROM drives on which the new
titles can be played, Apple has dropped the pricing of its CD-
ROM drives to "its cost," according to Apple Chairman John
Sculley.

Apple, in conjunction with Sony and Kodak, has announced a CD-
ROM title about how "Open" magazine was made and is intended as
an educational title for book publishers, advertisers, and
universities. The CD-ROM, titled "Open Wider," is interactive
and offers the viewer sound, animation, video, and still
photos.

The New York-based multimedia design company Imergy created the
title and ninety-nine magazine editors, writers, designers, and
photographers worked on the project for a week in New York
City. Participants included staff from Time, Newsweek, National
Geographic, Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, Travel & Leisure,
all of which helped on this one-time effort. The photos for Open
Wider where first stored on Kodak Photo CD, then accessed and
incorporated into CD-ROM, entirely on Macintosh computers.

Apple's Personal Interactive Electronics (PIE) division
announced it has a publishing agreement with Canter Technology
to distribute CD-ROM titles from Time Warner's Interactive
Group and Interoptica. Publishing is important to PIE, company
representatives said, and five new titles will be offered.

Three of the five new titles, "Peter's Alphabet Adventure,"
"Peter's Number Adventure," and "Peter's Magical Adventure,"
are educational titles developed by the French company
Arborescence. The two other titles are "Wacky Jack's CD Game
Show" and "Travelrama."

Apple Chairman John Sculley said Apple plans to ship over $1
million in CD-ROM drives in 1993. To get the drives out there,
Sculley revealed the company is selling the drives at cost.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930624/Press Contact: Tricia Chan, Apple
Computer, tel [phone], fax [phone])