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/nb930707

Text File | 1993-07-07 | 69KB | 1,503 lines

(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00001)

ATI Supports Display Power Management 07/07/93
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- ATI Technologies
said it will shortly offer software drivers that will let many of its
personal computer display adapters support the Display Power
Management Signalling (DPMS) proposal for reducing the amount of
power used by monitors.

The proposed standard comes from the Video Electronic Standards
Association (VESA), an industry group. It is supposed to drop a
monitor's power consumption to less than 30 watts when the screen
is inactive.

All ATI video cards using the company's mach32 chip and built
since September 1992 - which is most of the mach32 cards since
they only began to ship in August 1992 - can support the
standard, company spokesman Andrew Clarke said. The cards include
the ATI Graphics Ultra+, the Graphics Ultra Pro, and others.

To make it work, users will need a software driver which ATI
plans to make available later this year through its own bulletin
board system at 416-764-9404, through the ATITECH forum on the
CompuServe on-line information service, and directly from ATI
customer support at 416-882-2626.

There is no hurry to get the software at the moment, since
DPMS-compliant monitors haven't come to market yet. "You can't
buy one right now," Clarke said, but he added that prototypes
exist and the monitors should be on the market very soon.

(Grant Buckler/19930701/Press Contact: Andrew Clarke, ATI
Technologies, tel [phone] ext 8491, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(SYD)(00002)

Australia - Jeeves Turns PC Into Home Security System 07/07/93
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1993 JULY 7 (NB) -- The PC is a powerful control
system, yet most of us use it just a few hours a day, leaving it idle
most of the time. By adding the Jeeves system, your PC can become a
powerful home security and control system.

Jeeves consists of a control module and Windows software. The
control module is a self-contained box that connects to a spare
serial port on the PC and runs from 110 volt or 240 volt mains
depending on  the market.

As standard, it has a digital keypad and 16 digital input and eight
digital output lines. These can be used to control or take signals
from an almost unlimited range of devices such as, intruder sensors,
heat or smoke sensors, thermostats, telephone dialers, radio
transceivers, motion detectors, lights, mains-powered devices,
duct dampers, heaters, and air conditioners.

The software consists of a graphical representation of your house
or the area to be controlled, and a logical program detailing what
is to be controlled and how. For instance, you can use the system as
a burglar alarm and also use it to turn lights on and off at night
while you are out. It could also run the garden watering system,
control the heating and even feed the parrot if you can find a
suitable electrically operated feed dispenser. In fact, just about
any sort of sensor or control device you can find at the local
electronics hobby store can be connected to Jeeves.

And if you decide to change things while you're out, you can dial-in
using a touchtone phone, and change a program or setting just like
you were at home. The system is password-operated so that the
house can be progressively unlocked to suit the circumstances. For
instance, the cleaner can have a password that gives limited access
but still keeps some areas secure. Jeeves can also log events so
that you can review things after your return.

Although it is designed and built in Australia, Jeeves will be
available in the US via the Smart PC Catalog from September. The
price for the basic system is US$295.

(Paul Zucker/19930702/Press Contact: Rob Rohrlach, tel
[phone], fax [phone], Yeoman)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00003)

Wordperfect Presentations Supports Roland Audio Card 07/07/93
OREM, UTAH, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Wordperfect says
Wordperfect Presentations 2.0 for Windows will be the first
presentation graphics application to support the new Roland Audio
Producer card.

The card, called the RAP-10, brings together CD-quality digital
audio (WAV format files) and MIDI (musical instrument digital
interface) sound files in a single-track compositional format,
allowing users to edit and synchronize multiple audio files for
use in computerized presentations.

In addition to combining and editing WAV and MIDI files, the
company says the RAP-10 will give Wordperfect Presentations
users greater control over audio synchronization in their
presentations. Roland's Audio Toolworks software, which ships
with the card, allows users to synchronize audio tracks
independent of slide presentations.

RAP-10 features include digital signal processing for reverb and
chorus, a 16-part multitimbral sample-based synthesizer that is
compatible with General MIDI, two tracks of digital hard disk
recording in mono or one track in stereo, scrub editing, pitch
shift, filtering, and panning. A Wave Composer capable of merging
up to 16 different audio files over time for automated dubbing and
an integrated Sound Canvas synthesizer that allows fully
orchestrated performances are also included.

In addition to support for Roland's RAP-10, Wordperfect
Presentations for Windows offers painting, drawing, charting and
text handling tools, as well as support for object linking and
embedding (OLE), the technology that allows other objects to be
embedded in a file. Support for TWAIN image acquisition and direct
CD ROM sound is also included.

When you buy Wordperfect Presentations for Windows, you will
receive in the package a $200 discount coupon off the regular price
of the card. Both products are scheduled to ship this month.
Wordperfect says Presentation for Windows will have a suggested
retail price (SRP) of $495, while the SRP for the RAP-10 is $599.

(Jim Mallory/19930702/Press Contact: Hank Heilesen, Wordperfect
Corporation, 801-228-5035; Tom White, Roland Corporation,
213-685-5141; Reader Contact: Wordperfect Corporation, tel
801-225-5000, fax [phone]; Roland corporation, tel
213-685-5141, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00004)

UK - Jaguar Communications Intros ATM Packet Switch 07/07/93
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Jaguar Communications
has unveiled the DV2, a high performance multimedia ATM
(asynchronous transfer mode) switch that is capable of supporting
data transfer rates of 6,400 megabits-per-second (Mbps).

According to the company, which launched the unit at Networks '93,
the DV2's ATM protocol supports all traffic types including voice,
data and video over local area networks (LANs) and wide area
networks (WANs).

So how does the unit work? By providing adaption interfaces to
non-ATM traffic, the DV2 integrates a variety of existing
traffic, including Ethernet, X.25, HDLC (High-level Data Link
Control) and frame relay into a high speed data backbone with a
total throughput of up to 3,200 Mbps. In addition, the unit supports
new Broadband integrated services digital network (ISDN)
applications that need high speeds that, Jaguar claims, only ATM
can support.

According to John Earley, Jaguar's marketing manager, the DV2 is
an important addition to the company's product range, since it
provides extremely high performance connections that ensure that
LAN users get instant responses. This, he says, increases their
productivity.

"It also provides a simple and secure migration path to emerging
services such as public broadband ISDN and it is particularly
well suited to users who demand high bandwidth for applications
such as video conferencing, video file transfer, or large data
file transfers," he said.

What's interesting about the DV2 is its ability to support
interconnection over a WAN while operating as a LAN hub,
distributing traffic at high speeds across a multi-site
environment. It's this flexibility that Jaguar claims sets the
unit apart from the rest of the switching devices on the market.

Pricing on the DV2 depends on exact requirements of users. The
company claims that pricing is the most competitive in its league.

(Steve Gold/19930702/Press & Public Contact: Jaguar
Communications, tel [phone], fax [phone])


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

UK - Viglen Intros Color Notebook 07/07/93
ALPERTON, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Viglen has
added the Color Dossier 486 to its range of 486 processor-based
notebook computers. This latest addition features an active matrix
TFT (thin film transistor) screen which gives a wide viewing angle.

Based around an Intel 25 megahertz (MHz) 486 processor, the
machine comes in both SX and DX chip varieties, with four
megabytes (MB) or memory and a 120MB hard disk, at UKP2,299
and UKP2,499, respectively.

The machine tips the scales at 3.1 kilos (seven pounds) and has a
footprint of 280 by 22 millimeters (mm). The casing has a height
of 43.8 mm. The 8.5 inch-screen can display up to 256 colors,
while the 80 key keypad includes an integral mousepad.

An interesting feature of the notebook is a one-stop connection
option that allows rapid access/connection to desktop peripherals.
Viglen claims that this feature is unique. An optional fax/modem
is also available for the machine.

A spokesman for Viglen at Networks' 93, where the machine was
launched, told Newsbytes that optional extras for the Color
Dossier include up to 20MB of memory and a 200MB hard disk.

Newsbytes queried the three hours per battery charge on the
machine and was told that it uses nickel metal hydride battery
technology. The power per single charge is further enhanced by
the use of built-in power management software on the machine.

Bundled with the notebook are copies of MS-DOS 6.0 and Windows
3.1. A mouse and carrying case are also included in the price.

(Steve Gold/19930702/Press & Public Contact: Viglen,
081-758-7000)


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00006)

Trio Signs WindSurfer Deal With IBM 07/07/93
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Trio
Information Systems says it will support IBM's Mwave
WindSurfer communications adapter in its DataFax for Windows
product.

WindSurfer consolidates data and fax functions, along with
telephone answering, voice messaging, and audio on a single
add-in card. DataFax for Windows is Trio's fax software product,
and was designed originally for computer networks which are
NetBios compatible, including Novell's NetWare.

The WindSurfer card is based on digital signal processor
technology developed by IBM, Texas Instruments and Intermetrics,
which also lets all programs run in the background.

The card is a 16-bit ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) plugged
adapter that requires Microsoft Windows 3.1, and complies with
the audio specifications of the Multimedia PC Marketing Council.

Since it's based on a DSP chip, it can quickly be upgraded for new
functions to act as a faster modem, offer speech recognition,
text-to-speech functions, image compression or even motion-video
acceleration without changing the hardware. For instance, Trio said,
the card could answer the telephone and tell a caller to press a
number to send a fax, or it could allow the appending of a voice
message to a fax.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930706/Press Contact: Peter Baron,
404-806-0062, for Trio)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TOR)(00007)

Top 100 Software Firms Show 23% Growth 07/07/93
WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- The
top 100 companies in the software industry chalked up 23 percent
revenue growth in 1992, reaching a total of nearly $17 billion,
according to Software Magazine's annual Top 100 study.

Microsoft was number one for the second consecutive year, and
cemented its lead with 48 percent growth in software sales, that
brought it to $2.95 billion in packaged software revenue in 1992.
That is more than the combined revenues of the second and
third-ranked companies: Computer Associates International
with $1.77 billion and Oracle with $1 billion.

Next on the list are Lotus Development, ranked third with
$900 million in worldwide revenues, and Novell, with $873
million. Numbers six through 10 are, in order: WordPerfect,
Borland International, Legent, Dun & Bradstreet Software, and
SAS Institute.

Microsoft's 48 percent revenue gain was impressive, but was not
the fastest growth among the top 10 companies. That distinction
belonged to Novell, which recorded a 53 percent revenue gain in
1992. The biggest gainer on the top 100 list was Cheyenne
Software, whose 219 percent revenue growth brought it to
79th spot with revenues of $29.7 million.

Software Magazine said vendors have begun repositioning their
products to fit the client/server model, which relies on networks
of computers working together rather than on large, monolithic
machines. As buying patterns change, the. emerging market
presents software vendors with enormous development challenges
and the opportunity for dynamic growth, the report said.

Industry shifts hit IBM hard in 1992, the survey reported, but
software sales contributed significantly to IBM's bottom line,
accounting for 17 percent of its total revenue. IBM's software
revenue in 1992 was $11.1 billion, up from $10.5 billion in 1991
(not being strictly a software company, IBM was not listed in the
Top 100; had it been, it would have dwarfed Microsoft).. .

Professional services emerged from the Top 100 study as a market
sector to watch. Professional services revenues among the Top
100 rose 25 percent in 1992, with combined revenues totaling
$2.2 billion. Of the Top 100 companies ranked, 59 reported
revenue in this sector.

Total non-US revenue for the Top 100 reached $7.9 billion in
1992, up from $6.5 billion in 1991. Non-U.S. revenue has been
climbing steadily over the past several years as companies team
up with foreign business partners, Software Magazine said.

(Grant Buckler/19930706/Press Contact: Jessica Valpey or
Judy Hodges, 508-366-2031, Software Magazine)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TOR)(00008)

Group Tackles Unix Data Management Interfaces 07/07/93
WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- A
group of 33 hardware and software vendors have founded the Data
Management Interfaces Group (DMIG) to promote standard links
between Unix operating systems and data management products.

The standards would govern the way such software as backup and
restore, file migration, compression, encryption, and monitoring
utilities work with various flavors of Unix.

Group members who make data management products hope the
standards will free them from much of the work of adapting their
software to work with the many variations of Unix, and let them
focus instead on adding features.

"Vendors like ourselves are spending an inordinate amount of time
trying to keep up with (revisions) of the operating systems,"
said Andrew Hettinger, a spokesman for group member Epoch
Systems.

He said the standard would also help vendors of Unix operating
systems software by improving the power and choice of data
management products for Unix. Unix vendors want to persuade
current users of proprietary mainframe systems to downsize to
Unix machines, Hettinger said, but these customers are used to
extensive data management capabilities. "They don't want to
downsize unless they can continue to do business the same way
they're doing it today," he said.

The group's originators are Auspex Systems, E-Systems, Epoch
Systems, and Hitachi Computer Products, which began work on the
project in January. Among the other members are IBM, Novell,
Santa Cruz Operation, SunSoft, Unisys, Univel, and Unix Systems
Laboratories.

The group hopes to create an application programming interface
(API) for Unix data management utilities, which would then be
adopted by operating systems vendors. The members are holding
monthly meetings and hope to complete phase one of their
specification by the end of 1993.

DMIG is working with other standards groups, including the
Systems Management Working Group of X/Open and the Common
Open Software Environment (COSE) initiative, in the hope of
gaining formal approval for its API.

One DMIG member, Auspex Systems, is due to ship later this year
a "proof-of-concept" implementation of a specification being
considered by DMIG.

Membership in DMIG is open to interested vendors, and input from
users is welcome, Hettinger said. The group's chairperson is Ross
Garber of Epoch Systems.

(Grant Buckler/19930702/Press Contact: Andrew Hettinger, Epoch
Systems, 508-836-4300; Public Contact: Epoch Systems, 508-836-
4300, electronic mail - [e-mail])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00009)

Peachtree & Staffing Firm Team Up To Test Temps 07/07/93
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Accounting software
publisher Peachtree says it has teamed up with staffing services
firm Robert Half International (RHI) to develop a skills assessment
and testing program for RHI's temporary employees.

The program calls for the two companies to develop testing and
certification of RHI temporary employees on Peachtree's two major
accounting software programs - Peachtree Complete Accounting
for DOS and Peachtree Accounting for Windows.

Peachtree Product Manager Diane Bates told Newsbytes RHI plans to
set up a computer in each of their more than 100 offices nationwide
running the two Peachtree products. People working as temporaries
out of the RHI offices will have access to the system in order to
learn the program, and can then be tested.

Bates said the tests are being developed out of the curriculum used
in the Peachtree University, a training program for dealers offered
at the Peachtree support centers. The test requires the employee to
perform specific step-by-step typical accounting tasks, according
to Bates.

Bates says a RHI survey showed a significant demand for
Peachtree-qualified temporaries, particularly at certain times
of the year, such as when a company is closing its books.

(Jim Mallory/19930706/Press Contact: Cristy Hayes, Peachtree
Software, 404-564-5897; Reader contact: Peachtree Software,
tel [phone] or 800-247-3224, fax [phone]; Robert
Half International, 415-854-9700)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00010)

Digiboard Intros New VAR Support Program 07/07/93
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Digiboard has
announced a new program to provide support and increase sales
and profits for its value-added resellers (VARs).

The company says that the DigiVAR program calls for its field
sales force to provide resellers with qualified leads as well as
assist them in finding business partners to better meet the
needs of various markets.

Digiboard says resellers will be able to buy product from their
choice of Digiboard authorized distributors, but will get their
sales, marketing, and technical support directly from the company.
Resellers will also accrue co-op funds that can be used in any way
the reseller deems appropriate for promoting Digiboard products so
long as they follow the Digiboard co-op guidelines.

The company says other benefits of the DigiVAR program include
competitive pricing, immediate product delivery, direct toll free
support, free sales training and literature, advance notification of
new products, and the opportunity to participate in national ad
campaigns.

The program has two levels of participation, based on the sales
volume of Digiboard products the VAR commits to sell each month.
To qualify for the program, the reseller must serve a predefined
specific geographic area, show it has the necessary technical
expertise to service Digiboard products, and have the resources
to follow up on sales leads provided.

Richard Smith, Digiboard national reseller manager, said the concept
for the program grew out of responses to an extensive reseller and
distributor survey. The responses were used to develop a program
that would provide Digiboard VARs with the best benefits, said
Smith.

The program gives the VARs direct buying access to companies
like Novell, Santa Cruz Operation, Sun Microsystems, Apple, and
Microsoft. Smith said that that link is invaluable to a VAR. The
company expects to authorize about 250 VARs in the US.

(Jim Mallory/19930706/Press and Reader Contact: Kristin
Kimmel, 612-943-9020, Digiboard)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00011)

Recycle Your Laser Printer Toner Cartridges For Cash 07/07/93
ROSELLE, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Laser-Pro says it
will pay $5 and shipping charges for your used laser printer toner
cartridges and will also pay the shipping on orders for
remanufactured or new cartridges.

The company says it is now selling remanufactured laser printer
cartridges that do not leak and cost up to 20 percent less than
new cartridges. Laser-Pro President Jim Ogborn says it is a
"win-win" situation to send in used cartridges and buy
remanufactured or new ones. "Not only can businesses feel good
about recycling but they can purchase quality printer cartridges
for a fraction of the standard retail prices."

When Canon first introduced the tone cartridge that makes the laser
printer perform its work, they were designed as a one-time use
product to be thrown away when the toner was used up. When the
first attempts were made to re-fill the cartridges the toner powder
often leaked. Not only did that make a mess on the paper and
necessitate frequent printer cleaning, but it could also cause
mechanical damage to the printer.

Later attempts were more successful, with re-manufacturers
disassembling the cartridges and replacing worn parts. With a
savings of 30 to 40 percent over the cost of a new cartridge,
combined with an increased interest in recycling, users became
more interested. Laser-Pro says the newest cartridges are better
made and reduce the need to cannibalize old cartridges for parts.

(Jim Mallory/19930706/Press Contact: Erica Swerdlow, EBS Public
Relations for Laser-Pro, 708-520-3301; Reader Contact: Laser-Pro,
800-377-0551 or 708-893-1888)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00012)

Ask Group Intros New Version Of Ingres/Gateway To Rdb 07/07/93
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Third-party
programs that provide access to mainstream database products are an
important area of the database management system (DBMS) market.
Now ASK Group has announced the shipment of a new release of its
Ingres/Gateway to Digital Equipment's Rdb relational DBMS.

According to the company, the new version provides read/write
"transparent" SQL (structured query language) access, and introduces
Open/SQL database procedure functionality which allows "end-users
to achieve performance gains by providing quick and efficient access
to Rdb data."

Glynnis Woolridge, spokesperson for the company told Newsbytes
that the new version price "varies according to the type of system
configuration you have," and ranges from $2,500 to $175,000.

According to Ask, Ingres/Gateway to Rdb provides users with ad hoc
data access using SQL, along with remote access of pre-defined Rdb
functions. The company says that the new gateway capabilities will
offer increased performance while supplying complete
transparency from the underlying database mechanisms.

The company also says that Ingres/Gateway to Rdb supports remote
client access to Rdb and is interoperable with the Ingres/Star and
Ingres/Net open connectivity products. Also included is support for
Digital's CDD/Repository version 5.1.

The gateway also provides access to Rdb data from other Ingres
toolset products including Ingres/Windows4GL, Ingres/VisionPro,
Ingres/ESQL and Ingres query and reporting tools. The gateway
allows Ingres tools to access existing Rdb data and present it to
the end user with graphical user interface and character-based
applications.

(Ian Stokell/19930706/Press Contact: Glynnis Woolridge,
510-748-2803, Ingres)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00013)

Syquest & Macromedia Offer ClipMedia/Hard Disk Bundle 07/07/93
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Bundling deals
between software publishers and hardware vendors are all the rage
these days by companies eager to penetrate new markets and access
new users that would otherwise not be aware of their products. Now
SyQuest Technology and Macromedia have signed such a deal that
bundles Macromedia's ClipMedia, valued at $295, with SyQuest
removable hard drive cartridges.

The companies say that, beginning immediately, purchasers of
specially marked SyQuest brand 5.25-inch 44 megabyte (MB) and
88MB Macintosh cartridges will receive "hundreds" of media clips
from Macromedia's ClipMedia SE (SyQuest Edition), at no additional
cost.

The pre-loaded collection of royalty-free media clips will be called
"Macromedia, Volume 1." The companies say that the collection
consists of such graphics as flags, buttons, and travel luggage, as
well as QuickTime animations.

In announcing the deal, Joel Levine, vice president of marketing at
SyQuest, said: "It's no secret that multimedia demands fast
performance and high capacity storage solutions."

The "Macromedia, Volume 1" special offer will run through September
30, 1993, or "until supplies last," said the company. ClipMedia is also
available from Macromedia as a stand-alone product.

(Ian Stokell/19930706/Press Contact: Will Matlack, 510-226-4124,
SyQuest Technology; Jill Ryan, 415-252-2118, Macromedia)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00014)

UK- Low Cost PC-Based E-Mail 07/07/93
KILBARCHAN, SCOTLAND, 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Fleet Digital Solutions
(FDS) has announced a PC-based electronic mail (e-mail) system
costing UKP89 for small to medium-sized companies. The package,
called CQ Mail, has been designed to interface with the Colloquium
on-line service, which is being marketed as an optional extra for
UKP59 for a year's "all-in" subscription.

Colloquium has full messaging and access facilities to the Internet -
the packet data network that links thousands of on-line systems and
bulletin board systems (BBSs) around the world - Usenet, Bitnet and
the Joint Academics Network (Janet), as well as other CCITT X.400-
linked on-line systems.

The X.400 standard is an agreed method of exchanging messages
(both ASCII and binary) between otherwise incompatible on-line
systems. X.400 was defined by the CCITT, an international telecoms
regulatory body.

FDS claims that, by allowing companies access to their own PC
e-mail system (CQMail), it will enhance their productivity. By linking
the CQMail PC system to Colloquium, the e-mail possibilities expand
greatly, allowing message and file exchange with a variety of other
users of on-line systems around the world.

According to FDS, the "Mail Enabled" badge is becoming increasingly
important for organizations trying to do business with clients in
Europe and the Far East. Fax, the company claims, is not acceptable
as a secure messaging system, whereas CQMail can easily be linked
to a data encryption package for secure e-mail and file exchanges.

"This package dramatically reduces the cost of putting a business
e-mail solution on to the desktop," explained Sam Matheson, manager
of messaging systems with FDS. "Linked to the Colloquium messaging
service, the client presents electronic mail as no more than an
extension of the familiar paper desktop that any manager uses."

Brian McMillan, the technical director with FDS, is enthusiastic
about the way in which CQMail dovetails with the Colloquium
on-line service, which he developed for the company. "It automates
everything and makes sure that even novice PC users can gain
access to all the messaging services on Colloquium," he said.

The Colloquium on-line service was established in mid-1989 to
provide electronic conferencing services to members of a United
Nations sub-committee. Since then, the service has been developed
as a more general on-line system with conferencing and
inter-system e-mail as standard features.

FDS, meanwhile, operates Colloquium, and offers facilities
management services to a variety of markets. The company's main
competition is BT, Mercury and AT&T, with the result that it has
scooped up business from companies with under 100 employees, a
category of businesses that the major telecoms companies seem to
ignore.

Colloquium, a licensed Newsbytes republisher, is accessible via the
Mercury 5000 packet data network (PDN) service. This service, which
operates at all modem speeds to 9,600 bits-per-second (bps), is
available on local call access from around 95 percent of the UK,
meaning that Colloquium itself is available on local calls access
across most of the UK. Colloquium also has CCITT X.29 PAD access
for major users of PDN services.

FDS is marketing CQMail with a "No Dicker Sticker," which the
company claims is a clear indication that the UKP89 package
includes everything that a user needs to get hooked up to an e-mail
network. The e-mail client includes a file cabinet that fully
integrates with existing word processor and document conversion
packages.

"The price has surprised a lot of people, but we can provide a
client/server package with unlimited Internet mail traffic.
Receiving X.400 mail messages costs nothing and sending them
costs little more than first class post, but with a much faster
service," said Matheson.

(Steve Gold/19930706/Press & Public Contact: Fleet
Digital Solutions, 05057-2030; E-mail on the Internet:
[e-mail]; E-mail on X.400 systems: Info;
o=fds p=cqmail a=attmail)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00015)

 ****Japan - Casio's TV Remote Control Wrist Watch 07/07/93
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Japan's major calculator maker,
Casio, has come up with a  wrist watch that has a built-in remote
control unit.

This unique device is called the CMD-10, which is nicknamed
"Uderimo." It will be released on August 17 at a cost of 9,500 yen
($85).

A Casio spokesman told Newsbytes that the wrist watch controller
can be used with most audio visual devices such as television
sets and video players. It uses infrared technology just the same
as regular remote control devices.

The setting procedure for the controller simply involves
choosing the manufacturer's codes and the device codes. The
user has to push only eight keys to set the codes. The remote
controller can control multiple audio devices.

The controller supports a TV's power on/off, channel selection,
and volume control. Regarding VCR operation, it supports power
on/off, fast forward/rewind, play, stop, and channel selection.

The controller is the size of an ordinary wrist watch.
A Casio spokesman said it is handy and convenient because
users do not have to worry about losing TV or video remote
controllers.

Besides the remote control function, the wrist watch has various
features such as a stopwatch, an alarm clock and a calendar. The
removable battery lasts for about a year and half.

Casio expects this remote controller to be a big hit in Japan.
The firm is planning to ship 100,000 units per month.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19930705/Press Contact: Casio,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00016)

UK - Olivetti Intros Windows Quaderno Sub-Notebook 07/07/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Olivetti has unveiled a
Windows version of its Quaderno A5-sized sub-notebook PC.

The original version, which is now discounted down to UKP500,
only came with DOS blown into read-only memory. This version,
which sells for a fairly hefty UKP1,199, comes with Windows 3.1
plus MS-DOS 5.0, a customized version of Lotus Organizer, and
Microsoft Works for Windows.

Alan Rogers, Olivetti's portable product manager, said that the
machine manuals and diagnostic software are supplied pre-loaded on
to the Quaderno's hard disk. The trend to supplying software-based
manuals as well as printed version is growing among portable PC
manufacturers, Newsbytes notes.

"The new Quaderno 33 will be ideal for users who have delayed
buying a notebook PC because they need both a small footprint and
high functionality. Although it offers the power and features to
double as a desktop, the typical user will probably be someone who
really does need to use a portable on the move and intends to take
the Quaderno 33 quite literally everywhere," he said.

The Quaderno 33 is based around an AMD 386XLV microprocessor
running at 20 megahertz (MHz) and comes with 4 megabytes (MB) of
basic memory, expandable to 12MB internally. A 60MB hard drive is
fitted as standard, as is a Level II PCMCIA expansion slot.

Power management routines have been improved on the Quaderno 33
compared to its predecessor. The main criticism of the original
machine was its screen imaging - since the screen was non-backlit,
people complained they could not read it under poor lighting
conditions. That has been solved with the "33" by bumping up screen
resolution to VGA and adding a backlight.

"The original Quaderno was a personal organizer/sub-notebook. The
Model 33 is more a sub-notebook/desktop PC, since it has VGA
graphics and sockets for a keyboard plus monitor," explained a
spokeswoman for Olivetti. "It's actually a different machine," she
added.

Like the original Quaderno, the model 33 has a curious digital sound
recording system that allows spoken word messages to be recorded
through the internal mike and stored on disk. This feature enables
the machine to double up as a dictaphone if required.

Shipment of the Quaderno 33 is next month in the UK. US and
international shipment details have yet to be announced.

(Steve Gold/19930707/Press & Public Contact: Olivetti,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00017)

Crosscomm And Tricom Team Up To Create Crosscomm UK 07/07/93
HIGH WYCOMBE, BUCKS, ENGLAND, 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Crosscomm
in the US has teamed up with Tricom Communications in the UK to
form a new company - Crosscomm UK - with the express intention
of servicing the IBM internetworking market on the UK side of the
Atlantic.

To date, Tricom has been handling Crosscomm's products in the
UK under its own name, as part of an exclusive distribution
arrangement. Both companies claim that the sales success of the
Tricom Universal Router has meant that the Crosscomm name
should now be brought to the fore.

The new company will be 51 percent owned by Crosscomm in the US,
with the remaining 49 percent owned by Tricom. Plans call for the
companies' range of IBM internetworking product range to be fleshed
out.

At the Networks '93 show in Birmingham recently, Crosscomm UK
announced a new backbone router known as the ILAN XL80, which it
claims is the only router to provide non-stop networking for
mission-critical networks. Newsbytes notes that it competes
head-to-head with the Cisco 7000 router announced earlier this year.

Tad Witkowicz, Crosscomm US' president and CEO, said that the UK
is one of the biggest markets for the company. "The conversion from
mainframe to client/server computing is growing fast in the IBM/SNA
(Systems Network Architecture) environment, which presents us with
some major opportunities," he said.

"To capitalize on this, we wanted to build on the very successful
relationship with Tricom and increase our presence in the UK.
Through Crosscomm UK, we will have infrastructure to support
some major IBM/SNA accounts," he added.

Mike Hafferty, Tricom's chief executive, reckons that Crosscomm
products bought through the new UK operation could account for
up to one third of his company's revenues.

"The UK market is open to us, because SNA users increasingly want
internetworking solutions that integrate easily into their existing
network environments. The formation of Crosscomm UK is a measure
of our commitment to this market and our determination to win the
confidence of some of the major IBM network users in the UK," he
said.

So far, it's very early days for Crosscomm UK, Newsbytes notes. It
will take until September at the earliest for the new company to
make an impact on the market, since the summer months are
traditionally quiet in the UK technology marketplace.

(Steve Gold/19930707/Press & Public Contact: Tricom Group,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00018)

UK - British Telecom Beefs Up Its ISDN-2 Services 07/07/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Ever aware that Mercury is
moving closer on the low end of the integrated services digital
network (ISDN) market, British Telecom (BT) has announced a
number of enhancements to its ISDN-2 service.

ISDN-2, which is available across 70 percent of the UK, offers two
64,000 bits-per-second (bps) and one 16,000 bps data channel to ISDN
standards. The service does not support the Basic Rate Access (BRA)
features of ISDN, which has caused some users to criticize ISDN-2 as
being only a compromise solution. BRA, which allows advanced
features to be added to the ISDN service.

The ISDN-2 enhancements announced go some way towards
meeting these criticisms. The main enhancement is the addition of
direct dial inwards (DDI) to the ISDN-2 services. DDI allows data on
the required extension or allocated voice number to be passed from
the exchange to the private automatic branch exchange (PABX) linked
to the ISDN-2 port at the subscriber's end of the link.

How does DDI work? Suppose your phone number is Deeborough 456780.
Using DDI, your PABX can have its extensions assigned virtual public
switched telephone network (PSTN) numbers of 456781, 456782 and
so on. As calls are received for these virtual numbers, they are routed
by the BT exchange to 456780 and information on the required number
(e.g. 456782) passed across the ISDN-2 link. The PABX interprets
this information and routes the call to the required extension.

DDI for ISDN-2 will cost the same as the service for ISDN-30.
Charges are UKP2-30 per ISDN-2 DDI number, plus UKP4-40 per DDI
number per year.

As well as offering DDI, BT is now offering its Totalcare 24 hour-a-
day repair service as an optional extra. Totalcare will cost UKP8-25
per ISDN-2 line - the same price as a standard BT exchange line.
Totalcare offers a four hour response to any problems with the
exchange line.

(Steve Gold/19930707/Press Contact: Penn Communications -
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00019)

UK - Mercury Launches Digital In-Flight Phone Services 07/07/93
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Mercury Communications, a
division of Cable & Wireless, has taken the wraps off an innovative
air-to-ground digital phone service. The "Inflight Phone" service
will be formally enter service this December.

The service will be run by a new company, Mercury Inflight Phone
Europe (IFPE), which is 49 percent owned by Mercury, 30 percent
owned by Inflight Phone International (a division of Goeken in the
US) and 21 percent owned by Irelandia, a private investment
company.

At a special press conference held in London, Mercury officials said
the system will operate via a series of earth stations beaming
digital signals to aircraft throughout Europe. Rather than use
satellites or VHF radio, as is the norm in the US, the IFPE service
will use digital cellular-like signals to ensure total coverage.

The IFPE service uses a similar concept to cellular, with base
stations handing calls over to other base stations as the plane
travels through Europe. Up to 60 base stations will ensure that
total coverage is available throughout Europe and nearby areas.

The system will be compatible with digital systems already in use
in the US and some parts of Europe. Base stations are expected to be
installed around Europe at diverse locations. Sandra Goeken Martis,
head of IFPI, said that the base stations are quite compact and do
not require major installations.

Services available in flight will include digital phones, fax
machines and ISDN (integrated services digital network)-like
services such as interactive games, news services and even the
ubiquitous phone shopping facilities seen on some intra-US flights.

Now the bad news. Expect to pay $3 a minute for "local" country
calls, and more for international calls. Incoming calls will not be
available, so say goodbye to a quick call to your partner in the
office and then getting him/her to call you back at the firm's
expense.

IFPE claims that the relatively high charges are due to the high
cost of the network. IFPI's network in the US has cost $60 million
so far, with 67 base stations installed. Similar costs are expected
in Europe, with each base station costing around $150,000.

No commercial airlines in Europe have signed up to the service,
Newsbytes notes. The European service sounds as though it has been
enhanced over the IFPI US service - IFPE seems to have "gone to
town" on the planned plane equipment for the service.

Plans call for onboard equipment to include a switched broadband
local area network (LAN) on the plane, with under-seat computers,
telephone handsets and LCD (liquid crystal display) "seat back"
screens. Users are to be offered a choice of five languages, including
English, French and German. Up to sixteen calls per plane can be made.

(Steve Gold/19930707/Press Contact: Mercury Communications -
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00020)

AGT Forms Alliances With Equipment Vendors 07/07/93
EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA, 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- AGT, the
telephone company serving the province of Alberta, is changing
its approach to selling telecommunications equipment. Turning
away from reselling telecom hardware, AGT has instead announced
alliances with a list of major equipment vendors, to whom it will
refer customers.

"We're going to focus more on our network," said Ron Liepert, a
company spokesman. In the past, AGT would have sold equipment to
its customers itself. Now it will suggest they deal directly with
one of its partners.

AGT's initial list of alliances includes: Mitel, Northern Telecom,
Motorola Information Systems, Newbridge Networks, Gandalf
Canada, General Data Communication, Annixter Canada,
Ungermann-Bass, Banyan Systems, and Cisco Systems Canada.

The list could grow in the future, Leipert said. "I think we'd
always be looking at that."

Company officials said AGT will continue to uphold agreements
between national customers and Stentor, the consortium of
regional phone companies of which it is a member. AGT will also
continue to provide maintenance services to customers.

(Grant Buckler/19930707/Press Contact: Ron Liepert, AGT,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00021)

Telesat Mobile Emerges From Bankruptcy As BCE Unit 07/07/93
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Telesat Mobile,
the mobile-communications firm that slipped into bankruptcy in
April after financing came apart, has a new lease on life as a
subsidiary of Montreal-based BCE, Canada's largest company
and the parent of Northern Telecom and Bell Canada.

Through a subsidiary, BCE now holds all the common shares of the
reorganized TMI Communications and Company Limited Partnership.
Former investors in Telesat Mobile, including Telesat Canada and
international investors led by Japan's Itochu, got preferred shares
in a company that holds an interest in TMI. BCE will have full
control of TMI, company spokeswoman Janis Downey said.

Officials said BCE plans to invest C$120 million in TMI
Communications over the next few years, aiming to complete a
mobile satellite communications network serving North America
by 1995.

According to information released by Telesat Mobile in early
June, the company's revival also depends on aid from the federal
Department of Communications, partly in the form of prepayment
for future services.

Telesat Mobile's service depends on mobile satellite (MSAT)
technology, and is used largely for communication among trucks
and other moving vehicles. The company currently uses rented
satellite capacity, but has admitted there have been transmission
quality problems and it needs the new technology to be used in
its own satellite.

Originally set for launch next summer, the satellite is now
expected to go up in the fourth quarter of 1994, Downey said.

(Grant Buckler/19930707/Press Contact: Janis Downey, Telesat
Mobile, 613-742-4106, fax [phone]; Public Contact: Telesat
Mobile, 613-742-0000)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00022)

Hong Kong Training Council Picks Mentor's Design Prgm 07/07/93
WAN CHAI, HONG KONG, 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Hong Kong's Vocational
Training Council is to upgrade its electronic design courses by
adding advanced software tools from Mentor Graphics.

The Boardstation 500 and Idea Station software, valued at HK$4.5
million, ($600,000) will run on a Sun SPARCserver and nine Sun
SPARC-10 workstations. It will be used by electronics engineering
students as part of their courses on the design of printed circuit
boards (PCBs) and application specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

"Mentor Graphics' Boardstation 500 suite is a total design solution
that not only provides integration with ASICs but most importantly
handles high speed and complex designs in a very cost-effective way,"
said Tsui Ping-Fong, manager of the VTC's ASIC Training Centre. "After
thorough evaluation of various PCB design products, we decided that
Mentor Graphics offered a truly integrated suite of software tools
for concurrent design, which is one of the major trends in electronic
design automation for the 1990s."

The Vocational Training Council provides practical training to
people working in industry. It plays a major role in furthering
the education of Hong Kong's workforce, particularly in areas
considered critical to the local economy such as electronics design.

William Cheung, managing director of Mentor Design Automation
(MDA), sole distributor for Mentor Graphics in Hong Kong, said: "The
VTC will be using the new release 8.2 suite of design tools, which
have been received enthusiastically by users in Hong Kong and
worldwide."

The ASIC portion of the new software will be donated by Mentor
Graphics, which believes that it stands to gain future sales from the
use of its products by VTC students. "The VTC upgrades the skills of
numerous design engineers every year," noted Cheung. "Having such an
important institution as our customer is a highly effective way to
draw the attention of potential users to our software. It gives them a
benchmark by which they can judge the relative merits of the
different design automation tools available."

(Brett Cameron/19930630/Press Contact: William Cheung,
[phone], MDA)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEL)(00023)

CA's Accpac Gets Indian Distributor 07/07/93
BANGALORE, INDIA, 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Bangalore-based Infosys
Technologies will market, in India, CA-Accpac, an accounting package
from Computer Associates (CA).

Available on DOS and LANs (local area networks), CA-Accpac
commands 60 percent market share in its segment in the United
States. The decision to market CA-Accpac in India is consequent to
Computers Associates' appointing Infosys as the authorized
distributor of its Micro products division.

At present, CA-Accpac and Accpac Plus (an enhanced version with
modules such as "inventory") do not have provisions to handle
accounting in rupees. However, a multi-currency version slated for
launch in August will include the rupee. "There will be some amount
of customization in Accpac to suit Indian accounting practices,"
said C. Vijay Kumar, marketing manager for Infosys.

Accpac is being targeted at medium and small businesses. At
Rs 13,345 (around $445) for a basic module without inventory,
Accpac will be competing with Tata Consultancy Services' EX
(an accounting package from the largest software developer in
India) and Bangalore-based Peutronics' Tally.

Infosys is planning to emulate CA's concept of `Qualified Installer,'
where a dealer sells the licence and an accounting professional
who is an expert on the package sells support and services.

The distributorship also authorizes Infosys to sell CA-Clipper 5.2,
CA-Superproject, and CA-SuperCalc.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19930707)


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

FCC Offers Suggestions On Saving Money 07/07/93
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- With millions of
Americans going on summer vacations, The Federal Communications
Commission has offered a few suggestions to save money.

Before you leave, spokesman Steve Svab told Newsbytes, call your
regular long distance carrier for dialing instructions. These
might mean using a code like AT&T's 10288, a toll-free number,
or a local number starting with the 950 exchange. Pay phone
operators must let you access your chosen long distance company
with the 10XXX code, and using it can save you money. If you're
staying at a hotel that doesn't let you use this method, you can
use the toll-free or 950 numbers, which even these phone owners
must allow access to.

The commission is also repeating warnings from many local and
long distance companies about the use of your phone card, Svab
noted. Look for pay phones you can slip the card into, especially
in crowded areas like airports, instead of trying to type the
number into a regular pay phone. Some crooks like to look over
callers' shoulders, sometimes using binoculars, in order to catch
the calling card number, and personal identification number used
to access the account. The crooks then take these numbers to
other pay phones and sell "free" service to passers-by which you
might be responsible for.

Also on the topic of calling cards, the FCC wants you to be sure
and report the loss of a calling card immediately to the
telephone company that issued it, and never use the calling card
as identification. Finally, disable your answering machine or
leave a message on it stating you won't accept charges on third-
party calls before you leave.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930707/Press Contact: FCC Press,
202-632-5050)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(ATL)(00025)

FCC Gets Money To Enforce Cable Act 07/07/93
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- The Federal
Communications Commission has gotten the $21 million interim
Chairman James Quello said was needed to enforce the 1992 Cable
Act through September. The money came in a supplemental
appropriation President Clinton signed on July 2.

In approving the funds, Congressmen insisted that rate reductions
start September 1, as called for in the law. But that's unlikely.
Quello has said that he'll need time to hire about 240 new
staffers before ordering any rate cuts - until then a rate
freeze remains in effect.

Under the 1992 act, local governments have the power to set
rates for the nation's 10,000 cable operations. The local
decisions can be appealed by operators to the full commission.
Regulations on rates cannot go into effect until an analysis of
costs, based partly on FCC rules issued last month, is performed
by the local government, with input from each local cable
operator, and an appeal, if sought, is heard by the FCC. It's
estimated that this will take six months from the date when local
governments file papers with the FCC stating they have a monopoly
cable operator in their community.

Congress would like faster action, but Congress wrote the law
mandating the longer procedure, FCC spokesmen indicate. Rep.
Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat who helped write the
law, has claimed that the three-month delay in enforcing the act
created by the FCC revenue shortfall will cost consumers $250
million in over-payments to cable operators, based on estimates
of previous over-charges.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930707/Press Contact: FCC Press,
202-632-5050)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(ATL)(00026)

 ****Southern Bell Faces Anti-Trust Lawsuit 07/07/93
MIAMI, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Peoples Telephone
Co., a fast-growing operator of pay phones in the Southeast and
elsewhere, filed an antitrust action in the US District Court in
Miami against BellSouth's Southern Bell unit.

The charges include monopolization, an attempt to monopolize and
misrepresentations in connection with Southern Bell's operation
of its pay telephone business in the State of Florida. The
Complaint seeks unspecified damages and other relief.

People's is currently the largest US operators of pay phones,
handling 28,000 phones, some of them public pay phones, other
prison phones, and some cellular units, in 38 states. The company
said its gross revenues grew 54 percent for the quarter ended in
March, while net income grew 79 percent, and earnings before
interest taxes and depreciation grew 48 percent.

A source close to the case discussed it with Newsbytes. Southern
Bell "leveraged the monopoly to foreclose competition," according
to the complaint. "It has done that by engaging in a variety of
conduct, including denial of access to essential facilities,
misrepresentations to independent pay telephone providers,
subsidizing its pay telephone business with revenues from its
telephone company business, and other things."

For instance, Newsbytes was told, Southern Bell is not providing
People's, or other competitors, with the kinds of features and
functions it provides itself for use in pay phones, like answer
supervision. The company is also accused in the complaint of
misrepresenting the traffic and number of pay phones that may
be available for bid, and with subsidizing its own pay telephone
business with profits from regulated phone services.

An answer to the People's complaint is now being awaited by the
court. Papers were served on Southern Bell in the case on July
1, and it has 20 days to reply.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19930707/Press Contact: Peoples Telephone
Co., Robert D. Rubin, 305-593-9667)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00027)

 ****Wang Files Plan, Hopes To Leave Chapter 11 By Fall 07/07/93
LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- Wang
Laboratories, approaching the first anniversary of its filing for
protection under Chapter 11 of United States bankruptcy law,
hopes to be on its feet again by fall.

Wang has filed an amended plan of reorganization and disclosure
statement in US Bankruptcy Court in Boston. If creditors and
stockholders approve the plan, Wang officials said, the company
could be out of Chapter 11 in September.

Company officials also said they now expect revenues of about
$1.24 billion and a net loss of about $199 million in the 1993
fiscal year, which ended June 30. The revenue figure is down from
an earlier projection that said the company would make between
$1.25 billion and $1.3 billion in the year.

Based on its plan to emerge from Chapter 11 protection in
September, Wang is forecasting revenues of about $955 million in
the 12-month period from October 1, with operating profit of
about $76 million before a non-cash amortization expense of about
$23 million required by the accounting rules set down for firms
emerging from Chapter 11.

The company had earlier forecast revenues of about $1 billion in
fiscal 1994. Officials said they have refined their projections
"using a conservative approach."

As the company said earlier, it plans to focus on two areas where
it has some strength: integrated imaging and related software;
and value-added network and integration services, with the
emphasis on office systems.

Under the reorganization plan, some creditors with priority
claims are to be paid in full, while the others will get stakes
in the company. Holders of Class B and C common stock will get
warrants covering some 20 percent of the reorganized firm's
stock, exercisable at a price meant to let them recover 95
percent of their claims before the exercise price of the warrant
equals the trading price of the common stock.

The company also plans an employee stock ownership program that
would let employees hold up to 12.5 percent of its stock. This is
aimed at keeping valuable employees from leaving the company,
officials said.

Wang said it plans no further cuts in its work force beyond those
announced March 16. At that time the firm said it would bring its
payroll, which then stood at about 9,300, down to about 6,000
people worldwide. Wang peaked at more than 20,000 employees
during the 1980s.

Wang also named a new board of directors, chosen by the
creditors' committee. The directors include: David A. Boucher,
managing general partner at venture capital firm Applied
Technology and president and chief executive of Ticker Research
Inc., a medical technology company; Peter A. Brooke, chairman and
chief executive of Advent International Corp., a venture
management firm; Stephen G. Jerritts, former director-general of
France's Bull Group and a former president of both Honeywell
Information Systems and Storage Technology Corp.; Raymond C.
Kurzweil, founder, chairman and co-chief executive of Kurzweil
Applied Intelligence, Inc.; Paul E. Tsongas, a partner in the
Boston law firm of Foley, Hoag & Eliot; Joseph M. Tucci, who was
named president and chief executive of Wang in January; Karl G.
Wassmann, III, senior vice-president and chief financial officer
of Kendall Square Research Corp.; Dr. John P. White, director of
the Center for Business and Government at Harvard University's
John F. Kennedy School of Business; and a director to be
designated by the family of company founder Dr. An Wang.

(Grant Buckler/19930707/Press Contact: Frank Ryan, Wang,
508-967-7038; Ed Pignone, Wang, 508-967-4912)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00028)

 ****Electric Sports Cars/Vans In Los Angeles 07/07/93
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- GM's
subsidiary, Hughes Electric, forced to look for a new market
for specially developed electric car drive trains, recently
signed a deal with electric car producer Solar Electric
Engineering (SEE). What this means is that, not only will SEE
be the first to produce electric cars in California, but consumers
will be able to get almost any style of electric car, from a sports
car to a delivery van.

General Motors was going to begin mass production of simple,
two-passenger electric cars this year, but the massive losses
the company experienced pushed back its production schedule.
Meanwhile, GM Hughes Electric had big money invested in the
development of a special front-wheel drive train for full-sized
and utility vehicles that puts an electrically-driven motor on
each front wheel.

In the deal with SEE (who is changing its name to Electricar), GM
Hughes provides for its drive system components to be used to
modify automobiles to be electrically powered. David Brandmeyer,
chief operations officer and general manager of Electricar said,
"These advanced AV systems will provide the range, acceleration,
and reliability that major fleet users require from electric
vehicles (EVs)."

SEE offers conversions of several automobiles, including the
Geo Metro Prism, the Ford Escort, the Chevy S-10 Pickup, the
Toyota Pisao, a Lamborguine-like car called the Targa, and even
a van. The vehicles cost between $16,000 and $80,000, get about
a 40 to 60 mile radius on a single overnight charge, and can be
driven anywhere - including on the freeway.

There are a number of advantages, including: motors only have one
moving part as opposed to hundreds of moving parts in a gasoline
powered engine; expenses are less as there is no need for gas, oil,
tune-ups, or emissions tests; and the car is quieter than gasoline
cars.

The biggest drawback is that $1,000 worth of new batteries
have to be purchased once every 350 to 500 full charges, which
translates into about once every two years. Options such as air
conditioning are also available, SEE representatives said.

SEE says its first hope is in placing electric cars with fleet
buyers, such as municipalities and large companies. The state
of California has already said it will begin requiring the
purchase of electric vehicles by 1996 and in 1998, two percent
of all vehicles sold in California will be required to be zero
emission (electric). The State of California is offering a $1,000
tax credit to electric car purchasers and there's talk of a ten
percent tax credit being considered by the Federal government.

In addition, SEE is opening a 15,000 square-foot production
facility in the riot-torn areas of LA with the help of the City
of Los Angeles, Rebuild LA, and Southern California Edison. The
new plant operates as Electricar Los Angeles, and will begin
electric vehicle production this summer. The company has also
developed the first EV system integration training program in
conjunction with LA trade schools and community college
programs.

In addition, since EVs will probably be charged at night, the
technology provides for a way to use electricity generated at
night which cannot be stored. SEE representatives said a recent
study showed the LA Department of Water and Power could
generate enough electricity to charge 1.2 million electric cars
at night without adding any additional capacity.

It takes several months to get an electric car, but there is
financing available with ten percent down. Several insurance
companies have also said they will cover electric cars
including State Farm insurance, according to SEE.

President and chief executive officer of SEE Ted Morgan said: "This
advanced technology, combined with the recent legislation
encouraging the acquisition of electric vehicles through tax
incentives, has created a strong demand for electric vehicles in
the coming months that will last for years to come."

(Linda Rohrbough/19930707/Press Contact: Alex Campbell, Solar
Electric Engineering, tel [phone], fax [phone];
James Driver, Electricar LA, 310-352-1353)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(DEN)(00029)

Insurance Industry Embraces High Speed Printing 07/07/93
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- According to
Xplor International, the paperwork-intensive insurance industry
is embracing high speed electronic printing as a continuing
productivity priority. The findings are the result of a technology
study conducted by the document systems industry professional
association.

Xplor International says it surveyed 57 member insurance companies
representing most of the high volume users and vendors of electronic
printing and publishing equipment. Thirty-one of the surveyed
companies are considered large, while 16 are mid-sized and the
remainder smaller. Group and individual life insurers accounted for
33 of the respondents, while 24 of the companies responding are
property and casualty carriers.

According to Dr. Keith Davidson, Xplor executive director, "Printed
documents are an insurance company's product as far as the customer
is concerned." Davidson also says the industry's documents are
heavily regulated for appearance and content by a variety of
government agencies. He said that while 81 percent of the respondents
reported having a centralized document composition department, only
26 percent have integrated network and mainframe publishing.
Sixty-three percent have a company printing strategy, and 28
percent say they have already developed a publishing strategy.

Xplor International spokesperson Jim Porter explained for Newsbytes
that printing strategy includes the managing of the technology
side, including both software and hardware, while publishing strategy
includes printing and the composition, appearance and other less
mechanical aspects of document publication.

Dr. Davidson says the results indicate the companies are now
attempting to manage technology and production rather than just
information flow. "Bringing printing strategy under publishing
strategy should enhance communications to improve productivity."

Seventeen of the respondents say they are using an imaging system
and two have already integrated their imaging and publishing
systems. "Like the lion's share of business today that is adopting
imaging technology, the insurance industry is proceeding on a
departmental or application-specific basis," says Davidson.

Some insurance companies have already taken the next step in
document handling and storage, installing systems that handle the
document from start to finish in an electronic manner. Document
imaging companies such as Optika, which recently relocated its
headquarters from Simi Valley, California to Colorado Springs,
Colorado, install systems that receive an incoming claim document
electronically, circulate it among action offices, add signatures
and approvals electronically, and store it on computer disk after
electronically faxing a copy back to the originating agent or other
interested parties.

Optika President and CEO Harvey Jeane told Newsbytes he doubts
that American business will ever see the long sought-after
"paperless office." He says studies show that the majority of
document storage will still be on paper at the end of this century.
That, according to Jeane, is because, while documents can be
created and stored electronically at the source, the recipients will
still store hard copies.

Xplor will host its 14th annual electronic document systems
conference at the Colorado convention Center November 14 through
November 19 this year.

(Jim Mallory/19930707/Press contact: Jim Porter, Xplor
International, 310-373- 3633; Reader contact: Xplor International,
310-373-3633, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00030)

 ****AMD Announces 486 Chips With Own Microcode 07/07/93
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1993 JUL 7 (NB) -- AMD has announced three
new 486 microprocessors, compatible with the Intel microprocessor
line, but with microcode that AMD claims was developed internally.

However, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) representatives said the
company expects to face legal battles from microprocessor giant
Intel at every turn, but it will continue to produce microprocessor
chips, compatible with the Intel microprocessor line, which has a
strong hold as the "brain" of IBM and compatible personal
computers (PCs).

AMD announced the industry's first 40 megahertz (MHz) 486SX
product and a 33 MHz Am486SXLV device capable of 3.3-volt
operation, both of which will begin shipping this quarter. The
486SX product is pin-for-pin compatible with the Intel 486SX
microprocessor, but the Am486SXLV, targeted at low voltage
applications such as laptop and notebook computers, will not
fit into sockets developed for Intel processors.

However, AMD says the chips offer more bang for the buck with
either an increase in performance or low power consumption
without a price premium. In addition, AMD claims both
microprocessors are completely compatible with the $80 billion
worth of software applications used in personal computers (PCs).

In its announcement of the new 486 products, AMD officials said
they still feel the company has a right to use Intel's microcode
(instructions built into the microprocessor chip) per a 1976
licensing agreement with Intel. The 1976 agreement has
been an issue of bitter dispute between the two companies. The
entire issue is over whether or not the term "microcomputer" in
the licensing agreement includes the microcode in the
microprocessing chips. The wording of the agreement allows
AMD use of "microcode contained in Intel microcomputers and
peripherals sold by Intel." AMD says the term microcomputer
includes the microcode, while Intel says microcomputer never
meant chips.

Intel has already filed suit against AMD concerning the 486
chips, even though the chips have not been released. AMD
officials said they understand the Intel claim is that the microcode
is not "clean" - meaning Intel is charging AMD did not start from
scratch. Suits from Intel are common, AMD's Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) W.J. Saunders said, but suing in advance
is unique.

AMD is hoping it can capture ten percent of the potential 486
market or about one million units per quarter in 1994. Company
officials were quite insistent that AMD's offer to provide to
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) a "steady" source of
supply, coupled with a lower price, will be enough to attract
business, despite Intel's claims. AMD is charging $185 each in
quantities of 1,000 for the newly announced 486 chips.

Intel has tried to enforce the Crawford Patent, a patent
competitors say is invalid, to exact a royalty from anyone
using chips other than Intel chips. According to AMD, no money
has been paid to Intel on the patent, although PC manufacturer
Dell did sign the forms Intel sent to OEMs. However, Dell
exclusively uses Intel components.

A new product announcement every quarter is what AMD officials
say they are planning. In addition, the company revealed it
plans to add reduced instruction-set computing (RISC)-like
features to its chips, but declined to offer any specifics on
planned future products.

AMD claims it is the fifth-largest US manufacturer of
integrated circuits with sales offices worldwide and
manufacturing facilities in Sunnyvale, California; Austin,
Texas; Bangkok, Thailand; Penang, Malaysia; Singapore; and
Basingstoke, England. The company reported its second quarter
earnings are up 17 percent on sales of $409,092,000 and 55
percent on net income of $64,353,000 compared to the same
period a year ago.

(Linda Rohrbough/19930707/Press Contact: John Greenagel,
Advanced Micro Devices, tel [phone], fax [phone])