Newsbytes - Internationa…ews 1983 May to 1994 June/Newsbytes - International Computing Industry News 1994 Edition - May 1983 - June 1994 - Wayzata Technologies (5045) (1994).iso/pc/text/mac_text/1989/nb890801

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(EXCLUSIVE)(APPLE)(SFO)(00001)

PORTABLE & 25 MHZ MAC DUE SEPT.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 25 (NB) -- Apple Computer
is preparing to introduce a portable and a 25 MHz Macintosh in September,
according to Newsbytes and trade sources. The date is expected to
be September 20-21 at the Universal Amphitheater in Universal
City, California where the II and SE were unveiled in 1987.

In its basic configuration, the Mac SE laptop comes with 1MB of
RAM and a single 1.44MB 3.5 inch floppy drive, pricing from
$3,500 upwards. The top of the range machine, with a 40MB hard
disk, internal 2400bps modem and 5MB of RAM, will set you back a
hefty $6,500. Apple is supplying user-installable 1MB and 3MB RAM
cards to upgrade its 1MB machine to 2, 4 or 5MB, as required.

Part of the reason for the heavy weight of the portable, previously
code-named Laguna is due to the use of an internal lead-acid
battery. The LCD screen, however, is more up to date, and is a 9.8-inch
active matrix unit capable of resolving a full Mac monochrome screen.

Other features of the portable are the same number of I/O ports as the
standard Mac S/E, with one expansion board slot and an SE-like
Processor Direct Slot (PDS). A low-power mouse is also supplied
with the machine.

Despite its power-hungry components, the Mac laptop has special
power-saving circuitry that slows down the machine's 68000
microprocessor to an effective 1MHz speed after 15 seconds. After
a pre-determined length of time, the laptop shuts down
completely. Sources close to Apple suggest that up to eight hours
usage can be made on a single charge of the laptop's lead-acid
cells.

Apple will keep a low profile at the Boston MacWorld Expo next
month in order to make a big splash for the portable in September.
While the machine will be introduced then, however, it will not be
available in large quantities until year's end.

A Macintosh IIci will also reportedly be introduced. A 25 MHz
speed demon compared to the 16 MHz IIcx, the IIci will also come with
an on-board VLSI (very large scale integrated) video controller chip
capable of providing one, two four or eight-bit video. The presence
of this chip on the motherboard eliminates the need for add-in
video cards and frees up the NuBus slots.

Apple Computer had no comment on the report.

(Wendy Woods & Steve Gold/19890728)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00002)

APPLE BUYS SEAGATE DRIVES AGAIN
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- Apple is
buying drives from Seagate Technologies after having discontinued
its supply from the Scotts Valley, California-based company earlier
this year, according to California Technology Stock Letter. The
weekly newsletter says Seagate produced one half million 3 1/2 inch
drives in the last quarter, with shipments to manufacturers 12
percent higher than the previous quarter. Seagate is producing the
drives both for IBM and Apple.

Sources tell the newsletter that Apple, like IBM, will integrate the
controller and drive shortly, and the scheme will be implemented by
Seagate.

Apple Computer had no comment on the report. "We can't talk about
components inside computers," said a spokeswoman.

(Wendy Woods/1989)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00003)

NEW SYSTEM SOFTWARE FOR IIGS
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 17 (NB) -- Apple Computer
has unveiled new system software for its IIGS line of computers.
System Software 5.0 is the first 16-bit operating system for the
machine which operates over the AppleTalk network system. Apple
claims the new software brings more speed and ease of use to its
IIGS system.

The main benefit is that IIGS machines can now talk with Macintosh
and MS-DOS computers hooked up to a Macintosh running AppleShare
networking software. An improved toolbox enables the system to
handle basic functions like sound, drawing, scrolling, drawing, fonts,
menus, dialogs, window manipulation, and memory management
about twice as fast as System Software Version 4.0. In addition,
there's an improved SCSI (small computer systems interface) which
provides faster communication with hard drives and CD-ROM drives.

The package is currently available for $49 from Apple dealers
in the U.S. and is free to new IIGS purchasers.

(Wendy Woods/19890729)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00004)

APPLE DONATES TO PEACE CORPS
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 JUL 21 (NB) -- The Peace Corps is elated
about its gift of $216,000 worth of Apple computers for 35 overseas
offices. The grant, which also involves software from Microsoft
and Claris Corporation, will help Peace Corps volunteers
manage information better and facilitate communications among
themselves and with the home office in Washington. "This couldn't
be a more exciting donation in the sense that it will directly support
every volunteer's effort in the field," says the organization's information
specialist, Susan Coates.

Computers, she says, will enable volunteers to share information and ease
the burden of their record-keeping chores.

The Peace Corps has been in need of this technology to perform its
research and to provide assistance in the fields of agriculture, education,
health and urban planning. For example, says Coates, "Agriculture
projects can use the entire range of the computer's capabilities. Field
sites will create databases to track the types of crops, evaluate
harvests, pests, growing conditions, marketing, and other detailed
farming information."

There are also plans to use the machines in teaching, electronic
mail.

(Wendy Woods/19890603/Press Contact: James Flanigan, Peace Corps,
202-254-5010)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00005)

APPLE MULTIMEDIA SCHOOL PROJECT
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 25 (NB) -- Apple Computer
has joined forces with the American Federation of Teachers to prove
that interactive multimedia technology will improve learning, and
can change the way people think.

The project, due to produce a prototype multimedia configuration
for the classroom by the new year, will take place in Apple's
Cupertino-based Multimedia Lab. Researchers will create a
system which is based on HyperCard to store, connect, and
navigate through information. A laser disc player will be connected
to access live-action video, animation, and sound.

The prototype will feature several categories of text, graphic,
sound, and video data so users will be able to put information on
school restructuring into sequence, relate ideas and form hypotheses.
Examples and characteristics of restructured schools will be included,
as well as information on available resources, tools, and pertinent
educational issues.

"We're applying a new technology to help people discover new ways
to think about teaching and learning," says AFT President Albert
Shanker. "It's hard for people to imagine that schools can and should
function far differently than they have for over 100 years."

(Wendy Woods/19890729/Press Contact: Mary Fallon, Apple, 408-
974-2941)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00006)

CD-ROM ON MAC CD-ROM DEV'T
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- Software developers
seeking to put their data on CD-ROM (compact disk read-only
memory) have had to dive into shelves of technical manuals, or
attend endless seminars. A new product is designed to put the
information in one, compact, and appropriate place: a Macintosh
CD-ROM.

The CD-ROM Developer's Lab Macintosh version, $795, provides
a database of production information, techniques, and specifications
on design, project management, programming, imaging, sound,
data preparation, assembly, premastering, and manufacturing. Also
included are demonstration media production tools and sample
multimedia applications.

The product, created by Software Mart Incorporated of Austin,
Texas, is being distributed by the Apple Programmers and
Developers Association, run by Apple Computer itself. Information
can be had by calling toll-free 800-282-2732 in the U.S. or
Software Mart at 512-346-7887.

(Wendy Woods/19890731)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00007)

APPLE/MICROSOFT/HP RESPOND TO RULING
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 25 (NB) -- Apple Computer will
fight on in its "look and feel" lawsuit against Microsoft and Hewlett-
Packard despite a federal judge's decision that most elements of
the two firms' visual displays, both in Microsoft Windows 2.03 and
in Hewlett-Packard's NewWave environment, do not infringe on Apple's
Macintosh visual display copyright.

Judge William Schwarzer of U.S. District Court in San Francisco ruled
that Apple's 1985 licensing agreement still allowed HP and Microsoft
to use pull-down windows and other visual elements of the Macintosh
display, but he also emphasized that other aspects -- including the
so-called "tiling" effect of overlapping windows -- was not covered
in the agreement and is still an area of dispute.

"With today's ruling on the contract issue behind us, we are eager
at last to move on to the essence of the case, which is the issue
of copyright infringement," said Edward B. Stead, vice president
and general counsel of Apple.

Microsoft issued this statement: "We are extremely pleased with the
judge's order. From a list of 189 items which Apple claims infringed
its copyrights, the judge has ruled that all but 10 are covered
by the agreement (with Apple in 1985)." Microsoft VP for Law William
Neukom also claims the court's narrowing of the lawsuit moves it
toward resolution.

HP adds, "We are confident (the remaining issues) will be resolved
quickly in our favor."

(Wendy Woods/19890729)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(TYO)(00008)

JAPANESE IICX DEBUT
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 22 (NB) -- Apple Computer Japan has remarkably
changed with its new president, Shigechika Takeuchi, because it has
unveiled  the Japanese version of the Macintosh IIcx only four months
after the release in the U.S.  Apple has previously been criticized in
Japan for high prices, and slow progress with upgrades, compared
to the U.S.

The powerful, compact machine sports a 68030 microprocessing unit
(MPU) and 68882 coprocessor. The price of the machine in Japan has
ranged from 758,000 yen or $5,230 with a two-megabyte main memory
and one floppy disk drive unit to 1,198,000 yen or $8,260 with four-
megabyte main memory and 80MB hard disk drive. The Japanese
version of IIcx will be shipped August 4th.

At the same time, Apple will sell the English-language version
of the Macintosh SE/30 in Japan at the end of August and promises
to release a Japanese version within this year.

The offer to Japanese Apple users has been sweetened by a Japanese
version of HyperCard. The Japanese HyperCard, version 1.2, costs
9,800 yen or $68.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890727/Press Contact: Apple computer Japan, 03-224-7000)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00001)

PRIME DELAYS MEETING AT 11TH HOUR
TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- Prime Computer
cancelled its long-delayed annual meeting just 90 minutes before
it was set to begin on July 26. The new date set for the meeting
is August 9.

Earlier in the week, MAI Basic Four had said it was dropping its
8-month-old bid to buy Prime Computer in favor of just buying
Prime's $600 million minicomputer business. At that time, MAI
stated that if its nominees to Prime's board of directors were
elected, they would back a revised offer for Prime's minicomputer
business. It was thought that MAI's maneuvers were probably
academic in light of the minimal number of shareholder still
backing its tender offer who would vote for the MAI candidates at
the Prime meeting, then scheduled for July 26.

On July 26, MAI extended its offer to midnight July 27 and then
let the offer expire saying its financing sources had refused to
extend commitments beyond July 31.

The latest Prime annual meeting delay puts a new light on the
situation and while MAI may be out of the picture, the battle is
not over. Prime officials commented that the postponement was
set to give shareholders more time to evaluate competitive offers
for the company. At the same time, two banks backing the bid by
venture capital company J.H. Whitney, Prime's "white knight,"
announced they want Whitney to obtain more financing before they
endorse the $1.25 billion deal.

Conarb Partners, a company that holds Prime securities that can
be converted into stock has filed a complaint in New York federal
court asking that the expiration date on Whitney's offer be
extended until at least five days after clarification of financing
details becomes available (The Whitney offer was set to expire at
midnight July 28.)

United Trust Fund contends that the buy-out of Prime would
violate guarantees in a lease agreement.

Prime's board and investment bankers have ignored MAI's offer to
buy Prime's minicomputer business claiming the Whitney offer is
better.

Now that the MAI offer has been dropped, Prime plans to change
it's "poison pill" defense to take affect when another party buys
10 percent of Prime's stock rather than waiting until the
previous 20 percent level to kick in. Prime also refused an
offer by MAI to extend its tender offer if Prime paid MAI $25
million to cover transaction costs but Prime refused since it
expects the Whitney deal to work out.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00002)

BIG KAYPRO PLANS DESPITE FINANCES
SOLANA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 21 (NB) -- Kaypro
has reported earnings of $239, 552 on sales of $3,772,923 for the
third quarter ending May 31.

These figures compare with a net loss of $1, 576,714 on sales of
$16,925,970 for the same period a year ago. Company board
chairman, Andrew Kay has noted that the company balance sheet is
favorable with $15.4 million in current assets against $8.3
million in current liabilities. The decline in net sales from
this year's second quarter can be attributed to Kaypro's receipt
of a large number of defective peripheral controller chips, a
problem which has since been resolved.

To stimulate fourth quarter sales, Kaypro will be promoting a new
line of inexpensive microcomputers through an aggressive
marketing and advertising program. The company is also
introducing its first software, the Vocabulary Improvement
Program (VIP), an interactive, multisensory program designed to
improve individual vocabulary and increase verbal IQ by at least
20 points.

Kaypro is also in the process of negotiating a leveraged buy-out
of KayproEurope and is restructuring Kaypro Australia to provide
further resources for the organization.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728/Press Contact: Nancy Casey, WestCom
Group, 619-259-1288)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00003)

COMPAQ NETS $484 MILLION 2ND QTR
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- Compaq has reported
net income for the quarter ended June 30 of $84 million. This
represents a 43 percent increase over net income of $59 million
(including a $6 million non-recurring tax effect gain) for the
same period a year ago.

Earnings per share on a fully diluted basis rose to $1.95 from
$1.45 in 2nd quarter 1988.

Sales for the second quarter 1989 were $722 million, a 58 percent
increase over second quarter 1988 sales of $457 million.

Compaq has been registering gains across the board in 1989. Net
income for the first six months reached $167 million (3.89 per
share fully diluted) compared with $105 million ($2.66 per share)
for the first half of 1988. Sales rose to $1.4 billion in the
first six months of 1989. In the first half of 1988, sales
totaled $896 million.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728/Press Contact: Bob Beach, Compaq, 713-
374-1560)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00004)

TI MAKES HITACHI CHIPS
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- Hitachi has announced an agreement
to "second source" or license its 256 kilobit static random access
memory (RAM) chips to Texas Instruments (TI). The Texas
company will then sell the chips back to Hitachi in Japan.

The deal is just the latest strengthening the business bonds
between the firms on both sides of the Pacific. Both Hitachi
and TI are collaborating on the development of a 16-megabit dynamic
RAM, and also signed a second source agreement for 64 kilobit static
RAM last March.

TI is well-known as a strong competitor among Japanese dynamic RAM
makers but the story is different in the static RAM business.
So, the industry predicts the agreement will make TI a strong player in
the static RAM business, on which this agreement is based. Static
RAM is in increasing demand by workstation and supercomputer makers.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890727)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(WAS)(00005)

CA REVENUE UP 31%
GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- Computer
Associates International has announced that first quarter
revenues totaled $244 million, up from $185.7 million for the
same quarter last year, a 31-percent increase. Pre-tax income
went from $27.3 million to $43.8 million for the same period.

Despite the large increase, Anthony W. Wang said that the growth
was less than expected.

(John McCormick/19890728/Press Contact: Deborah Coughlin,
516-227-3300)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(WAS)(00006)

FINSOFT ACQUIRED
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 21 (NB) -- American
Banker-Bond Buyer today announced its acquisition of Finsoft,
Inc. a Houston, Texas-based company founded in 1987 by Slavek
Rotkiewicz to provide accounting, trading and analytical software
for the mortgage-backed securities industry.

Almont Analytical, another analytic software producer was
acquired earlier this year by American Banker-Bond Buyer, which,
in turn, is a subsidiary of International Publishing Corp, a unit
of the Toronto, Canada-based Thompson Corp.

American Banker-Bond publishes two daily newspapers, the American
Banker and the Bond Buyer, the Southern Banker and the Journal of
Retail Banking, several weekly financial newspapers and
newsletter, of Munifacts, a real-time electronic information
service for municipal bond traders.

(John McCormick/19890728/Press Contact: George Landgrebe,
212-943-9888)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(ATL)(00007)

NBI REPORTS ANOTHER LOSS
BOULDER, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 25 (NB) -- NBI reported a net
loss for the year ended June 30, 1989 of $27.8 million, $3.33 per
common share. Total revenues were $100.2 million. This compares
to a loss of $16.3 million, $1.95 per share, on revenues of
$137.7 million for fiscal 1988.

NBI, once a leading maker of dedicated word processors, has since
undergone a painful restructuring. In the last year President
Stephen G. Jerritts cut expenses 29 percent without generating profits.
The company now sells networked computer systems.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890728/Press Contact: Harry Pforzheimer,
NBI, 303-938-2619)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(ATL)(00008)

CONTROL DATA LOSES MONEY
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 25 (NB) -- Control Data
reported a second-quarter 1989 net loss of $497.3 million,
$11.79 per share, on revenues of $804.3 million. Some of the
losses resulted from closing ETA Systems, its supercomputer
company. Over the last year Control Data has sold off its Plato
education division, its job-training and incubator businesses,
and its hard-disk subsidiary, Imprimis Technologies.

A year ago in the same quarter, Control Data reported net
earnings of $9.2 million, or 22 cents per share, on revenues of
$951.7 million.

Robert M. Price, chairman and chief executive officer, said he
hopes the company can make a profit in the second half of the
year with a smaller workforce, and a turnaround in its
government services and Cyber mainframe businesses.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890728/Press Contact: Nancy Foltz, Control
Data Corporation, 612-853-5229)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(ATL)(00009)

H-P SIGNS OEM DEAL WITH INTERPHASE
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- Hewlett-Packard
extended an OEM agreement with Interphase originally signed by
its Apollo Computers division. HP will keep buying Interphase's
disk controllers for Apollo workstations.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890728/Press Contact: Bob Greenfield,
Interphase, 214-350-1437)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(ATL)(00010)

C'LAND PROMOTES NETWORKS
PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- ComputerLand
announced The Network Edge, a joint effort with Compaq and Novell
to provide local area network solutions, dealer training, sales
promotions and national advertising. The Network Edge includes a
range of fully tested systems, and lets dealers order a single
part number for Compaq personal computers, which come with the
right memory and storage, along with the Novell NetWare operating
system software.

Western Digital of Irvine, California, has been selected as the
Token Ring and Ethernet supplier for Computerland's Network Edge
program.

To be included in the program are Western Digital's EtherCard
PLUS and TokenCard products.

Network Edge enhances Computerland's ability to provide a
complete local area networking configurations for its customers by
integrating Compaq's network servers with Novell's NetWare and
Western Digital's Ethernet and Token Ring network boards.

(Janet Endrijonas & Dana Blankenhorn/19890728/Press Contacts:
Lynda Orban, Western Digital, 714-757-4234; Alan Bernheimer,
ComputerLand, 415-734-4005)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(ATL)(00011)

ZENITH POSTS LOSS
GLENVIEW, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 21 (NB) -- Zenith reported a
net loss for the second quarter of 1989 of $13.0 million, 49
cents per share, compared with a loss of $12.1 million, 46 cents
per share, in the second quarter of 1988. Zenith blamed the loss
on changing currency values, increased interest expenses, and
lower margins on computer sales.

Computer production is being adjusted downward to account for
larger inventories. Sales to the federal government also declined,
and should keep declining. Total sales were up 15 percent to
$676 million from $589 million in 1988.

For the first six months of 1989, Zenith reported a net loss of
$17.0 million, 64 cents per share, compared with a 1988 first-
half loss of $11.7 million, 45 cents per share. Sales in the
first half were $1,351 million.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890728)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00012)

ASHTON-TATE: 2ND QTR LOSS
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 25 (NB) -- Ashton-Tate
has reported a second quarter loss of $19.8 million compared with
earnings of $11.5 million.

The company says it was hurt by excess inventories of its
software among distributors. Also cited were lower-than-expected
revenues for product upgrades and a previously announced $8
million write-off of product rights and inventories. Second-
quarter revenues were $59.5 million, down from the $71.9 million
reported for the same period in 1988. Edward M. Esber, Ashton-
Tate chairman and CEO, stated that the loss was higher than
expected because of the allocation of part of it to areas in
which the company realizes little or no tax reduction credit.

The company's six month loss was $8.3 million compared with
earnings of $22.6 million for the first half of 1988. Six-month
revenues were $149.3 million, up from the $144.3 million for the
same period a year ago.

In a related announcement, Ashton-Tate President Luther Nussbaum
has resigned reportedly over differences in management
philosophy. No plans have been made to appoint a successor.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728/Press Contact: Brad Stevens, Ashton-
Tate, 213-538-7348)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00013)

AST SHOWS PROFIT
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- AST Research has
shown a small profit for its fourth quarter indicating progress
from the losses the company sustained during the previous six
months.

Earnings were still down form the same period a year ago. For
the quarter ended June 30, AST earned $2.5 million (a year ago,
earnings for the same period were $7.7 million) on revenues of
$123 million (off 9 percent from last year).

The fourth quarter profits were not enough to offset earlier
losses. For the fiscal year, AST showed $7.4 million in red ink
compared with earnings of $15 million in fiscal 1988. Revenue
rose 10.6 percent to $456.5 million.

Losses sustained earlier this year were attributed to losses on
interest payments, foreign currency exchange rates and a tenuous
market for personal computers. AST was slow in bringing new
products into the market and then often had to cut prices to sell
them as they were no longer state-of-the-art.

AST has helped itself by reducing inventory and keeping tighter
control of expenses as well as introducing timely new products
such as the i486 upgrade board.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728/Press Contact: Don Mathias, AST
Research, 714-756-7690)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00014)

DATAPRODUCTS BREAKS EVEN
WOODLAND HILLS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 18 (NB) --
Dataproducts has reported revenues of $83,330,000 and a net
income of $17,000 for the first quarter ended June 24.

These figures compare to revenues of $85,461,000 and net income
of $810,000 for the same period last year. Backlog as of June 24
was $90 million as compared to $95 million reported in the fourth
quarter of fiscal 1989.

The company has attributed the "break even" position to the
effects of an overall softness in the computer industry.
Chairman and CEO Jack C. Davis has commented that the company's
European sales have been strong in contrast to the weakness in
domestic sales and while there are some signs of strength
beginning to emerge in the domestic market, a return to last
year's order rate is not expected before the last half of the
fiscal year.

Dataproducts is currently exploring alternative strategies to
maximize shareholder value including working with parties who
have expressed an interest in buying the company or certain of
its business segments. A decision by the company's board of
directors is expected in the near future.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728/Press Contact: Frank McQuaid,
Dataproducts, 818-887-8110)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00015)

GEN'L AUTOMATION TO BUY AWA
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 21 (NB) -- General
Automation, maker of multiuser business computers using the Pick
operating system, and its largest shareholder, British Sanderson
Electronics, plan to acquire AWA Computers in Sydney, Australia.

AWA Computers, a division of AWA Electronics Ltd., sells General
Automation computers in the Pacific Rim including Australia, New
Zealand, Fiji and Singapore. Current revenues are about $20
million.

Under the acquisition agreement, General AUtomation and Sanderson
will form a new company, SGA Pacific Ltd., to buy AWA Computer's
Pacific Rim operations and the General Automation subsidiaries in
Singapore and Hong Kong. Sanderson will own 45 percent of SGA
Pacific, General Automation will own 30 percent with the
remaining 25 percent ownership in the hands of SGA management.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00016)

JAP: MAPMAKER HEADS WEST
CHIBA, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 25 (NB) -- Nihon Computer Graphics or NCG, a
developer of advanced computer mapping software, is launching its
Nigmas computer mapping software overseas. NCG has licensed the
software to Switzerland-based CIEL Information Technology which
will sell it overseas.

NCG's software runs on NEC and Fujitsu personal computers in Japan,
and on IBM PC/AT and compatible machines in English. Nigmas has the
unique ability to allow a user to edit maps with graphics, figures,
or characters, as might be required in applications involving land, gas,
and water use, or electrical transmission lines.

The CIEL deal starts NCG on the road to international distribution,
and follows a previous contract it made with Phillips to distribute
the software in ten countries, including the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Most computer mappers in Japan have relied on imported software
which has a problem processing the Japanese language, or
which cannot run on anything smaller than a minicomputer. But
the Nigmas package runs on a PC and processes Japanese language.
Since its introduction in the fall of 1987, the software has been sold
to 320 electric power and gas suppliers, aerial surveyors, and local
governments.

The company expects over 100 sales overseas in the initial year.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890727/Press Contact: Nihon Computer Graphics
Co., Ltd., 0436-23-0103)


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

INDIA GROUP IN TOKYO
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- Tata Consultancy Service (TCS),
the computer software development section of India's largest
financial clique Tata Group, has landed in Japan. TCS will develop
software and design databases for a wide variety of applications
through Japan's seventh-largest general trader, Nichimen.

TCS has evolved its business in India as well as 35 other countries,
including the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. Its annual
sales are about $35 million, and overseas orders account for 70 percent
of sales. TCS has tied up with Nichimen in order to bring its expertise
to Japan, the second-largest market for software next to the U.S.

Besides managing the marketing tasks for TCS, Nichimen will translate
TCS' original software into Japanese and will sell it in Japan.

The firms aim to make about 1,000 million yen or $1.43 million
in Japan the first year.

(Ken Takahashi/19890727/Press Contact: 03-277-5111)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00018)

NEC IN HONG KONG
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 21 (NB) -- Bucking a trend toward leaving
troubled China's borders, NEC has established a Hong Kong
subsidiary, NEC Technologies, where peripheral units will be designed
and inspected for export. The subsidiary will handle low-priced IBM-
compatible machines, printers, small hard disk drives, and floppy disk
drive units. Manufacturing will be done in Southeast Asian plants
which do not belong to NEC Group.

The subsidiary will deal directly with NEC group enterprises in Japan,
the United States, Europe, and Asia, and will distribute products
worldwide. The capital investment is about 5,000 million yen
or $3.57 million, and the subsidiary will have 70 employees, increased
to 130 in two years. Operations start in October.

(Ken Takahashi/19890727)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00019)

DMR DOUBLES EARNINGS
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, 1989 JUL 20 (NB) -- DMR Group, a large
Canadian information technology consulting firm, almost doubled
its net earnings in the fiscal year ended May 31. According to
results just released, DMR earned C$2.7 million, up from last
year's C$1.37 million, on revenues of C$127.82 million in the
year. Revenues were 27 percent higher than the previous year's
C$100.64 million. DMR has 2,000 employees and 39 offices in
Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia,
Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and West Germany.

(Grant Buckler/19890727/Press Contact: Julie Paquet, DMR Group,
514-877-3301)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SIN)(00020)

SINGAPORE: DEC UPS PRODUCTION
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 JUL 15 (NB) -- Digital Equipment
Singapore is ready for increased production of computer components
following its recent announcement of enhancements to its computer
lines, all of which will use the memory boards and other peripheral
equipment produced here. It sees an increased demand for memory
modules and other components.

The enhancements would give "a new dimension to Singapore's
role as a major provider of memory boards to the world market,"
according to Mrs. Tay Kay Seok, DES marketing manager.

Digital, said to be the leading supplier of network computer systems
worldwide, is now offering enhanced models of its popular VAX family
of mid-range computers and a new range of high-performance
workstations that can integrate a wide range of systems including IBM
PC, Apple Macintosh and terminals of IBM and other mainframes.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890724/Contact: Mrs Tay Kay Seok,
Marketing Manager, Digital Equipment Singapore Pte. Ltd., Ph: (65)
336.3588)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SIN)(00021)

HYUNDAI IN SINGAPORE
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 JUL 21 (NB) -- South Korean multinational
Hyundai, already well-known here for its brand of cars, is now
offering a line of personal computers, soon to be distributed by
local firm Aztech Systems Pte. Ltd.

The agreement between Hyundai Electronics Industries and Aztech
Systems, which already manufactures and exports its own brand of PCs,
gives Aztech the exclusive right to distribute Hyundai PCs in
Singapore, Brunei and Malaysia.

According to Calvin Goh of Aztech, says Hyundai has been manufacturing
computer parts and PCs for the past five years as original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) for many leading brands in Japan, the US and
other parts of the world.

The Hyundai family of Super-16TE, 286E, 286N, and 386C covers the
basic range from XTs to 286 and 386 computers, while the Super-LT3 is
a portable laptop model.

These new machines can be viewed and tested at the coming Comtec '89
microcomputer show to be held in Singapore between September 7 to 11.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890725/Contact: Mr Calvin Goh, Marketing
Executive, Aztech Systems Pte Ltd., Ph: (65) 296.7211, Fx: 296.0786,
Tx: RS 36221 AVSEPL)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(KUL)(00022)

MALAYSIA AIRLINE BUYING INTO ABACUS
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- Malaysian Airline System
Berhad (MAS) is acquiring 46.8 million shares of S$1 each in Abacus
Distribution System Pte Ltd. as part of its 18-percent equity
participation in the Singapore-based company, according to Bernama.
The company runs Abacus, the computerised reservations system (CSR),
and its rivalry with Fantasia, the CSR run by Sydney-based Qantas, had
been much-publicised recently.

It was reported that MAS said, in reply to the Kuala Lumpur Stock
Exchange's (KSLE) enquiries, that the acquisition would be made over a
two-year period, beginning from this month to 1991.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890727)



(EXCLUSIVE)(GENERAL)(LON)(00001)

NEW AMIGA OS TESTED
WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- Alpha
test versions of Workbench v1.4, the operating system for the
Commodore Amiga, have begun shipping in the US. As with all
alpha-test versions, specifications are subject to change, but
the new Amiga operating system has been dramatically redesigned
to allow true multitasking, as well as the ability to view all
file types, not just those with .INFO suffixes.

Also included is virtual memory support, a feature often seen on
the Apple Macintosh. Thus, if you attempt to run a package that
needs more memory than is on your Amiga, Workbench v1.4 will
start saving the unused areas of memory to disk. When the areas
of memory are required again, Workbench v1.4 saves the current
memory segments, loading the old memory back in.

Other features of v1.4 of the Amiga's operating system include
extended font support, including scaleable and outline fonts and
colour fonts. Don't hold your breath on Workbench v1.4, however,
as sources close to Commodore U.K. suggest that a production
shipment of Workbench is not due for another six months.

(Steve Gold/19890728)


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

FALL COMDEX NOVEMBER 13-17
NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 29 (NB)J-- Comdex/Fall,
slated for November 13-17 in the glitter capital of the world,
Las Vegas, will feature more than 1700 companies and over 100,000
attendees, according to the Interface Group. Special travel
packages are available for international attendees. Full conference
registration has been set at $295 per person, one day conferences are
$150 and exhibits only admission is $75.

(Wendy Woods/19890617/Press Contact: Victor Cruz, Interface,
617-449-6600)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00003)

ALDUS MAG TO DEBUT
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 20 (NB) -- Aldus will
publish a bimonthly, full-color magazine showing how its desktop
publishing software is being put to work in the world. The
magazine is slated to make its first appearance in November
with 20,000 free copies distributed at COMDEX/Fall '89 in Las
Vegas. The publisher is Elaine Rickman.

The magazine is slated to carry advertising and rates for a full-
page, color insert start at $5,015.

(Wendy Woods/19890729/Press Contact: Elaine Rickman 206-
628-2308)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00004)

NEW SCANNER AIDS BLIND
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- A new,
low-priced optical character recognition (OCR) scanner to aid
visually impaired computer users has been unveiled by Xerox's
Kurzweil Computer Products division.

An OCR can take printed material and convert it into machine
recognizable text and numbers, rather than a mere image. Once
scanned, the text can be converted to speech by other computer
devices or be incorporated in word processing programs or databases.

Kurzweil scanners utilize special word lists and artificial
intelligence to insure proper scanning of both typewritten and
typeset (books, magazines, laser printer) material. The new
PC/KPR systems, which include a scanner, PC interface board, and
software, are priced from $3,995 to $7,995.

Kurzweil Computer Products (not related to Kurzweil AI) has
recently faced declining sales of its relatively expensive
($10,000 and up) character recognition systems. About six months
ago the company announced major price cuts in its microcomputer-
based OCR systems.

(John McCormick/19890728/Press Contact: Bernice Broyde or Michael
Sokol, 617-864-4700)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00005)

ONE GB ERASABLE DRIVE
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- Maxtor Corp.'s
Storage Dimensions subsidiary has today announced a $7,995 one-
gigabyte (GB) erasable optical storage subsystem with an access
time of only 35 milliseconds.

The LaserStor Erasable Optical supports 286 and 386-based MS-
DOS, IBM PS/2, Apple Macintosh, and Novell NetWare compatible
systems through a Small Computer System Interface, or SCSI, port
and provides performance equal to many hard disk systems.

The LaserStor's 1GB 5.25-inch form-factor removable optical
cartridge does not conform to any standard, but a 650 megabyte
ISO or International Standards Organization standard cartridge is
also available to allow easy transfer of data between this and
other manufacturers' drives.

(John McCormick/19890728/Press Contact: Mark Burnside, 408-879-
0300, or Jim Burkhardt, 408-748-0293)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00006)

NORTHGATE HIRES STAN FREBERG
PLYMOUTH, MICHIGAN, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- Northgate
Computer Systems has hired Stan Freberg to develop a new
advertising, sales, and PR program for the PC computer company.
Northgate Computer Systems imports and ships Taiwanese PC
clones, and until now has relied on double-page ads in
computer magazines trumpeting its low prices and toll-free order
lines.

Freberg first became known as a comic back in the 1950s, and in
advertising has been the creative force behind many of the most
successful, and funniest, campaigns of the last 30 years. This is
his first computer account.

Freberg is also known for his Thyme advertising company which ran
afoul of Time, Inc.'s lawyers, his powerful radio commercials,
his Dali'esque TV commercials and most recently for the
Encyclopedia Britannica commercials featuring his voice and his
son as the harried, over-gadgeted teenager.

(John McCormick & Dana Blankenhorn/19890728/Press Contact: Art
Lazere of Northgate Computer Systems, 612-553-0111)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(ATL)(00007)

FREE LASER PRINTED FLAGS OFFERED
NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- Taking
advantage of recent controversies surrounding the American flag,
a Miami entrepreneur is offering free disks containing five
different bit-mapped image of Old Glory.

Jack Star of Tek-Star Computer Systems tells Newsbytes, "It just
seemed a logical thing to do. I've been putting together clip art for
laser printers, and I decided this would attract more attention to
our packages." TekStar plans to offer a line of 10 clip-art disks and
20 font packages over the next few months, and people who order
the flag disks will have the chance to order these disks directly.
There's a nominal $1 charge for postage and handling.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890728/Press Contact: Jack Star, Tek-Star,
305-893-4760, FAX: [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00008)

TRAVEL BARGAIN TRACKER
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- Associated
Travel Services, a Southern California travel agency, has designed a
computer program that tracks airline, hotel and car rental prices to
find the lowest available for 24 hours after a booking is made.

Dubbed AQUA, the system consists of 10 PS/2 computers and a
software program linked to SABRE, the computer reservations
system used by American Airlines. After a seat is booked, AQUA
searches SABRE continuously for 24 hours to find a canceled seat
(car, room) that is cheaper.

According to Associated, its customers have saved as much as six
percent on already-booked flights using AQUA.

If your travel agent is interested in AQUA, the 10 computer and
software system from Associated will be a major investment at
$250,000.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00009)

NEC LAPTOP HARD DISK FROM CMS
TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 26 (NB) --CMS Enhancements
has unveiled a 2.5-inch internal hard disk subsystem for the NEC
MultiSpeed EL laptop computer.

The 20 megabyte subsystem called Super LiteDrive II features an
average access time of 28 milliseconds and data transfer rate of 625
kilobits/sec. According to Will Green, laptop product manager at
CMS, CMS Enhancements is the first company to provide an internal
hard drive upgrade for the MultiSpeed EL.

Super LiteDrive II will be available September 1.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728/Press Contact: Diana Biondo, CMS
Enhancements, 714-259-5888)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00010)

$1 MILLION ADS TOUT BERNOULLIS
ROY, UTAH, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 25 (NB) -- Iomega Corporation has
announced power publishing alliances with Aldus, Linotype,
AlphaGraphics Printshops of the Future and Professional
Postscript Alliance Inc.

A $1 million ad campaign will begin September 1. The ads will
target Iomega's Bernoulli Box II removable mass storage product
and will be aimed at the "power publishing" segment of the
desktop publishing market.

Power publishing is the high end of desktop publishing in which
dedicated corporate publishing departments with multiple personal
computers send their work out to service bureaus to develop high
quality finished product. As publishing technologies develop,
applications will require large capacity storage in removable
format. The Bernoulli Box is a proven removable mass storage
device according to Michael Joseph, Iomega director of marketing
who expects the Bernoulli to fill the market need.

The alliances will enable the Bernoulli Box to become part of a
complete solution for power publishing when combined with desktop
publishing software and sold through value added reseller
outlets.

Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Walt Whitman,
meanwhile, have joined the Bernoulli Collection with their unabridged
works on a Bernoulli disk ($109 each), including a text-retrieval copy
of WordCruncher for speedy access to those favorite stanzas.

(Janet Endrijonas & Wendy Woods/19890728/Press Contact: Linda
Casey, Iomega, 801-778-3345)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00011)

MICRON MEMORY CHIPS FOR HP LASERS
BOISE, IDAHO, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 21 (NB) -- Micron Technology, one
of the few domestic manufacturers of memory chips, is introducing
a memory upgrade board for Hewlett-Packard's LaserJet printer.

The LJII/IID comes in 1-, 2-, and 4-Mbyte versions and are priced
lower than comparable upgrade boards from HP. The Micron board
is upgradable from one memory capacity to another while the
boards put out by HP are only single capacity. According to
Steve Laney, product manager, demand for memory upgrades has been
strong as a result of the increasing importance of graphics
intensive applications that require more memory than is standard
with HP LaserJet printers.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728/Press Contact: Steve Laney, Micron,
208-383-4000)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00012)

DESIRE/NEUNET NETWORK SIMULATION
TUCSON, ARIZONA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 27 (NB) -- Neural-net
simulation is now available in an integrated environment.

Desire/Neunet is an integrated environment that includes a screen
editor, compiler and debugger and simulates neural nets. This
system allows the combination of up to 16,380 neurons and 16,380
interconnections. The runtime compiler generates processor-
specific 80286 or 80386 machine code for matrix computations or
differential equations. Network paradigms such as backpropagation,
counter-propagation and bidirectional associative memories can be
simulated.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728/Press Contact: Kron Industrial
Consultants, 602-298-7054)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00013)

ETHERNET CONTROLLER FROM CUBIX
CARSON CITY, NEVADA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 1 (NB) -- Cubix
Corporation has announced its new 2410 Ethernet controller, an
intelligent "front-end" controller compatible for use with the
latest implementations of the OSI and TCP/IP networking protocol
stacks.

The 2410 is designed specifically for multitasking network
environments and is equipped with an 80186 processor and one megabyte
of dual-ported memory. The 2410 provides a method for connecting
and running concurrent sessions on PCs, XTs, ATs and any other
Ethernet connected resource.

The 2410 is the first in a series of what it's calling "open-solutions"
local area network connectivity products to debut this year from Cubix.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728/Press Contact: Dennis Saxon, Cubix
Corporation, 702-883-7611)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00014)

HARD DISK CONTROLLER RECALL
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- Western Digital
is assisting Amstrad in the recall of the Amstrad-designed hard
disk version of the PC2286 and PC2386 model computers.

Western Digital will supply disk controllers to replace the
Amstrad-designed controllers in these machines.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728/Press Contact: Lynda Orban, Western
Digital, 714-757-4234)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00015)

TOSHIBA TO UP ADVERTISING
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 25 (NB) -- Toshiba America
Information Systems has unveiled a new $2 million advertising
campaign to promote its tools as those necessary to survive in today's
business environment.

The ads are designed to exploit the emotional side of productivity.
Creative Director Bill Stenton, of N.W. Ayer/LA, the agency that created
the campaign, has been quoted saying: "These ads are based on the
emotional need of productivity. If you are standing still, you are prey.
In business, it is better to be a predator than prey."

The ads will appear in business publications for the rest of the year.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00016)

FM TOWNS BIG BLOW
OSAKA, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 25 (NB) -- Matsushita Electric Industries
has shelved plans to sell Fujitsu's FM Towns personal computer
under its brand name, even though it had planned to sell it this
year, according to Nikkei Sangyo Shimbun newspaper. The decision
to postpone distribution reportedly stems from overwhelming
opposition from Matsushita top brass.

Matsushita and Fujitsu have always enjoyed a close relationship,
and Matsushita's release had been considered inevitable. The two firms
previously collaborated on FMR personal computers, and Matsushita
developed the compact disc read-only-memory unit (CD-ROM) as
standard equipment for the FM Towns machine.

But the delay this time is due to a number of problems, reportedly
including Matsushita's interest in modifying the machine, and
internal squabbles over pricing. Word is that Matushita, sensitive
to the need to produce a hit computer after so many recent misses,
will modify FM Towns architecture to make it compatible with
other Matsushita computers.

There is no word as to how long this will take. Consequently
Fujitsu must go it alone with its FM Towns, a machine still sorely
lacking software, and which is incompatible with any other existing
operating system.

(Ken Takahashi/19890727)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00017)

UK LAUNCH FOR BYTEWEEK
PETERBOROUGH, NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- Byte
magazine, the popular U.S. monthly computer magazine from
McGraw-Hill, has launched a new weekly publication in the U.K. called
Byteweek. The weekly newsletter, which has been in circulation in the
U.S. for several months already, is billed as providing a more
timely service than the monthly Byte can provide. The articles are
based on material on BIX, McGraw-Hill's online network.

Subscriptions to Byteweek don't come cheap. McGraw-Hill is
charging $595 a year for 50 issues -- more than $10 an issue. Each
issue, the publishers claim, will be airmailed for delivery to
subscribers each Monday morning.

As a sweetener to charter subscribers, McGraw-Hill is offering
$100 off its annual subscriptions for an unspecified period, as
well as a free subscription to the BIX (Byte Information eXchange)
online system - worth $59 at current rates. In addition, charter
subscribers are being offered a Byteweek binder free of charge.

(Steve Gold/19890728/Press & Public Contact: McGraw-Hill
Publications - Tel: (US) 603-924-9281)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00018)

UK: SOFTWARE USERS YEAR-BOOK OUT
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- VNU Business Publications
has released the Software Users Year-book 1990, the fifth in its
annual series of manuals for the software industry. The four-part
publication retail for UKP 118 and is available immediately.

According to Carrie Collis, promotions controller with VNU, 1990
Software Users Year-book details 9,800 packages organised by
machine type, operating system, industry category and product
name. More than 3,000 of the entries are new in this year's
issue.

(Steve Gold/19890728/Press & Public Contact: VNU Business
Publications - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00019)

NEC & POP BAND PROMOTE GAME
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- NEC is touring
Canada with pop band Candi this summer to promote TurboGrafx-16,
a home video game that will hit the Canadian market this fall.

NEC Canada is coordinating its Turbo Tour, which involves teams
of university students promoting the product in shopping malls,
with a concert tour by Candi, a Canadian pop dance band. The tour
also involves radio station promotions and contests in which
video games and the band's cassettes will be given away.

(Grant Buckler/19890728/Press Contact: Karen Hoffman, G&S! The
Creative Marketing Network, 416-323-3234)


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

CANADA: INSTITUTE NAMES FELLOWS
BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- The
British Columbia Advanced Systems Institute has elected two
fellows and two senior fellows. Dr. Nicholas Pippenger, of the
Department of Computer Science at the University of British
Columbia in Vancouver, and Dr. Michael Thewalt, of the Department
of Physics at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, have been
named senior fellows. Dr. Daniel Hoffman and Dr. Hausi Muller,
both of the Department of Computer Science at the University of
Victoria, have been named fellows. ASI fellowships are designed
to let scientists spend more time on industry-related research in
microelectronics, computer science, telecommunications,
artificial intelligence and robotics.

(Grant Buckler/19890725/Press Contact: Jeff Berryman, BC Advanced
Systems Institute, 604-435-0551)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SIN)(00021)

SINGAPORE: COMTEC '89 SHOW SEPT 7
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 JUL 21 (NB) -- Comtec '89, Southeast
Asia's leading microcomputer show to be held at the World Trade Centre
here between September 7 and 11, will feature a display of the latest
computer products and will host a two-day seminar on the selection and
application of office automation systems, management information
services, networking, computer-aided information and desktop
publishing. Called "Logging Into The Computer Age," it will feature
a panel of distinguished speakers.

An added attraction will be a "live" dial-up to a bulletin board in
the US by the Data Communications Interest Group of the Singapore
Microcomputer Society.

According to the organizers, the Microcomputer Trade Association of
Singapore (MTAS) and ITP Services Pte. Ltd., the show, with 250
companies from 15 other countries including Japan, Korea, the US,
Australia, Hongkong participating, will be 30 percent larger than last
year's.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890727/Contact: ITP Services Pte. Ltd.,
Ph: (65) 291.3273)


(EXCLUSIVE)(GOVT)(WAS)(00001)

SOVIET COMPUTER TARIFF
MOSCOW, U.S.S.R, 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- While U.S. Secretary of
Defense Richard Cheney last week blasted the Commerce Department
for allowing export of sophisticated PCs to the Soviets, Newsbytes has
learned that the U.S.S.R. has imposed greatly increased import tariffs on
computers.

According to Yaroslav Skvortsvo, writing in the July 12, 1989
issue of Literaturnaya Gazeta, there are more than 100 computers
at the Sheremetyevo-2 customs station awaiting payment of import
duties ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 rubles, ten to twenty times
the old fees in force before July 1.

G.D. Shadrin, chief of the Sheremetyevo station, said that under
the old rates a computer would cost only 300 to 400 rubles
depending on the number of parts. Now the first computer being
imported will cost 5,000 rubles and a second or further computer
will cost 10,000 rubles each.

Since there is an exception for those returning from trips abroad
who purchased a computer in an authorized manner using approved
foreign currency transfers, it seems obvious that the tariffs are
in place to stem the flow of hard currency out of the Soviet
Union rather than from any security fears about possible hacking
or desktop publishing capabilities.

G.D. Shadrin reports that about 60 computers are cleared daily
through his customs station, so a backlog of 100 can probably be
considered minor.

At the "official" exchange rate, the new 5,000-ruble tariff would
be about $7,000 U.S.

(John McCormick/19890724)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00002)

GLASNOST FROM COMPAQ?
HOUSTON, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 27 (NB) -- Compaq officials
have been approached by representatives hired by the Soviet Union
with a request to buy discontinued models of personal computers.

Compaq does not currently do business with the USSR even though
the company sells computers in 55 countries through a network of
more than 3000 authorized dealers. The company is open to the
possibility of commerce with the USSR in the future after a
chance to evaluate the opportunities and evaluate the risks.

At the moment, the federal government forbids American companies
to sell high-technology hardware to the Soviets and the Eastern
Bloc. Last week, the Commerce Department released a
controversial plan to relax the embargo and allow sales of high-
powered IBM compatibles to Eastern Bloc countries.

According to Michael S. Swavely, president of Compaq's North
American Division, the Soviet offer is highly cost-sensitive.
Price will definitely affect how many PCs the USSR and other
Eastern Bloc countries can afford to buy.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00003)

HACKER INDICTED
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- Cornell
University graduate student, Robert Morris, Jr., has been indicted
by a Federal Grand Jury on charges relating to the incident
last year where a virus he allegedly set loose on a government and
university Unix network caused more than 6,000 computers to crash.

Eight months after his computer virus caused havoc on Internet,
Arpanet, and university computer systems, Morris has been indicted
on one count of violating the federal computer crimes statute.
If convicted Morris, 24, whose father is a computer security
officer for the federal government, could be sentenced to 5 years
in prison, fined up to $250,000 and ordered to make restitution,
which, according to some, could run into millions.

Morris's attorney, Washington, D.C.-based Thomas Buidoboni,
said that his client will plead not guilty at the arraignment,
which is scheduled for August 2 before U.S. Magistrate Gustave
DiBianco.

(John McCormick & Dana Blankenhorn/19890728)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00004)

HACKER MITNICK NOT ALONE
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- Hacker
Kevin Mitnick, who last week was sentenced to one year in jail
and six months rehabilitation for using unauthorized MCI
telephone codes to steal computer programs, may have company.

Leonard DiCicco, once Mitnick's closest friend, was the person
who had a falling out with Mitnick and "blew the whistle" on
Mitnick's trespassing into Digital Equipment Corporation's (DEC)
computer system. The government, however, refused to grant total
immunity to DiCicco for his testimony against Mitnick. When it
was hinted that DiCicco might be subject to criminal prosecution,
he stopped talking.

Mitnick has not remained quit about DiCicco's activities and has
given the government enough incriminating evidence to result in
an indictment against DiCicco for aiding and abetting the
interstate transportation of stolen property -- the DEC computer
security program.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00005)

DEC HELPS PHASE OUT ZIP CODES
MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 27 (NB) -- Digital
Equipment Corporation (DEC) has received a contract from the U.S.
Postal Service for $20 million to $53 million worth of computer
equipment.

The Postal Service is gradually eliminating ZIP codes in U.S.
mail, replacing them with barcodes which will be printed on every
envelope, either by the sender or by a complex optical character
recognition/printing system at sorting stations.

The DEC contract calls for VAX 3200 workstations to work with
ElectroCom scanners, tape and disk drives, and barcode printers.
The initial contract, one of the largest in the Postal Service's
history, is worth $20 million, with options for up to an additional $33
million in later sales.

In other DEC sales news, Blockbuster Video has chosen Digital
Equipment to supply a network for its 750 stores. The system will
be based on the newly announced DEC MicroVAX 3100 and will
eventually be used to connect more than 1,000 Blockbuster
videotape-rental stores.

(John McCormick/19890728/Press Contact: Deborah Demanche, 603-
884-0362 for U.S.P.S. story, or Jeff Bartman, 508-474-6392, for
Blockbuster story)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00006)

HITACHI MODIFIES PATENT SUIT
TARRYTOWN, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- Hitachi has
asked a federal court in Austin, Texas, to delete part of its patent
infringement claim against the Motorola 68038 microprocessor chip.

Hitachi seeks to drop the U.S. patent no. 4,736,337 from the
suit, saying that it prefers to leave that patent question to
the U.S. Patent Office for resolution. The suit continues on the
basis of other Hitachi patents such as U.S. Patent No. 4,646,271.

Hitachi seeks to stop production of the 68030 microprocessor on
the basis that its design infringes various Hitachi patents.
Motorola contends that two of Hitachi's microprocessors infringe
on Motorola patents.

(John McCormick/19890728/Press Contact: Yasushi Sayama,
914/332-2900, or Osamu Naito, 914/332-2902)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00007)

PHOENIX TECHNOLOGIES SUED
NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 27 (NB) -- Phoenix
Technologies, Ltd., the company that provides BIOS (Basic I/O
System) chips for many PC clone computers, as well as a wide
variety of highly professional programming tools, has been sued
by a stockholder group which alleges that the company has made
materially misleading public disclosures in violation of federal
securities law.

(John McCormick/19890728/Press Contact: David F. Parkinson, 617-
551-4278)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(ATL)(00008)

ONLINE FED DATA INDEXING BATTLE
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 JUL 25 (NB) --- The Congress and
Administration seem to be on a collision course over public
access to government information. The Office of Management and
Budget, an arm of the White House, has proposed regulations that
would prohibit the creation of indexes and access software when
data is released to online systems or on CD-ROM.

But Rep. Robert E. Wise, a West Virginia Democrat, has introduced
the Information Policy Act, HR 2381, which would require agencies
to include indexes and access software so their information can be
easily retrieved and used. "Releasing massive amounts of data
without adequate indexes and software tools that permit people to
make effective use of the data is worthless," Wise said. "OMB's
artificial restrictions on value-added services would mean that
government CD-ROM discs would have no value at all."

The Executive branch may counter that releasing access software
could put the government in competition with private enterprise.
Debate over the Wise bill could open up the entire subject of
public access to government data by computer at a time when most
people in government are inclined toward censorship.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890728)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(ATL)(00009)

STATES SUE MASTERCARD, VISA
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- Twelve states
have sued MasterCard International and Visa, the two interbank
credit card consortia, claiming they violated antitrust laws in
an attempt to control the growing market of debit cards.

Such point-of-sale or ATM "money machine" cards are becoming
increasingly popular with consumers, and merchants are beginning
to add debit cards to the credit cards they now accept. The suit
involves the 1987 joint-venture between Visa and MasterCard,
called Entree, which was supposed to create a single network for
debit card users. As part of the venture, Visa acquired control
of Plus Systems, a network of teller machines, as well as Interlink
Network, a regional debit card network, while MasterCard acquired
Cirrus System, another ATM card network.

Firms outside the two bank card consortia, including American
Express and Sears, were then excluded from participating in
Entree, which has yet to make its debut.

A spokesman for the states attorney general filing the suit said
an investigation was launched in 1987, and the suit was filed
now, because the federal government has been lax in its antitrust
enforcement.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890728)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00010)

ADA PROGRAMS MADE EASIER
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- TeleSoft AB
has announced a new product called TeleArcs to increase
productivity in computer-aided software engineering (CASE).

TeleArcs is the first in a series of CASE products designed to
significantly improve productivity levels of Ada programmers. It
is the first release to emerge since the merger of Telesoft with
TeleLogic.

TeleArcs is a programming environment for the TeleGen2 Ada Press
Compilation System that integrates Ada-sensitive tools required
in the detailed design, development and test stages of the
software lifecycle. The tools include an Ada language-sensitive
editor and an extensive browsing capability through the Ada
library structure of the system. TeleArcs enables a team of
developers working on a project to use a consistent programming
environment with configuration management and baseline
capabilities.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728/Press Contact: Bruce Sherman, TeleSoft
AB, 619-457/2700)


(EXCLUSIVE)(GOVT)(TOR)(00011)

CIM CONSORTIUM ALMOST SET
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JUL 25 (NB) -- Canada's National
Research Council is in the final stages of setting up a
consortium of companies to do precompetitive research in
computer-integrated manufacturing. Due for formal announcement by
fall, the NRC-sponsored consortium is to concentrate on
integrating manufacturing technology. It will base its work on
simulation of the manufacturing process, and will probably be
named the Simulated Manufacturing Research Facility (SMRF).

The council expects to draw consortium members from two groups:
vendors and potential users of advanced manufacturing technology.
To date, six companies have signed up. They are EDS of Canada, of
Oshawa, Ontario; ICAM Technologies and Interfacing Technologies,
both of Pointe Claire, Quebec; Northern Telecom Canada, of
Mississauga, Ontario; PROMIS Systems of Toronto; and 01
Communications of Montreal. The Alberta Research Council will
also be involved.

All the participants will be free to use technology developed by SMRF
in commercial products or processes. The consortium is the fourth
in a series backed by the NRC. Others focus on artificial
intelligence and robotics, solid-state optoelectronics, and audio
equipment.

Initial plans for SMRF include three projects, each to extend
over about three years. One will develop a model of a generic
manufacturing enterprise, intended as an aid in manufacturing
decision-making. The second will develop a method of exchanging
and integrating manufacturing data. The third will develop and
test a method of creating process plans for manual or automated
assembly. The consortium will begin by conducting a market study
to determine the demand for products that might be based on the
consortium's work as well as to identify existing products or
concepts relevant to the research. Work already planned is
expected to require 40 person-years' work over the next three
years; each consortium partner will fund one person-year per year
while the NRC will fund six person-years per year.

(Grant Buckler/19890725/Press Contact: Patricia Montreuil,
National Research Council, 613-993-3041)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(KUL)(00012)

MALAYSIA: POLICE FIGHT COMPUTER FRAUD
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, 1989 JUL 22 (NB) -- The police here plans to
form a unit specially for handling computer-related crimes and credit
card fraud. At present, a deputy superintendent and an inspector who
have some knowledge of computer technology are handling computer fraud
cases.

The unit, to be staffed by computer experts, will be under the control
of the Commercial Crime Branch at police headquarters here, according
to Deputy CID Director Datuk Shamsuri Haji Arshad.

"We are sensitive to incidents of computer-related crimes both here
and overseas and are closely following the development of such crimes
here," he said.

The Malaysian police are expected to seek the assistance of their
counterparts in Hong Kong, Britain, the US and other countries in
setting up the unit.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890725)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(KUL)(00013)

MALAYSIAN WAR GAMES
PENANG, MALAYSIA, 1989 JUL 22 (NB) -- The Malaysian army and a local
university, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), are currently working
jointly on a war games simulation project costing M$1.1 million. The
project calls for computers to create war situations. Started two years
ago, it is expected to be completed in 1992.

Army Chief General Tan Sri Yaacob Mohamad Zain told reporters
yesterday that the project was part of studies being conducted by the
Malaysian Army War Games Simulation Centre in Port Dickson. He said
that they were also working closely with the Australian and Singapore
army in developing the simulator, and that they have access to the New
Zealand Army War Games Simulation Centre.

"The computers used in these simulations can take over tasks which
formerly required manual coordination, which is limited and time-
consuming," he said.

He further said that the simulation involved gathering data on
terrain, weather, enemy movements and strength on 10 computers in the
laboratories and that the simulator had been tested during several
real-life army exercises throughout Peninsular Malaysia.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890727)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(KUL)(00014)

PHILIPPINES CENSUS COMPUTERIZED
MANILA, PHILIPPINES, 1989 JUL 14 (NB) -- Data from the 1990
Philippine Population Census and housing questionnaires will be
captured using 300 microcomputers such as IBM PCs and XTs located in
countrywide regional centres, according to a Computerworld report.

A software package called Centry will be used to handle data entry and
verification. This package will also be used to correct errors should
they be found after the initial data collected had been checked by a
completeness computer program to be made available for that purpose.

Completed regional computer files will be sent to the central office
where further computer editing using an editing software called Concor
(consistency and correction) running on an IBM 4341 mainframe will be
carried out. The purpose of such editing is to make the data as nearly
representative as possible, eliminating omissions, impossible and
inconsistent entries.

Subfiles for population and housing will be created by Cobol programs
to serve as input to tabulation programs. The software Cents4 will be
used for tabulation. Cobol programs will be used for tables that are
too complicated and beyond the capability of the Cents4.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890727)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00001)

4MB IBM MEMORY
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 25 (NB) -- Need PS/2
memory -- who you gonna call -- IBM! IBM has announced the first
product to utilize 4-megabyte complimentary metal oxide or CMOS
memory chips.

The 80-nanosecond, 32-bit memory boards, which are for the PS/2
80386-based model 70 and model 80 computers, come in 2- and 4-
megabyte versions which can accept additional modules having 1-,
2-, or 4-megabytes (MB) of storage.

The 2MB card is immediately available at a cost of $1,795. The
4MB card ($3,495) and 4MB memory modules ($3,095 each) will be
generally available in the first quarter of 1990.

The 1/2-inch by 1/4-inch 4MB chips were developed at IBM's Austin
Texas facility and are being manufactured at IBM semiconductor
facilities in Essex Junction, Vermont, and Sindelfingen, West
Germany. The new chips will also be made in Yasu, Japan.

(John McCormick/19890728/Press Contact: Madeline Epstein, 914-
642-5363)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00002)

LOTUS RELEASE 2.2 SHIPS
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 27 (NB) -- Just a few
weeks after releasing its massive 1-2-3 Release 3 spreadsheet,
Lotus Development Corp. has started shipping Release 2.2, the
scaled-down version intended to run in the standard 640 kilobyte
MS-DOS environment. The larger version requires a minimum of one
megabyte of memory.

According to Lotus, the latest release of the trend-setting
spreadsheet software will allow users to run Lotus on smaller
machines, including 8088-based computers, yet gain improved
graphics, faster performance, network support, and file-linking.

Release 2.2 will be data- and macro-compatible with most
spreadsheets created for Release 3, as well as earlier versions
of 1-2-3 and Symphony, Lotus' integrated spreadsheet, database,
and word processor software.

New features in Release 2.2 include improved printer support,
including Post Script support, and file linking, a way to link
spreadsheets together, allowing access to data outside the
current worksheet, but perhaps most important is an old feature.
Release 2.2 retains the .WK1 file format, making it compatible
with many available add-in utility programs which users have come
to rely upon to enhance their spreadsheets.

Allways, a very popular printer utility that permits spreadsheets
to be printed landscape-mode on many dot matrix printers, is now
included in Release 2.2 in a specially enhanced version.

Improved debugging and error handling, along with a new undo
feature, should make Release 2.2 a mandatory upgrade for users of
earlier versions who lack the computer power or need for the
powerful Release 3.

Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2.2 requires MS-DOS versions 2.0 or higher, a
minimum of 320K of memory and two disk drives. Allways raises the
minimum requirements to 512K and a hard disk.

Release 2.2 is available in three editions: Standard, Server, and
Node. The $595 Server Edition is designed for installation on a
network file server (base) and comes with network documentation
and administration software. The $295 Node Edition has an
additional license for network use and includes documentation
only. The Standard Edition, which is now shipping, lists for
$495; the network versions are scheduled to ship by the end of
this year.

Various upgrade plans are in effect. Those who bought Release 2.01
between September 6, 1988, and August 31 this year, are eligible for
free upgrades to Release 2.2 or 3. All registered owners will receive
toll-free telephone support.

The international English version of Release 2.2 will ship next
month, and French, German, Italian, Swedish, Spanish, Dutch,
Portuguese, and Danish versions will ship later this year.

(John McCormick/19890728/Press Contact: Susan Earabino, 617-
225-1281)


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

A SPEEDIER SUPERDOS
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 20 (NB) -- Bluebird
Systems has announced the availability of SDRAM, a high-
performance RAM disk option that improves throughput and response
time on the company's SuperDOS operating system up to as much as
three times.

SDRAM is available with SuperDOS 5.0, the most recent release of
this multiuser operating system. SDRAM creates a virtual disk
drive in memory, providing instant access to applications and
data without requiring any programming changes.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728/Press Contact: Rebecca Gribbs,
Bluebird Systems, 619-438-2220)


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

KAYPRO UNVEILS KC-2
SOLANA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 25 (NB) --Kaypro has
unveiled its latest computer system, the KC-2, the company's
lowest-priced 286 machine.

Kaypro gained national notice by selling fully-functional,
complete computers as early as 1982. Carrying a suggested retail
price of $1195, the KC-2 is 80206-based running at 12 MHz with
zero wait state design. Its 640 kilobyte (KB) memory is expandable to
four megabytes on the system's motherboard or by using six of the eight
available expansion slots. The system includes a 1.2 MByte, 5.25
floppy disk drive, AT-style 101-key keyboard, one serial and one
parallel port and a 12-inch monochrome monitor with video card. The
operating system is DOS 3.41.

In a companion announcement, Kaypro named WestCom Group of Solana
Beach, California its new agency for public relations, advertising and
direct mail programs. WestCom Group will also produce Kaypro
collateral materials such as product brochures, catalogs, product
packaging and flyers. President of WestCom is Geoff Soule,
former marketing director of Kaypro. During Soule's tenure at
Kaypro, the company's annual sales grew form $5 million to $120
million.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728/Press Contact: Nancy Casey, The
WestCom Group, 619-259-1288)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00005)

SHARP TINY PC IN WORKS?
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- Sharp is denying a report which
says it is preparing to follow Toshiba and Microsystems with a
book-sized personal computer. The report, in Japanese industrial
newspaper Business and Technology, says the company has laid
aside the project, however, after realizing it would be selling its
tiny PC for more than Toshiba's DynaBook. Sharp is now reconsidering
the design and configuration of the machine, according to the
report.

DynaBook is equipped with an 80C86 central processing unit and
a built-in floppy disk drive while Sharp's initial design did not include
a built-in drive. Sharp reportedly has plans to use Intel's 80286
as the central processing unit in order that the unit could run AX --
Japanese PC-DOS. Sharp was also seeking to allow the laptop to
access the integrated circuit cards of the Wizard, its hand-held
personal organizer.

The company, however, denies the report and says it has no plan to
release such a machine, further suggesting the story might have
come from a related company.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890727)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00006)

AMSTRAD RECALLS ITS PCS
BRENTWOOD, ENGLAND, 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- Amstrad has recalled all
hard disk versions of its PC2286 and PC2386 machines. The
surprise decision was taken after stories questioning the 80286
and 80386-based PC's reliability had begun to circulate in the U.K.

"A dramatic gesture is now needed to overcome any suggestion that
this company is failing in its duty to supply reliable products,"
said Amstrad Chairman Alan Sugar last week.

The recall involves a large number of PCs. Western Digital, the
hard drive manufacturer, is understood to be helping Amstrad with
the refit of the PCs affected. Some industry estimates have put
the number affected as high as 7,000 units, suggesting that the
recall will cost the company more than UKP 500,000. As they
recalled, Amstrad is fitting a new hard disk controller that
reportedly reduces the risk of the hard disk corrupting its data.

The situation could have been a lot worse, since Amstrad halted
distribution of its hard disk-equipped PC 2000 series in April of
this year, after reports of hard disk problems began to flow back
from the company's distribution outlets.

To pacify customers, Amstrad has signed an on-site maintenance
deal with Dictaphone offering free site visits to users of the
PC-2000 series with problems. The maximum call-out waiting period
is a guaranteed 48 hours.

(Steve Gold/19890728/Press Contact: Nick Hewer, Michael Joyce
Public Relations - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00007)

BASIC IS 25
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 22 (NB) -- Microsoft has slated
a series of nationwide symposiums aimed at promoting BASIC, the computer
language which is 25 years old this year.

Addressing BASIC developers in Seattle, Bill Gates, Microsoft Corporation
chairman and CEO, as well as the codeveloper of a the first PC version
of BASIC in 1975, reconfirmed his company's commitment to the venerable
language, saying it "is a pivotal member of our language family and
an important element in our future applications strategy." The
occasion also brought out the following statistics:

Microsoft claims it has sold half a million copies of QuickBASIC
worldwide and 200,000 alone in 1989. It is the best-selling
Microsoft language in Europe and among the best in the U.S. and Japan.
Microsoft estimates its retail BASIC business will grow by 50
percent in 1990. BASIC is also the most-taught language in secondary
and higher education. Microsoft has targeted the business programming
market as a potential market for BASIC expansion. Currently this
market is dominated by dBASE and Turbo Pascal.

Symposiums are scheduled for August 26 in Boston; September 16 in
San Francisco; November 19 in Chicago; December 16 in Washington,
D.C.; January 27 in Los Angeles; and February 24 in Houston. For
more information call 800-553-3072 in the U.S.

(Wendy Woods/19890729)


(EXCLUSIVE)(IBM)(SFO)(00008)

SHAREWARE PC-JIGSAW AUTHOR ELATED
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 29 (NB) -- Shareware
author Billy Dedes, who wrote PC-Jigsaw early this year, has made
more money than he ever imagined possible.

PC-Jigsaw is a simple program which displays a graphic picture,
jumbles it and then asks the user to restore it. The program runs on
IBM PCs and compatibles and needs a graphics adapter such as a
Hercules, CGA, VGA or EGA.

Sales have reached more than $6000 over the last couple of months,
just from some bulletin boards systems. Billy tells Newsbytes,
"I am so amazed at the success the program has had. I mean, I only
wrote it so that I could learn C (it's written in Turbo-C). I showed it
to some people and they uploaded to some bulletin boards. I believe
it has gone all over the U.S. I never expected to make money from it."

Billy has been so happy with the program's success, he is working on
a new version which will support 256-color VGA mode. He is also
thinking of starting a company to further support the program.
"I will call it Alive Software and I should be in operation over the
next few months," he says.

Dedes immigrated to the U.S. from Greece nine years ago.  He lives
in San Jose, California.

(Peter Vekinis/19890722/Contact: Billy Dedes, 408/281-0298)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00009)

GAME ADAPTER FOR MICRO CHANNEL
AKRON, OHIO, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- How do you play games
on a PS/2 computer? Simple! Call Qua Tech and order their new
GPA-1000, a Micro Channel-compatible game card that lets users
hook two joysticks to their computer.

The 15-pin D-submini socket on the card will accept a readily
available "Y" adapter that lets users plug one or two joysticks
into the card. The $79.95 board has a surprising 16 chips, indicating
that interfacing a joystick to the Micro Channel machines is more
complex than might be supposed.

A technical support person told Newsbytes that they had tested
the GPA-1000 with WICO, Kraft, and Suncom joysticks, and that
everyone there felt that the Wico Ergostick was a very desirable
unit, though the others were completely compatible.

This is an important product announcement because at one point
the Smithsonian Institution was unable to locate any Micro Channel-
compatible joysticks to use with IBM-donated PS/2 computers for
one of its exhibits. Joysticks are used for more than just playing
games, but, even if they weren't, who says that PS/2 users don't
want to relax with an occasional Flight Simulator session?

Newsbytes is conducting an extensive evaluation of the GPA-
1000 which can be ordered directly from Qua Tech at 216-434-3154
or 1-800-553-1170.

(John McCormick/19890728/Press Contacts: Kevin Rudden, Hill and
Knowlton, 617-642-5937, or Jim Smith, Qua Tech, 216-434-3154)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00010)

IBM DELAYS DISK DRIVE
ARMONK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- IBM announced
today that it will delay the introduction of a new disk storage
system because of poor quality. Industry observers felt that the
shipping delay could adversely affect IBM's profit picture
because almost 20 percent of the computer giant's income comes from
sales of peripherals such as high-end disk drives.

(John McCormick/19890728)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00011)

KODAK CHOOSES IBM-BASED IP CENTER
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 25 (NB) -- Eastman Kodak
has chosen IBM to design, build, and operate a new data center,
replacing 275 Kodak employees currently working in Kodak's Information
Processing or IP center. A Kodak spokesperson said that the displaced
employees would be offered jobs at IBM.

The new computer center, due for completion in two years, would
combine three existing Rochester-based centers and one in
Windsor, Colorado, in a single location in Rochester.

(John McCormick/19890728)


(NEWS)(IBM)(WAS)(00012)

ECHO386'S BUILT-IN POWER SUPPLY
PINE BROOK, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- Pan Overseas
Computers has announced a new line of fully configured computers
which include a 90 megabyte (MB) hard disk, 80MB tape backup, VGA
monochrome graphics monitor, MS-DOS 3.3, QuarterDeck's DESQview
multitasking system, PC-Tools, a utility package, and a built-in
uninterruptible power supply or UPS.

All the individual components are readily available, but the
$4395 list price is very low, and many users may be attracted by
the simplicity of ordering a complete, ready-to-run system in a
single package deal. Special software causes work in progress to
be automatically backed up to the hard disk in case of power
failure, a very attractive feature since otherwise an unattended
computer would lose all data even with a limited-time UPS.

Pan Overseas Computer, 44 Route 46, Pine Brook, NJ 07058, 201-
808-1900.

(John McCormick/19890728)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00013)

UK: MINDSCAPE TWISTS & SHOUTS
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- Mindscape Software has
launched Twist & Shout, a sideways print utility for PCs. The
software is an anglicised version of the package of the same name
from The Software Toolworks in the U.S.

Twist forms the core of the package, offering direct sideways
printing of worksheet files from most spreadsheet packages. The
module also supports Lotus-style commands, fifteen sizes of
printouts and colour, bold and italic printing.

Shout, meanwhile, is a banner-printing utility capable of
printing lettering up to 13.5-inches high in 10 different fonts.
Text can be entered directly into the program or ported from an
ASCII file.

As a bonus to U.K. purchasers of the package, Twist & Shout
includes a free background printer spooler utility. The package
retails for UK 49-99, and is available through most dealers in
the U.K.

(Steve Gold/19890728/Press Contact: Pat Bitton, The Write Idea -
Tel: [phone]; Public Contact: Mindscape International - Tel:
044-486-545)


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

ELONEX INTROS NOVELL NETWARE
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- Elonex, the new UK computer
company, has secured a major original equipment manufacturing
deal with Novell for the resale of its Netware networking systems.
Elonex is now shipping its PCs fitted with Netware systems at
discount prices.

Pricing on the Netware-equipped PCs is aggressive. At the top
end of Elonex's range is a package bundling SFT Netware 2.15 with
an Elonex PX-386S (80386-based) file-server fitted with 4
MB RAM and a 300MB hard disk for UKP 5,469. The UK retail price
of SFT Netware on its own is UKP 3,995.

The rest of Elonex's Netware-compatible systems starts at UKP 625
for a diskless XT workstation with 640K of RAM, rising to UKP
1,420 for a 20MHz 80386-based PC with 1MB of RAM.

(Steve Gold/19890728/Press Contact: Ari Gershuni, managing
director, Elonex - Tel: [phone]; Public Contact: Elonex South
- Tel: [phone], Elonex North - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00015)

MAXIMIZER: CLIENT MGT PROGRAM
BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- Richmond
Software has signed distribution contracts with Radio Shack,
Ingram Micro D, Softsel Computer Products and J.B. Marketing for
its contact management software The Maximizer.

Radio Shack and Softsel will distribute The Maximizer only
through their Canadian operations. Ingram Micro D was already
handling the product in the United States and will now distribute
it in Canada as well. J.B. Marketing, based in Kingston, Ontario,
will distribute the product in Canada. A spokeswoman for
Richmond, Janette Peters, said the company also has recently
signed distribution agreements in Australia and parts of Europe,
but would not give details as "the ink isn't dry on the paper
yet."

The Maximizer, which runs on any IBM PC or compatible with 640K
RAM, is designed to manage client and prospect lists and personal
information. It provides letter writing, notes, diary, expense
accounts, calculations and telephone listings. The single-user
version of the program costs C$195, a LAN version C$495. Richmond
Software was spun off early this year from Pinetree Software,
also of Burnaby, which developed The Maximizer.

(Grant Buckler/19890724/Press Contact: Janette Peters, Richmond
Software, 604-299-2121)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00016)

VGA WONDER/HARVARD GRAPHICS BUNDLE
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- ATI Technologies
has announced a three-month promotion program bundling Harvard
Graphics with its VGAWonder video card. From September 1 to
December 31, specially marked packages of VGAWonder will come
bundled with Harvard Graphics, from Software Publishing of
Madison, Wisc. The special packages will cost C$200 more than the
VGAWonder card by itself -- C$799 for the VGAWonder 256 (US$569)
and C$939 for the VGAWonder 512 (US$669). VGAWonder cards will
continue to be sold separately as well.

The version of Harvard Graphics bundled with ATI's cards will be
different from the standard version in two respects. Only 5.25-
inch disks will be included in the package -- buyers can obtain
3.5-inch media directly from Software Publishing. Second, the
manuals with the bundled version will be perfect-bound.

Anyone who buys an unbundled VGAWonder card between August 1 and
December 1 can buy Harvard Graphics from ATI for C$210 (including
shipping and handling) while quantities last.

(Grant Buckler/19890728/Press Contact: Henry Quan, ATI
Technologies, 416-756-0718)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00017)

TENSE TO SELL CLOSE-UP/LAN
MARKHAM, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- Tense Lectronix
will sell Close-Up/LAN software from Norton-Lambert of Santa
Barbara, Calif., in Canada. Close-Up/LAN allows one PC on a
network to monitor or take over control of another PC on the
network. This can be useful in computer support, as a way of
solving users' problems without having to go to their PCs. It may
also be used as a way of exchanging information and holding
online "meetings," according to Tense Lectronix. Close-Up/LAN is
a variation on Norton-Lambert's Close-Up, which provides the same
sort of function using a modem.

Close-Up/LAN works on IBM and compatible personal computers, and
runs on Novell NetWare, IBM PC LAN and 3Com 3Plus network
operating systems. It is compatible with Ethernet, Token Ring,
Arcnet and StarLAN topologies and runs with either NetBIOS or IPX
protocols. The software is sold in configurations for two, eight,
16, 32 or 64 users.

(Grant Buckler/19890728/Press Contact: Gwen Amelard, Tense
Lectronix, 416-475-1077)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SIN)(00018)

TAIWAN PCS IN SINGAPORE
SINGAPORE, S.E.ASIA, 1989 JUL 19 (NB) -- Manufactured in Taiwan, the
Aurora's range of AT-compatible personal computers and laptops have
been introduced into the Singapore market. Aurora's computers
are aimed at government departments, business, education, design and
architectural firms, and the home market.

The computers ATC 286 and 386 SX/386 series support MS-DOS
and OS/2, Xenix and Unix operating systems, and are fully tested to
support Novell Netware.

Made by Aurora Technology Corporation, the Aurora's computers are
distributed by Wealsoft Computer Services and available for hands-on
evaluation here.

(Michael Worsley & Joseph Ming/19890724/Contact: Mr William Ng,
Wealsoft Computer services Pte. Ltd., Ph: (65) 337.1414)(123 words)



(BULLETIN)(TELECOM)(SFO)(00001)

AT&T OK'D TO ENTER DATA MARKET
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- A federal judge has
finally given a green light to AT&T to launch into electronic publishing
ventures. Judge Harold Green, who has been ruling on the rights of
the Bell System since its break-up in 1982, has lifted his ban on
AT&T's entry into the business of delivering information online.
Until now, AT&T has been banned, along with all the seven Regional
Bell Operating Companies, from sponsoring electronic news
and information services online.

Unlike the Bell Operating Companies' permanent ban on offering
information services online, however, the AT&T ruling was set to
expire August 24, 1989, seven years after the initial decision, if
the field already had been entered by strong competitors. That has
happened, says Greene, and there is no reason to prevent the long-
distance phone company from entering as well.

"In the absence of a bottleneck or other monopoly possessed by AT&T
that would enable it to discriminate or improperly to cross-
subsidize, there is no warrant for a continued restriction," he
ruled, according to a transcript acquired early by The New York Times.

AT&T can now provide news, online banking, online shopping, stocks,
games, and other electronic information as does Compuserve, GEnie,
Newsnet, Quantum Computer Services, or any other online service.

(Wendy Woods/19890729)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00002)

HOUSE MAKING TELECOM POLICY
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 JUL 21 (NB) -- While FCC chair
nominee Alfred Sikes and two other commission nominees await
Senate confirmation, the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee
on telecommunications and finance, headed by Rep. Edward Markey,
D-Massachusetts, is setting out telecommunications policy as
quickly as it can.

One move Markey has already managed is to fast-track a bill requiring
all phone companies to block "indecent" phone services unless
customers ask for them by mail, as Bell Atlantic does now. That
move is part of the Budget Act now moving through Congress. Mike
Connolly, an aide on the Markey subcommittee, thinks it faces no
opposition on its way into law.

That's not true for HR 2921, another bill approved by the
subcommittee, which will regulate junk calls and junk fax. That
bill would force phone solicitors who use computers, but not
those with live operators, to buy lists of people who don't want
such calls from the FCC. It would impose fines of $10,000 and a
year in jail on companies which defy the lists. That bill will be
opposed on the House floor.

Connolly added that no bills are pending regulating prices or numbers
such as the "Slime Line," whose animated TV pitchmen talk kids into
$2.50 phone calls. Such practices have many parents asking for
tighter price regulation on the industry.

Markey's subcommittee has also held hearings on computer
security, where Internet officials said open systems will always
be vulnerable to viruses. A bill to toughen antiviral statutes
will be referred to the Judiciary Committee, Connolly says.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890728/Press Contact: Rep. Edward J. Markey,
202-225-2836)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00003)

BULLETIN BOARD IN A BOX
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 20 (NB) -- Quanta has
released "RBBS-PC In a Box CD-ROM," with a copy of the RBBS
bulletin board system and a big shareware library. It costs $149.
CD-ROM players today retail for about $500, says Quanta's
Dennis Burke. With street prices for hard disk PC-XT clones at
$1,000, this would put anyone online for $1,650 -- with a product
equal to that offered by experienced U.S. system operators.

This product could potentially mean more competition for all online
systems, whether chat-and-conference regionals like The Well, Bell
gateways, or GEnie and CompuServe. Compared with larger systems, PC-
based bulletin board systems like RBBS offer more color, terminal
emulations, and error-control options than anything built on
mainframes. The Bell companies stand to be the big winners in
all this as call volume increases, just as they've been big winners
selling fax numbers to business.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890728/Press Contact: Quanta Press, Dennis
Burke, 612-641-0714)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00004)

NWI GOES AFTER PUBLIC USERS
EAST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 25 (NB) -- NWI, which
until last year was a public system and which switched to private
network services, is now open again to the public. The system
features Electronic Meetings, a conferencing system derived from
PARTIcipate, and news files.

The closing of The Source motivated this move, says NWI's Sherwin
Levinson. For a $20 sign-up fee, with $5 going to charity and $15
coming back as free time, users are now invited to pay non-prime
rates of $10.70 per hour and prime-time rates of $23.50 per hour
for 300-2400 baud access. Foreign users add the cost of packet nets.
NWI is available on the Tymnet and Infonet packet switch networks.

NWI was founded with venture capital help in 1987 and was bought
by its managers this year. The company, headed by Phil Moore and
Levinson, who covered the 1984 conventions online, has been most
active in building private networks, which include conferencing,
file transfers, and specific news feeds or services. This has
allowed NWI to build a profitable business out of the public eye.

People who use NWI have high praise for Electronic Meetings. It's
based on a PARTI source code license, but represents a vast
improvement over the original, with wider options and quicker
response. The company has also taken a hands-off attitude toward
its public conferencing. giving conference organizers power to
police their own members. This has won praise from many heavy
users of such systems.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890728/Press Contact: NWI, 800-624-5916,
203-289-6585)


(EXCLUSIVE)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00005)

BELLS AS IPS EXPECTED
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 JUL 21 (NB) -- U.S. regulators
will try to give the Bell companies more power to compete in
online publishing under Alfred Sikes, who is expected to win Senate
confirmation as new FCC chairman, according to industry insiders.

As head of the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration in the Commerce Department for three years, Sikes
issued broad guidelines for 21st Century telecommunications policy
which supported the Bells' demands for freedom from court-imposed
restrictions. In the area of cable TV, he supported the Bells' request to
become system operators but not programmers. In interviews over the
last few weeks Sikes has reiterated the view that the Bells should be
unshackled to provide the U.S. with seven more worldwide
telecommunications competitors.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890728)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00006)

COMSAT MONOPOLIZING HEAVENS, SAYS SUIT
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- Financier Rene Anselmo
is taking Communications Satellite Corp., or Comsat, to court,
alleging Comsat is blocking "cheaper and better satellite
communications services in order to line its own pockets and
protect an outmoded monopoly." Comsat sells U.S. companies access
to Intelsat, the 117-nation consortium of satellite telecommunications
users. He's asking $500 in actual damages, which could be increased
to $1.5 billion with punitive damages.

Anselmo's Pan American Satellite of Greenwich, Connecticut opened
its PAS-1 satellite to Latin America and Europe last September.
But Anselmo alleges Comsat has tried to put it out of business
with predatory pricing tactics and by trying to block PAS
from business opportunities. He said that without Comsat's
interference PAS would have a second satellite in orbit now, as
conceived in its original business plan.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890728)


(EXCLUSIVE)(TELECOM)(SFO)(00007)

BEST HOTELS FOR LAPTOPS
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- The scourge
of the laptop user is a hotel without a phone jack for his or her modem.
While many have complained about it, few have attempted to
rectify it, expect Andrew Seybold. The editor of Computer Insider,
a weekly newsletter on professional computing, has prepared an
online database with some 80 entries on hotels, providing information
on how the rooms are set up with phones: hard-wired, RJ-11 plugs, or
data jacks. Seybold wants others to contribute their experiences,
as well as access the information, in order to build the world's
first comprehensive database of hotel laptop accommodations.

"We're not looking to do anything except make things easier for
people," Seybold tells Newsbytes. "This is out of our own frustration."

The information will be augmented by a mailing Seybold's staff is
sending out to hotel chains. "Those that respond will be added and
those that do not will at least know that many people are looking for
this type of service from hotels," says Seybold.

The bulletin board number is 408-737-7862 and it operates at up to
2400 baud. Also online is information about the Seybold newsletter,
news, and shareware files.

Seybold says one outstanding example of a hotel with great laptop
accommodations. "The Four Seasons chain is the best. They either have
data jacks installed in every room, or have knowledgeable people who
can help you.

(Wendy Woods/19890728)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SFO)(00008)

FAX BOARD/9600 MODEM: $299
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 29 (NB) -- One of the
industry's lowest-priced fax cards is being offered by CompuCom
Corporation. The ComFax card for the PC, $299, provides CCITT
Group II and III compatibility with deferred or live sending,
automatic retry, and it supports several graphics formats. It has an
activities log, phone file, supports scanners, mouse and a range
of printers, and even offers 9600 baud general-purpose and file
transfer between ComFax modems.

The modems work in XTs or AT-compatibles.

(Wendy Woods/19890729)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SFO)(00009)

CONNECT EXPANDS, SLATES MEET
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 29 (NB) -- The Connect
Business Information Network has grown too big for its old
offices, has expanded its management team, and has started a
global user group, slated for its first meeting at MacWorld Expo in
Boston August 8.

Connect, Inc. provides global computer communications and features
front-end Macintosh and PC software, written to provide users with
icons and a full-featured electronic mail system.

The firm sponsors its first annual meeting on Tuesday, August 8
between 7 and 10 p.m. at The Computer Museum of Boston.

Connect has also chosen a Bubb Road, Cupertino site for its new
headquarters. The move is slated for late September. In addition
six new executives have joined the staff, Tom Jackson, sales
manager, Robert Chognard, sales manager, Jay Davis, development
manager, Mike Lynch, marketing manager, Judy Fair-Spaulding,
information content manager, and Diane Dillon, director of customer
support and training.

(Wendy Woods/19890729)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(WAS)(00010)

BELL ATLANTIC IN BRUSSELS
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 25 (NB) -- Bell
Atlantic has announced today that all corporate oversight and
management services for its European business activities will be
based in Brussels, Belgium.

Bell Atlantic, the parent company of several East Coast U.S.
local Bell operating companies from Virginia to Pennsylvania, has
51 European offices offering financial, telecommunications, and
systems integration services to the Western European community.

(John McCormick/19890728/Press Contact: Mike Houghton,
703-974-1677)


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

ONLINE PAYMENTS INCREASING
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- McDonnell Douglas
said it processed 65.8 million electronic transactions during the
first six months of 1989, up from 48.4 million in 1988. The number
of McDonnell Douglas terminals increased 21 percent. McDonnell Douglas
is the leading supplier of electronic transaction services to
banks and retailers, using its own terminals and networks.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890728/Press Contact: Barbara Zenz, McDonnell
Douglas, 408-379-4883)


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

NIFTY-SERVE STARTS ENGLISH BBS
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JULY 25 (NB) -- Japan's major PC network
service, Nifty-Serve, is preparing to set up an English version
of its network in Japan, The Teleputing Hotline reported in its July
25 edition. The new network will have forums, databases and bulletin
boards, in English. It could be very similar to the CompuServe network
in the U.S. The new network is expected to start service this fall,
and is aiming at foreign residents staying in Japan. There it will
have to compete with bulletin boards such as the popular TWICS.

Nifty-Serve is operated by NIF, which is a joint venture of Fujitsu
and Nissho Iwai Trading. They have an exclusive service agreement
with CompuServe. CompuServe is also part of a joint-venture
building a CompuServe-like data service in Switzerland. The
number one online data service in the U.S. seems to be engaged in
an audacious move to win market leadership in Europe, Japan, and
the U.S. simultaneously by offering data centers in each leg of
the triad.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890728/Press Contact: Nifty-Serve, +8-13-221-
0219)


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

JAPAN: HIGH-TECH DATABASE IN ENGLISH
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JULY 25 (NB) -- The Japanese Agency for
Science and Technology will set up a large high-tech database
network written in the English language in Japan next year, so says
Masayuki Miyazawa reporting in The Teleputing Hotline, a twice-weekly
newsletter on telephone-computer connections worldwide.

The database will cover "mechatronics," next generation industry
materials and biotechnology. Most of the online information is related to
highly classified data -- you can't buy it even in Japanese.
29,000 items will be translated into English the first year, with
5,000 more added each year.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890728)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LAX)(00014)

INFONET ADDS PC-TO-FAX
EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- Infonet has
announce the addition of PC-to-fax capability to the applications
messaging services already provided for its international value-
added network users worldwide.

NOTICE-Fax will become part of Infonet's NOTICE-Desktop and
NOTICE-PC products. These products permit users of IBM PCs and
compatibles to send text and data as electronic mail, as telex,
and now as fax.

Users need to know only the recipient's fax telephone number to
make use of this service -- there is no need to add a fax board to
the user's PC. If the receiving fax machine is busy, this service will
automatically resend the transmission when the receiving fax becomes
available. The system also provides a built-in fax address directory
for frequent recipients.

Like the other products in its NOTICE line, it has a forms-
building function so organizations can avoid the need for
remotely stored inventories of pre-printed forms.

(Janet Endrijonas & Dana Blankenhorn/19890728/Press Contact: Mike
Radice, InfoNet, 213-335-2600)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LAX)(00015)

OMNIFAX PPI INTRO'D
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 19 -- Telautograph
has introduced Omnifax PPI, a plain paper interface module that
receives facsimile transmissions and prints them through the
Hewlett-Packard Laser Jet II and compatible laser printers.

The PPI is a standalone peripheral that connect directly to the
telephone line and the laser printer's parallel port to receives
faxes without using a standard fax system. The unit comes
equipped with one megabyte of internal memory (the laser printer
should have the same for optimum performance). Internal memory
allows PPI to buffer and hold up to 60 pages of incoming fax
transmissions.

Omnifax PPI will operate in tandem with an existing fax machine,
receiving faxes and printing them on plain paper while the fax
machine sends transmissions. This combination still only
requires one telephone line.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728/Press Contact: Jennifer Kammeyer,
Pollare/Fischer Communications, 213-478-0995)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LAX)(00016)

TOSHIBA EXPANDS IN US
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- Toshiba America
Information Systems (TAIC) has announced a significant expansion
of its domestic U.S. manufacturing of telecommunications equipment.

The company plans to manufacture all telecommunications equipment
for sale in the U.S. domestically. Electronic key systems and PBXs
will be manufactured at company headquarters in Irvine, California
beginning October 1. A significant increase in materials to be
obtained from U.S. sources will include sheet metal, plastics,
components, PCB assemblies and power supply units.

Toshiba has already begun producing laptop computers and cellular
telephones at the Irvine facility. The move to manufacture
telecommunications equipment represents another step in Toshiba's
efforts to increase its production capacity. The company also
sees the move as evidence of its long-range commitment to the
specific needs of the American marketplace.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728/Press Contact: Sean Fitzgerald,
Berkhemer, Kline Golin/Harris, 213-620-5711)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00017)

DUTCH EUROCOM 89 DETAILS
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS, 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- RAI has announced
that the Eurocom 90 exhibition will be held in Amsterdam on the
12/15 December, 1989. The theme of this year's exposition will be
the battle for the European telecommunications service market.

A two-day conference will run in parallel with Eurocomm 89,
taking place on the 13/14 December. Both the exhibition and the
conference are being sponsored by Communications Week
International newspaper.

(Steve Gold/19890728/Press & Public Contact: Eurocomm Exhibition
Secretariat - Tel: Amsterdam ([phone] extension 1649)


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

DOWTY'S NEW MODEM; CUTS V.29/V.32/V.33 PRICING
NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- Dowty Information
Systems has launched K-Link 96, a V.32 (9600bps) modem designed to
monitor digital links operating at speeds up to 64 kilobaud, and
provide dial-up back-up over the Public Switched Telephone
Network (PSTN) in the event of failure. Pricing on the K-Link 96
depends on configuration.

In parallel with the launch of K-Link 96, Dowty has slashed the
price of its existing Syncro 1496 V.29/V.32/V.33 standard modem.
Free-standing and rack-mounted versions of the Syncro modem have
been cut, respectively, from UKP 1,695 to UKP 1,295 and UKP 1,645
to UKP 1,245. The modem is capable of 9600bps half-duplex (V.29),
9600bps full-duplex (V.32) and 14,400bps full-duplex (V,33).

(Steve Gold/19890728/Press & Public Contact: Sue Berge, Dowty
Information Systems - Tel: [phone])


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

CT-2 TELEPHONES ON THE ROCKS?
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- BYPS Communications, one of
the four U.K. CT-2 cordless telephone licensees, has placed its
plans for a national network of CT-2 base stations on hold. The
announcement comes in the wake of delays in launch dates for the
other three networks in the U.K..

CT-2 technology will allow users of second generation digital
cordless telephones to roam outside the 200 metres or so range
from their home or office base station. By keying in a personal
ID number, users will be able to place outgoing calls from
anywhere within 200 metres range of a public base station. The
CT-2 network operators are planning to install a nationwide
chain of hundreds of public CT-2 base stations for subscribers to
use.

BYPS Communications -- a consortium of Barclays Bank, Philips and
Shell U.K. -- is reported to have become worried that it would not
recoup its investment in a CT-2 network, since the announcement
of CT-2 successor, the Personal Communication Network (PCN),
which is scheduled to be available by 1995.

PCN is still at the vapourware stage, much as CT-2 was late last
year, but its promised performance is far greater than CT-2
technology. For one thing, two-way calling (inbound as well as
outbound) is possible, as is the ability to roam between base
stations, with cells 'handing off' between each other.

PCN also has a greater range than CT-2. Instead of a miserly 200
metres range, PCN theoretically has a range of between one kilometer and
five kilometers from a base station, placing it into the realm of the
existing cellular networks.

Industry experts are now saying that CT-2 will only be a limited
commercial success in the U.K., owing to a lack of standards
(a phone on one network cannot be used on other networks until a
Common Air Interface - CAI - is agreed upon for 1991 introduction).
They predict that a PCN system could be operation in parts of Europe
as early as the end of next year.

(Steve Gold/19890728)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00020)

PROCOMM PLUS TEST DRIVE UPGRADED
BEER, ENGLAND, 1989 JUL 28 (NB) -- Shareware Marketing, the U.K.
agents for Procomm Plus, have begun shipping an upgraded version
of the demonstration version of Procomm Plus, Datastorm
Technologies' communication package for the PC. The program -
Procomm Plus UK - is intended to be a tester for the full
edition, which retails for UKP 59 plus UKP 3 postage/packing.

The precursor to the UK shareware version of Procomm Plus was
Procomm Plus Test Drive (PPTD), which was shipped in the U.S.
early in 1988. Because of worries that the demo version was
sufficiently powerful to undermine sales of the program proper,
Datastorm with PPTD within a matter of weeks.

Shareware Marketing in the U.K., meanwhile, has reissued the
package in 'shareware' version, for users to try for up 30 days.
If, at the end of this period, users like the package, then they
are requested to buy a full-blown version from Shareware
Marketing in the U.K.

According to Steve Lee of Shareware Marketing, distribution of
the shareware version of Procomm Plus UK is limited to the U.K.
and Republic of Ireland. This appears to be due to the politics
surrounding the original demo version in the U.S.

The U.K. shareware version of Procomm Plus has been upgraded to
take account of the revisions to version 1.1B of the full edition
of the package, and the 1200 bits-per-second speed limitation of
Procomm Plus Test Drive has been removed.

(Steve Gold/19890728/Press & Public Contact: Steve Townsley,
Shareware Marketing - Tel: [phone]; Email on Compuserve
73447,1252; BBS on 0297-24090)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00021)

OSIWARE REVIVES MESSENGER 400 E-MAIL
BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1989 JUL 27 (NB) -- A new
company will sell and support Messenger 400, the X.400 electronic
mail software formerly sold by Sydney Development, which went
bankrupt May 22. OSIWare, based in Burnaby, has acquired
worldwide marketing rights to the software from the University of
British Columbia, which developed it. A consortium of six
European Messenger 400 distributors is backing OSIWare, said
Edward Sadowski, general manager and vice-president of research
and development at the new company.

Sadowski said all support contracts for existing Messenger 400
installations have been assigned to OSIWare, which is in the
process of contacting users. The software, which will probably
keep the same name, is available now, he said. OSIWare has hired
much of the middle management and technical staff of Sydney
Development in Canada and the United Kingdom, with a total of
about 12 employees in each country. About another dozen
employees, who have moved from members of the consortium backing
OSIWare, staff a third office in Paris.

(Grant Buckler/19890727/Press Contact: Robert Mealey, OSIWare,
604-436-2922)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00022)

MITEL UNBOUND
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JUL 27 (NB) -- The British
government has freed communications equipment maker Mitel and
parent British Telecom of two restrictions on their operations.
The British Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has ended a
ban on joint marketing and development by the two companies, and
removed a ceiling of about C$40 million on British Telecom's
purchase of Mitel products.

Both restrictions were imposed when British Telecom bought 51
percent of Mitel in 1986. Though there were no specifics on the
effect of the move, Mitel spokesman Tom Travers said "certainly
the prospects are very good." Mitel stock climbed 20 cents to
close at C$4.20 on the Toronto Stock Exchange Thursday.

(Grant Buckler/19890728/Press Contact: Tom Travers, Mitel, 613-
592-2122)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00023)

CANADA: AIDS DATA ONLINE
HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- The Canadian
Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has reached an
agreement with Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in Toronto that
will put Ryerson's database on AIDS online.

AIDSCAN, a bibliographic database containing about 500 citations to
materials found in Ryerson's library, will be available through
CCINFO, the Centre for Occupational Health and Safety's national
computerized information service. CCINFO is available both online
and on CD-ROM disks updated monthly.

(Grant Buckler/19890724/Press Contact: David Cohen, CCOHS, 416-
572-2981)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SIN)(00024)

MOTOROLA'S TALKING PAGER
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 JUL 18 (NB) -- Engineers in U.S. electronic
giant Motorola's Singapore plant have come up with a pager that can
'talk,' allowing a caller eight seconds to state an urgent message to
its user.

Recently marketed in the U.S., Europe and the Asia-Pacific, the pager,
known as "Keynote," took Motorola Singapore's R&D staff just over a
year to design and complete, using CAD/CAM/CAE workstations
linked to US R&D centres.

Erick Youngberg, the company's managing director here, says that
his R&D staff had been assigned the project because of their
experience and expertise, according to the Singapore Economic
Development Board.

He further said that Motorola planned to expand its R&D arm here to
develop a full range of products covering pagers, portable radios,
mobile radios, terminals and radio frequency control systems, many of
which will be used in Asia.

Established here in 1984, Motorola presently employs about 1,750
people and would have invested some S$70 million by the end of this
year.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890724/Contact: Erick Youngberg,
Motorola Electronics Pte. Ltd., Ph: (65) 455.0100)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(KUL)(00025)

MALAYSIA: PHONES IN EVERY VILLAGE
ALOR STAR, MALAYSIA, 1989 JUL 22 (NB) -- Every village in Malaysia
can look forward to at least one public telephone under a M$1 billion
(US$385 million) program drawn up by the federal government.

The program, which will see at least M$10 million being spent every
year, was announced by Malaysia Energy, Telecommunications and Post
Minister Datuk Seri S.Samy Velu when he launched a welfare fund here
for Universiti Utara Malaysia students.

He said that he had asked the National Electricity Board to prepare a
master plan to supply power to all rural areas in the country.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890724)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SIN)(00026)

SINGAPORE TELECOM SELLS FAX MACHINES
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 JUL 21 (NB) -- Singapore Telecom has
launched a new range of facsimile machines with built-in telephone
handsets. Customers can either buy or lease these machines which cost
between S$2,500 and S$6,500 (US$1,375 - US$3,575).

According to Telecom, the machines have enhanced features including a
larger memory for storing incoming messages, one-touch dialling and
message confirmation.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890725/Contact: Singapore Telecom, Ph:
(65) 730.3843)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SIN)(00027)

SINGAPORE: FIRST ALL-UNDERGROUND CABLES
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 JUL 20 (NB) -- Singapore Telecom is
spending S$13 million on a countrywide project to replace its network
of overhead wires with underground cables.

At present 16,000 overhead cables remain to be replaced since the
project began earlier this year.

Besides eliminating the need for unsightly overhead wires, underground
cables are more reliable since they are protected from the sun, wind
and rain, and facilitate quick detection and rectification of faults
should they occur. Spare cable pairs in an underground cable can be
used for immediate restoration of service or to meet any demand for
lines.

It is believed that Singapore will, in all likelihood, be one of the
few countries in the world to be completely served by underground
telecommunication cables when the project is completed in March 1993.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890727/Contact: Singapore Telecom, Ph:
(65) 730.3843)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SIN)(00028)

SINGAPORE TO ENFORCE COMPATIBILITY
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 JUL 20 (NB) -- The government plans to
form a national committee to look into establishing a set of standards
for information technology (IT), and eliminate the problem of
incompatibility of IT equipment supplied by different vendors,
according to Tan Chin Nam, chairman of the National Computer Board
(NCB) here.

Speaking at the opening of Singapore's first national seminar on
networking, Tan said the committee, probably to be formed before
this year-end, will concentrate on IT standards in areas such as
network management, electronic mail and electronic data exchange. He
said that members of the committee will include network users and
manufacturers, government agencies and professional organizations.

According to Mr Tan, efforts would also be made to establish links
with international bodies to enable the NCB to monitor worldwide
developments on IT standards and the NCB will be conducting programs
to promote greater awareness of IT standards here and get feedback on
related issues.

"National IT standards will help companies form strategic alliances to
stay competitive and increase their market share through networking,"
he said.

NCB is now working with the Singapore Institute of Standards and
Industrial Research to form the IT standards committee, which will
involve various "interest groups."

The seminar was organized by the Singapore Section of the IEEE
Computer Chapter, in conjunction with the Department of Electrical
Engineering of the National University of Singapore, and was attended
by some 270 delegates from some 25 countries.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890727/Contact: Mr Goh Chin Nam,
Chairman, National Computer Board, Ph: (65) 778.2211)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00001)

HIGH SPEED RISC FROM MOTOROLA
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 25 (NB) -- Motorola says its 88000
RISC (reduced instruction set computer) microprocessor family is
now in general sampling at the increased speed of 33.33 MHz.

This new, higher speed version of the chip is rated at 28 million
instructions per second (MIPS) and is scaled to a 1.2 micron
technology. The 88000 chips currently available in volume have
speeds of 20 and 25 MHz and are rated at 17 and 21 MIPS
respectively.

The 88000 has the largest number of announced systems based on
RISC technology. The 88000 is the most integrated circuit
available in mass production. It incorporates all key system
features including cache memory, cache controller, integer unit,
floating-point unit and memory in silicon. The level of
integration on the 88000 makes it easier for computer system
makers to take advantage of faster versions of the chip, according
to the company.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728/Press Contact: Dean Mosely, Motorola,
512/891-2839)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00002)

TRON-BASED TRAFFIC SYSTEM
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 27 (NB) -- The futuristic integration of man and
driving machine is closer to reality as five major Japanese electronics
and automobile firms -- Toyota Motor, Nissan Motor, Matsushita Electric
Industries, Hitachi, Toshiba and Aisin Seiki -- have announced plans to
design a TRON-based traffic system for the 21st Century. TRON is an
advanced operating system being pushed by the Japanese government
as a universal standard.

The project, embodied by the TRON Denno Automobiles Network
Technology Committee, chaired by TRON evangelist Ken Sakamura,
intends to standardize automobile-related electronic controls
by means of the TRON architecture.

For example, the committee will develop technology for driving an
automobile by a keyboard, and for highly advanced navigation systems.
Further, the committee will do research into a safer, microprocessor-
controlled road and signal system in which cars actually communicate
with a networked road system.

This will be the first time that Japan's major automakers
and electronics firms combine research on a future traffic
system. The six companies are further asking foreign automobile and
electronics firms such as Ford and Siemens to join the committee.

(Ken Takahashi/19890727)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00003)

30 MILLION NINTENDOS -- RECORD-BREAKER
KYOTO, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 22 (NB) -- The ubiquitous Nintendo Family
Computer in Japan is known in the U.S. as the Nintendo Entertainment
System, but whatever the name, the numbers add up to more than
30 million units sold worldwide.

Nintendo reports U.S. sales have surpassed the record in Japan.
14,940,000 units were sold in the U.S. and 13,780,000 units in the
Japanese market, while Europe and Oceania accounted for another
1,440,000.

Nintendo has kept monthly production at one million units,
with the biggest percentage directed to the U.S. The saturated
Japanese market now receives only 100,000 units per month.

The worldwide Nintendo craze has created a lucrative third-party
product industry. Over 30 Japanese firms, including toy makers and
software houses, have set up U.S. sales offices. Some firms which had
specialized in business software, most noticeably Japan-based
Hal Laboratories, have even given up the suit-and-tie crowd for a
piece of the skateboard set, changing from creating business
software, to making Nintendo video games.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890727)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00004)

KOREA TO MASS-PRODUCE 1MB ICS
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 27 (NB) -- Hitachi is getting so much
business for its one megabit dynamic random access memory (DRAM)
chips, that it's decided to farm some of it out. Gold Star will mass
produce one-megabit DRAM chips in Korea, based on an agreement just
signed with Hitachi, as early as next spring.

When volume production gets underway -- consisting of an estimated
monthly output of several million units -- Hitachi plans to sell them
on an original equipment manufacturing basis. This is the first Japan-
Korea tie-up in the history of the semiconductor business, and
indicates how far Korea, one of the so-called "Little Tigers" in the
Asian computer business, has risen in stature.

(Ken Takahashi/19890727)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00005)

NEW DAT DUBBING SYSTEM
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 29 (NB) -- Recording and electronics
industries in Japan, the United States, and Europe have reached a
copyright protection agreement regarding a new system for dubbing
high-fidelity digital audio tapes (DATs) from digital sources.

The new system, called Serial Copy Management System, will allow
consumers to record DAT tapes from digital sources such as compact
discs, pre-recorded DAT cassettes and digital broadcasts. Second
generation DAT recording from a homemade DAT tape will be prevented
by use of a computer chip built into the tape. Also, a special
electronic signal prevents copies from being made from copied tapes.

The copy protection method is aimed at protecting the basic
interests of both record companies and electronics manufacturers,
as well as consumers. The new system is designed to dispell
concerns about copyright protection among music producers worldwide.

The participants have sent to individual governments a memorandum
recommending legislative or administrative action applicable to
worldwide introduction of DAT recorders. The Japanese makers will
expedite standardization of technology for DAT recorders as soon as
possible so that the Ministry of International Trade and Industry
can take action allowing them to market equipment.

The participants joining the agreement were the London-based
International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, the
Recording Industry Association of America Inc. and Philips
International B.V., Thomson Electronics and Grundig, from Europe,
and Japanese major electronics firms, including Fujitsu
General, Hitachi, Matsushita Electric Industrial, Mitsubishi
Electric, NEC Home Electronics, Pioneer Electronic, Sanyo Electric,
Sharp, Sony, TDK, Toshiba, and Victor of Japan.

But the matter isn't over yet. Japanese music copyright advocacy
groups, such as the Japanese Society of Rights of Authors, Composers and
Publishers, have expressed strong opposition to the agreed system.
They are demanding the imposition of a levy on DAT tape sales as
compensation for copies made of Japanese recordings. A levy has
already been imposed on tape recorders, video cassette recorders,
and tapes in most European countries.

(Ken Takahashi/19890729)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00006)

NEC'S COLOR LCD LAPTOP
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 25 (NB) -- Japanese computer giant NEC is
scheduled to ship its first laptop computer with a full color liquid
crystal display (LCD) on August 18 in the Japanese market.

The laptop computer, named PC-9801 LX5C, is a smaller version of
NEC's 40 megabyte PC 9801LX series machine and is priced
at 748,000 yen or $5,160.

The display has a 640 by 400 dot resolution and a backlit super
twisted nematic LCD and can show eight colors: white, green, red,
blue, yellow, water blue, purple and black.

The laptop has a 12 megahertz 80286 central processing unit, two
one-megabyte 3.5-inch floppy disks, and one 40 megabyte 3.5-inch hard
disk drive. Its 640 kilobyte main memory is expandable to 3.6 megabytes
and operates the multitasking operating systems, Japanese MS-OS/2
PC-UX/V Rel. 2.0.

The machine is 339 millimeters wide by 380 deep by 115 high, or
13 by 14 by 4.5 inches. It weighs a hefty 19 pounds, or 8.7 kilograms.
NEC is expecting to sell 10,000 units of sales in the initial year.

(Naoyuki Yazawa/19890727/Press Contact: NEC, 03-452-8000)


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

COMPUTER JOB PICTURE PATCHY
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- It is the best of
times, it is the worst of times. In the Canadian data processing
job market, it all depends on who and where you are. While
openings for experienced computer programmers and systems
analysts outnumber those in any other profession, the Technical
Service Council, a Toronto placement agency, noted in a recent
report that more than 3,000 computer professionals are collecting
unemployment insurance.

Those people are out of work because they have changed jobs too
often, lack interpersonal skills, or just don't have the right
hardware and software experience, the report said. Meanwhile,
some companies have gone to Europe and the Far East to recruit
specialists whose skills are particularly scarce. Openings are
hardest to fill in Toronto, which has the highest cost of living
in Canada and, some say, even in North America. With the average
home in Toronto selling for more than C$250,000, employers are
finding that even large bonuses and loans fail to attract
recruits. The Technical Service Council said one firm has offered
interest-free loans of as much as C$170,000 to lure employees to
Toronto and still had trouble filling vacancies, and reports that
a Halifax accountant refused a transfer to Toronto that entailed
a C$5,000-a-year salary increase. The rest of Ontario also
reports a strong demand for computer professionals, as do Quebec
and British Columbia.

(Grant Buckler/19890726/Press Contact: Neil Macdougall, Technical
Service Council, 416-966-5030)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(WAS)(00008)

JAPANESE SPEECH RECOGNITION PROJECT
WALTHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 27 (NB) -- Kurzweil AI,
Inc. (not connected with the Kurzweil division of Xerox) and Fuji
Xerox Co. Ltd. today announced a joint effort to develop a
Japanese speech recognition word processing system that could
greatly speed Japanese-language text and data entry.

The potential sales for such a system are enormous, according to
Kurzweil AI's president, Bernard F. Bradstreet.

Since the Japanese written language uses thousands of individual
word symbols rather than combinations of letters, word processing
or printing in Japanese is extremely complicated.

Under the $2.5 million, two-year agreement, three Japanese
scientists will work at the Waltham headquarters with seven
Kurzweil scientists.

(John McCormick/19890728/Press Contact: Martin L. Schneider of
Martin L. Schneider/Associates, 718-875-5100, for Kurzweil AI)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(ATL)(00009)

CHRYSLER'S AUTOMATED AUTO DESIGN
DETROIT, MICHIGAN, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- In a week where the
U.S. auto industry announced production cuts and saw Nissan
win the upper hand in a union battle, Chrysler Corporation unveiled
a new design system. It's intended to cut the time, labor and
cost involved in transforming a new vehicle from an artist's
rendering to a dimensionally correct clay model.

The Conceptual Design and Rendering System was developed during
the past two years with help from Evans & Sutherland Computer, a
Salt Lake City company that specializes in visual simulation systems.

The system is thus not exclusive to Chrysler, and could be sold
to its competitors. Chrysler bought 14 of the design systems.

Thomas C. Gale, vice president of product design for Chrysler,
said the system could shrink product development times as much
as 18 months, to 2.5 years. Chrysler's first products designed
on the new system aren't scheduled for release until 1992.

Briefly, the system allows a designer to "sketch" on a computer
screen an approved exterior or interior design after
specifications like wheelbase and length are input. It then
allows the designer to color or shade a three-dimensional image
of the car, view it from all angles, and even simulate a
background to give it added realism for evaluation in terms of
cost, engineering and production feasibility. The system then
measures the image mathematically and feeds the exact
specifications into an automated milling machine which creates a
full-sized clay or foam model of the vehicle, again for
evaluation by top management. "This way we can evaluate a design
before we commit to expensive models," Gale said.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890728)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(ATL)(00010)

AUDIOTEX SYSTEM BUSINESS BRISK
WICHITA, KANSAS, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- The booming business
of providing audiotex services has been matched by a boom in
equipment to provide such services. Brite Systems, which produces
such systems based on Sperry hardware, is preparing an initial
public offering after benefitting from this boom.

Tad Snarenberger, a salesman for the company, says newspapers and
local TV stations are snapping up the Brite System, which
consists of Sperry or Panasonic PCs running a non-DOS operating
system called QNX. Marketing Director Brian Schoenthaler said
pricing is based on the number of ports, number of hours of
storage, type of nodes and the software used, with small systems
available for $40-50,000 and the largest running over $1 million.
The company filed an S-1 and proxy statement in mid-July
indicating sales for this year could double last year's $38
million.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19890728/Press Contact: Tad Snarenberger, 316-
687-4444, FAX: [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00011)

CENTURY HIGH SCHOOL DEDICATED
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 27 --  Attendees at the
completion ceremonies for California's newest high school were
treated to multimedia computer demonstrations and tours of the
"pocket sized" campus.

Century High School is a fully computer-networked one-of-a-kind
facility and is ranked as the most technologically advanced
school in the state. Technology is making it possible to have a
complete high school facility on a much smaller campus than older
schools and yet offer the academic and extra-curricular activities
found elsewhere the school system.

(Janet Endrijonas/19890728/Press Contact: Diane Thomas, Santa Ana
Unified School District, 714-558-5555)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TOR)(00012)

USERS BEMOAN QUALITY, TRAINING
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- Software quality
control, training and the cost of service were common complaints
from users who responded to IDC Canada surveys on hardware and
software support.

The subsidiary of International Data Corporation of Framingham,
Massachusetts, asked Canadian users to rate various elements
of hardware and software support. On the hardware side, IDC said,
the survey indicated a need for improvement in quality of
training, availability of spare parts, cost of service, overall
repair service and the skill of field engineers. As for software,
users were unhappy about the quality of diagnostic messages, the
permanence of fixes, the quality of updates and revisions and
quality control in the software they received.

The study also found that most users buy hardware maintenance
from the manufacturer of their equipment in the form of an on-
site maintenance agreement. Those who use third-party maintenance
do so mostly because it costs less.

(Grant Buckler/19890728/Press Contact: Mark Pellettier, IDC
Canada, 416-369-0033)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(KUL)(00013)

TECHNOLOGY DUMPING IN MALAYSIA
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, 1989 JUL 1 (NB) -- Pikom, the Computer
Industries Association of Malaysia, has warned the government by
letter of the dangers of old or used information technology being
dumped here, according to The Star.

"There are quite a number of companies practising this, and quite a
number of other companies are against it," Larry Gan, the chairman of
Pikom, was reported to have said.

He was quoted as further saying that until Pikom could form " a common
platform" regarding the issue, it can do nothing further until it gets
enough feedback from members.

Meanwhile, experts in the industry reportedly stated that unless the
government takes stern measures against the practice of buying old or
used equipment from overseas, Malaysia will end up being the
repository for such equipment from the rest of the world.

A study has found the main "dumping culprits" included multinational
companies from Taiwan, Germany, the U.S. and Japan. These
companies face enormous pressure from keen competition to keep
computer systems in their home countries updated, and Malaysia, with
its many foreign investment incentives, has become the perfect target
for them to preserve their initial investment in these systems
by transferring them to their branches here.

Thailand and the Philippines were reported as having similar problems.
Taiwan, Korea and Singapore had gone through the same stage, but the
governments there took stringent measures to alleviate the problem.

(Michael Worsley & S.Roowi/19890724)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(WAS)(00001)

MITSUBISHI ORDERS CRAY Y-MP4/132
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1989 JUL 24 (NB) -- Mitsubishi
Electric has ordered an $8.8 million U.S.-made Cray Y-MP4/132
supercomputer from Cray Research for installation by the end of this
year at Mitsubishi's Large-Scale Integration Laboratory in Osaka, Japan.

The system will use the Unix System V-based Cray UNICOS operating
system. The fastest YMPs perform more than 200 million floating
point operations per second, about 100 times faster than a 25MHz
80386-based computer.

Recent tests at the Argonne National Laboratories have showed
that, when using FORTRAN for solving systems of linear equations,
a common task for supercomputers, nine out of the ten fastest
computers tested were Crays, with the Japanese-made NEC SX-2
finishing 12th.

(John McCormick/19890728/Press Contact: John Swenson, Cray
Research, 612-333-5889)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TYO)(00002)

HITACHI/HP SHARE RISC
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 27 (NB) -- Hitachi plans to make
a Hewlett-Packard -compatible workstation for international
export following an unprecedented deal with U.S.-based Hewlett-
Packard involving a license of HP's RISC, or reduced instruction
set computer chips.

Hitachi has become the first licensor of HP's RISC technology,
a feat in itself given the possessiveness with which HP closely guards
its technological secrets. The new Hitachi workstations will employ
HP's original RISC-type HPPA microprocessor (MPU) running the OSF/1
operating system developed by the Open Software Foundation, to which
both Hitachi and HP belong.

Hitachi will offer the compatible workstation in Japan, as well as
in the U.S. and Europe, because software for the HP workstation
is already available worldwide.

Hitachi has yet to garner more than ten percent of the workstation market
here, mainly due to the slow speed of its microprocessors. So,
by virtue of borrowing technology from Hewlett-Packard, the world's
largest workstation maker, Hitachi expects to leap-frog its way to the
forefront of this still-leaderless market.

Also, Hitachi and HP say they will jointly develop a high-speed MPU
capable of operating at a staggering speed of 100 million instructions
per second, by offering each other technology in cross-licensing
agreements. In 1992, when the MPU is scheduled to be complete, Hitachi
will produce it first, followed by HP.

In related news, Hitachi has also hitched up with U.S.-based Cray
Research to cross-license some supercomputer technology. Hitachi,
which has yet to export a single supercomputer, seeks to sell them in
the U.S. and Europe soon. Consequently Hitachi's agreement is a
preemptive attempt to avoid any conflicts that might result in
patent infringement suits with the U.S. supercomputer giant.
The agreement calls for Hitachi to supply Cray with chip technology
for high-speed data processing. Hitachi, however, will not be able to go
into the business of making Cray-compatibles with its software,
which is the supercomputing standard.

Contrary to some of the press reports, the agreement does not
provide for joint marketing, for sharing of technology or trade
secrets, for the disclosure of new inventions, or allow explicit
duplication of computer designs.

Hitachi, which already has a strong relationship with IBM regarding
IBM-compatible general-purpose computers, is strategically
evolving its computer business in these two new alliances.

(Ken Takahashi and Dana Blankenhorn/19890728/Press Contact: John
Swenson of Cray Research Inc., 612-333-5889)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TYO)(00003)

OKI JOINS UNIX TEAM
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- Oki Electric Industries has
become the first Japanese firm to join a multiprocessor Unix
development team. Formed in February of this year by five firms,
including Intel, AT&T, and Olivetti, the team is developing a version of
the Unix operating system capable of controlling multiple
microprocessors, such as Intel's 80386, 80486, and 80860. The team
is scheduled to release the first product next year.

(Ken Takahashi/19890727)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TOR)(00004)

OTTAWA FIRM CATCHES NEWWAVE
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1989 JUL 26 (NB) -- Systems Interface is
the first Canadian company to announce a software product for
Hewlett-Packard's NewWave graphic operating environment. The
company is implementing TransActor, a communications package that
already supports Unix and Microsoft Windows, under NewWave. The
software, which permits PCs to be integrated into a Unix
client/server environment, will be available this fall. It will
let the PC run up to 16 concurrent sessions into a Unix server,
using the Unix host as an SQL database, file, print and terminal
server.

Prices for the NewWave version of Transactor have not been set,
said Sandy Foote, president of Systems Interface, but in existing
versions the PC program costs C$495, with site licensing prices
ranging from C$4,500 for 10 users to C$82,000 for 500 users. The
host software costs C$580 for an eight-user version, up to
C$5,500 for a 128-user version. Versions for 16, 32 and 64 users
are also offered. Transactor is already being distributed in
Europe, Foote said, and will hit the North American market in
September. Founded in 1980, Systems Interface has developed
several communications software products for proprietary
minicomputer operating systems. Transactor, first shipped last
year, is its first Unix package.

Stan Taylor, market development manager for business systems at
HP Canada, said the company is working with several other
Canadian firms on NewWave products, but cannot make any further
announcements yet. Along with the Systems Interface announcement,
HP announced that Glockenspiel of Ireland and Tymlabs of Austin,
Texas, are developing NewWave products.

(Grant Buckler/19890726/Press Contact: Sandy Foote, Systems
Interface, 613-727-5001 or 416-283-3168; Stan Taylor, HP Canada,
678-9430)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(SIN)(00005)

SINGAPORE: UNIX CASE TOOL
SINGAPORE, S.E. ASIA, 1989 JUL 18 (NB) -- Computer Systems Advisers
(CSA) new software Productive Software Resource (PSR), will make its
first public appearance at the Omni Marco polo Hotel, Singapore during
Unix Week starting from 18th to 20th July 1989.

Developed by local talents, PSR is a Unix-based CASE (computer-
aided software engineering) tool that the company says
is fully integrated and caters to a multiuser environment. Running on
Unix System V, PSR which is a data-driven and process-driven tool
with versatile high resolution graphics interface, offers great
flexibility in system analysis and design.

PSR has adopted Hypertext, and offers a Dynamic Pop-Up Icon
Menu (DPIM) as a standard feature among all modules. With DPIM,
a user can invoke a function or option anywhere within the
working screen.

Five modules include: Data Flow Diagrammer, Entity Relationship
Diagrammer, Data Dictionary, Screen and Report Painter, and
System Administration. PSR requires a host workstation architecture
and can run on NCR Tower, AT&T 3B2 or VAX 750 machines.

The suggested price of PSR is about S$4,200 [US$2,300] per workstation
or per user.

(Michael Worsley & Joseph Ming/19890724/Contact: Mr Ben Lee, CSA
Research, Ph: (65) 775.1433)(289 words)