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/1990/nb900817

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(NEWS)(TRENDS)(ATL)(00001)

CPT TO TELEMARKET PERSONAL COMPUTERS
EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- The next
phone call you get may be someone pushing PCs. CPT, once a
leader in dedicated word processors, has begun telemarketing
personal computers through its subsidiary, CPT-Computer in Eden Prairie,
Minnesota.

"This is business-to-business, it's not as if we are calling home
users, so these are not perceived as junk phone calls," explains Kathy
Tott, director of the company's telemarketing program. She says
those businesses receiving calls are former CPT customers, buyers
of equipment ranging from the old stand-alone word processor 8100,
8500, or the Phoenix Junior, a DOS dedicated word processor.

Tott says the company is moving into telemarketing because
"our PC has moved into the realm of a commodity item. There is
no longer enough of a margin to support a dealer network. The
only way to compete in the PC world is to go directly to the customer."

She says that impressive telemarketing sales by Northgate, Dell,
and Zeos prompted CPT to sell computers by phone too. She says
that Zeos, alone, sells 4,000 to 7,000 computers per month, by going
direct, via phone, to the customer, and "none had an installed base
when they began."

By making the telephone company the middleman, the customer also
saves money. The CPT PC, a system costing $1,099, consists of an
80286-based, 12 MHz computer with one megabyte of RAM, a 1.2 megabyte
floppy disk drive, a 20 MB hard drive, a 14-inch monochrome monitor,
DOS version 4.01, and a 101-key keyboard. Initially, a 30-day money
back guarantee is offered and customers get a one-year mail-in
warranty. "Within next 90 days we hope to be offering an onsite service
warranty," she added. There is also a toll free line for support.

CPT computers can be ordered by phone by dialing 800-
447-1189. CPT systems continue to be available through dealers
and distributors.

(Dana Blankenhorn & Wendy Woods/19900817/Press Contact: David
Priebe, CPT, 612-949-1728)


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

FRANCE TELECOM ACQUIRES MAJORITY INTEREST IN CYLIX
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- Cylix
Communications, which specializes in data communications networks
and services using very small aperture satellite dishes,
announced that France Cables et Radio, a subsidiary of France
Telecom, has acquired a majority ownership interest. Cylix President
and CEO Bryan M. Eagle retained a minority ownership position in
the firm. Terms were not disclosed.

FCR Chairman M. Alain Profit said no major changes were expected
in the operation of Cylix, but FCR would provide additional
information about the venture in September. France Cables et
Radio activities include operation of cable ships in Southeast
Asia and in the Pacific and Northeast African and Caribbean
regions as well as provision of technical and managerial support
of public telecommunications networks for Pacific and African
nations.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19900816/Press Contact: Mary Wendel, Cylix,
901-766-0201)


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

MCI COMPLETES TELECOM USA ACQUISITION: THE COMPANY IS SUED
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- MCI
and Telecom USA concluded their merger, combining the nation's
fourth largest long distance company for $42 per share, or about
$1.25 billion. MCI funded the merger with cash on hand and bank
debt, which it expects to repay in 3 years.

Separately, Communications Corporation of America of Southport,
Connecticut filed a $350 million damages action in a Washington,
D.C. federal court against Telecom, alleging fraud and breach of
a 1989 contract. CCA had been an agent for Telecom USA, signing
up calling card customers for its long distance telephone
services nationwide. The program offered charities, non-profits, and
affinity groups as much as 30% of the revenue CCA would have
received from long distance calls on Telecom USA's network. CCA
also committed one percent of its gross Telecom USA income to a
special fund for inner city education.

Telecom USA notified CCA in March 1990 that it was cancelling
the contract. CCA says. CCA is represented by the Washington, D.C.
office of the law firm Bell, Boyd and Lloyd which also has offices
in Chicago and Dallas.

An MCI spokesman said the company has not yet seen the CCA suit
but will defend against it vigorously. He added that while some
Telecom USA technical people may be asked to move to MCI's
offices in Richardson, Texas, that won't happen for at least 18
months. As for the marketing people, MCI has a major marketing
presence in Atlanta, he added.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19900816/Press Contact: John Houser, MCI, 800-
289-0073; William A. Duerk, for CCA, 202-466-6300)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(ATL)(00004)

LOGIC DEVICES SIGNS LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH AT&T
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- Logic
Devices signed a non-exclusive agreement with AT&T
Microelectronics, under which AT&T can make and sell Logic's
ultra-fast static random access memories using CMOS technology.

Many of LD's devices are made to military specifications.

The two companies also extended their wafer foundry agreement,
signed in January 1989, until 1996, under which Logic Devices supplies
AT&T with finished silicon wafers.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19900816/Press Contact: Logic Devices, Todd
Ashford, 408/720-8630)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00005)

US SPRINT CONTINUES INVESTOR CONFIDENCE DRIVE
OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- US Sprint
continued its drive to restore investor and employee confidence
shaken on July 17 when it announced a $42 million net operating
loss, including a one-time charge of $72 million, for the second
quarter. Chairman William T. Esrey told employees that sales are
up, expenses are being controlled, and new services are coming
on-stream.

Esrey faxed the press a copy of a letter sent to employees
noting that July looked like a good month, showing "a marked
growth in minutes" which was "higher than any other month this
year." But he acknowledged that July is normally a good month for
the company, while August is usually not as good. Esrey sent the
note to counter the "overreaction and negative publicity that
surrounded the company's second-quarter earnings announcement."

Esrey also told employees that the company's effort to reduce
costs -- including laying off up to 1,300 people -- resulted in
lower cost increases during July than in previous months.

The letter also addressed widespread speculation about a revival
of billing problems at the company. "We have no fundamental
billing problems," the letter said. Instead, new, improved
billing systems are being installed, "which delivers to our
customers never before available management tools for running
their businesses and households." The company is "currently
billing its customers on time and well within accepted industry
standards," he wrote.

Also, Esrey announced that Sprint Express, which lets customers
make operator-assisted calls from foreign locations to the United
States at significant savings, is now available from the United
Kingdom, and other countries will be added later this year. To
use Sprint Express, customers dial a local telephone number in
the foreign country, and are immediately connected to a US Sprint
operator, who records the information necessary for billing and
places the call. The service is offered to holders of US Sprint
Foncards and local exchange company calling cards, and to any
customer making a collect call to the U.S.

Finally, Sprint also announced Foncard service from Canada. The
procedure for using the cards in Canada is identical to that for
using them from within the U.S. -- customers dial an 800 number
to access a tone, dial "0" and the number, then enter their
authorization codes.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19900816/Press Contact: Steve Dykes, US
Sprint, 816-276-6891)


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

GENIE OFFERS POSTSCRIPT ROUNDTABLE
ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- The GEnie
online service has added a roundtable on PostScript, the major
standard in the world of desktop publishing. In addition to information
on the PostScript page description language from Adobe, the
roundtable will cover Book-on-Demand Publishing, PostScript
printers, and desktop finishing.

Like all GEnie Roundtables, The GEnie PostScript RT offers a
Bulletin Board for posting and reading messages by categories, a
Real-Time Conference for online discussions, and software libraries
where subscribers can download public domain software.

To access the PostScript RT on the GEnie service, just type PSRT
or M835 at any prompt.

Manager of the PostScript RT is Don Lancaster of Synergetics, a
consultant specializing in engineering design, desktop laser
printing, PostScript programming, and Book-on-Demand Publishing.
He is the author of 26 books, two videos, countless articles,
numerous PostScript utility and support packages, and several
national PostScript magazine columns. Lancaster also teaches
PostScript at Eastern Arizona College and is a consultant to most
of the leading PostScript laser printer manufacturers. Assisting
Don on the RT is Kate Daniel of Dantech, whose IBM expertise
complements Don's preferred use of Apple II and Macintosh
platforms.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19900816/Press Contact: GEnie, 1-800-638-9636)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00007)

UK: WONUNDER TOSHIBA LAPTOP CRADLE RELEASED
PETWORTH, WEST SUSSEX, ENGLAND, 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- Delphius has
released the Wununder Cradle, a docking console for the Toshiba
T1200XE and T1000SE/XE series of laptops. The UKP 359 unit allows
a single PC expansion card to be fitted to the portable machines.

According to Delphius, the docking module supports almost any 8-bit
or 16-bit PC expansion card, allowing users to retain the
benefits of a portable computer, but also have some of the
options of a desktop machine.

The Wonunder Cradle consists of an expansion chassis and an
external power supply that can be used to drive the laptop. The
unit, which has a footprint of 9.625 x 11.25 inches and sits 1.5
inches high, completely attaches to the underside of the Toshiba
laptop.

(Steve Gold/19900816/Press & Public Contact: Colin Milne,
Delphius Network Management - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00008)

UK: COLLEGE TO HOST ROBOT APPLICATIONS CONFERENCE
BRIDGEWATER, SOMERSET, ENGLAND, 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- Bridgewater
College in Somerset, England, has announced plans to host a two-day
conference called Robot Applications in Automation, on October
9th and 10th.

According to the college, the conference is supported by the
British Robot Association and the Department of Trade and
Industry, the latter of which is a UK Government department. It
will, said the college, be the first conference of its type in
the South-West of England.

In parallel with the conference will be a small exhibition where
products and information related to the conference will be
available to attendees.

(Steve Gold/19900816/Press & Public Contact: Felicity Smith, TJW
Exhibitions - tel: [phone] [voice]; 0984-23064 [fax])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00009)

NINTENDO ACCEPTING ADVANCE SALES OF SUPER FAMICON
KYOTO, JAPAN, 1990 AUG 18 (NB) -- In order to avoid mob
scenes expected when its 16-bit Super Famicon appears
in stores on November 21, Nintendo is offering buyers a
chance to purchase the units in advance.

Though Nintendo will offer advance sales to its dealers,
through wholesalers, it will not force them to take this
measure. The game giant expects department stores and
toy shops, which sell at a fixed price, to jump at the
opportunity, but doesn't think the scheme will appeal to
discount shops.

The wholesalers will receive orders from stores in
September, and Nintendo will ship the units to wholesalers
in October.

The Super Famicon is a more advanced model of its 8-bit
video game Family Computer, internationally known as Nintendo
Entertainment System. The new version is capable of
inverting, magnifying, and reducing a background screen
image. Due to the repeated postponement of the release, and
with new titles such as Super Mario Bros 4 to be released
simultaneously, the before-sales popularity for Super Famicon is
the rage.

New game products sometimes cause public concern here in Japan.
When game software house Enix, Tokyo, released its blockbuster game
Dragon Quest, it asked department stores and toy shops to sell
with reservation cards. Discount shops, however, did not sell using
this advance purchase method, so there were massive numbers of
kids lined up in front of the stores throughout the night
before the store opened.

(Ken Takahashi/19900816)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00010)

NINTENDO TO ALLOW THIRD PARTIES TO MAKE GAME CARTRIDGES
KYOTO, JAPAN, 1990 AUG 18 (NB) -- Nintendo has decided to allow
software houses to produce software cartridges for Nintendo
Entertainment System or NES, the Western version of what is called
Family Computer here in Japan, due to the criticism from some
software houses regarding the software management system of
Nintendo.

Nintendo now has software license agreements for its game
system with 59 companies, mostly Japanese. It has demanded
that software houses entrust the production of their developed
titles to Nintendo, also forcing them to pay the production
costs. Software houses have to purchase the produced
software cartridges from Nintendo.

With Nintendo's change of mind, however, software houses will
be able to make their own cartridges on the condition that
they pay a certain royalty to Nintendo. The software
houses that develop mega-hit titles can expect to keep
more of their profits by reducing their production costs,
according to Nintendo.

Nintendo will, however, retain the right to produce all
cartridges Super Famicon, a game player slated for release
in November. As its production capacity is nearing
the limit, this may be another reason for the change of its
entrustment production system for NES cartridges.

Few software houses can expect major profits by making
cartridges by themselves, however. Among them are Konami Industry,
Namco, Bandai, Jaleco,and other major software houses with
mega-hit titles.

NES is common to Japan's Family Computer in 8-bit processing
ability but the two units are not compatible. Nintendo has shipped
2.34 million units of NES, and the 164.8 million units of the
software for NES has been shipped.

(Ken Takahashi/19900816)


(EXCLUSIVE)(APPLE)(LON)(00011)

HITACHI MAC CD-ROM SYSTEM RELEASED IN UK, U.S. PRODUCTS PROMISED
HAYES, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- Hitachi's New
Media division has released the CD-Mac, a CD-ROM system
for the Apple Macintosh. The UKP 645 unit has an access time of
less than 450ms, and a mean time between failure of 25,000 hours.
The product is being distributed throughout Europe but there
are no plans to sell it elsewhere, Newsbytes was told.

The CD-Mac system consists of Hitachi's new CDR-1650 CD-ROM
drive with Apple Mac driver software. Supplied with cables etc.,
the package is claimed to be ready to use, once installed in
any Apple Macintosh computer.

Nick Rogers, Hitachi New Media's general manager in the UK,
had said of the UK introduction: "As leaders of the CD-ROM
market, we are delighted to be able to bring the benefits
and advantages of CD-ROM technology to Apple users. The
Hitachi software development division is a major step for use
and one that will ensure that Hitachi continues to supply
Apple users with high performance and quality products."

The software is the first package to come from Hitachi's new
software development division in Anaheim, California.
The product is not going to be shipped into the US or outside
Europe, Newsbytes was told by Eric Kamayatsu, director of sales,
at the company's Compton, California offices. He said the reason
this particular product will not be introduced in the US
is because new products are in the wings.

He said that a CD-ROM drive and software for the Macintosh
environment will be among several announcements Hitachi has
slated for a CD-ROM expo in Boston in October. Kamayatsu says
that Hitachi perceives that now is the time for Hitachi to
"go into the horsepower race -- we will have to be competitive,╙
in the CD-ROM arena.

(Steve Gold/199008/Press & Public Contact: Hitachi UK -
Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00012)

MACWORLD ATTENDANCE UP MARGINALLY
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- Attendance at
Boston's MacWorld Expo was only marginally above the year before,
according to the promoter's figures, despite a one-day expansion
of the show and vigilance against counterfeit passes.

Mitch Hall Associates said Friday that 48,000 people passed
through the show gates, an increase of 1,000 over the previous year.
A spokeswoman for the show promoter said both figures included all
paid attendance plus press and speakers.

A breakdown of the number of free press and speaker passes was
not available. Mitch Hall Associates created considerable
controversy in the Macintosh world this summer by attempting to limit
the number of passes available to the press.

The meager increase in attendance came despite the elimination of
Industry Day. In previous MacWorld Expos, the show's first day was
closed to the public so the press and exhibitors' invited guests
could have free run of the show floor. This edition of the show was
the first that the public could attend all four days.

In addition, all badges at this Expo carried the legend "Do Not
Duplicate Under Penalty of Law," and were scrutinized for
authenticity under ultraviolet light. Mitch Hall Associates did not
comment on the matter.

(Daniel J. Rosenbaum/19900817/Press Contact: Mitch Hall Associates
617 361 2001)


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

U.S. LOSING TELECOM MARKET
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- If it seems like
you haven't seen a U.S.-made phone or fax machine in a long time,
it's not your imagination. A new U.S. Commerce Department study
confirms the U.S. is losing market share in the low-end of the
telecommunications market, which threatens its global
competitiveness.

Commerce Secretary Robert Mosbacher tried to look on the bright
side. "U.S. industry can remain the world leader by taking a
long-term view, emphasizing research and development spending and
improvements in manufacturing technology, and keeping up pressure
on export markets," he said in a press release. "The U.S.
government will do its part by aggressively pursuing measures to
open markets in countries that erect unfair barriers."

The Commerce Department report, ordered by the U.S. Congress in
1988, said that the overall trade picture had some bright points,
including that the US is still a world leader in telecommunications.
But it says the U.S. market share in fibre optics fell to 50 percent
of the world market in 1987, down from 75 percent in 1984. The
picture was even worse in the office data switching equipment
area, where the U.S. share dropped from 100 percent to only 36
percent for the same period.

In markets like ordinary phones, faxes, and private
branch exchanges, however, much of the market battle has already
been lost, the report notes. The U.S. can only regain its
leadership by investing heavily in manufacturing improvements,
according to reports. Instead, many U.S. manufacturers are moving
production to lower-wage areas like Mexico and Taiwan. Japanese
companies are continuing to install robots and new machinery.

Another Japanese advantage is its low cost of capital, an
advantage which has dissipated somewhat this year. While the U.S.
retains its lead in innovation, meanwhile, the Japanese are
catching up there as well.

To stay ahead, the Commerce Department also urges that the
Federal Reserve take steps to reduce the cost of capital, make
the research and development tax credit permanent, provide
incentives to students, teachers and employers to raise skill
levels, and collect more meaningful data to evaluate U.S.
competitiveness.

(Dana Blankenhorn & John McCormick/19900816/Press Contact: Eileen
Doherty, U.S. Department of Commerce, 202-377-1551)


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

BELL OF PENNSYLVANIA APPEALS ANTI-CALLER ID RULING
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- Bell
of Pennsylvania has asked the state Supreme Court to permit an appeal
from a lower court ruling banning Caller ID in Pennsylvania. On
May 30, the Commonwealth Court in Harrisburg had overturned a
Public Utility Commission order authorizing Caller ID., which
displays a caller's telephone number on a screen at the telephone
being called before the call is answered.

In its documents, Bell of Pennsylvania argued the Commonwealth
Court erred when it ruled Caller ID violated the Pennsylvania
Wiretap Act and constitutional privacy. It said the ruling
disregards the privacy rights of persons who receive obscene and
harassing calls. Furthermore, the company said, the Commonwealth
Court decision jeopardizes emergency 911 telephone service,
which, like Caller ID, provides the caller's telephone number to
police, ambulance and fire dispatch centers. The Supreme Court
must agree to hear an appeal of the lower court ruling before the
appeal can be initiated. A decision on whether to accept the
appeal is expected by Bell of Pennsylvania within a few weeks.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19900816/Press Contact: Thomas C. Duddy, Bell
of Pennsylvania, 215-466-4549)


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

MICHIGAN BELL LAUNCHES CALLER ID-BASED SERVICES
DETROIT, MICHIGAN, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- Michigan Bell
has launched new calling services, based on Signaling System 7 data
used to provide the controversial Caller ID offering, to certain
exchanges in Detroit. The services were authorized by the
Michigan Public Service Commission August 9 and become available
on September.

Included are Call Screening, which allows customers to divert
unwanted calls to a telephone company recording;
Distinctive Ringing, which gives a special ring to a group of up
to 10 phone numbers, selected by the customer; Automatic
Callback, which lets customers call the last number which called
them; and Repeat Dialing, which dials a busy number for up to 30
minutes, unattended.

The new services will be available initially in 68 Detroit
exchanges serving more than 350,000 residence customers.
Michigan Bell will introduce the services in stages as it
installs the needed equipment and software in its call-processing
centers.

Call Screening is priced at $4.50 a month, the others at $4 a
month. During a 30-day introductory period, Michigan Bell will
waive a one-time setup charge of $7.50 for existing customers.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19900816/Press Contact: Dean Hovey, Michigan
Bell, 313-223-7199)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00016)

INTERNATIONAL TELECHARGE APPOINTS ROBERT LUND PRESIDENT
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- International
Telecharge, an alternative-operator company which has been
struggling to enter other businesses, hired Robert E. Lund as
president and chief executive officer.

Lund had been president of EDS' Payment Services Division.
Prior to that he was a principal in MTECH, the computer services
division of the MCorp bank holding company of Dallas.

ITI sees itself becoming more involved in transaction-based
operations, a spokesman told Newsbytes.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19900816/Press Contact: Robert Heath,
International Telecharge, 214-653-5510)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00017)

IMM ULTRAPHONE SYSTEMS BEING INSTALLED IN MEXICO
KING OF PRUSSIA, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) --
International Mobile Machines Corp. announced that the company is
completing installation of Ultraphone wireless digital
radiotelephone systems in five locations in Mexico under a
contract with Telmex, the national phone company.

Rolm represented IMM in the transaction. Telmex, the often-criticized
national phone monopoly, has a license to run cellular phone
services throughout the nation, but private consortia also have
regional cellular licenses, which were awarded early this year.

IMM vice president John Goetz explained to Newsbytes that the
UltraPhone is a plain telephone system which runs with radio
waves to a central switch. It can also work as a mobile
telephone, when you install a converter and run a plug to the
cigarette lighter in your car, for up to 37.5 miles away from
the switch.

Goetz said Telmex first used the UltraPhone last year to restore
service to tourist hotels hit hard by storms. Now it's being
implemented to bring phone service to areas which were
previously without it. Telmex estimated the cost of reworking
its network and solving the rural backlog at $12-$14 billion.

Telmex has standardized on the IMM Ultraphone radiotelephone
system as the technology of choice to serve customers who do not
yet have phone service.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19900816/Press Contact: John A. Goetz, IMM,
215-278-7800)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00018)

WESTERN UNION STRIKE ENDS
UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) --
The strike against Western Union by the Communications Workers of
America ended, with tentative agreement on a new two-year
contract covering about 2,500 workers, but not before Western
Union locked out employees for four days and picketed the company's
offices in Washington, D.C.

"We are extremely pleased with this agreement," said CWA President
Morton Bahr. "It is clearly one in which our members can be proud
and one that will serve the shareholders and customers of Western
Union well."

The agreement included a 3.5% annual raise, plus increases for
part-time employees, retention of the Wage Investment Plan, along
with current health insurance and pension policies, and four days
back-pay for those employees who were locked out by management
during the dispute. Once AT&T completes purchase of Western
Union's Business Services Group, negotiations will have to begin
for the 4-500 workers who will be transferred to AT&T as a
result. Other AT&T workers are also covered by CWA contracts.

Separately, the company announced problems with its proposed
conversion of preferred shares into common stock. The firm's
annual shareholders' meeting was adjourned, to provide additional
time for receipt of shareholder votes on the proposed
reclassification. The meeting was scheduled to pick up again
August 16. And the exchange offer in Western Union's 19.25%
secured notes and 16% notes was extended until August 20.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19900816/Press Contact: Warren R. Bechtel,
Western Union, 201-818-5790; Steve Rosenthal, Communications
Workers of America, 202-728-2390)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00019)

BRITE GRANTS RIGHTS TO SCANDINAVIA
WICHITA, KANSAS, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- Brite Voice
Systems entered into a manufacturing and marketing agreement with
KTAS Business to Business, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
largest telephone company in Denmark. Just days earlier, it
entered into a similar agreement with Infovox AB of Sweden, which
won the right to make and sell the company's equipment in Norway
and Sweden.

Infovox is a subsidiary of the Swedish Telecom Administration.

KTAS will represent Brite's voice response units, which are also
used in audiotex systems, in several countries. Stan Brannan,
Brite's president and CEO, said that according to Probe Research,
an independent research company, "Brite has the largest installed
base of voice response equipment in Europe and thus the most
experience on the continent."

Brite has similar agreements covering the United Kingdom
Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Sweden.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19900816/Press Contact: Brian Schoenthaler,
Brite Voice Systems, 316-687-4444)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00020)

NEW TELECOM PRODUCT: Voicemail Enhances Software
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- Voicemail
International announced the release of new software for its
systems.

Version 4.2 features user interface enhancements, including
urgent message capabilities to allow user-selectable priority
settings for all types of messages and improved silence
compression to eliminate lengthy gaps in recorded messages,
reducing the length of a message and saving disk space.

The system's new Forum Box allows outside callers to listen to
and/or record messages on a public information board. This
information could include anything from items for sale and
special event notices to public opinion polls.

Enhancements to the company's automated attendant option include
the addition of dynamic line allocation which eliminates the need
to assign telephone lines to specific answering modes. For
example, a company that currently dedicates lines to individual
departments for special custom greetings can now provide these
greetings on a single group of lines used for both telephone
answering and user access.

The new software version can also support up to 999 message
desks, a signaling connection for inbound calls from
overseas, and better integration with Ericsson MD110 equipment.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19900816/Press Contact: Voicemail International
John Dennis, 408/980-4077)


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

TI JAPAN TO DEVELOP CHIP SETS FOR TELEBIT
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 -- Telebit
disclosed it is jointly development a new high speed modem with
Texas Instruments and TI Japan, using its proprietary
multicarrier architecture.

Texas Instruments Japan will develop application-specific chip
sets embodying Telebit's technology, providing them to selected
manufacturers.

Telebit went public April 27 and is traded on the
over-the-counter market under the symbol TBIT.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19900816/Press Contact: Telebit, Kristi Furrer,
408/745-3099)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00022)

METROMEDIA/ITT INTRODUCES NEW PHONE CALL RATE FOR BUSINESSES
SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 -- Metromedia/ITT
Long Distance announced the introduction of Precision, a
flat rate product for New York/New Jersey metropolitan area
business callers.

The plan includes MetroSaver service, which is sensitive to
regional calling patterns, assuring a lower rate from a company's
locale to the destinations it calls most frequently. The company
claims a business might realize savings of 10-27% with MetroSaver.

The full-scale rollout of Precision is the culmination of a two-
year effort, according to Metromedia/ITT President Howard
Finkelstein. Over that time period, Precision was offered in
selected areas of the country, where it has earned strong
acceptance.

Precision's rates are not affected by the destination
of the call. In addition, it carries no traditional charges such
as set-up and monthly fees, or minimum usage requirements. Other
cost-saving features include six-second billing increments for
more accurate measurement; rates based on total minutes of usage
allowing costs to decline as usage increases; and Corporate
Billing Discount and Fixed Period Discount plans that can further
reduce long distance bills.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19900816/Press Contact: Metromedia/ITT,
Scott Shepherd, 201/330-5209)


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

NORTHERN TELECOM, US WEST COMPLETE TEST OF CALLER NAME DISPLAY
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) --
Northern Telecom and US West announced the completion of the
first successful market trial of the Caller ID Name Display
service.

This new calling service allows customers, who have
telephones equipped with a display screen, to see the name under
which a phone number is registered before answering the phone.
Ordinary Caller ID only displays the number a call is coming from
-- the new service interfaces that number with a database of
names.

Grand Forks was selected for the trial because it has
appropriate demographics and only one switching station.

About 120 residential and small business customers participated
in the trial, which focused on the technical aspects of providing
the service. This included testing the Northern Telecom software
running on a Northern Telecom DMS-100 switch, which stored and
delivered the names to the customers, and the US West database of
names and phone numbers.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19900816/Press Contact: Northern Telecom,
Jeff Benson, 615/734-4335)


(EXCLUSIVE)(IBM)(TOR)(00024)

ADD-IN VENDOR READY AND WAITING FOR 1-2-3 3.1
NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- When Lotus
1-2-3 Release 3.1 hits the shelves -- probably in the third
quarter -- Intex Solutions will be ready with a range of
enhancement products.

Intex said the following products will be available for 1-2-3
Release 3.1: Forecast!, Inventory Analyst, Rescue Plus, Trans for
1-2-3, Financial Toolkit, Intex Bond Calculations, Intex
Mortgage-Backed Calculations and Intex Option Price Calculations,
Functions III and Guardian. These products also work with earlier
releases.

The newest of these are Functions III, a collection of analytic
functions, and Guardian, an automatic backup program.

Despite speculation that enhancements to 1-2-3 might erode the
market for add-ins, Intex contended the need will always exist.
"The concept of products that enhance the core spreadsheet will
always be around," Jim Wilner, vice-president of Intex's PC
Products Division, told Newsbytes.

He said add-in sales are still stronger for Releases 2.01 and 2.2
of 1-2-3 than for the more elaborate Release 3.0. He added,
though, that relative to the installed bases of each version
sales appear to be about the same.

Lotus previously announced that 1-2-3 Release 3.1 will ship in
the third quarter of 1990. "As soon as we get the word and do the
final compatibility testing with the shipping version," the add-
ins will be available, Wilner said.

Intex's 1-2-3 Release 3.1 enhancements are priced as follows:
Forecast!, US$145; Inventory Analyst, US$199.95; Rescue Plus,
US$149.95; Trans for 1-2-3, US$95; Financial Toolkit, US$199.95;
Intex Bond Calculations, US$495 and up; and Intex Option Price
Calculations, US$495. They are available directly from Intex
Solutions.

(Grant Buckler/19900816/Press Contact: Jim Wilner or George
Jgarjian, Intex Solutions, 617-449-6222)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00025)

JOYSTICK MAKER TO GET LOAN FROM LOGITECH
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1990 AUG 17 (NB) --
Signalling a closer relationship between the two companies, Mouse
manufacturer Logitech International has signed a letter of intent
to loan C$840,000 to Advanced Gravis Computer Technology.

Advanced Gravis, based here, makes joysticks, other input devices
and a line of portable hard disk drives. Logitech is a major
manufacturer of mice and scanners with headquarters in Fremont,
California.

Dave Reid, vice-president and general manager of Gravis, told
Newsbytes his company buys Logitech technology for use in its own
products, and the companies also share an interest in sound
technology for personal computers. "We don't compete with each
other, we tend to complement each other." While remaining
separate entities, he said, the companies plan to work together
in a number of ways.

The loan is to be secured by a three-year convertible debenture,
Gravis announced. The loan still depends on final agreement by
each party on the form and terms of the debenture and warrants.

The debenture will be convertible, at Logitech's option, into
1,500,000 units of Gravis, at a price of C$0.56. Each unit will
consist of one share of Gravis common stock and one non-
transferable warrant entitling Logitech to purchase an additional
share at C$0.70 within five years from the date the loan is
advanced. Exercising this option would give Logitech about 34
percent of Advanced Gravis on a fully diluted basis and make
Logitech the single largest shareholder.

Reid said he expects this option to be exercised, although "I
couldn't tell you when." A connection with Logitech could help
Gravis in several areas, such as improving its distribution in
Europe, he said.

Gravis will also give Logitech a first right of refusal to
purchase any further securities it issues, except for any
currently outstanding rights to purchase securities and employ
incentive options.

Proceeds from this private placement will be used to repay a
$300,000 (U.S.) bridge loan made by Logitech in June 1990 and to
supplement working capital. With this investment, Gravis' working
capital position will be improved and will allow the company a
better opportunity to meet the strong expected demand for its
joystick products this fall.

Reid said the original bridge loan was obtained to "keep our
business rolling at the level it is now." By exercising its
option to buy a stake in Gravis, Logitech may help meet future
capital needs, he said.

The transaction is subject to approval by Gravis shareholders and
regulatory authorities.

(Grant Buckler/19900816/Press Contact: Dave Reid, Advanced
Gravis, 604-434-7274; Tim Zier, Logitech, 415-795-8500)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00026)

STM SYSTEMS REORGANIZES, CLOSES MANITOBA PURCHASE
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- Consolidating a
structure pieced together out of several companies, STM Systems
has reshuffled five divisions into three geographical regions.

Ray Lancashire, a spokesman for STM, told Newsbytes the key point
of the shuffle was to give customers a single point of contact
with the company. In the past, he said, customers might have
dealt separately with several units of the firm. That was largely
because of the way the company was created, through the
acquisition by parent International Semi-Tech Microelectronics of
two large computer service bureaus and several smaller firms.

STM Systems also completed its purchase of Manitoba Data Services
from the provincial government of Manitoba. The computer service
firm, with more than 200 employees, was formerly a provincial
Crown corporation.

(Grant Buckler/19900817/Press Contact: Ray Lancashire, STM
Systems, 416-979-3900)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(NYC)(00027)

NEW YORK STATE POLICE COMPUTER SEIZURES CLARIFIED
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- Law
enforcement officials seized more than $50,000 in computer
equipment and arrested 13 so-called "hackers" late in the
afternoon of August 16, according to the New York State Police.

Senior investigator Donald Delaney said that a 14 year-old
student at Manhattan's Stuyvesant High School, identified,
because of his age, only as his computer nickname, "Zod,"
was the organizer of a gang of hackers that illegally
obtained a C language source program from the City University in
Bellevue, Washington.

Delaney said that the stolen program was developed
by AT&T for Unix systems and has a value of $1.2 million.
Delaney also said that copyrighted computer games were also
stolen by the group from the university system.

The thirteen persons arrested include five adults and eight
juveniles. The adults were identified by the police as
Cornell University student Teerawee Unchalipongse, 19, of
Staten Island; St. Francis College student Anhtu Nguyen, 21
of Brooklyn; Bronx High School of Science student Chai Hung
Ling, 17, and Bruce Monroe, 32, an unemployed electronics
technician, both of Queens; and Jeff Miller, 21,
Franklin Square, N.Y. The naming of the five adults contradicts
earlier information given by sources to Newsbytes that all
arrested were minors.

Special Investigator Delaney told Newsbytes that computers
are normally impounded in cases of this nature because they are
"instrumentalities of the case just as a weapon would be seized
in a robbery arrest." He said that investigators must now examine
all of the hard disks and thousands of floppy disks seized
to determine whether they contain telephone numbers and passwords
for signing onto private computer systems. Additionally, they
must check all of the disks to see if they contain
copyrighted material. The equipment then becomes evidence
that is needed for any cases that go to trial."

When asked by Newsbytes what eventually becomes of the
equipment, Delaney said "Most of these cases concerning hackers'
entry into unauthorized areas are usually resolved through plea
arrangement with the district attorney that has jurisdiction
for the case. Usually a condition of the arrangement is a
signing over of the equipment to the local police and the
destruction of the floppy disks."

Delaney also told Newsbytes that Zod is a member, possibly the
leader, of "Mod," a group of high school and college hackers
that meets monthly in the public area of New York City's CitiCorp
Center to discuss and plan illegal computer activities. He said
that members of this group had been investigated for a number
of hacker-related crimes and that Zod himself is a suspect in
an electronic break-in into a Pentagon-based Air Force
computer. Delaney said that this connection became apparent
when the New York State investigation crossed lines with one
in progress by the Air Force's Office of Special Investigations
(OSI).

Major Steve Headily, the director of public affairs for the Air
Force OSI confirmed to Newsbytes that Zod is a subject in the
on-going investigation of the Air Force break-in. Headily also
said that, while he couldn't comment on the details of the
investigation, "It should be understood that the Air Force
computer system in question is completely and only used for
administrative purposes. There is no classified material
available through this system."

Headily further told Newsbytes, "Although no classified
material was available on this system, we look at this as a
serious incident both because of the act of a break-in and
the chance that, should someone amass a large amount of even
non-classified data, a security threat could occur."

Headily said that his office was aware of the New York state
action and, while it did not participate in the press conference,
"OSI investigator Charles Kellum is working closely with New
York state police personnel."

Headily noted that the Air Force OSI is the only federal agency
that has a full time unit dedicated to the investigation of
computer-related incidents, "Our investigators are a group of
computer professionals that not only get into cases like this
but also cases involving espionage, contractor fraud, e-mail
harassment -- anything related to computers."

Newsbytes spoke to one of the minors arrested in the police
action and was told, "I signed on to a BBS and saw a number
that was supposedly a public board. I called and downloaded
some games and then uploaded a game, Nuclear War, and a virus
scanning program. This is common practice on public boards --
to download software and then to make a contribution by
uploading. I signed on another time and, while I was on, I got a
message 'Who are you?' The computer then said 'This call is
being traced.'

"I got confused and hung up. I never called back. The people
who took the computer told me that number was the City
University in Bellevue, Washington."

In response to a Newsbytes question about what he knew
about the possible return of his computer, the minor said,
"I asked them when I could have it back and they said 'from a
long time to never.' I have to go to court in a few weeks.
I guess I'll find out then."

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19900817)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(SYD)(00028)

AUSTRALIA'S FIRST APPLETALK ROUTER/BRIDGE INSTALLED
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- Netcomm Australia has
introduced Australia's first Appletalk Router/Bridge with built-in
ISDN (integrated services digital network) terminal adaptor.

Dubbed the "ISDN H-Server," the unit allows users of an Appletalk
network to link to distant locations via a 64 kbps [kilobits per
second] digital channel. Included is the ISDN H-Server Manager
software, which allows users to initiate data calls from the network
by using the built-in scripting language. The unit also features
password access and automatic calling party identification.

(Sean McNamara/19900816)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00029)

AUSTRALIA: COMPUTER SOCIETY SHOW SET FOR SEPTEMBER
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- The Australian Computer
Society's (ACS) annual conference is to be held at Jupiter's Resort
in the state of Queensland on September 5 through 8. ACC90 is to be
hosted by that state's branch of the ACS.

The event has attracted good sponsorship from the private sector,
including companies such as Xerox, Stallion Technologies, Q-Net,
Dec, Toshiba and OTC. The major sponsors are the PA consulting group
and the Queensland Department of Manufacturing and Commerce. The
them this year is "composite systems," which addresses the fact
that many computer users have a veritable Irish Stew mixture
of computer brands and platforms.

Topics include distributed databases, computer security,
project control and artificial intelligence in systems design.

(Paul Zucker/19900816/Contact: ACS [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(SYD)(00030)

IBM AUSTRALIA TO EXPORT AUS$11M IN KANJI CONTROLLERS
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- IBM Australia is to
manufacture AUS$11M worth of its Japanese Kanji character controllers
for export to the Japanese market this year.

The controllers, to be built at IBM's manufacturing plant at
Wangaratta, Victoria, are used by desktop display terminals designed
to handle the complex Kanji character set. The controllers are
expected to earn Australia AUS$11M this year and AUS$35M next year.
Until now, the Wangaratta plant was only used to produce the card
incorporated in previous models, which were produced in Japan. Now,
the whole controller is produced in Australia, including the plastic
used.

(Sean McNamara/19900816)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(MOW)(00031)

MOSCOW: NEW EXPERT SYSTEM ANNOUNCED
MOSCOW, U.S.S.R., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- A software tool which finds ways to
improve the design of different existing systems has been developed by
a group of Moscow-based scientists at the Metod cooperative
in Moscow.

The Novator system is capable of simultaneously finding the need for an
improvement in the parameters of a prototype and devising changes,
innovative enough to be patented.

Using Novator consists of 3 steps. First, you build a computer-based
model of the system you wish to analyze and improve. This is the most
difficult part and involves the most human interface according
to Nikolay Svetlov, Metod chief.

In the second stage of the process, the computer locates any
problems and finds all the contradictions in the model. It also suggests
different ways to override these problems. The final stage, how to
implement the problem solving, again involves human interface.

According to Svetlov, the Novator package can generate a series of
patent-level ideas. It can also be used to compose new technical
specifications and analyze the growth of existing systems. "You do,
however, have to be smart enough to build a proper model for computer
to analyze," Svetlov noted.

The program is available immediately from Metod which is located P.O.B.
453 Moscow 119048 U.S.S.R. and costs 1970 rubles per one copy-protected
diskette. Although the hard currency price is still not finalized because of
coop banking difficulties, foreign buyers are also welcome, Svetlov
said.

Metod is a one and a half year-old cooperative entity with 15
permanent and up to 50 temporary workers. Fifteen of them hold
doctorate degrees in different sciences. The cooperative's policy
is to ship copy-protected diskettes and give 60 percent discounts
to buyers who wish to buy more than one package.

(Kirill Tchashchin/19900810/Nikolay Svetlov, Metod, [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00032)

MARKETPULSE, GROUP 1 SOFTWARE INK AGREEMENT
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) --
MarketPulse, a supplier of data-driven marketing products and
services here, has signed a strategic marketing agreement with
Group 1 Software, a supplier of software to the marketing
industry.

The companies will work together to sell complementary products.

MarketPulse, a division of Computer Corporation of America,
offers marketing database software as well as consulting
services. The company said its products provide fast online
counts, profiling, statistical analysis and automated mail
planning.

Group 1 Software sells mainframe, minicomputer and PC software
for marketing and mail management.

In a prepared statement, Group 1 Software President Ron Friedman
said the agreement "marries two complementary product lines to
offer complete marketing capabilities as a total solution to
customers' needs."

(Grant Buckler/19900809/Press Contact: Lisa D. Gibson, Computer
Corp. of America, 617-492-8860)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00033)

PHIGS CONFORMANCE TEST MADE AVAILABLE
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- A test system has
been developed by the NIST (National Institute of Standards and
Technology) to evaluate PHIGS, the Programmer's Hierarchical
Interactive Graphics System, a Federal information Processing
Standard (FIPS 153) based on ANSI X3.144-1988, a voluntary
industry standard.

PHIGS systems are a standard library of programming routines used
to produce 3-D graphics images and the test suite consists of
FORTRAN programs which can be ported to a number of operating
systems. PHIGS validation tests cost $1,000 for a single
operating environment and a user guide describing the test suite
and evaluation procedures is included.

PHIGS evaluation programs can be ordered from John Cugini, A266
Technology Blvd., NIST, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, phone 301-975-
3248.

(John McCormick/1990809/Press Contact: Jan Kosko, NIST, 301-975-
2762)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00034)

GLOBAL VILLAGE DEMO SET FOR HONG KONG EXPO
WANCHAI, HONG KONG, 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- With Hong Kong's ITWeek,
and its incorporated CENIT show just around the corner, the
newly founded Hong Kong Open Systems Interconnect Cooperative
(HOSIC) is planning to bring numerous vendors together in
demonstrations of open systems operations at the end of
September in Hongkong.

HOSIC, the name is a pun on the Cantonese expression "Ho sic,"
meaning "very tasty," is the local industry body promoting Open
Systems Interconnect (OSI). OSI has been described as the gateway to
the "global village," the concept under which any computer system
will be able to communicate around the world with any other system,
regardless of the various makes of the equipment used.

A variety of manufacturers and vendors of hardware and software will
be seen working side by side on the same stand, exchanging
information between each others' systems, locally and
internationally.

ITWeek will run for a week, beginning on Sunday 23rd September, at
the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

(Norman Wingrove/19900810/Press Contacts: John Daly, Technical
Committee Chairman, HOSIC, + 852 987 6102 or Keith Cameron, Chairman,
HOSIC, + 852 855 0050)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00035)

NEW BOOK: HP Laserjet Essentials
WITHAM, ESSEX, ENGLAND, 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- Headway Publications
has released a book called 'HP Laserjet IIP Essentials,' which
aims to guide the novice user through using his/her new Laserjet
IIP laser printer. The book, which is available immediately in the
UK, costs UKP 19-95.

According to Paul Coleman of Headway, first time laser printer
users need guidance on how to obtain the best results and the new
book does just this. The book covers the basic features of the
printer, including the configuration and set up, as well as
discussing using the printer with popular packages such as
Wordperfect, Lotus 1-2-3, dBASE, Ventura and MS-Windows.

'Laserjet IIP Essentials' is available to order from most major
UK bookshops or direct from the publishers.

(Steve Gold/19900810/Press & Public Contact: Paul Coleman,
Headway Publications - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LON)(00036)

NEW FOR MACINTOSH: ISDN Card From SCII In France
PARIS, FRANCE, 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- Services et Conseils en
Informatique (SCII) of Paris has unveiled the Mac Devise SO card,
an ISDN (integrated services digital network) Channel B board for
the Apple Macintosh. Pricing will be decided closer to shipment
date later this year.

According to SCII, the card can carry voice, data and image
transmissions between PCs, Macs and a variety of other computers.

The card connects to the Mac Nubus (internal bus) and, the
company claims, meets the French V21/22 Numeris network
standards, as well as ISDN standards in Belgium, West Germany,
the UK and the USA.

Bundled with the card is Transfile II, a package for the Mac
developed by SCII that allows data from various programs and
operating systems to be sent and received to ISDN standards. Also
available are a family of networking packages that allow the ISDN
card to be driven by a network.

(Steve Gold/19900810/Press & Public Contact: Marie-France Cohen,
SCII - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LON)(00037)

NEW FOR MACINTOSH: Plottergeist Plotter Connection System
WEST DRAYTON, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- Protek, the
Hewlett-Packard specialist, has begun shipping Plottergeist, a
software package that allows the Apple Macintosh to be connected to a
wide variety of plotters.

The UKP 275 package was developed by Palomar Software in the US
and, the company claims, is compatible with most popular plotters
and virtually all Macintosh applications in the computer-aided design
(CAD), graphics, drawing, and presentations area. The fully
standard Mac interface means that the package can be installed
under the Mac Chooser.

Plottergeist comes with a number of program modules that generate
smoothed text from a variety of font sources, either from
Adobe's Type Manager or Apple's Truetype applications software,
as well as the package's built-in font software. The package
converts Quickdraw graphics to HPGL (Hewlett-Packard Graphics
Language) and DM/PL commands.

(Steve Gold/19900810/Press & Public Contact: Protek Distribution
- Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00037)

TECHNOLOGY STOCKS: Market Report, Friday, Aug 17
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- Heightened
tension in the Middle East and a disappointing government
report on inflation drove the Dow down to close 66.84 points
lower.

On the Over The Counter market, Microsoft dropped $2.50,
Intel was down one dollar, and Apple and Sun Microsystems
both lost 75 cents.

On the American Exchange, the only active technology stock
was Wang, which dropped 25 cents.

On the New York exchange, General Electric dropped $1.375,
IBM was down $1.25, while AT&T was off 25 cents.

(John Verhelst/19900817)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00038)

TECHNOLOGY STOCKS: Quarterly Results, Friday, Aug 17
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- Companies
reporting results today include: SYSTEM SOFTWARE ASSOCIATES,
CISCO SYSTEMS, AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING, HEWLETT-PACKARD,
INTELLIGENT ELECTRONICS, SAGE SOFTWARE, and I.I.S:

[] SYSTEM SOFTWARE ASSOCIATES reported record earnings
and revenues for the third quarter ending July 31.
Net income was $4,513,000, 52 percent up on the third
quarter of 1989. Revenues increased to $30,277,000,
compared to $24,302,000 for the same period of the
previous year. System Software develops, markets and
supports an integrated line of business application
software and CASE tools for the IBM AS/400 computer.

[] CISCO SYSTEMS reported income of $4,630,000 for the
fourth quarter ending July 29, 1990, on a revenue of
$21,783,000. The same period last year showed figures
of $1,576,000 and $10,251,000 respectively.

[] AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING reported revenues of
$425,827,000 and income of $59,670,000 for the fourth
quarter ending June 30. ADP is the largest independent
computing services firm in the U.S.

[] HEWLETT-PACKARD reported  a five percent decrease
in earnings in the third quarter ending July 31.
Earnings per share were 73 cents on 242 million
shares of common stock outstanding, compared to 79 cents
on 236 million shares in the same period of 1989.

[] INTELLIGENT ELECTRONICS INC reported a net income of
$7,500,000 for the third quarter ending July 31, compared
to $2,800,000 a year ago. I.E. is North America's largest
network for the sale of microcomputers.

[] SAGE SOFTWARE reported a net income of $201.00 for
the first quarter ending July 31, from $150,000 for the
same period of 1989. Sage specializes in software
products which enable customers to build information
systems faster and more cost effectively.

[] I.I.S. INTELLIGENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS reported revenues
of $8,600,000 for the second quarter, up from $3,600,000 a
year ago. I.I.S. designs, markets, and services computer
peripheral and communications equipment for IBM mainframes.

(John Verhelst, 19900817)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00039)

 BoCoEx Index / Closing Prices on the Boston Computer Exchange
 for the week ending August 10, 1990

 Machine                          Closing Price    Ask    Bid

 IBM PC 176             Floppy      400 -          660    250

 IBM XT 089             20 MgB      650 -          825    475

 IBM AT 099             20 MgB     1050 -         1375    850

 IBM AT 239             20 MgB     1125 -         1325    700

 IBM AT 339             30 MgB     1275 down 100  1400    900

 IBM PS/2 Model 30      20 MgB     1075 -         1385   1025*

 IBM PS/2 Model 50Z     30 MgB     1650 -         1850   1550

 IBM PS/2 Model 55SX    60 MgB     2700 -         2900   2525

 IBM PS/2 Model 60      40 MgB     2500 -         2600   2400

 IBM PS/2 Model 70      60 MgB     3200 -         3700   3000

 IBM PS/2 Model 70P     60 MgB     3500 -         3900   3000

 IBM PS/2 Model 80      70 MgB     3680 -         4225   3450

 Compaq Portable II     20 MgB      975 -         1150    875

 Compaq Portable 286    20 MgB     1400 -         1675   1300

 Compaq Portable SLT    20 MgB     2375 -         2900   2100

 Compaq Portable SLT    40 MgB     3000 down 100  3500   2700

 Compaq Portable 386    40 MgB     3200 -         3650   2750

 Compaq LTE 286         20 MgB     2600 down 50   3025   2300

 Compaq Deskpro 286     40 MgB     1400 -         1625   1300

 Compaq Deskpro 386/20  40 MgB     2800 -         3100   2700

 Macintosh Plus         Floppy      800 -          950    775

 Macintosh Plus         20 MgB     1100 down 100  1275   1000

 Macintosh SE           Floppy     1350 -         1525   1200

 Macintosh SE           20 MgB     1625 -         1750   1400*

 Macintosh SE           40 MgB     1800 -         2150   1700

 Macintosh SE-30        40 MgB     2450 down 50   2600   2400

 Macintosh SE-30        80 MgB     3000 -         3200   2700

 Macintosh II           40 MgB     3150 -         3500   3050

 Macintosh IIX          80 MgB     4300 down 50   4600   4000

 Macintosh IICX         40 MgB     3900 -         4200   3600

 Macintosh IICX         80 MgB     4350 -         4600   3800*

 Macintosh Portable     40 MgB     3200 -         3400   3000

 Toshiba T-1000SE       Floppy      860 -          900    750

 Toshiba T-1200HB       20 MgB     1425 -         1630   1225

 Toshiba T-3100         20 MgB     1375 -         1650   1200

 Toshiba T-3100SX       40 MgB     2900 -         3400   2900

 Toshiba T-5100         40 MgB     2675 -         3000   2600

 Zenith SuperSport      20 MgB     1175 up 75     1300   1000*

                                        *Top Demand This Week

MacWorld Expectations Drops MacPrices by
BoCoEx Staff Economists

Despite news of new Apple pricing and new products, the Macintosh
line has remained suprisingly stable.  With three new machines
due out soon and retail prices expected to drop, sellers of the
lower end Macintosh machines are advised to sell before the
bottom drops out of the market.  Low end Mac's are teetering on
the brink of a major price decline.  Intel based systems continue
to be bolstered by the international market. There is strong
foreign demand for used computers that will be refurbished or
dismantled for parts.

The IBM trading desk experienced light trading for the first time
in many weeks.  Big Blue's most actively traded item this week
was the PS/2 Model 30 which remained stable at $1075 because
supply increased with strong demand.  Only the AT-339 changed
this week in a $100 drop to close at $1275. Other models traded
at last week's BoCoEx Index prices.

In the Compaq market, the portables (not the luggables) continue
to be the most popular machines in the product line.  All of
Compaq's portables traded heavily this week as vacationers
purchased machines that could travel with them.  Prices were
remarkably stable.  The 40 megabyte Compaq Portable SLT
experienced light trading, falling $100 to close at $3000 and the
LTE 286 was down $50 at $2600.

Among the Apples, there is news that three new machines are to be
released soon.  Among computer brokers, the story is that both
Macintosh Plus's are dropping in value. They are teetering at
their prices and sellers should note that $800 for a floppy Plus
and $1100 for a 20 megabyte plus will not last in this market.
The Plus family will soon exit the retail market and will quickly
become the darling of the used computer buyers as the prices
drop.  The 20 megabyte and 40 megabyte Macintosh SE's remained
stable despite the announcements and closed the week trading at
at $1625 and $1800 respectivley.

In the laptop world, the 8088 Zenith SuperSport rose $75 to close
at $1175 and knocked Compaq's LTE out of its long-time position
as number one in the used laptop market. Other laptops continued
to trade well in the summer market as students buy for fall
classes and businessmen buy beach machines for summer vacations.

Index prices are based on configurations of complete systems with
a keyboard, monochrome monitor and adapter, less the value of any
software or other peripherals.  Call: 617-542-4414 or the Buyer's
Hot Line: 1-800-BoCoExx or FAX: [phone].  To access the
BoCoEx Database on-line or read the BoCoEx Index:  CompuServe: GO
BCE, Delphi: ME BO.

(Bocoex/19900817)


(EDITORIAL)(GENERAL)(NYC)(00040)

WHAT IS A HOME COMPUTER ANYHOW? - Editorial by J & B McMullen
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1990 AUG 17 (NB) -- The dust has
settled on the IBM and Tandy "home computer" introductions and we've
had time to reflect somewhat on the systems themselves and on the whole
subject of home computing in general. It seems to us that Tandy's product
takes us a little more than half way toward a real home computer while
IBM gets us about 40% toward the same goal.

This is not to say that the machines won't sell well -- or even to say that
purchasers will make a mistake buying them. They should sell well and
many will be well served by buying them for they are attractive low-end
computers and, in the case of the IBM entry, have enough bundled software
to let a work-at-home person (or, in author Norman Schriber's delightful
terminology, a "home officer") efficiently put a computer to use. But do
they, by their introduction, create a home market? Are they so perfect a fit
that every home will find that it must have at least one? Will they be chosen
over VCRs by the person that has neither and can only purchase one. We
think not!

For years, most in the industry have been convinced that there is a great
uptapped home computer market and, as soon as powerful systems could be
made affordable to the mass market, there would be jillions sold. Yet, as
industry watcher Stewart Alsop has pointed out, every computer designed
SPECIFICALLY for the home has failed! Think only of the IBM-PCjr,
the TI99, the Sinclair. Certainly, there have been many computers well
used in the home but these have been Apple IIs, IBM-PCs, Tandy 1000s
and Macintoshes -- all general purpose computers whose owners have, for
whatever reason, used in a home environment.

What many agree is lacking for home computers to become a "must-buy"
for most consumers is a VisiCalc type product for the home. There were
small or personal computers available before the introduction of VisiCalc,
the first electronic spreadsheet, but they were used exclusively by
programmers and engineers or by computer enthusiasts -- persons for
whom computers became a passion in themselves. We did not find,
however, Altairs, Puts, IBM 5100s or even Apples in corporate offices
until Software Arts introduced VisiCalc. With that introduction, computers
(in this case, the Apple II) became first useful devices and then necessities
in corporate offices. They revolutionized the way firms operated and now,
less than 12 years after the advent of VisiCalc, we find very few firms of
any size that do not have some type of computer.

We do not have a similar compelling reason to buy a home computer.
Certainly, it's helpful for persons who use computers in a business to have
a similar computer at home to work on. Likewise, it simplifies a student's
life to be able to use a computer at home for papers, online research, etc.
But these people could make other arrangements -- work longer, go into
school on weekends, etc. The benefits of having a computer may well be
worth the expenditure to persons such as these but they do not HAVE to
have a computer. Computers will only become a commodity when they
become an essential home item and we're not there yet.

Tandy seems to understand where we have to go better than IBM -- or, so
it seems from the recent introductions. The user interface and associated
programs provide for such routine household items as "leaving notes on the
refrigerator" and developing shopping lists from recipes. Tandy also
realizes that the average user will not want to have to learn 1-2-3 or Excel
to prepare a simple budget or to master dBASE or Paradox to maintain an
insurance inventory of valuables. These functions are built-in features of
the interface and associated programs. On top of that, there is a common
user interface through DeskMate The user only has to learn one set of
commands and they are rather intuitive.

IBM, on the other hand, bundles Microsoft Works with its PS/1. The user
has to learn how to use a program to do any of the mundane functions
listed above. Certainly one can produce a more sophisticated budget or
inventory on Works than through a canned utility but do most of us need
this power? We doubt it -- particularly if they have to learn a program to
do it!

The PS/1 does, however, have one significant advantage, in our judgement,
over its Tandy counterpart. It is heavily communications based with
connections to shopping facilities, technical assistance and plain fun things.
We think that these feature is extremely important and should have also
been an integral part of Tandy's design. Tandy can, of course, point out
that communications can easily be added to its unit but that's not the point.
It's not part of the soul of the machine.

Where do we go from here? Well for one thing, the hunt will go on for the
compelling application. We tend to believe that it will be found in the
kitchen which has become the central room of the so-called nuclear family.
We feel that interfaces must be improved even more for a machine to be
successful in the kitchen and that PEN technology can be of importance
here. Tandy, through its GRiD subsidiary with pen technology already in
place with the GRiDPad, seems to be in an excellent position to move in
this area.

Another point that seems important to us is the integration with other home
electronic devices. Why should people have to have both computer and
television screens or both computer and stereo speakers? Some may wish to
but those limited by budget or space, such as a college student, should not
have to duplicate cost and space. If modularization is available, it must not
be as difficult to hook up as a good stereo. Perhaps video and audio
connections through wall jacks will become common in homes!

Eventually the computer should become the home controller -- with a
screen, perhaps, right in the refrigerator and a pen dangling next to it. This
home controller will be able to set the microwave, send messages to other
places in the house (where members can access them on the television
screen through a pressing of a remote control button), retrieve information
from a remote data base or from a more traditional PC elsewhere in the
home, order items automatically from selected stores, etc. In short, do in
an improved manner all of the tedium that always used up the homemaker's
time. It must be done with pizazz, it must be done inexpensively and it must
be easy to use! It can all be done -- but WE CERTAINLY AREN'T
THERE YET!

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19900816)