Newsbytes - International Computing Industry News 1983 May to 1994 June

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(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00001) JAPAN: TOSHIBA INTROS DIGITAL CAMERA TOKYO, JAPAN, 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Toshiba has successfully developed a digital still camera which stores pictures on a memory card. The digital camera, MC200, designed more for business than consumers, is a single-lens reflex camera with several professional features, such as triple zooming, manual focus, and macro photography which allows pictures to be taken as close as four centimeters in front of an object. Toshiba claims that the incorporation of a CCD or charge coupled device with 400,000 pixels creates extremely clear pictures. With an optional interface priced at 198,000 yen or $1,400, the pictures taken from the camera can be retrieved and transmitted into the firm's DynaBook notebook-sized computer. The MC200 will be available in November for 1,670,000 yen or $12,000. Toshiba has not planned any overseas sales. (Ken Takahashi/19900927/Press Contact: Toshiba Corp., 03-457-2100) (NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00002) SANYO TO SELL NOTEBOOK COMPUTER IN THE U.S. AND EUROPE OSAKA, JAPAN, 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Sanyo Electric has decided to sell a 16-bit IBM PC/AT-compatible notebook-sized computer in the U.S. and Europe starting in mid-October, and in Japan next April, according to a Japanese industrial report. The computer, MBC-17NB, will be centered around an Intel 80C286 processor and will have a 20 MB (megabyte) hard disk and a 3.5-inch FDD (floppy disk drive). It will measure 312 by 254 by 51.5 millimeters and weigh 3.2 kilograms. Sanyo is reportedly planning to sell about 50,000 units including supplies on an OEM (original equipment manufacturing) basis by year's end. Furthermore, the firm is currently working to develop a 32-bit 386SX-based model, which is slated for availability in the U.S., Europe, and Japan next spring. Sanyo's goal is to sell 250,000 notebook computers next year. (Ken Takahashi/19900927) (NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00003) TANDEM TO CONSTRUCT E-MAIL SYSTEM FOR TOYOTA TOKYO, JAPAN, 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Tandem Computers Japan has received an order for an EMS (electronic mail system) from Toyota Motor and will construct the system around its six-CPU (central processing unit) fault-tolerant computer NonStop VLX. Tandem's electronic mail application has been developed based on Transfer, an operating system module for NonStop systems which exchanges and stores information. Tandem computers are able to exchange data in 34 countries, linking 200 offices worldwide. The Japanese arm of the fault-tolerant computer maker has made its EMS available to read and write in Japanese based on first-hand experience in its Asian offices. Because of this feature, the EMS package is designed to open doors for Tandem in Japan. (Naoyuki Yazawa/19900927/Press Contact: Tandem Computers Japan, 03-234-9561) (NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00004) TOSHIBA GAINS THE LEAD IN 4M DRAM RACE TOKYO, JAPAN, 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Toshiba has ramped up to full production at its Oita, Japan four-megabit DRAM (dynamic random access memory) plant. The plant has now ability to output 3.5 million four-megabit DRAM chips per month, thanks to the infusion of 70 billion yen or $500 million into improving the new line which was initially designed to produce only 3.5 million of the memory chips a month. Toshiba is building the same size plant in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture to supply a total of 9 million 4Mb memory chips a month when the market demands them. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Electric has increased its investment in DRAM chip production by 47 percent to 69 billion yen or $493 million from 49 billion yen or $335 million, according to a published report. Eighty percent of this expense is reportedly for expansion of its Saijyo plant in Ehime Prefecture to prepare for two million units of DRAM output by 1992. Mitsubishi is expected to produce another two million of the chips with the expansion of the Kochi plant by the middle of 1991. Among the other major DRAM maker, Oki Electric Industry is reportedly boosting current monthly production of 300,000 units at its subsidiary, Miyagi Oki, to 500,000 by the end of this year, and doubling it by June of next year. Oki is said to be preparing for a peak of demand of four-megabit DRAM by solid cooperation with the Oki Electric Industry group, such as Miyazaki Oki. (Naoyuki Yazawa/19900927) (NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00005) TECHNOLOGY STOCKS: Market Report, Friday Sep 28 NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Prices fell to their lowest level in more than 17 months in erratic trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday. The Dow Jones index fell by 32.17 points to 2427.28, a level not seen since May 11, 1989. Worries over the situation in the Persian Gulf continued to drive the market down. In the Over The Counter market, MCI Communications fell 62.5 cents to $31.375, wiping out most of the previous day's gain. Sun Microsystems was down two dollars at $25.75. Conner Peripherals dropped $1.375 to finish at $16.125, Oracle Systems lost 62.5 cents to $5.625, Intel Corporation was down 75 cents at $32, Apple Computer fell $1.50 to $28.25 and Microsoft Corporation was off one dollar at $59.25. Prices were again sharply lower in active trading on the American Exchange. There were no technology stocks active. On the New York Stock Exchange, IBM lost $1.125 to finish on $104.25, General Electric was down $3.50 at $51.50, while AT&T was unchanged at $31.125 ex-dividend. (John Verhelst/19900928) (NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BRU)(00006) TECHNOLOGY STOCKS: Quarterly Results, Friday, Sep 28 NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- The only company reporting today was TERADATA CORPORATION. [] TERADATA CORPORATION expects to post a loss for the quarter ending September 30. Revenues will be around $50,000,000 for the period, well below anticipated results. The company designs, manufactures and markets high-performance systems and related products and services for relational database management (John Verhelst/19900928) (NEWS)(GENERAL)(NYC)(00007) MRS. FIELDS CEO KEYNOTES PORTABLE COMPUTING EXPO NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Randall K. Fields, chairman of Mrs. Fields Inc., gave the keynote address at the second annual Portable Computing and Communications Expo and Conference held September 26th & 27th at New York City's Sheraton Center Hotel. In his address, Fields prophesied that, by the year 2000, 75% of all computers sold would be portable. Fields compared the movement to portability as a paradigm shift similar to that which occurred when the pen or pencil became commonly used. "At some time, after the quill and ink were in general use, some forward thinkers must have devised a way to make writing tools portable. The first attempts were probably clunky like carrying around a 25-pound jar of ink but finally we reached the point where the pen was more than a tool. It's become so well integrated with our activities that it has really become an extension of the user. For the computer to be truly effective as an extension of the human mind, it must become as the pen....It also, obviously, must be where the mind is and not back on a desktop somewhere." Fields was lavish in his praise of Lotus Agenda which he felt belonged on every computer system used by managers. He also was quite vehement in his distaste for icon-based systems, saying that "Macintosh must have been designed by the Soviet Union to limit American productivity" and that he "can't understand why Bill Gates would want to take our economy down the tubes by introducing Windows." He explained his opposition to icons by stating that humans think in text or pictures and not in icons. To prove this point, he asked the audience to close their eyes and think of a beach. He attempted to show that, while most formed a picture of a picture of a beach scene in their mind and a minority actually saw the letters "BEACH," none saw an icon that represented a beach. The conference featured a panel on cutting edge technology with a discussion by Bob Louthan, chief operating officer of Outbound Systems; Lynn Raney, GRiD Systems' manager of Pen-based Systems; Dave Dorsey, NEC product manager, and Rich Sorkin, Poqet Computer product marketing manager. The topics covered included comments by Louthan on the future of Macintosh-based portable computing, Raney on the impact and uses of pen-input capabilities, Dorsey on communications enhancements for portable computing, and Sorkin on the prospects for hand-held or "palm" computers. Exhibitors at the two-day conference included Software Publishing Corp., GEnie's Laptops RoundTable, NYNEX Mobile Communications, Touchbase Systems Inc., Traveling Software, Outbound Systems, Inc., Portable Technology update, Sharp Electronics Corp. and Portable Computing Magazine. (Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19900927/Press Contact: Bonnie MacKeil, IDG Conference Management Group,508-879-6700) (NEWS)(GENERAL)(NYC)(00008) PORTABLE COMPUTING MAGAZINE TO CHANGE NAME NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Portable Computing Magazine has announced that, effective with its December 1990 issue, it will change its name to Portable Office, The Mobile Professional's Monthly. Announcing the name change, Publisher Michael F. Kelleher said, "This does not represent a sudden change of course for Portable Computing and, in fact, is part of a strategic plan we put into motion last year. Portable Office more clearly represents what this magazine is all about and better identifies the information needs of our readers." IDG Communications, Inc., the publisher of the magazine, also announced that the rate base of Portable Office will be increased in January 1991 from its current audited circulation of 76,141 to 100,000 and that the editorial pages of the publication will be increased by up to 50%. (Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19900927/Press Contact: Brenner K. Fuller, Portable Computing Magazine,603-924-0100) (NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00009) GENIE ADDS SOFTVIEW ROUNDTABLE ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- GEnie has added a roundtable to support products from Softview of Oxnard, California, which publishes tax preparation software. Softview RT Manager Russ Sprouse said, "Our big emphasis this year will be to get the products out earlier, particularly the state tax supplements. We will be adding supplements for Michigan, Minnesota, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia, bringing to 13 the number of states supported by Softview." Help with electronic data interchange, or EDI, will also be provided. EDI is being used by the IRS to allow taxpayers to file their returns electronically. The IRS got over 4.2 million online returns in the 1989 tax season, many created using Softview products. The Softview RT, like other GEnie RoundTables, offers a bulletin board for posting and reading messages by categories, a real-time conference capability for online discussions, and software libraries where subscribers can download public domain software and information such as product specifications and question and answer files, as well as updates to Softview products or demonstration versions of certain products. (Dana Blankenhorn/19900928/Press Contact: Steve Harasznak, GEnie, 301-340-4494; Public Contact: GEnie, 1-800-638-9636) (NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00010) GEIS ADDS SNA ACCESS ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- General Electric Information Services, or GEIS, has opened a new asynchronous System Network Architecture link for micro-to- mainframe communications. Net*Connect 3270, is available for all GEIS services worldwide, enables personal computers to asynchronously access 3270 applications on the host. The software provides PCs with the full-screen functionality of IBM 3270 devices. The system thus allows low-cost PCs to be used for access to host 3270 applications. To establish a host session, the client need only dial the GEIS network access node. Net*Connect 3270 offers complete 3270 SNA functionality, including error-free transmission, with no additional hardware or software needed for a client's host. Binary data may be transmitted directly in 8-bit compressed, full-duplex data streams that can help optimize response time. Also, jobs can be printed while a user continues to interact with the system. (Dana Blankenhorn/19900928/Press Contact: Steve Harasznak, GEIS, 301-340-4494; Public Contact: GEIS, 1-800-433-3683) (NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00011) NATIONAL TELEPHONE ENTERS CELLULAR MARKET NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- National Telephone & Communications, a discount long-distance phone company, said it has become the first nationwide cellular phone service provider. NTC said it can deliver a cellular telephone, together with an area code and an activated local phone number, to anyone in the country within 72 hours. NTS said its agreements with Total Cellular Network have made it possible to offer cellular service in more than 700 licensed areas throughout the country. (Dana Blankenhorn/19900928/Press Contact: National Telephone & Communications, Donald J. Rackemann, 714/640-7100) (NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00012) MCCAW SEEKS TO TEST NEW SERVICES IN ORLANDO, SEATTLE KIRKLAND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Continuing the rush by cellular phone companies to test new technology, McCaw Cellular Communications applied for FCC authorization to test CT-2 service and digital PBX service in Orlando, Florida, and Seattle. Millicom of New York is presently testing a personal communications network service in Orlando. That technology shares frequencies with other services. McCaw's tests will focus on determining the performance capabilities of CT-2 and digital cellular technology. McCaw will then work with vendors to develop prototype equipment capable of working transparently with its existing cellular systems, so that customers can eventually use a single handset to make or receive calls employing one or more underlying technologies. McCaw's tests will involve several digital cellular technologies, including the TDMA technology endorsed by cellular operators earlier this year and the more efficient CDMA scheme offered by Qualcomm of San Diego and backed by AT&T. (Dana Blankenhorn/19900928/Press Contact: Bob Ratliffe, McCaw Cellular, 206-828-8685) (NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00013) AT&T MAKES AGREEMENT TO EXPAND GLOBAL NETWORKING SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- AT&T announced arrangements with France Telecom, Regie des Telegraphes et Telephones in Belgium, Mercury Communications in the United Kingdom, Kokusai Denshin Denwa Co. of Japan, and Unitel of Canada to expand its Virtual Private Network offering. The result is that companies with calling volumes of more than two hours a day can take advantage of VPN technology to reduce international communications costs. VPN users can design their own private seven-digit dialing plan for faster calling among offices, sending voice, facsimile, and voiceband data between any of the participating countries. AT&T said it hopes to expand the offering to 10 more nations within the next 2 years. (Dana Blankenhorn/19900928/Press Contact: David Bikle, AT&T, 201-953-7614) (NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00014) INTEL SHIPS SATISFAXTION FAX BOARD HILLSBORO, OREGON, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Intel's Personal Computer Enhancement Operation announced SatisFAXtion, its second-generation PC fax board, succeeding its successful Connection CoProcessor. Like its predecessor product, SatisFAXtion includes a 2,400 bit/second data modem, but sends faxes at 9,600 bits/second, or 4 pages per minute. The new board works in the background, and can send files from any application which can print to an Epson FX85 printer. Epson fonts and formats are preserved, the company said, as are Windows screen fonts when the product is used with Microsoft Windows. SatisFAXtion also supports the Intel/DCA Communications Applications Specification, a proposed standard for offering fax services within applications. An optional hand scanner is also available. The SatisFAXtion board retails for $499 for IBM PCs, $549 for PS/2s and other computers using the Micro Channel plug architecture. The Hand Scanner costs $399. (Dana Blankenhorn/19900928/Press Contact: Intel, Mary Browning, 503-629-7469) (NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00015) FAX EXCHANGE OFFERS COPY SHOPS SAME-DAY MAIL SERVICE EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- The Fax Exchange, which is backed by Joe Franklin Productions, announced plans to supply copy shops with high-speed fax machines at no charge so they can transmit and receive high-quality plain-paper faxes at up to 20 pages per minute. Instead of buying the machines, The Fax Exchange would simply collect a royalty from copy shops for each fax sent. Fax broadcasting and forwarding are also available through the device. The product is aimed at the market now occupied by overnight delivery services like Federal Express. Faxing plain-paper to a copy shop can get reports to their destinations more rapidly than any delivery service, the company said. (Dana Blankenhorn/19900928/Press Contact: M. Ovadya, The Fax Exchange, 800-255-5FAX) (NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00016) COPIA RELEASES FAXED IMAGE DELIVERY SYSTEM WHEATON, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Copia International released FaxFacts Version 3, a "fax-on-demand" system that provides around-the-clock delivery of images. The system is called from any telephone or fax machine, answered by a computer, and replied to through a touchtone pad with the requested picture number, and a fax telephone number. ] FaxFacts is licensed on a per-telephone line basis, at $1,250 for a single-line system, $2,000 for a 2-line system and $3,000 for a 4-line system, with additional 4-line modules available at $1,500, and support and upgrades costing $500. (Dana Blankenhorn/19900928/Press Contact: Steve Hersee, Copia International, 708-682-8898) (NEWS)(TELECOM)(LAX)(00017) ALLIANCE OF INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS AND CARRIERS LAUNCHED SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- An association for the professional user of telecommunications, the international carrier and the non-support supplier, has been founded by long-time telecommunications professional Roger Bruhn, who is currently serving as executive director of the fledgling organization. The Alliance of International Customers and Carriers (AICC), will provide a forum for exchanging information on national, international, intercontinental and other developments affecting the members and the industry. "Most companies, large, mid-size, and small, need a place for information on the rules of international calling," Bruhn told Newsbytes. "They need to know which carriers can handle calls to a specific area of the globe. They need to know things like the fact that the 'cheaper after 5 PM rule' that applies nationally, has no bearing on international calling." "The AICC will be the central repository for all of this information which will then be available to all of our members," Bruhn said. "We will include tariff information and we will be available to research and answer any questions a company may have regarding the most efficient and cost-effective use of international telecommunications dollars." Membership will be in three basic categories, carriers, suppliers and users. The users category will include consultants and interested parties such as the press. Membership for carriers is $5,000 a year for the first person and $100 for each additional employee enrolled. While the fees for supplier membership have not been finalized, user membership will be $100 a year with a 25 percent discount for bona fide members of TCA, ICA, and other organizations in the telecommunications field. "This organization is going to be complementary to the other existing organizations in the industry," Bruhn told Newsbytes. "They cover a very broad, general spectrum while we are zeroing in on just the international segment. The word 'alliance' in our name was carefully chosen to signify that we want to be "allies" as we create a global village through international telecommunications." AICC plans to hold quarterly seminars in various parts of the US and international locations and periodic newsletters. The major benefit to the user community will be timely information on current events in the international telecommunications arena. The benefits to the carrier/supplier community will include a direct channel to the user/member customer for the announcement of new and changed services and an opportunity to meet with the entire user community on a regular basis. The user base could also be used as a sounding board for the testing of new service ideas. (Janet Endrijonas/19900928/Press Contact: Roger Bruhn, AICC, 408- 734-1272) (NEWS)(TELECOM)(LAX)(00018) HI-TECH RESOURCES SOLVES INT'L RJ-11 SNAFU FOR LAPTOPS SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- At the TCA (Telecommunications Association) show in San Diego, High-Tech Resources introduced a series of adapters with an RJ-11 plug on one end and the appropriate plug for telecommunications connection in another country. Plugs were available for Australia, South Africa, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Japan, Denmark, and even Russia. High-Tech Resources Owner and President Lucky Marr told Newsbytes: "France was the first plug we put together. I was trying to demonstrate our other product [The Switch] in France and it took me four days to find a converter that would allow me to plug it into the French telephone system. Then it dawned on me that laptop computer users who transmit data back to the office were probably all having the same problems and not just in France so the idea for our line of International Telephone Converters was born." These converters sell for $14.95 each and are available directly from High-Tech Resources by calling 800-422-2832. In other news, Marr told Newsbytes that the price on "The Switch" has been reduced by 50 percent. The simple fax, modem, voice switch in a case about the size of an average paperback book now sells for $99. "We already have an installed base of 20,000 of these units and we have a reliability factor 'out of the box' of 99 percent." The Switch is available through Softwarehouse or directly from High-Tech Resources at 800-422-2832. (Janet Endrijonas/19900928/Press Contact: Lucky Marr, High-Tech Resources, 207-667-6300) (NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00019) RICOH SHOWS WORLD'S SMALLEST LETTER-SIZE FAX WITH ECM SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- At the TCA (Telecommunications Association) show, Ricoh unveiled a 5.5-pound 11 by 7 by 2 inch fax machine with ECM (error correction mode) for cellular communication. The unit, which runs on AC power, battery power or power through the cigarette lighter in a vehicle, is meant for use in mobile offices. Garry Waddell, Ricoh's product manager for the portable fax, told Newsbytes that the machine was designed small and portable from the start. "This was not a situation where we took another small machine and scaled it down for this market niche. This machine, for example, compresses the paper roll so that it won't unwind when the machine is being carried. This fax fits in a standard briefcase and doesn't come close to filling the case. And, it is of solid construction--no plastic parts to save weight." Operation of the PF-1, as this fax is called, is simple. There are no extra functions. While Ricoh specifically says that they don't recommend using this system while actually driving a vehicle, its operation is so simple that a driver could press one button while enroute in order to receive a fax he knew was coming. The PF-1 uses a standard 30-page roll of thermal paper. It transmits a page in about 34 seconds at 4,800 bps (bits per second) based the standard CCITT test chart. It offers a choice of transmitting in standard resolution (100 by 200 lines per inch) or detail (200 by 200 lines per inch). It can also serve as a copier. It connects to the telephone using a standard RJ11C jack and a number of interfaces for cellular communications will be available. The unit comes standard with an adapter for cigarette lighter use in a car, an AC adapter, and a rechargeable battery pack and charger for $1,695. "We want the buyer to walk out of the store with a complete unit and not wishing he had another power source," Waddell told Newsbytes. "We do have some accessories available separately like a soft-sided carrying case for those who don't want to keep it in their briefcase, an acoustic coupler, and a spare battery pack that can be charging while the original is in use." The PF-1 will be available in November. (Janet Endrijonas/19900928/Press Contact: Mark Stanton, Ricoh, 201-882-2075) (EXCLUSIVE)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00020) US WEST CLAIMS COMMUNITY LINK NOT IN TROUBLE OMAHA, NEBRASKA, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- US West is saying that its Community Link gateway trial in Omaha does not have any problems. However, of four original service providers there contacted by Newsbytes, two have gone under, one even before putting any information products online, a third is running on a skeleton staff, and the fourth is planning to launch a competing service to the Bell gateway -- at a budget price. Other Bell gateway trials have fared poorly. Market acceptance of trials by NYNEX, Bell Atlantic and BellSouth has been slow, while all three companies demand relief from the Bell break-up decree which keeps them from owning their own information or service providers. Southwestern Bell ended its test in Houston, and US Videotel took up the business. Ron Dullie, spokesman for US West told Newsbytes, however, "Community Link is doing just fine. We have 4,500 users now. We have more than four service providers. We have 103 information providers. We're adding services as we go along. Right now we're looking at the information we have on Omaha and we think it's going very well. We haven't got a decision yet on where we'll go next, if we decide to expand. We're hoping for a decision this fall sometime." Mitchel Bell, director of Omaha Citinet, one of the most successful companies offering information services on Community Link, told Newsbytes, "Gateway results have not been what we expected in a year. It's clear that Community Link has not recouped its costs." It is making money for individual information providers, he suggests, although the highest checks are seldom over a few hundred dollars a month. His firm, backed by the Omaha World-Herald newspaper, will soon introduce a service called The Omaha Citinet Unlimited at a flat monthly fee of $4.95, while maintaining its service on Community Link at average prices of 15 to 19 cents per minute. "We feel that although we're running a complimentary service to Community link there is room for such a service. These services, videotext, online services are so very new that it's going to take years to catch on and change the way people do things in their daily lives. It's also going to take a desire to use these services. " At Tel-e-tex, another service bureau to Community Link, system analyst Russ Husman admitted, "They've cut back a lot on the staff, down to the manager, the secretaries, and myself." Tel-e-tex continues to maintain about a dozen services on Community Link at 15 to 20 cents per minute. Two other service providers contacted by Newsbytes, MasterLink and Questar, which never launched an online product, both had their phones disconnected. (Dana Blankenhorn & Wendy Woods/19900928/Press Contact: Mitchel Bell, Omaha CitiNet, 402-592-7800; Ron Dullie, US West, 303-896-9488; Russ Herman, Tel-e-tex, 402-397-8500) (NEWS)(TRENDS)(SYD)(00021) AUSTRALIA: STUDENTS USE COMPUTER DEALING SIMULATION MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Students of Melbourne's Royal Institute of Technology's [RMIT] Treasury Training Facility are learning the operations of financial trading rooms with a simulator from Australian company, GTC. The system allocates students to one of ten three-person banks, each in its own "syndicate" room. Over computer and phone networks, the "banks" can deal with central banks, brokers, and the corporate sector [these roles are taken by instructors]. Initially, only two currencies are dealt, but given time, more complex simulations involving many more currencies can be run. The system keeps students informed of their profitability, with market rates and news items also being sent to participants. The system was developed around GTC's Global Training Software to meet the RMIT's requirements. A graduate is being employed to produce support materials for the system, including user training modules. Wages for the graduate will be partly offset by a grant from the National Company Training Scheme, a part of an initiative by Federal and State governments to increase Australia's industrial competitiveness. (Sean McNamara/19900927) (NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00022) AUSTRALIA: SIR SOFTWARE TO BE PORTED TO DEC ULTRIX SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- As part of its Partnerships for Development Program [PDP] agreement with the Australian government, DEC has signed an agreement with Sydney-based software company SIR to port SIR's software to the DEC Ultrix operating system. To be included in the deal is SIR's DBMS [database management system], which was originally developed for Dec's VAX environment [it now runs on more than 20 environments]. Most of the work will be done on SIR's software porting module, which will allow SIR's software to run under the DEC VMS and Ultrix operating systems. As part of the agreement, SIR will be provided with the latest DEC equipment, as well as pre-release equipment to enable the development of software for coordinated releases. Originally a United States company, SIR was sold to its Australian distributor last year after experiencing financial problems. The company is now 100 percent owned by Australian staff and management. (Sean McNamara/19900927) (NEWS)(GENERAL)(SYD)(00023) AUSTRALIA: NOVELL ANNOUNCES NEW NATIONAL SALES MANAGER SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Novell has appointed Kim Brebach as its new national sales manager. Previously with NorTel as Northern Region sales manager, Brebach has also worked with Nixdorf computer as branch manager, divisional manager and marketing manager, and with DEC as an account manager and as sales manager. (Sean McNamara/19900924/Press Contact: Tanya Cozis, phone in Australia +61-2-413 3077) (NEWS)(APPLE)(NYC)(00024) APPLETALK ROUTER TRADE-IN OFFER SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Tri-Data Systems has announced that, until December 31st, it will allow trade-ins on other companies' AppleTalk routers when customers purchase Tri-Data's MaxWay 500 Router. It will allow a $750 discount on the trade-in of 1 router and $1,000 if 2 routers are traded. The trade-in arrangement will apply to the Shiva (Novell/Kinetics) FastPath, Cayman GatorBox, or comparable routers. The base MaxWay 500 is capable of concurrently supporting four LocalTalk LANs and two high- speed LANs [any combination of Ethernet/IEEE 802.3 and/or Token Ring (both 4 and 16 Mbps)]. It can be floor, table-top, or rack-mounted. The MaxWay family is composed of 2 products, each equipped with four LocalTalk ports, one high-speed LAN, and one high-speed LAN expansion slot. The MaxWay 500E supports Ethernet and LocalTalk routing among four LocalTalk LANs and can be expanded to include another Ethernet or Token Ring LAN. The MaxWay 500TR supports Token Ring connectivity and routing among four LocalTalk LANs and a Token Ring (IEEE 802.5) LAN. Token Ring users may select either 4Mbps and 16/4 Mbps operation. The MaxWay 500TR can also be expanded to support an additional Ethernet or Token Ring LAN. (Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19900924/Press Contact: Trish Voskovitch, Tri-Data Systems, Inc.,408-727-3270) (NEWS)(APPLE)(NYC)(00025) NEW FOR MACINTOSH: Silverrun CASE Toolset LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- XA Systems Corporation has announced the availability of new versions of its Silverrun CASE toolset for three different operating environments, the Apple Macintosh, IBM's OS/2, and Microsoft's Windows 3 under DOS. The analysis and design toolset consists of five modules: an expert data modeling tool with reverse engineering capabilities; an entity-relationship modeling tool; a relational data modeling and database design tool; a multi-formalism data and process flow diagraming tool; and a multiuser workstation repository manager. The Silverrun tool will look and function similarly in the three different environments and users will be able to switch from one operating environment to another or work in a mixed operating environment. Marc Fey, XA chairman and executive vice president of research and development, announcing the new versions, said "The availability of the Silverrun toolset for the Macintosh, OS/2, and Windows 3 environments means that users can use our CASE tool with their existing hardware and software. If users decide to modify their computing environment in the future, the Silverrun CASE tool will migrate with them." (Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19900926/Press Contact: Tracy Eiler, XA Systems Corp., 408-395-1800) (NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00026) NEW FOR IBM: Sage Offers Tools For Windows, PM, COBOL Work ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Sage Software has announced general availability of application development libraries for Microsoft Windows 3.0 and OS/2 Presentation Manager. The Sage Control Pak/W and Sage Control Pak/PM contain high-level graphical objects designed to speed application programming under Windows and Presentation Manager. The Windows and Presentation Manager versions are quite similar, vice-president of marketing, Doug Root told Newsbytes, and the combination would be convenient for developers creating software for both systems. However, he said, the tools are not designed as aids to porting software from Windows to PM or vice versa. Sage said the tools provide reusable class libraries for building simple or complex user interfaces. These can be customized or run "right out of the box." Both packages also let programmers enhance standard dialog controls such as buttons and scroll bars. Written in Microsoft C, the Sage Control Paks are best suited for developing applications in either C or C++, Sage said, but can be used in compiled form with any Windows-compatible compiler. A Control Pak for Windows or PM costs US$595, Root said, while the two together sell for US$695. They are available immediately. Sage also announced general availability of APS/PC Release 2.0, its COBOL application generator for the IBM PS/2. APS/PC is designed for developing DB2, IMS, or VSAM applications on the desktop, Sage said. APS/PC Release 2.0 can operate on its own or work with Knowledgeware's IEW or Index Technology's Excelerator design products, the company added. New capabilities in Release 2.0 include multi-mode architecture, active local-area network support, testing at the APS/PC or COBOL level, integrated configuration management support, robust SQL support, and re-engineering from DB/DC data and screen definitions. Sage develops and markets software development tools for MS-DOS, OS/2, local-area networks, and IBM mainframe MVS systems. (Grant Buckler/19900921/Press Contact: Doug Root, Sage Software, 503-645-1150) (NEWS)(UNIX)(TOR)(00027) MAPLE V LANGUAGE SHIPPING FOR SPARC WATERLOO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Waterloo Maple Software has released Maple V, a new version of its interactive algebra language, for Sun workstations and other SPARC-architecture systems, a range of Digital Equipment hardware, and systems from MIPS Computer Systems. Compatibility with the X Window standard and three-dimensional graphics are the key new features of Maple V, Janet Cater, marketing manager for Waterloo Maple, told Newsbytes. Maple is designed for symbolic and numerical computations. It runs under Unix on an assortment of hardware, including 386-based personal computers, the Apple Macintosh, the Commodore Amiga, and the IBM RISC System/6000. The introductory price for Maple V on Sun workstations is C$2,995. Prices on DEC hardware range from C$835 to C$4,315, and prices on MIPS systems go from C$2,995 to C$8,630. Founded in 1988, Waterloo Maple sells most of its software directly in North America, Cater said, with distributors in Australia, Austria, Switzerland, Scandinavia, the Netherlands, and France. Maple is installed at more than 1,000 sites worldwide. (Grant Buckler/19900925/Press Contact: Janet Cater, Waterloo Maple Software, 519-747-2373) (NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00028) NEWBRIDGE CERTIFIES MAKE SYSTEMS' SUPPORT SYSTEM OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Network products vendor Newbridge Networks, based here, has certified the Netool decision support system from Make Systems of Mountain View, California, for use with Newbridge network devices. The move grew out of an agreement between the two companies in May. Newbridge and Make agreed to jointly develop Newbridge device-specific capabilities for Netool. Since then, the two companies have worked together to confirm Netool's complete functionality with Newbridge's MainStreet multiplexers operating under control of the 4602 network management system (release 2.0). The strategic partnership between Make Systems and Newbridge Networks includes a cooperative marketing agreement. Newbridge will sell Netool, with the Newbridge device library, under the name Network Architect, Newbridge spokeswoman Sandra Plumley told Newsbytes. A data extraction utility provides communication between Netool and the 4602 network management system. The product is available in North America now, and will be released in Europe by the end of the year, Plumley added. The companies said Netool Release 2.3 will let network managers plan and manage network changes and evaluate cost versus reliability trade-offs. Netool allows complete simulation of Newbridge networks under failure conditions or demand variations, including call routing and network synchronization. Netool also assists with routing design of the Newbridge Control Packet Switching System (CPSS), and can model Newbridge's Automatic Network Synchronization (ANS) clocking scheme to ensure clocking is provided to all nodes under various failure conditions. (Grant Buckler/19900924/Press Contact: Sandra Plumley, Newbridge Networks, 613-591-3600; Beverly Dygert, Make Systems, 415-941-9800) (NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00029) NEW FOR NETWORKS: Epoch Offers Storage Server WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Epoch Systems said its new Epoch-1 Enterprise Storage Server is the first server to enable automatic data migration between rewritable optical jukeboxes and write once, read many (WORM) optical jukeboxes. The Epoch-1 provides central data storage, automated file management, and automated backup for Ethernet networks. The dedicated Network File System (NFS) server lets users store medium-term data on flexible, rewritable optical media and long-term archival data on lower cost, permanent WORM optical media. Andrew Hettinger, a spokesman for Epoch, said the systems can be set up to move data from one type of storage to another according to frequency of changes. Data unchanged for 60 days might be shifted from rewritable to WORM media, for instance. "We had customers that wanted the permanent storage of WORM but they also wanted the ability to re-use the mid-term storage," Hettinger explained. The Enterprise can be configured as one or more file systems supporting from 360 to 1,000 gigabytes of on-line storage. The base configuration includes three 760-megabyte magnetic disks, a 2.3-gigabyte, eight-millimeter cartridge tape drive, 16 megabytes of memory, a 30-gigabyte rewritable optical disk library unit, and a 330-gigabyte WORM optical disk library unit. Expansion options include another rewritable optical or WORM drive, up to four more magnetic disks, and eight megabytes more memory. The University of California at San Diego is currently using the first Epoch-1 Enterprise server to store seismic data, Hettinger said. Ford Aerospace has also ordered a system, to be used for storing data from the Hubble space telescope. The Epoch-1 Enterprise starts at US$360,000 and is available 90 days after receipt of order. (Grant Buckler/19900924/Press Contact: Andrew Hettinger, Epoch Systems, 508-836-4300) (NEWS)(IBM)(LON)(00030) NEW FOR IBM: Fast File Finder From Fleetwood CHESTER, ENGLAND, 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Fleetwood Systems has released Fleetfinder, a combination hardware/software unit for the PC that the company claims is capable of searching a hard disk for a file or group of files in minutes. The UKP 125 system is able to work so fast as it uses a combination of high-efficiency software and a DMA (direct memory access) card to "lift" and search entire blocks of data from the hard disk in one go. It is capable of scanning up to 1MB of data every six seconds. The supplied software allows the user to specify up to eight words to be searched. The software then "hashes" its way through the data on the disk surface, noting all files where the search strings occur. The system consists of a plug-in ISA PC card, software package and user manual. It is claimed to be compatible with almost any IBM PC or close compatible and is coded in C. (Steve Gold/19900924/Press & Public Contact: John Lewis, Fleetwood Systems - Tel: 0829-40552) (NEWS)(IBM)(SYD)(00031) AUSTRALIA: ISYS DATABASE USED TO ACCESS CUSTOMS LEGISLATION SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Australian software developer Odyssey Development's Isys 2.0 text retrieval system has been used to develop Tariff Access, a goods classification and appropriate duty system for customs agents, customs consultants, and importers. Developed by Price Waterhouse, the system helps users avoid penalties for wrongfully classifying goods or applying incorrect tariffs. The penalty for these offenses entails a 200 percent (of the amount short) fine. The system's database incorporates all customs legislation, which can be accessed by using Isys' indexing and query system. The system works on DOS PC-based systems running Isys, and can easily be updated as legislation changes. According to Odyssey Managing Director Mark Reiss, "Tariff Access takes the guess work out of classifying imports and replaces the time-consuming process of consulting volumes of texts. It certainly makes the custom agent's task easier." (Sean McNamara/19900924/Press Contact: Mark Reiss, phone in Australia +61-2-965 7250) (NEWS)(TELECOM)(SYD)(00032) AUSTRALIA: NETFAX ALLOWS SENDING OF FAXES FROM NETWORKS SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Netcomm has released Netfax, a software package which allows any user on a network to send faxes from one PC Fax Card. The software allows users to check the status of their faxes without leaving other applications, as well as saving incoming faxes to disk for transmission electronically by the network manager at a later time. Once transferred, the files cane be printed or viewed on screen. For especially high fax volume networks, it is recommended that around three PCs be installed with a PC Fax Card. Prices are: AUS$995 (10 user version); AUS$1495 (20 user); and AUS$1995 (50 user). A PC Fax Card has a recommended retail price of AUS$599. (Sean McNamara/19900924)/Press Contact: Chris McPherson, phone in Australia +61-2-888 5533) (NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00033) AT&T OPENS VIDEOCONFERENCE LINK WITH USSR NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- AT&T introduced a $3,200-per hour videoconferencing service between the U.S. and the Soviet Union in a conference between Sam R. Willcoxon, president of the company's international group, and Vladimir Glinka, Minister of Communications for the USSR in Moscow. The service uses AT&T's International Accunet Reserved Digital service, traveling by both wire and satellite to offer both full- motion video and audio between compatibly-equipped facilities. These can either be rooms built by customers or public rooms maintained by AT&T in 18 countries. The Moscow room is operated by that nation's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, and features a 6-man conference table, dedicated cameras and monitors, a VCR and fax machine, a white board which can fax what's drawn on it across the link, as well as slides and graphics capability. AT&T expects significant demand for its new link to Moscow. Popular applications include coordinating manufacturing, managing worldwide investments, as well as product design, financial reporting, architectural and engineering reviews, training and strategy sessions, or as in this case, product introductions and press conferences. The cost of a one-hour meeting between the New York and Moscow rooms is estimated at $3,200, including transmission and room rental charges. The link can be reserved by calling AT&T at 1-800-323-6672. (Dana Blankenhorn/19900925/Press Contact: Rick Wallerstein, AT&T, 201-953-7911; Richard Dukas, for AT&T, 212/889-1200) (NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00034) SMITH CORONA, ACER TO TEAM UP IN PC MARKET NEW CANAAN, CONNECTICUT, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Typewriter maker Smith Corona and PC maker Acer America have formed a joint venture to develop personal computers for the consumer, home office, and small business markets. The MS-DOS based PCs will carry a new Smith Corona/Acer brand name. Debra Bowman, director of marketing communications at Acer, told Newsbytes the companies are releasing no further specifications "for competitive reasons" until the PCs are released. The new PCs will compete with IBM's PS/1, she confirmed. In research and development for the past year, the new PCs are to be available for delivery in the first quarter of 1991, the companies said. After start-up manufacturing at Acer's facilities in Taiwan, Bowman said, the units will be made in the United States. The products will be distributed through the distribution network of Smith Corona, the world's largest maker of portable electronic typewriters and personal word processors. Outlets will include office equipment retailers, national retail chains, department stores, and direct mail, Bowman said. Acer America, based in San Jose, California, is a subsidiary of Acer, a Taiwanese personal computer manufacturer. (Grant Buckler/19900928/Press Contact: Joan Toffolon, Smith Corona, 203-972-1471; Debra Bowman, Acer America, 408-922-0333) (NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00035) NATIONAL MICRONETICS TALKING TO POTENTIAL INVESTOR KINGSTON, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Searching for an answer to its financial problems, National Micronetics has opened negotiations that could lead to an equity investment by an unnamed foreign company. The maker of recording heads for disk drives has had financial problems for several months, company President Robert Ristagno told Newsbytes, and "we have been searching the equity market to find some capital." He would not name the company to which National Micronetics is talking, but said it would be "a good assumption" that the company is in the same business as National. National Micronetics said the agreement could also involve a series of collateralized bridge loans to precede the equity investment. Ristagno said the outcome of the discussions depends on further investigation by the potential investor, settling terms of the terms of the investment, directors' and foreign government agency approvals, National's operating results, and the cooperation of National Micronetics' bank lenders. National Micronetics' primary bank creditor has temporarily waived the failure by NMI to comply with certain terms of its loan agreements, has deferred payment of US$275,000 due on Sept. 11, and has said it would defer certain future payments of principal and interest during the period of negotiation with the proposed investor. (Grant Buckler/19900926/Press Contact: Robert Ristagno, National Micronetics, 914-338-0333) (NEWS)(GOVT)(TOR)(00036) DIGITAL EQUIPMENT OFFERS $2.5 MILLION GRANT TO M2C WESTBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Digital Equipment has announced a US$2.5-million grant to the Massachusetts Microelectronics Center (M2C). Digital previously donated a total of US$10 million in equipment to the center, a university-industry-state partnership in technology education, in support of programs in semiconductor technology at M2C's 11 member schools. The donation consists of DECstation 3100s and DECsystem 5000/200s which will be used to upgrade computer-aided design laboratories at M2C's member universities, as well as additional equipment which M2C will use to monitor the fabrication process used in producing integrated circuit chips from student designs. (Grant Buckler/19900928/Press Contact: Christine Sheroff, M2C, 508-870-0312, ext. 254; Nikki Richardson, Digital Equipment, 508-493-6369) (NEWS)(TELECOM)(HKG)(00037) HONG KONG TOPS IN OSI, CHAIRMAN TELLS CENIT ASIA '90 WANCHAI, HONG KONG, 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Hong Kong is keeping step with the world leaders in the field of Open Systems Interconnect (OSI), Hong Kong OSI Cooperative (HOSIC) chairman Keith Cameron told delegates to a conference at CeNIT Asia '90 in Hong Kong. Speaking on 25th September, CeNIT's opening day, Cameron, who is also joint editor with Newsbytes News Network's Hong Kong bureau, was introducing an impressive demonstration of OSI technology mounted by HOSIC which ran throughout the four-day event, drawing large crowds. HOSIC was formed earlier this year by members from many branches of the information technology industry, including most of the big international computer manufacturers. A particularly noteworthy example of the inter-company cooperation involved was provided during a quiet period between formal demonstrations of OSI, when a Hewlett-Packard logo suddenly appeared on the screens of DEC terminals within the multi-vendor HOSIC pavilion. Far from rushing over to obliterate the rival graphic, DEC staff enthusiastically pointed it out to visitors as evidence of the truly open and cooperative nature of OSI. Explaining the principles behind OSI, Cameron used the analogy of the worldwide telephone network. "When you make a telephone call," he said, "you first look up a directory to establish the number of the party with whom you wish to speak, and then you dial the number. You don't care where the party is - he or she can be next door, or in London, or New York. You also do not need to know or care what sort of cable or signal is connecting you to the person you are calling, nor do you know or care about the type of telephone handset he or she might be using. All you want to achieve is to talk to the other party." Cameron then noted that the telephone network is an open system. There is nothing the user needs to know about any of the technicalities of the transmission, or of the receiver's equipment, to actually use it. The caller might be using a modern touch tone dialling phone on a digital circuit, calling a seventy-year-old hand- cranked magneto type instrument in the remotest outback of Australia, but the call would be connected as if the equipment at both ends was identical - at least, as far as the caller was aware. "What OSI means, therefore," Cameron continued, "is that some time in the future, the not too distant future, any computer in the world will have the ability to connect to any other computer in the world, provided both have a 'listing' in the OSI directory." Cameron quoted many examples where such exchanges will revolutionize personal and corporate communications around the globe: electronic mail from any site to any other site, instantaneous contract exchange between companies thousands of miles apart, and electronic document interchange of orders. "Perhaps even more importantly, OSI will extend into the home. Personal mail services will be affected dramatically," Cameron said, adding that the major testing partners in Australia, Europe, Japan and the USA have predicted that the global OSI network should be completely in place by 1995. In conclusion Cameron paid tribute to the many HOSIC members and others, all Hong Kong people, who made the CeNIT OSI demonstrations possible. "It is clear evidence," he said, "that Hong Kong has the expertise to stand alongside the world leaders in the field of information technology." (Norman Wingrove/19900928/Press Contact: Keith Cameron, HOSIC, +852 855 0050; HK time is GMT + 8) (EXCLUSIVE)(TELECOM)(HKG)(00038) HONG KONG BENEFITS FROM WELL-TIMED OSI ENTRY WANCHAI, HONG KONG, 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- The timing of the formation of the HOSIC (Hong Kong Open Systems Interconnect Cooperative) earlier this year has turned out to have several advantages, says HOSIC Technical Committee chairman, John Daly. In an exclusive interview with Newsbytes, Mr Daly, one of the prime movers behind the founding of HOSIC, said that at the engineering level Hong Kong had entered the field at a time when the new world standards for OSI were crystallizing and being put into effect. "Some countries have had electronic data exchange networks for some time, and their engineers often cannot see the advantage of the X.400 and X.500 protocols now becoming the worldwide standard," Daly said. "It's quite natural that as competent professionals of long experience they should look askance and say X.400 is just another protocol. None of us likes change when we seem to have everything nicely settled, so these engineers have the hard task of starting out in a new direction in order not to be left standing as the global OSI network becomes reality." Daly told Newsbytes that, since Hong Kong information technology (IT) professionals are starting to come to grips with OSI at this time, they are doing so essentially as new users of open systems communications, so their first major experience in the field is with the latest global standards. This puts them on a footing with even the leaders. At the same time, "In other areas of IT, technological expertise and understanding tend to remain confined at the expert level and the end user and layman are left confused and isolated. You have only to look around at this HOSIC demonstration, with all the competing vendors working together, communicating with each other locally and across the world, to see that ordinary users are fascinated and immediately grasp the principles behind OSI. What is especially interesting and encouraging is that over the last few days we have seen so many visitors systematically walking around the pavilion intently studying the various graphics posters showing all the different aspects of OSI and how it works. The questions we receive also show that people are not only interested, but are quickly gaining a clear understanding of the whole concept of OSI." Demonstrations at the HOSIC pavilion even went beyond the basic presentation of global intersystem exchange of messages and data. At one end of the pavilion, local hardware and software supplier Gilman Business Systems was using Apple Macintosh computers to capture screens of data sent, for example, from a Unisys system to a Hewlett-Packard terminal, then loading it into Pagemaker for incorporation into desktop published paper documents. Gilman's Mike Fulton told Newsbytes, "We are not really part of the HOSIC demonstration proper, but we thought it would be a good idea to underline still further the limitless possibilities of OSI with a practical demonstration of the ease with which information received from a totally different computer system can be handed on for further manipulation." (Norman Wingrove/Press Contact: Keith Cameron, HOSIC, +852 855 0050; HK time is GMT + 8) (NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00039) NCR SAYS OPEN SYSTEMS WILL HELP BANKS SURVIVE WANCHAI, HONG KONG 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- NCR financial systems vice president, John Quinlan, told a financial information technology symposium at Hong Kong's ITWeek that today's bank branches are more like financial supermarkets and bankers must take heed of the change. Open systems are a necessity for them to compete, he said. Quinlan told delegates that under pressure from government deregulation and the growing sophistication of their customers, banks are being forced to adopt the strategies of boutiques and convenience stores. Claiming that banks are experiencing a change from retail banking to bank retailing, Quinn told his audience, "The banking public is beginning to shop around between banks to find the product that best suits them." Banks are now drawing a distinction between the marketing, selling and delivery of bank products, Quinlan said. "Marketing will be done centrally. Marketing will determine what products we sell, what our target markets should be, what our market price should be, what our distribution strategy should be. Selling will be done at the branch. Tell the branch, 'Here's what you sell, here's what you charge for it, here's how to sell it, and at the end of the day, how many did you sell.'" With the experience behind him of heading NCR's Hong Kong financial division during the early 1980s, when there was an explosive growth in the installation of automatic teller machines (ATMs), Quinlan added, "Bankers look to technology to produce a business result. Current mainframe systems are a collection of applications developed independently over time, loosely integrated, and often with separate data bases." He went on to say bankers want to ask, "How many account holders are going to turn 55 this year so we can solicit them for retirement plans?" or "How many car loans do we have that are going to be three years old in June, so we can remind them that we want their loan on the next car?" In this new environment, banks are looking for open systems that will diminish their dependence on specific computer vendors, offer greater choice when it comes to expansion, and permit new applications to be added at will, Quinlan said. The industry is reacting to these demands by moving quickly away from proprietary systems towards open systems based on industry standards, distributed processing power, increased communications and a sharper focus on the end user. Quinlan's comments helped emphasize the attention being placed during ITWeek on the concept of OSI (Open Systems Interconnect), itself the subject of an impressive demonstration by HOSIC, the Hong Kong OSI Cooperative, at the concurrent CeNIT Asia '90 at Hong Kong's Convention and Exhibition Centre. (Norman Wingrove/19900928/Press Contact: Vivian Kung, NCR, +852 859 6021; HK time is GMT + 8) (NEWS)(TELECOM)(WAS)(00040) HOUSE COMMITTEE CONSIDERS 900 NUMBER RESTRICTIONS WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- The House Subcommittee on Telecommunications is considering placing various restrictions on operators of 900 telephone information services, probably through the major telephone companies which get a cut of the price of each call. In what may be a purely American phenomena, a vast number of pay- per-call "900" prefix telephone information services has flooded the market with everything from Dial-an-Insult to services which promise to tell you how to buy former drug dealers' airplanes, boats, and automobiles. These phone numbers, along with the vast array of phone-sex or phone-confession numbers, have brought a bonanza to many entrepreneurs and, at the same time, enormous bills to business and home owners whose employees and children often call these numbers and run up hours of $1-per-minute chat time. While some 900 numbers offer real benefits to callers, such as the growing number of 900-number computer software support lines, some offer little more than referral telephone numbers that could be obtained from a telephone book. Tennessee's Democratic Representative Bart Gordon cited a "900" Santa line that told kids who called that Santa wasn't available and to call back, while Subcommittee Chairman Edward Marke (Democrat-Massachusetts) said that the industry's 1989 income of $480 million is expected to climb to $3.2 billion by 1992. Representative Gordon has introduced a bill that calls for a free introductory time period on all 900 calls, free 900-number lockout for telephones if requested, clearer explanations of billing procedures, and placing the 900 industry under the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission, the same agency that controls TV and radio stations. (John McCormick/19900928) (EDITORIAL)(TELECOM)(HKG)(00041) A BIT OF A STANDARD - OR A BIT OF CHAOS? - Editorial by N. Wingrove KOWLOON BAY, HONG KONG, 1990 SEP 29 (NB) -- There can be no question that the information technology industry is the most important force in our lives today. No doubt some will argue with that statement. Many will claim that religious belief is the most powerful influence over mankind, for example. Nevertheless, information technology - "IT" - is surely a particularly serendipitous abbreviation - has a far greater bearing on the day to day life of every man, woman and child on our planet, not to say the global environment in which we and our fellow creatures live. In the developed world, the influence of computers and the information they manage is only too obvious. We cannot renew a driving licence without a computer being consulted. Salaries, welfare payments, health records, taxes, travel - you name it - all rely on the big (but ever shrinking) metal box. But even in the most primitive countries, lives are governed by computers: if not theirs, then ours - what control have they over our calculations about global warming, for instance? This editorial has come to you, wherever you are reading it, from one modest room in a crowded corner of Hong Kong. It might just as easily have come to you from the house next door. All thanks to modern - computerized - communications. Even the complete layman tends to take such things for granted. And quite right, too. IT is a success because IT has been possible for everyman to accept IT as part of life: something that takes a lot of drudgery out of life, that we don't notice until IT goes wrong. On the other hand, if you actively use IT in your daily life, at home or at work; for leisure or for business, you will be aware of the countless frustrations experienced by anyone who comes closer than arm's length to IT. Many of these frustrations arise from a lack of standards that would not be acceptable in other industries. Would you buy a car whose accelerator was controlled by a lever hanging from the roof, with a steering wheel set at right angles to the normal position and brakes operated by a handle on the wheel hub? Of course not. Yet we are expected to pay large amounts of money for the IT equivalent of such absurdities. For example, different manufacturers have taken different approaches to the problem of making computers friendly to their users who, for the most part, care not one jot how many mips or bytes are involved or whether boolean or fuzzy logic is used, as long as the wretched thing works. These different approaches by the various designers are laudable enough in themselves. The trouble arises when the developers concerned lose sight of the greater - and all-important - goal of standardization. It is scandalous that the end user should, in the long run, have to pay for all the petty squabbling over such things as windowing techniques and presentation; of icons and screen layouts. The companies concerned, if they truly had at heart the interests of the IT industry at large, would share their ideas and work together to give their customers the equivalent of the basic motor car -- all controls and presentation basically similar with differences restricted to cosmetics. It is bad enough to have a plethora of incompatible computers operating under incompatible (even when nominally the same) operating systems, without the senseless, petty warring between companies behaving like spoilt brats. Scarcely a day goes by without our being assailed by news of some ludicrous, pointless and wasteful (except to the lawyers) court action over some detail that is of absolutely no concern to the end user who simply wants a machine that works elegantly and simply and, in basics, just like any other, whatever the brand. Yet the IT industry has still not been able to come to grips with the very basic task of ditching 7-bit data transmission in favour of 8 bits. IBM has often been criticized for its conservatism, so it is well to remember that that company was the original champion of standardization on 8-bit communications. Alas, it was defeated by a head-in-the-sand industry, with the result that for most of us, computer communications are in a situation comparable to a telephone network requiring us to speak in a particular language before it could connect us. The absurdity of the situation is easily illustrated. The Hong Kong Newsbytes Bureau can easily communicate with its head office in San Francisco over the public packet switched data networks, as long as they are only exchanging text. This can be done using 7 data bits. To exchange binary, i.e., program code, graphics, etc, requires 8 bit operation. Both the US and Hong Kong data networks involved are capable of working at either 7 or 8 bits internally, but because they use different standards, they cannot understand each other, and it is not possible to exchange files between them if using 8 bit operation. If you try, they have the vapours and refuse to cooperate. So, instead of coming to you via two fundamentally excellent high speed data networks, the words you have been reading have made the journey through a low-speed telephone circuit into a high speed data network. And since the originating network rules where transmission speed is concerned, getting this material to you has taken somewhat more than twice as long as necessary. Lewis Carrol, thou should'st be living at this hour! (Norman Wingrove/19900602) (REVIEW)(IBM)(ATL)(00042) Review of: Staying With DOS, a book by Dan Gookin From: Ventana Press Inc, POB 2468, Chapel Hill NC 27515, 919- 942-0220, FAX 919/942-1140. Price: $22.95 PUMA Rating: 3.9 (on a scale of 1=lowest to 4=highest ) Reviewed for Newsbytes by: tbass HNDYPRSN, MCI:379-5378 09/29/90 Summary: Staying With DOS by Dan Gookin is an excellent source of information for novices and casual users about the expansion possibilities of a MS/PC-DOS formatted computer system. ====== REVIEW ====== "Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated..."--- MS-DOS Dan Gookin has in Staying With DOS given us a reference on the current possibilities for expanding on the MS/PC-DOS format that will serve the needs of both the novice and the initiated users. Those that are well into using DOS will find it a little lacking, but helpful in trying to explain things to those not so immersed. Staying With DOS provides short, but informative looks at much of the software and hardware available for expanding the DOS- oriented systems. These features include more memory, more speed, better graphics capabilities, multitasking, and networking. Dan gives special attention to MS-Windows 3.0 and other graphical user interfaces, or GUIs. This allows the user to understand what all the current excitement is about. It has a section on multitasking environments including GUIs and other related orientations such as Quarterdeck's DESQview 386. Mr. Gookin states that DESQview 386, technically, is the better of the DOS-oriented multitasking environments. This reviewer agrees considering that the user is already somewhat familiar with DOS applications. There is coverage of extended and expanded memory management in an understandable manner. This book lightens up this somewhat complicated area. Do we need the light? Probably. Why are books like this important? Because everyone has to start somewhere. Staying With DOS, also, gives a user a base for further knowledge about these systems. An informed user is not completely at the mercy of wiles and whims of salespersons. ============ PUMA RATING ============ PERFORMANCE: (4.0) Staying With DOS was designed to help the novice and casual user make informed decisions. It does that well. USEFULNESS: (4.0) For those in a constant state of confusion about what to do in relation to operating systems, this book is very useful. The cost is in line with most computer books. AVAILABILITY: (3.8) Those interested can find this and other Ventana Press publications at B.Dalton's and Walden book stores. It can also be purchased direct from Ventana Press Inc as above addressed. There are, however, no 800#s for ordering. (tbass HNDYPRSN/19900916/Press Contact:Lee Wueisbecker, FAX 919/942-1140) (REVIEW)(IBM)(WAS)(00043) Review of: Macsyma, a symbolic mathematics program for the PC Runs on: 386/486 MS-DOS machines with hard disk and a minimum of 8 megabytes of memory. Requires a lot of disk space and a powerful machine. From: Symbolics, 8 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803. 617-221-1000 Price: $1,950 PUMA Rating: 3.975 (on a scale of 1=lowest to 4=highest) Reviewed for Newsbytes by: John McCormick, 9/28/90 Summary: An extremely powerful advanced mathematics (calculus and beyond) program using artificial intelligence techniques to analyze and solve equations symbolically and numerically. ====== REVIEW ====== Macsyma is the product of about 15 years of development at MIT and Symbolics Corp. and is based on the LISP (List Processing) artificial intelligence language. Because it came from the mainframe and dedicated LISP machine worlds, and because of the powerful capabilities it possesses, Macsyma takes up about 18 MB of hard disk space and needs another 12 MB of working memory, a lot of which can be virtual memory swapped to a hard disk. This review won't explain the advanced terms involved in higher mathematics, both for space reasons and because anyone who would have a use for Macsyma probably has a very strong background in math or the physical sciences and already understands them (I majored in physics or I wouldn't even attempt this review). This program is intended for those working with symbolic analysis of math problems at the advanced college or graduate school level and anyone needing something less is well advised to steer clear of the program, although I found the documentation and built-in tutorial to be extremely clear and very easy to follow. In fact, the main danger I see is that unsophisticated users could easily run Macsyma and solve equations which they would not understand and thus get erroneous results, not due to a lack in the software but due to a lack of their mathematical sophistication. Although Macsyma's strength is the ability to parse and "solve" complex equations symbolically, the numeric aspect hasn't been left out. For example, running a factorial (N!) of 999 (that is, finding the product of 999 x 998 x 997 x ... 1) took just over 11 seconds running on an ALR Powercache4, 25 megahertz, 80486 computer. That large a number is impossible for most programs to perform a factorial on, but Macsyma not only did it in record time, it generated an answer with 30 lines of 70 numbers each, followed by another 230 zeros. Now that's precision! In addition to handling the algebraic functions and operations like the Poisson Series, Macsyma solves differential and integral calculus problems and uses Laplace and Fopurier transforms. In matrix operations it transposes, triangularizes, and computes determinants in at least two ways. A quick glance through the hundreds of pages of documentation shows every math operation I ever encountered in college and a number I have never heard of. Macsyma uses a slight variant of Algol 60 syntax but is easy to learn, with both built-in tutorials and extensive help, as well as very friendly error messages, such as one I often ran into reminding me to back up and insert more information before terminating a line with the usual ";" which ends arguments and initiates a calculation. Graphics, in the form of graph generation, does exist in Macsyma, although the graphs are far from presentation quality, but this should pose no problem for the true mathematician who is the target audience for this program. Printer support is also a bit thin, even though the entire package runs under Microsoft Windows (a run-time version is included). Installation was surprisingly simple for this program, despite its intimidating size, and I had no trouble with the hardware printer port lock that restricts use to a single machine at a time. Much as I dislike copy protection, I recognize the need for it in expensive and specialized programs of this type, and honest users should have no complaints unless that hardware attachment happens to interfere with one of their printers. At least there is no problem with making backup copies or even keeping one copy on an office machine and another at home - since only one copy can be run at a time, and the copy protection port attachment is pocket size, the program is convenient while still protecting the rightful developer. If you really need more power, you need a mainframe or even a Cray, and even here Macsyma will be a big help in analyzing problems and preparing code in FORTRAN or other languages. In fact, with supercomputer time as limited as it is, you might start a micro churning away at a problem using Macsyma and come up with a solution before your Cray time comes up. ============ PUMA RATING ============ PERFORMANCE: (3.9) You can't have everything, and there are a number of documented bugs to watch out for; also, graphics are weak and, surprisingly, numeric calculations are a bit slow. I would have taken a greater penalty than 0.1 points, but this is a specialized program and if you want graphics you can always choose a program where that feature is given emphasis. USEFULNESS: (4.0) I would like to go even higher. If you need this much computing power, especially if you are one of the many scientists, mathematicians, and engineers who encountered this powerful program in college, then this is the ultimate for micros. MANUAL: (4.0) Again, don't expect this manual to teach you advanced mathematics; it just teaches you how to use the program, and. as such, almost isn't needed since a lot of information is included in the program itself. AVAILABILITY: (4.0) Direct from Symbolics, either for 386/486 systems, as part of a dedicated Lisp processor, or in mainframe version. (John McCormick/1990601) (NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00044) APPLE BUYING BACK 10 MILLION SHARES CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- Apple's board of directors has approved the repurchase of up to an additional 10 million shares of its common stock in the open market, a move designed to increase the value of the stock. The news was announced by John Sculley, Apple chairman, during the company's annual stockholder meeting. Since July 1986, Apple has repurchased approximately 30 million shares of common stock. "We believe that an investment in shares of our company at current market prices represents an attractive opportunity for Apple," said Sculley. (Wendy Woods/19900928) (NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00045) HP TO MAKE WORKSTATIONS IN CHINA PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1990 SEP 28 (NB) -- In a move which signals that the political fallout from the June, 1989 Beijing massacre has blown away, Hewlett-Packard has committed itself to building workstations and developing software with the Chinese government in Shanghai. Karen Gervais, public relations manager HP, says that the company does not get involved in the politics of a country, just participates in the business climate. "China is an opportunity for business again -- Pizza Hut opened a branch there, IBM will be making PCs so business activity has resumed," she tells Newsbytes. HP's agreement with the Ministry of Machinery and Electronics Industry (MMEI) in the People's Republic of China calls for the creation and jointly investment in Huapu Information Technology Co. , a company which will assemble and market HP's Apollo 9000 Series 400 workstations for the Chinese domestic market and will develop software for use in computer-aided engineering and manufacturing for domestic and export markets. The company is expected to begin operations with a staff of 70, all drawn from China, by the end of the year. Huapu is HP's second joint venture in China. The first, China Hewlett-Packard, was established in 1984 when HP joined with China Electronics Import & Export Corp. to make analytical products, assemble HP 3000 minicomputers and operate a sales and service office. This operation employs about 350 people in Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai. Operations stalled there just after the June massacre incident, but were back in full swing within a few months. (Wendy Woods/19900928/Press Contact: Karen Gervais, 415-857-4778)