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/1992/nb920622

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(NEWS)(UNIX)(HKG)(00001)

Digital, Unix Labs Form Open Technology Pact 06/22/92
TAI KOO SHING, HONG KONG, 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Digital Equipment
Corporation and Unix System Laboratories (USL) are to join forces
in developing a consistent set of open system interface definitions
across Unix System V platforms and the many platforms supported by
Digital's Network Application Support (NAS) program.

Digital will work with USL to supply a set of NAS packages
on top of System V Release 4.2, providing interoperability with the
thousands of applications that are NAS compliant. In addition, USL and
Digital will be working with their technology partners to combine
Digital's Alpha technology with Unix System V.4 (SVR4).

"These joint efforts by Digital and USL are critical for the computer
industry in its drive to achieve a consistent set of open systems
standards," said Kaizad Heerjee, Digital Asia's open systems manager,
in a prepared statement.

"Digital's NAS packages are the first and most comprehensive set of
products that implement these standard interfaces across multiple
platforms.

"We are happy to add SVR4.2 to the set of platforms on which NAS
packages will run, and we are also pleased with USL's interest in a
port of SVR4.2 on to Alpha. Alpha and NAS are the top priority
programs within Digital to implement our commitment to standards and
open systems, from chip technology to application programming
interfaces. The cooperation between Digital and USL will result in the
first coordinated set of programming interfaces across SVR4 and
OSF/1."

Digital's Alpha program will provide systems with performance based
on an architecture that will be viable well into the 21st century,
Digital hopes. The Alpha architecture from Digital is designed to grow
in performance by a factor of one thousand over its life cycle.

Alpha will be the foundation for an entire series of computer systems,
ranging from portable desktop devices to massively parallel
supercomputers running multiple operating environments. For Alpha,
Digital has announced its commitment to support the VMS, OSF/1 and
Windows/NT operating systems.

"Digital has made great strides in driving common, standards-based
interfaces across heterogeneous platforms with their NAS program,"
said USL's president and CEO, Roel Pieper. "We look forward to working
with Digital as SVR4.2 joins the ranks of NAS supported platforms.

"Our goal with Unix SVR4.2 is to have it run on every popular platform.
Alpha's high performance and advanced architecture make it an ideal
choice for the adaptation of SVR4.2. We are excited about the solution
that can be offered by SVR4.2 on such a powerful platform family."

(Brett Cameron/19920621/Press contact: Walter Cheung (Digital):
Tel: [phone];HK time is GMT + 8.)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(HKG)(00002)

 ****Oracle 7 Previewed 06/22/92
WAN CHAI, HONG KONG, 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Oracle Systems Hong Kong Ltd
announced the arrival of Oracle 7, the next generation of its flagship
relational database management system (RDBMS), at the Conrad Hotel.

At the preview, Mr Mark Wang, Oracle's regional director for Central and
Far East Asia, confirmed that the new version employs cooperative server
technology to enable transparent data sharing across more than 80
distinct hardware and operating platforms, from desktop systems to
mainframes and supercomputers.

Although Oracle currently generates about half its income from Unix-
based systems, Mr Wang said that Oracle is also running on platforms
like OS/2, Novell Netware, and PC Net. "As long as they're significant
enough, we'll support them," Mr Wang told Newsbytes.

The software can support a multiple of languages such as Japanese,
Thai, Korean, and Chinese as well as many European languages.

"Oracle 7 releases the true potential of open systems," said
Mr Wang. "The critical issue for users is the ability to transparently
access data wherever it resides. In providing this openness together
with significantly improved database performance, Oracle 7 sets new
standards in relational database technology that will consolidate
Oracle's market leadership throughout the 1990s."

The new release allows developers and end users to treat a physically
distributed database as a single logical database. Users can access,
update and query information as if it resided on a single local
machine. They never need to remember where data is located and
applications do not have to be recoded if data moves from one node to
another.

In terms of distributed database capability, a key element of Oracle 7
is transparent two-phase commit logic. This improves reliability and
integrity of databases across multiple nodes by supporting multi-
database update transactions and by handling failure recovery
automatically.

"For example, if a manager needs to update customer information in Hong
Kong and Sydney simultaneously, the two-phase commit protocol ensures
that the information is completely updated into both databases at the
same time or not at all -- a true test of data integrity," said Mr.
Wang.

Another important distributed feature in Oracle 7 is the ability to
support asynchronous table replication or "snapshots." Effectively
pictures of the database at a specified moment, snapshots allow users
to choose the frequency with which they wish to receive updated
information. This is done through innovative incremental refresh
algorithm technology which enables the snapshot to be updated or
"refreshed" by adding only new information since the last refresh.

"Snapshots are particularly useful in distributed networks where people
in different operations need information at different levels of
frequency," said Mr. Wang. "By using snapshots, users who do not need
frequent updates obtain the working information they need without
wasting valuable processor power in providing the data online."

In terms of processing power, Oracle 7 is said to improve resource
utilization while also being able to support large networks of users.

New features include shared SQL which enables many users to share a
single copy of SQL statements and procedures; multi-threaded, multi-
server architecture which allows a shared server process to support
multiple clients; concurrency control, which eliminates data access
bottlenecks; and an intelligent cost-based query optimizer which
determines the most efficient access method.

"These features allow more efficient support for both small,
low-end networks, and high-end networks with hundreds or
even thousands of users," said Mr. Wang.

Another important development principle for Oracle 7 was to make
operation easier for users and developers by supporting stored
procedures and triggers in the RDBMS. An example of this is triggered
procedures which enforce security constraints, for example disallowing
updates to the database during non-working hours and holidays.

"If integrity rules are implemented at the application level,
developers must spend time programming them with consequent possibility
for error," said Mr. Wang. "By building rules and triggers which are
compliant with international standards into the system, Oracle 7
enhances ease of use and security, reduces development time, maintains
compatibility, eliminates coding errors and improves profitability."

(Brett Cameron/19920621/Press Contact: Karen Wan (Oracle) Tel: +852-824
0118;HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEL)(00003)

Digital Bags HK Stock Exchange PC Order 06/22/92
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong
has ordered more than 1,600 personal computers from Digital Equipment
Corp. to serve as a platform for its new Automatic Order Matching &
Execution System (AMS).

In one of the largest single PC orders ever placed in Hong Kong, the
Exchange will spend more than HK $20 million (US $2.6 million) to
equip 900 trader booths and more than 700 broker offices with the
newly announced DECpc 325sx LP workstations, built in Digital's
Taiwan manufacturing plant.

The networked PCs will automatically match bids with offers and save
the resulting transactions for processing by the Exchange's
mainframe computer. AMS is expected to be introduced at the end of
this year and will also store bids and offers away from the market
price for automatic matching if the price changes.

"Our members will no longer have to trade by telephone and confirm
trades by keyboard. Bids and offers at the same price entered into
the system will be matched automatically, enabling the trader to
move onto the next trade without having to monitor the status
of order," said Paul Chow, chief executive of the Exchange.

Cabling for the project has already been completed and installations
of the workstations will begin soon. "Installation will take months,"
said Richard Heckinger, chief operating officer of the Exchange,
"We can't close down the exchange, so all the work has to be done
outside trading hours and everything will have to be put back to
normal for the start of trading each day."

(C.T. Mahabharat/19920622)


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

Atari Climbs On Board The Batmobile 06/22/92
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- In case you hadn't noticed,
the second Batman movie, entitled Batman Returns, has been released in
the US, and will be set upon the masses in Europe in early July.
Atari, capitalizing on the anticipated success of the movie, is
releasing a Lynx games console game of the same name in parallel
with the film.

While the game will retail for UKP 29-99, non-Lynx owners are
being encouraged to play it with a "Batman Returns" bundle
costing UKP 99-99. For this, Batman fans get an Atari Lynx
console, which normally costs around the UKP 85 mark, plus a
Batman Returns cartridge.

Atari is taking the games cartridge seriously -- it's secured the
worldwide licence for the game.

According to Darryl Still, Atari's marketing spokesman, Batman
Returns -- the game, has gone through the development cycle
especially quickly, so as to get the cartridge out in time for the
launch of the film itself.

Still is claiming an industry first with the parallel launch. "By
precisely timing the nationwide retail availability of our best-
selling hand-held and software with the summer holiday showing of
a blockbuster movie, it's an irresistable combination," he said.

The parallel release has been made possible, Still added, thanks
to a close association with Warner Brothers, the company behind
the Batman movies.

Atari isn't being totally altruistic with the Batman Returns
games, however. Newsbytes notes that, because families are away
on holiday during the months of July and August, sales of leisure
computer goods are at an annual low. Still says that the Batman
game should boost games software and Lynx sales considerably this
summer.

More than 10,000 special Lynx promotional packs have been
produced for the four-week launch campaign. Other promotions are
planned for the autumn and Christmas periods. Atari hopes to
sell more than a million Lynx consoles this year alone.

(Steve Gold/19920622/Press & Public Contact: Atari - Tel: 0753-
533344)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(NYC)(00005)

Frankston Leaves Slate 6/22/92
WATERTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Bob
Frankston has told Newsbytes that he has left Slate Corporation to
"pursue various other interests full time."

Frankston, who co-developed the first electronic spreadsheet, VisiCalc
with Slate Vice President Dan Bricklin, joined Slate from Lotus
Development Corp. which had previously purchased Software Arts, the
company that he and Bricklin had founded. While at Slate, Frankston had
been responsible for developing the scripting language for Slate's pen-
based electronic spreadsheet, At Hand.

Frankston said that the parting is amicable. "I am maintaining a
friendly and close relationship with Slate and will continue to help
them out in a variety of ways."

Bricklin told Newsbytes that Frankston's departure will do nothing to
change their close relationship. He said, "We live near each other and
I'll see him at least as much. He had been working mainly from his
home so he was not regularly in the office, anyhow, so it's not
that all of a sudden I'll see him less. He will also continue to be
available to Slate as we need him and that is comforting as he has
done an excellent job on the At Hand project, further advancing the
spreadsheet metaphor which he helped create."

Bricklin added, "One interesting sidelight of Bob's time with us is
that, when he joined us, he was somewhat skeptical of the pen-based
platform. I'm sure he leaves a believer."

Frankston's further statements to Newsbytes reflected Bricklin's
comments: "I believe that Slate's focus on fully exploiting the pen is
the right choice and will be successful, but my interests are broader.
At this point those interests are general but vague. That is why I
need the time off on my own. One idea I've toyed with for a while
is doing some writing -- probably more towards the computer-
philosophical, but no promises. I'll also pursue my various interests
in ubiquitous computing and communications. And, of course,
kibbitzing and (its younger cousin) beta-ing."

Frankston continued, "Without meaning to sound grandiose, one of the
important factors in my decision is that a lot of what excites me
about computers has nothing to do with computers themselves --
it is the concepts underlying computing that arouse my interest and
I hope now to have time to purse these interests."

Asked by Newsbytes whether there is enough commercial immediacy
connected with these interests to "pay the rent," Frankston
replied, "Well, I'll have to hope that my Lotus stock performs well
while I see if there are commercial avenues to pursue. With PCs
(in the general sense) getting to be actually useful and interesting
and intelligent devices and appliances looming, the whole area of
computers and their application still only hinting at what is to
come, things should be very interesting over the next few years."

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19920617)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00006)

European Prolog Vendors Announce Collaboration Agreement 06/22/92
AVIGNON, FRANCE, 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Several leading Prolog
developers have announced what they call as "strategic
collaborative alliance" with the formation of the Prolog Vendors
Group (PVG). The aim of the PVG, which was formed as a result of
a special meeting in France earlier this month between several
Prolog suppliers, is to promote the use of Prolog for
applications software development.

The Avignon meeting of suppliers was attended BIM of Belgium,
Cosytec and Delphia of France, Interface of Germany, Integral
Solutions and Logic Programming Associates of the UK, the
Prolog Development Centre of Denmark, and Siemens Nixdorf of
Germany. Several other companies look likely to join the group.

Commenting on the initiative of the Avignon inaugural meeting,
Mike van den Bossche-Marquette, the first PVG chairman, said that
the Prolog vendor community has made a major commitment with the
group. This will, he said, demonstrate Prolog's increasingly
widespread use for the deployment of commercial applications.

"This initiative will help position Prolog as the applications
development language of the future," he said.

Newsbytes notes that the launch of the PVG coincides with the
20th anniversary of the language itself.

(Steve Gold/19920622/Press & Public Contact: Al Roth, secretary
to the PVG, PO Box 137, Blackpool FY2 0XY. Tel: [phone]; Fax:
0253-53811; Email on Internet: [e-mail])


(NEWS)(UNIX)(TOR)(00007)

New For Unix: EquationBuilder For Next 06/22/92
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Digital Tool
Works has announced EquationBuilder, technical publishing software
for Next computers that the vendor said is the first fully WYSIWYG
technical equation editor for the Nextstep operating system.

EquationBuilder composes equations as encapsulated PostScript
files, said Terrence Talbot, a partner in the company. That means
the equations can then be included in word processing and desktop
publishing files as if they were graphics.

EquationBuilder can also be used to generate Tex output, giving
users of the Tex technical word processor a simple, intuitive
equation composition environment.

Using a distributed, object-oriented approach to typesetting,
EquationBuilder expressions are dynamically recomposed each time
the expression is edited, the vendor said, assuring typographic
consistency.

Mathematical expressions can be constructed from a palette of
common elements such as fractions, matrices, and delimiters. Each
element is an object and can be inspected quickly, changing its
form in obvious and intuitive ways. EquationBuilder automatically
follows standard professional typesetting rules, and manual kerning
of arbitrary elements is also possible through inspectors.

EquationBuilder version 0.9b (beta) is due to be available in
mid-July from Digital Tool Works and will work with Next computers
running Nextstep 2.0 or higher. Users who purchase a beta version
of EquationBuilder will be entitled to a free software upgrade to
version 1.0 when it becomes available later in 1992. Version 1.0
will take full advantage of new features in Nextstep 3.0, including
object linking.

The beta version will be available at a special pre-release price
of $180, a 33-percent discount from the $270 list price.

Digital Tool Works is currently working to set up distribution
arrangements for the software, Talbot said. This is the company's
first product.

(Grant Buckler/19920619/Press Contact: Terrence Talbot, Digital
Tool Works, 617-742-4057)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(HKG)(00008)

NCR Claims New Records For OLTP 06/22/92
WAN CHAI, HONG KONG, 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- The NCR System 3450 is
said to have set a new industry standard for price/performance
among on-line transaction processing (OLTP) Unix systems.

The NCR System 3450 benchmarked at 100.31 transactions per second (tps)
with a price/performance ratio of $8,422/tps on the TPC Benchmark A,
which is claimed to be more than $400/tps better than the nearest
computer. The tests were performed with NCR Unix SVR4 MP-RAS and
Informix On-Line 5.0 on a four-processor system. These tests were
audited by the independent consulting firm of Codd and Date,
Incorporated.

"Customers demand outstanding open systems price performance, and ours
is the best on the world," claimed Michael J I Lee, managing director
of NCR (Hong Kong) Ltd.

The TPC-A benchmark and TPC-B benchmark were developed by the
Transaction Processing Performance Council (TPC), a consortium of 44
hardware and software companies formed in 1988. It is the industry
standard benchmark for on-line transaction processing (OLTP)
applications.

For OLTP price/performance, the NCR System 3550 benchmarks at 150.6 tps
with a price/performance ratio of $12,737/tps. This is claimed to be
the best in its class for the TPC-A benchmark.

The NCR System 3550 achieved 258.5 tps with a price performance of
$4,602/tps on the TPC-B benchmark test. It is claimed to have the best
price performance in the industry for a high-end open systems platform
running a merchant database.

The System 3550 is claimed to have set new standards for price
performance in database and on-line transactions processing (OLTP)
applications running on an enterprise-class Unix system.

"Price performance leadership has been our consistent goal with the NCR
System 3000 family and we are very pleased that the 3550 has
benchmarked so well," said Mr Lee. "We feel we have developed a system
that will truly meet our customer's needs at the enterprise level."

Mr Lee said that the price/performance achievement was the result of
concentrated development effort in Unix along with partnerships with
Informix and Oracle.

"NCR and Informix have established a price/performance standard for
Unix systems," said Tony Banham, Technical Services Manager, North Asia
at Informix Software (HK) Ltd. "The strength of these numbers show that
NCR is taking the OLTP market very seriously." "NCR is the first vendor
to provide audited TPC Benchmark A results on Informix 5.0," Mr Banham
said.

"With a low cost for TPC-B benchmark transactions, NCR has successfully
established price performance leadership in the small to medium size
mainframe machine," said Henry Chan, country sales manager of Oracle
Systems Hong Kong Ltd. "This is about one tenth the cost of the same
transaction on a traditional mainframe."

The NCR System 3550 is a large database server and OLTP system,
expandable to eight 50MHZ i486 processors and more than 200 gigabytes
of disk storage. The NCR System 3450 is a desk side super-server
system, expandable up to four 50 MHz i486 processors and over 50
gigabytes of disk storage.

Meanwhile, Tandem has also scored high. With the TPC-A benchmark run on
its RISC-based parallel NonStop fault-tolerant systems, 501 tps was
achieved and a price/performance of $11,400/tps was yielded. This is
claimed to be the best price/performance for computing of its kind.

The TPC-A benchmark was conducted using Tandem's open industry-
standard SQL relational database management system, NonStop SQL.

NonStop SQL is a scalable database system that is claimed to provide a
high degree of performance for centralized or geographically
distributed relational databases.

The benchmark test was run using multiple cost-effective systems.
A network of 10 systems was used to demonstrate that a single
application and logical database could be transparently distributed to
cities world-wide.

"By combining standards-based software with its innovative RISC-based
parallel system, Tandem has the most cost-effective and reliable open
solution available today," claimed Denis Odlin, Hong Kong-based area
marketing manager for Tandem.

"The TPC-A benchmark, which takes into consideration the real-world
cost of ownership of hardware, software and five years' maintenance,
provides users with a basis for comparing the price/performance of
different systems," Mr Odlin said.

"Tandem has a good track record in transaction processing performance
and we will continue our drive to develop quality systems to meet the
increasingly sophisticated needs of users," he said.

(Brett Cameron/19920621/Press contact:Dickie Luk, Media Dynamics Ltd
(for Tandem) Tel: [phone] or Vivian Kung (NCR) Tel: +852-859
6021;HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00009)

Next-Gen  Distrib Computing Tech  For Solaris 06/22/92
WAN CHAI, HONG KONG, 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- SunSoft, Inc., a subsidiary of Sun
Microsystems, Inc., has unveiled new technologies for its Solaris
software environment which allow users to add multiple networking
services into a single Solaris system.

Called Solaris Federated Services, the technology allows third-party
network products to plug into Solaris software.  These include Novell's
NetWare, the Open Software Foundation's Distributed Computing
Environment (DCE), and the International Standards Organization's Open
Systems Interconnect (OSI).

Solaris Federated Services technology consists of a series of
interfaces that enable networking services such as filing, naming, and
security to be integrated into the Solaris solution. Third party
networking technology providers, such as Transarc, Novell, SunSelect
and others, can utilize these interfaces in order to add their
particular networking services into Solaris.

The multiple networking services run underneath the Solaris application
development environment so that, for example, a Hong Kong-based
spreadsheet user in the Solaris ONC+ environment can easily access a
colleague's spreadsheet located in a DEC-based environment in Tokyo by
simply clicking an icon on the Solaris desktop.

"Federated Services architecture is a significant breakthrough in
enabling Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to build next-generation,
network-independent, distributed applications," said Mary Theis, Hong
Kong Marketing Manager for Sun Microsystems. "With this technology,
ISVs will quickly be able to develop applications for Solaris that
will work across leading networking protocols and services."

Transarc, the leading supplier of network filing systems for DCE, will
be one of the first third parties to take advantage of Federated
Services technology, integrating their Encina and DCE networking
environments into Solaris using the Federated Services architecture.
Other software vendors endorsing SunSoft's new technology include
Novell, Lotus, Frame, Tivoli, and SunSelect.

In addition, SunSoft enhanced its existing Solaris networking
technology to feature new naming, filing, distributed application and
security services. Called ONC+, the technology builds on the largest
installed base in the heterogeneous networking arena. ONC+ is a new and
enhanced version of the widely implemented Solaris ONC core
distributed computing technology.

According to US-based research group Dataquest, SunSoft's ONC
technology currently has an installed base of 3.1 million nodes and has
achieved growth of 42 percent since 1990. To date, more than 300
organizations have licensed ONC technology, including IBM, Apple,
Hewlett-Packard, and Novell. In addition, ONC implementations provide
interoperability across all major types of computers from PCs to
mainframes and across all major operating systems including MS-DOS,
MacOS, OS/2, UNIX, MVS and VMS.

ONC+ is a set of high performance, enterprise-wide distributed
computing services that features a multithreaded NFS network file
system for faster performance; NIS+ naming service for streamlining
administration of enterprise networks; transport-independent Remote
Procedure Call (RPC) for network-independent distributed  applications;
and Kerberos support for increased network security.  All of these
features are incorporated into the Solaris 2.0 system.

Additional features of ONC+, including local disk caching for improved
performance and scalability; connection-oriented protocol support for
access to NFS servers via low- speed links; and support for system
security and authentication, will be incorporated into future versions
of ONC implementations, expected to ship with Solaris in 1993.

ONC+ is  backward-compatible and interoperable with existing ONC
systems, enabling  users to preserve their software investments.

SunSoft will license all of ONC+ and its components to the industry and
will also publish specifications for ONC+ services as they become
available.  The first component, NIS+, will be available for licensing
by the end of this year.

(Brett Cameron/19920621/Press Contact: Swedee Chin, Sun, Tel: +852-
802 4188;HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00010)

"Neilsen Ratings" Type Service Tracks Computer Trade 06/22/92
NORTHBROOK, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Techscan is now
offering a PC user tracking service called PC Watch, available to
interested parties on a subscription basis.

Techscan, an affiliate of Philadelphia-based research company MSI
International East, said PC Watch is designed to help high-tech
companies accurately profile hardware and software usage among
personal computer users.  Scott Johnson, president of TechScan, told
Newsbytes that PC Watch would report on home and office users of
PCs  and Macs.

Techscan Chairman Paul Strasser said the service will provide the
same level and scope of information currently available from
Arbitron for the broadcast industry and Nielsen for packaged goods
companies.

Strasser said that as the hardware and software marketplace becomes
more market share and consumer driven, it becomes more critical to
have sound and accurate tracking in order to predict future customer
needs.

Johnson told Newsbytes that the information is collected by
telephone interviews by PC Watch interviewers. Each month a random
sample of the participants are surveyed. Right now the company said
it has about 1,000 users in the database and expects that number to
reach 11,000 by June of next year. The voluntary participants have
the opportunity to win cash or merchandise by having their name
drawn, he said.

According to Johnson, the depth of the information tracked allows
Techscan to tell its subscribers who is using what software, who has
switched, and a variety of other information.

The service is not cheap.  Johnson said that the annual price ranges
from $15,000 to $97,000, depending on how detailed a report the
subscriber wants.  Reports are delivered in hard copy on a disk,
with the quarterly reports containing more detailed information than
the monthly listings. "What differentiates PC Watch is our focus on
all end users, not just a small sample of individuals," said
Johnson.  He believes the reports will ultimately help managers do a
better job of leveraging their product and marketing investments.

Johnson said their subscription list already includes Lotus,
Microsoft, Aldus, and Disney Software.

(Jim Mallory/19920619/Press contact: Scott Johnson, Techscan,
708-205-5525; Reader contact: 800-769-5525)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00011)

New For Macintosh: Trackball Keyboard 06/22/92
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Keyboard maker Key
Tronic has announced that it is now shipping an upgraded
Macintosh-compatible keyboard which incorporates a four-button
trackball.

The new unit, called the TrakPro, replaces an earlier model, and
carries a price tag of $249.  It's located between the alphabetic
key portion and the numeric keypad.  The trackball is 33 mm (about
1.25 inches) in diameter, Key Tronic's Wally Starr told Newsbytes.

New features include dedicated buttons for drag lock and close box
functions.  The drag lock eliminates the necessity of holding the
mouse button down while dragging an object, while the close box
function closes an open box on the screen without having to move the
pointer to the box.

Included with the TrakPro is control panel software that is used to
chain button functions or assign commonly used commands.  Keyboard
keys can also be assigned as standard mouse buttons, and the
trackball can be configured for one or two-handed operations.
There's also a dual-function cursor pad and hot key functions.

TrakPro is plug-compatible with most Macintosh computers, but the
company said some older non-ADB (Apple Data Bus) Mac models will
require $19.95 custom cable, available from Key Tronic. TrakPro
comes with a limited lifetime guarantee and unlimited toll free
telephone support.

A recent Newsbytes story reported on Key Tronic's Trak101, a similar
keyboard for IBM PCs.  Trak101 has a suggested list price of $224.

(Jim Mallory/19920619/Press contact: Warren Rainer, Key Tronic,
509-928-8000; Reader contact: 800-262-6006)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00012)

New For PC: FileFax 2.5 Addresses Lack of PC Fax Standards 06/22/92
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- SofNet has introduced a
new product which it claims allows LAN users to now reap the benefits
of PC fax technology without fear of incompatibility or obsolescence.
According to SofNet, FileFax 2.5 is the first software product to
enable Windows PCs to be non-dedicated fax servers which work with
any LAN operating system running on Ethernet or Arcnet cards, and
with virtually all fax boards and fax modems.

SofNet simultaneously addresses the peer-to-peer and small business
LAN markets with new two- and eight-user versions of FileFax for
$149 and $399 respectively. This is ideal for companies that spend
less that $500 for a LAN such as LANtastic or NetWare Lite, but who
do not want to buy a fax system that costs more than their LAN,
according to the company.

Users can load both the Windows and DOS versions of FileFax 2.5 on
the same LAN so Windows and DOS PCs on that LAN can share the fax
server. FileFax 2.5 runs on any LAN operating system that allows its
users to share a directory.

The FileFax 2.5 unlimited user version enables any LAN-based PC with
a fax device to be the fax server for however many PCs are on the
LAN. It runs in the background so the server can be a non-dedicated
PC which executes other computing tasks. SofNet points out that this
is more economical that tying up a PC just for faxing, or buying a
stand-alone fax server hardware system.

FileFax 2.5 installs automatically, so set-up takes only minutes,
the company says. The DOS version has new graphical features and a
streamlined command structure which makes it easier to use. Like its
Windows counterpart, the DOS version enables documents to be faxed
exactly as they appear on the screen, whereas some PC fax
systems transmit text without fonts or graphics.

FileFax 2.5's command structure is designed so both DOS and Windows
users can fax from their PCs as easily as they print a software
document. FileFax 2.5 automatically executes the complex software
procedures necessary to communicate with network fax devices.

Another key new feature enables FileFax 2.5 users to view, route and
print incoming faxes. FileFax 2.5 also includes a status log to
monitor outgoing and incoming faxes, multiple phone books for
storing fax numbers and quick dialing, transmission scheduling to
send faxes at optimum times, and the ability to fax multiple files
to multiple destinations.

Users should have 640K of RAM to allow for their fax board or modem
software's memory requirements, but  FileFax itself requires only
128K to run in the foreground or 18K to run as a TSR. The FileFax
2.5 for Windows version requires Windows 3.0.

The suggested retail price of the unlimited user version
for Windows is $995, and $795 for DOS only.

(Computer Currents/19920619/Public Contact:  404/984-8088)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00013)

C.Itoh (Itoh Chu) Working On Next Generation Bar Code 06/22/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Itoh Chu, a Japanese trading
conglomerate formerly called C.Itoh, has signed a license
agreement with Florida-based ID Matrics in which it will distribute
ID Matrics' new bar code in Japan.

ID Matrics' new bar code called "Data Code" is considered the
next-generation bar code. The Data Code can store a maximum of 2,000
letters -- a big innovation because current bar code supports
only 13 letters. Under the license agreement, Itoh Chu will acquire
printing technology for the bar code, and the know-how regarding
management of bar coded materials.

ID Matrics' bar code has black and while squares. The data, which
is written in these squares in cryptographic codes, can
be read with a computer via a scanner. It is said this bar code
supports Japanese Kanji letters and graphics making it attractive
to Japanese industry. The bar code can be read even if part of the
bar code is cut or missing, the companies say.

IBM and several other Japanese firms are using this bar code on an
experimental basis, according to Itoh Chu. The company is considering
use of the bar code in a variety of circumstances. For instance,
it could be applied to retail products by containing not only product
data but the date and the place of manufacturing. It could also be
used for personal information database systems and the storage
of confidential information.

(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920622/Press Contact: Itoh Chu, +81-3-3479-
2121)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEL)(00014)

India's Popular CASE in the Middle East 06/22/92
BOMBAY, INDIA, 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Turbo Analyst, the first
indigenously developed CASE (computer-aided software engineering)
product, of Telco, India's third largest company, will now be
available in Middle East countries.

Telco is a  spinoff from the Management Services Division of the
giant automaker of the Tata group -- which also has in its fold
Tata Consultancy  Services and Tata Unisys Ltd., India's largest
software exporters.  Telco has appointed Datamas, the largest
software house in Bahrain as its distributor in Bahrain, Kuwait,
Saudi Arabia,Iraq, Iran, Cyprus, and Egypt. Datamas and Telco
conducted a launching seminar recently in Bahrain where about
ten organizations have already acquired Turbo Analyst which has an
installed base of over 900 copies in India itself -- the best-selling
in its category. Its new version 2.20, being released this month
features reverse engineering and Ingres/Oracle interface.

Intecos-Capsoft is representing Telco in UAE. Al Futtaim, one of
the largest computer users in Dubai, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
(Adnoc), Adnoc-FOD, Dubai Port Authority, etc. are among the
Turbo Analyst users in the region.

Oman Computer Services is representing Telco in the Sultanate of
Oman. Enthused by the encouraging response Telco is planning
some special features in its new release for the Middle East
markets.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19920619)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(NYC)(00015)

DC To Ship "The Hacker File"  06/22/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- DC Comics has
announced the introduction of a new twelve-issue series, "The Hacker
File." DC spokesperson Martha Thomases told Newsbytes that the first
issue will ship on June 23rd.

The series, created by science fiction author Lewis Shiner, deals
with the  adventures of "super-hacker" Jack Marshall who, prior
to the events  chronicled in the series, unjustly lost his job
at digitronix and now operates  as a free-lance consultant.

The first story line, covering the first four issues of the series,
deals with  Marshall's attempt to uncover those responsible for
jamming APPANET  (Network of Advanced Research Projects Agency)
and causing NORAD's Space Surveillance Center inside Cheyenne
Mountain, WY to malfunction, bringing the United States to the brink
of nuclear war.

In the course of his investigation, Marshall, AKA "Hacker," is
assisted by a number of members of the hacker community -- "Master
Blaster," "Sue Denim" and "Spider" (Master Blaster, whose real
name is Mikey is a student at New York City's Bronx High School
of Science).

Fiction comes close to reality when it appears that the person
responsible for the virus that caused the damage is Roger P. Sylvester,
a student at Columbia University and the son of a high ranking
official at the National Security Agency (NSA); on November 2,
1988 Robert T. Morris, Jr., a Cornell student and son of NSA's
chief computer scientist, caused the crippling of the Internet
through his release of the "Internet Worm."

Shiner told Newsbytes, "The similarity of the characters was,
of course done intentionally -- you might even note the somewhat
subtle connection of the names: 'Sylvester The Cat' and 'Morris
The Cat.' I did it partially to show those somewhat knowledgeable
about computers that the plot was not made out of whole cloth but
was the result of a good deal of research."

Shiner continued, "When reading comics, I look for information density
and I tried to make the Hacker File rich in that regard. I'm hoping to
attract some computer-literate young people to comics -- comics were one
of the earliest forms of expression to make great use of computers and I
hope, with the Hacker File, to involve more computer types in the
medium."

Shiner also told Newsbytes that his experience as a programmer with a
small Dallas software firm provided him with an ongoing interest in
computer and communications technology. He added, "The firm was sold to
EDS (Electronic Data Services), Ross Perot's firm, and, with long
hair and jeans, I didn't fit into the EDS mold so I left and
concentrated on writing."

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/Press Contact:Martha
Thomases, DC Comics, Inc., 212-636-5450)/19920622)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SFO)(00016)

 ****PC Makers Agree to Produce Energy-Saving PCs 06/22/92
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A. 1992 JUN 22  (NB) -- Eight of the largest
computer manufacturers in the US have agreed with the federal
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to introduce PCs that can
"power down" when not in use, in a voluntary effort to help save
electricity and cut down on emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur
dioxide, and nitrogen oxide.

The initial participants in the EPA's new Energy Star Computer
Program are Apple, Compaq, Digital Equipment Corporation, Hewlett-
Packard, IBM, NCR, Smith Corona, and Zenith.  Together, the eight
companies account for about 35 percent of US PC and workstation
sales.

Eileen Claussen, director of the EPA's office of Atmospheric and
Indoor Air Programs, told Newsbytes that the EPA recruited the
first participants through the trade group CABEMA (Computer and
Business Equipment Manufacturers Association), and has been working
with the companies for the past nine months.

"We haven't had time yet to go to everyone yet, but CABEMA
represents most of the biggest companies in the industry.  Over the
next year, we'll approaching all the other vendors," she commented.

Computers meeting the terms of the agreement will be identified for
users through the EPA Energy Star logo, which will start to appear
on products and in advertisements a year from now.

Claussen told Newsbytes that the EPA came up with the Energy Star
Program after conjecturing whether the same technology used in the
automatic sleep mode on laptops might also be applied to desktop
PCs. "We discussed the idea with manufacturers, and verified that
it was possible," she explained.

The EPA estimates that devices able to "power down" will use 50%
less energy -- and that the new PCs will ultimately save enough
electricity to power Vermont and New Hampshire each year.

The agency further predicts that the savings will eventually
prevent carbon dioxide emissions of 20 million tons of carbon
dioxide --  or the equivalent of what's produced by five million
automobiles -- along with emissions of 75,000 sulfur oxide and
75,000 tons of nitrogen oxide.  Officials stress that sulfur oxide
and nitrogen oxide are the two pollutants most responsible for acid
rain.

"Our goal is to deal with the global climate issue," Claussen told
Newsbytes.  The agency has taken the position that voluntary
industry programs make the most sense in meeting its goals, she
added.  Other voluntary EPA programs target the refrigerator and
commercial building industries.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19920622;  Press contact:  Dave Ryan, EPA, tel
202-260-2981)


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

AT&T Talks Go To Mediation 06/22/92
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- After a quiet week
filled with negotiations, but without a final agreement, AT&T and
its unions are heading toward an arbitrator.

Both sides agreed to meet with Bernard E. DeLury, director of the
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, at 1 PM June 22, in
an attempt to come to a settlement of their contract dispute.
The company's contract with its two main unions, the Communications
Workers of America Union and the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers Union, expired three weeks ago. Since then,
the unions have been threatening a walk-out, but have held back,
partly because they see progress in the talks, partly because
they fear they might lose a strike.

The only job action put into practice was an "electronic picket
line," with members changing their long distance service defaults
to other companies. AT&T has successfully slowed this move by
pointing out that its competitors are non-union.

Both sides downplayed the importance of the meaning. The union
called it an "unsolicited invitation," while the company said
the service was just "looking for information." Despite the calm
rhetoric, the meeting still seems important. The company has been
far more upbeat in its assessment of the talks than the union,
and a strike remains possible until a settlement is reached.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920622/Press Contact: Sandra L. Taylor,
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, 202-653-5290)


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

Charney To Offer Final UPI Bid Tomorrow 06/22/92
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A., 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Leon Charney is
expected to make a firm bid for United Press International
totaling at least $3.5 million, ensuring the 85-year-old news
agency remains in business. Charney is currently paying the
agency's bills, which total $180,000 per week, on a week-to-week
basis.

The $3.5 million figure is important, because Saudi Arabian
interests doing business as Middle East Broadcasting Centre Ltd.
of London had offered just that amount, unsolicited, less than a
week ago. Unless Charney could match the figure, the company's
creditors, and bankruptcy judge Francis Conrad, who is overseeing
the bankruptcy, might have had to take the Saudi bid.

The final showdown in this drama could come as early as June 23.
Conrad will hold a hearing where Charney is supposed to propose
his deal. Middle East Broadcasting will also enter its bid, and
Robertson could still try to get his $500,000 bid for the UPI
name accepted.

The savior of UPI may turn out to be the Dutch Postal Lottery - a
Netherlands foundation that raises money through lottery sales
for humanitarian causes. Bob Goldner, formerly general manager
for UPI's European, Middle Eastern and African operations,
represented the lottery in offering the needed $3.5 million to
Charney. The lottery's only stipulation in the joint venture was
that UPI expand its coverage of humanitarian issues. Other
groups working with Charney, according to UPI's own reports,
include Michael Floersheim of E&C Trading, in Zurich,
Switzerland; Ernst Strauss, a Zurich private investor, Elliot
Levigne, president of Perry Ellis International, the New York
apparel firm; Saul Rudes, a New York attorney; and Brian Anderson
of Kidder Peabody & Co., a New York brokerage. ESN/MediAmerica, a
firm headed by Jerry Lamprecht, a former NBC vice president for
news coverage, and John Steele, a former producer for "Sunday
Today" and NBC's 1988 Olympic coverage, have also joined
Charney's group. Charney has estimated it will cost $8 million to
turn UPI around.

Another idea Charney has considered is turning the wire service
into a cooperative by issuing three classes of stock for its
subscribers, its employees, and the public. Reporters would buy
an interest and be paid on a per-story basis.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920622)


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

Tandy to Make Nokia Phones 06/22/92
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 22 (NB) --  Nokia of
Finland, a money-losing maker of cellular phones, formed a joint
venture with a Tandy subsidiary to make mobile telephones at
Tandy's Dallas-Fort Worth factory.

The new company, TNC Company, is scheduled to start production in
early 1993.  The operation will initially employ approximately 125
people. Nokia is best known for its NMT analog standards, which
work on frequencies of 450 MHz and about 900 MHz, mainly in
Scandinavia and Russia.

Tandy is known for its wide channel of distribution, especially
its Radio Shack store chain. Both companies will distribute the
resulting phones.

The new plant will produce cellular phones in large volumes
mainly for the American market, both for the existing analog AMPS
standard and the new digital TDMA standard.  TDMA will be
introduced in the United States next autumn. However, standards
are now being written for a competing digital standard, called
Code Division Multiple Access, or CDMA, and many cellular
operators are trying to extend the AMPS standard with Motorola
technology, hoping to jump to CDMA when it's ready.

The new joint venture is not really new. Tandy and Nokia have
had a joint-venture under the TNC name in Korea since 1984.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920622/Press Contact: Tandy, Philip M.
Bradtmiller, 817/390-3730)


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

TSE Delays Closing Trading Floor 06/22/92
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- The Toronto Stock
Exchange will not replace its trading floor with fully computerized
trading until late next year. The exchange has backed off from its
original target of closing the floor by March, 1993 "or
thereabouts," a spokeswoman said.

In a brief statement issued to its member firms and the media, the
exchange said the change was "the result of additional requirements
that became apparent during the detailed planning process which
followed the members' vote of February 12, 1992."

Exchange officials said they need more time than originally
expected for testing, training, and debugging the systems. They
also want extra time to develop stand-alone systems for testing and
training, receive feedback from traders on the features of the new
trading terminals, and deploy the systems.

Members of the exchange voted in February to do away with the
114-year-old trading floor. Roughly 350 people work on the exchange
floor now. Of these, about 250 are traders who work for the member
firms, and many of these are expected to keep their jobs, working
at computer terminals rather than on the floor. Exchange officials
have said they hope to find other jobs for many of the 100
employees who provide clerical services on the floor.

Options and futures will still be traded on an open floor, an
exchange spokesman told Newsbytes.

The Toronto Stock Exchange is Canada's largest exchange.

(Grant Buckler/19920622/Press Contact: Steve Key or Chris Allum,
Toronto Stock Exchange, 416-947-4682, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GOVT)(DEN)(00021)

Indiana Gets $25M Computer To Held Collect Child Support 06/22/92
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Indiana state
officials have announced a deal with IBM to develop a $25 million
computer system to help collect and distribute child support
payments.

According to the state assistant secretary for information and
technology, Roy Gabriel, the system is expected to be operational by
October 1995. The federal government will pay 90 percent of the
cost, while the rest will be paid by the state.

Gabriel said the new system, which eventually will be part of a
nationwide network, will increase net revenues by about $19 million
annually. About $10 million of that will be from improved
collections, while the balance would result from reduction in
payments from Medicaid and Aid to Families With Dependent Children
(AFDC).

In addition to improving collections from delinquent parents, the
system is expected to make delivery of the money to the custodial
parent quicker.

Indiana's system is part of an effort by the federal government to
improve collection of child support payments, with the goal of
developing an interstate system. Child support collections in the
state have increased steadily, from $61.9 million in 1987 to $118.9
last year, according to Patti Perkins, assistant director for the
state's child support bureau. While part of the increase is due to
more aggressive enforcement, the state has also experienced a rise
in the number of cases, up from about 225,000 in 1987 to over
303,000 last year.

Government officials say parents delinquent in child support
payments, usually the fathers, often avoid payment by moving out of
state.

(Jim Mallory/19920622)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(DEN)(00022)

 ****Microsoft, AT&T Sign E-Mail Deal 06/22/92
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Microsoft
Corporation and AT&T EasyLink Services announced today that they
have formed a strategic relationship to make electronic mail a more
valuable, economical, and accessible service.

Under terms of the deal, Microsoft said it will offer users of
Microsoft Mail 3.0 for PC Networks the ability to access AT&T
mail. They can then exchange electronic mail with other users and
networks worldwide through AT&T's EasyLink Service.

Microsoft has long touted its "Information At Your Fingertips"
concept, and AT&T's motto is "communications anytime, anywhere." The
two companies say their common view is that messaging can provide
desktop computer users with ready access to information.

Microsoft and Easylink managers said they expect their combined
strengths will make messaging products more useful and attractive to
a wide range of customers for delivery of various types of
information and services.

Users of Microsoft Mail, using a stand-alone PC or a local area
network (LAN) workstation will be able to communicate with other MS
Mail users, numerous private mail systems, and over 30 public e-mail
services around the world. AT&T's Easylink Service provides service
to 160 countries.

The combination of Microsoft's electronic mail software and the
worldwide facilities of AT&T makes it possible for any PC user to
communicate electronically, and almost instantly, with any other PC
user who has the software. Even users without Microsoft Mail
software can be reached, since AT&T's Easylink service can deliver
messages directly to fax machines, printers, pagers, telexes, and
even the US Postal Service and overnight carriers.

LAN users will use a gateway to access the AT&T Mail system.
Individuals and remote users will use a software package developed
by Microsoft to connect to either AT&T Mail through a toll-free
number, or to their MS Mail mailbox on their LAN. Microsoft said
the software will make it simple and easy to address messages to
other e-mail services or to send multimedia messages.

The joint announcement said the integrated products should be
available in the fourth quarter of this year.

In September of 1990, Western Union introduced LANAccess, a software
package that provides mail service over a LAN, plus a gateway to
EasyLink, which at the time was owned by Western Union. However,
Western Union had severe debt problems, and sold EasyLink to AT&T
for $180 million. AT&T currently says it has about 40 percent of
the worldwide e-mail business.

In October of last year AT&T introduced its Safari notebook
computer, a portable computer system that could receive wireless
messages via a satellite-based messaging network.

Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, is scheduled to receive the
National Medal of Technology from President George Bush tonight in a
White House ceremony. Gates is reportedly the first personal
computer software industry executive to receive the medal, which was
initiated in 1985.

Apple co-founders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak are past recipients of
the medal.

(Jim Mallory/19920622/Press contact: Bob Garnet, AT&T EasyLink,
201-331-4141; Microsoft, Marty Taucher, 206-882-8080)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00023)

 ****Intel Processor Means Longer Battery Life For Notebooks  06/22/92
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Intel says it is
releasing samples of a new 3.3-volt 386 SL microprocessor which the
company claims will have the effect of allowing users more battery
time on their notebook computers.

The processor is aimed at the growing group of lightweight IBM and
compatible personal computers (PCs), namely subnotebook and tablet
computers. Intel says manufacturers who incorporate the chip will
offer consumers desktop performance and extended battery life.

The new processor includes "flexible voltage" operation so it can
incorporate existing and future 3.3-volt peripherals, allowing for
manufacturers to expand their product lines from 5 volt to 3.3-volt
subnotebook and tablet computers, Intel added.

According to Intel, the 3.3 volt CPU and Intel's standard 386 SL CPU
both offer 32-bit performance but with a 16-bit bus like the 386SX
CPU. However, the 386 SL offers three times the integration (meaning
chips that were previously separate have become part of the CPU
itself) when compared to the 386SX central processing unit (CPU),
Intel maintains.

The 3.3-volt 386 SL 20 megahertz (MHz) with cache unit is priced to
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) at $94 each in quantities of
1,000, Intel said. In addition, the 16 MHz and 20 MHz 386 SL
microprocessors without cache are $48 and $78 respectively, the
company added.

Full production of the 3.3 386 SL CPU is slated for July and
evaluation kits and ICE 386 SL probes supporting low-voltage
operation will be available in the third quarter of this year.

(Linda Rohrbough/22920622/Press Contact: Barbara Holtz, Intel, tel
408-765-4302, fax [phone]; Public Contact, 800-548-4725
US/Canada or write for "Intel Literature Packet D8PO1, P.O. Box 7641,
Mt. Prospect, IL 60056-6741")


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00024)

New Product: Iomega QIC-80 Tape Backup 06/22/92
ROY, UTAH, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Iomega Corporation, best
known for its removable data storage devices, has announced its
first minicartridge tape system.

A tape drive is used to backup data from a hard drive. The method
is faster and easier than backing up to floppies. Most backup
software allows the task to be automated during non-peak
hours, eliminating the need for attention from the user
unless the tape needs to be changed. Some tape drives are mounted
in the PC chassis in the same manner as a floppy drive, while others
are external units, connecting to the PC by means of a cable.

Manufactured in the US, Iomega's tape drives are 1 inch by 3.5
inches and can read Irwin formatted tapes, the company said.

The company said the new drives are specifically designed to freely
interchange tapes with other QIC-80-based tape drives, as well as
the users existing backup software and tapes. Iomega said the
TAPE250 drive can read QIC-80 standard of extended length tapes,
and with its included software can store up to 250 megabytes
or more.

Iomega said it is also including Central Point backup software for
both DOS and Windows. The Windows application works with either
Windows 3.0 or 3.1. Data can be backed up at speeds up to 1000
Kpbs. Iomega said the TAPE250 will work with the PCs existing floppy
drive controller, even if two floppy drives are already installed in
the system. The company also offers an optional high speed floppy
controller which it says can raise the data transfer rate to one
megabit per second.

(Jim Mallory/19920622/Press contact: Cara O'Sullivan, Iomega
Corporation, 801-778-3712; Reader contact:" 800-777-6179)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00025)

New For PC: Masterclip Clip Art 06/22/92
FT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Masterclip
Graphics has announced a library of color vector artwork for IBM and
compatible personal computers.

The company said that each edition of the dual media Series contains
50 to 60 color images relating to a specific subject or theme.
Called clip art, since any of the images can be "clipped" and pasted
into the users document, the Masterclip images are compatible with
applications that accept files using the .CGM format, such as Lotus
1-2-3, Wordperfect, Harvard Graphics, and Quattro Pro.

"We're producing hand-drawn vector art, not scanned images," said
Masterclip President Jill Gordon Mark. She said images can be
re-sized, re-colored, or stretched without losing the original
integrity.

Current editions include pictures relating to American, Technology,
Office, Sports, Communications, and Education. Other sets cover
the areas of medical, humor, business and finance, food,
transportation, and a series on each of the four seasons including
holidays.

Masterclip can also provide custom images and offers electronic
presentation services. "Our capability runs the gamut from single
projector slide shows to videos, to multi-media screen shows with
sound paying on a PC or projected for a large audience," Mark said.

Masterclip said the Series has a suggested list price of $39.95.The
program is shipped on both 3.5 and 5.25-inch disks.

(Jim Mallory/19920622/Press contact: Lauren Finkelman, S&S Public
Relations for Masterclip,708-291-1616, fax [phone]; Reader
contact: 305-983-7440,fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00026)

Wordperfect Simplifies Delivery To Large Accounts 06/22/92
OREM, UTAH, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Wordperfect Corporation has
announced its Customer Advantage Program, designed to simplify
software purchasing, distribution, licensing, and maintenance for
large accounts. The company said the program will be in place on
August 1, 1992.

To qualify for participation in the plan, an organization must plan
to purchase at least 1,000 licenses of a specific Wordperfect
product or competitive trade-ups to one of its products during the
term of the contract. Combinations of those two numbers can be
combined to reach the 1,000 minimum.

Under the plan, the customer will get a grant of rights to the
software, and can duplicate software and materials as necessary,
without having to buy each new software package separately.
Participating organizations can also distribute the software
electronically.

In order to monitor the program, Wordperfect and the customer will
conduct periodic reviews to determine compliance with the "good
faith" formula established under the contract.

According to Duff Thompson, WP vice president and general
counsel, "We understand that the number of packages a company uses
sometimes differs from the number they are licensed to use. Duff
said the reconciliation offered under the program gives customers an
opportunity to bring those numbers in line without fear of copyright
infringement, and relieves managers of the necessity for constant
policing.

The program also offers extended maintenance including automatic
upgrades and interim releases, as well as large account technical
support and other aids. Training and on-site technical support will
also be available. Participants will also get pre-release and
90-day evaluation software.

Customers will get the rights to concurrent use on networks;
multiple-platform licenses for Windows, DOS, or OS/2; and the right
to use a software package on the users home and office computer.
The software licenses are valid for any language or country.

(Jim Mallory/19920622/Press contact: Beth McGill,Wordperfect
Corporation, 801-228-5008)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00027)

 ****Toshiba To Sign With IBM On Flash Memory 06/22/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Toshiba will sign a joint
development and sales agreement for a new memory chip with IBM,
according to Japan's most reliable newspaper the "Asahi."

Toshiba spokesman Kakutaro Okamura told Newsbytes that it is
too early to reveal details, but he says that negotiations
on the development of a flash memory have been going on with several
computer firms during the past several years.

Toshiba and IBM are reportedly hammering out a deal on
joint development and sales of the flash memory, which has
great potential as a next-generation memory to replace
hard disks and floppy disks. Both firms are reportedly planning
to install flash memory on notebook-type personal computers, which
will consequently be built much lighter than current hard disk models.

Flash memory was first developed by Toshiba in 1984. It is
an erasable and re-writable device on which the written memory
does not disappear even when the electrical current is turned off.
Also, writing and reading time is said to be much faster than hard
disks.

Many electronics makers are trying to develop and apply
flash memory to computers. So far, Intel, AMD, and Mitsubishi
Electric are working on this memory device. Japan's Sharp
recently signed a joint flash memory development agreement with Intel.

Flash memory is expected to become a big hit by 1993, replacing
hard disks and floppy disks on computers.

The actual agreement between Toshiba and IBM is expected to be
announced by the end of August.

(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920622/Press Contact: Toshiba, +81-3-3457-
2104)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00028)

New For PC: WordStar for Windows 1.5, Foreign Lang Vers 06/22/92
NOVATO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A. 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Hoping
to reproduce some of its overseas popularity into the US market,
WordStar International is set this week to introduce a new version
of its WordStar for Windows (version 1.5) at a special introductory
price of $119. At the same time the company has announced
plans to ship during the summer quarter, four fully translated
foreign language versions of WordStar for Windows 1.5, and two
of WordStar for DOS, version 7.0.

Kristin Keyes, spokesperson for the company, told Newsbytes
that WordStar for Windows 1.5 takes advantage of many of the new
features in Windows 3.1, including TrueType font support, common
dialog boxes and drag-and-drop capabilities. In addition, the company
claims that compatibility with Windows 3.1 has substantially
increased the program's speed and performance. Keyes said that
other features added include "different ways of dealing with tables"
and OLE (object linking and embedding) capabilities.

The program supports the TrueType fonts included with Windows
3.1. The company maintains that current users of WordStar for
Windows will find upgrading their fonts to the TrueType fonts easy
because font-mapping capabilities included in the program allow
users to convert the fonts used in version 1.0 into the TrueType
fonts.

WordStar also claims that OLE Client support in WordStar for
Windows allows users to establish links and insert graphics, text
or numbers from other Windows applications. If users need to
edit the placed data, they simply click on the object, which
automatically launches the application in which the data was
created. Any changes made to the original data will automatically
be updated in the WordStar for Windows file via the established
link.

Keyes said that version 1.5 would "ship this week" but she could
not be more specific as the final product "still needs approval"
in the company's "release process."

Also included is an interactive on-line tutorial. Keyes told Newsbytes
that the on-line tutorial has been "totally re-written" from version
1.0. The company maintains that its tutorial allows users to
learn and practice virtually every feature in WordStar for Windows.
The tutorial is set up in step-by-step self-contained learning
modules and users have the option of tracking which lessons they
have completed.

WordStar for Windows ships with a fully operational version of
Correct Grammar for Windows, version 2.0. Two new graphics
filters have been added, bringing the total number to 12. The new
filters now support GIF and PIC graphics files, according to the
company.

The company says that the basic system requirements include an
IBM 286-based PC or compatible (or higher) with two megabytes
(MB) of RAM, MS-DOS 3.1 or later, Microsoft Windows 3.0 or
later, a 20MB hard disk and a Windows-compatible monitor,
graphics card, mouse, and printer.

WordStar for Windows 1.5 carries a suggested retail price of
$495. As a special introductory offer WordStar is offering the
program for $119 until the end of 1992. WordStar for DOS users
may either migrate to or purchases a concurrent WordStar for
Windows license for $99. Registered users of WordStar for
Windows may purchase the update for $29.95.

According to the company, a Latin American Spanish version
has been added to the list of languages supported. That brings the
number of languages available to six, including German, French,
Italian, and British and American English.

Fully translated versions of Italian, German and Latin American
Spanish WordStar for DOS, version 7.0, are scheduled to ship
during the summer quarter as well. WordStar for DOS is currently
also available in American and British English. Brazilian
Portuguese, Portuguese, and Castilian Spanish version are
slated to ship by the end of 1992, according to the company.

Keyes told Newsbytes that the German version of WordStar
for Windows 1.5 is likely to be completed by the end of the month.
The release of the foreign language versions are "coordinated
by the office in the particular country," she said.

(Ian Stokell/19920622/Press Contact: Kristin Keyes, McLean
Public Releations, 415-358-8535)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00029)

Toshiba Cuts Notebook/Memory Card Prices 06/22/92
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A. 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- In response
to similar moves from industry competitors and also an effort
to strengthen its market share in the portable computer
market, the Computer Systems Division of Toshiba America
Information Systems Inc. (TAIS) has announced retail price
reductions on its notebook computers ranging from 16 to
24 percent, effective immediately. In addition, the company
has also cut 31 to 56 percent off the price of its portable
computing memory cards and reduced the price of the 468DX
processor upgrade and the Desk Station IV docking unit.

According to Steve Lair, vice president of marketing for the
Computer Systems Division: "We expect to reach 18 percent
(market) share by the close of the year. Furthermore, we
intend to sustain our momentum by continuously bringing
technological innovation to the notebook arena."

According to market share estimates from International Data
Corp. (IDC), Toshiba is the leading vendor in the US market for
portable computers, holding 14.3 percent of the unit volume in
1991.

On of the products effected by the price reductions is the color
T4400SXC, a 486SX-based TFT (thin film technology)-LCD
(liquid crystal display) active matrix notebook.

"As a result of the T4400SXC price reduction, the industry's
best combination of power and crisp TFT-LCD active matrix color
is now available to a broader base of professionals requiring a
high performance color platform," said Lair. "Clearly, the
486SX is the right processor for demanding color applications."

The price reductions on the memory cards, 468DX processor
upgrade, and the Desk Station IV docking unit are all effective
immediately.

"These...price reductions will make it even more affordable for
our customers to maximize the performance of their portable
computers," said Lair. "Now, they can take advantage of memory-
hungry powerhouse applications which are becoming more
prevalent under Windows 3.1 and OS/2."

The credit card-style memory cards are installed in the
dedicated memory expansion slots.

The Desk Station IV docking unit comes with two full-size
16-bit expansion slots, one parallel port, one serial port, one
PS/2 mouse port, one VGA monitor port, two 101-key keyboard
ports, one 5.25-inch drive bay and a separate monitor stand.

The 486DX processor upgrade adds coprocessor support to the
T4400SX, T4400SXC, or T6400SX notebook computers.

(Ian Stokell/19920622/Press Contact: Howard Emerson,
Toshiba America Information System Inc., 714-583-3925;
Bob Maples, Hill and Knowlton Inc., 714-752-1106)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LAX)(00030)

Borland's Interbase To be Sold With Motorola WANs 06/22/92
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUN 22 (NB) -- Motorola will
sell Borland's Interbase relational database management system
(RDBMS) as part of the company's Smartzone wide areas communications
system under a new agreement between the two companies. SmartZone is
a wide area network trunked radio system which uses a central
computer to assign users to radio frequencies and is typically sold
to public safety agencies such as police departments and fire
departments.

Borland says its Interbase engine will be the vehicle to track user
information for Smartzone. Because SmartZone spans wide areas (such
as an entire state) the information tracking is critical, Borland
added. A database is necessary to track the more than 48,000 radios
each with as many as 500 elements, such as aliases, security classes,
and user group definitions.

Motorola said it selected Interbase in part because of the "event
alerters" feature. The event alerters are signals sent by the
database to a waiting program to indicate some change has occurred,
for example if a communications link goes down and a police officer
is unable to talk on his radio an event alerter is fired to notify
the Smartzone manager of the problem.

In the past the system to track changes in the database was to poll
the database at designated intervals for changes, a practice which
ties up system resources. However, Borland says its event alerters
don't require incessant polling of the database to track important
changes. Interbase is also being used by the financial trading
industry, i.e. stock brokers and others who work in the stock market.

Julie Bartos of public relations for Borland said those in the
financial trading industry are using the product to alert them of
changes in individual stock prices so they can in turn make
decisions.

The Smartzone system runs on Motorola workstations. Borland is
valuing the reseller agreement with Motorola's Land Mobile Products
Sector at $1.25 million. Motorola is headquartered in Schaumburg,
Illinois. Borland, the world's largest producer of database software,
is headquartered in Scotts Valley, California.

(Linda Rohrbough/22920622/Press Contact: Julie Bartos, Borland, tel
408-439-4873, fax [phone])