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/nb920706

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(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00001)

AMD Stock Falls; Intel Price Cuts Effect Revenue 07/06/92
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- Price slashing
tactics by Intel are having an effect on rival Advanced Micro
Devices' revenue. AMD and Intel have been involved in fierce
litigation and a battle over market share for some time. AMD
said that microprocessor price cutting tactics by Intel
would reduce its overall second-quarter revenues by 15 percent
over the first quarter.

UPI reports that the stock of AMD fell Thursday, to $7.625 a share,
down $1.125, on the New York Stock Exchange. It was the fourth
most active issue with 2.8 million shares traded.

In a press release, AMD said that: "severe price pressures on 386
microprocessors more than offset significant quarter-to-quarter
revenue gains in the company's other product lines during the
recently concluded second quarter."

UPI reports that the news did not do much for Intel's stock, which
fell $2.125 to $55.875 a share in over-the-counter trading.

AMD reported revenues of $407,408,000 in the first quarter of
1992, and $267,700,000 in the second quarter of 1991. The
company plans to release second-quarter results on July 9.

In May, Newsbytes reported that Intel had dropping the wholesale
price of the 25 megahertz (MHz) 80486SX chip from $282 to $119,
in an effort to undermine AMD's cloning of the company's popular
386 microprocessor.

The 486SX, Intel's least expensive 80486 chip, provides
performance about equal to that provided by more expensive 25
MHz and 33 MHz 386 chips. It also offers a better upgrade
path to full 486 microprocessors which operate at much higher
speeds.

It has been an up and down year for AMD. In June, a federal jury
ruled that it did not have the rights to specific software from Intel
that was required to build a clone of the Intel's 486 chip.
As a result, AMD said that it would postpone plans to release a
486 clone until later in the year.

Also, the San Francisco Chronicle reports that the
two warring companies had decided to let a federal judge in San
Jose, California, rather than a jury, settle the remaining
copyright infringement claims between the two.

Because of the July 4th holiday weekend, no-one was available
for comment at AMD Friday.

(Ian Stokell/19920703/Press Contact: John Greenagel, Advanced
Micro Devices Inc., 408-749-3310 - media contact; Michael
Kubiak, 408-982-6056 - investor relations contact)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00002)

Vitesse Semiconductor Stock Prices Halved 07/06/92
CAMARILLO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- Vitesse
Semiconductor Corporation stock lost half its value Thursday after
the semiconductor company announced it would barely break even
or maybe even post a loss for its third quarter ended June 30.

Vitesse stock was reported to have lost $4.75, to close at
$4.75 in over-the-counter trading.

The company had waited until after the market closed on
Wednesday to announce that preliminary results for its third
quarter were below expectations in both revenue and profit.

Vitesse said revenues would be between $9.7 million and $10
million, slightly above revenues of $9.6 million in the second
quarter.

The company gave the main reason for the lower revenues as "a
weakness in development revenues, particularly in the Japanese
market." Because of the July 4th weekend holiday, no one was
available at the company to comment Friday.

The company said it expects either to break even for the
quarter, or incur a loss. In the same quarter a year ago, Vitesse
earned $71,000, or 2 cents a share, on revenues of 6.2 million.

(Ian Stokell/19920703/Press Contact: Robert Turnage, Vitesse
Semiconductor, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(NYC)(00003)

 ****IBM Latest Rounds of Employee Cuts Cause Morale Shock 7/06/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- A senior IBM
executive has told Newsbytes that the latest rounds of employee
cuts within IBM have caused "significant shock to morale."

Speaking under the promise of anonymity, the executive said,
"It's not only the people directly affected by the changes;
it's the manager that has to offer a $65,000 administrator in
New York a position on second shift in the mail room in Lexington,
Kentucky -- or a programmer in Westchester making $80,000 in
a position in quality control in Cincinnati. While it's true
that these people will have their moving expenses paid and will
continue to be compensated at their present salary levels, it's
obvious to all that when a person making $65,000 accepts a position
that is really valued at $20,000, the prospects of advancement
are next to nil. Even though the employee will continue to be
paid at a good salary, the person's career with IBM is effectively
over. I can't see a person who is already overpaid for the
position that he or she is filling receiving salary increases in
the future."

The executive continued, "If the employee chooses not to accept
the offered position, she or he will receive a 'transition package'
and will leave the firm. The package includes out-placement service,
two weeks salary for every year of service and, if the employee
is within eight years of retirement, continued fully paid benefits
until retirement. Relative to the practices of other US companies,
this is a great deal for employees considered surplus; in relation
to practices of the 'old IBM,' however, it is not a great deal and
that's the rub to our staff."

The IBM source also told Newsbytes that the statement in the June
29th InfoWorld that surplus employees that do not accept the
offered positions are terminated with no benefits is "incorrect.
The benefits offered with the transition option are very good.
Remember also that the employees initially designated as surplus
first had time to find their own new position within
IBM. Those that were not were offered the new positions last week."

Many of those designated surplus received the new offer on Friday,
June 26th, the last business day before the mandated IBM vacation
week leading up to the 4th of July. The employees receiving the
offers have one week to decide on acceptance of the position.

Other morale problems relating to the radical changes within IBM
have also surfaced. A computer scientist who has chosen to retire
after more than 30 years at IBM's Thomas J. Watson Research Center
told Newsbytes, "We have been moving rapidly away from pure
research and now much of our time is spent trying to sell possible
clients on projects that we wish to pursue. This is quite different
from procedures that we have followed in the past and has brought
a good deal of stress into the research environment. Four of my
group of 25 have chosen to retire."

A manager, speaking to Newsbytes, agreed with this assessment,
saying, "We are now put in the position of looking for clients to
fund projects and it is unsettling for some that are used to the
way [things have] run in the past. I am now looking for a
replacement for a person that has chosen to retire for just this
reason."

Newsbytes' IBM executive source said that "management is aware
of the morale problems created by the massive changes that have
occurred. We are doing things in a much different manner today
than in the past and it is unsettling to those who have been
part of the past way of doing business. While we are attempting
to make the changes as painlessly as possible, we feel that the
changes are necessary for us to remain competitive and must
be made. It is a real challenge to attempt to maintain a high
morale in such turbulent times."

(Barbara E. McMullen & John F. McMullen/19920706)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SYD)(00004)

IBM Loses Position With Traditional Australian Buyer 07/06/92
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- Australian Financial
Review reports that IBM has lost out on some big deals made by
traditional IBM buyer Westpac Bank. The deals come at a time when
Westpac has been reporting extremely large losses and internal
restructuring.

The first deal was the supply of $6M in PCs and printers as part of
the branch automation project. AST won the contract for 1000
PCs due to its low prices. Hewlett-Packard has placed a similar
number of printers into the network.

Next, the bank appointed Digital Equipment as prime contractor
on its branch network, with Bull getting the maintenance contract.
Both deals are currently held by IBM, but expire in September.

Westpac has been quick to assure the press that IBM is not out for
good, but just lost this time. Bull has claimed that the deal is
worth $22M a year, but Westpac said this is way over the true
figure.

Westpac's general manager of technology said that while the bank
respected its allegiances with technology providers, at the end of
the day it was price that mattered most.

(Paul Zucker/19920706)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SYD)(00005)

Australia: System With Camera And Windows PC 07/06/92
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- An Australian PC systems
integrator has created what it claims is the first PC to
incorporate both Microsoft Windows and a digital camera for
imaging applications. It uses the Dycam model 1 camera which
stores up to 32 pictures with 256-grey levels.

The PC is a Protech 386 with 4MB of random access memory (RAM),
a 120MB hard disk, and an Actix graphicsEngine video card which
is claimed to accelerate Windows graphics by as much as 30
times that of a standard VGA card. It operates up to 1024x768
pixels at 72Hz for minimum flicker. The monitor used is a 15-inch
NEC 4FG. The suggested retail price is approximately US$4700.
Options include Dataproducts Postscript printer and desktop publishing
software.

Protech's managing director, Eddie Chua, said, "We built this system
to meet a demand from users who want a hassle-free solution to
imaging needs. Real estate agents, schools, desktop publishers,
and most of our corporate and government users have expressed a
need to use images as easily as text. By assembling the latest
technology in software and hardware into a fully tested solution
we have made it both easy and affordable for users to begin
capturing and using images."

Chua said he had shown the system on the national Nine network
daily show and received 10,000 entries to a promotional contest.

(Paul Zucker/19920703)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SYD)(00006)

Australia: Osborne Makes Upgrade Housecalls 07/06/92
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- Australian PC manufacturer
Osborne is offering an unusual deal to attract existing PC users
to upgrade their machines. For a flat AUS$895 (US$660), Osborne
will visit the user and upgrade just about any PC to a 25MHz
motherboard with 4MB of RAM.

As with all other Osborne machines, the upgrade comes with a
full five-year on-site warranty. This appears to be the first time
an Australian PC supplier has offered this sort of confidence in a
motherboard upgrade.

IDC analyst Graham Penn said that Osborne's CEO John Linto is
a real strategist - a least three moves ahead of the marketplace.
"If he can pull this one off it will be a brilliant move capturing
an uncommitted segment of the marketplace."

Osborne's real bombshell however, is the offering of a 100 MIPS
Unix system for US$7400, again with the five-year warranty and
technical support. Penn said this will upset most of the existing
mid-range box producers as they hadn't expected competition
from a 'PC manufacturer.'

Meanwhile, the price war is continuing in Australia, with every
day seeing a new round of price cuts. Although not all
manufacturers will admit it, most agree that the introduction of
Compaq's new bargain basement clones was the catalyst.

(Paul Zucker/19920703)


(NEWS)(IBM)(ATL)(00007)

WindowPhone Price Cut Nearly 50% 07/06/92
PHOENIX, ARIZONA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- AG Communications
Systems, a joint venture between AT&T and GTE, cut the price of
its WindowPhone software $200, to $295.

WindowPhone, which runs under Microsoft Windows, is aimed at
linking the numbers of incoming calls, using the Caller ID
service from local and long-distance phone companies, to
PC databases. It can also create complete logs on both incoming
and outgoing calls. The Caller ID service, however, has been
controversial in many states.

WindowPhone General Manager Roger Heldt, however, claimed slow
demand was not behind the price cut. "We have had strong interest
from the market, and this permanent 40 percent price reduction
should help spur even greater sales growth, especially as more
people discover the benefits using the PC to manage their
telephone environment," he said in a press statement.

Even without Caller ID, he said WindowPhone automatically logs all
outgoing calls from any extension on the line; maintains
phone book entries, complete with caller notes, photos and auto-
dial phone number listings; blocks outgoing calls to selected
prefixes or numbers; and supports Dynamic Data Exchange links to
other Windows applications. In addition to the software, the
product comes with an ISA circuit card which fits inside any PC
AT computer, and links the phone to the PC.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920702/Press Contact: AG Communications
Systems, Curtis Steinhoff, 602/582-7094)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00008)

Reuters Puts Wire on Nexis, Lexis, and Dialog 07/06/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- Reuters agreed
to put its Textline wire on Nexis and Dialog, the two largest
US online libraries. Reuters also announced similar agreements
with Data-Star, a unit of Radio Suisse Ltd., and MAID Systems
Ltd. Reuters and the Financial Times have announced a Gateway
link between Textline and the FT Profile service.

Reuter Textline carries articles from over 500 publications,
including Reuters' own news services, and offers translated
abstracts of articles from some 17 languages. The database
reaches back 10 years and is updated at the rate of around one
million articles per year.

Material provided to Dialog and the Nexis service will be updated
via a feed from Textline. Users will be able to search Textline
on both using familiar search interfaces. Mead Data Central will
also include sources previously available but no longer updated
by Textline. Both agreements allow for international
distribution. Prices will be set by Mead Data Central and Dialog
Information Services, a unit of Knight Ridder.

"We are pleased to release what we consider to be the most
complete NEXIS product ever," said Joseph C. Rhyne, vice
president and general manager of Business Information Services at
Mead Data Central, in a press statement. Textline contains nearly
90 percent full-text materials that are comprehensively indexed
and coded.

Other new additions at Nexis include Germany's Hoppenstedt
German Trade Associations directory and four more
newsletters from the Europe Information Service: Europe Energy,
Europe Environment, Transport Europe and European Insight, a
weekly brief on European Community-related happenings. Other
international products of note now online include the Canada
NewsWire, containing news releases from more than 5,000 Canadian
companies and organizations; and Notisur, a bi-weekly news and
analysis report on South American and Caribbean political
affairs.

Also, Nexis' parent Mead Corp., which was originally a paper
maker, sold its Ampad unit to Bain Capital, a Boston-based
investment firm, for a price which will generate approximately
$56 million in cash after tax benefits but reduce second quarter
net earnings by 30 cents per share. Ampad, best known for its
legal pads, was acquired by Mead in 1986 and had 1991 sales of
$107 million.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920702/Press Contact: Robert A. Crooke,
Reuters America, 212-603-3587; Sharon Williamson, Mead, 513-495-
3535)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEL)(00009)

India: Major Trade Show Showdown 07/06/92
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1992 JUL 7 (NB) -- India's biggest annual computer
convention and exhibition, sponsored by the Computer Society of
India, is likely to lose its epochal status this year and perhaps
from now on. The over-12,000-member society of computer professionals
is facing a threat from the MAIT (Manufacturers' Association of
Information Technology), the prime lobby for the Indian computer
industry.

While the CSI '92 is scheduled for this coming September in Madras,
the MAIT is going to preempt it by organizing its own event, IT 92,
in New Delhi's prestigious fair facility Pragati Maidan during 22-25
August.

CSI's annual exhibition (alongside its convention) has always
drawn popularity due to its sheer size and access to the general
public in different metros by rotation. And the exhibition
has been a money spinner for the Society's coffers. Computer vendors
have always rushed to ready their products for announcements at CSI.

Realizing that the big space-buyers of the CSI show have been none
other than its own mighty members, MAIT was tempted to raise its own
reserves and fame by going on its own annual event. NASSCOM (National
Association of Software and Service Companies), a breakaway group from
MAIT, already has a separate annual convention, considered successful
and well-focussed on software.

The IT 92 by MAIT, programmed with the regular fare of panel
discussions, manufacturers' presentations, etc., is expected to hit
CSI 92. Though the latter's convention part may still bustle with
thousands of delegates, there are doubts as to the willingness
(and affordability) of computer vendors to participate in both the
events. As of this week, MAIT has amassed bulk bookings by the major
companies.

CSI's picture is not yet clear, though the outgoing president of CSI
shoots any doubts about the impact of MAIT. However, considering the
not-so-buoyant market conditions in which exhibitors are unlikely to
throng to both the events, MAIT's Show may upset CSI's annual
applecart.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19920701)



(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEL)(00010)

India: IMR Grows on Offshore Services 07/06/92
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- A two-year-old Indian
software export company, Reesan Information Management Resources
(India) Pvt. Ltd. is raring to go places with bullish targets to
cross the performance of even the big brothers like Tata
Consultancy Services in the next three years.

The driving force: Satish K. Sanan (the San in Reesan; the Ree
representing one Frank Reed, an American friend of Sanan). With a
20-year international experience in computer systems and marketing,
Sanan broke into his own business with his Information Management
Resources, Inc., (IMR) based in Clearwater, Florida in 1989.
Both IMR (US) and the Reesan IMR (India) are part of a holding
company, Reesan, Inc., USA. IMR, with 1992 earnings at $20 million,
was successful in creating a large customer base very quickly -
mostly in the IBM 3090 and ES 9000 environments, by utilizing
offshore software services by alliances with Indian and Philippines
software companies.

Realizing the need and opportunity to create its own offshore
development facilities in India, Reesan IMR (India) was started two
years ago as a 100 percent export unit at SEEPZ (Santa Cruz
Electronics Export Processing Zone) in Bombay. Mainly focussing on
IBM software environment and Unix/C, object-oriented design and
real-time applications, the Indian company, like its US parent,
grew over 200 percent in both employees and sales revenue during
the last two years. It fetched Rs Rs 7.25 crore ($2.2 million),
thus entering the Computers Today magazine's toppers' chart of
Indian software exporters as well as the fastest growers in the
computer industry here.

Sanan told Newsbytes that it has a backlog of Rs 13 crore
($4.5 million) business. "There is no dearth of business. We only
have to cope with it," he said. "We shall double our performance
to Rs 31 crore in the fiscal 93 and Rs 64 crore the next year.
And quote me: We shall then cross TCS (Tata Consultancy Services,
India's biggest software export company)."

Also on diversification, the company has taken up country
distributorship for Microfocus Cobol/2 Workbench and APS from
Intersov, etc. Reesan is raising another company, called Reesan
IMR (Kerala) Pvt. Ltd., as a software technology park, adjacent
to the famous Kovalam beach resort in the scenic Kerala, on the
southern tip of India. A serene 10-acre complex is being equipped
with its own earth station for 2 MBPS digital data link and training
facilities, of course its own swimming pool, and sun and sand.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19920702)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00011)

New For Macintosh: Power Management Utilities 07/06/92
SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- A set of utilities
called CPU and designed specifically for the Powerbook, Apple's
notebook computer, has been released by Connectix Corporation.
Connectix says the utilities focus on extending battery life among
other functions and are geared toward the 250,000 Powerbooks sold by
Apple in less than a year.

CPU has a single control panel display from which an icon starts a
utility, the company said.

The product has a power management utility that controls the
Powerbook's hard drive, processor, and display for power
conservation. The company says the product is programmed to "know"
and operate differently when the Powerbook is plugged into a wall
outlet than when its running on batteries. For example, the CPU
software won't allow the Powerbook to go into sleep mode when it's
plugged in, Connectix said.

Also, users can set up different power conservation selections for
different environments. The company said a user can set up a power
configuration that is more conservative for air travel usage and
another for home use when the Powerbook will probably be plugged in.

Security features include a graphic-based or traditional password
security to protect against unauthorized access that works whether
the Powerbook is unattended, shut down, or in sleep mode, Connectix
said.

CPU has a function that allows the user to use only the
keyboard for all the Macintosh functions. The company claims its
product is the only one that allows exclusive keyboard use of the
Macintosh functions. CPU also allows for the creation of hot keys to
perform functions, the Connectix added.

Indicators of hard disk activity, such as spin up/spin down and
battery status/charging indicators are included with the product. A
menu bar which users can customize shows the time until the hard
disk spins down or sleeps, the battery time remaining, the processor
speed, the time, and the date, the company said. The menu can
display these items in a user specific font or a graphic.

Another function reduces the time it takes for the Powerbook to
"wake" from sleep mode, Connectix said. A screen saver function
prevents burn-in of the liquid crystal display (LCD) Powerbook
screen as well, the company added.

Connectix says the CPU package occupies 200 kilobytes (K) of hard
disk space, but requires 20 K of system memory for its core
functions. The product is retail priced at $49.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920702/Press Contact: Paula Larson, The Benjamin
Group for Connectix, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00012)

New For Macintosh: Radius Mid-Range Color Card 07/06/92
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- Radius has
introduced a less expensive color interface card for the Macintosh
II, the Precisioncolor 8Xj. The company says the card is geared toward
mid-range users who want color but don't need the top of the line
color for business productivity and desktop publishing applications.

The company says the card is a Nubus, accelerated, 8-bit color,
two-page card for Macintosh II. The card will display up to 256 colors
on-screen and has on-board acceleration, multiple resolution
capability, "on-the-fly" resolution switching, and wide display
compatibility at resolutions of up to 1152 x 882 pixels.

Radius says business users will find the two page color system
useful for basic designing, color charts, presentations, and desktop
publishing.

Radius claims the Precisioncolor 8xj is the lowest priced card in
its class at a retail price of $599 and comes with a one-year
warranty.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920702/Press Contact: James Strohecker, Radius,
tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LAX)(00013)

New For Macintosh: Microphone II Version 4.0 07/06/92
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- Software Ventures
is boasting about its telecommunications product for the Macintosh,
Microphone II. The company says Macworld Magazine readers chose
Microphone II as the top interactive telecommunications program for
the third year in a row.

The company says it recently released Microphone II, version 4.0 for
the Macintosh and the new version supports many features of System
7.0. Some of those features include Apple Events, Publish and
Subscribe, and Balloon Help. The new version also runs on the
Macintosh Quadra, supplies user interface tools, and has support for
DEC terminals.

Software Ventures says the product is typically used for electronic
mail, access and retrieval of data from information services and
corporate databases, online research, and interoffice data
transfers. The company maintains it has the largest installed user
base for telecommunications software on the Macintosh.

The company is offering a free upgrade to version 4.0 for users who
purchased Microphone II version 3.0 after February 5, 1991. Those
who purchased the product before February 5 can upgrade for $65.
Users of earlier versions of Microphone II can upgrade for $99, the
company added.

The results of the Macworld survey will be published in the August
1992 issue.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920702/Press Contact: Kristin Keyes, McLean
Public Relations, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00014)

New For PC: Myproductinvoices 07/06/92
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- Mysoftware has
announced Myproductinvoices, another in its series of products
geared toward small businesses.

Myproductinvoices is an order entry, invoicing and accounts
receivable program targeted toward product-oriented, manufacturing
and distributing companies, Mysoftware said.

The product tracks orders, back orders, and produces invoices and
statements. It provides accounts receivable reports for collections
and marketing reports so small businesses can get information to
target marketing efforts, the company said.

Mysoftware says the product has built-in advanced features such as
customer unique discounts, automatic back orders, dual tax rates, and
credit limit protection. To use the product, a customer is selected
from the database, the quantity shipped is entered, and the product
is selected. Mysoftware maintains that a single keystroke creates a
back order and a background screen allows users to enter recurring
information such as payment terms, freight, or selling messages for
print on each invoice.

Marketing reports built into the software allow small businesses to
see product and customer trends by month, Mysoftware added. Other
reports include the "best customer report" or the list that shows
customers and products in descending dollar amount, product by
customer, customer by product, profit margin, and sales trend
reports. Mysoftware says these reports are what small businesses
crave: what products each customer is buying, how frequently they
purchase, the degree of profitability.

The Myproductinvoices package allows each customer's account aging
to appear on screen and users can choose the option of printing a
mini-statement at the bottom of each invoice so customers are aware
of outstanding balances. The accounts receivable report lets small
businesses know how much they are owed and the software keeps tabs
on invoices that are over 90, 60, and 30 days old. The software will
also track partial payments and check for patterns in billings and
cash receipts, the company added.

Myproductinvoices is the more advanced version of Myinvoices which
sold over 50,000 copies and was certified silver by the Software
Publishers Association. The product requires MS-DOS 3.1 or above, a
hard disk drive, and comes with both 5.25-inch and 3.5-inch disks.
Retail price is $79.95 and is distributed by Babbages, Compusa,
Egghead Discount Software, Office Depot, Software Etc., Sears,
Target, Waldensoft, Wal Mart, and Work Place, the company said.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920702/Press Contact: Kimberly Norris,
Mysoftware, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LON)(00015)

UK: Claris Ships MacDraw Pro 1.5 07/06/92
UXBRIDGE, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- Claris
Corporation has announced that MacDraw Pro 1.5, an upgrade of the
company's graphics package, is now shipping in the UK.

According to Claris, the new version is up to four times faster
than version 1.0 and exceeds the Mac graphics performance
standards set by MacDraw II.

Major performance enhancements within version 1.5 include user-
controllable memory buffering and display options that improve
the speed of on-screen display and printing. This, Claris claims,
allows for larger-scale design and drawing tasks to be completed
on any given Mac.

"We're confident that MacDraw Pro 1.5 meets the expectation of
users and is the perfect blend of features, full System 7 support
and high performance to best meet the graphics, design,
illustration and presentation needs of typical Mac user," he
said.

Version 1.5 includes full support for System 7, the Mac's latest
operating system, as well as support for Quicktime, Publish &
Subscribe, and Apple Events. Claris claims that text entry on
version 1.5 of MacDraw Pro is up to four times faster, while text
printing is between two and five times faster.

The good news for MacDraw Pro users is that Claris UK is not
changing the pricing of the package for v1.5 - it remains the
same at UKP 325. Users of v1.0 can upgrade to v1.5 for UKP 15,
while MacDraw II users can upgrade for UKP 175.

System requirements for MacDraw 1.5 include a Mac Plus with 2
megabytes (MB) of memory, a hard disk and System 6.0.5 or newer.
Under System 7, 4MB of memory is required.

(Steve Gold/19920702/Press & Public Contact: Claris U.K. - Tel:
toll free 0800-929005 in U.K.; toll free 1-800-732-732 in
Ireland; Non-UK callers should call 081-756-0101; Fax: 081-573-
4477)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(LON)(00016)

UK: Lotus cc:Mail For Macintosh Ships 07/06/92
STAINES, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- Lotus has begun
shipping cc:Mail for Mac v2.0, a major upgrade on v1.0, in the UK.
This new edition features the Message Finder, which the company
claims is a powerful message searching facility that lets users
quickly find information and share it with other computer users,
both on the Mac and on other platforms.

Announcing the new release, Nigel Thomas, Lotus' product
marketing manager, said that Macintosh users will feel at home with
the package.

"This new version offers significant new features and the best of
both worlds -- the ability to communicate across platforms and
operating systems with other cc:Mail and electronic mail users,
while at the same time exploiting the strengths of the Mac
environment," he explained, adding that it is the first e-mail
package that uses the Mac to its greatest potential.

The Message Finder allows users to search their inbox, folders,
archives and bulletin boards by a variety of criteria, including
subject, text content, author, address, date, size, priority or
message content.

cc:Mail for Mac runs on all Macs running System 6.0.4 or later,
as well as Apple's version of Unix, A/UX. The package, which
sells for UKP 360 per "post office," is being offered to users of
earlier versions at UKP 15. To add users to the post office,
customers buy an add-on pack from their reseller at the rate of
UKP 275 for ten users, UKP 675 for a 25 users, and UKP 2,635 for
100 users.

(Steve Gold/19920702/Press & Public Contact: Lotus U.K. - Tel:
0784-455445)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(SFO)(00017)

Database World: DOS, Unix Versions of FlexQL Report Writer 07/06/92
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A, 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- At Database World
this week, Data Access Corporation rolled out a faster, fine-tuned,
and more versatile release of its FlexQL point-and-click SQL report
writer, in versions for SCO Unix 386 as well as DOS.

FlexQL lets the user extract information from databases and
spreadsheets in a wide variety of formats and combine the results
into attractive, customized reports, all without performing
programming, officials said in making the announcement.

According to Charles L. Casanave III, vice president, sales and
marketing, the first release of the product, FlexQL for DOS, has
sold over 11,000 copies since its introduction last year.

Along with greater speed and expansion to the Unix platform, the
new version, Revision 1.1, brings new search methods, enhancements
of many routines, and support for two additional file formats:
Novell Btrieve and Lotus 1-2-3 Release 3.0. In working with
Btrieve, FlexQL users can take advantage of Btrieve's automatic
indexing capabilities.

FlexQL also reads and writes to dBASE, Paradox, DIF, SYLK, and
ASCII file formats, to the company's own DataFlex database
management system, and to earlier editions of Lotus 1-2-3.

Merge document functions -- and the capacity to create mailing
labels -- are provided through the ability to export to Wordstar,
WordPerfect and Microsoft Word.

By working in FlexQL with data drawn from one or more of the
compatible file formats, the user can create anything from simple
listings to complex multifile reports with calculated columns and
multiple subtotals, said Casanave.

FlexQL's user interface closely follows IBM's SAA/CUA standard, he
stressed. "It's largely a matter of pointing and selecting. You
design the report on your screen, putting headers, footers, totals
and subtotals exactly where you want them to be. They'll be there,
just the way you see them on screen, when the report is printed,"
he commented.

To begin building a report, the user opens the desired files on the
Flex-compatible programs, choosing the data required and the order
in which it is wanted. If only a simple listing is needed, the
report is complete at this stage. But if a more complicated report
is the objective, the user can now set calculation fields,
determining which field or fields will become breakpoints for
subtotals and totals.

The report can then be organized by selecting the sequence in which
columns of data will be displayed. FlexQL will present this data
in tabular formats, and allow the user to insert, delete, or
reformat the information.

Once the data has been finalized, the columns and column order
chosen, and the calculation fields set, a Layout Editor within the
program can be implemented. This feature lets the user add headers
and footers, as well as titles and page breaks.

The DOS version of Revision 1.1 requires 640K RAM and DOS 3.1 or
higher, but no extended or expanded memory is needed. The SCO Unix
version requires no special software or graphics support.

Pricing is $295 for a single-user DOS license, $595 for an eight-
user Network Edition for DOS, and $595 for a four-user license for
Unix. Extra DOS and Unix licenses can be purchased at $295 for
each four additional users. Both versions of Revision 1.1 are
shipping.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19920703; Press Contacts: Nigel Cheetham, Data
Access Corporation, tel [phone]; Stan Hayes, Gamma for Data
Access Corporation, tel [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00018)

Canada: BC Tel Files For ISDN Service 07/06/92
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA, 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- British
Columbia Telephone has filed an application with federal regulators
to start offering Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN)
services this fall. BC Tel's Microlink service would initially be
available in central Vancouver, Victoria, and Kelowna.

Deb Reidlinger, service development manage at BC Tel, said the
Microlink service would support ISDN applications such as desktop
videoconferencing and Group IV facsimile. It would also provide
caller identification, she said.

The service will carry a monthly fee of C$115 in Vancouver, with a
lower fee in some centers with smaller local calling areas.
Subscribers will also pay usage charges that will be about twice
current long-distance rates, officials said.

BC Tel has been involved in ISDN trials over the past two years.
Applications that have been tried out included a distance education
program in which students at four locations shared text and
graphics and worked together, and an interactive real estate
application in which would-be home buyers "viewed" homes
interactively while sitting in a real estate agent's office.

BC Tel has asked the Canadian Radio-television and
Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to approve the Microlink
service effective October 1. During 1993 the utility plans to
extend Microlink to Prince George and a number of communities
surrounding Vancouver.

(Grant Buckler/19920703/Press Contact: Tricia Wunsch, B.C. Tel,
604-432-2663, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00019)

New For Networks: Multilingual Versions of Lantastic 07/06/92
SLOUGH, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- Artisoft has
announced the development of French, German, Italian, Spanish and
Japanese Kanji versions of its Lantastic 4.1 network operating
system (NOS).

According to the networking company, these new multilingual
versions of Lantastic are available immediately in Europe at no
extra charge. Existing users can upgrade to the language version
of their choice for UKP 40.

Artisoft claims that it is also possible to run Lantastic in
several languages on a single network, with different users
accessing the network in different languages.

"We're by far and away the leading peer to peer networking
product in the US, and these new multilingual versions will
help us grow still faster in Europe," commented Dave Ball,
Artisoft's marketing director for Europe, the Middle East and
Africa.

"Europe is a patchwork quilt of different languages and cultures,
and companies need to recognize this to penetrate European
markets successfully. The Lantastic NOS is already well-known for
its ease of use, and these new localized products will add to
this reputation in continental Europe and Japan," he said.

(Steve Gold/19920703/Press & Public Contact: Artisoft - Tel:
0753-554999)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00020)

NCR Japan Holds 1M Yen Programming Contest 07/06/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- In order to stimulate interest in
programming of its pen computer, NCR Japan is holding an
international programming contest for the unit and the winner
will be given one million yen ($7,700). Ten runner-ups will
also get a monetary prize from NCR Japan.

These are the rules. The programs should run on both Pen DOS and
the Japanese DOS operating system. The type of program should be
business or general use. They should fully take advantage of the
pen input system of NCR's 3125 Pen Computer. NCR Japan will target
this contest at existing software developers.

The contest will be held between July 13 and September 30. A
general public meeting on the subject will be held at NCR Japan
in Tokyo on July 10 and in Osaka on July 17.

NCR Japan's Pen Computer, which supports Japanese language, is a
32-bit computer that is designed to support a both Microsoft DOS
5.0 and Pen DOS. Windows for Pen Computing and Go's PenPoint system
will also be supported in the near future, NCR claims. The unit has
a 20MB hard disk or 4MB IC cards for memory and features
such as fax adaptors. It also has a kanji conversion program
identical to that in Japan's best selling word processor
"Ichitaro."

NCR Japan aims to sell this Pen Computer to professionals such
as security consultants, insurance sales people, policemen,
field engineers, truck delivery people and hospitals.

NCR, which released the pen computer in June, expects to sell
50,000 units within two years. NCR Japan claims to be getting
good feedback from potential customers.

The Pen Computer is sold at 823,000 yen ($6,330), a price generally
seen as expensive for low-end users.

(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920702/Press Contact: NCR Japan, +81-3-
3582-6111)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00021)

Database World: Watcom SQL Software for DOS and Windows 07/06/92
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- Watcom, a company
well known for its 32-bit compilers, has entered the SQL (Standard
Query Language) software market with a suite of DOS- and Windows-
based client/server and applications development tools introduced
this week at Database World.

According to Ian McPhee, president, the move was motivated by
Watcom's perception of an absence of client/server SQL tools that
match the requirements of PC users. "After carefully researching
the needs of this market, and analyzing the restraining factors
limiting the adoption of this technology, we've created an SQL
product line which overcomes the barriers and will enable rapid and
widespread deployment of database technology in typical PC
installations," asserted McPhee.

Terry M. Stepien, marketing director, told Newsbytes that cost --
of both software and the hardware needed to run applications -- has
been one major barriers to the use of SQL software in PC LAN
environments. "When I say 'cost,' I don't mean simply the cost of
the software. There are costs associated with computers as well,"
noted Stepien, who demonstrated the DOS and Windows versions of the
client/server software to Newsbytes on a laptop running on a LAN
within the Watcom booth.

In an interview later, Dave Boswell, vice president of sales and
marketing, explained that to meet customers' needs for
affordability, Watcom has devised a reasonably priced product that
can be operated on any desktop or portable PC, 8086-based or above,
with 640K of memory.

Boswell told Newsbytes that the new Watcom SQL software includes a
Developer's Edition -- for use in developing and deploying
stand-alone applications, and developing network applications --
plus a Network Server Edition for use in deploying network
applications. The Network Server Edition comes in two separately
priced versions: one edition for up to six users, and the other
for unlimited users.

Boswell and Stepien both pointed out that the Watcom software is
scalable, so applications can be designed to run unchanged on
stand-alone systems and networks, in 16- and 32-bit environments,
and across 8086- to 486-based hardware. The DOS versions of the
products work with exceptional efficiency under the Windows DOS
and OS/2 DOS boxes, as well as directly under DOS, stressed
Boswell.

The DOS versions of Watcom's products are available now, and the
Windows editions are slated for release later this year, Boswell
told Newsbytes. The Windows versions -- which will include GUIs,
but will also be compatible with the DOS versions -- are now being
beta tested among several groups, including 1500 agents at a major
insurance firm.

Ease of use is another consideration Watcom is addressing, said
Boswell. The new Developer's Edition comes with a single-user SQL
database server, along with two different development front ends.
One front end, ACME (Application Creation Made Easy), combines
visual forms design with simple event-driven programming to enable
rapid application development without the use of C languages.

The other front end -- geared to professional developers, VARs, and
corporation IS (Information Systems) shops -- consists of tools for
C/C++ development using compilers from Microsoft, Borland and
Watcom. Priced at $795 regularly -- and $395 for a limited time
only -- the development kit also incorporates an embedded SQL/C
preprocessor and SQL libraries for use with the compilers. Users
who purchase the Developer's Edition can buy the six-user Network
Server Edition for $99.

List priced at $795 for the six-user version and $1,595 for the
unlimited user version, the Network Server Edition can coexist with
either NetBios or Novell Netware, although no outside network
operating system is required. Each package includes a multi-user
network database server and network request software for PC
clients. The network server incorporates a request manager, which
supports symmetric multiprocessing of server requests. The network
server must be run on a dedicated machine, but the same stipulation
does not apply to the standalone server.

Each of the new packages offers 16- and 32-bit versions in the same
box, said Boswell. All incorporate interactive SQL, data
compression, encryption, and transaction processing, as well as
many new and advanced capabilities. These include referential
integrity, which protects developers from creating databases that
can be accidentally corrupted by users, and automatic query
optimization, which saves users from having to go to database
specialists for help with tuning up applications.

In the beta test at the insurance company, the salespeople are
using laptops to run standalone versions of mortgage rate
databases, said Boswell. Internally, he added, Watcom is operating
client/server applications on desktop PCs as well as laptops, using
Xircom adapters and modem connections for communications between
portable PCs and database servers.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19920702; Press Contact: Dave Boswell, tel 519-
883-6303)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(SFO)(00022)

Database World: Ingres To Incorporate GIS, Medical Imaging 07/06/92
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- With their eyes
keenly set on new geographic information (GIS) and medical imaging
horizons, officials of Ingres have announced that the company will
extend the capabilities of its relational database management
system (RDBMS) to incorporate multidimensional data.

In plans made known this week at Database World, Ingres stated
intentions to collaborate with ESL, a leading developer of spatial
data management applications, on integrating maps, genetic
diagrams, and physical characteristics such as height and weight
into the Ingres Intelligent Database.

"The addition of RDBMS multidimensional data management is vital to
rapid application development and deployment in many emerging high-
growth application areas. With ESL, we have a technology and
market leader to help us maintain our leadership and evolve the
database market agenda we established with the introduction of the
Ingres Intelligent Database in 1989," commented Dennis McGinn,
president of Ingres.

Also in the announcement, Ingres officials maintained that, to be
stored and manipulated effectively, multidimensional data must be
incorporated into the RDBMS kernel. This integration can be
achieved, they asserted, through the Ingres Object Management
Extension, a tool already being employed to let users of the
Intelligent Database use familiar SQL commands in dealing with such
unconventional information as binary, fractional, and spatial
coordinate data.

Ingres stated that the company will be particularly aggressive in
pursuing the GIS application market, projected to reach sales of
$25 billion by 1997. Aside from medical imaging, other application
areas being looked at include CAD/CAM, asset management, and global
change research.

In addition to the Intelligent Database, Ingres produces the
Ingres/4GL applications development tool; desktop products that
enable DOS, OS/2, Unix and Macintosh desktop computers to access
Ingres database software running on hosts; and open connectivity
products for running applications without change across multiple
networks, machine architectures, outside database managers, and
distributed single point data sources.

ESL, a division of TRW's Avionics and Surveillance Group, develops
advanced imagery, signal processing, reconnaissance, and
communications systems for the federal government.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19920702)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00023)

Microsoft Plans For Fox In UK, Hongkong 07/06/92
WOKINGHAM, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- In the wake of
its formal completion of the acquisition of Fox Software, (as
Microsoft has revealed it plans to continue supporting the Fox range
of software and announced an enhanced support service.

"The Fox installed base of users is one of the most important
assets of Fox Software, so we are committed to servicing these
users to the best of our ability," explained Julie Cox, senior
manager of database products at Microsoft.

Microsoft FoxPro, a graphical database software environment, is
currently available for MS-DOS, with a Windows version in beta
testing and Macintosh and Unix version under development.

Microsoft's programmers are working with Fox's on Foxpro 2.5,
which is scheduled for shipment later this year. In the interim
period, customers buying any version of Foxpro 2.0 for DOS until
the end of December can upgrade to v2.5 for DOS or Windows for
free.

Microsoft has also committed itself to the support channels that
Fox had prior to its take-over. Online support will continue via
the Fox Forum on Compuserve, with backup from the Microsoft
forums, which are also on Compuserve. A UK version of Fox Forum
has been created for UK users of the company's software.

Backing up the 24-hour online forum services is a dedicated phone
line in the UK - 0734-271126 - which is manned from 9am to 5pm
every weekday.

Despite rumours to the contrary, Microsoft has said it will not
increase pricing on the Fox range of software. Retail price of
Foxpro 2.0 for DOS is UKP 595 for the single user version and UKP
795 for the six multi-user version. Foxbase Plus for the Mac will
continue to sell for UKP 395 and UKP 545 for, respectively, the
single and six-pack version.

Microsoft UK intends to follow the US lead on packaging for Fox
software. Plans call for the company to repackage Fox products
under the Microsoft Foxpro and Microsoft Foxbase+/Mac brand
names.

In Hongkong, Laurie Kan, country manager of Microsoft Hong
Kong Ltd., said that Microsoft will continue to distribute the
Fox product line through Tech Pacific Ltd in Hong Kong, building
on a strong track record.

"Tech Pacific has had excellent results with Fox in Hong Kong," Mr
Kan said. "We believe our Fox products are number two in the market
here, with a market share that is better than in any other Asian
country and indeed better than in several European countries."

Tech Pacific's considerable successes in penetrating major
accounts in the territory include the Hong Kong Government which
has made FoxBase+ its standard PC database software.

In Hongkong, customers buying Microsoft FoxPro 2.0 for MS-DOS
between 1 June and 31 December will get a free upgrade to FoxPro
2.5 for either the MS-DOS or Windows operating systems. A HK$792
upgrade will be offered to those who purchased FoxPro 2.0 before 1
June.

The company is also offering generous discounts for those who want
to upgrade to the Microsoft Fox line from competitive products.
Users of dBASE, Paradox, Clipper, DataEase, R:BASE, Superbase,
Arago and dBFast can purchase Microsoft FoxPro 2.0 for MS-DOS for
HK$1,592 and get free upgrade to FoxPro 2.5 for either the MS-DOS
or Windows operating systems when the products ship.

In addition, users of 4D, Double Helix, Omnis Seven, dBASE for the
Macintosh, FileMaker Pro and Microsoft File are eligible to upgrade
to Microsoft FoxBase+ for the Macintosh for HK$1,192.

All these upgrade offers will expire on 31 December.

Microsoft is supporting an initiative being driven by the ANSI-
accredited X3/SPARC committee in the US to create an X-Base
standard language which should help ensure compatibility and
interoperability among X-Base products.

(Steve Gold & Brett Cameron/19920706/Press Contact: Ramny Fite,
Microsoft HK, tel: [phone]; Microsoft UK - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00024)

AT&T, European Telcos In Ukraine Project 07/06/92
BONN, WEST GERMANY, 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- AT&T in the U.S. has
joined forces with Deutsche Bundespost Telekom (DBT) and Dutch
Telecom to revamp the Ukraine's aging telecom network.

According to Helmut Ricke, chairman of DBT, plans call for the
Ukrainian postal ministry to take a 51 percent stake in a new
joint venture company, with Dutch Telecom holding a further ten
percent in the company. The remaining 39 percent is to be split
equally between AT&T and DBT.

Although firm details of the project have yet to be hammered out
with the Ukraine, Newsbytes understands that plans call for the
joint venture company to update the telecommunications
infrastructure in the 25 Ukrainian provinces.

The project builds upon a similar agreement between DBT and Dutch
Telecom in May of this year, when it was agreed with the
Ukrainian postal ministry to install mobile telephone networks in
21 Ukrainian cities. Ricke said that the mobile telecom plans
will be folded in with the joint venture project between the four
companies.

(Steve Gold/19920706)


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

NCR Demos Windows NT On System 3000 07/06/92
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- NCR
Corporation is demonstrating Microsoft's next generation operating
system Windows NT on its 3000 family of computers at the Microsoft
Windows NT Developers Conference.

The three-day show, which opened at San Francisco's Moscone Center
today, attracted more than 4,000 registrants. Windows NT is
expected to be released by the end of the year, and offers support
for both 16-bit and 32-bit Windows applications, as well as fault
tolerant features, a high performance file system, and integrated
networking.

NCR said its 3000 family includes desktop workstations, deskside
servers, pen computers, and massively parallel mainframe-class
systems. NCR spokesperson Kathy Kruse told Newsbytes that the
company is demonstrating Windows NT on its 3450 and 3550 systems.
The 3000 line also includes the 3335 and the 3447 models. The 3335
is a desktop workstation based on the 25 megahertz (MHz) 486DX2
microprocessor, and can be upgraded to 50 MHz, according to NCR.
The 3447 is a 50 MHz desktop workstation is a 486DX-based system,
and the 3450 is a deskside server which supports up to four 50 MHz
486 processors. The 3550 will support up to eight 50 MHz 486
processors. Multiple processors share the workload, making it
possible to complete complex tasks more quickly than would be
possible on single-processor systems.

Kruse said that the demonstrations would be running throughout the
show in the Microsoft booth area, after the initial introduction
following Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates' keynote speech this
morning. The 3000 family of computers was formally introduced by
NCR in May last year.

NCR, covering all possibilities in the operating system
competition, said the 3000 platforms support Unix, DOS, Windows and
OS/2. The company said that several independent software vendors
(ISVs) are already porting their software to Windows NT on the NCR
3000 systems. Porting refers to the process of modifying a software
program so that it runs on a different platform than it was
originally written for.

(Jim Mallory/19920706/Press contact: Kathy Kruse, Hill and Knowlton
for NCR, 408-496-6511)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(HKG)(00026)

3Com's Record Quarter 07/06/92
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- Global data networking
specialist 3Com has reported record orders of $121.5 million
and sales of $121.7 million for its fourth quarter ended 31
May.

Sales posted a 31 percent rise from $92.8 million, and orders
were up 26 percent from $96.5 million in the year-earlier quarter.
Net income for the current quarter was $4.9 million ($0.17 per
share), a 49 percent improvement from the $3.3 million reported
last year.

"This quarter we made significant progress in successfully
integrating the people, products and infrastructure of recently
acquired BICC Data Networks into 3Com," said Eric Benhamou, 3Com
president and chief executive officer.

"Additionally, we began volume shipments of NETBuilder II, our
new internetworking platform and the full range of our LinkBuilder
structured wiring hub products. Fourth quarter results also
reflected the continued success of our EtherLink family of 16-bit
network adapters."

Sales and orders for the 1992 fiscal year were $408.4 million and
$406.9 million, respectively. For the year, the company reported
net income of $4.2 million ($.15 per share) as compared to a net
loss of $27.7 million ($.98 per share) in fiscal 1991.

These results reflected a one-time charge to operating income of
$10.4 million related to the acquisition of BICC Data Networks in
January. The previous year's results included a one-time
restructuring charge of $67.0 million.

Exclusive of these charges net income for the current year
would have been $13.3 million ($0.47 per share) as compared
with $15.4 million ($0.54 per share) in fiscal 1991.

"This has been a pivotal year for the company. We transformed
3Com to fulfill our global data networking vision by overhauling
product and services portfolios and reorienting the focus of the
Company's sales and marketing organizations," said Benhamou.

"Further, we strengthened our market position in 3Com's core
businesses, expanded our global presence and completed the
wind-down of the non-strategic workgroup systems business.
Our sharper focus and steadily improving financial results
throughout the year reconfirm our confidence in 3Com's long-
term success," he said.

3Com ended the fiscal year with $78.7 million in cash, an
$18.8 million decrease from the $97.5 million reported last
May.

Current balances reflected a $25.0 million acquisition
payment to BICC Group plc and the repurchase of 991,000
shares of 3Com common stock for $10.6 million during the
year. Offsetting these expenditures was careful asset
management throughout fiscal 1992.

(Brett Cameron/19920706/Press contact: Doug Dennerline, 3Com,
tel:[phone];HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00027)

Zenith Withdraws From Advanced Computing Environment 07/06/92
BUFFALO GROVE, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- Zenith Data
Systems has notified participants in the Advanced Computing
Environment (ACE) that is withdrawing from membership in the
organization immediately.

In early June the company said that it was considering withdrawal
from the organization, which is attempting to develop an independent
standard for a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) platform.
Six months ago ZDS, a founding member of ACE, reduced its
participation in ACE to that of a technical advisor.

Of the 20 firms which formed ACE in April 1991, ZDS is the third
major player to withdraw. Earlier this year Digital Equipment and
Compaq Computer decided not to continue their participation.

Alan Soucy, ZDS vice president of product strategy and advanced
planning, said that progress made by chip maker Intel Corporation in
developing the next generation of high performance microprocessors
was the determining factor in Zenith Data's decision. Such progress
makes ACE's existence less necessary, observers suggest.

(Jim Mallory/19920706/Press contact: John Bace, Zenith Data Systems,
708-808-4848)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00028)

Tandy To Open Radio Shack Stores In Mexico 07/06/92
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- Tandy Corporation says
that its wholly owned subsidiary Tandy International will open Radio
Shack stores in Mexico in conjunction with Grupo Gigante, S.A. de
C.V. The joint venture will be known as Radio Shack de Mexico S.A.
de C.V.

Tandy and Grupo Gigante already had a working relationship, with
Gigante being licensed to distribute Tandy products in Mexico since
1986.

Radio Shack de Mexico will be led by Angel Losada Moreno, executive
VP of Grupo Gigante, who has been named chairman of the new company.
Guido Pentsy, a 10-year veteran of Radio Shack, has been named
director general of the new company and will be responsible for
operations.

Grupo Gigante currently operates 24 Radio Shack stores in Mexico
under its subsidiary Gigante. Those stores will become part of Radio
Shack de Mexico, according to Tandy Corporation. The new company
said it plans to open about 50 new stores each year. Tandy
Corporation said all the stores will sell most of the products found
in US Radio Shack stores. Service will be provided by a support
center to operate in Mexico City.

Tandy said Grupo Gigante is considered one of Mexico's strongest
nationwide retailers, operating 111 self-service stores under the
Gigante name. The group also owns 25 family-style restaurants in
five Mexican cities under the Toks name, and five specialty
restaurants in Mexico City.

Zenith Data declined to comment officially on the future of ACE, but
one engineer reportedly said that while Ace had problems getting off
the ground, "its spirit moves on." He said ACE was not a viable
organization, but did not elaborate.

(Jim Mallory/19920706/Press contact: Phil Bradtmiller, Tandy
Corporation, 817-390-3730)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00029)

New For PC: Microsoft Interface Design Tools For Windows 07/06/92
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- Microsoft
Corporation has announced a family of user interface design tools
that it says will help foster consistency and easy of use among
Windows applications.

Included is the products is a 220-page application design guide that
provides instructions for designing user interfaces, and a set of
companion disks with sample applications. When running the sample
application in the Information mode, clicking on any user interface
item will bring up the explanation of that item from the Application
Design Guide.

The disks also contain artistic guidelines for designing graphical
elements of the user interface, and a library of icons, buttons and
cursor shapes that can be incorporated directly into an application.
Included are button images for common commands such as Cut, Copy,
Paste, , Open File, New File, File Close, Save, Print, and Help.
The Buttons and Cursors file is also available for downloading on
Compuserve's Microsoft Forum at no charge except the connect time.

The disk also contains a dynamic link library (DLL) (that can create
various states of a button (raised, depressed, inactive).
Applications shipped with the DLL instead of bit-maps reduces the
size of the application's file. Microsoft says the DLL also works
with custom button images the developer creates.

The company has also announced a Microsoft University course
designed specifically to teach user interface design, and is
offering a terminology reference that provides user interface terms
in 13 languages.

The Windows interface is what users interact with on their personal
computers, providing a method of selecting the actions they want to
take by clicking on a command or icon. Before graphical user
interfaces such as Windows and Tandy's Deskmate became popular,
computer users had to know the specific commands to type in order to
launch applications or perform file management tasks such as
copying, deleting, or renaming files.

Microsoft says there are five major factors used by interface
designers to make their applications work with Windows. They are
data integration, input/output (what you type and what you see or
print), consistency, ease-of-use, and scalability. The company
hopes that all future applications developed for Windows will use
all those factors, using the supporting technology built into
Windows. "Our goal is to provide a suite of user interface
products to use as a baseline when designing a Windows -based
application," said Lazarus.

Microsoft offers various services to support the development of
Windows applications, such as seminars and developer technical
support. The company undoubtedly recognizes that the independent
software that develop applications for Windows are a cost-free
weapon in its fight to establish Windows as the preeminent
operating system over IBM's OS/2. Consumers are more likely to
choose the operating system which offers the most useful
applications.

The design book and the disks each have a suggested retail price of
$24.95 when bought separately, but if you purchase the book you can
order the disks for $14.95. Microsoft told Newsbytes that the
terminology reference will be available in both print and online
form this fall.

Developers interested in using the new tools will need Windows 3.1,
a PC with at least a 80286 microprocessor, 640K of conventional
memory plus 256K extended memory. Although the tools will run on a
286 machine, Microsoft strongly recommends a 386 or higher. A
pointing device such as a mouse is also strongly recommended. The
minimum hard drive space needed is 6MB, but Microsoft recommends
10MB. Video requirements are for an EGA or better, but Microsoft
recommends color VGA or better.

(Jim Mallory/19920706/Press contact: Collins Hemingway, Microsoft,
206-882-8080; Reader contact: 800-426-9400, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00030)

PSI Upgrades Origen to 2.0 07/06/92
TRUMBULL, CONNECTICUT, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 6 (NB) -- Newsbytes has
learned that Preferred Systems Inc., is expecting to announce a major
upgrade to its Origen Netware upgrading and documentation package
early next week. The new version of the product will sport the
number 2.0 and contains several enhancements and new features.

Origen is used in three different ways. Its main use is to assist
network managers in performing the upgrade process between Novell
Netware versions. It is most commonly used in that role when a site
decides to upgrade from Netware 2.X to Netware 3.11. But, there are
two other ways in which the product can be used. And they are more
frequent than the one-time Netware upgrade.

Origen can be used to audit your servers. Company President Jack
Serfass told Newsbytes that many installations embed the auditing
process in their nightly back-up script and thereby have a fresh
audit report every day. In addition, some sites have the audit
forwarded to the company's technical support group so that they have
the most current information handy. The final way in which Origen
can be used is when a new server is being installed. PSI estimates
that it takes between 5000 to 8000 keystrokes to go through a
complete installation of a server. Many of these keystrokes are
entered during some very repetitive tasks like assigning access
rights or account privileges. Due to its repetitive nature, this
process can lead to mistakes in keying in the information. By using
Origen, network administrators are relieved of the burden of
handling all of those keystrokes. This limits the amount of typos
and other such simple mistakes that can cause many debugging
headaches.

Many sites are now in the process of finally upgrading from Novell
Netware 2.X to 3.11 driven by Novell's statement that it will not
support 2.X upgrades to their upcoming 4.0 release. PSI has a very
good working relationship with Novell. PSI has participated in the
last two Novell Developer Conferences and they expect to receive a
copy of the 4.0 Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) within
the next month. This, in turn, will allow them to incorporate
support for version 4.0 into Origen.

Origen 2.0 is expected to become available on Monday July 13.
It will sell for $495 for the first server in an installation and
$295 for each additional server. There are also bundle packs and
quantity discounts available.

(Naor Wallach/19920706, Press Contact: Randi Perlman, PSI,
203-459-1115)