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/nb920720

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(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(HKG)(00001)

Hong Kong: Microsoft Enhances Service For Major Accounts 07/20/92
TAIKOO SHING, HONG KONG, 1992 JUL (NB) -- Microsoft has begun a new
strategy for improving service to large accounts here in Hong Kong.
Under its Windows Software Centre (WSC) program, plans call for
Microsoft personnel to work with selected dealers in the territory to
meet customer requirements.

"Since we set up our office here last year we have spoken to a lot of
dealers and end-users, and we have found that the needs of large
customers are often different from those of individual users,"
explained Laurie Kan, country manager of Microsoft Hong Kong.

"Large customers want centralized, standardized software support,
often in the context of large and complex networks and host computer
systems. This is particularly the case in applying the new Windows
platform to their corporate information environments," he said.

"We concluded that this class of customer requires specialized
services from the dealer and so we decided that we would work directly
with selected dealers to support corporate and strategic accounts," he
added.

According to industry estimates, there are more than 200 dealers
selling Microsoft products in Hong Kong. Microsoft intends to
designate a small number of these, which have proven track records in
penetrating corporate accounts, as WSCs.

"This classification does not imply any exclusivity, in that all our
dealers can handle Windows products and that Windows Software Centres
also deal with DOS and Macintosh based products. The title does,
however, guarantee a certain standard of service," explained Kan.

Asian users of computer software have complained that while the prices
they pay for software has been relatively high, when compared to the
rest of the world, the after-sales and support service has been poor.
Microsoft claims it is making a strong stand on this issue, proving
good support at the time of purchase, as well as after the event.

"It will mean customers can deal with more knowledgeable salesmen and
better trained technicians, and expect faster product delivery and a
quicker response to enquiries," said Kan.

Microsoft Hong Kong claims to have trained more than 100 channel
support staff so far this year and has also been targeting corporate
account professionals. According to Kan, an initial batch of WSC
appointments will be made next month and Microsoft hopes to have ten
WSCs in operation by the end of the year.

Microsoft personnel will be working closely with its WSCs on major
accounts, and in some cases will be directly involved with the
customer, although co-ordination will be handled by the WSC.

"Our efforts to improve the level of service to Hong Kong customers
have already produced encouraging results," said Kan. "We believe that
this new structure will make a significant contribution in encouraging
companies to standardize their desktops on Microsoft Windows and
Windows based applications."

(Brett Cameron/19920720/Press Contact: Ramny Fite, Microsoft (HK) Tel:
852-804 4200; HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(IBM)(HKG)(00002)

New For PC: PowerPoint 3.0 For Windows 07/20/92
TAIKOO SHING, HONG KONG, 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- Microsoft has
released PowerPoint 3.0 for Windows, the latest generation of the
company's presentation graphics software.

According to the company, PowerPoint 3.0 improves on previous versions
of the program with more powerful text handling, drawing, graphing and
electronic presentation tools, giving users complete control over
their presentations from initial ideas to dazzling delivery.

"Microsoft PowerPoint 3.0 delivers the increased speed, flexibility
and ease of use that business presenters have been asking for," said
Laurie Kan, manager of Microsoft Hong Kong, who added: "We've
included a whole set of new tools such as Outlining Everywhere and
Flexible Templates that enable users to quickly build powerful
presentations."

According to Kan, the package takes full advantage of Windows 3.1
features such as object linking and embedding, True Type fonts and
multimedia support. He also claims that the package has improved its
consistency and integration with other Microsoft applications.

A new shape tool provides presentation designers with a palette of 24
commonly used shapes, enabling quick and easy creation of flowcharts.
Text is automatically attached to a shape, centring itself with the
object.

A unique freeform tool can be used to combine both polygons and
freehand drawings. In addition, PowerPoint 3.0 has the ability to
create dramatic, shaded fills and includes more than 500 pieces of
color clip art designed for easy editing.

The program includes true three-dimensional graphing capabilities,
based on the graphic tools in Microsoft Excel 4.0. It includes 84 pre-
defined chart types, rotation and perspective controls, and the
intelligence for graphs to automatically pick up the colouring scheme
of the presentation.

PowerPoint 3.0 can automatically scale presentations between slides,
overheads and computer generated formats. It includes the ability to
create run-time versions of on-screen presentations so that the full
program does not have to be loaded.

For electronic presentations, PowerPoint supports a number of new
features including embedded sound and video support, flying bullet
points and 40 different kinds of wipes, dissolves and fades.

The package comes with more than 150 templates, ranging from black-
and-white overheads to colour overheads, 35 millimetre slides and
electronic presentations.

A single slide master controls the look and format of the entire
presentation, including colour scheme, graphics and text formatting.
Changes to the Master can be made at any time, even at the last
minute, and are reflected on all slides.

In line with Microsoft's latest generation of application software,
PowerPoint 3.0 includes an easy-to-use toolbar for one-step access to
the most commonly used features. It also supports the standard menu
structure and familiar interface, enabling users to leverage their
experience with Word 5.0 or Excel 4.0.

Microsoft's software engineers have enhanced PowerPoint's outlining
capabilities by modelling them on those of Microsoft Word. The program
now enables text formatting to be changed in outline view and
reflected in the slides. Users can also create slides from existing
Word outlines.

The new program can directly ready Word and Excel files, send
presentations via Microsoft Mail, and embed charts from other
Microsoft applications such as Microsoft Project.

PowerPoint 3.0 requires Microsoft Windows 3.1 in order to run.
Microsoft's recommended hardware specification is a 386-based PC with
a minimum two megabytes of memory, a 256-color video adapter, a hard
disk, a floppy disk drive and a Microsoft or compatible mouse.

(Brett Cameron/19920720/Press contact: Ramny Fite, Microsoft, tel:
[phone]; HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(HKG)(00003)

Tandem Unveils Telecom Central Office Systems 07/20/92
WANCHAI, HONG KONG, JUL 20 1992 -- Tandem has reinforced its position
in the online transaction processing (OLTP) market with the
introduction of new computer systems for telecommunications companies
central office environments.

Designed with continuous availability, the new Tandem Non-Stop and
Integrity systems are compatible with Bell Communications Research
(Bellcore) Network Equipment-Building Systems (NEBS) generic
requirements, including central office grounding and cabling, fire and
earthquake resistance, operation interfaces, and dual central office
power inputs.

"Telephone companies and cellular carriers are demanding NEBS
compatible equipment as more and more computers are used in the
central office to provide new services," said Denis Odlin, area
marketing manager for Tandem in Hong Kong, who added that the company
offers cost-effective fault tolerant systems for on-line operations.

"Our ability to deliver new or improved services to customers in a
timely and cost effective manner is an important competitive advantage
the can help generate new or increased revenue opportunities for
telecommunications companies," he said.

"Telephone companies have a significant investment in central office
switching centers," Odlin said. "Increasingly, these companies need
computer suppliers to meet the very high levels of availability
associated with a telephone network."

Central office environments require high reliability in computer
systems, software and power supplies, so that uninterrupted service
can be maintained.

"Planned computer purchases by the telecommunications industry are
projected to reach US$15 billion worldwide by 1995," said Mr Odlin.
"About 35 percent of this amount falls into the fault-tolerant
arena," he said, adding: "The introduction of our new central office
systems allows us to offer the most solutions to address the needs of
this growing market."

Odlin said that Tandem's new central office (CO) compatible systems
include the Tandem Integrity CO-1300, which high performance, fault
tolerant computers based upon the most reliable implementation of Unix
System V Release 4.

They also include the Tandem NonStop CO-CLX800 and NonStop CO-
Cyclone/R systems, which allow users to manage business growth with a
range of linearly expandable, high performance, OLTP systems based
upon Tandem's Guardian operating system.

The CO-Cyclone/R and Integrity CO-1300 systems use reduced instruction
set computing (RISC) technology for improved price/performance, Odlin
told Newsbytes.

He added that Tandem has an established customer base in the
telecommunications market and its NonStop systems are currently used
by the world's 32 largest telecommunications providers.

(Brett Cameron/19920720/Denis Odlin, Tandem tel: [phone]; HK
time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(HKG)(00004)

NCR/Grid Offer Pen-Based Software 07/20/92
CENTRAL, HONG KONG, 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- A new alliance has been formed
between NCR Corporation and Grid Systems Corporation, a subsidiary of
Tandy Corporation, under which NCR will offer Grid's PenRight! pen-
computer software platform on NCR 3125 NotePad systems.

NCR has licensed PenRight! to provide users and independent software
vendors (ISVs) with a suite of "pencentric" software options in the
industry.

"The NCR 3125 NotePad is sold with Pen O/S (DOS 5.0)," explained Becky
Shiu, product officer at SIS, the local and regional distributor on
Hong Kong. "Customers can also choose from Microsoft Corporation's
"Pen for Windows" and GO Corporation's "PenPoint."

Greg Sewell, manager, government/commercial systems of NCR Hong Kong,
confirmed that the company's new relationship with Grid offers "more
options to those developing or considering pen-based computing
solutions."

An estimated 400 companies are said to be creating PenRight!
applications.

NCR will also offer Grid's PenRight! Pro software, a development
toolkit for programmers writing in the "C" language.

Penright! was designed to support "mission-specific" data-collection
applications based on MS-DOS. It contains an application program
interface (API) with more than 300 functions and a handwriting engine.

The Grid software systems are aimed at industry-specific forms-based
systems, which represent a large number of mobile workers NCR
believes will become automated using pen-based computers. NCR sees its
lightweight mobile 3125 NotePad being used by sales forces, field
technicians, service providers and mobile executives to collect,
process, analyze and respond to data in real time.

"Executives can also use the machine to take notes during a meeting
without disturbing others with the sound of a clicking keyboard," Shiu
told Newsbytes.

"Grid's vertical market focus compliments our relationships with
Microsoft Corporation, Go Corporation and CIC," said Sewell. "It
should help equip mobile workers with an efficient means to fill in
electronic forms, quote lists and provide product and service
information at their customers' sites, while maintaining an electronic
connection with their corporate computing enterprise."

(Brett Cameron/19920720/Press contact: Vivian Kung, NCR (HK), tel:
[phone]; HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00005)

 ****Spinnaker On Schedule For PFS:First Publisher 4.0 07/20/92
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- Spinnaker
Software Corporation is wrapping up the alpha stage and about ready to
enter beta on its first DOS-based upgrade of PFS:First Publisher, an
application purchased last year from Software Publishing Corporation,
Newsbytes has learned.

"We're very close to beta with the DOS product," stated Sheryl J.
Sandberg, senior project manager, during a talk on the evolution of
PFS:Publisher for Windows, Spinnaker's initial enhancement of the
desktop publishing software.

The upcoming DOS edition is dubbed PFS: First Publisher 4.0, and
the methods being used in its development are similar to those
followed for the Windows version, she told a group of Boston
Computer Society members this week.

The development of each product involves a usability study
conducted by Usability Sciences, followed by a beta test, Sandberg
elaborated. The beta test for the Windows product was done internally
over a three-month timeframe, and the final test on the upcoming DOS
package will probably be performed in-house as well, she added.

As previously reported in Newsbytes, Spinnaker bought PFS:First
Publisher from SPC in January of 1991, along with PFS:First
Publisher accessories, PFS:First Choice, PFS:Preface, and PFS:Easy
Start, and the licensing rights to PFS: First Graphics.

Four months later, the company unveiled a PFS product called
WindoWorks. In April of this year came the release of PFS:Publisher
for Windows, together with two other new PFS packages:the DOS-based
PFS:Business Plan and the Windows-based PFS: Prospect, an application
for managing sales prospects.

Sandberg said that the decision to enhance PFS:First Publisher was
based on a recognition that the software hadn't been upgraded since
the debut of Version 3.0 two-and-a-half years before. "We wanted to
make sure we were keeping up with the industry," she noted.

Like other products in Spinnaker's new PFS line, Publisher for
Windows is aimed mainly at the small business/home office market,
Sandberg suggested. "The package won't do everything that PageMaker
will do. But it doesn't take as long to learn, either," she commented.

Development of the Windows product began with an analysis of both
competing products and a database on customer needs, followed by
talks between project management, marketing, and top executives,
said Sandberg.

The list of "high level requirements" that resulted was then reduced
somewhat, based on projections as to the time needed for adding
capabilities.

In the alpha test that came next, users were asked to carry out 12-
to 15-step "real life tasks" with the prototype, involving
production of desktop documents around pictures of "Wally's
Widgets," Sandberg explained.

Spinnaker then refined the product in accordance with users'
comments. For instance, after users expressed confusion as to the
roles of some of the buttons in the prototype version, certain
buttons were dropped in favor of menu commands. Also to boost clarity,
some of the menu items were rearranged.

Spinnaker had an informal litmus text for leaving alpha and
entering beta, Sandberg revealed. "Users had to be able to easily
construct an entire newsletter," she remarked.

The product that emerged from beta retains some of the best
features of First Publisher 3.0, but brings new capabilities from
such diverse areas as word processing, graphics, and spreadsheets,
Sandberg said.

Users of the product can work in either object or text mode, making
the mode selection either by clicking on the right-hand mouse button
or toggling between two arrows in the upper left-hand corner of the
screen. The menus available coincide with the mode being operated.

Spinnaker has kept the template "thumbnails" of the SPC product,
expanding this idea beyond the individual thumbnails of First
Publisher 3.0 into an entire Layout Gallery, said Sandberg.
The gallery lets the user preview and catalog groups of predefined
templates, as well as collections of clip art.

As an alternative to the canned templates, users can create their
own, she added. The package comes with a clipart library, as well
as support for PCX, BMP, TIFF, and Windows meta files.

Unlike most competing products, the new Windows package includes
indexing and table of contents capabilities, stressed Sandberg,
noting that these features -- as well as a thesaurus and dictionary
-- are derived from PFS:WindowWorks, a product she managed before
moving over to PFS:Publisher for Windows and PFS:First Publisher
4.0.

PFS:Publisher for Windows ships with Atek PowerPak, providing an
increased range of available fonts. In reply to a user's question,
Sandberg stated that unlike some versions of PowerPak, the edition
included with the Spinnaker product is fully compatible with Windows
3.1.

The Windows version of Publisher for Windows lacks color printing
support for outside file formats, she acknowledged, but the package
does output in color on images imported through OLE (Object Linking
and Embedding).

"At the time we were developing the product, most of our (target)
users didn't have color printers," she expounded. Outside file formats
are printed in halftones, rather than black and white, so that they
resemble gray scale, she emphasized. "Fuller color support is something
we're looking at for the DOS version," she responded, in answer to a
question from Newsbytes.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19920720)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00006)

 ****Everex Enters Mass Market; Signs With Superstore Chain 07/20/92
FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- Continuing the
trend toward PC manufacturers marketing their wares through
consumer electronics outlets, Everex Systems has signed a
distribution agreement with Highland Superstores, a consumer
electronics and appliance chain. The company claims that the agreement
marks Everex's debut into the mass market channel.

Under the agreement, Everex says it will make available its full line
of MaxLogic personal computer systems to Highland's 49 regional
superstores located throughout the Midwest.

The company says that the first shipments of MaxLogic 486DX personal
computers and SVGA monitors to Highland stores began last month.
Hal Clark, president of Everex, said: "This is a very strategic
agreement because it opens up a new channel for Everex which allows us
to better serve the growing small business and home office markets."

Phillip Garrison, senior vice president, marketing, for Highland
Superstores, said of the deal: "We are pleased to have finalized the
agreement with Everex after careful evaluation of their product line.
MaxLogic by Everex computer systems are now on our store shelves,
providing our customers with an upscale brand name from a high
quality, reputable manufacturer."

The newly introduced MaxLogic by Everex personal computers feature 386
or 486 processors, 1 megabyte (MB) to 4MB of RAM, 40MB to 200MB hard
disks, and 800 by 600 to 1024 by 768 monitor resolutions.

Additionally, the systems come with Microsoft DOS 5.0, Windows 3.1 and
Works for Windows pre-loaded on the computers. Suggested retail prices
for the MaxLogic systems range from $999 to $2,499.

(Ian Stokell/19920720/Press Contact: Bob Goligoski, Everex Systems
Inc., 510-683-2179)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00007)

 ****National Database Of Stolen PCs 07/20/92
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- In an effort to
address the increasing numbers of computers stolen every day, the
American Computer Exchange has formed a database of computer serial
numbers to cross-reference any equipment sold through its business.

AmCoEx acts as a national broker, matching buyers and sellers
of used equipment. Up to now the exchange has kept the seller's
identity confidential. The company says that, because the exchange
only charges 10 percent commission on each sale, thieves have
sometimes sought to sell stolen equipment through the
business.

Calls from users who have had their equipment stolen have become more
numerous in recent months. The users call to see if their computers
are being offered for sale.

Consequently, AmCoEx has now decided to develop a National Database of
Stolen Computers. Anyone who has had equipment stolen can call a toll-
free telephone number -- [phone] -- and list that equipment
free of charge. The exchange will then cross-reference all
transactions it is involved with against the data base. Also, anyone
wishing to verify a purchase of used equipment can also call to ensure
that the equipment is not listed as stolen.

The exchange emphasizes that without the computer's serial number,
there is nothing the company can do to assist in its recovery. More
information about the database can be obtained from the same toll-free
number listed above.

(Ian Stokell/19920720/Press and Public Contact: 800-786-0717, American
Computer Exchange Corporation)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00008)

Alpha Micro's Red Ink, Big Service Contract 07/20/92
SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- Alpha Microsystems
has reported losses for its first quarter, but says that it has picked
up the warranty service contract under an non-exclusive agreement with
PC Positive, which also coordinates warranty service arrangements with
sister companies Tandon and PC Brand.

On sales of $11.8 million the company has reported a first quarter
loss of $1.3 million ($.44 cents per share) compared to last year's
black ink of $12.6 million with a net income of $171,000 ($.06 per
share).

The red ink was expected, according to Alpha Microsystems President
Douglas Tullio. Like everyone else, Alpha is blaming the a computer
industry recession and the weakened economy.

Alpha describes itself as a business-oriented developer, integrator,
seller, and servicer of systems and software for multi-user and open-
system networked computing. However, the company is pleased to
announce its agreement with PC Positive for warranty service.

Six Alpha Microsystems Service Operation (AMSO) offices were
authorized to service PC Positive, Tandon, and PC Brand machines for a
one-month trial run period. Now, an additional 23 offices have been
added for a total of 29 warranty service centers in major metropolitan
areas nationwide, Alpha said. The company says it understands PC
Positive will eventually expand the offering to include all AMSO
service locations.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920720/Press Contact: Nora Gordon, South Coast
Communications Group, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00009)

 ****Software Uses Voice Recognition To Teach Language 07/20/92
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- Want to learn
Spanish without anyone hearing your mistakes? Intelligent Automation
says you can with newly announced Speak-Now, a software and hardware
combination that allows your computer to use voice processing and
recognition to teach foreign language.

The computer becomes a private language tutor, according to the
company. Students sit in front of the computer wearing a microphone
equipped headset and the computer compares their pronunciation to the
correct pronunciation. Listening, visualizing, and vocal repeating are
all parts of the learning experience, the company said.

English to Spanish and Spanish to English lesson packages are
available. Each package contains five lessons, company officials said.

A card, called the voice processing and recognition module, comes with
the software and is compatible with IBM or compatible 286 or 386-based
computers. Retail price for the package is $299, although the software
lessons can be purchased independently for $69.

Intelligent Automation is a distributor geared toward small and medium
sized companies with unique linguistic software products, said founder
Bo Safrang. The Speak-Now package was developed by Fullerton,
California-based Applied Voice Technologies.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920720/Press Contact: Bo Safrang, Intelligent
Automation, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00010)

EC Probes Northern Telecom Buy-in To Matra Communication 07/20/92
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- The European Commission (EC)
has announced an investigation into Northern Telecom's (NT) plans to
invest $272 million in Matra Communication of France.

According to telecoms industry sources, EC officials are said to be
worried that the investment may contravene EC merger regulation rules.
There are also plans for NT to invest in a new holding company which
will eventually control Matra and Hachette, another company being
merged with Matra, though no direct investigation of this deal is
being made.

Unlike other EC investigations, this latest round of red tape to hit
the European telecoms industry will not seriously delay NT's
investment in Matra. The merger rules only allow EC officials 28 days
to announce whether they have any serious problems with a deal,
otherwise the deal goes ahead. In the event of the EC discovering
serious problems with the deal, a full-scale investigation must be
called.

(Steve Gold/19990720)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00011)

Germany's Plans For More Digital Mobile Phones Moves Ahead 07/20/92
MUNICH, WESTERN GERMANY, 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- Undeterred by its failure
to secure a contract for the D1 and D2 digital mobile phone networks,
which have opened for business in Germany over the past few weeks,
MAN, the engineering and trucking conglomerate, is pitching for the
contract for the second wave of mobile phones for the country.

MAN is seeking to gain a licence for a personal communications network
(PCN) in Germany and is teaming up with Private Mobilfunk (PM) and
Jenoptik, two German telecoms companies, as well as US West, the US-
based telecoms firm.

Industry experts suggest that, as Europe continues into the recession,
that the PCN technology will stand a greater chance to penetrate the
market since it offers similar services to GSM (groupe speciale
mobile) but at a lower cost. The downside of PCN is that the roaming
feature, which allow a subscriber to take his/her smart card-embedded
ID to other countries, is not available.

MAN may have to wait a while before it discovers whether its tender is
successful. The German government is keeping its books on potential
bids for the licence until September 24, and will decide on who will
get the contract by the end of the year.

MAN officials are not newcomers to the industry. The company, which
failed in its bid for the D1 and D2 networks, says it has learned a
lot about the mobile telecoms industry.

(Steve Gold/19920720)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00012)

UK: Mercury Outlaws Live Chat lines 07/20/92
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- Mercury has announced that, with
immediate effect, it is barring what it calls "controlled" live
conversation services on its premium rate phone numbers.

The announcement is the last nail in the coffin of the chat line and
other live conversation services on Mercury, although Newsbytes notes
that similar services still exist on British Telecom (BT) premium rate
lines.

The reason for the change is that ICSTIS, the independent supervisory
body for the premium rate phone service industry, has revised its code
of practice to say that live conversations should only be a numbered
prefix specifically allocated for that purpose. The code of practice
requires a network operator (such as BT or Mercury) to choose whether
to withdraw or continue to provide live chat services on a specific
group of numbers.

The image and perception of premium rate phone numbers has suffered in
recent years owing to the activities of the dial-a-porn and sex chat
services that have arisen. According to Mercury, it's this perception
that has guided the company to make its present decision to outlaw
even controlled chat line services.

"We're committed to providing only the highest quality premium rate
services to our customers and have always maintained a policy of
restricted chat lines and adult services. We've remove our solitary
one to one service, and coupled with our decision not to take up the
"controlled services" option this underlines our commitment to an
information-led premium rate service," he said.

(Steve Gold/19920720/Press & Public Contact: Mercury Communications -
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone])


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

New For PC: Wordperfect's First Japanese Version 07/20/92
ADDLESTONE, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- Wordperfect has
announced the first Japanese version of its word processing software
of the same name. The Japanese version, Version 5.1J, which is
available immediately, runs on the NEC PC 9800 series of computers.

According to the company, one of the benefits of Wordperfect 5.1J is
that it allows the user to print both horizontally and vertically. In
addition, 5.1J is the first Wordperfect package to support two-byte
characters, which is essential for Japanese characters.

The technology doesn't come cheap -- Wordperfect is charging user UKP
475 for the package, which includes a front-end processor that allows
the user to manipulate combinations of Japanese characters before
entering them into the user's document.

"After two years of development, Wordperfect is delighted to be
introducing a product to Japan," Phil Welch, product marketing manager
for Wordperfect East Asia, said. "The English version of Wordperfect
has been selling very well in Japan for the last five years and
customers are looking forward to a product in their native language,"
he added.

The Japanese version of Wordperfect includes an attached text feature
that allows the user to attach phonetic readings to Japanese
characters, so indicating the correct pronunciation. Support for the
most popular front-end processors such as ATOK (versions 6 and 7), EG
Bridge, VJE-Beta and IBM MKK are included as standard in the package.

Because Japan has a variety of DOS machines, several versions of
Wordperfect 5.1J are planned for the future. Close to release are
versions for the Toshiba J-3100, IBM PS/55 and DOS/V machines. All
versions of WP 5.1J need 420K of free memory. Wordperfect recommends
that users have expanded memory system memory installed on their PCs
to run the Japanese version of its word processor.

(Steve Gold/19920720/Press & Public Contact: Wordperfect UK - Tel:
0932-850500; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SYD)(00014)

Australia: State Data Processing Center Privatized 07/20/92
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- The New South Wales state
government has sold its data processing (DP) organization, First
State Computing, to a consortium which includes Fujitsu. The
sell-off forms part of a larger privatization policy of the
conservative government, which plans to reduce its information
technology (IT) bill by 30 percent from the existing AUS$1.5B
(US$1.1B)

First State was established with a view to providing services for
outside organizations as well as the government, but has failed to
attract significant business. Services offered included a disaster
recovery unit. As an effective division of the government it
received a 10 percent sales tax exemption on purchases, but this
will now cease.

Plans call for the organization's 130-odd staff to be retained and,
where necessary, retrained. Fujitsu plans to incorporate it into its
plan for a service-based business. First State already has a Fujitsu
mainframe. Strong existing areas such as the payroll and human
resources systems may also form the basis of commercial offerings.

(Paul Zucker/19920720)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SYD)(00015)

 ***Olivetti Australia To Sell Notebooks By Phone 07/20/92
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- Olivetti Australia is planning a
large-scale telemarketing campaign, along with price cuts of up to 30
percent, as part of an aggressive drive to establish itself as a major
supplier in the portable PC market. The push will be accompanied by an
extensive advertising campaign.

While the telemarketing campaign will be conducted by Olivetti, the
sales will be channelled through dealers, according to marketing
director, Salvatore Ridulfo. He said the 30 percent price cuts would
apply across the entire Olivetti '1' notebook and laptop range.

Changes for the campaign include the appointment of Ogilvy and Mather
for advertising, Relationship Marketing Systems for direct marketing,
Levita Group for telemarketing and The Communications Group for PR.

All A1 portables will come with DOS and Windows 3.1 pre-installed,
along with Stacker disk compression software, a two-year warranty and
a mouse. Typical of the range is the Notebook S20 which will now sell
for around US$2900.

(Paul Zucker/19920720)


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

Sega/Amstrad Link On New Game PC 07/20/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- Sega of Japan and Amstrad in the
UK have signed an agreement for both companies to jointly develop a
games-oriented personal computer. According to Sega, the new machine
will be a hybrid unit based around Sega's games machine with
technology of Amstrad's PC.

The machine will, Newsbytes understands, consist of Sega's existing
compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM) system with an Amstrad 16-bit
PC built around it. Currently, Sega's CD-ROM technology is
seen in the company's 68000 microprocessor-based Mega Drive system.

This is not the first time that Sega has married the seemingly
disparate 68000 and Intel 80x6 processor technologies together.
Recently, Sega developed a similar hybrid machine with IBM Japan --
the machine is based around an Intel 80286 and a Motorola 68000
microprocessor.

Sources suggest that Amstrad/Sega machine will be based on similar
technology. The machine is expected to be launched in the UK this
coming fall, with a European launch -- to the Belgian, French and
German markets -- later in the year.

The PC is also expected to be sold at Australia and New Zealand next
year and will be sold together with the company's "Sonic the Hedgehog"
games with a retail price of UKP 899. About 200,000 units are expected
to be sold in the first year, with both firms wanting to double that
figure in the second year of sales.

(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920720/Press Contact: Sega Enterprises, +81-3-
3743-7447)


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

 ****Fujitsu Pulls Out Of Fax Machine Sales In US 07/20/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- Fujitsu says it has retreated from
the fax machine market in the US. The firm has just agreed to sell
its Connecticut-based 100-percent subsidiary to Dunka Industries, a
US company, This will almost certainly mean that Fujitsu's fax
machines will no longer be sold in the US, as Dunka is likely to
source its own machines.

According to Fujitsu, the market retreat is mainly due to the current
slump in the office equipment market and severe competition in the
industry.

Fujitsu's subsidiary -- Fujitsu Imaging Systems of America -- was
formed in Connecticut in 1981. The firm has been marketing Fujitsu's
fax machines in the US market since then, although the competition
has getting worse in the US. Other Japanese companies, notably
Ricoh, have muscled in on the scene.

What hasn't helped matters is that low-cost suppliers from Taiwan,
South Korea and other Southeast Asian countries have been selling
very hard into the US marketplace. Since Fujitsu is rather a late
starter in the fax technology stakes, the company only has a few
percentage points in terms of US market share.

Plans call for around half of the company's 350-strong staff to
transfer over to the new owners, with the remaining 175 employees to
be laid off.

Fujitsu is reported to have begun scaling down its US operations as
far back as April. Since April, no fax machines have been exported
from Japan to the US. Plans now call for the company to concentrate
on selling its high-end fax machines onto the domestic market here in
Japan.

High-end fax machines differ markedly from the budget units on sales
in the low-end retail stores. High-end machines tend to use plain
paper and work in a manner not unlike laser printers. Many high-end
fax machines, in fact, double up as a laser printer.

Fujitsu is not alone in scaling down its electronics operations in the
US. Hitachi recently announced it is reducing the size of its home
electronics plant in California, while Toshiba has ceased exporting
its home audio products to the US. In the UK, meanwhile, NEC has
pulled out of the home satellite business, citing lack of profits as
its prime motive.

(Masayuki Miyazawa/19920720/Press Contact: Fujitsu, [phone])


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

 ****TDMA Mobile Phones Begin Rolling Out 07/20/92
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- Time Division
Multiple Access, or TDMA, equipment is starting to roll off assembly
lines. The digital cellular standard, which remains a source of
controversy within the industry, will have its fate decided in the
market.

Pacific Communication Sciences is among the first companies shipping
chip-sets for use in TDMA-based dual-mode mobile cellular telephones.
Dual-mode telephones allow cellular customers to operate over the new
TDMA digital systems or the old analog systems.

Operators in Los Angeles, New York, Boston, Chicago and Dallas have
all committed to TDMA, but in most cases their competitors have not
made such a commitment, preferring to wait for either improved analog
technology or another digital technology called Code Division Multiple
Access, or CDMA.

PCSI said its dual-mode TDMA chip sets can be used in hand-held
phones, although the dual-mode phones announced so far carry a high
price tag.

Ericsson GE, meanwhile, turned on its first TDMA system, in Toronto.
The Rogers Cantel system there became dual-mode TDMA cellular on July
1. That network will be extended nationwide, with Montreal and
Vancouver due to cut-over this fall.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920720/Press Contact: Ericsson, Kathy Egan,
212/685-4030; Pacific Communication Sciences Kim Fedderly-Gower,
619/535-9500)


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

MTel Wins Pioneer Preference 07/20/92
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- Mobile
Telecommunication Technologies, which runs the SkyTel satellite paging
service, has won a tentative "Pioneer's Preference" from the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) to develop its Nationwide Wireless
Network (NWN) in the United States.

The NWN is a two-way, data communications network which would have
much higher capacity than the present SkyTel system, running in a
wider band on a similar frequency. This is the first award of a
tentative Pioneer's Preference in a proceeding related to Personal
Communications Networks (PCNs), although PCNs will operate on a much
higher frequency. If ratified by the FCC in a final decision, the
preference will give Mtel the right to proceed with its new service
without being subject to mutually exclusive competing applications.

Under FCC policies, a Pioneer's Preference allows the FCC to grant a
preference in licensing to those parties that are responsible for
major advances in telecommunications technology.

MTT's executive vice president, Jai Bhagat, noted that his company has
been operating its SkyTel network since 1987, and saw the NWN offering
as offering "low-cost, user-friendly, two-way data services linking
personal pocket computers with electronic mail gateways, fax machines
and information data bases by the mid-1990s."

(Dana Blankenhorn/19920720/Press Contact: David Allan. for MTel, 212-
614-5163)


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

MTV Europe To Launch Computer Teletext Service 07/20/92
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- Music Television's European
operation (MTV Europe) is to launch its own teletext service in two
weeks.

MTV Europe, which broadcasts 24 hours a day on the Astra satellite,
which covers most of Europe, will operate the service, which it is
calling MTV Text. While most of the teletext information will be music
related, Newsbytes understands that a computer games area known as
Megabyte, will be operational as well.

As with the audio-visual output of MTV, competitions will be the order
of the day for the MTV teletext service, which goes live on August 4.
According to Computer Trade Weekly, a weekly computer newspaper for
the UK computer retail industry, several software houses are working
with MTV to offer prizes of their software to encourage teletext
viewing. Among the companies offering prizes are Alternative,
Codemasters and US Gold, CTW asserts.

(Steve Gold/19920720)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00021)

Fujitsu Europe Intros On-Site Printer Warranty 07/20/92
UXBRIDGE, MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND, 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- Fujitsu Europe has
introduced a one year on-site warranty scheme for buyers of its new
non-impact laser and ink jet printers. The warranty, unusually for the
currently cut-throat market, is being offered free of charge to end
users.

According to Fujitsu UK, the on-site warranty is being offered on a
next-day basis, with the company arranging for a next business day
visit for repair or replacement of faulty parts. The warranty is
limited, however, to a maximum of 48,000 pages, so really heavy users
of the VM800 laser or B100 or 200 series of ink jet printers may find
themselves with a less than 12 months on-site arrangement.

John Goodyear, Fujitsu's printer product manager, said that the
company's products have a low failure rate, so Fujitsu can afford to
offer the on-site warranty at no extra cost to the end user. He
expects the scheme to be attractive to business buyers of the
company's printer hardware.

"The mean time between product failure, down time and cost of
maintenance are always part of the purchase decision. So, reliability
must remain one of the most important factors influencing the
corporate PC buyer," he said.

Fujitsu claims a high mean time between failure (MTBF) figure for its
printers -- 10,000 power on hours for the B100 printer, 6,000 power on
hours for the B200 and 4,000 hours for the VM800 at 4,000 pagers per
month. To back up its claim, the company cites a survey in which
Fujitsu came out top with a failure rate of 0.2 times a year.

(Steve Gold/19920720/Press & Public Contact: Fujitsu Europe - Tel:
081-573-4444; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(UNIX)(LON)(00022)

Indian Terminal Maker Claims Highest Cost/Performance Ratio 07/20/92
ALTRINCHAM, CHESHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- An entry-level
display terminal for Unix users has just been unveiled by VXL, the
Indian terminal manufacturer. The company claims that the terminal has
the industry's best cost/performance ratios.

According to VXL, the release of the VM2700 is in line with the
company's corporate strategy of attacking the market with a product
that combines high specification with prices "substantially lower"
than the competition.

How much lower? Around 40 percent, the company claims. The VM2700 has
a retail price of UKP 269, yet still includes 119 programmable
function keys, which VXL claims makes it the most sophisticated entry-
level model on the market today.

Standard emulations on the VM2700 include VT220, Wyse 60, SCO Ansi and
AT386M console. Other features are software-controlled brightness and
a flicker-free paper white screen.

The VM2700 is the second terminal to be unveiled by VXL since it
arrived in the UK in the last few months. The company, a newly
established subsidiary of the Indian parent, is seeking to grab a
sizeable slice of the UK terminal market. Back home in India, the
company claims to 80 percent of the terminal marketplace.

(Steve Gold/19920720/Press & Public Contact: VXL Instruments - Tel:
061-941-5829; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00023)

 ****AMD/Du Pont Team Up On Flash Memory Cards 07/20/92
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- Just one week after
signing a major joint venture deal with Fujitsu for the creation of
$700 million wafer fabrication facility to produce flash memory
devices, Advanced Micro Devices has signed a joint venture deal with
Du Pont Connector Systems.

According to the company, the new deal involves the manufacturing and
marketing of flash memory cards designed for the mobile systems
market. Both companies predict that flash memory card sales will grow
to more than $1 billion per year by 1996.

The agreement is provisionally set for two years, with the possibility
of annual renewal, and calls for Du Pont Connector Systems to
manufacture, and AMD to sell, flash memory cards that comply with
recently developed international standards. The cards will incorporate
AMD's 12-volt and five-volt-only flash memory devices. The companies
expect that initial products will be available this fall.

In some instances, credit-card-sized flash memory cards are intended
as an alternative to hard disk drives for use in mobile applications.
In portable systems, ruggedness, light weight, and low power
consumption are important considerations. Additionally, the companies
maintain that laser printers, medical instrumentation equipment, and
industrial controllers will also use flash memory cards.

Announcing the link-up between the two companies, Walid Maghribi, vice
president of AMD's Non-Volatile Memory Division, said: "This strategic
alliance between AMD and Du Pont Connector Systems enables both
companies to address a market that will grow exponentially over the
next several years."

In September 1991, two technical groups, the Personal Computer Memory
Card Industry Association (PCMCIA) and the Japan Electronics Industry
Development Association (JEIDA), agreed upon a set of standards for
flash memory cards.

Du Pont Connector Systems was created as a wholly owned subsidiary of
the Du Pont Company on May 12, 1992.

Alliances between major semiconductor and peripheral manufacturers
intent on producing flash memory devices have been in the news
recently. Analysts maintain that the agreements are necessary in most
cases because of the high cost of research and development and
manufacturing of the technology.

In February, Newsbytes reported that Intel and Sharp were joining
forces to develop flash memory for implementation in lightweight,
portable computer-based electronics.

In April, Newsbytes reported that AT&T had announced a line of flash
memory cards intended as alternatives to hard disk drives for mass
storage. The cards range in capacity from 2.5 to 20 megabytes and were
developed in cooperation with SunDisk Corp.

In June, Newsbytes reported that Toshiba had signed a joint
development and sales agreement for flash memory with IBM.

The recent deal between AMD and Fujitsu, also reported by Newsbytes,
called for the joint development, manufacturing, and sale of
semiconductor devices.

The agreement between the two companies called for the establishment
of a joint venture in Japan and for the companies to cooperate in
building and operating a $700 million wafer fabrication facility to
produce non-volatile memory devices such as EPROMs (erasable
programmable read-only memories) and flash memories. Both companies
said they would co-operate in marketing and sales of the products on a
world-wide basis.

Marketing research firm, Dataquest, predicts that the flash memory
market will grow from $130 million, at the beginning of 1992, to
nearly $1.5 billion by 1995.

Flash memory is a relatively new type of computer memory where the
information is retained even when the electricity is turned of. The
technology, although currently expensive to produce, is seen as having
great potential, especially for portable computers.

(Ian Stokell/19920720/Press Contact: John Greenagel, Advanced Micro
Devices Inc., 408-749-3310; Robert Rickenback, Du Pont Connector
Systems, 302-992-5009)


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

Bill Gates Company Installs Computer At Art Museum 07/20/92
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- When we think of Bill
Gates, we think of the billionaire who is the chairman of Microsoft
Corporation.

But Gates has another side to him. He also heads Interactive Home
Systems (IHS), a company he founded three years ago to develop
interactive digital libraries and software to display high-resolution
electronic images.

The company's first project to go public is ViewPoint, an interactive
system installed at the Seattle Art Museum which allows visitors to
take an electronic tour of the museum's art by touching the computer
screen.

By tapping the display, the visitor can view hundreds of high-
resolution color images of more than 250 of the museum's collection.
In addition to the art itself, the display contains an explanation of
the artwork, the artists and their cultures. A glossary section can
help the viewer pronounce unfamiliar names and terms as well as
foreign words.

Touching key words displayed in red will display additional
information on any given topic.

Gates says that the system is rudimentary compared with the elaborate
wall-size video displays he plans to install in a new home he is
building in the Seattle area. He also hopes to market the giant
displays commercially before the end of the decade.

IHS President Stephen Arnold says that the company considers the
museum project a research vehicle for future systems. "We want to
learn if someone interested in art, who doesn't have a computer at
home, can walk up to that thing and get comfortable reasonably
quickly, using it to get information," he said.

According to the museum's director of education, the museum did not
welcome the project with open arms. "There was outrage. Cries of
horror. People said 'No, never in my museum,'" said Jill Rullkoeter.
She said that opening a new downtown gallery may have helped overcome
reservations about use of the new media. "We had the opportunity to do
slightly wild and crazy things," said Rullkoeter.

IHS declined comment on reports that it is negotiating licensing deals
with the Art Institute of Chicago, the National Gallery in London, and
the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

(Jim Mallory/19920720/Press contact: Marty Taucher, Microsoft, 206-
882-8080)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(DEN)(00025)

 ****Electronic Photos Speeds Dem Convention Pics 07/20/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- When Democratic
presidential candidate Bill Clinton made a brief appearance at the
Democratic Convention in New York Wednesday night it was late, and
newspaper photo editors all over the country were on or close to their
deadlines.

But that didn't stop the Associated Press from getting the picture to
photo desks in time to appear in Thursday morning papers. They did it
with computers.

The photos of Clinton were shot by AP photographer Ron Edmonds, and 15
minutes later the image was in the hands of the photo editors.
Normally, photos are taken, the film is processed, and then the
pictures are transmitted through the AP system. But that process can
take up to an hour, depending on availability of a photo lab. Edmonds
was able to beat the editor's deadlines by shooting the pictures with
a digital electronic camera.

Digital cameras are a relatively new tool for news photographers. The
photos are captured using a standard camera attached to a briefcase
size storage pack. The image is then transferred to a Macintosh
computer and sent to the Associated Press Leaf Desk, allowing it to be
sent to AP's member papers.

Digital cameras were used at the 1991 Superbowl by Knight-Ridder News
Service to transmit pictures to newspapers and magazines as the game
progressed, and some photos were transmitted during Operation Desert
Storm using the system. Photos are transmitted over regular phone
lines, with the files compressed to save transmission time.

(Jim Mallory/19920720)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00026)

Microsoft Pledges $1M To U. of Washington 07/20/92
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- Microsoft
has announced that it has pledged $1 million to advance computer
science and engineering education at the University of Washington.

The gift was the final one in the university's first major fund drive,
a five-year campaign ending June 30. The school said it raised $284
million in gifts and pledges, $34 million more than its goal.

Microsoft said that the gift, the largest the software company has
ever made, would be used to endow a professorship, as well as to
establish graduate student fellowships and undergraduate student
scholarships in the department of computing science and engineering.

Microsoft officials added that the $1 million gift was in addition to
previous donations to the school during the campaign, bringing the
company's total contributions to $1.6 million.

Gates said that the contribution was an investment in the future of
the computer industry, and would help provide the software industry
with the research and development talent needed to continue
Microsoft's success.

Microsoft was a participant in the Rebuild LA Coalition, a group of
computer industry companies that contributed hardware and software to
aid in the distribution of relief supplies after parts of LA were hit
by riots resulting from the Rodney King verdict.

Microsoft executives have been generous with their good fortune also. In
December of 1990, Scott Oki, at that time senior VP of sales and
marketing at Microsoft, donated $100,000 to the University of Colorado
at Colorado Springs, his alma mater. Oki said he wanted to help share
the magic of computers with students in the college of business.

Gates himself donated $1 million to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center, with the funds going towards construction of the
center's new campus, and also gave $12 million to the University of
Washington School of Medicine, for use in creating a new department of
molecular biotechnology.

(Jim Mallory/19920720/Press contact: Marty Taucher, Microsoft, 206-
882-8080)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00027)

Zeos Opens Canadian Offices 07/20/92
ST PAUL, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- IBM-compatible PC
maker Zeos International has announced the opening of a Canadian sales
and service office in Richmond Hill, Ontario.

Zeos President Greg Herrick said that the office, under the direction
of national sales manager for Canada Mark Wyndlow, will be responsible
for increasing sales and raising the level of service for Zeos's
Canadian customers. Wyndlow will also act as the contact person for
Canadian industry publications and the press.

Zeos said that through the new office it will be able to provide
Canadian customers same day shipment on the most popular
configurations, 30-day money back guarantee, 24-hour year-round toll
free sales and technical support, and optional on-site service through
PC Services Partners.

Wyndlow told Newsbytes that Zeos selected Ontario as its Canadian base
because about 65 percent of the company's $3.5 million Canadian
revenue originated in that province.

Wyndlow, formerly a sales representative for Beamscope, said that the
office is initially staffed with three people. He said the company
would have ads in the Financial Post, a Canadian publication similar
to the Wall Street Journal, starting tomorrow.

(Jim Mallory/19920720/Press contact: Mark Wyndlow, 416-731-5214;
Reader contact: 800-423-5891)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00028)

New For Macintosh: Powerbook Display Adapter With 6MB RAM 07/20/92
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- Apple Powerbook
140 and 170 users can now expand their system memory to a total of 8MB
using Envisio's NDA030/6MB display adapter.

According to Envisio, The NDA030 can drive 12 and 13-inch color
displays, VGA-compatible displays and projections devices in 8-bit
color. It will also drive 15 and 16-inch displays in 4-bit, and
21-inch monitors in monochrome. The 6MB adapter has a suggested retail
price of $1,695.

Envisio has also lowered the price on the previously announced 2MB and
4MB display adapters. The 2MB card has been reduced by $100, to
$1,095, while the 4MB card has dropped $200 to $1,395.

Envisio's display adaptors are designed to fit in the Powerbook's
memory expansion slot. The company says the adapters are faster than
external SCSI (small computer system interface)-based adapters, and
speed is not limited by the transfer rate of the SCSI bus.

The Envisio adapters have a pass-through connector that accepts
Apple's memory upgrades. The device also supports Apple's Quicktime,
which incorporates video and sound into Macintosh programs.

Envisio was one of the first companies to announce support of Apple's
Powerbook, which was introduced last October at Comdex, an industry
trade show. Last month a suit between Radius and Envisio was settled
out of court. Radius had charged Envisio with copyright infringement,
claiming that Envisio had copied software used in Radius' Powerview
product.

Powerview is a product similar to Envisio's adapter, but is an
external device. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

(Jim Mallory/19920720/Press contact: Thomas Burke, Envisio, 612-339-
1008)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LAX)(00029)

 ****Computer Buff Helps Expose Military Computer Thief 07/20/92
THOUSAND OAKES, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- A computer
buff in Thousand Oakes, California has helped convict John Sheppard, a
specialist for the Army, on charges of stealing computer equipment
shipped back to the US after use in the gulf war Operation Desert
Storm.

In the market to buy a used computer, the unidentified computer user
went to look at computers advertised for sale on a bulletin board. In
trying out the systems, the computer buff noticed the systems booted
to a screen that said, "Welcome to Saudi Arabia" with a map of the
country and where US military units were deployed.

The Los Angeles Daily News said computer buff called Crime Stoppers,
who passed the information along to Ventura County sheriff's and Army
investigators. The investigators bought the equipment piece by piece
in order to get enough information to serve search warrants on the
sellers, the Daily News reported.

Sheppard reportedly told the sellers the computer equipment was
donated to the Army for use in the war and was being unloaded for sale
from ships from Port Hueneme, the Daily News reported. No charges were
filed against the sellers, but Sheppard's scheme was exposed.

On October 18 of last year Sheppard was arrested at his post at Ford
Ord, convicted of multiple counts of larceny and wrongful disposition
of government property by a general court-martial on June 1 this year
and sentenced to three years in Leavenworth Federal Prison, the report
said. The Army got $30,000 of the equipment back, but a total of
$70,000 worth of equipment was pilfered by soldiers assigned to move
the equipment from Port Hueneme, California as it returned from the
Persian Gulf.

This week the computer buff, who wished his identity to be kept
confidential, received a $400 reward, the report said.

(Linda Rohrbough/19920720)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(SFO)(00030)

HP Licenses PA-RISC Technology To Winbond 07/20/92
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 JUL 20 (NB) -- In an effort to
provide greater access for sales of PA-RISC-based products to Chinese-
speaking markets in Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Singapore, and
Taiwan, Hewlett-Packard has licensed its Precision Architecture-
reduced-instruction-set computing (RISC) technology to Winbond
Electronics Corporation of Taiwan.

Jim Christensen, spokesman for Hewlett-Packard, told Newsbytes that
the deal was important because it represents, "another semiconductor
manufacturer for PA-RISC."

Under terms of the license, Winbond will design, manufacture, and sell
PA-RISC chips for use in low-priced, high-volume products such as X
terminals, printers, and multimedia applications.

Winbond is claimed to be the second largest Taiwanese semiconductor
designer and manufacturer and a major supplier of the Taiwan PC
industry.

According to the companies, Winbond also has decided to join the
Precision Risc Organization (PRO) as a senior member. PRO is an
association of companies that hope to broaden the use of PA-RISC
technology. There are 11 members of PRO focusing on the embedded
control, as well as the workstation, multi-user, fault-tolerant, and
massively parallel-processing computer markets.

Christensen, also told Newsbytes that, "from an HP and a PRO
perspective -- they become the 11th member of PRO --and they give us
greater access to Chinese-speaking markets worldwide."

Ding Yuan Yang, president of Winbond, said: "RISC is the technology of
the future from toys to supercomputers. We evaluated several RISC
implementations before selecting PA-RISC. The scalabililty and proven
history of the technology, as well as HP's company culture, will make
this a beneficial relationship."

Willem P. Roelandts, HP vice president and general manager of the
Networked Systems Group, was equally enthusiastic, saying: "The
adoption of PA-RISC by Winbond signals the acceptance and expansion of
our technology for future uses in the embedded-control market.
Winbond's vision for PA-RISC and its ability to proliferate the
technology will contribute to PA-RISC's world-wide market acceptance."

HP claims that embedded control is the largest market for RISC
processors. According to Andrew Allison, editor of the RISC Management
newsletter, well over two million RISC microprocessors will be shipped
for embedded applications this year. Applications for embedded RISC
processors include printers and plotters, automobile engines, X
terminals, advanced telecommunication switches, and other real-time
devices.

Winbond recently completed a new semiconductor-fabrication facility.
According to the company, the class-1, 6-inch to 8-inch facility will
enable it to expand its capability into sub-micron technology.
According to the January 1992 RISC Management newsletter, PA-RISC
achieved more than 25 percent of the RISC market share in 1991.

(Ian Stokell/19920720/Press Contact: Jim Christensen, Hewlett-Packard
Co., 408-447-1678)