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/nb921023

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(NEWS)(IBM)(HKG)(00001)

Hongkong: Microsoft Unveils Multimedia Products 10/23/92
TAIKOO SHING, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Microsoft has announced a
group of Windows multimedia products that add a new sensory
dimension to personal computing and set a new level of achievement
in multimedia publishing. The Hongkong release of these products
follows the US release by about a week.

The new products include the Microsoft Windows Sound System, a
hardware and software combination that exploits the audio
capabilities inherent in Windows 3.1, and Microsoft SoundBits, a
series of three audio clip collections. The company has also issued
two new CD-ROM titles, Microsoft Encarta and Microsoft Musical
Instruments.

"With the release of Windows 3.1 earlier this year, Microsoft
brought full audio and multimedia functionality to the desktop,"
said Laurie Kan, country manager of Microsoft Hong Kong Ltd.

"The Windows Sound System provides powerful tools that make it
easier for business people to use audio in activities such as adding
voice annotations to documents, sending messages, incorporating
sound into presentations and even using a synthesized voice to help
proof-read documents," said Mr Kan. "We believe that audio
experience will accelerate the acceptance of the full multimedia
potential of Windows."

The hardware element of the Windows Sound System, developed in
conjunction with Compaq Computer and Analog Devices, provides PC-
users with CD-quality sound input and output facilities, together
with built-in sound synthesizing on a single PC add-in card, Microsoft
reports. It comes with headphones, a microphone and 3 Microsoft
applications: Quick Recorder, ProofReader, and Voice Pilot.

Quick Recorder makes use of Windows' Object Linking and Embedding
capabilities to add voice annotations to documents and files. Users
simply record a message with Quick Recorder and then drag and drop
the resulting message icon into the document they wish to annotate.

The ProofReader application has been optimized for checking
numerical data. It reads numbers and common spreadsheet terms with a
high-quality human voice, reducing the time spent on proofing and
improving accuracy. It works with Microsoft Excel and Lotus 1-2-3
for Windows.

The Voice Pilot enables users to execute commands, such as "open a
new document" or "print document," by speaking into the microphone.
This voice recognition ability can be used to navigate through
Windows and, at present, 15 popular Windows-based applications.
Voice Pilot can also be set up to respond to customized commands
which insert text into a document or execute a macro.

The Windows Sound System comes with an automated set-up program and
several utilities that enable the user to do things like play an
audio compact disc and mix sound from different sources, such as the
microphone and a cassette tape.

The new Microsoft SoundBits series comprises audio clips from well
know cartoon characters, classic films and musical instruments.
Users can inject a little humour and personality into their systems
attaching these high-quality digitized sounds to events such as
starting or quitting an application, getting an error message and
resizing a window.

The two new CD-ROM titles set a new standard for multimedia
reference works. Microsoft Encarta, a multimedia encyclopedia,
contains an exhaustive collection of articles, animations, sounds,
illustrations, graphs, photographs, an atlas and a dictionary on a
single CD-ROM. Microsoft Musical Instruments offers a highly
interactive environment for users to explore the sights and sounds
of more than 200 musical instruments from around the world.

"As the first multimedia encyclopedia designed on a computer to run
on a computer, Encarta surpasses all other such works on CD-ROM,"
said Mr Kan. "More than 90 percent of its content was created
exclusively for the product."

Among other things Encarta contains 21,000 articles in 94
categories; more than seven hours of sound; over 7,000 photographs;
800 color maps; and nearly 100 animations. This huge multimedia
information base is presented in a way that makes it easy for people
to browse.

"Through extensive usability testing, we believe we have found the
ideal combination of sound, motion, text and illustrations that
facilitates learning by offering immediate feedback in an extremely
positive manner that creates the desire to learn more," said Mr Kan.

Microsoft Musical Instruments is the first multimedia title
resulting from an agreement reached last year between Microsoft and
Dorling Kindersley, a specialist publisher of highly illustrated
reference books for adults and children.

Users can explore the new CD-ROM by choosing one of four categories:
Families of Instruments; Musical Ensembles; an A to Z of
Instruments; or Instruments of the World.

For each of the instruments featured, Microsoft Musical Instruments
contains studio recordings, high quality photographs (some with the
ability to zoom in on specific parts of the instrument) and
historical and factual information.

(Brett Cameron/19921023/Press Contact: Sasha Skinner, Microsoft,
Tel: [phone];HK time is GMT + 8)


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

Hongkong: Microsoft Mail For Workgroups Unveiled 10/23/92
TAIKOO SHING, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Microsoft has an
upgrade to its electronic mail products in Hong Kong together with
its first application aimed specifically at workgroups.

Mail for PC Networks, version 3.0, and Mail for AppleTalk Networks,
version 3.1, are significant upgrades to the Microsoft messaging
family that demonstrate the company's continuing commitment to
developing multi-platform electronic mail for customers.

The workgroup-oriented Schedule + for Windows is an integrated
appointment diary and meeting planner. It is the first application
on the market to take advantage of Microsoft's Messaging Application
Programming Interface (MAPI).

"With these releases Microsoft is delivering on the electronic
messaging and workgroup strategies articulated last year," said
Laurie Kan, country manager of Microsoft Hong Kong Ltd.
"The Microsoft Mail platform, together with our gateway extensions,
provides a reliable, versatile and open LAN-based messaging
infrastructure for customers of all sizes and is the foundation for
powerful workgroup computing solutions."

The MAPI specification, supported in the Microsoft Mail platform,
enables other applications to make use of Mail's delivery
capabilities to distribute documents and information among users.

For example, while the new Schedule + for Windows package can be
used to efficiently manage an individual appointment diary, its MAPI
capability also enables the programme to be used as a workgroup
tool.

Schedule + allows users to schedule and track meetings, quickly
respond to meeting requests, and share calendar information with the
workgroup while at the same time maintaining control over who can
see what.

"Mail-enabled applications such as Schedule + will become an
increasingly common feature in offices as they move from desktop
computing into workgroup computing," said Mr Kan.

As well as MAPI support, Microsoft Mail for PC Networks, version
3.0, includes significant additions to the Mail server, MS-DOS and
Apple Macintosh-based client software. It also includes a
redeveloped Microsoft Windows and OS/2 Presentation Manager client
software.

Enhancements to the server software, which runs under all major PC
networking environments, include global address lists and fault
tolerant directory synchronization. Global address lists allow users
to address mail without having to know the server or gateway
location of the recipient. Directory synchronization ensures that
when users are added, modified or removed from any Microsoft Mail
server, those changes can be automatically relayed to other servers
on the network.

Similar features are provided in Microsoft Mail for AppleTalk
Networks, the new version of which also support server-to-server
connectivity over telephone lines and remote log-in, giving Apple
PowerBook users electronic mail access when and where they need.

The Windows-based Mail client software, included in the Mail for PC
Networks package, now supports object linking and embedding (OLE),
enabling users to add sounds, pictures, graphics and other
multimedia objects directly into their messages. For example, a user
can place a Microsoft Excel chart directly into a message which the
recipient can view without running Excel.

A new feature called Message Finders enables Windows-based client
users to sort messages by subject, sender, recipient, content or any
combination of those criteria. Message Finders can dynamically
display incoming messages with matching criteria.

Users of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint can send mail directly
from their applications and automatically attach the files they are
working on. Messages and files can also be sent from the Windows
File Manager.

Microsoft designed the new Mail Windows-based client to be
"transport-independent." This means that by adding an appropriate
messaging driver, the client program can be used as the user
interface for a variety of LAN, host-based and public messaging
systems, as well as for Microsoft Mail.

AT&T and Hewlett-Packard have already signed agreements with
Microsoft to use the Microsoft Windows-based client as the standard
e-mail interface for AT&T EasyLink Services and HP OpenMail
respectively.

Microsoft has also upgraded its line of gateways to extend advanced
Mail capabilities to complex corporate environments. There are
currently 10 Microsoft Mail gateways available, including IBM's
PROFS and OfficeVision, Distribution Manager, X.400, SMTP/Unix,
SNADS, 3Com's 3+Mail, fax, MCI Mail, MHS and the Microsoft Mail
connection.

Microsoft Mail network users can now synchronize directories across
messaging backbones such as X.400 and IBM SNA. In addition, the
gateways can encapsulate messages to preserve formatting, file
attachments and OLE objects in messages that are transferred across
these backbones.

(Brett Cameron/19921023/Press Contact: Sasha Skinner, Microsoft,
Tel: [phone];HK time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(HKG)(00003)

TI Chief Laments Hongkong Brain Drain 10/23/92
TSIM SHA TSUI, HONG KONG, 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Hong Kong is
experiencing a growing shortage of local engineering talent which
threatens to harm the territory's competitive position, according
to Thomas C. Balch, managing director of Texas Instruments Hong
Kong Ltd., one of the largest electronics industry employers in
Hong Kong.

Speaking at the awards ceremony for TI's annual Design Championship
for students at local tertiary institutions, Mr Balch said the key
to the local electronics industry's continued growth was a strong
base of qualified engineers.

"The complexity of electronic systems requires an ever increasing
pool of engineering talent to support the design and development
effort," he said. "I am concerned about our ability to capitalize on
the expanding opportunities in Hong Kong because of the growing
shortage of engineering talent to apply to those opportunities."

"This shortage may be resulting in an over-dependence on remote
design and development resources in the US, Europe and elsewhere."
Mr Balch said.

Mr Balch said the shortage of local talent cast doubt on TI's own
ability to carry out ambitious human resource plans during the next
12 months. He cited the company's Regional Technology Center,
which helps customers to integrate TI semiconductor products into
their own equipment designs.

"This year we have plans for a major expansion of this center,
including a new speech sound studio and expanded ASIC design
support," said Mr Balch. "We will need to more than double the
current number of engineers working in the center."

The Center currently employs more than 16 people, all of whom have
engineering backgrounds.

"Our sales and marketing organization is also staffed by electronics
engineers. Over the next year, we will need to hire as many
additional sales engineers and product marketing engineers as we now
employ. I am very concerned about our ability to execute such an
aggressive, incremental staffing plan."

Mr Balch said the issue was one for the whole electronics industry
to address but pledged extra support by TI for educational
institutions.

"We will be increasing our commitment to technical education in
terms of our donation of development systems, product samples for
projects, and of our people's time for direct interaction with the
institutions and their students," he said.

Balch expressed optimism that the shortage of engineers can be
solved. "I believe we can be successful in maintaining a qualified
engineering talent pool to support the Hong Kong electronics
industry," he said. "But this will only happen if we recognize that
the problem is growing and if we take collective steps to solve it."

(Brett Cameron/19921023/Press Contact: Vicky Ng, Texas Instruments,
Tel: [phone];HK time is GMT + 8)


(EDITORIAL)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00004)

Editorial: Telecom Issues In The 1992 Election 10/23/92
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Editorial by Dana
Blankenhorn. One of the few bright spots in the US industrial
picture is telecommunications. AT&T remains the largest such
company in the world, the seven regional Bells and GTE are big
buyers of foreign phone units. On the equipment supply the US
enjoys a hefty trade surplus.

One might expect challengers to keep quiet about this record. But
the nomination of Senator Al Gore as Bill Clinton's running-mate
has brought major issues to the table.

Infrastructure is Gore's battle-cry. He supports major
investments in improved telecommunications links, including a
multi-gigabit per second network linking major research centers.
While the Bush Administration has given this rhetorical support,
the dollars have yet to flow.

A second question is monopoly, where the differences are stark.
Consumers still have just one phone company, just one cable
company. Democrats want to control the profits of these
companies, and last month won some re-regulation of cable
television. Bills to restrict the regional Bells went nowhere,
however. The Bush Administration, whose point man is FCC Chairman
Alfred Sikes, counters that competition between phone and cable
monopolies will result in lower prices and better service.

A more important question lies at the intersection between these
two issues. That is the quality of America's phone network, and
the willingness of monopoly service providers to improve it.
Despite a decade of talk, digital services under ISDN standards
remain years away for most Americans. Japan, Hong Kong and some
European countries, meanwhile, are going ahead. The replacement
of low-capacity copper cable with higher-capacity fiber is also
moving slowly.

Whenever the subject of investment comes up, however, the
regional Bells start by making demands. They want to get into new
businesses from information services to cable television to long
distance. They want "regulatory relief" to recoup investments
more rapidly. When they win what they want, there are a flurry of
announcements, with big numbers, showing that some new digital
switches and fiber lines are being bought. But on balance, the
US is falling further behind places like Hong Kong and
Japan, where digital services are a government priority.
Our local phone companies are reaping monopoly profits and
shipping them overseas, buying the phone networks of foreign
nations. So far, only Southwestern Bell's 11 percent stake in
Mexico's TelMex has shown a return.

If George Bush is re-elected, which despite the polls remains
possible, little will change. Competition may increase, but only
slowly. And there is no indication the critical investments in
telephone infrastructure will be forthcoming. While Ross Perot
has not said anything about telephone company issues, he at least
knows what's needed from his experience in the computer business.

If Gov. Clinton and Senator Gore are elected, however, there still
remain no guarantees. It will take years to change the FCC. It
will take enormous political capital to challenge the phone
monopolies. Clinton will first concentrate on economic growth and
health care reform. Gore's role remains unclear.

Few voters will decide how to vote based on telecommunications
issues. But the future of this key industry, one of the few where
American companies remain the unquestioned leaders, does indeed
hang in the balance here. And that should not be forgotten
November 3.

Me? I'm voting for Clinton.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921022)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SYD)(00005)

Australia: Brisbane Firm Mincom Shines In Recession 10/23/92
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA, 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Australian software
company Mincom has continued to trade strongly, despite the
recession. The Brisbane-based has recently announced revenue growth
of 37 percent for the Australian financial year ended June 30,
with profits rising 13 percent in the same period.

AT first glimpse, with AUS$10M in assets and AUS$5.5M in debt, the
company does not look particularly strong. However, AUS$3M of this
debt is money owing on its Greenslopes headquarters, and most of
the rest is akin to a loan facility which has barely been touched.
The figure for assets, also, is deceptive, as it is a "conservative
net" figure only, and does not include the value of software. The
overall picture puts Mincom in a very strong position to continue
to do well during the recession and beyond.

Mincom was established 13 years ago, and quickly established a
place for itself in the Australian software development community.
During that time it has begun exporting its technology and staff
has increased from 6 to 330, with 60 people in international
offices and 50 in national offices. The company is owned by over 80
of its employees, and all profits (excepting a few small pay outs to
shareholders) have been re-invested in the company to fund growth
and R&D (research and development). This re-investment saw AUS$3.5M
put back into the company as a result of last financial year's
trading. Twenty percent of these re-invested profits are used for
R&D.

Mincom managing director, David Merson, is confident growth
can be maintained at 30+ percent a year. "While it is hard to
forecast that far into the future in this industry, we can see no
reason why this growth level cannot be maintained," Merson said.

(Sean McNamara/19921023/Press & Public Contact: Mincom, phone in
Australia: [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(MOW)(00006)

 ****US Government Sniffs Out Russian Programmers 10/23/92
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Thomas Ryan, chief scientist
working for the Navajo Technologies software house in Arizona,
recently came to Moscow as "the facilitator for the future
contacts and contracts involving both programmers in Russia and
NASA or SDI research teams."

Local spin-off companies presented their most recent developments
during a seminar organized by ITS consultancy in Moscow. This
meeting was a trial run for similar encounters in the future as
Mr Ryan suggested.

Albeit limited in scope, this gathering demonstrated the diversity of
programming tools and environments used by the participants: X-Window,
MS Windows 3.0, Ada, Modula-2 and Smalltalk.

The infrastructure required for the sophisticated projects under
discussion may be built in Russia, but not from scratch. Sophisticated
projects are already underway. One Ada programming team runs the
data processing department of a large savings bank; another is
developing C/C++-based commercialized versions of hypertext shells
originally designed for government customers. Similar teams work
in the defense industry, and never-ending budget reductions urge
them to look for non-military contracts.

Before meeting project managers in the field, Mr. Ryan conferred with Dr.
Lev Weinberg on Russian high-tech policy issues. Dr. Weinberg's position
in the Council for Foreign and Defense Policy (a body of government
officials, executives, and consultants preparing recommendations for the
President of Russia) gives him a broad view on sensitive subjects;
his personal experience relates to joint ventures and various investment
schemes.

"The Russian high-tech labor market is fairly diversified these days,"
Weinberg says. "Numerous spin-offs emerge which inherit vast know-how
acquired in the defense sector." Large defense corporations here are just
beginning to offer their skilled labor resources rather than products in
the world market. Russian programmers, he stated, are not as bound to
the strings of existing technologies as their hardware-fiddling
colleagues; the former create small dynamic teams which are eager
to cooperate in the framework of any advanced project.

"Before the final contract is signed, each group that would like to work
with this contract privately would already be in place with their
[skills] and the task to do," Ryan explains.

Software engineering is a discipline formal and flexible enough to keep
Russian programmers with their ample background in mathematics well
aware of the latest CASE approaches. Still many of them lack modern
workstations and off-the-shelf software. "We hope that Russian experts
in AI, real-time systems and CASE tools will boost their productivity
significantly, moving to better workstations which their contractors in
the US may install at their sites," Ryan says. Whether these teams are
private companies or belong to larger state-owned structures does not
matter that much; the professional credibility is all that counts, he
said.

Software tools required for the joint projects will be centered around
C++ and Ada -- the latter dubbed "the forbidden fruit" for Soviets as
COCOM ruled out any Ada- based product from being offered for sale in the
former USSR. Still, Ada is used by several teams in Moscow alone.
These scattered teams may easily get together, birds-of-a-feather
style, when an attractive contract from the West becomes visible.

The scheme for future encounters between US contractors and Russian
development teams was discussed in detail. As most of these teams have
some products and technologies to offer -- AI and real-time system
development environments, among others -- they need assistance in
promoting their gear in the foreign market. In return they are ready to
change their development priorities if and when the attractive contracts
come from abroad.

This set-up requires novel approaches from the US partners' side.
Ordinary head-hunting does not work when teams, and not just bright
individuals, are needed. The teams in Russia as everywhere cherish their
professional reputation; they know what they gain staying in the country
and working with a foreign partner.

(Alexandre Giglavyi & Kirill Tchashchin/19921022/Press Contacts: ITS,
Moscow, phone/fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GOVT)(MOW)(00007)

Russia: Software Copyright Law Enacted 10/23/92
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- The Russian official newspaper has
published the full text of the final approved version of a national
software protection bill. The long struggle by lobbying groups to
have the legislation enacted has come to an end.

The law was drafted with European and American regulations in mind and
carries efficient enforcement measures.

Industry sources say there is one "loophole" in the law. The
constitutional amendments, approved in early 1992, declared
intellectual property to be subject to both federal and local
legislation. The law passed the parliament hearing only after
the addition of a special clause stating that "this law and
subsequent legislation approved by the republics within the Russian
Federation regulates the creation, legal protection and the usage of
software programs and databases." This gives governments of the small
republic within Russia the right to strengthen or relax regulations
in some cases.

Local experts believe this is a very small drawback and the law in
general will help establish a "civilized software market" in
Russia.

(Kirill Tchashchin/19921023)


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

DSC Continues Comeback 10/23/92
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- DSC Communications
continued its comeback from technical troubles in 1991,
reporting net income of $6.9 million on revenue of $142.4 million
for the quarter ending in September.

The company appeared to be on the ropes last year after a
software bug in its signal transfer points caused service outages
on both coasts, and Motorola decided to form a joint venture with
Northern Telecom in cellular equipment instead of re-selling DSC
cellular switches. The bottom was reached a year ago, when the
company lost $78.8 million on sales of $97.6 million.

Standards have fueled DSC's comeback, according to vendors and
customers. The company has put new fiber networking standards
into its product line ahead of such major competitors as AT&T,
with the result it has been winning big shares of major
contracts, like a recent $1 billion Ameritech order it shared
with Raynet for fiber networking equipment.

Spokesman Terry Adams credited "good demands on the switching and
transmission side of the business" for the improved result,
adding that "Ameritech has not played into the revenue stream yet
-- that's more of a 1993 type ramp-up."

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921023/Press Contact: Terry Adams, DSC
Communications, 214-519-4358)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00009)

Telecom Crime Pays for Equipment Suppliers 10/23/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- The rising tide
of hacker attacks and phone fraud means gold for some telephone
equipment and software products, who have released new products
designed to solve the problem.

Xiox released a line of products called Fort Knox for PBXs, or
private phone switches, designed to work against toll call fraud
that the company claims costs $4 billion per year. Xiox said
businesses with PBXs have a one in ten chance of being hacked,
and many computer systems are also accessible through phone
lines. Included are Hacker Tracker, which helps users track and
trap hackers; Hacker Preventer, an automated system that senses
deviation from "normal" telephone usage and cuts off access, and
Hacker Deadbolt, a simpler system providing protection for remote
maintenance and testing functions.

On the cellular side, Computer Sciences announced FraudBuster,
developed by Coral Systems of Longmont, Colorado. CSC, which once
owned the Infonet packet network and a large credit report
agency, has exclusive marketing rights to the product and is
supporting software development. The company said cellular fraud
costs carriers $1.5 million per day. The product uses artificial
intelligence to track subscriber calling patterns. The software
creates a behavioral profile of each subscriber, matches it
against actual calls, and alerts network operators when patterns
suddenly change.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921023/Press Contact: Computer Sciences, C.
Bruce Plowman, 310/615-0311; Xiox Michael O'Connell, 415/375-
8188x228)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00010)

MCI, Infonet To Do Joint Sales Calls 10/23/92
EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- MCI said it
will sell data services from Infonet Services to its US
customer base. MCI owns 25 percent of Infonet, a worldwide packet
network, with a number of international phone companies owning
the rest. In recent months, Infonet has announced a number of
deals in many markets, like Finland, under which local telephone
companies will handle marketing and support functions for the
packet network.

Under the deal, MCI will become the exclusive US marketing and
sales channel for Infonet's Enterprise-Defined Network Services,
a voice and data offering for multinational corporations. The
system will be sold as part of MCI's Global Communications
Service offering, which includes the design, provisioning,
management and billing of communication services worldwide.
MCI will also assume full responsibility for ongoing support of
its EDNS clients and for customized billing.

Spokesman Bernie Goodrich of MCI discussed the deal with
Newsbytes. "We have a well-established marketing group in this
country that is visiting many of the same people their people are
visiting. We already have a global communications service, and we
sell that as part of the global effort. It ties in well both for
us and gives them our marketing help." An example of the kind of
client MCI is trying to attract with this is Visa International,
which it signed up a year ago. "We have a number of voice and
data services," he adds. "We will market theirs along with
whatever fits for our customer. This will give us a better
opportunity to tailor services." Infonet does not re-sell MCI
services, however, he added.

On the technical side, Newsbytes discussed the deal with Eldon
Bluft, MCI's director of global initiatives. "Network management
is the primary agreement," he said. "Our global network
management center now has the ability to interact directly with
Infonet's management center, for trouble analysis and
restoration. What this means is we can provide a single point of
contact, and we can see alarms on the network." He added that the
agreement is mainly of interest to large customers. "Infonet does
market their packet services directly to customers. This
relationship we've entered into is for the higher-level services,
which is more than packet -- it includes private line and
enhanced customer premise services." He said it will compete
strongly with AT&T's global network offerings and those of BT's
Syncordia unit. "Everyone's realizing customers want global
service, and everyone's scrambling to deploy themselves overseas
and address those requirements."

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921023/Press Contact: MCI Communications,
Bernie Goodrich, 202/887-2158)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00011)

Phone Earnings, Including AT&T, Continue Strong 10/23/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Despite a weak
economy, phone industry earnings remain strong.

They're strongest at AT&T, which said it earned $963 million on
revenues of $16.180 billion for the three months ending in
September. Operating income was up 16 percent, the company said.
Chairman Robert E. Allen noted that his company's equipment sales
were up, and the company's Universal Card credit card also did
well, turning in its first quarterly profit. Telecommunications
services revenues, however, rose just 3.2 percent, with long
distance calling volumes up 6 percent.

Ameritech reported its net income rose 8 percent, to $330.5
million, while sales grew just 4 percent to $2.8 billion. The
company said future results will be boosted by its retirement of
debt, which was replaced by lower-cost paper. Return on equity
was 15.4 percent, huge by most U.S. industry standards, while the
number of regular phone lines in service rose just 2.4 percent.

LCI International posted a loss of $2.48 million, on revenues of
$67 million, but management expressed some satisfaction in
continuing efforts to reduce debt. Total debt payment for the
year of $31 million is wiping out operating income, which for the
year so far totals $14.5 million. Use of its services were up
28.6 percent, managers noted.

Meanwhile, stock buyers apparently have discounted the
possibility of a Pacific Telesis break-up. On the eve of meetings
in which the company will decide on whether to divide into
regulated and non-regulated units, the stock's price stood at
around $40 per share, near the low end of its recent trading
range.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921023/Press Contact: Larry E. Wolfe, LCI
International, 614-798-6444; Ameritech,, Mike Brand, 312/750-
5219; AT&T, Jim Byrnes, 908-221-4011)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00012)

In-Flight Scores Another Contract 10/23/92
OAKBROOK TERRACE, ILLINOIS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) --
Continental Airlines has joined American Air in deciding to give
In-Flight Phone's services a try-out. Continental said it will
install In-Flight's FlightLink digital phone system on six of its
MD-80 planes.

After an evaluation of the system, Continental said
it will install the system on all 66 of its MD-80s. Earlier,
American said it would install the system on one of its
airplanes, and evaluate usage before deciding whether to expand
the service.

In-Flight is competing with GTE's Airfone unit for the loyalty of
US airlines in the newly competitive airplane telephony market.
Airfone has dominated the market, but In-Flight says its digital
lines provide better voice quality, and its information services
can bring airlines higher profits, than GTE's SeatFone offering.
Both systems provide telephone hand-sets in each seat-back, but
FlightLink adds a viewing screen in each seat-back, above the
food tray, which makes more services available, and the system
includes a data jack so passengers can transfer files with their
laptop computers using the network. The system is adding a 12-
channel audio service with music, sports, news and other
programming, as well as connecting gate information, gift
ordering, weather, and guides to the destination city.

In-Flight was formed by Jack Goeken, who previously founded
Airfone and, before that, FTD and MCI, among other companies.
Goeken founded In-Flight after selling Airfone to GTE and
becoming angered at its slow pace in moving toward the market.
Goeken felt GTE was slow to move in order to reduce payments to
him under his contract. Later, GTE sued Goeken for violating that
contract's "no-compete" clause and he was briefly succeeded as
head of the company by his daughter Sandra. Since then, former
airline entrepreneur Neal Meehan has been hired as chief
operating officer of In-Flight.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921023/Press Contact: In-Flight Phone, Darren
Leno, 708/574-1237; Continental Airlines, 713/834-5080)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00013)

NEC Broad-Band Four-Megabyte Video RAM 10/23/92
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- NEC
expects to have sample quantities of the company's new high-
performance mPD482445 video RAM memory chips available by the
first quarter of 1993. The four-megabyte video RAM will handle
higher bandwidth data and provide faster display refresh rates
for high-performance computers based on Joint Electronic
Development Engineering Council (JEDEC) standards.

NEC's new 0.5-micron CMOS or complimentary metal oxide
semiconductor chips are compatible with earlier NEC one- and two-
megabyte video RAM currently on the market, offering single-chip
replacement for multiple chips, resulting in space savings and
lower power consumption.

The mPD482445 is a dual-port graphics buffer, providing 256K-word
by 16-bit memory and a 512-word by 16-bit serial read/write port
which connects to an internal 8k-bit data register. The split-
buffer architecture of the register makes the single chip look to
the host central processing unit as if it were a 512-word, 8K-bit
memory which can be serially accessed 16 bits at a time.

Serial read/write operations take place in 20 nanoseconds for a
50-megahertz response rate.

The chip, which will be available in 1994 at quantity prices
under $20 each, comes in a standard 64-pin plastic shrink small
outline package.

(John McCormick/19921023/Press Contact: Nikki Tanis, NEC, 415-
965-6620 or fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00014)

CD-ROM Of Products For Disabled 10/23/92
MADISON, WISCONSIN, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- The Trace R&D
Center at the University of Wisconsin has released a new PC- and
Macintosh-compatible version of the CO-NET CD-ROM which contains
a massive database of 17,000 assistive products for disabled
children and adults. A two-issue subscription to CO-NET for the
Macintosh and the PC is $50.

CO-NET contains both a Macintosh version of the database and an MS-DOS
version complete with installation and search software.
ABLEDATA for the PC can be installed in as little as 256
kilobytes of hard disk space, but the entire database can also be
completely copied to any hard disk where it will occupy nearly 26
megabytes of space, but becomes much faster to search. When fully
installed in this manner, the CO-NET CD-ROM is no longer
required.

Individual ABLEDATA files and the complete program are a form of
shareware and can be freely copied and given away to others. A
special BBS version is under development which is expected to be
available on version number 6, the next scheduled release.

Although every sort of device for the handicapped is listed in
the database, of most interest to Newsbytes readers is the large
section on adaptive computer technology, both hardware and
software.

There are no applications or utility programs on this CD-ROM,
just the names and addresses of companies along with indexed
descriptions of all products arranged to be displayed so the
newest products are listed first.

Lists of products can be displayed on screen and copied to either
a printer or to an ASCII file for further processing.

(John McCormick/19921023/Press Contact: Trace R&D, 608-262-6966,
TDD 608-262-8848, or fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00015)

ROUNDUP: Stories Carried By Other Media This Week 10/23/92
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Roundup is a brief
look at some computer stories carried in other publications
received here this past week.

October's Computer Monthly lists 293 dot matrix printers and the
top 50 communications programs.

Unixworld for November carries an interesting article on how to
develop and market software.

Computerworld dated October 19 shows how fruit company Del Monte
is successfully downsizing its IS department.

Communicationsweek for the 19th says that Cisco is about to
unveil its APPI blueprint to vendors at Interop '92. Cisco is
taking aim at IBM's APPN, hoping to send IBM SNA data over TCP/IP
networks.

November's regular issue of Byte highlights low-cost IBM, Compaq,
DEC, AST, Dell, and Apple computers.

The October-November issue of Closing the Gap shows how MIDI
devices can be used to encourage disabled students to learn and
to use computers.

Informationweek dated October 19 carries the inside story on the
collapse of Marriott's Confirm car-rental and hotel reservation
system.

Byte has another special issue out, this one covering what the
editors say is "The Essential Guide to Portable Computing."

November's Computer Shopper looks at contract manager software.

(John McCormick/19921023)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00016)

Canada: ACC Acquires One Plus Long Distance 10/23/92
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- ACC Long Distance of
Rochester, New York, has acquired One Plus Long Distance
Telecommunications, a Toronto-based long-distance reseller. Terms
of the deal were not disclosed, but officials said One Plus has
annual revenues of about C$8 million.

One Plus resells long-distance services in Ontario, Quebec, and
British Columbia, mainly to small and medium-sized businesses but
also to some large companies.

It was the second Canadian acquisition for ACC, which last fall
bought the customer base of Network Optimizers, another reseller.
Francis Coleman, secretary and corporate counsel at ACC, said his
company has also wholesaled switching services to One Plus in the
past.

One Plus is setting up a new sales and marketing organization to
sell ACC's business services and its newly launched residential
services, the companies said.

Long-distance resellers lease communications capacity from the
major carriers and use their own switching equipment to offer
long-distance services. ACC currently has switches in Montreal and
Toronto, and has just opened an office in Vancouver, Coleman said.

ACC Corp., the holding company for ACC Long Distance, has just
recently launched a long-distance resale operation in the United
Kingdom, he added.

The company's subsidiaries provide long-distance telephone service
throughout North America and internationally, and cellular
telephone service in central Kentucky.

(Grant Buckler/19921023/Press Contact: Francis D.R. Coleman, ACC,
716-987-3000)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00017)

Sega/Accolade Decision Seen As Boost To America 10/23/92
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Peter
Choy, chairman of The American Committee for Interoperable
Systems (ACIS) and deputy general counsel of Sun Microsystems,
has released a public statement asserting that the recent court
decision in favor of Accolade in the Sega versus Accolade suit
will strengthen America's position in computer hardware and
software technology.

Choy is commenting on the written decision, delivered this week
by the Court, reversing a lower court decision which prohibited
Accolade from developing or selling game titles for the Sega
Genesis game system. In an unusual move, the announcement of
the reversal was delivered in August before the written
decision was handed down by the Court this week. Accolade
asserts that was done so it could get back to business as
quickly as possible.

The entire business started in 1991 when Sega changed its
hardware so the message "Produced By or Under License
From Sega Enterprises Ltd" had to be displayed in order for
any game cartridge to work. In order to get its game
cartridges to work, Accolade then "reverse engineered" the Sega
Genesis system in order to modify its game cartridges so they
would work on the machine anyway.

Sega then filed a copyright violation suit against Accolade,
charging reverse engineering. Accolade's contention has been that
Sega was attempting to force it into a "non-negotiable, third-
party licensing arrangement." In a decision early this year, a
federal court issued an injunction against Accolade prohibiting
it from developing or selling new game titles, a decision
Accolade says has cost it an estimated $2 million a month for
the five months the decision was in effect.

Choy has contended for Accolade both in court and publicly that
the right for any competitor to produce interoperable software
is the "life-blood" of the computer industry. ACIS states it
supports policies and principles of intellectual property law
that provide a balance between rewards for innovation and the
belief that computer systems developed by different vendors
must be able to fully interact with each other or be
"interoperable."

While Sega claims it was "setting up" software pirates, the
Ninth Court called Sega's actions clearly illegal and stated:
"Thus, in addition to laying the groundwork for lawsuits
against pirates, Sega knowingly risked two significant
consequences: the false labeling of some competitors' products
and the discouraging of other competitors from manufacturing
Genesis-compatible games. Under the Lanham Act, the former
conduct, at least, is clearly unlawful."

Sega, however, says it will file for a rehearing and the
company's legal counsel Riley Russell said in a prepared
statement, "In our opinion, the court improperly applied the
doctrine of fair use and disregarded established precedents in
this area of law.

"We feel the court's ruling, if it stands, substantially
reduces the ability of manufacturers to protect their
intellectual property. The ruling also fails to recognize the
significant problem of international piracy."

Sega lists Apple, DEC, Intel, IBM, Lotus, Wordperfect, and
Xerox, the Computer Business Equipment Manufacturer's
Association, and the International Anticounterfeiter's
Coalition as company's and groups in support of its position.
These companies filed supporting Amicus Briefs for Sega during
the hearings.

The ACIS maintains the Ninth Circuit has joined the an emerging
consensus among the Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal that
rejects the over-protection of software under copyright as
contrary to traditional copyright principles. ACIS also filed
Amicus briefs for Accolade in the hearings. ACIS filed Amicus
briefs in the recent Second Circuit Court's hearings of the
Computer Associates vs. Altai case, whose decision also
supports the Sega vs. Accolade ruling, the ACIS added.

Choy said about the Court's decision: "This is a centrist
opinion that returns to the roots of copyright by taking a pro-
competitive, pro-consumer point of view."

The areas of intellectual property and international copyright
law are being defined now and are being closely watched by the
computer industry. ACIS said the decisions being made in the
number of legal cases, such as those named and others including
the Apple/Microsoft/Hewlett-Packard case, the Lotus/Borland
case, the Brown Bag/Symantec case are being watched by policy
making organizations such as The North American Free Trade
organization and the World and Intellectual Property
Organization and could effect world- wide policy decisions
concerning computer software and hardware.

ACIS describes itself as a voluntary organization of over 30
companies in the computer industry who directly employ over
150,000 Americans and generate over $50 billion in revenue. It
offers a partial list of members which includes Amdahl, Bull
H.N. Information Systems, NCR, Seagate Technology, Storage
Technology, Sun Microsystems, and Unisys. ACIS says in addition
to its company members, the organization includes membership of
the Software Entrepreneurs' Forum, a group of over a
thousand software developers and entrepreneurs.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921023/Press Contact: Peter Choy, American
Committee for Interoperable Systems, tel [phone], fax 415-
969-9131)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00018)

Cray Supercomputer Goes To Pittsburg 10/23/92
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- The Pittsburgh
Supercomputing Center has taken delivery of the first Cray
Research Y-MP C90 to be installed at a non-government site in the
US. The C90 is the newest, and said by Cray to be the most powerful,
supercomputer system the company produces.

The center, a joint project of Carnegie Mellon University and the
University of Pittsburgh, together with Westinghouse Electric
Corporation, was established in 1986 by a grant from the National
Science Foundation with support from the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. The center's purpose is to develop and make available
state-of-the-art high performance computing for scientific
researchers.

A team of Cray Research engineers will require several weeks to bring
the system on-line at the Westinghouse Energy Center in Monroeville,
Pennsylvania. The purchase agreement was finalized in November last
year.

The center says it will use the C90 to solve problems which can't be
handled by existing computers, such as global climate change,
environmental modeling, design of new materials, and the structure of
proteins and DNA -- important in the development of new
pharmaceuticals.

The Cray Research Y-MP C90 has 16 connected processing units, with
each capable of performing one billion calculations a second, or six
times the speed of the company's previous top-of-the-line system,
the Y-MP/8. Using a hand-held calculator, such a calculation
would take a person 500 years, 24 hours a day, amounting to 16 billion
calculations.

The C90 has a memory capacity of two billion bytes, or enough to store
seven sets of the current 32-volume edition of the Encyclopedia
Britannica, with room left over. Cray says the Pittsburgh C90 will
have its memory doubled to four billion bytes.

(Jim Mallory/19921023/Press contact: Michael Schneider, Pittsburgh
Supercomputing Center, 412-268-4960)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00019)

Lasermaster Sales Up, But Still Reports 1Q Loss 10/23/92
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) --It's good news
and bad news for Lasermaster Technologies. The good news is that
its sales for the first quarter were up four percent over the same
period last year. The bad news is that it lost $967,000, or $0.10
per share for the period compared to a $0.03 loss per share last
year.

The company historically reports a loss for the first quarter,
attributing that to slow sales during the summer. It also increased
expenditures related to expanding its European sales operations, and
added a national Windows products sales staff and marketing for new
Windows printing products.

Lasermaster CEO Mel Masters says the increased expenditure in
European sales and marketing efforts is aimed at building direct-
to-dealer sales capability in the major European markets. "At the
same time, we believe increased sales and marketing expenditures for
the Windows printing products are timely investments necessary to
realize the full sales potential of our products in the coming
quarters," according to Masters.

Masters said losses for the quarter were limited to the first two
months in the period, with September being profitable with near record
sales of $6.3 million. For the '91 fourth quarter, the company
reported record sales. Lasermaster introduced its Unity 1200xl, a
1200 dots-per-inch (dpi) plain paper typesetter for the graphics
arts market in September of this year.

(Jim Mallory/19921023/Press contact: Karen Neset, Lasermaster
Technologies, 612-941-8687)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(DEN)(00020)

Motorola, In Focus In LCD Venture 10/23/92
TUALATIN, OREGON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) --Motorola Inc and In
Focus Systems Inc have announced the formation of Motif Inc, a
company which will manufacture low-cost video-speed LCDs (liquid
crystal displays) for use in Focus Systems' Active Addressing
technology.

The LCDs manufactured by Motif will be 6.5 inches or less in size,
and will incorporate application-specific integrated circuits
(ASICs) produced by Motorola to Motif specifications. Production is
expected to begin by the end of 1994. The displays are designed for
use in projection systems and in wireless communications devices.
Larger format displays are planned later.

The deal also gives Motif the sole rights to distribute
Motorola-made ASICs in the Active Addressing technology. Active
addressing takes advantage of the high yield and low manufacturing
costs of passive matrix technology available today to produce the
new displays.

Motif is owned equally by Motorola and In Focus. Initial capital is
being produced by Motorola, while In Focus is contributing its
intellectual properties, including Active Addressing and related
technologies. Motorola will acquire 20 percent of the In Focus stock
by purchasing 2.2 million shares at $10 per share. Executives from
both companies will sit on the Motif board, and the chief executive
office will be held jointly by Gerald Brunning of Motorola and Paul
Gulick of in Focus, who will also serve as chief technical officer
at Motif.

Low-cost video displays are coming into demand for use in devices
such as the recently announced PDAs, wireless communications
devices, auto navigation displays, pocket TVs and data readers.
Motif says the market for applications is expected to approach $1
billion in sales.

In a conventional passive matrix LCD, the picture elements
(pixels) are addressed electrically in a sequential manner.
Active Addressing continually signals the pixels in any sequence for
fast, high-contrast images. Active addressing displays do not
require as many transistors, making them less complex and less
expensive.

(Jim Mallory/19921023/Press contact: Paul Gulick, Motif,
503-692-4968 or Margot Brown, Motorola, 708-576-5304)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00021)

Wordperfect Acquires BeagleWorks For Macintosh 10/23/92
OREM, UTAH, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Wordperfect Corporation
announced yesterday that it has acquired BeagleWorks for the
Macintosh from Beagle Bros, Inc.

WP Corp spokesperson Dave Terran told Newsbytes that BeagleWorks, a
six-module program consisting of a word processor, database, draw,
paint, communications, and spreadsheet with charting, was the only
product Beagle Bros marketed. Beagle Bros President Mark Simonsen
has joined WP Corp as director of development for WordPerfect Works.

"We are eager to enter the Macintosh integrated-packages market
since our strategy is to provide a works offering for multiple
platforms," said Senior VP of Development Dave Moon. Moon said the
new product, which will be renamed, will target the education, small
business and home user markets.

Terran told Newsbytes that more information about the revised
product would be available next month, but it would be "pretty much
as is." He said Beagle Bros had prepared an interim release which
includes bug fixes and enhancements, and that will be part of WP's
release. Terran told Newsbytes the release would also include the
replacement of the name BeagleWorks with WordPerfect's name.

BeagleWorks had a suggested list price of $299, and Terran told
Newsbytes the price "will be about the same, probably lower."

(Jim Mallory/19921023/Press contact: Dave Teran, WordPerfect
Corporation, 801-228-5013; Reader contact: 800-451-5151)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00022)

 ****CompuAdd Slashes Prices 10-21 Percent 10/23/92
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Saying it is responding
to attempts by IBM and Compaq to regain market share, CompuAdd
Computer Corporation cut prices on five of its 486-based PCs from
10 to 21 percent.

Compuadd CEO Bill Hayden said the company's strategy is to continue
to undercut IBM and Compaq across the board on price.

This is CompuAdd's fourth price cut this year. Today's reductions,
which are effective immediately, come just two months after the
company initiated round-the-clock toll-free customer support.

Models included in the price reductions are the 325S, an entry-level
25 megahertz (MHz) 386SX-based system; the 450DX2, a 50 MHz
486DX-based unit; the 425SLC, the 425S and the 433.

Standard configuration on all the affected models includes a hard
drive (ranging from 80 to 340 megabytes (MB) depending on the system
model), system memory of 2-4 MB dual floppy drives, a build-in IDE
controller, five expansion slots, an integrated video controller and
a 14-inch color VGA monitor. Also included is MS-DOS 5.0 and a
CompuServe starter kit. The 425S, 433, and 450DX2 also come with
Windows 3.1 pre-installed, and one year of free on-site service.

The 325S dropped to $1,195, the 425SLC is down to $1,345, the 425S
was cut to $1,549 and the Model 433 now sells for $1,895. The
450DX2 now carries a price tag of $2,145.

(Jim Mallory/19921023/Press contact: John Pope, CompuAdd,
512-250-2000, fax [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00023)

CORRECTION: Microsoft Hosts 2 Developer's Conferences 10/23/92
REDMOND, WASHINGTON, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) --Newsbytes
reported earlier this week that Microsoft will host two conferences
for developers next week, one at the Santa Clara (California)
Marriott Hotel, and one at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim,
California. That story contained some inaccuracies regarding the
purpose of the two conferences.

The Anaheim conference is for people interested in learning how to
develop 32-bit drivers for Windows NT. The Santa Clara get together
is for Windows developers, and both shows are expected to draw
attendees from all over the world.

Specific sessions at Anaheim will cover printers, keyboards,
video display adapters, network interface adapters, 3270 cards,
scanners, fax devices, communications devices, mice and other
pointing devices, audio hardware, and SCSI devices.

(Jim Mallory/19921022/Press contact: Erin Holland, Waggener Edstrom
for Microsoft, 503-245-0905; Reader contact: 800-677-4697 for show
registration)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SFO)(00024)

Micro Component Files Suit Against Credence Systems 10/23/92
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Patent suits
have become a part of doing business in high technology
industries, with some critics saying many companies use the
legal angle as a way of stifling competition. However, claiming
that one of the company's patents, held since 1985, is being
violated, Micro Component Technology Inc. (MCT), has filed a
lawsuit against Credence Systems Corporation.

According to the company, the suit cites the SC-212 and LT-1000
series test systems as being in violation. The patent protects
MCT's "tester-in-a-head" architecture, an innovation used in
the MCT 2000 and 3100 test systems, which allows for high-
speed, high-accuracy integrated circuit (IC) testing.

D.J. Hill, MCT's chief executive officer, said in a prepared
statement: "We don't want to disrupt manufacturers' production
or burden the industry with unnecessary litigation, but we will
protect our patents. If our competitors are engaged in unlawful
competitive practices, we're going to call them on it."

The company says that it is "currently reviewing all patents held
by MCT to determine if violations exist beyond the Credence case."

MCT is a privately-owned manufacturer of automated test
equipment and test handling systems for the semiconductor
industry, with annual sales of more than $60 million.

(Ian Stokell/19931023/Press Contact: Mark Godfrey or Henry
Kim, Micro Component Technology, 408-432-3200)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SFO)(00025)

HP Sells Millions Worth Of Equip't To US Armed Forces 10/23/92
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- As the prime
contractor for the $2.5 billion AFCAC 300 award from the US
government, PRC Systems Inc., has decided to purchase several
hundred million dollars' worth of Hewlett-Packard Co's PA-RISC-
based multiuser systems, file servers, peripherals, networks, and
network management software. HP will also supply additional
hardware, software, and services.

Under terms of the contract, HP anticipates the shipment of as
many as 5,200 HP 9000 computers during the next five years,
which, according to the company, will be used to upgrade existing
minicomputers and mainframes in the armed forces and other
civilian agencies that can purchase computers under AFCAC 300.

According to HP, the AFCAC 300 is the first major super-
minicomputer procurement vehicle for the armed forces to buy
"state-of-the-art" multiuser open systems.

Thomas W. Steipp, general manager of HP's Federal Computer
Operation, said: "Currently, the US government is under a great
deal of pressure to increase productivity in all branches of the
armed services. Purchasing these new HP systems should result
in greater productivity for the government as it upgrades its
computer technologies."

HP is managing to obtain some sizeable defense contracts. In April,
Hughes Aircraft Company awarded HP a $100 million contract for
up to 4,300 HP Apollo 9000 Series 700 workstations and servers.
The purchase was part of the Navy's TAC 3 program.

The HP 9000 multiuser systems have a single-chip VLSI (very
large scale integration) CPU (central processing unit) that uses
HP's PA-RISC technology.

Willem P. Roelandts, an HP vice president and general manager of
the Computer Systems Organization, said: "PA-RISC-based systems
allow the US government to use the latest technology and provide
the best price/performance in the industry. The award of AFCAC
300 reinforces the long-term commitment HP has made to selling
standards-based open systems to the US government through a
dedicated HP operation."

At the beginning of October Newsbytes reported on HP's plan
to eliminate 2,700 jobs by early 1993. The plan involves a
voluntary severance-incentive (VSI) program to employees in
selected job categories. Two thousand of that number will be
in the United States.

(Ian Stokell/19921023/Press Contact: Barton Coddington,
Hewlett-Packard Co., 408-447-1129)


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

Digital Slims Down Severance Benefits 10/23/92
MAYNARD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- Still trying to
cut costs, Digital Equipment has cut back on severance benefits for
employees laid off in future. That move could affect as many as
25,000 people who may lose their jobs at DEC over the next two to
three years.

Company spokeswoman Nikki Richardson confirmed that in future,
laid-off employees with less than 10 years service at DEC will be
paid for nine weeks after their jobs end and then will get a
lump-sum payment of one week's pay for every year with the company.
Until the policy change took effect October 21, they got the nine
weeks' continued pay and then a lump sum of two weeks' pay per year
of service.

Employees with more than 10 years' service will get the same nine
weeks of continued pay, then a lump sum of 10 weeks' pay plus
another two weeks' pay for each year of service, to a maximum of 52
weeks' pay altogether. Previously, they would have received three
weeks' pay for each year beyond 10 years' employment.

Employees who lose their jobs also get continued medical, dental,
and life insurance benefits for as many weeks paid for in the
severance package. DEC also provides outplacement counselling,
Richardson said.

The change is being made because of the business climate and the
company's economic performance, Richardson said.

Earlier in October, Digital reported a loss of $260.55 million in
its first quarter, which ended September 26.

The company has not stated how many people it expects to lay off,
but in a press conference October 1, incoming President and Chief
Executive Robert Palmer said published estimates by others were
reasonably close. Those estimates range from 15,000 to 25,000
people over the next two to three years.

(Grant Buckler/19921023/Press Contact: Nikki Richardson, Digital
Equipment, 508-493-6369)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(SFO)(00027)

UK: IBM Wins Air Traffic Control Contract 10/23/92
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- IBM may be having
its share of difficulties in the United States and worldwide, but
it has just won a sizeable air traffic control contract in the
United Kingdom.

The company has just been selected to equip the Civil Aviation
Authority's New En Route Center (NERC) air traffic control center
for managing UK airspace, currently under construction at
Fareham, Hampshire. The contract is valued at 130 million pounds.

The contract is part of a 750 million pound capital program
which the CAA is currently undertaking to upgrade its airspace
management systems.

IBM Federal Systems Company (FSC) is the prime contractor and
will be responsible for the project management, design, provision,
installation, and testing of the system required by the CAA for
the control of all en route air traffic over England and Wales.
The system is planned to become operational in 1996.

Other companies in the IBM team include Siemens Plessey
Systems (SPS), EDS-Scicon, Logica and Frequentis.

Suzanne Corcoran, manager of IBM Federal Systems Company's
worldwide air traffic control development and systems
integration, said: "This is definitely a strategic win for us.
We're going to take advantage of the experiences and knowledge
we've acquired while working previously with the CAA and to
use what we've learned with the AAS development program in
the US."

Tom Murphy, CAA managing director, said: "The competition
leading up to the award of the contract has been keenly
contested. It has involved a nine-month project definition
exercise to enable the rival consortia to evaluate and propose
solutions to meet a strict CAA specification."

(Ian Stokell/19921023/Press Contact: Bill Prater, IBM Federal
Systems Company, 301-493-1359)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SFO)(00028)

Survey Claims Users Want Better Desktop Manufacturing 10/23/92
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 OCT 23 (NB) -- According
to a new end-user survey and analysis by Market Intelligence, users
are increasingly demanding systems that can create usable metal
parts rather than plastic models.

The survey claims that, despite what are seen as the shortcomings
of existing machines, end-users are "excited about desktop
manufacturing (also known as rapid prototyping) because it
dramatically cuts product development time and thus time to
market."

The report is titled: "Survey of Rapid Prototyping End-Users --
First Generation a Smashing Success: End-Users Waiting for Next-
Generation Systems." The company claims that those who
responded to the survey represent approximately a third of the
world's current installed base of rapid prototyping systems.

World desktop manufacturing system market revenues have been
reported in the region of $32 million in 1991, with an installed
base of over 300 systems.

According to the company, vendors will "respond increasingly to
end-user demands on systems and materials to develop more
effective RP systems, gaining the industry wider acceptance.
Widespread end-user enthusiasm for desktop manufacturing
reinforces market projections of very rapid growth. However,
most end-users at the same time express the need for greater
accuracy and material flexibility than is afforded by current
system models."

Stereolithography is the most widely used rapid prototyping
technology.

Some 86 percent of the survey respondents are US-based. The
company claims that this reflects the US' leadership in RP
technology. Twelve percent of surveyed companies are in Europe
and two percent in Japan. Service bureaus provided the largest
single share of respondents, with the automotive industry the
bureaus' largest single customer group. The aerospace and defense
industries represented the largest end-user installed base
outside of service bureaus.

(Ian Stokell/19921023/Press Contact: Amy Arnell, Market
Intelligence, 415-961-9000)


(REVIEW)(APPLE)(SFO)(00029)

Review of: Image Club "New Faces Summer '92" Font Pack 10/23/92

Runs On: Macintosh operating System 6 or higher

From: Image Club Graphics, Suite 5, 1902 Eleventh Street SE,
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2G 3G2, phone [phone], fax
[phone], orders [phone]

Price: $89.95

PUMA Rating: 3.5 (on a scale of 1=lowest to 4=highest)

Reviewed by: Nick Gorski

Summary: A selection of 10 usable fonts, professionally packaged
and easy to install, the disks come with Postscript and
Truetype options.

======

REVIEW

======

Image Club isn't just a font vendor. It appears to be trying to be
something of an institution -- a one stop shop for all your desktop
publishing needs. They offer clip art, various font packs, and a
newsletter to keep the customer involved in their activities.
(One newsletter appeals, "Send us your art made from Image Club
material.")

Image Club's "New Faces Summer '92" Font Pack contains 10 fonts
that the firm stresses are licensed fonts, not "clones" of existing
ones. The selection is a kind of grab bag, which may not be for
everyone. (All of the fonts are sold separately and are among 600
different fonts offered by the company.) The advantage, however, is
the price break on this many at once.

The most outstanding fonts in this bunch are Bernhard Fashion,
a nice fine-line deco sans serif very reminiscent of early 30s
film titles and Futura Stencil, a real grabber. Letraset University
Roman, a formal but not too serifed font with high mean lines is
also useful. Carpenter is one of more interesting script fonts
I've seen, but the readibility is very dependent on size and
your printer capabilities.

The manual offers very helpful typographical, trouble shooting,
and font file tips, besides basic installation information.

============

PUMA RATING

============

PERFORMANCE (4.0): Does what it promises. Installation is
painless and "read me" files explain all.

USEFULNESS (4.0) : The bundling deal offers a saving a $100 over
purchase of the 10 individual fonts. Although I had my favorites,
all the fonts in New Faces 92 have possibilities. It is a
workable and usable font selection. None were total novelty
items, as some fonts, like a Star Trek Federation font might be.

MANUAL (3.5) Considering the fact that this is a font company, its
manual was in fact, a bit hard to read. The content and editorial
was fine, but the layout was troubling. Font size seemed a bit
small, making the left to right scan a chore -- a minor point.

AVAILABILITY (4.0) -- Mail order direct. There is also a no
questions asked, 30 day return policy.

(Nick Gorski/19921023)


(REVIEW)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00030)

Review of: Miracle Piano Teaching System 10/23/92

Runs on: PC, Macintosh, Nintendo Entertainment System, and Amiga

From: The Software Toolworks, 60 Leveroni Court, Novato, CA
94949. 415-883-3000 or 800-234-3088.

Price: $380 (list)

PUMA Rating: 3.875 on a scale 1=lowest to 4=highest

Reviewed for Newsbytes by: John McCormick, 10/23/92

Summary: MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) keyboard
with cables and software that serves as a complete introductory
piano teaching course.

======

REVIEW

======

The Miracle was reviewed on a powerful 80486-based multimedia
computer from Swan Technologies, State College, PA, but would
operate on any hard disk 16- or 32-bit PC with a serial port. A
MIDI interface is included on the keyboard but not used for the
lessons.

They may not have laughed when I sat down at the keyboard, but
that was probably because there was no one in the room! Not even
a teacher.

I had always wanted to learn to play but never had the time or
desire to take personal lessons, and the Miracle appeared to
offer me a perfect outlet for my musical aspirations, especially
when I saw that DAK Industries (8200 Remmet Ave, Canoga Park, CA
91304) was discounting the nearly $400 keyboard and software to
only $200.

Since I needed a MIDI instrument to test various multimedia
programs anyway, I jumped at the DAK deal. Apparently a lot of
other people did too, because the order took several extra weeks
to arrive due to the demand.

MIDI is the standard way for musicians to compose and perform
music using computers to control instruments. Using a MIDI
keyboard, you can access hundreds of sound effects and
instruments, playing more than one at the same time, but writing
and arranging music one at a time.

The Miracle keyboard is not the best MIDI instrument ever sold,
but it is good quality - certainly worth the money. There are 128
music instruments or patches built into the keyboard, all of
which can be accessed without computer connection, and the
keyboard can even be split in two, letting you play different
instruments with each hand in real-time.

Using a MIDI signal feed, the keyboard plays up to 16 different
notes at one time or eight in stereo.

Plunging right into lesson one, you learn to read music and play
"Ode to Joy" with one hand. By the third lesson you are playing a
half-dozen melodies and using both hands.

The keyboard is attached to the serial port of your computer, so
the software can monitor your performance and adjust training and
practice sessions. You can also replay lessons or skip ahead if
you already play.

Miracle watches for 200 different types of errors, such as
playing a note too early, late, or for too short or long a time.
It will spot your error if you hit the crack between two keys and
might even detect if you are using the wrong fingers.

Besides lessons which display an image of the keyboard and
standard musical notation which progresses as you play, there are
also practice sessions where you can play arcade games or learn
new songs while the software tracks your performance but doesn't
interfere otherwise. These practice sessions are the one place I
about which I have a complaint, albeit a minor one. Few people
will want to play a practice piece just once, but instead of
going right back to a repeat, the software makes you go through
a selection process which can break your concentration since
control is exercised not from the MIDI keyboard but through a mouse
or the computer's keyboard.

Other than that one complaint, I am very pleased with the Miracle
keyboard and teaching software. The lessons at the adult level
get very tough very quickly for my taste, but the software is
patient and there is no need to move on to the next lesson before
you feel ready.

This doesn't take all the work out of learning to play; after
all, practice makes mediocre before it makes perfect and a lot of
practice is necessary just to become mediocre. The software
certainly makes learning and practice much more effective than a
human teacher because it monitors all mistakes, not leaving you
on your own to practice mistakes for a week between lessons.

Of course, there is more to music than just dull practice with a
teacher watching every move, and you can always ignore the
software during practice or just play on your own. Remember,
this is a full MIDI piano, harpsichord, organ, synthesizer, and
more than a hundred other instruments, even if it isn't connected
to a computer!

If you have a MIDI interface card in your computer, then there
are thousands of MIDI files that will play sophisticated music
back through the small keyboard speakers and amplifier, or
through as powerful a stereo system as you care to connect.

While I was hesitant to spend nearly $400 for Miracle, now that I
have it I wish I had bought it when it first came on the market
rather than wait for the big discount. I am not a serious
musician and never will be, but Miracle is already giving me more
appreciation of the classical and jazz music I love.

This wasn't a review loaner; I bought Miracle and am glad I did.

============

PUMA RATING

============

PERFORMANCE: 3.5 The software is good but not perfect, and the
keyboard has a rather flimsy feel.

USEFULNESS: 4 If you can't learn to read music and play a
keyboard instrument using Miracle, then you never will. It also
serves as a good playback instrument for MIDI recordings.

MANUAL: 4 The software is very easy to use, so the accompanying
manual is mostly a history of keyboards and operating
instructions for the keyboard when it isn't connected to a
computer.

AVAILABILITY: 4 Widely available, in a number of stores, and
through many mail order outlets.

(John McCormick/19921009/Press Contact: Software Toolworks, 415-
883-3000 or fax [phone])