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/nb921104

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(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00001)

Borland Says New Pascal To Help Programmers Migrate 11/04/92
SCOTTS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- Borland
has introduced new versions of its Pascal programming language,
Pascal with Objects 7.0 and Turbo Pascal 7.0. The company
claims it is attempting to provide Pascal programmers with a
smooth migration path to Windows programming.

Pascal with Objects 7.0 not only allows for DOS and Windows
programming, according to Borland, but allows for code library
sharing between DOS and Windows applications. Programmers can
create Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs) in C, C++, or other
languages that can be used in both DOS and Windows.

The product also removes DOS memory limitations allowing access
of up to 16 megabytes (MB) of memory with implementation of the
DOS Protected Mode Interface (DPMI), Borland said.

Also included are Objectbrowsers for both DOS and Windows which
allow the programmer to navigate source code either by objects
or by units. The Objectbrowser allows the display of source
code in hierarchical form and provides reference to variable
types.

Borland has added six new optimizations so existing code can be
recompiled to run faster, including an optimization for math
operations in the 80386 32-bit microprocessor.

High capacity Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) in
both DOS and Windows are offered with color syntax highlighting
and unlimited undo/redo.

Everything needed to do DOS and Windows development is in the
Pascal with Objects 7.0 package so developers don't need the
Microsoft Software Development Kit (SDK), Borland added.
Included are Turbovision and Objectwindows application
frameworks, Winsight, Winspector, Resource Workshop, and
enhanced versions of the Turbo Debugger, Turbo Profiler, and
Turbo Assembler.

Turbo Pascal 7.0 is a subset of Pascal for Windows 7.0, allows
the creation of DOS real-mode programs, and is designed to help
DOS developers learn object-oriented programming, Borland
maintains. It has some of the enhancements of the Pascal for
Windows product including high-capacity DOS IDE, color syntax
highlighting, unlimited undo/redo, an Objectbrowser, and new
tutorials on using the Turbo Vision applications framework.

Support for Borland's Pascal programming language products
includes took kits from over fifty third-party vendors as well
as books published by Bantam Electronic Publishing, Que,
Osborne/McGraw-Hill, Addison-Wesley, Sybex, Sams, Abacus,
Benjamin/Cummings, Richard T. Irwin, and Windcrest/McGraw-Hill.

Borland Pascal with Objects 7.0 runs on any IBM or 100%
compatible personal computer and requires an 80286 or higher
processor, 2 MB of memory, and a hard disk. Borland says DOS
development requires DOS 3.3 and Windows development requires a
PC that will run Windows and a mouse. Turbo Pascal 7.0 doesn't
require a hard disk, unless the user wants to use high-capacity
IDE, but the product does require 720 kilobytes (K) of disk
space and 512 K of memory.

Borland Pascal with Objects 7.0 is retail priced at $495 and
the Application Framework and Runtime Library Source Code, at
$195, is included as a special limited offer. Upgrades
for current owners of Turbo Pascal for Windows, Turbo Pascal
Professional, or Turbo Pascal are available from Borland for
$149.95.

Turbo Pascal 7.0 is priced at $149.95 and upgrades for owners
of previous versions of Turbo Pascal are $89.95. Both products
are scheduled to ship in early November 1992, Borland said.

Borland also develops application software for DOS and Windows.
The company recently released its spreadsheet product, Quattro
Pro for Windows and despite industry predictions that the
product was not being accepted, Borland says the product is
selling well. The company also published the results of a
survey from Usability Sciences which claims two out of three
Lotus or Excel spreadsheet users preferred Borland Quattro Pro
for Windows.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921103/Press Contact: Cathy Caplener,
Borland International, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00002)

New For PC: San Diego Zoo Featured On CD 11/04/92
NOVATO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- The Software
Toolworks says it is shipping its first "edutainment"
multimedia compact disc (CD) developed in conjunction with and
based on the animals at the world famous San Diego Zoo.

The company says the title, "The San Diego Zoo Presents ... The
Animals" is more than a picture book with an hour of video
clips, 1,300 photographs, and synchronized sound. Software
Toolworks claims the CD is a reference work and says 2,500
pages of animal and habitat information are included on the CD.

The CD is divided into 10 major bioclimatic zones or "biome" such
as tropical forests, deserts, savannas, or tundra. Software
Toolworks representatives told Newsbytes the program comes up
on the screen with an aerial map of the zoo divided into biomes
and a click on that main menu map instantly shows a list of
animals living in the selected bioclimatic zone along with a
description of the biome.

Software Toolworks says "Exhibits" of animals are available
with information on diet, mating habits, sociability, and
lifespan.

Portions of the CD are very much geared toward children and the
company says those activities and the user interface are
designed to let children move through the information with
simple menu selections. Activities included are "The Storybook
Theater" where stories about Gordy the Gorilla and Protecting
Endangered Species are narrated; and Kid's Corner which offers
crafts and interesting animal facts.

Narrated tours of animals are available and are centered on
animals with a common theme. A "Disguise Tour" shows off animals
that use camouflage, and "The Jaws, Claws, and Creature Features"
tour shows animals which have unusual or notable features such
as large noses or big ears, Software Toolworks said.

A section featuring the Center for Reproduction of Endangered
Species (CRES), a renowned portion of the San Diego Zoo,
discusses the balance of the nature and pays special
attention to endangered species. Text and video clips of how
CRES research is performed shows how that research impacts
the animals, though emphasis on the "interconnectedness" off
all animal life is threaded throughout the entire CD, the
company said.

A favorite of young children, baby animals are featured on the
CD as well. The section explains how infant animals who are
sick, rejected by their parents, or orphaned, are cared for, and
highlights baby bears and primates. Software Toolworks
representatives say the video clips of the baby animals even
have one baby animal coming up and placing its nose on the
camera.

The company says "The Animals" will run on an IBM or compatible
computer with a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM) drive
under either DOS or Windows and retails for $119.95. A
Macintosh version is planned for release in 1993, Software
Toolworks added.

Novato, California-headquartered Software Toolworks is probably
best known for its "Miracle Piano Teaching System" and for the
software title "Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing."

(Linda Rohrbough/19921103/Press Contact: Doug Mealy, The
Software Toolworks, tel [phone], fax [phone]; Public
Contact 800-234-3088)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(TOR)(00003)

New For Macintosh: Lotus Updates 1-2-3 11/04/92
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- Lotus
Development Corporation has announced that Release 1.1 of its 1-
2-3 for Macintosh spreadsheet software is now available.

In announcing the new release, Lotus claimed improvements in ease
of use, through features such as the ability to drag and drop a
user-defined area anywhere within a three-dimensional spreadsheet
file, not just on the same sheet.

The company also touted Release 1.1's new copy right, copy down,
and copy back features, which it said allow users to copy and paste
across multiple cells with a single command. In a 3D worksheet,
the copy back command performs one-step copying through stacked
worksheets.

Another new feature, SmartSum, automatically sums entire tables,
both row-wise and column-wise, with one command.

Following an increasingly popular trend in personal computer
software, 1-2-3 for Macintosh Release 1.1 is mail-enabled, making
it possible to send a file and message via Lotus' cc:Mail
electronic mail software using a special menu command in 1-2-3.

Release 1.1's graphics handling enhancements include the ability to
fill a traditional solid bar graph with stacked graphic images or
to place any graphic image behind a graph, Lotus said. These images
can be imported from other programs by way of the Macintosh
clipboard, a spokeswoman explained.

Users may also directly resize any text on a graph by dragging the
text handles. A user can reveal the source data for a graph by
dragging the bottom edge of the graph frame upward. Release 1.1
also supports playback of QuickTime movies on a 1-2-3 worksheet.

Additional features include a new automated installer and the
ability to translate and import SYLK and Tabbed Text files into a
worksheet.

1-2-3 for Macintosh Release 1.1 Standard Edition is immediately
available through retailers at a suggested retail price of $495. A
License Pack, which provides a license for installation as a
network node or stand-alone use, is $395. The Server Edition will
ship later in November, Lotus said, with a suggested retail price
of $595.

An upgrade is available to all licensed 1-2-3, Microsoft Excel,
Claris Resolve, Informix Wingz, or Borland Full Impact users for a
suggested retail price of $150.

The software requires a Macintosh with a hard disk, three megabytes
of memory, and System 6.0.4 or later. Lotus said the package will
support Novell's Netware 286 or Netware 386, 3Com 3+ Open,
AppleShare, Mac TOPS, and DEC Pathworks network operating systems.

The software has been released in the United States and the United
Kingdom, and an international English version is to be available
soon, a company spokeswoman said. A Kanji version for the Japanese
market is planned for release later this year. Lotus does not plan
to translate Release 1.1 into other languages but will wait for the
next major upgrade -- Release 2.0 -- the spokeswoman said.

(Grant Buckler/19921103/Press Contact: Karen Schiff or Toni
Mattucci, McGlinchey & Paul for Lotus, 617-862-4514)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(SFO)(00004)

New For Macintosh: Radius Ships RocketShare 11/04/92
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- Radius
says that its RocketShare product is now shipping in volume for
users of Macintosh computers and Radius Rocket accelerators.

The company says that the product allows for the simultaneous
use of a Macintosh Quadra or Macintosh II family processor, and
one or more Radius Rockets. According to the company,
RocketShare incorporates a subset of Macintosh system software,
licensed by Radius from Apple Computer in January 1992, that
performs operating system functions.

Radius maintains that RocketShare is aimed at such applications
as high-end color publishing, graphic, and three-dimensional
design.

According to the company, RocketShare works without
modification with the new Macintosh IIvi, IIvx, Performa 600
and the DuoDock docking station. All Macintosh IIs (except the
IIsi) and Quadras are also supported, including the Macintosh IIfx.

Under RocketShare, each Radius Rocket appears as an additional
CPU (central processing unit) that is launched independently of
the main Macintosh processor. The company cites the ability to
off-load any application to a Rocket CPU (running in the
"background") while the Macintosh is simultaneously used for
another task (running in the "foreground"), as a major
RocketShare benefit.

In October Newsbytes reported that Radius had signed a deal
with IBM, whereby Radius will manufacture AT Bus XGA-2
graphics cards for IBM to resell through its sales channels in
Europe. At the same time, IBM also said it would recommend
the Radius product for sales in North America.

At the end of October Newsbytes reported that Radius had
cut the price of its MultiView 24 color graphics board for
IBM PCs and compatibles running Windows.

In September stockholders had filed a class action suit
against the company, and President and Chief Executive
Officer Barry James Folsom resigned.

(Ian Stokell/19921103/Press Contact: James Strohecker,
Radius Inc., 408-954-6828)


(NEWS)(IBM)(BOS)(00005)

New For PC: MapExpert CD-ROM Disc for Windows 11/04/92
FREEPORT, MAINE, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 4 (NB) DeLorme Mapping is
shipping MapExpert, a new Windows-based CD-ROM title that adds
extensive personalization, printing, viewing, and search features to
the comprehensive map database provided in the company's earlier
Street Atlas USA CD-ROM release.

In an interview with Newsbytes, David Purcell, marketing manager,
suggested that MapExpert is targeted at a broad range of PC users,
including travelers who want to mark out their routes in advance,
home and business users who want to issue directions to their
houses or office buildings, and cartographers and surveyors in need
of large, high quality color maps or quick access to latitude and
longitude data.

Purcell told Newsbytes that, like Street Atlas USA, MapExpert
offers comprehensive maps of every state in the US, down to the
street level, as well as close-up and distant views and search by
place name, postal zip code, and telephone area and exchange.
Both disks also offer printing, viewing and features, he added.

"But we see Street Atlas USA primarily as a reference tool.
MapExpert lets you do a whole lot more," he emphasized. DeLorme
will continue to sell and support Street Atlas, offering users a
choice between the basic database, priced at $169, and the more
costly but more capable MapExpert, priced at $495.

Unlike Street Atlas, MapExpert lets the user annotate and add text
to maps, Purcell told Newsbytes. The user can highlight streets
and roads, insert symbols such as houses and schools, and place
MapNotes, or "sticky notes," on maps, all without changing the
contents of the database.

"The database is locked on to the CD-ROM disk, so it cannot be
altered. What you're doing when you customize the maps is to
create overlay files. The overlay maps can be saved and called up
whenever you want to get into that particular maps again," the
marketing manager explained.

MapExpert also provides three printing options, instead of one,
said Purcell. As with Street Atlas, the MapExpert user can export
the map as a bitmap file through the Clipboard, and then print the
map from another program. But in addition, MapExpert includes a
function called MapPrinter that lets the user preview and print
high quality maps directly from the program, in either color or
black and white.

MuralMaker, another feature unique to MapExpert, allows maps to be
produced in seamless segments, so the contents of a wall-sized map
can be output on an ordinary desktop printer.

MacExpert and Street Atlas each offer zoom in and zoom out. But
in Street Atlas, as opposed to MacExpert, the user can zoom out
only one level at a time, Purcell noted. Also unlike Street Atlas,
MapExpert comes with automated map legend and distance measuring
functions, and is capable of showing multiple maps on the same
screen.

Other features unique to MapExpert include the ability to search
for latitude and longitude by place name, search for place name by
latitude and longitude, display latitude and longitude for any
point on the screen, and take the cursor to the spot on the map
that coincides with latitude and longitude data entered by the
user.

Purcell told Newsbytes that the latitude/longitude capabilities
have drawn a great deal of interest from surveyors as well as
professional mapmakers. "Environmental regulations today are
requiring people to cite exact latitude and longitude information
in applying for building permits," he commented.

MapExpert comes on a single ISO 9660 CD-ROM, and is shipping now.
The disk requires an IBM-compatible PC (386 or higher recommended)
with 2 MB of RAM, Microsoft Windows 3.0 or 3.1, MS-DOS 4.01 or
higher, 3 MB of free hard-disk space, a Windows-compatible CD-ROM
drive, VGA graphics display, and a mouse. A Windows-compatible
printer is also recommended.

(Jacqueline Emigh/19921103; Press contact: David Purcell, DeLorme
Mapping, tel [phone]; Reader contact: DeLorme Mapping, tel
207-865-1234, ext 8000)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00006)

Kobe Seiko, TI In Joint Mass Production Of 16M DRAM 11/04/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- Kobe Seiko Sho and Texas
Instruments will produce 16-megabit random access memory
(DRAM) chips in quantity early next year. The chips have to date
been created on an experimental basis at the team's joint venture
firm KTI Semiconductor.

KTI Semiconductor's Nishiwaki plant in Hyogo, west of Osaka, has a
16-megabit semiconductor mass production line, a facility which
represents an investment of 50 billion yen ($415 million). KTI
shipped samples of the 16-megabit chip this past October.

KTI Semiconductor plans to produce 300,000 16-megabit DRAMs
per month starting in February 1993. This is about the same number
planned for production by rivals NEC and Fujitsu, however NEC will start
sooner. NEC plans to produce 300,000 units of the chip per month
starting in December. Fujitsu plans to ship 200,000 units per month
early next year.

Despite a slump in the chip market, TI began to produce the 16-
megabit DRAM at its Dallas plant in Texas in October. This bold
move was not duplicated in Japan where the memory chip business
slump is still in effect. In fact, many Japanese chipmakers have
recently announced plans to cut their investment in chips. Oki
Electric, for instance, has suffered due it its huge investment
in semiconductor chips, a fact which forced many top executives
to recently resign.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921103/Press Contact: KTI Semi-
conductor, [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00007)

NEC, CDS, Olivetti In Workstation Pact 11/04/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- NEC is hammering out a
business deal with Control Data Systems (CDS) and Italy-based
Olivetti regarding a joint effort to sell NEC's workstations
and personal computers on an OEM (original equipment manufacturer)
basis.

NEC seeks to supply Olivetti with its workstations which would be
sold under the Olivetti brand name. NEC also is hoping to sell
to CDS a supply of personal computers which can be sold under
CDS' brand name. According to the Asahi newspaper, NEC may sweeten
the deal by purchasing equity in CDS.

Created earlier this year, CDS is an affiliate firm of Control Data
in the US. CDS already has a history with NEC -- there is an
existing agreement between the two firms concerning sales of
NEC supercomputers outside Japan.

Olivetti, a major computer firm in Europe, would give NEC a big
boost in that region if the deal is concluded. Olivetti and CDS
would benefit from the deal by receiving powerful computers from
NEC which could be used as part of their integrated office equipment
systems.

The exact models of the workstations and PCs in the agreement
are unknown, but are expected to involve a variety of NEC
workstations and personal computers including desktop-type
and notebook-type personal computers.

NEC has not made any specific public comment regarding the alliance.
However, an NEC executive quoted by the Asahi newspaper said he
expected the deals would be signed by the end of this year.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921103/Press Contact: NEC, +81-3-
3451-2974)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(MOW)(00008)

Epson Moving Into Russian Market 11/04/92
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- Seiko Epson and its German affiliate
have organized a seminar in St. Petersbourg (formerly Leningrad)
presenting an 80486-based computer system to local authorities and
explaining their corporate strategy in Russia.

Mr Kasai, Epson's Moscow representative, was quoted as saying that
Epson is planning to open a dealership program and to start
Epson Russia as a 100% owned local subsidiary. He said there will
be various incentives to local authorized resellers.

More than a half of all the printers used with personal computers
in Russia are believed to be Epson printers.

No detailed announcement about the availability of printers, when
the dealership program will start, nor other details were available.

Local analysts says a laser printer market struggle is about to
begin between Epson and Hewlett-Packard in Russia. Both companies
are offering up to 50% discount off their prices for local buyers
for a limited time. While HP already has a strong resellers base,
Epson is just now trying to widen its presence, Newsbytes has
learned.

(Kirill Tchashchin/19921103)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(MOW)(00009)

Russia: Bypass Phone Business Closed 11/04/92
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- Russian communications authorities
have closed a small shop which offered 24-hour-a-day international long
distance calls anywhere in the world through a private switch in
Helsinki, Finland. This effectively gives Russia a monopoly on
international long distance business again.

Sovamer was offering any paying customer access to their phone
computer installed in Helsinki, Finnland, which has connections to
anywhere in the world. The service worked from all phones in Moscow.

Local phone authorities are caching large speculative revenues by
selectively allowing high paying businesses to use international
direct dial service during business hours. Others are requested to wait
for several hours while an operator handles the call request.
International direct dial is available to everyone between midnight
and 8am.

Sovamer rates were lower than those offered by the communications
ministry.

Commersant Daily writes that the Russian phone ministry has reportedly
asked Finnish PTT to close down the shop in Helsinki, as "not properly
licensed." Local authorities in Moscow also refused to license the
Sovamer service in the city.

Newsbytes tried to call Sovamer and found the office closed with no one
answering phones. A number of customers reported that they had
received notification from Sovamer that its service was about to be
paused "due to licensing delays."

(Kirill Tchashchin/19921103)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TYO)(00010)

IDC, ITJ Increase Share In Int'l Phone Service 11/04/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- Japan's international voice phone
market is getting more competitive as new private telecom
service firms, rivals of KDD, a former telecom monopoly in
Japan, vie for market share.

According to a recent report released by the Japanese Ministry of
Posts and Telecommunication, newly joined private firms are gaining
a large share of the international telephone calling market. The main
players are International Digital Communication (IDC) and
International Telecom Japan (ITJ) which control a 30 percent share
of Japan's international telephone calls. KDD owns the rest of the pie,
but its share has been decreasing every year.

The major reason for this forward march of smaller firms is their
price. Their fees are 10 to 20 percent cheaper than KDD's. KDD,
meanwhile, has been forced to lower its fees in return, so that at
the moment, all three players' fees are about even.

For instance, during the prime time, a one-minute call from Japan
to the US costs 330 yen ($2.75) for IDC, while it costs 340 yen
($2.80) for KDD. But during non-prime time, it costs 200 yen ($1.65)
for both IDC and KDD. KDD's pricing moves are expected to trigger
more price cuts by IDC and ITJ in the near future.

Meanwhile, total international calling time has increased by about 17
percent over the previous year. However, the ratio of increase is
lower than that of previous years.

Use of the international digital lines has been increasing
at a rapid pace. Many firms are using proprietary digital lines
for computers, fax machines, and TV conferencing. Use of these
digital lines increased by 24 percent over last year. Although
the industry is in a slump, the usage of these lines is expected
to increase again next year.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921103)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(ATL)(00011)

 ****Ear Phone Coming 11/04/92
POWAY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- Now you can take
this phone and stick it in your ear. The Norris Communications
Ear Phone is due for release this month, combining both a
microphone and speaker in a module that fits comfortably in the
ear.

According to spokesman Robert Putnam, two versions of the product
are being produced. One version lets you use a regular telephone
keypad or computer keypad to dial numbers. The other comes with
its own keypad. Both include an on-off switch so you can toggle
on and off telephone company functions like call-waiting and three-way
calling, which usually require that you flick the "on-hook"
switch where the headset usually rests.

"Once the phone rings, you turn it on and talk. Then turn it off.
It has an on-off switch that serves the function of a key-hook. Down
the road you'll get a keyboard that's either tethered or wireless,"
Putnam says.

The basic Ear Phone Personal retails for $99, and is designed for
use with a single-line phone or modem and a computer equipped
with software that handles telephone operations. Norris has a
deal to sell the unit with Apple Powerbooks equipped with a
cellular phone from Applied Engineering of Dallas. The Ear Phone
Personal Plus, which costs more, is used with multi-line private
phone switches, called PBXs in the trade.

The Ear Phone technology picks up the user's voice through a
highly directional microphone fitted into the earpiece along with
the speaker. Noise cancelling circuitry muffles background
sounds. Eventually, all Ear Phone products will utilize Norris
Communications' patented bone-conduction technology, in which
voices are transmitted to the earpiece through vibrations of the
soft tissues and bones in the head.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921103/Press Contact: Norris Communications,
Robert Putnam, 619/679-1504)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(DEL)(00012)

India: Hinditron Gets SW Export Orders 11/04/92
BOMBAY, INDIA, 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- Bombay-based Hinditron Informatics
Ltd. recently bagged software export contracts from Global Weather
Dynamics Inc. (GWDI) and Chemshare Corp., both of the US.

For the former, Hinditron will develop unified message switch
applications on DEC systems in the Ultrix operating environment.
Work on the project, which is scheduled to be completed
by April of next year, has already begun at Hinditron's software
facilities at Andheri in Bombay. GWDI, which is also looking at
Hinditron as a potential partner to service its customer base in
Asia and Europe, is involved primarily in weather forecasting and
message switching applications.

Chemshare Corp, a Houston-based software company specializing in process
applications for refineries and petrochemical companies, has awarded a
remote delivery project to Hinditron. The order entails development of
an application program interface for Design Master (a proprietary
process design software from Chemshare) with RKH02, a general purpose
heat transfer application. The venture, which is slated to be
completed in one person year, will be developed on Sun SPARC II
workstations. If the project is successfully implemented, Chemshare
may develop a service alliance with Hinditron for its customers
worLdwide, especially the Japanese market.

Hinditron is also undertaking software development for its sister
concern, Hinditron Tektronix Instruments Ltd. The agreement
involves software development on X-terminals for Simple Network
Management Protocol (SNMP), an Internet Data Communication Agent
which will include Management Information base II (MIB II). Another
project entails development of VT-340 emulation on X-terminals.
This is expected to provide all VT-340 capabilities, and commands
in some European and other languages will be included in it.

(C.T. Mahabharat/19921023)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00013)

NEC To Release Multimedia Semiconductors 11/04/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- NEC says it will release
semiconductor chips for multimedia devices early 1993. The firm
plans to ship chips for motion pictures and audio sound with a
pictorial and audio sound data compression feature. An international
standard for these chips is expected to be set up soon.

NEC's top-of-the-line multimedia chip is called the "motion video
processor" (MVP). The chip supports MPEG1, the standard for pictorial
data processing chips. The data coding processing speed is to be
10 megabits per second, NEC claims.

NEC's chips will also support coding features mandated by the H.261
CCITT standard for TV phones and TV conference systems. This
new standard, called MPEG2, is expected to be finalized in
March 1993. MPEG2 is an advanced version of MPEG1. NEC reports that
in combination, two of its MPV chips will support MPEG2.

The MVP chip supports real-time compression and decompression and
is based on a 0.8 micron processing technology in a 4-megabit chip.
This chip will be manufactured at NEC's Kyushu plant.

NEC will also release a MPEG audio chip, which is based on its
digital signal processor and audio sound compression technology.
With these technologies, a device based on the MVP is expected to
be able to write one hour of audio sound and motion pictures on
a CD-ROM disc. These chips are expected to be used in various
multimedia devices including personal computers and video discs.

Once the MPEG2 standard is finalized, other major Japanese
electronics firms are expected to release similar chips in the
near future.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921104/Press Contact: NEC, +81-3-
3451-2974)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00014)

Japan: Sony Ups Mini-Disks Production 11/04/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- Sony plans to increase its production
Mini-Disks, its latest disk device for audio equipment. The firm
will raise production sevenfold from its current level of 300,000
units per month.

Sony plans to invest 5 billion yen ($40 million) in a production line
in to facilitate the creation of 2 million units per month by the end
of 1993. According to Sony, worldwide demand for the disk will be
50 million units per year in 1993.

Sony will convert part of its analog cassette tape production
lines to Mini-Disk production.

Other disk firms such as TDK have started selling the disks.
The retail price of the Mini-Disk is around 1,400 yen ($12) for a
60 minute version. The Mini-Disk players were released on
November 1 by Sony. The portable players with recording and playback
features cost 79,800 yen ($665). A player with playback features
only costs 59,800 yen ($500). Sony has also released a Mini-Disk
player for cars at 100,000 yen ($830).

These prices are much cheaper than those for rival DCC
(digital compact cassette) players that were released about
a month ago.

To herald the release of the Mini-Disk player, Sony has launched a
Japanese nationwide advertising campaign that touts advantages of
the Mini-Disk over DCC players. The two devices are expected to be
locked in a market battle over the next year.

Currently, Sony Music and Japan Columbia are selling
music software for the Mini-Disk medium. There are 103 titles
available now, and other recording firms such as Toshiba EMI and
Warner Music are planning to release Mini-Disk titles shortly.

Aiwa is also preparing to release a Mini-Disk player by the end of
this year.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921104/Press Contact: Sony, +81-3-
3448-2200)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00015)

New Products: Three 486 PCs From Data General 11/04/92
WESTBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- Data General
has added three desktop PCs using the Intel 486 processor to its
personal computer line.

The Dasher II-486SX/25A, the Dasher II-486/33A, and the Dasher
II-486DX2/50A allow users to upgrade by replacing the original
processors with more powerful ones in future, the company said.

The Dasher II-486SX/25A is based on the 25-megahertz version of the
80486SX processor. The Dasher II-486/33A uses the 33-megahertz
80486DX and the Dasher II-486DX2/50A uses the clock-doubling,
50-megahertz 80486DX2 chip.

Data General is aiming the least powerful of the three models, the
486SX/25A, at any processor-intensive application where a math
coprocessor is not required. The other two, both of which come with
a math co-processor chip as standard equipment, are meant mainly
for computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and other
math-intensive applications.

While "more people are just going for the 486 right off the bat"
rather than choosing less powerful PCs, company spokesman Chris
Sampson said, Data General still sees the 486 models selling mainly
to users with above-average computing power needs.

The three new PCs are almost the same except for their processors.
All come with four megabytes of memory expandable to 16 megabytes;
8K bytes of on-board cache memory; an Ultra VGA video controller
with 512K bytes of video memory expandable to one megabyte; a
built-in Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) controller; floppy
and Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) hard disk controllers; four
full-sized, 16-bit expansion slots; two 3.5-inch drive bays; and
two 5.25-inch drive bays.

The 486SX/25A can be upgraded to Intel's 80487SX/25 and 80486DX/33
processors, while all three models can be upgraded to Intel's
ODP486SX/25 (DX2/50) and ODP486DX/33 (DX2/66) Overdrive processors.
Users may buy a chip-upgrade kit from Data General and install the
upgrade themselves any time after a system is purchased, the vendor
said, or they can buy a machine with a processor upgrade already
installed and tested.

Prices start at $2,095 for the 486SX/25A, $2,445 for the 33A, and
$2,795 for the 50A, Sampson said.

(Grant Buckler/19921104/Press Contact: Chris Sampson, Data General,
508-898-4288)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00016)

Canada: ISM Completes East-Coast Acquisition 11/04/92
MONCTON, NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA, 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- ISM Information
Systems Management, a Regina, Saskatchewan-based computer services
company, has completed a deal giving it a sizable interest in
computer services firm Datacor Atlantic.

Datacor Atlantic, which serves the four Atlantic Provinces, will be
renamed Datacor/ISM Information Systems Management Atlantic Inc.
ISM, Canada's largest computer services firm, gets a stake of more
than 25 percent in the firm, said ISM spokesman Ray Lancashire. New
Brunswick Telephone will remain the controlling shareholder, and
its present partner, Blue Cross of Atlantic Canada, also keeps an
interest.

IBM Canada, which is majority shareholder in ISM, will have a key
role in marketing Datacor Atlantic's services, the companies said.

New Brunswick Telephone and Blue Cross Atlantic have extended their
current outsourcing contracts with Datacor for 10 years. These
contracts are valued at C$170 million, the companies said.

The companies are not revealing the exact stakes held by each
partner.

Lancashire said the deal is part of a national ISM strategy of
allying with companies that are strong in various Canadian regions.
He likened this deal to a joint venture with British Columbia
Telephone that created ISM Information Systems Management (BC) in
December of 1991.

ISM also has an alliance with DMR Group, a Montreal-based national
consulting firm, to provide outsourcing services primarily in the
province of Quebec.

Datacor/ISM Atlantic has annual revenues of C$25 million, with data
centers in Moncton and Saint John, New Brunswick and additional
offices in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and Charlottetown, Prince
Edward Island.

ISM has annual revenues of more than C$350 million, with computing
centers in Vancouver, Calgary, Regina, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa,
and Montreal.

(Grant Buckler/19921104/Press Contact: Ray Lancashire, ISM,
416-351-6301; Andrea MacFarlane, Datacor Atlantic, 506-853-3772)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00017)

Waterloo Maple, Mathsoft Announce Deal, New Releases 11/04/92
WATERLOO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- Waterloo Maple
Software has announced two new releases of its Maple V symbolic
computation software and an alliance with MathSoft, the Cambridge,
Mass.-based maker of Mathcad calculation software.

MathSoft and Waterloo Maple will cooperate on development and
marketing of the Maple V software. Waterloo Maple's marketing
manager, Janet Cater, said MathSoft will sell her company's
software to its customers in the commercial market, while Waterloo
Maple continues to focus on academic customers. MathSoft also uses
part of the Maple V code in its Mathcad product.

Waterloo Maple also announced the first release of Maple V for the
Microsoft Windows operating environment. Maple V Release 1.1 for
Windows offers essentially the same functions as the existing Unix
version of the software, Cater said, though the interface is
somewhat different.

This is the first in a series of releases for new platforms over
the next few months, Cater said. Maple V, which currently runs on
Unix platforms from Digital Equipment and Sun Microsystems, will be
available on all Unix systems by the end of the year, she said. In
the first quarter of 1993, Waterloo Maple plans versions for DOS,
the Apple Macintosh, and Next systems. Release 2 for Windows is
also to ship early in 1993, the company said.

Waterloo Maple also announced Release 2 of Maple V for Unix. New
features in this release include more than 700 new math functions,
advanced graphics, an interface compliant with the OSF Motif
standard, and enhancements to the Maple programming language, the
company said.

Suggested retail prices for Maple V Release 2 for Unix and Release
1.1 for Windows start at US$795, with educational prices from
US$595.

(Grant Buckler/19921104/Press Contact: Janet Cater, Waterloo Maple,
519-747-2373; Ellen Koup, MathSoft, 617-577-1017; Public Contact:
Waterloo Maple, 800-877-6583 or 519-747-2373; MathSoft,
800-628-4223 or 617-577-1017)


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

PictureTel Moves in Education Market 11/04/92
DANVERS, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- PictureTel is
making a major move into the education market with a system
called PictureTel Learning. The system is aimed at the national
need to re-educate the workforce, through continuous education.

The product is a complete videoconferencing system designed for
use in corporate training and university education. One version,
the Learning Option Package, an add-on to regular PictureTel
systems, costs $10,000 and includes presentation tools and
microphones that can be used with any PictureTel System 4000
Model 200 through Model 800. The second offering, the Classroom
System, is a PictureTel System 4000 with large monitor,
instructor tools and popular performance features, and sells for
$67.000. Optional features include dual, large-screen monitors,
ceiling microphones, a VCR, and slide and scan converters, and it
will become available in the middle of 1993.

The company is also making available what it calls the
Presenter's User Interface, a software feature available only
with its PictureTel Learning application packages. The PUI makes
giving presentations easy and enables the camera present buttons
to execute a pre-defined set of commands, PictureTel claims.

Spokesman Ron Taylor told Newsbytes, "PictureTel is getting away
from just being a box manufacturer. The real market growth is in
specific applications, such as education, and this addresses
that market in an effective way. The product is the first piece
of our efforts to go after the education market. The other
pieces, which will prove bigger, are our relationships, with
Wilson Learning, Columbia and Stanford, among others.

"It's going to be a major hunk," of PictureTel's future
business. "This is one of the applications that's going to drive
growth."

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921104/Press Contact: Ron Taylor,
PictureTel, 508-762-5178)


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

Comtex Aiming for Vertical Markets 11/04/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- Comtex, best
known for its Newsgrid keyword-searchable newswires which are
available on online services such as GEnie, announced a deal with
PJB Publications to bring its daily pharmaceutical, health care,
animal health and agrochemical industry news coverage into the
electronic mail market.

As with the basic Newsgrid offering, which uses a variety of wire
services, users define a personalized profile based on subjects
relevant to their interests. News articles are then matched
against the profile to provide a personalized news service
delivered to specified e-mail boxes. The result is timely
notification of news developments before the start of the working
day.

PJB Publications' printed newsletters Scrip, Clinica, Agrow and
Animal Pharm have, up till now, been presented electronically as
the online Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Industries News
Database, on Dialog, BRS, and DataStar, both as a daily updated
news file and an archive file for searching. The application from
Comtex is complementary, PJB said in a press statement.

While charges are made per story received, a license agreement is
available from PJB Publications for those who wish to
redistribute or receive multiple deliveries.

Newsbytes discussed the new contract with Comtex general manager,
Bob Schwartz. Schwartz said that Comtex is getting more heavily
into vertical markets, and had a lot of interest from people in
pharmaceuticals, so "PBJ was a natural fit." He also noted that,
while InfoTechnology, the bankrupt company which once owned UPI,
retains its majority stake in Comtex, Comtex is a separate
company and is not impacted by InfoTechnology's troubles.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921104/Press Contact: Bob Schwartz, Comtex,
203-358-0007)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00020)

Evergreen Moves Ahead With Online Business Service 11/04/92
MCLEAN, VIRGINIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- While some
observers feel that the market for online business information
is becoming saturated, a new company called Evergreen Information
Technologies is forging ahead with a service which will go online
early next year, called PowerTree.

Marg Donnelly of Evergreen tells Newsbytes that her company,
which is just now creating a system, will have some advantages
over competitors like Dialog and Mead Data Central, despite the
fact they're delivering public information which is available
elsewhere. "There are other companies offering pieces of this
information. But none has it integrated. There's real value in
having it integrated."

Specifically, Donnelly says, Evergreen is aiming at serving
companies interested in securing contracts. "There are other
online bid announcement and bid board services. After you get
information on those other services, you have to go elsewhere to
learn if you want to bid. We'll let you click a button to get to
a military specification, for instance, so you can see exactly
whether you can bid." Donnelly adds that, while much of the data
it's offering is already available on CD-ROMs, an online service
can still add value. "We have a military and federal
specifications file, which is on over 60 CD-ROMs. You can't do a
full text search there, and you can't relate it well to other
information."

Evergreen will have two user interfaces, a standard keyboard
interface for casual use, and a Windows-type environment for
regular customers. "You'll also be able to dial-in with a credit
card, without a subscription."

This week, the company selected several key vendors for
PowerTree. President Barry Nelsen said the company selected
Sprint as PowerTree's on-line telephone carrier, Informix as
its database management software, and TextMachine as its
preprocessing software. Nelsen also announced that Evergreen had
chosen Sequent Computers to supply the computer server to be used
by Evergreen to store and process PowerTree's data.

Evergreen previously announced that it had signed non-exclusive licenses
with four major industry associations with a combined membership of
375,000. These people have access to more than 16,000 standardization
documents and can electronically distribute such documents on
PowerTree. Evergreen anticipates multi-million dollar annual
revenues from these licenses once PowerTree is operational.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921104/Press Contact: Marg Donnelly,
Evergreen Information Technologies, 703-556-6200, fax: 703-556-
6837)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00021)

International Telecom Update 11/04/92
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- While the selection
of President-elect Bill Clinton by US voters was the major
world headline, change continued on the international
telecommunications front.

MCI and Sprint, AT&T's primary competitors, both said they are
investing in the TPC-5 network spanning the Pacific Ocean. A
total of 46 companies are investing in the network, but AT&T will
have the largest share.

In Brazil, voice mail vendor Octel announced a "virtual telephone
service." Octel Sierra voice mail platforms will be used by three
units of the national Telebras monopoly to give subscribers
unique, assigned numbers which can be reached from any telephone.
Callers can leave detailed messages which are then retrieved from
any rotary telephone. The system solves the problem of waiting
for a line, which is severe in Brazil and many other developing
countries. It can also be used to deliver such Octel services as
audio information, voice messaging and interactive voice
response. To make the Brazilian system work, the company also
developed what it calls the Telesis Crossbar Integration Device
to integrate the Sierra with old crossbar telephone switches.

The Brazilian government, meanwhile, continues to send mixed
signals on privatizing Telebras. Officials are talking about
"social justice" while vowing free-market reforms and
privatization will move ahead. The new government is also
planning on working more closely with the national Congress on
things like trade freedom, a trade alliance known as Mercosur,
intellectual property protection, a rejection of programs such as
price freezes, and fiscal reform, where it is continuing to fight
International Monetary Fund moves to pay debt quickly on the
grounds that would sink the economy.

On the subject of Telebras, the phone network will remain in state
hands until the national constitution is changed, but its cellular
subsidiary will be spun-off more quickly. The "social justice"
theme, which some observers call a red flag, may be less of a
problem than it appears, thanks to President-elect Bill Clinton's
embrace of the same ideas in his "Putting People First" program,
which also puts-off debt reduction in favor of economic growth and
social equality.

Uruguay, meanwhile, is now in the electoral spotlight, facing a
plebiscite on moves to privatize its Antel phone monopoly. The
issue has divided the Colorado Party, which once ruled the
nation, while the newly governing National Party and leftist
"Broad Front" opposition create strong pro-divestment and anti-
divestment camps.

In Micronesia, NYNEX DPI said it signed a contract to install new
"Telco Friendly" Software in Pohnpei, supplying operations
systems support for the islands of Kosrae, Pohnpei, Truk and Yap.
Phone systems there have a total of 3,000 access lines, but the
company plans $40 million in modernization.

Finally, the nation of Sri Lanka said it will spend $27.3 million
in a new modernization program. The home nation of famed science
fiction author Arthur C. Clarke will install cellular telephone
and paging networks, radio data services, card telephones and
more international direct dialing links. The nation hopes to
replace telegrams with faxes as part of the effort.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921104/Press Contact: NYNEX DPI, Patty
Griffin, 713/240-9200; Janis Langley, Sprint, 202-828-7427; Octel
Communications, Barbara Burdick, 408/321-3245)


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

Compuadd Intros Color Notebook 11/04/92
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- CompuAdd Corporation has
announced a 5.9-pound color notebook computer that includes a
built-in trackball, with a starting price of $2,595.

The direct sales manufacturer says the base unit of the 425C comes
with an 80-megabyte (MB) hard drive, a built-in trackball, 4 MB of
system memory, a 3.5-inch high-density floppy drive, and a Cyrix
math coprocessor chip. The system is powered by Cyrix's 25 megahertz
(MHz) 486SLC microprocessor.

The 425C has a 8.5-inch diagonal passive-matrix liquid crystal
display (LCD) which uses a 640 by 480 16-color VGA display, and has
an external 15-pin plug for an external VGA monitor with up to 800
by 600 resolution. The user can specify external, internal, or
simultaneous display from a set-up menu.

CompuAdd spokesperson Wendell Watson told Newsbytes he wasn't aware
of any possible impact on the price for the 425C that might result
from Intel Corporation's recent action in seeking to collect
royalties on PCs that use clones of Intel's 486 microprocessor.
Watson said that CompuAdd didn't expect the upward trend of DRAM
(dynamic random access memory) chip prices would be enough to affect
the unit's price either.

The 425's built-in trackball is located just above the right corner
of the keyboard, and includes two buttons mounted on the right side
of the case. The keyboard includes an embedded numeric keypad, and
also has an external PS/2-style keyboard connection, two serial
ports, and one parallel port.

Available options include an internal fax/modem capable of 9600 bps
(bits per second) fax send/receive and 2400 bps data send/receive
priced at $129. A spare nickel-cadmium (NiCad) battery is $75, and
the system memory can be upgraded to 8 MB for $349. Dual NiCad's
provide about two hours of continuous use, with recharging time of
1.5-2 hours per battery.

Watson said the 425C is scheduled to ship later this month, and
comes with a one-year warranty, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and
lifetime toll-free support around the clock. Power management
features are built in, reducing the clock speed when the system is
idle, and providing power-down to the hard drive and LCD after a
user-specified period of inactivity.

(Jim Mallory/19921104/Press contact: Wendell Watson, CompuAdd
Corporation, 512-250-2530, fax [phone]; Reader contact:
800-456-3116)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00023)

CompuAdd Intros New Workstation, Server Line 11/04/92
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- CompuAdd has unveiled its
new MC series of six workstations and servers which the company
certifies are network ready. It also says it has entered into an
agreement with Novell to ship all its desktop and floor-standing PCs
NetWare ready, preloaded with Novell's Netware Workstation for
DOS/Windows, NetWare Lite 1.1 and NetWare Lite's Utility for Windows
software at no extra charge to the customer.

CompuAdd is offering five chassis styles in the MC series. You can
order a five-slot, three bay low profile workstation chassis; an
eight-slot, six-bay desktop unit which the company says is designed
for use as a workstation or a server; or an eight-slot, nine-bay
floor-standing server system. Each is compatability-tested and
certified for Novell NetWare Lite and the NetWare Client, MS-DOS,
Windows and IBM OS/2 version 2.0 software. EISA server systems are
also certified for Novell NetWare 2.x and 3.x, Banyan Vines 5.0 and
MS LAN Man version 2.1.

Other features include SCSI-2 technology with 10 megabyte (MB) data
transfer, an Intel 486 microprocessor, hard drives of 120 MB or 500
MB capacity, 4 MB of random access memory (RAM) expandable up to 64
MB depending on the model, DOS, Windows, and network software
preloaded, and on-site service within four hours. Toll-free
telephone support is available 24 hours a day. All of the systems
include on-chip cache of 8 kilobytes (K) and an external cache of
64K or 128K. The cache in the 33 MHz and 66 MHz systems can be
upgraded to 256K.

CompuAdd spokesperson Wendell Watson told Newsbytes the company also
offers an option of several network cards, including Intel, National
Datacom, and Thomas Conrad boards. CompuAdd also offers pre-and post
installation services and site surveys, on-site installation,
cabling installation, and customized remote and on-site support.
Charges for those services are based on a hourly fee, and Watson
told Newsbytes potential buyers can call CompuAdd for an estimate.

MC-series prices range from $1,799 to $4,729. Standard configuration
for the low profile and desktop systems includes 4MB of RAM and a
120 MB IDE hard drive. The floor models come with a 500 MB SCSI hard
drive. Standard on all models are dual floppy high-density drives
and a 14-inch .28 dot pitch color monitor.

CompuAdd will also pre-load selected software packages chosen from a
list of 18 applications. Included are Word for Windows, Wordperfect
for DOS or Windows, Lotus for DOS or Windows, Excel, Quattro, Harvard
Graphics for DOS or Windows, PowerPoint, Paradox, Norton Desktop for
Windows, Microsoft Office, Windows For Workgroups, Corel Draw, and
Microsoft Publisher.

(Jim Mallory/19921104/Press contact: Wendell Watson, CompuAdd,
512-250-2530, fax [phone]; Reader contact: 800-456-3116)


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

All Systems Stop On Danish Telecom Privatization 11/04/92
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK, 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- The Danish Ministry of
Communications has put an indefinite hold on the sale of a 43
percent (out of a total of 94 percent) share in Tele Denmark, the
state-controlled telecom company. The move follows news that a
possible international telecom deal is in the offing for the
company.

Newsbytes notes that the deal, rumors of which have been
circulating for some time, should add to the overall value of
Tele Denmark. Under a proposed new plan being put before the
Danish Government this week, an 18 percent stake in the Danish
telecom company will be issued for sale in the second half of
next year, with the remaining 25 percent of the original 53
percent earmarked for a Nordic deal.

Sources close to Tele Denmark suggest that the Nordic deal will
almost certainly include an American telecom company, in
preparation for the January 1 deadline when all border controls
come down. Ironically, Tele Denmark was itself formed in January
of last year from five regional companies with the express aim of
creating a large combine capable of offering telecom services on
a cross-border basis within Europe.

(Steve Gold/19921104)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00025)

UK: BT's EDI*Net Contract With HM Customs & Excise 11/04/92
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- British Telecom (BT) has
scored a major coup by signing the government's Customs & Excise
division to its EDI*Net electronic data network service. The
contract move has been made just months before the start of the
so-called "Free Europe," a trade barrier-free area which spans
Europe, from January 1 next year.

The deal comes just weeks after BT's link-up to several other EDI
network service providers -- notably AT&T and IBM -- was
announced. It effectively gives HM Customs & Excise's computers
the ability to interact with most European EDI networks, meaning
that the days of paper-shuffling within Europe's tax
administrations may soon be over.

The ability to move data quickly and efficiently between various
companies and HM Customs & Excise's computers is important,
since, while the need for most trading documentation between
countries within the European Community will be removed from
January 1, 1993, there will still be a need for value-added tax
(VAT) information.

VAT is a cascaded purchase tax that most EC countries employ. As
a manufacturer sells a product on to a distributor, VAT at the
going rate (currently 17.5 percent in the UK) is added.

When the distributor sells the product to the shop, which would
normally be at a higher price to reflect the distributor's profit
margins, the original manufacturer's (input) VAT is deducted, and
new (output) VAT is added. In turn, the shop deducts the input
VAT and, once the price to the consumer is calculated, the output
VAT is added on again.

Though this system seems a lot more complex than straight
purchase tax, it ensures that, when a product or service is sold
to an end user, the appropriate VAT is paid. It also ensures that
an element of the tax is payable on profits taken all the way
down the sale chain, rather than require the retailer to act as
an unpaid collector of taxes. Furthermore, since input and output
VAT can offset each other, it ensures that a trader only pays VAT
on the profit margin rather than the entire product or service.

BT is now testing a number of software packages which will
enable EDI*Net customers to simplify the transmission of data
directly into HM Customs & Excise's Electronic Data Capture
Service (EDCS). The software ranges from a simple EDI "starter
pack," which uses pre-formatted screens to prompt the user to key
in the correct data, to a sophisticated system which
will interface with a company's existing accounting procedures.

Announcing the HM Customs & Excise deal, Neil Lawrence, BT's
commercial manager for EDI, said: "We have developed this
application by working in partnership with specialist EDI
software vendors, and by drawing on the experience and insight
gained from over 20 years of working with Customs and Excise.
It offers companies an ideal opportunity to get started in EDI
-- our preferred method of data transmission -- which, when
deployed amongst their own suppliers, will lead to all the
traditional benefits such as delivery time reduction, cash flow
improvement and inventory cost cutting," he added.

So what is EDI? According to BT's official explanation, EDI is
the name given to the way in which structured business documents,
which conform to agreed standards, can be exchanged directly
between computers.

The data, unlike proprietary free-form electronic mail, is then
in a format to be processed efficiently and unambiguously by
the computers without the need for manual intervention.

(Steve Gold/19921104/Press Contact: For BT - Jenny Bailey
Associates - Tel: [phone]; Email on Dialcom: 10080:BTG950;
Email on Internet: [e-mail])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00026)

UK-Finland Roaming For GSM Mobile Phones 11/04/92
NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- Vodafone in the
UK and Radiolinja of Finland have announced an international
roaming agreement for users of their Global System for Mobile
Communications (GSM) digital mobile phones.

GSM -- previously referred to as Groupe Speciale Mobile by some
operators -- is a new digital phone system that uses a smart card
to store subscriber IDs. This means that a subscriber on one
network can simply transfer the card between phones, even in
different countries, and still make/receive calls as normal. The
GSM network infrastructure is intelligent enough to transfer
calls between countries, provided that roaming arrangements have
been reached between the administrations concerned.

Vodafone's GSM network was formally launched in December of last
year, although Newsbytes notes that the service has only recently
been available "over the counter" through Vodafone's retailers in
the UK. GSM service is available over around 25 percent of the
UK at the moment, with plans to roll out the service to 90
percent of the British population by the spring of next year.

Although this is the first international roaming agreement for
Vodafone, there have been unconfirmed reports circulating in the
telecom industry that users of Vodafone GSM phones have
successfully placed outgoing calls on the German GSM network,
though no bills have yet been received. Sources close to Deutsche
Bundespost Telekom (DBT) in Germany suggest that the loophole in
the DBT network will shortly be plugged by a formal agreement
between the two administrations.

GSM has been adopted by 27 network operators in 18 European
countries. There are plans to install GSM networks in countries
outside Europe as well.

(Steve Gold/19921104)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00027)

Wordstar To Lay Off 46 Employees 11/04/92
NOVATO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- Wordstar, which
recently announced several low-priced software bundles to
entice buyers, says it will lay off 46 employees, or
approximately 26 percent of its workforce worldwide.

Wordstar says the layoffs are part of its continuing efforts to
cut expenses. The company has been losing money off and on for
several years but recently has taken to acquiring other
companies. The most recent is a merger pending between Wordstar
and Zsoft, makers of PC Paint.

Wordstar also the product and all rights to Legacy, a word
processing software package developed by NBI. There has been
some mention Legacy might be incorporated into Wordstar's DOS
product, but no formal plans have been announced.

For its 1992 year end results, Wordstar posted losses of $4.9
million ($.33 cents per share). The current layoffs will leave
the company with approximately 134 employees worldwide,
Wordstar representatives said.

Wordstar also recently announced software bundles, such as its
DOS Works bundle. The DOS Works bundle includes version 7.0 of
Wordstar for DOS with the American Heritage Dictionary; Correct
Grammar; Correct Writing; Correct Letters; Correct Quotes, and
graphics program PC Paintbrush IV Plus for $495.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921104/Press Contact: David Russian,
Wordstar, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00028)

 ****Database Moves At CA Conference 11/04/92
ISLANDIA, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- Computer Associates
had a good deal of news for database developers attending its
CA-TechniCon 92 conference in New York this week. Among the
attractions was a demonstration of the Aspen project that CA
acquired along with Nantucket Software earlier this year -- and an
official name for the software, which is to ship some time in 1993.

CA also upgraded its dBFast database software for the Microsoft
Windows operating environment, and announced a set of add-on tools
for Clipper, the currently shipping database software it inherited
from Nantucket.

The code name Aspen will be replaced by the official tag CA-Visual
Objects for Clipper. The completely graphical, object-oriented
database software will incorporate some Clipper technology,
including Clipper's programming language, said Marc Sokol, CA's
director of product strategy.

Visual Objects and Clipper will co-exist for some time to come,
Sokol said, noting that Visual Objects is meant strictly for
graphical environments while Clipper runs on plain DOS -- so as
long as there is DOS, there will be Clipper, he concluded.

Features of Visual Objects for Clipper include an object-oriented
language, a native code compiler, an integrated development
environment, visual development tools, and open database access,
the vendor said. Object-oriented programming tools, including class
libraries, and an object-oriented repository will also be included.

CA claimed that new incremental compiler technology will make
Visual Objects code perform 100 times faster than other Xbase
(dBase-compatible) database software.

CA plans to be shipping beta-test copies of Visual Objects for
Clipper by the beginning of 1993 and the final version some time
next year, Sokol said.

Meanwhile, there will be a new release of Clipper in December.
CA-Clipper 5.2, adding a number of enhancements, was demonstrated
at TechniCon.

Key changes in the new release include new and enhanced replaceable
database drivers (RDDs) for FoxPro, Paradox, NTX, and dBase IV; a
published application program interface (API) to provide access to
internal specifications of the RDDs and virtual memory management
systems; improved documentation; better support for the Expanded
Memory Specification (EMS); and display enhancements.

The list price for CA-Clipper 5.2 will be $795, but current users
will be able to buy the new release for $149 for a limited time,
the company said. CA is also offering a competitive upgrade from
other Xbase software for $199, throwing in a copy of either dBFast,
CA-Clipper Tools, or its CA-Clipper/Compiler Kit for dBase IV.

Computer Associates also announced a new release of CA-Clipper
Tools, a collection of functions for Clipper applications
developers. The update concentrates on networking, including more
than 250 new functions that work with Novell's NetWare local-area
network operating system to give multi-user applications more
efficiency and integrity, the company said.

The new CA-Clipper Tools is due to ship in December with a list
price of $695. Users of the previous version (sold as Nantucket
Tools before the acquisition) can upgrade for $129.

Finally, CA enhanced its dBFast database compiler for Windows.
Changes include a visual application designer that lets developers
create applications by using the mouse to point, click, drag, and
drop. "It no longer requires you to code line by line," Sokol said.

CA-dBFast 2.0 also includes CA's CA-RET database report generator,
an updated debugger, and an improved program editor that allows as
many as eight documents to be open at once. New database management
commands available at the menu selection level will let developers
create or modify files and do other tasks interactively.

Currently in beta testing, dBFast 2.0 will have a list price of
$550, with upgrades available for $195.

(Grant Buckler/19921104/Press Contact: Bob Gordon, Computer
Associates, 516-342-2391, fax [phone]; Public Contact:
Computer Associates, 800-225-5224)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(TOR)(00029)

Canada: Long-Distance Competition Is Here -- For Some 11/04/92
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- Small-business and
residential telephone users in Canada now have a choice of
long-distance carriers. If, that is, they live in one of the
country's three largest cities. Most other Canadians will have to
wait a few more months, and those in two provinces may not have
long-distance competition for some time.

Unitel Communications, a national carrier that won the right to
compete in long-distance service last spring, opened up its
long-distance service to residential and small-business customers
in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver today. Larger business
customers, along with Unitel's own employees, have been using the
system since October 19.

Peter Janecek, a spokesman for Unitel, said "welcome packs" were
sent out yesterday to customers who have signed up for the service.
More than 11,000 residential users have signed on so far, according
to Unitel.

During 1993, Unitel plans to extend its service across the country.
However, the federal regulatory decision that opened up competition
to Unitel and to a coalition of Toronto-based Lightel and
Vancouver-based B.C. Rail Telecommunications does not apply to the
provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, which remain
provincially regulated. Competition is expected in Alberta in spite
of that -- Unitel is currently negotiating with AGT, the carrier in
that province -- but there is no immediate prospect of competition
in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Regulators gave Unitel approval to offer rates 15 percent below
those of the established phone companies. However, for several
months until all the interconnection details are worked out,
customers will have to dial extra digits in order to use the
competitive service.

(Grant Buckler/19921104/Press Contact: Peter Janecek, Unitel,
416-345-2767)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SFO)(00030)

EO Licenses Sitka Technology For Personal Communicators 11/04/92
ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 4 (NB) -- The ability
to network the new generation of "personal communicators" is
seen as an important factor in their success. Towards that end,
EO Inc. and Sitka Corp. have entered into a licensing agreement
that will enable EO's products to share resources and information
on local area networks.

Under terms of the agreement, Sitka's PenTOPS and PenCentral
mobile networking products will be bundled with EO's Personal
Communicator 440 and 880.

According to the company, Sitka's products will give EO's
Personal Communicators access to "all network resources,
including shared files, network printers, CD-ROM, and network
applications, such as corporate databases and groupware."

EO introduced its first "personal communicator" this week. The
hand-held device that combines the capabilities of a pager, phone,
fax, computer, and electronic organizer. It can also send and
receive text-based messages and documents, send and receive
faxes and organize information. With the addition of other
software, the machine could provide functions normally
performed on portable computers.

The device is to become available in the second quarter of next
year, priced from $1,999 to $3,299. Additionally, with a $799
add-on device, users can send and receive cellular phone calls as
well as documents. The device also contains a microphone and
speaker.

The company claims to be the first to come to market with such
a product. Apple Computer has already demonstrated its own
prototype, called Newton.

According to EO, the device weighs from 2.2 pounds to four pounds,
depending on the model. The base model is about 11-inches long,
seven-inches wide, and less than an inch high. The EO units do not
have a keyboard. Users write on a screens with a special pen, using
special software from GO Corp.

(Ian Stokell/19921104/Press Contact: Rick Brown, Sitka Corp.,
510-769-2679)