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(NEWS)(GENERAL)(LON)(00001)

UK: Visnews Becomes Reuters Television 11/30/92
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Reuters has announced it is
changing the name of Visnews, its TV subsidiary, to Reuters
Television, following its recent purchase of 100 percent of
Visnews shares.

Announcing the name change, Reuters' Editor in Chief Mark Wood
said that it will be phased in the end of the year and is a
reflection of the rapid integration of Visnews in the Reuters
organization.

Reuters acquired the full ownership of Visnews this year after
purchasing minority stakes held by the US National Broadcasting
Company (NBC) and the British Broadcasting Company (BBC).

"The name change is appropriate because we are moving quickly to
merge Reuters and Visnews operations, greatly extending the reach
of our international TV reporting network," explained Wood.

Reuters operates 118 reporting bureaus in 75 countries while
Visnews currently has 34. The name change, according to Wood,
"underlines Reuters commitment to building its TV business."

The formal name change takes place on 1st January, 1993. The
company's headquarters will remain at Cumberland Avenue in West
London. The logo used by the company will be identical to the
standard Reuters logo.

(Steve Gold/19921127/Press & Public Contact: Reuters - Tel: 071-
250-1122)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00002)

Sprint Acquires Remainder Of Plessey-Telenet 11/30/92
BASINGSTOKE, HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Sprint has
acquired the remaining 51 percent interest in Plessey Telenet
Limited from GEC Siemens, its partner in the UK-based joint
venture. Terms of the buy-out have not been disclosed.

Plans call for Plessey-Telenet to be incorporated in Sprint's
organization, which will continue to provide and support Sprint
network systems business services.

Plessey Telenet has been providing Sprint's packet switched data
network service in the UK since 1987 and, in the Netherlands,
through its subsidiary, Plessey Telenet BV.

"By further becoming the sole owner of Plessey Telenet, Sprint
further solidifies its presence in the UK telecoms market and
fortifies its commitment to its customers in Northern Europe,"
commented Vincent Gargaro, Sprint Northern Europe's chief
executive.

(Steve Gold/19921127/Press & Public Contact: Rob Schweidler,
Miller UK for Sprint - Tel: [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00003)

 ****Tape Format Quandries Plague Industry 11/30/92
SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- A report
from the International Tape Association conference may mean
manufacturers of video cassette delivery formats are in a
dangerous position. Conference speaker Bob Pfannkuch, president
of Telefuture Partners, was quoted in the November 2 issue of
Phillips Home Media Technology News as saying, "The good news
is there's a lot of new technology coming. The bad news is
there's a lot of new technology coming."

The rapid change in the videotape industry in terms of format
(Mini Disc and digital compact cassette) and technology delivery
(direct broadcast satellite and video dial tone) means
manufacturers are being faced with investment in new technology
for the deliver of entertainment products.

Pfannkuch stressed those who refuse to move out of standard VHS
technology into other non-linear technologies will see the
technology acceleration as a threat. And Pfannkuch's contention
is the change is going to as rapid as "the pull of gravity."

"The closer you get to a major mass, the more raid change
occurs. I don't think there's ever been a time when there has
been as much change as there's going to be between now and the
year 2000," Pfannkuch was quoted saying.

The question is, which of the new formats will survive?
Retailers are already faced with stocking four formats of
digital audio, including the new Mini Disc and digital compact
cassette (DCC) and Pfannkuch is questioning whether retailers
will be willing to give up that much shelf space.

Pfannkuch's contention is the dominant format will be chosen by
the entertainment industry. "The great [film] libraries of the
world reside in Hollywood and whether we like it or not, the
big bucks are going to be made there."

Players for one new format, DCC, were just introduced by
Panasonic and Phillips. Panasonic's player, the Technics RS-
DC10, is expected to retail for $999.95, while the Phillips
DCC900 is retail priced at $799.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921127/Press Contact: Chris McConnell, Home
Media Technology News, tel [phone], fax [phone],
Public Contact 800-777-5006)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LAX)(00004)

Lowest-Cost Integrated Modem Offered By Rockwell 11/30/92
NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Rockwell
says it has the lowest-cost modem for integration into a
computer system. The RC229ATF/2 is a personal computer (PC)
card modem combining a 2400 bits-per-second data modem and
9600 send/receive fax for $19.85 each in quantities of 10,000,
Rockwell said.

The Rockwell Protocol Interface (RPI) allows the implementation
of V.42 and MNP 2-4 error correction as well as V.42 bis and
MNP 5 data compression. RPI is the factor that has reduced the
components in the PC-card modem which in turn has reduced the price.

Low power consumption, at +5 volts is a feature of the
RC229ATF/2. The modem is also capable of auto-dial, auto-answer,
data/fax discrimination, integrated call progress and dialing,
programmable speaker volume control, and sleep and wake-up modes.
Group 3 fax support is included using the AT+F command set.

In addition, a five-year warranty is offered on the RC229ATF/2.

Newport Beach, California-based Rockwell International is
probably best known for work done in the aerospace industry.
The company says it offers a range of products to electronics,
automotive, and graphics businesses as well.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921127/Press Contact: Eileen Algaze,
Rockwell International, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00005)

New For PC: Mowgli Brothers Jungle Book CD-ROM 11/30/92
UNION CITY, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- The first
of three in a Jungle Book series, Mowgli's Brothers is an
interactive retelling of the story in compact disc read-only
memory (CD-ROM) format from Ebook.

Geared toward children and based on the acclaimed novels by
Rudyard Kipling, the Mowgli's Brothers CD-ROM is about growing
up with wolves and the lessons of life learned by the young
Mowgli.

Original music, 30 color and black and white illustrations, and
highlights on difficult words with links to an on-line
dictionary are featured on the CD-ROM, Ebook said. The book is
divided into pages and a recorded voice reads automatically or
by single page selection.

In addition, Mowgli's Brothers can also be played on a CD audio
player. The CD-ROM title retails for $49.95.

Ebook is an electronic publisher of arts and humanities books,
multimedia music, children's storybooks, and general interest
titles for the multimedia personal computer (MPC), Macintosh,
and IBM CD-ROM platforms. The Mowgli Brothers title is being
distributed by Electronic Arts.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921127/Press Contact: Jessee Allread, Ebook,
510-429-1331, Mary Snow, Electronic Arts, 415-513-7199)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TYO)(00006)

Fujitsu, Matsushita Produce Optical Disk Drives In Quantity 11/30/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Fujitsu and Matsushita Electric
will each be manufacturing 3.5-inch optical disk drives in mass,
competing with Sony for this newly emerging market, driven by
the sudden popularity of multimedia computers. The production
increase is expected to result in price drops on optical disks.

Fujitsu will produce optical disk drives which are only 1-inch
thick, the thinnest 3.5-inch optical disks in the world. Fujitsu
is currently building a plant for this mass production in
Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Sample product has been produced
at another plant.

Fujitsu plans to ship 2,000 to 3,000 units per month through March,
1993 at which time the production rate will be raised to 10,000 units
per month in April. This is a major change for Fujitsu, which used
to receive the disks from Sony on an OEM (original equipment
manufacturer) basis.

Matsushita Electric will also increase production of optical
disk drives at its plant in Kadoma, Osaka, Japan. The firm wants
to double production of 3.5-inch optical disks by the end of this year.

A 3.5-inch optical disk can store as much data as 100 floppy disks.
This is ideal for multimedia products, which consist of massive
amounts of data such as photographs and video pictures. The popularity
of the 3.5-inch optical disk can be directly attributed to increased
sales of multimedia personal computers such as Apple Computer's
Macintosh and Fujitsu's FM Towns.

Sony has been making 10,000 3.5-inch optical disk drives
per month since July. In all of Japan, 300,000 of the optical disk
drives were sold this year and more are expected to be sold next year
as the price is expected to drop. The price is expected to be halved
from the current 200,000 yen ($1,670) price tag.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921130/Press Contact: Fujitsu, +81-3-
3215-5236, Matsushita Electric, [phone], Fax, +81-6-906-
1749)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TYO)(00007)

Intel May License "Indeo" To Japanese Firms 11/30/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Intel is expected to license its
video computing technology called "Indeo" to Japanese electronics
makers. It is expected that Intel's multimedia software technology
manager will shortly visit Japan to talk personally with executives
of Japanese firms.

Nikkan Kogyo newspaper reports that Intel's manager of the multimedia
software technology group will visit Japan between the end of
December and early January for talks. Intel hasn't said just which
firms are involved in the licensing but has hinted that
entertainment firms and personal computer firms are among them.
Speculation has it that this means Sega Enterprises, Fujitsu, and NEC.

Intel's multimedia software manager suggested that Intel may apply
Indeo technology to ISDNs (integrated services digital networks)
wherein it may be applied for applications such as video conferencing.
This may mean additionally alliances with telecom firms, possibly
NTT or KDD.

Intel's Indeo is advanced digital video software for 80386 and
80486-based personal computers. It does not require any special
devices for playing or recording digital videos.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921130/Press Contact: Intel Japan,
 [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00008)

Japan: Mitsubishi Kasei Gets Mini-Disk License From Sony 11/30/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Mitsubishi Kasei, a subsidiary
of Mitsubishi Electric, has signed a licensing agreement with Sony
in which Mitsubishi Kasei will develop advanced optical disks using
Sony's Mini-Disk technology.

Sony's Mini-Disk is mainly designed for audio data such as music.
It vies for market share with Matsushita's and Philips' digital
compact disks or DCCs. The advantage of the Mini-Disk is
access speed which is faster than optical disks. This is due to
Mini-Disk's unique data writing method called the Magnetic
Variation Direct Overwrite method in which the Mini-Disk writes
data over previously recorded data. Current 3.5-inch optical disks
will write and delete data separately.

Mitsubishi Kasei will use the Mini-Disk read-write technology with
its faster speed and huge memory to create faster, more powerful
optical disks. Mitsubishi Kasei may produce and market the actual
Mini-Disk medium as well.

So far, 13 electronics firms including Mitsubishi Kasei have
acquired Mini-Disk manufacturing licenses from Sony.

Mitsubishi Kasei has been a producer of magnetic devices, including
floppy disks, and chemical products.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921130/Press Contact: Mitsubishi
Kasei, [phone], Fax, [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TYO)(00009)

Japan: Koei Acquires CAD Development Firm 11/30/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Japan's major game software
maker Koei has acquired the CAD (computer-aided design) department
from Ansu Consultants in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan. Koei plans to
devote more corporate energy to diversify into non-game software.

Currently, 95 percent of Koei's sales are of game software, and the
firm wants only 50 percent of its sales to be game software in the
near future. Koei expects the CAD division from Ansu Consultants,
a city planning consultant, to help in that quest. Ansu Consultants
specializes in quality CAD programs.

The first new program that Koei will sell will be Ansu's CAD program
Cyclone Solid, which operates under MS-Windows 3.0. The retail price
of this program is 198,000 yen ($1,650), a price less expensive than
the average CAD program in Japan.

The acquisition also brings Koei three top Ansu engineers who
will be employed not only in the creation of new programs, but
to beef up Koei's games. Koei wants to develop CD-ROM-based game
software or 3-dimensional software in the future. Better graphics
advanced game software are expected to be produced with CAD technology.

Koei is a major Japanese game software maker. The most popular
game is "Nobunaga no Yabou," a simulation strategy game
featuring talented Samurai warriors. The software has been used
by many Japanese firms in the training of new employees.

Koei stocks are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921130/Press Contact: Koei, +81-44-
61-6861)


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

British Telecom Modernization Awards To GPT & Ericsson 11/30/92
LONDON, ENGLAND, 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- British Telecom has awarded a
series of network improvement contracts to GPT and Ericsson. The
contracts have a net worth of UKP 926 million.

Terms of the contract call upon the two telecom companies to supply BT
with a range of new digital phone exchanges, which will be used over
the next few years to upgrade BT's network in the UK. GPT gets
the lion's share, Ericsson of Sweden gets the remainder.

Newsbytes understands that while the Ericsson deal involves exchange
hardware, GPT will work with BT's engineers to develop new driver
software for the digital exchanges, as well as for other equipment
already on the BT network. GPT has already supplied BT with an
extensive range of software to drive its exchanges, which provide a
range of facilities known as Network Services.

Network Services allow the exchange to offer advanced services to
subscribers such as three-way calling, call diversion, call waiting
and selective call barring. Network Services are currently available
across more than half of BT's exchanges, the bulk of which are
electronic or digital.

BT is pressing ahead with its ambitious exchange modernization
program. Currently, the telecom giant is installing an average of
just under two exchanges every day. The GPT and Ericsson contracts
will allow BT to install an extra 4.2 million exchange lines over the
next few years.

(Steve Gold/19921130)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LON)(00011)

Europe: COCOM Shifts Emphasis On Exports 11/30/92
PARIS, FRANCE, 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- After several months of winding
down its operations, the Coordinating Committee for Multilateral
Export Controls (COCOM) has voted itself out of its present job, that
of controlling technology exports to the former Eastern Bloc. With
immediate effect, the joint government trade group will now assist the
West in supplying technology to the 25 countries that comprise the old
Soviet group of countries and its satellites.

The change is significant, since COCOM has always been seen as the
last stumbling block to (relatively) free trade between West and East.
The COCOM members, meeting in Paris, however, have agreed on one thing
-- that the technology they assist in exporting from Europe and the US
should not fall into the wrong hands.

Speaking at what will be one of the final meetings under the old COCOM
order, John McEntee, the US commerce under-secretary, said that his
government is pledging a total of $11 million to assist the former
Eastern Bloc countries to develop safeguards on its technology, so as
to prevent the technology from falling into the wrong hands.

Despite the last 30-odd years of controls on exports to the Eastern
Bloc, McEntee said he was not so much worried about the West's high
technology falling into the wrong hands behind the former Iron
Curtain, he is concerned about countries such as Iraq and Libya. He
stressed that all countries of the world should work together in
preventing certain people access to the technology. "The world is
still not a safe place," he said.

The coming months will see a string of meetings and sub-meetings
take place among the old COCOM membership as a framework for the
new COCOM is laid out. The task ahead is formidable, not least
because of the rapid pace of changes that are taking place
behind the former Iron Curtain.

(Steve Gold/19921130)


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

Turkey Gets Ready For State Telecom Sell-off 11/30/92
ISTANBUL, TURKEY, 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Officials with the Turkish
Government has have begun preparing the groundwork for the eventual
sell-off of the more profitable parts of their state telecom
operation.

The task ahead is formidable. Not because of the logistics of moving
staff and capital around, however, but because of the complex legal
framework that is involved. Government experts have admitted that
untangling the legal knots could take as long as five years, a period
that they admit is excessive.

Industry analysts in Turkey have suggested that the best way forward
for the Turkish Government is to change the law as it relates to the
state telecom operation. That way, they argue, the government would
be relatively free to sell off those parts of the network and services
infrastructure that they want.

The figures involved are large. Turkish economy minister Tansu Ciller
has gone on record as saying that as much as $18,000 million could be
generated by a phased sell-off, an amount of money that would more
than pay off the investment the Government has in the Turkish telecom
network. The balance could be used to upgrade the less profitable
parts of the network that remain in state hands, including the local
loop, or links from the exchange to the subscriber's premises.

The sheer size of the money involved places the state sell-off of
Turkish telecom neatly into the league of the world majors such as
AT&T and British Telecom. Even so, the figures are at the upper
scale of even AT&T's purse, so any deal with the Turkish Government
is almost certain to span several years of phased payments
rather than a big paycheck all at once.

(Steve Gold/19921130)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00013)

German Deutsche Bundespost Profits Up 11/30/92
BONN, WESTERN GERMANY, 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- There may be a recession
going on in Europe, and re-unification may be costing the German
Government dearly, but it's business as usual at Deutsche Bundespost
Telekom. That's the message that the changing state telecom operation
in Germany is putting out. Officials with the company have revealed
they expect provisional 1991/92 profits of around DM 7,500 million, up
DM 200 million on the previous year.

Profits have been eaten away from other companies in the DBT
group. However, the bottom line looks like a profit possibly as
low as DM 700 million, officials have announced.

One of the many financial problems facing DBT is the enormously high
cost of financing network expansion and improvement and not just in
Eastern Germany. Western Germany's telecom network is undergoing a
period of great change, with digital mobile telecom network
technology draining DBT's coffers. The effect is likely to be short-
term only, however, as the income should start rolling in over the
coming years.

According to DBT, financial year 1992/93 should see the telecom giant
increase its cash turnover by around 7.5 percent. The devastating
effect on profits that the modernizing of the former East German
network has had should start to ease, once income from the new
networks begins to arrive. DBT plans to reinvest a substantial
amount of its profit in new technology exchanges over the next
few years.

(Steve Gold/19921130)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00014)

Spain: Management Changes At Telefonica 11/30/92
MADRID, SPAIN, 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Telefonica, the Spanish state
telecom operation, has announced a number of changes to its
management will be taking place over the next few months. The changes
are to help the company make the transition to privatization, which is
expect to accelerate once the January 1, 1993 free market deadline has
passed.

Once the European Community (EC) gets past the January 1 hurdle, most
trade barriers between EC countries will come down. In theory, this
means that a company in one EC country will be on equal footing with
another. In practice, there will still be a number of business
obstacles to be passed, such as currency conversion and costing. It is
precisely this type of change that Telefonica is preparing the way
for with its management changes.

Telefonica officials admit that the changes in the company's
organization will not take place overnight. They anticipate that the
process will take around five years, by which time the state telecom
giant will have become a private operation, competing in the world
telecom market.

(Steve Gold/19921130)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(LON)(00015)

UK: Vodafone Interim Half-Year Results 11/30/92
NEWBURY, BERKSHIRE, 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- The Vodafone Group has
announced unaudited results for the six months to September 30, 1992.
The group reports that, during the period, sales and profits were up
on the same period the previous year.

During the six months to September 30, 1992, Vodafone generated
profits of UKP 160.223 million on a turnover of UKP 319.824 million
During the same period a year ago, the group generated profits of UKP
129.774 million on a turnover of UKP 285.631 million.

According to the UK telecom company, the market for mobile telecom,
though affected by the recession, continues to grow. During September,
for example, the company connected its 750,000th subscriber to its
Vodafone analogue mobile phone network.

Network expansion will continue, officials with the company said,
thanks to the installation of digital telephone technology. In
addition, the introduction of the new Low Call cellular tariffs, as
reported previously by Newsbytes, will boost subscriber levels over
the coming months.

(Steve Gold/19921130/Press & Public Contact: Vodafone - Tel: 0635-
33251)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(HKG)(00016)

Hongkong: Northern Telecom Business CT2 System 11/30/92
WANCHAI, HONG KONG, 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Hong Kong is the site of a
worldwide launch of a new telecommunications system that is claimed
will revolutionize the workplace.

The Northern Telecom Companion system is the first fully featured,
commercial wireless system adhering to the widely accepted CT2
Common Air Interface (CAI) standard.

The system allows wireless handsets to act as extensions of any
existing PABX. The handset may also be twinned with wired
extensions to provide the option for a mobile or desk-bound
conversation, even within the same phone call.

"Although more than 200 Companion systems are undergoing trials in
Europe, North America and other parts of Asia, we chose to launch in
Hong Kong because of the sophistication of the local
telecommunications market," said Jim Long, president Northern
Telecom Asia/Pacific.

Infa Telecom Asia has been appointed by Northern Telecom as the
distributor for Hong Kong and Macau.

"This is an endorsement, once again, of Hong Kong's leadership
position in the world, in terms of its receptivity to advanced
mobile communication technologies," said Peter Tsang, chairman of
the Infa Telecom Group.

"As the Companion system adheres to the CT2 CAI standard, we've
maintained compatibility with the territory's public access CT2
networks. The same handset can be used to access both the business
PABX at work, and the public CT2 network at street level," Mr Long
said.

CT2 CAI has become the most widely accepted standard for low-power
wireless telecommunications, allowing handsets from multiple vendors
to work with multiple networks.

In contrast to other mobile systems, lower-power wireless
implementations such as Companion use much smaller cellular
structures, called picocells, to provide the high quality, high-
density coverage needed for the business environment.

More than HK$8 million in orders for the Companion system have
already been received in Hong Kong. Northern Telecom's target
industries include banking and insurance, factories, airport service
providers, retail environments, education institutions and
hospitals.

Northern Telecom introduced the Companion 100, a wireless server
that supports up to 80 portable telephones behind an existing
telephone system that supports up to 32 portable telephones.

The controller is linked to base stations scattered throughout the
office complex. Base station coverage may even extend to adjacent
floors, depending on the building material in use.

Northern Telecom also announced the availability of the Companion
portable handset, although any standard CT2 handset may be used.
The Companion system features touch-tone keys and seven special
function keys, and can operate for up to six hours of continuous
talk time. A portfolio of Companion radio diagnostic and deployment
tools was also released.

The Companion systems will be launched in 1993 in other locations in
the Pacific Rim, as well as the United States, Canada, Europe, the
Caribbean and Latin America.

(Brett Cameron/19921130/Press Contact: Mr Ira Caplan, Northern
Telecom, Tel:[phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(HKG)(00017)

China: Northern Telecom In Joint Venture 11/30/92
BEIJING, CHINA, 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Northern Telecom, a global supplier
of fully digital telecommunications switching systems, has entered
into a joint venture partnership in the People's Republic of China
(PRC), with the China International Telecommunications Construction
Corporation (CITCC) and the Xian Institute of Posts and
Communications (XY), two divisions of the Ministry of Posts and
Telecommunications (MPT).

The new joint venture, Posts and Telecommunications-Nortel Technical
Corporation (PNT), will provide the high technology skills and
continuing network support services necessary for the growth and
expansion of China's digital telecommunications network in the
1990s and beyond. PNT will be headquartered in Beijing.

Total investment in PNT is $6.25 million, including $1.15 million by
CITCC (which holds 18.4 %), and $3.75 million by Northern Telecom
(60%).

PNT will provide a broad range of low-cost, high quality
installation, training and technical support services to DMS
(digital multiplex switching) customers throughout the PRC. It is
currently initiating installation, training and technical support
services necessary for major expansion of telecommunications systems
in Hebei and other provinces.

The partnership will permit greater localization within China's
telecommunications network and enable a much broader range of
advanced technology engineering skills to be transferred to China by
Northern Telecom.

(Brett Cameron/19921130/Press contact: Victoria Yu, Northern
Telecom, Tel [phone]; Beijing time is GMT + 8)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(TOR)(00018)

Pittsburgh Firm Offers Computer Translation 11/30/92
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Multilingual
Communications Corp., a Pittsburgh firm specializing in foreign
language translations for international business, has introduced
what it said is the area's first commercially practical
computer-assisted translation service.

Charles Kostecki, owner and president of Multilingual
Communications, said the service uses third-party software which
his company has modified and adapted to suit its service. Human
translators will work with the software, polishing the
computer-translated text to its final form. "By the time you're
finished, you won't know whether a machine or a human did it," he
said.

The translation process combines a dictionary of words and phrases
with a sophisticated grammar program to generate a preliminary
translation of a document. A bilingual editor then polishes the
final draft.  Final modifications are entered into the computer,
which stores them for future translations requested by that client.

For each client, Kostecki said, Multilingual Communications will
create a special glossary of technical terms and other words and
phrases not in the base dictionary. Much of the firm's work is in
areas involving specialized vocabularies, he said.

The MCC CAT system can accept documents in machine-readable format
or in a clear, printed form for optical character recognition (OCR)
scanning.

Computer-assisted translation will not replace human translators,
Kostecki said. "The real value of the computer service is that it
allows us to serve our customers more quickly and cost-efficiently,
while maintaining the same high degree of quality."

The company offers translation services in more than 80 different
languages.

(Grant Buckler/19921130/Press Contact: Charles Kostecki,
Multilingual Communications, 412-621-7450; Public Contact:
Multilingual Communications, 412-621-7450 or 800-872-6780, fax
412-621-0522)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00019)

Kodak To Sell Atex Unit 11/30/92
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 30 (NB) --  Eastman Kodak
Company has announced a deal to sell its Atex subsidiary to an
investment consortium headed by Danny Chapchal, a veteran printing
and publishing executive. Atex makes electronic pre-press systems
widely used in newspaper and magazine publishing.

No terms of the agreement are being disclosed, Kodak spokesman Paul
Allen said. The transaction is subject to certain regulatory
approvals and is expected to be completed by year-end.

Allen added that financial data for Atex is not available, as it is
a small unit of one of Kodak's four major business segments and the
company does not report its financial results separately.

Kodak officials said Atex was being sold because its core business
does not fit well with Kodak's business strategy.

As a result of the transaction, Atex will be established as a
stand-alone company and will continue to operate from its current
headquarters in Billerica, Massachusetts.

Founded in 1973 and acquired by Kodak in 1981, Atex serves more
than 900 customers in 50 countries. Major customers include The New
York Times, The Times of London, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung,
The Jerusalem Post, Fortune, and Newsweek.

(Grant Buckler/19921130/Press Contact: Paul C. Allen, Eastman
Kodak, 716-724-5802; Michael Akillian, Atex, 508-670-3099; Rod
Fenwick for Danny Chapchal, [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(TOR)(00020)

Virtual Reality Sports Games To Be Designed 11/30/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Virtual Reality,
Inc., has announced an agreement with Lawrence Taylor's All Pro
Sports Products, Inc., to create virtual reality sports and
entertainment games.

Former National Football League linebacker Lawrence Taylor will be
involved in designing the games, which Nelson Merritt, chief
executive of Virtual Reality, said will likely begin with a
football game to be released in the third quarter of 1993.

Merritt said the games will use a three-dimensional display
technology meant to be more realistic than an ordinary television
or computer screen, but will be played with a control unit similar
to those used for today's video games, such as the Nintendo GameBoy
units.

The game will probably cost up to 50 percent more than conventional
video games, he said.

Virtual Reality hopes to have a prototype of its first game
completed during the first quarter of 1993, and then to complete
the final details by the third quarter when commercial release is
planned, Merritt said. The design of the first game is under way
now, he said.

(Grant Buckler/19921130/Press Contact: Nelson A. Merritt, Virtual
Reality, 914-769-0900)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00021)

Digital, Xerox In Canadian Alliance 11/30/92
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Digital Equipment of
Canada and Xerox Canada have announced plans to work together to
sell enterprise-wide systems that combine networking and document
management technology.

The deal is meant to combine Xerox's focus on document management
with Digital's expertise in networking and systems integration,
officials of the two companies said.

David Paolini, a spokesman for Digital of Canada, said the deal is
a made-in-Canada one. Digital and Xerox are working together on
joint product development projects in the United States, he said,
but have no marketing and sales agreement like the new Canadian one
elsewhere in the world.

Of course, cooperation between the two firms goes well back into
the history of computing: along with Intel they developed the
Ethernet local-area network topology in the 1970s.

The idea grew out of discussions between Digital and Xerox
executives involved in a pilot project for a provincial government
department, the Ontario Ministry of Government Services, in
Toronto. The firms have been working together reviewing the
ministry's document management procedures to recommend ways of
making them more efficient.  This project will be the first joint
undertaking by Digital and Xerox under the new agreement, the
companies said.

Also, the companies will shortly begin selling some of each other's
products. Digital will list Xerox's high-end facsimile machines in
the next edition of its DECdirect product catalog, and Xerox will
begin selling Digital DECpc LP personal computers.

(Grant Buckler/19921130/Press Contact: David Paolini, Digital
Equipment of Canada, 416-597-3529; David Smith, Xerox Canada,
417-733-6726)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00022)

Consortium To Improve Flat Panel Displays 11/30/92
AUSTIN, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- The Microelectronics and
Computer Technology Corporation (MCC) has announced the organization
of a consortium aimed at creating a high-volume manufacturing
capability that can produce high-performance, low-cost field
emission flat panel displays.

MCC says field emission technology will yield flat panel displays
that are bright, sharp, and colorful as conventional monitors but
are much slimmer, lighter, and have lower power requirements. Field
emission displays are expected to be superior to active matrix
liquid crystal displays, will require lower capital investment, and
have lower manufacturing costs. The consortium says it will focus
on the development of manufacturing process technologies that will
make high volume production of the units feasible.

MCC says that in the initial phase it will evaluate the performance
of field emission flat panel displays using low-cost large area
cathodes, and will develop a full scale business plan. Phase one is
expected to last six months, and will be followed by two additional
phases over the life of the five-year project. Phase 2, which
starts in January 1993, will include the building of prototypes and
laying the groundwork for a high-volume production facility. Phase
3 is the building of one or more production facilities.

According to MCC the consortium is developing dual-use display
technology for both low power commercial applications and high
luminance military-aerospace applications. Participants in the first
phase include Control Data, Digital Equipment Corporation, Harris
Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Litton, Schmidt Instruments and
Zenith Electronics.

According to project leader Elliott Schlam the project could be the
basis for development of very large screen displays for high
definition television (HDTV). HDTV has already been successfully
field tested by Zenith Electronics. According to Schlam, the MCC
approach will result in "simply manufactured, inexpensive displays
that are scalable to large areas as well as displays that are
sunlight readable at one third the power of AMLCDs (active matrix
liquid crystal displays)."

(Jim Mallory/19921130/Press contact: Cathy Martin, 512-338-3746;
Reader contact: MCC, 512-343-0978)


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

New Product: PIM For HP95LX Palmtop 11/30/92
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Lucid Corporation is now
shipping Keep In View, a personal information manager for the HP95LX
palmtop computer.

The company says Keep In View is a combination outliner and free
form database based on the concept of an office filing cabinet. The
information is organized in a four-level approach and each level
provides more detail than the level above. The fourth level of
detail allows users to add notes of up to 16 kilobytes (KB)
in length to an entry.

References such as a key word or name, and dates can also be
attached to an item, which allow the user to keep track of the
tasks associated with each project and assign key people and
completion dates for each task. The database can be searched by
reference, date ranges, or keywords contained anywhere with the data
fields.

Other features include file import/export, print capability, and
context-sensitive help. Once the buyer registers Keep In View, the
company will ship a copy of KMerge, an interface program that allows
Keep In View to be run on a desktop PC and merge data between the
two systems. The program has a list price of $69.95 and is available
directly from Lucid Corporation.

(Jim Mallory/19921130 Press contact: David Hayden, Lucid
Corporation, 214-994-8100 X1551; Reader contact: Lucid Corporation,
214-994-8100)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00024)

New For PC: Lucid 3-D Spreadsheet Version 2.6 11/30/92
DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Lucid Corporation has
announced it is now shipping Lucid 3-D 2.6, its improved
three-dimensional spreadsheet program.

The company said the new release includes 20 Fast Forms,
ready-to-run templates for a variety of personal and business
applications, as well as a tutorial which teaches users the basics
of using the program. Templates include personal budget, household
inventory, appointment scheduling, and expense reports.

According to Lucid spokesperson David Hayden the program offers many
of the features found in Lotus 1-2-3 but has an easier to use
interface. In fact, the company is so confident that users will be
up in running in less than an hour that it is offering "The
60-minute spreadsheet challenge." If a user is not up and running
with Lucid 3-D in an hour or less, they can return the software for
full refund within 30 days of purchase.

Lucid 3-D can run as a stand-alone program, or as a
terminate-and-stay resident (TSR) option, and can link spreadsheets.
Linking is limited only by the user's available disk space, says
Hayden. A linked spreadsheet is only as far away as a single
keystroke.

Lucid 3-D has a notepad feature which allows the user to attach a
note to any individual cell, with a file size of up to 16 kilobytes
(K). The notepad windows can be moved, resized, zoomed, and printed,
and could be used for short word processing tasks. The notepad
window's contents can be edited, offers headers and footers, and
search and replace. The use of a mouse is supported. Other features
include mouse macros, user-defined functions, and a macro compiler.
Macros are commonly used keystrokes which are recorded and can be
played back, either by pressing a "hot key combination" or clicking
on the macro from a drop-down menu. For example, a user could record
a macro that would print a specific range of a spreadsheet.

Lucid 3-D has 254 columns and 9,999 rows, and the company says it
can run in as little as 256K of memory. If the computer has
additional memory, Lucid can use up to 8 megabytes (MB) of memory.
The program also provides a pop-up calculator, clipboard, autosave,
and context-sensitive help. Files can be exported or imported to and
from Lotus 1-2-3, dBASE, or DAC Accounting files. The program has a
suggested retail price of $179. Registered owners of earlier
versions of Lucid 3-D can upgrade for $49.95.

(Jim Mallory/19921130/Press contact: David Hayden, Lucid
Corporation, 214-994-8100, X1551; Reader contact: Lucid Corporation,
800-925-8243)


(NEWS)(APPLE)(DEN)(00025)

New For Macintosh: "A-Train" Game Makes You A Railroad Mogul 11/30/92
ORINDA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Maxis has
announced a program for Macintosh computer users that let them be
railroad moguls just like their counterparts who use DOS-based
systems.

The company has released a Macintosh version of its "A-Train"
simulation game which allows the player to build a dream city with a
railroad as the transportation hub, and develop a prosperous city
around the public transit systems. To keep the game interesting and
lifelike, you can also go broke.

A-Train landscape includes trees, farmland, hills, houses, and
livestock. The simulation cycles through day and night, and through
the seasons of the year. As the city grows, the railroader can
increase his or her wealth by speculating in real estate or playing
the stock market. Periodically advisors will literally pop in with
business and construction advice which, as in real life, you can
follow or ignore.

A "wannabe" tycoon can develop office buildings, hotels, apartments,
factories, amusement parks, ski resorts, malls, stadiums and golf
courses. The program provides on-screen balance sheets of revenues
versus expenses to help you track your investments.

Maxis says it will release the A-Train Construction Set in the near
future, which allows the player to create custom scenarios. The
program ships with six scenarios.

The company says A-Train is the US version of a game originally
published in 1990 in Japan, where it's sold over 100,000 copies.
System requirements include a Apple Computer Mac Plus, Apple
Portable, SE, Classic, LC, II, Powerbook or Quadra. A hard drive is
required to run the color version. You'll also need 2MB of system
memory for System 6.x systems or 2.5 MB for System 7.x; a mouse, and
Mac Sound for sound support. A-Train has a suggested list price of
$69.95, and is also available for IBM-compatible and Amiga systems.

(Jim Mallory/19921130/Press contact: Sally Vandershaf, Maxis,
510-253-3705, fax [phone]; Reader contact: Maxis, 510-254-9700)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00026)

AT&T War with MCI Intensifies 11/30/92
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 30 (NB) --  As with
political campaigns, most business wars in time become a two-man
game. Two big-time firms battle it out for market share, and the
small-fries try to find niches.  In soft drinks, it's Coke versus
Pepsi. In long distance, it's AT&T versus MCI.

As with the recent political campaign, this race is getting
nastier by the day. AT&T has accused MCI of violating its
software patents, in an attempt to block a deal with Canada's
Stentor group under which MCI and Stentor will link networks,
using the same basic software, in order to deliver similar cross-
border service. AT&T claimed the deal between MCI and Stentor
also violates FCC rules against exclusive network arrangements,
and that Stentor has refused to do business with AT&T since the
deal was made. Stentor admits it's an exclusive in terms of
intelligent network services in Canada, but claims it remains
willing to deal with AT&T on many issues.

On the air, both sides are out with a new set of commercials.
AT&T's ads take direct aim at MCI, claiming the difference in
price between their services is just a penny or two, and that the
difference in quality is not worth it. AT&T has also continued to
run ads claiming MCI's popular "Friends and Family" promotion
represents a privacy intrusion, although AT&T itself has a
similar service for businesses called "AT&T Business Partners."

The claim is based on the idea that new "F&F" customers give
lists of their proposed "calling circles" to MCI, which then
solicits the business, offering 20 percent discounts on calls
made within the circle.

For its part, MCI has begun what it calls a "100 days" campaign,
with different ads each day focusing on a specific service
offered by its network. The ads are positive in nature, and also
focus on system reliability. In one, for instance, a businessman
is said to have run his toll-free service through his home when
local service went out. In another, the new ability of companies
to take their toll-free "800" numbers with them when they change
carriers, starting May 1, is touted. The tag-line is blatantly
political -- "If not us, who. If not now, when?"

MCI has even gone so far as to hire away AT&T's former top PR
man. Frank Ovaitt was vice president in charge of AT&T's
international public relations for nine years. Now he'll be MCI's
vice president of corporate affairs. While Ovaitt claimed his
AT&T background actually hurt his chances of landing the MCI job,
most analysts called the move a coup for MCI, which now holds
about 16 percent of the US long distance company and has annual
sales of $8.4 billion. Ovaitt will take control of many of the
political and industry issues formerly managed by the late MCI
chairman, William McGowen.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921130)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(SFO)(00027)

Philips Semiconductor Reshapes -- Signetics Phase-Out 11/30/92
SUNNYVALE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Philips
Semiconductors plans to restructure its North American  integrated
circuit operations on January 1, 1993 as part of "an ongoing plan
to integrate geographically dispersed units into a consistent
worldwide organization focused  on regional markets."

The company plans to phase out the Sunnyvale-based Signetics
Co., acquired by Philips in 1975, "in its present form." The
company's operations will be carried on in three organizations
that report directly to Philips Semiconductors in Eindhoven,
the Netherlands.

Melissa Jones, spokesperson for Philips, told Newsbytes that
the "form of the company, as it exists now -- the structure of
the company -- is changing. When we say 'in its present form,' we
mean that the operation itself is being structurally changed."

In response to a question from Newsbytes as to job losses,
Jones said, "Not as a direct result of this, no. Philips has been
undergoing some major changes worldwide....so there have been
fundamental changes going on throughout the organization."

In addition to North America, separate units have been
established for Europe, Japan/Korea, and Southeast Asia. The
company says that within their geographic areas the units will
market the products developed and manufactured by Philips' four
integrated circuit business groups, including the Consumer and
Industrial groups headquartered in Eindhoven.

According to the company, the two Sunnyvale-based business
groups will direct worldwide strategic marketing, product
development, and production for their respective product lines.
The Standard IC group will be responsible for programmable and
standard logic ICs and military circuits. The Application
Specific IC group will deal with products for industrial,
automotive, and data processing applications, and will also
manage existing manufacturing facilities in Sunnyvale and
Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Additionally, the company says that Signetics President James
E. Dykes will leave the company at the end of the year.

Jones told Newsbytes that Dykes was retiring. "As he said, he
is going to retire for some period of time, he doesn't really know
what he is going to do. He's turning 55 next year, so he's looking
forward to slowing down. He's moving to Florida," she said.

Heinz Hagmeister, chief executive officer of Philips
Semiconductors Product Division, said: "Jim Dykes has brought
the North American component of our restructuring plan to a
successful conclusion despite one of the worst recessions in the
industry's history. Signetics is profitable and constitutes one of
the strongest competitors in such vital emerging markets as
multimedia systems, wireless communications, automotive
electronics and embedded computers. Now that Signetics
operations are integrated into a single organization, customers
will have much easier access to Philips worldwide IC capabilities."

The company says that the new organization and management
structures are in place and the transfer of personnel, facilities,
and operations will be completed by the end of 1992.

(Ian Stokell/19921130/Press Contact: Melissa Jones,
408-991-3625, Lawrence Fogel, 408-991-3614, Philips
Semiconductors)


(NEWS)(IBM)(LAX)(00028)

 ****IBM's 1st Antivirus PC To Offer Western Digital Chip  11/30/92
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- IBM is planning
to announced antivirus personal computers (PCs) based on new
hardware technology introduced by Western Digital. Implemented
on its industry standard architecture (ISA) WD7855 single-chip
controller, Western Digital says its hardware-based antivirus
technology is preventative virus medicine.

Western Digital says embedded "Immunizer" system control logic
is invoked through System Management Interrupts (SMI) and it
monitors write operations to the hard disk for suspicious
activity via the WD7855. Immunizer write-protects all
areas of the hard disk drive containing executable files, the
types of files to which viruses attach themselves to get
control of the central processing unit (CPU) and perform their
dirty work. Company representatives also told Newsbytes the
Immunizer also protects the hard disk boot sector, which is
especially significant as IBM has released statistics revealing
the vast majority of viruses found "in the wild" are boot
sector viruses.

Western Digital is billing the WD7855 controller as
preventative medicine that can stop virus infection, not just
detect it afterwards. The company says the controller can
detect both known and unknown viruses and has no noticeable
effect on system operations or performance. The company says
the WD7855 can be implemented with conventional software-based
antivirus products to provide protection against the
growing epidemic of existing, new, and mutating viruses.

The technology is planned for all the company's future system
controllers including 32-bit controllers.

IBM will offer the Western Digital controller in a desktop line
developed by its ECAT Business Development Group in Austin,
Texas. The new line is to feature IBM's own 486SLC2
microprocessor, Western Digital said.

USA Teknik President H.K. "Doc" Byington, whose company is
designing the new IBM platform, said in a prepared statement:
"...Western Digital's antivirus feature ... is capable of
detecting and alerting computer users to the presence of both
known and unknown viruses."

This is the second hardware-based virus protection technology
announcement for implementation in PCs. Advanced Micro Devices
(AMD) disclosed this summer its PC-based basic input/output
system (BIOS) which offers boot sector write-protection against
virus infiltration.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921130/Press Contact: Letty Ledbetter,
Western Digital, tel [phone]; Brenda Bennett, The Benjamin
Group, tel [phone], fax [phone] )


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00029)

New Product: Print, Fax, Scan, Copy From 1 Desktop Peripheral 11/30/92
MOUNT LAUREL, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Okidata
has announced what it calls the industry's first product that
integrates business-quality printing, faxing, copying and
scanning capabilities into one compact, desktop unit.

Called DOC%IT, the product runs under Microsoft Windows and MS-DOS,
thereby providing users with complete compatibility to existing
Windows applications and thousands of DOS software programs. Two
models are available: DOC%IT 3000 for presentation-quality
printing and copying, and the DOC%IT 4000 for higher-quality
output.

With DOC%IT, a user can scan a graphic, paste it into an existing
word processing document, and then fax the document to multiple
sites. At the same time, a colleague could make several copies
with DOC%IT.

The DOC%IT system consists of three elements: a desktop
document processor, a controller processor board for
insertion into a PC/AT-compatible personal computer, and DDP
(desktop document processing) management software.

The desktop document processor is based on Okidata's own
LED print engine for printing and "walk-up" copying. An
image scanner is also incorporated into the device for the
scanning, copying and faxing of documents. All functions
use the 25-page automatic document feeder. In addition, the
image scanner can be removed and used as a hand scanner
for newspapers, books and other oversized documents.

DOC%IT 3000 includes Hewlett-Packard LaserJet II series
compatibility and has a suggested retail price of $3,999.
DOC%IT 4000 includes HP LaserJet III series compatibility,
Microsoft TrueImage, a PostScript-compatible page
description language, and has a suggested retail price of
$4,999. Both products include a one-year warranty and a five-
year warranty for the LED print head.

(Computer Currents/113092/Public Contact: 800/OKI-DATA)


(NEWS)(UNIX)(LAX)(00030)

Sun Announces Upgradable SPARCstation 10 Model 20 11/30/92
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 NOV 30 (NB) -- Sun
Microsystems Computer Corporation (SMCC) has announced the
SPARCstation 10 Model 20 is now available. Users who purchase
the Model 20 have the option of upgrading it to a SPARCstation
10 Model 41 via an upgrade module, SMCC added.

The Model 20 has a 33 megahertz (MHz) SuperSPARC processor and
runs at 41 Specint92 and 44 Specfp92. Standard Model 20s come
with 32 megabytes (MB) of memory expandable to 512 MB, a 424 MB
internal disk drive, and GX graphics. A gray scale display at
nineteen inches or color in sixteen or nineteen inches is
available as well, SMCC said.

The SPARCstation 10 Models will run Sun PC, IBM personal
computer emulation software which will also allow the use of
Windows version 3.0, as well as Liken, Macintosh emulation
software which is compatible up to with System 6.0.7.

The standard grayscale Model 20 is retail priced at $16,495,
SMCC added. The SPARC module upgrade to take the Model 20 to a
SPARCstation 10 Model 41 system is $6,500.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921130/Press Contact: Carrie Dillon, Sun
Microsystems Computer Company, tel [phone], fax 415-336-
3880, Public Contact 800-821-4643)