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/nb921211

Text File | 1992-12-11 | 73.2 KB | 1,696 lines

(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00001)

UK: Autodesk Looks To Expand CAD/CAM Market 12/11/92
GUILDFORD, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Ever keen to
increase its market share in the computer-aided design (CAD)
software marketplace, Autodesk has teamed up with the
Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) to promote
geographic information systems (GIS) technology.

While Autodesk produces AutoCAD, ESRI produces ARC/INFO, one of the
industry's best-known GIS packages. The first product to result
from this research and development alliance is ArcCAD, which both
companies claim is a completely integrated AutoCAD application
that is being distributed by ESRI.

While AutoCAD and ARC/INFO have been widely used by CAD workstation
users, they have always been used separately, depending on the needs
of their users. ArcCAD claims to include the best features of both
packages -- combining the data-editing facilities of CAD with the
analytical capabilities of GIS.

What ArcCAD appears to do is to allow users to automatically
interrogate and interpret data in "foreign" database file formats. The
information is moved into the ArcCAD environment and, using GIS,
linked with digitized maps and graphics to interpret the data for the
user.

"GIS will be the fastest growing market sector in the CAD market over
the next five years," explained Ned Denison, Autodesk's sales and
marketing director, who added that he is delighted to have ESRI as a
partner.

"They bring a wealth of database experience and an international
reputation in GIS. This directly complements Autodesk's dominant CAD
software, AutoCAD, and our network of dealers, developers and training
centers," he said.

Pricing on ArcCAD depends on site licence conditions. The package can
be customized to support a variety of system configurations -- a
factor that alters the site licence requirements.

(Steve Gold/19921209/Press & Public Contact: Autodesk - Tel: 0483-
303322)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00002)

UK: Wordperfect Marketing Campaign Hailed Success 12/11/92
ADDLESTONE, SURREY, ENGLAND, 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Wordperfect is
calling its dealer marketing program (DMP), launched in February of
this year, a great success. The software company bases this on the
fact that more than 100 dealers have benefited from the program,
which ploughs back an element of WP's profit on each sale into a joint
marketing fund.

The idea behind the DMP is that dealers actively promote WP's products
(as well as themselves) in local advertising. Wordperfect already
advertises itself and its products nationally, but local advertising
is often too fragmented to be viable for the company -- hence the
marketing program.

According to Wordperfect, the size of a dealer does not matter --
everyone benefits, it claims, from the DMP. The Software Box, a large
dealership based in York, England, for example, has achieved
considerable sales into local government departments thanks to what
WP calls its flexible licensing arrangements and the DMP.

"The strength of the Wordperfect DMP lies in its flexibility,"
explained Craig Bumby, sales manager of The Software Box. "The
program allows dealers to channel funds into marketing projects
which they believe are best suited to their specific requirements," he
added.

A spokesman for The Software Box told Newsbytes that the DMP was
useful since it allows the company to promote Wordperfect products
using a variety of methods, not necessarily through print and media
advertisements.

At Wordperfect UK's headquarters, David Godwin, the company's general
manager of sales and marketing, said that the company is offering its
dealers a free marketing pack that includes a range of advertising
materials, such as prepared adverts, product logo bromide films and
sample direct mail letters.

"In such a difficult economic climate for so many dealers I'd like to
encourage as many of them as possible to join in the scheme and take
full advantage of the free funding available," he said.

(Steve Gold/19921211/Press & Public Contact: Wordperfect UK - Tel:
0932-850500; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00003)

UK: Dell Scores Major Bank Contract 12/11/92
BRACKNELL, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND, 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Dell Computer, the
direct-sell computer company, has landed a prestigious contract to
supply 2,500 PCs to National Westminster Bank.

The PC installations are located around the UK, with one of the
largest at the National Westminster Life Assurance headquarters. The
life insurance operation, which opens for business on January 4, 1993,
is a joint venture between Natwest and Clerical Medical Life
Assurance.

According to the bank, Natwest Life is the largest insurance company
to be created in Europe for the last 20 years. The headquarters has
taken hundreds of Dell PCs at its purpose-built headquarters in
Bristol, ready for the official opening. The PCs, which have been
built to order by Dell's Limerick facility in Ireland, link to a
Unisys mainframe computer which forms the hub of the insurance
company's operations.

So why Dell? Peter Stegall, Natwest Life's senior manager for planning
and production said that the company chose Dell because of the
technology the company was offering.

"The 80486SX processor architecture is a sound platform for our
desktop workstation which will enable future development of leading
edge technologies, such as document image processing," he said.

Natwest Life's desktop computer set-up is based on Microsoft's LAN
Manager 2.1 linked into a Token Ring environment populated with Dell
PCs. These all link into the Unisys back-office configuration which
Natwest claims has a very low operating costs. This translates into
lower costs for Natwest Life's customers.

Perhaps one of the most interesting features of Dell Computer UK,
which at the moment seems to be enjoying phenomenal growth, is that
around 20 percent of the company's sales are made through value-added
resellers (VARs) rather than through the company's mail order
operation.

(Steve Gold/19921211/Press & Public Contact: dell Computer UK - Tel:
0344-860456; Fax: [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LON)(00004)

Microsoft Comfortable With European Prices 12/11/92
TORONTO, CANADA, 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Steve Ballmer, the executive vice
president of Microsoft, has gone on record as saying that he is happy
with European pricing of software, but has admitted that he is still
looking closely at the situation.

Ballmer's comments come at a time when US industry analysts are down-
rating international software houses because of the current price
squeeze on software sold through European outlets. Part of the problem
facing European software outlets is the recent rapid proliferation of
US companies selling software off the page in computer magazines using
toll-free numbers.

It's relatively easy to set up a toll-free number in European
countries. Instead of having to route requests through local state
telecommunications companies, with very high start-up costs,
the liberalization of telecommunications in Europe has meant that
AT&T can be approached directly and a number set up at minimal cost.

From there, all a US mail order company has to do is to book ads
in monthly computer magazines in the various countries and, with
typical pricing in the UK starting at around $1,000 a page, wait for
the credit card orders to roll in.

Microsoft has admitted that it is currently selling its software in
Europe at around a 90 percent premium over US and Canadian prices.
Newsbytes notes, however, that there is a considerable difference
between the various countries in Europe.

In France, for example, the premium is 90 percent, yet in the UK it is
20 percent. Elsewhere in Europe, price premiums range from 60 to 90
percent. And therein lies the problem -- from January 1, 1993, when
trade barriers come down, it should be as easy (in theory at least)
to buy a product from an English outlet as from a French dealer,
even if the customer lives in France -- the paperwork should be
minimal.

Not all companies are raking in the profits, however. A few months
ago, Lotus took a decision to rationalize and equalize pricing on
software throughout Europe, with the result that a lot of French and
German Lotus software was dramatically reduced in price.

Other international software houses seem to adopting a wait and see
attitude regarding how sales after the January 1 deadline shape up.
Whatever happens, industry analysts are predicting the end of the
super-normal profits that software companies have enjoyed.

(Steve Gold/19921211)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00005)

Quark Chairman Gives $1M For Gay Rights Fight 12/11/92
DENVER, COLORADO, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- The chairman and
founder of a Denver, Colorado-based software company has
announced that he will contribute $1 million toward the fight
against homosexual discrimination.

Tim Gill, chairman of Quark, Inc., said he was contributing the funds
towards the fight against the recently passed Amendment 2 to the
Colorado Constitution. The amendment prohibits governments in
Colorado from enacting laws that protect homosexuals, lesbians or
bisexuals from discrimination. The backers of the amendment claim
that the US constitution already provides equal protection for all
persons. Slightly over 50 percent of the voters who went to the
polls voted for the amendment, which opponents said was confusing in
its wording.

An even more strict ordinance was defeated by Oregon voters in the
November election, and an organization with ties to the Colorado
amendment sponsor group is expected to propose a initiative similar
to Colorado's in California.

Several Colorado cities, including Denver, Boulder, and Aspen
already had ordinances that specifically protected those persons in
such areas as housing and jobs. The mayor of Denver, Wellington
Webb, has said that as far as he is concerned Denver's
protection law is still in effect under Denver's status as a home
rule city.

A few cities have announced that their officials cannot travel to
Colorado on city business due to the new law there, and at least
half a dozen organizations have announced they will move their
already-scheduled meetings to another state, while others are
considering such a move.

Gill said he wants the money divided between several organizations
fighting the law but hasn't decided yet specifically which
organizations will benefit.

Quark develops and markets software programs for use in newsrooms
and publishing bureaus, and has about 400 employees worldwide.

(Jim Mallory/19921210)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(WAS)(00006)

Toll-Free BBS Helps Business Comply With Disabilities Act 12/11/92
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- The President's
Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities (US Dept.
of Commerce) provides, through a contracting agency, a free
consulting service for business and individuals that need help
complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Part of this service is a toll-free (in the US and Canada)
bulletin board system which includes free e-mail (conferences) and
databases of laws relating to disabilities.

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN), based at West Virginia
University in Morgantown, West Virginia, offers toll-free voice
and TDD (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) access to
specialists who provide free information about enabling
technology and legal aspects of hiring the disabled.

To reach an individual for a personal consultation, call JAN at
800-526-7234, 800-526-4698 in West Virginia, or 800-526-2262 from
Canada. Calls about ADA-specific questions should go to 800-232-
9675; these would include technical and legal questions about
complying with the law, as opposed to questions about adaptive
technology or procedures which are better answered by consultants
at the other numbers.

People with access to computers can download files chosen from a
large database of ASCII or ZIPped (compressed) federal laws and
regulations related to hiring and training disabled individuals.

The electronic bulletin board can be accessed at 800-526-5526. To
access files you must register, giving general information about your
needs and concerns, but first-time callers can register as new members
online and immediately access all the files and 5421 messages (as of
December 8, 1992) to and from others concerned with adaptive
technology topics.

Connect time is limited to 45 minutes per person per day, but a
lot of information can be exchanged in far less time and the time
limitation is definitely required to free up the BBS. It took
Newsbytes more than 80 (autodial) attempts to reach the BBS on an
average weekday morning during early East Coast work hours but
the load is lighter late at night.

Although the DIAL-JAN job accommodation BBS is not specifically
restricted to discussions of computer technology, Newsbytes found
that a large number of messages relate to computer hardware and
software for disabled workers.

DIAL-JAN is only used to ask questions of accommodation experts
and download copies of legal regulations; a sister BBS, called
Project Enable, carries files and conferences related to
rehabilitation and training.

Sponsored by the Job Accommodation Network, DIAL-JAN is a service
running on Project Enable, a system developed under a grant from
the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

The mail address for JAN is West Virginia Research and Training
Center, One Dunbar Plaza, Suite E, Dunbar, WV 25064.

DIAL-JAN's sister board, Project Enable, contains additional
discussion areas (over 150 areas) and file areas (over 30 areas)
dealing with rehabilitation and disability. The Project Enable
BBS can be accessed by dialing 304-766-7842 with your modem set
at its fastest speed, no parity, 8-bits, 1-stop bit.

Although you can't access Project Enable on a toll-free line, the
BBS itself is free and once you have registered for either board,
your name and password are automatically valid for the other so
there is no need to re-register. Some of the questions asked of
registrants concern personal experience with disabilities and
these are kept confidential -- all other messages are public.

Files can be up- or downloaded in ASCII (non-binary); Xmodem
(Checksum); Xmodem-CRC; 1K-Xmodem; Ymodem; or Zmodem protocols.

(John McCormick/19921208/Press Contact: Mary Kay Rubin,
President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities,
202-653-5044 or TDD 202-653-5050)


(EDITORIAL)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00007)

Editorial: Backward Industry Still Ships 5.25-inch PC Disks 12/11/92
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- By Ian
Stokell. What is it with the computer industry? Half the time we're
inundated in the press with "leading-edge" technology that will
not be available to the public for years, and yet much of the
time users have to deal with "backward" vendors and publishers.

What is it with sending software on 5.25-inch PC disks!
Haven't these people heard of the 3.5-inch floppy? It's not
like it's anything new!

None of the PCs I have in my home office have 5.25-inch
floppy drives. How stupid of me. I thought it was a technology
happily deemed for the scrap-heap years ago.

Why not buy a 5.25-inch drive? Why should I? My favorite PC is
still my 386SX-based Olivetti PCS 386SX. It has the best keyboard
I've ever used. It was purchased 18 months ago WITHOUT a
5.25-inch drive. There is no room for an internal 5.25-inch
floppy drive. Do you know how much an external 5.25-inch drive
would cost? Too much. That's how much. And why should I
anyway? Just so publishers can save a few cents by shipping
5.25-inch floppies instead of 3.5-inch floppies.

I've been working on a review of Eagle Technology's NetWare
Lite Starter Kit for Newsbytes (watch this space). The kit
includes two networking boards, cables, connectors, and
two copies of NetWare Lite 1.1 -- the software came on
5.25-inch floppies!

I've got a PostScript-compatible laser printer to review and
the accompanying printer utilities came on a 5.25-inch floppy.

Ninety percent of the computer books out there that come
with a floppy disk containing files are in the 5.25-inch format.
It often costs extra to get the 3.5-inch version, if it is
offered at all.

My wife bought me the WIng Commander game a year or so back.
The game disk came in 5.25-inch format. No problem I told her.
We'll just go back to the store and swap it for the 3.5-inch
version. But the store didn't stock it in 3.5-inch. What's more,
virtually all of their games were 5.25-inch disks only. The
result? We got our money back. NO SALE! I never did get the
Wing Commander game.

My question is this. Why should you have to specify you need
3.5-inch disks when you get a product? 3.5-inch format is the
industry standard. 5.25-inch is outdated and would become
obsolete pretty quickly if vendors and publishers would only
let it. The least publishers could do is ask you which disk
format you use. Or better yet, include BOTH versions in with
their product at no extra charge.

(Ian Stokell/19921123)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TYO)(00008)

IBM Japan To Create Three Joint Venture Firms 12/11/92
TOKYO, JAPAN, 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- IBM Japan will create three new
joint ventures in Japan in January, dedicated to the financial,
production, and public business fields. IBM has won the help of
40 other firms in these joint ventures, which are part of IBM Japan's
major restructuring plan.

IBM Japan's three joint venture firms are named "Financial
Solutions," "Production Solutions," and "Public Solutions." They
will provide consulting, development of application programs,
maintenance services, and system installment services.

Financial Solutions will do business with banks and securities
firms. It will be created jointly with 27 other firms including Oki
Electric, Omron, Kanebo, Sumitomo Information System, and NK Exa.
The total capitalization of this firm will be 323 million yen
($2.7 million), 80.5 percent of which will be from IBM Japan. A
total of 750 employees will be working for this firm.

Production Solutions will be created by 23 firms including Omron,
Canon Sales, Kawatetsu System Development, Toshiba Information
System and Toyo Engineering. 79.4 percent of the total 277 million yen
($2.3 million) capitalization will be paid by IBM Japan. This
new company will engage in business with the manufacturing sector
of industry.

Public Solutions will deal with governmental organizations. Its 14
creators include Oki Electric and Ogis Souken. 80 percent of the
total 170 million yen ($1.4 million) capitalization will come from
IBM Japan.

IBM Japan already created Distribution Solutions this past June
and will also create two more personal computer companies in January.

(Masayuki "Massey" Miyazawa/19921211/Press Contact: IBM Japan,
[phone], Fax, [phone])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(WAS)(00009)

Disabilities Conference Proceedings Available 12/11/92
NORTHRIDGE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Proceedings of
the Seventh Annual Conference, "Technology and Persons with
Disabilities," held in Los Angeles from March 18-21, 1992, are now
available for $39.95 ($43.35 including California tax) from the
Office of Disabled Student Services, Cal State University,
Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff Street - DVSS, Northridge, CA 91330.

The 660 page paper-bound volume contains about 110 papers
covering the entire field from virtual reality to computer
access.

Dr. Harry J. Murphy and CSUN, with the support of a grant from
Pacific Telesis Foundation, hold the conference each year to help
spread information about technology for disabled students and
workers.

The next conference, scheduled for March 17-20, 1993 at the Los
Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel, will feature Rod MacDonald,
president of the American Association for the Deaf-Blind, as the
keynote speaker. Mr. MacDonald, who is himself blind, has been a
senior computer programmer and systems analyst for the Department
of Labor in Washington, DC for the past 22 years.

Although a number of the papers in the recently published
"Proceedings" are school and learning related, there are also
chapters devoted to such topics as "Accessing the Workplace
Computer," which describes the ACCESS-1 wheelchair-mounted voice
controlled computer from WorkLink Innovations that links to other
computers through an infrared transceiver.

Other sections of the book discuss CD-ROM, telecommuting, and
other general interest topics.

This is a collection of academic papers, not a directory of
services and is thus of most interest to professionals working in
the disability access fields, not general computer users or even
disabled computer users.

(John McCormick/19921209/Press Contact: Dr. Harry Murphy, CSUN,
818-885-2578, fax [phone], or Internet e-mail
[e-mail])


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(SFO)(00010)

New For Networks: Integrate Mainframes With Hubs 12/11/92
ROCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Cabletron
says it has a way to connect terminals and workstations to
Unix and DEC mainframes through its networks. Cabletron has
created modules that fit within its MMAC hub that will allow
multiple terminals to attach to the mainframe across the network.

To accomplish this, Cabletron enlisted the support of
Xylogics, the developer of ANNEX Three technology which fills a
similar role. Cabletron and Xylogics have formally announced
a module for the MMAC called Communication Server Media Interface
Module (CSMIM).

The CSMIM is available in either a 16 or 32-port version and supports
TCP/IP protocols as well as DEC's LAT (Local Area Transport). This
allow the site to spread out terminals and workstations while
allowing mainframes to be located in other parts of the building.
The terminals or workstations are connected to the CSMIM in the
MMAC via their direct wiring. Data then goes across the appropriate
network to the mainframe of choice.

The setup is modular and configurable; a user may either log into
any computer or one that the administrator has selected.

CSMIM supports a variety of standard protocols like RIP (Routing
Information Protocol), PPP (Point to Point Protocol), SLIP (Serial
Line Interface Protocol), and CSLIP (Compressed SLIP). The device
itself sports a Unix-style user interface.

CSMIM will begin shipping in February. It will retail for $3695 for
the 16-port version and $4795 for the 32-port version. Those who
purchase the 16-port version will be able to upgrade to the 32-port
version for $1195. An optional Flash EEPROM can be installed in the
unit which will eliminate the need to download software to the
module at startup time. This Flash EEPROM option will cost $495.

(Naor Wallach/19921209/Press Contact: Darren Orzechowski, Cabletron,
603-332-9400 Extension 1282/Public Contact: Cabletron, 603-332-9400)


(REVIEW)(IBM)(WAS)(00011)

Review of: Walnut Creek Internet CD-ROMs 12/11/92

Runs on: MS-DOS systems with CD-ROM drive

From: Walnut Creek CDROM, 1547 Palos Verdes, Suite 260,
Walnut Creek, CA 94596. Phone [phone] or 800-786-9907

Price: $25 each for Simtel20, CICA Microsoft Windows CD-ROM; Indiana
University's CD-ROM, and GIFs Galore CD-ROM.

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

Reviewed for Newsbytes by: John McCormick, 12/11/92

Summary: Walnut Creek publishes a number of very inexpensive CD-
ROMs full of interesting software.

======

REVIEW

======

These three discs, Simtel20, CICA Microsoft Windows CD-ROM, Indiana
University's CD-ROM, and GIFs Galore CD-ROM, are lumped into the
same review because there just isn't much you can say about CD-ROM
shareware discs unless you start reviewing the software they contain.
Since that would involve literally thousands of files, it just
isn't practical nor necessary.

The beauty of these low-cost shareware and freeware CD-ROMs is
that they offer such a vast amount of useful and interesting
material that it doesn't really matter if any individual user
only finds about five percent of the programs useful -- for one of
these discs that would mean about 250 useful files! That amounts
to 10 cents a program -- less than the cost of the floppy disks
it would take to carry them home from a friend's house or a
computer club meeting and far less than the connect time needed
to download the files from a BBS.

Walnut Creek publishes plain vanilla discs chuck full of useful
files and should be a favorite of many CD-ROM drive owners. Here is
a brief description of the three we reviewed:

 ****

Simtel20

 ****

This disc contains thousands of older and very new MS-DOS
programs and utilities from the Simtel-20 program database
maintained by the US Army Information System Command, White
Sands Missile Range.

Files are mostly stored in .ZIP or .ARC file formats and
decompression utilities for both types of tiles are stored in the
root directory.

There is no search software provided for this or the other Walnut
Creek discs listed, but there are several compilations of the
full index and a ZIPped index can be downloaded for access by
other search software.

Most of the files are stored in a set of about 200 sub-
directories, classified by application area, such as
"WordPerfect," "taxes," "Postscript," "handicap," "C," "Borland,"
and so forth.

The Walnut Creek discs are not as user-friendly as some other
shareware and freeware discs, but the vast number of files, many
of them dated very recently, as well as the low cost, more than
make up for any "plainness" and I can recommend any of the
company's titles for sophisticated users.

Documentation is limited to the usual CD-ROM insert page and
doesn't say anything about loading or accessing the discs, so a
novice user might be confused, but any experienced computer user
will just log on to the CD-ROM drive, do a DIRectory, and
instantly spot the index(s).

There is no installation, no search software, and no on-disc
documentation other than that included with each program.

 ****

GIFs Galore

 ****

This disc contains hundreds of full-color image files in a
general format which can be used on numerous systems. The
collection comes from Indiana University and offers
more than 6,000 images in full color.

Because GIF files can be used by or converted to several
platforms, this disc is useful to PC, Macintosh, Amiga, Atari-ST,
Next, or DEC computer users.

Besides the files, there are also viewing and translation
programs for the CompuServe raster image file format known as
GIF.

Again, there is little beyond text index listings to help users
find the files they want, but that isn't a major handicap for
this sort of disc, and GIFs Galore has a tremendous amount of
useful data for desktop publishers and other image users.

 ****

CICA MicroSoft Windows CD-ROM

 ****

While one directory contains nothing but demo software, don't
make the mistake of thinking this disc is nothing but company PR.
Actually the vast majority of files are shareware from the Center
for Innovative Computing Applications collection of Indiana
University.

Again, there are indexes you should download to a word processor
so you can browse or search them, but otherwise there is no user
interface, no search software, and no documentation.

Other titles from the company include:

OS/2 Archive CD-ROM; $25; OS/2 software and the Internet OS/2
Archives (shareware).

AB20 Amiga CD-ROM; $25; The complete Amiga Internet Archive
(shareware); Amiga.

Garbo MS-DOS/MAC CD-ROM; $25; The Garbo Archive at Finland's
University of Vaasa (shareware); PC or Macintosh.

Desktop Library CD-ROM; $40; Myriad classic works, such as Plato,
Milton, Poe, and Dickens, plus history references; PC, Macintosh,
Amiga, or Unix.

Source Code CD-ROM; $40; Source code plus the Usenet Archives and
the Simtel20 Unix-C Archive (shareware); PC.

X11R5/GNU CD-ROM; $40; Software and source code for X11R5 Windows
system, and more than 120 GNU programs that will run on most Unix
Workstations; Unix.

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

PUMA RATING

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

PERFORMANCE: 4. The top rating is given because each disc
contained very recent files. Many CD-ROM archives of shareware
contain very old versions.

USEFULNESS: 4 With this many files on each disc, it is hard to
imagine that any user would fail to find a number of useful
programs or images.

MANUAL: 3 No documentation is available. While most users would
find no difficulty using these files, a small amount of documentation
would help novices access this vast amount of data.

AVAILABILITY: 3 Not widely available except through mail order
direct from Walnut Creek 510-947-5996.

(John McCormick/19921002/Press Contact: Walnut Creek, 510-947-
5996)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(BOS)(00012)

 ****How To Get Wireless Networks To Talk To Each Other 12/11/92
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Wireless systems
still live in relatively isolated worlds, but efforts are already
under way toward greater connectivity, said a panel of industry
insiders speaking in a seminar at Wireless Datacomm'92 this week.

Jerrold Kaplan, co-founder and chairman of GO Corp., stated that
operating system (O/S) requirements are quite different for mobile
and desktop computing, but stressed that GO's PenPoint offers
built-in AT&T Mail and other features that will meet those needs.

Peter Rysavy, vice president of technology for Traveling Software,
remarked on the variety of wireless systems now in existence and
their disparate protocols. Rob Mechaley, vice president of
technology development for McCaw cellular, cited the proposed CPDP
(Cellular Digital Packet Data Project) as a means of achieving
interoperability.

And Vic Moore, senior engineer at IBM, outlined a model for an
applications development environment for wireless connectivity that
IBM is working on today. The model calls for a run-time library of
wireless protocols, plus a graphics engine, new communications
capabilities, and other additions to standard DOS code.

According to GO's Kaplan, mobile computers should derive their
heritage from the paper notebook and file folder, and not the
office machine. "It's obtrusive for a professional to have to pull
out a computer in the middle of a business meeting and suddenly
turn into a machine operator," he pointed out.

Applications for portable and desktop computers are nowhere near
the same, continued Kaplan. Word processors, spreadsheets, and
databases dominate the market for desktop software. In contrast,
note-taking, personal organizers, electronic books, e-mail and
presentation programs are the key applications for mobile
computing.

To support these applications, the O/S should be scalable to a
variety of sizes and also optimized to mobile communications, the
GO chairman recommended.

"We believe that communications should be built into the system
from the beginning, rather than added as an afterthought," Kaplan
commented. These communications capabilities should able to expand
into wireless voice and multimedia. GO's PenPoint adheres to this
paradigm through its built-in AT&T Mail service, he indicated.
"AT&T is very much interested in video," he noted.

Due to PenPoint's scalable, object-oriented and user-configurable
nature, the GO operating system is closer to such systems as
Windows NT, OS/2, Next and Solaris than to DOS, Macintosh and Windows
3.X, Kaplan suggested.

Observed another speaker, Traveling Software's Rysavy: "There's a
hodgepodge of operating systems out there." The use of different
protocols for wireless LANs and wireless WANs compounds the
confusion and isolation, he added.

"I don't expect a dominant O/S will emerge out of all this. What
I do expect is the same emphasis on interoperability that we now
find in the wired environment," he predicted. Ultimately, devices
in heterogenous wireless LANs will be able to communicate with one
another through platform-independent standard protocols somewhat
similar to Ethernet or Token Ring, he speculated.

A system that enables connectivity between wireless systems should
be as transparent, predictable, responsive, and humane in its user
interface as the telephone system, affirmed Rob Mechaley, vice
president of technology development for McCaw Cellular
Communications. "Let's make a system that's so easy to use it
simply `doesn't exist' to customers. Things will `just happen' for
them," he urged.

CDPD is one such effort, according to Mechanely. Proposed as an
open standard for packet data communications on cellular systems,
the CDPD network would run high-speed 19.2 Kbps wireless packet
data, wireless circuit-switched data, and voice communications over
a common set of components.

The proposed protocol is being cosponsored by McCaw along with GTE
Mobile Communications, Contel Cellular, Ameritech, PacTel, US West,
Bell Atlantic, Nynex, and Southwestern Bell, said Mechaley.

The model for IBM's emerging wireless connectivity environment is
based on a company-conducted study, recounted Moore. In the study,
IBM discovered that cellular and CDPD-based networks are quite
different in the characteristics and the applications they support
than packet wireless networks.

Cellular and CDPD networks were determined to be the best fit for
voice applications, and packet networks for paging. Other
applications, such as e-mail, were found suitable to all three
networks, if handled in different ways.

The multilayer connectivity model now under development at IBM is
aimed at working with all three types of wireless networks, and
also at optimizing applications, the engineer explained.

Just below the application layer of the model is a runtime library.
"In this library we have all the different things required to
operate the major wireless networks. All you have to do is create
a script and compile and run the program," said Moore. Beneath the
library is an interpreter, below that a compiler and editor, and at
the bottom layer an enhanced form of DOS, he elaborated.

To standard DOS, IBM has added new communications facilities,
windowing, and a powerful graphics engine, geared to fax as well as
imaging. The new DOS layer will run on any hardware platform
capable of operating PC code, according to Moore.

Moore told Newsbytes after the seminar that the IBM study first
brought about the concept for the company's portable PCradio, and
is now being used to develop software products yet to be announced.

(Jacqueline Emigh/1991211; Press contact: Linda Hanson,
Communication Events, tel [phone])


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00013)

Microcom Maintains MNP 10 Works Best For Cellular 12/11/92
NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Despite a
lawsuit and broad patent claims by a rival, Microcom is
continuing to press for use of its MNP 10 error-correction
system for use in sending data over cellular networks. It
announced that Bell Mobility Cellular, in cooperation with Bell
Canada's Datapac group, will be conducting a technical/marketing
trial of data transmission over the cellular and Datapac
networks, using MNP 10.

About 100 people will participate in the trial, which is due to
end in March.

Spokesman David Powers told Newsbytes that a number of US
companies are also looking at MNP 10, in the same way as Bell
Canada, and his company will soon name names. He also discussed
why the system is preferable to V.42, the wired standard for
error correction and compression at 9,600 bits/second, and
V.42bis, which extends the same system up to 14,400 bits/second.

"The advantage of MNP 10 over V.42 is fundamental," he said. "It
can set-up a call, or perform the handshake, at 1200 bits/second
upgrade the speed to 14,400, stay at that level as the connection
allows, downgrade to slower speeds as conditions become noisy,
and then unlike other schemes, upgrade the speed again. Most
other modems will downgrade in a noisy environment, then stay
there for the duration. MNP 10 gives you the most efficient
transmission possible."

Senior vice president of technology management, Gregory Pearson,
also addressed the questions raised by Spectrum Information
Technologies, which has sued Microcom for patent infringement. He
indicated Microcom's position is that the claims by Spectrum are
overly broad, and that Microcom will defend them.

"The issue is not about MNP 10 per se," he told Newsbytes.
"Spectrum has a patent, originally called the O'Sullivan patent,
which was re-issued. And there are claims in this patent having
to do with the use of data modems, when connected to cellular
telephones. It's not about MNP, it's about modems. If you took any
Hayes compatible modem and hooked it up to a cellular phone,
according to Spectrum, that infringes on their patents. Our position
is we don't infringe any valid enforceable claim on their patent or
any other. There are some fairly broad claims in this patent and
that is the crux of the issue. They accuse us of patent
infringement, we deny it. We've been sued and we have been served."

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921211/Press Contact: David Powers, Microcom,
617-551-1955)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00014)

Lame-Duck FCC Has Full Plate 12/11/92
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A.,1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- The Federal
Communications Commission may be headed by a lame duck, but many
decisions can't wait, and it's proceeding with them.

The most controversial decision before the commission is how to
re-regulate cable television. Many cable operators have been
signaling their defiance in recent weeks by announcing double-
digit rate increases -- some even blamed the new regulations for
the increases, increasing bitterness. The FCC asked for financial
data from operators to help it in its task, and suggested it
might set non-competitive rates based on rates in competitive
areas and rates charged in areas which are regulated. However,
only basic service rates are regulated, and many operators have
already responded by putting popular stations into higher-priced
"tiers" with higher, unregulated prices.

Outgoing Chairman Al Sikes has always preferred competition to
regulation, and the FCC followed him by proposing a new frequency
range for limited transmissions of video and other services.
Suite 12, which already has a low-power license in New York, was
given a "pioneer's preference" to continue operating, but hopes
to move its license to Los Angeles and will only be allowed to do
so if it gives up New York. Two licenses for the new service,
which sends TV signals to sets via microwave, will be grated in
each of 489 metro areas. The agency has not decided whether cable
or telephone companies will be allowed to bid for the licenses.

The agency also has just 4 months to re-visit the dreaded "fin-
syn" rules governing relations between TV program providers and
broadcast networks. The networks, which want to own more of their
own programming, just as cable operators like TCI own big pieces
of cable programmers like TBS. Until the review is complete the
existing rule, which gives networks some rights but not
everything they want, remains in place.

Finally, the FCC moved to mandate a single standard for AM
stereo, after a decade in which progress was stymied because the
agency wanted competition to determine what standard was
accepted. The lack of stereo has hurt AM in relation to FM, with
many AM stations simply going out of business because their
music formats sound uncompetitive. High-power AM stations have,
instead, turned to talk shows and religion to stay in business.

Even after the standard is enacted, it's an open question whether
stations will invest to meet it, given their formats and the fact
that digital radio technology is expected to arrive within a few
years.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921211/Press Contact: FCC Press, 202-632-
5050)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00015)

LDDS/Advanced Telecom Takeover Proceeds 12/11/92
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Following its
merger with Advanced Telecommunications, LDDS Communications
moved to take over the company. The Mississippi company will have
six directors on the new company's board, to ATC's five, and only
Norman Klugman among ATC's officers will have a top position with
the new company. Most major LDDS officers, including president
Bernard Ebbers, will stay in place.

Shareholders got an immediate dividend from the purchase,
however, in the form of a 50 percent stock dividend to be
distributed January 14 to shareholders of record December 21.
Those with fractional shares will get cash. Shares of LDDS
are traded in the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol
LDDSA.

When the merger between ATC and LDDS was announced, the result
was announced as the fourth-largest publicly traded US long
distance company. Since then, however, Resurgens Communications
of Atlanta announced it will merge into Metromedia, in effect
taking that network public.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921211/Press Contact: LDDS Communications,
Bernard J. Ebbers, 601/364-7000)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00016)

Ericsson, Hewlett-Packard In Network Mg't Venture 12/11/92
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Ericsson formed a joint-
venture with Hewlett-Packard which will develop network
management systems for telephone systems and services around the
world. Ericsson Hewlett-Packard Telecommunications AB will begin
operations in the first quarter of 1993 and start shipping
products immediately.

The venture is in the mold of Ericsson-GE, a joint venture with
General Electric which Ericsson formed a few years ago to pursue
opportunities in wireless communications, including phones and
modems. That venture, like this one, was originally 60 percent
owned by Ericsson, but earlier this year Ericsson raised its
Ericsson-GE stake to 80 percent.

The idea is to combine Ericsson's capabilities in supplying
switches like its AXE system with H-P's Unix-based computer
systems. The venture will aim at new telephone system operators
who want ready-made systems, or stand-alone hardware and software
which can be developed by the operator. Some will develop their
applications in close cooperation with the joint venture company,
the partners said.

Ericsson's contribution to the venture consists of major parts of
its Telecommunications Management and Operations Support network
management system. Some 65 systems have been sold. Hewlett-
Packard will contribute computer technology, as well as
experience in working with software developers and systems
integrators to provide systems for the telecommunications
industry. The joint venture company's products will be sold
through Ericsson's channels, with support from Hewlett-Packard.

In other Ericsson news, the company's Brazilian operation
predicted slower growth next year because the government's anti-
inflation plan will slow the growth of real revenues for
Telebras, the government phone monopoly.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921211/Press Contact: Ericsson, Kathy Egan,
212/685-4030)


(NEWS)(TELECOM)(ATL)(00017)

International Phone Update 12/11/92
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Uruguay goes to
the polls over the weekend to decide whether it will sell its
Antel state phone monopoly. Polls indicate voters will reject the
plan, which would mark the first reversal of the worldwide
privatization trend in many years. Antel is acknowledged to have
the most advanced telecom network in South America, and voters
are reluctant for nationalistic reasons to lose it to foreigners.

Elsewhere, Brazil's minister of communications defended the
concept of privatization, which could include a majority stake
in that nation's Telebras monopoly. Moves to sell Telebras could
be hurt by the Uruguayan vote. Minister Hugo Napoleao said the
Brazilian constitution must be changed to allow a Telebras sell-
off, although a minority stake already owned by the public may be
traded on the New York Stock Exchange, in the form of American
Depositary Receipts, next year.

TRW moved ahead in seeking partners for its Odyssey satellite
system, which would compete with the Motorola-led Iridium network
for mobile phone service worldwide. TRW says Odyssey will cost
$1.3 billion, and the long-time defense contractor is seeking
partners in both the US and internationally. While Iridium will
require 77 satellites in low Earth orbit, Osydssey will use just
12 satellites.

Nokia of Finland announced it will sell hand-held cellular phones
to Paraguay. The new Telefonica Cellular Del Paraguay SA
operates an analog network under the AMPS standard used in the
US. Nokia's mobile phone operations are based in Largo, Florida.

And finally Siemens won a contract from Qatar to build the
infrastructure for that Arab state's state-owned cellular
network. The contract is valued at $37 million, or 50 million
marks, and should serve 25,000 people under the digital GSM
standard used in Europe, starting in early 1994.

(Dana Blankenhorn/19921211)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00018)

New For PC: Peachtree Adds Contact Manager 12/11/92
NORCROSS, GEORGIA, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Peachtree Software
has announced an add-on contact manager that works with its
accounting software.

Called Peachtree Contact & Account Manager, the program is designed
to improve collections and manage prospect marketing activities.
"They can use it to schedule calls, keep unlimited notes on their
business contacts and even generate personalized letters. These
features, and more, help a company get more organized, increase
their cash flow and save time," according to product manager, Kay
Rozea.

The program is a combination electronic note pad, contact manager,
collections system and text editor. Peachtree says what makes it so
unique is that it integrates the tools directly with the user's
accounting information. For example, the user can generate call
schedules and mailing lists based on customer account aging. Or one
can generate mailing lists using a variety of user-defined criteria
such as sales representative ID or zip codes. One can also send
personalized letters to overdue customers.

The program comes with a library of correspondence for various
business situations such as collections, sales promotions, and
employee relations. The letters can be customized or new letters can
be created using the text editor.

A notes feature allows the user to store, view or print unlimited
notes about prospects, customers, vendors or employees. The program
will also print envelopes, labels an Rolodex-type cards, and
includes an auto-dial feature, a pop-up calculator, to-do lists and
an appointment scheduler.

Contact & Account Manager has a suggested retail price of $99, but
is available for $79 until February 15th, Peachtree spokesperson
Brad MacAfee told Newsbytes. It's compatible with Peachtree Complete
Accounting, single or multi-user, version 5.0 or higher.

(Jim Mallory/19921211/Press contact: Brad MacAfee, Alexander
Communications for Peachtree Software, 404-325-7555, fax
404-325-8041; Reader contact: 800-247-3224)


(NEWS)(IBM)(DEN)(00019)

New for Windows: Phone Dialer, Financial Calculator 12/11/92
HIAWATHA, IOWA, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Parsons Technology has
announced two new Windows-compatible utility program that dial phone
numbers and calculate any of the variables associated with loans.

Address Book for Windows lets your computer retrieve and dial phone
numbers for an unlimited number of entries in the address book. Once
the number is located, the program automatically dials the number.
There's also a memo field for each record for information such as
the best time to call or other appropriate items. The database comes
with listings for a number of business and public institution
contacts such as state capitols, hotels and motels, stock brokerage
firms, and major airlines.

Interest Vision Professional for Windows allows the user to
calculate fixed or adjustable-rate mortgages, auto, installment, or
home improvement loans. Changing any of the variables reflects the
affect on the monthly payments. The program also allows the user to
display and print an amortization schedule which shows how much of
each payment is applied to the principle and how much to interest.

Parsons says the program can be used to calculate things like how
much to save for retirement, college tuition, or a big vacation.
Just supply the beginning balance, number of deposits and the
interest rate paid to find out how long you will have to save the
designated amount to achieve your goal.

Interest Vision Professional for Windows has a retail price of $89,
while the Address Book for Windows list for $49. System requirements
for both programs includes an IBM-compatible PC, Windows 3.0 or later
running in standard or enhanced mode, and a hard disk. Most
printers, include Postscript, are supported. Parsons sells its
products direct to the user, and they are also available in retail
outlets.

(Jim Mallory/19921211/Press contact: Anne Rawland-Warner, Parsons
Technology, 319-395-9626 ext 1037; Reader contact: 800-223-6925)


(NEWS)(GENERAL)(DEN)(00020)

US Firm Pulls Out Of German Computer Fair, Fears Neo-Nazis 12/11/92
HANOVER, GERMANY 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- A small US computer software
company has reportedly withdrawn from Germany's biggest computer
trade fair because it feared neo-Nazi violence.

The British news service Reuters says Hubert Lange, a member of the
management board of the trade fair company Deutsche Messe AG, did not
name the company but told reporter that a company had withdrawn from
the Cebit computer trade fair, and said other companies were
becoming increasingly wary of attending trade fairs in Germany.

Reuters said the most often asked question by exhibitors at German
trade fairs is "Can you guarantee that our exhibitors and guests
return home in good health?"

Germany had been the scene of numerous violent protests by alleged
neo-Nazi groups against foreigners recently, and German authorities
have announced crackdowns against the violence this week. German
authorities have banned two such groups, arresting several of their
members and confiscating funds. The Bonn government has also
asked the constitutional court to restrict the civil rights,
including the right of free speech, of two individuals considered
leading members of neo-Nazi groups.

Reuters said German Chancellor Helmut Kohl told lawmakers during a
special parliamentary debate that 17 people have been killed
since the beginning of the year, including eight foreigners in the
xenophobic and anti-Semetic violence.

Kohl pointed out that the majority of Germans condemn the racism,
saying that more than one million Germans have demonstrated against
the violence in recent weeks. "There is no excuse whatsoever for
murder, manslaughter and arson," said Otto Count Lambsdorff, leader
of the Free Democratic Party.

Lange said that Deutsche Messe AG expects to break even on this
year's trade fair after a net profit of 16 million marks in 1991.
The group said it expects "a clearly positive result" in 1993.

(Jim Mallory/19921211)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(DEN)(00021)

 ****Computer Science Graduate Jobs Up 18% 12/11/92
EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, US.A.,1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- College graduates
with degrees in computer science will find that job opportunities
are up 18 percent in 1993..

That's what Northwestern University specialists said this week. The
47th annual Lindquist-Endcott Report found that the nation's
business and industrial firms are "relatively optimistic" compared
with 1992, said to be the worst job market for new grads in 20
years.

According to Victor Lindquist, associate dean and director of
placement at Northwestern, a survey of 258 mid-to-large companies
indicated 78 percent of the respondents expect business to improve
or at least stay even with '92.

The entire report wasn't good. Lindquist said hundreds, even
thousands of salaried and hourly personnel have been terminated and
layoffs already announced for '93 will be devastating for many
communities. "The hope is that the loss of jobs will end, with
changes promised by our newly elected officials reversing the trend,
hopefully in time to help the class of 1993," said Lindquist. He
cautioned that the optimism will not necessarily translate into
jobs.

Lindquist said students will have to market themselves more
effectively and have more flexibility. They must realize that their
dream job may be in another location or at a level less than
desired." Students are competing with experienced personnel who were
laid off during the recession, and the problem is further compounded
by corporations switching to contract personnel in filling
professional jobs in order to reduce costs.

All of these factors combine to hold down salaries in most fields,
and in some cases even drop them below the average salary offers of
last year, said Lindquist.

Because it's a buyer's market, companies can also be more careful
about who they hire, requiring drug tests and closely checking the
accuracy of resume information.

(Jim Mallory/19921211)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(TOR)(00022)

Meca Software Sells One-Write Plus Line 12/11/92
FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Less than a
year after acquiring it, Meca Software, Inc., is selling its
One-Write Plus line of small business accounting products. Meca
announced that it had signed a letter of intent with New England
Business Service, Inc., which has been distributing the software
for Meca.

The transaction is expected to close by December 31.

The proposed agreement would see NEBS buy the assets of Meca's
Great American Software subsidiary, including the One-Write Plus
accounting series, for about $12 million in cash. This amount
includes payments and bonuses which Meca can earned under
contracts giving it management responsibility for software
development and retail marketing of the software.

Meca bought Great American Software January 15 for $4.35 million
in cash and shares, plus contingent amounts based on the
operation's earnings through the end of July.

Paul Harrison, Meca's chief financial officer, said the decision
to resell the unit was prompted by financial pressures and added
strain on management brought on by the acquisition. The purchase
"used up a lot of working capital," and Meca found it difficult
to incorporate the new unit into its business, he said.

Since Meca and NEBS had a successful relationship over the past
six months, he said, "we feel it's a good deal for both
companies."

Meca lost $959,000 on revenues of $5.8 million in the quarter
ended September 30. Harrison noted that poor results in that
quarter are normal for the company, since much of its revenue
depends on the seasonal tax software business. However, he agreed
the company has faced financial pressures recently. In the
quarter ended March 31 -- traditionally the strongest -- Meca
lost $4.94 million.

Meca has a line of personal and business financial and legal
software, including Andrew Tobias' Managing Your Money, Andrew
Tobias' TaxCut, and Hyatt Legal Services Home Lawyer. New England
Business Service sells business forms and related business
products to small businesses in the United States, Canada, and
the United Kingdom.

(Grant Buckler/19921211/Press Contact: Paul D. Harrison, Meca
Software, 203-256-5000)


(NEWS)(IBM)(TOR)(00023)

New For PC: CA Windows Report Writer 12/11/92
ISLANDIA, NEW YORK, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Computer
Associates International will begin shipping CA-RET/Xbase, a
Windows-based report writer, December 15 in the United States and
shortly afterward in Canada.

CA-RET/Xbase is a "generalized xBase report writer," said John
Schoutsen, product marketing manager at Computer Associates
Canada Ltd. in Mississauga, Ontario. It works with CA's Clipper
and dBFast database packages and with other xBase programs such
as Borland's dBASE IV and Microsoft's FoxBase.

According to CA, RET/Xbase is the first what you see is what you
get (WYSIWYG) report designer that is as simple to use as a
Windows word processor or spreadsheet. Users can create complex
reports from Xbase databases and ASCII files by pointing and
clicking with a mouse. A tool bar allows users to add text and
data fields, graphic bars, images, headers and footers.

CA is offering users of the competing R&R Report Writer for Xbase
a competitive upgrade to CA-RET/Xbase for $79 (C$89 in Canada).
The suggested retail price of $295 (C$349), which includes an
unlimited-use runtime license.

CA-RET/Xbase requires a PC with an Intel or compatible 286, 386,
or 486 processor, MS-DOS 3.0 or higher, Microsoft Windows 3.0 or
3.1, two megabytes of memory (four megabytes is recommended), and
a hard disk drive.

(Grant Buckler/19921211/Press Contact: Bob Gordon, Computer
Associates, 516-342-2391, fax [phone]; John Schoutsen,
Computer Associates Canada, 416-676-6700, fax [phone];
Public Contact: Computer Associates, 800-225-5224)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00024)

New For PC: Desert Storm Interactive CD-ROM 12/11/92
CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- More and
more games are finding their way onto the CD-ROM format, as
it usually offers better graphics and sound capabilities. USA
Wars: Desert Storm with Coalition Command is one such
interactive offering from Compton's NewMedia.

The game is the first product under a joint venture development
deal with Quanta Press. The company calls the product a
"datagame," because it functions with "an underlying database
of factual information," according to NewMedia.

Norman J. Bastin, senior vice president and general manager of
NewMedia, said: " Datagames combine entertainment and
education by allowing users to access and manipulate a world
of historic information. Users can wage their own full-scale war
in Coalition Command by playing with the information they
acquire in USA Wars: Desert Storm."

Specific information is obtained from the database using
Compton's "SmarTrieve" search and retrieval engine. When it gets
a question from the user, the program opens a file revealing all
relevant information related to the question subject matter.

The company says that the program uses text, images, and
sound. Desert Storm features VGA images of weapons systems
and soldiers as well as recordings from press conferences and
briefings. The company says that, after mastering the history
of the war by viewing the battle and weapons systems
assessments, statistics, descriptions and criticism, users then
use that knowledge in playing the Coalition Command game.
The Coalition Command, the player takes over command of the
allied forces.

Referring to the benefits of using CD-ROM as a distribution media
for software products, David Dekema, marketing product manager
for the company, told Newsbytes that, "CD-ROM has shattered
the previous limits for software-based reference tools. In the
past, vast amounts of text, for example a complete encyclopedia
series or the Pentagon's report on Operation Desert Storm, would
have required hundreds of floppy disks to store. Today, with
CD-ROM, this information can be stored and presented easily
with just one compact disc."

Continued Dekema, "As an information provider....this creates
an opportunity for us to continually develop and add
state-of-the-art features to the text, such as search and
retrieval tools, videos, sounds, and animations....which
ultimately enhance the way people look at, interact with,
and use the information presented."

The game requires an IBM PC or compatible, DOS 3.3 or later,
a CD-ROM drive, a VGA card, and a mouse. The DOS version
requires a PC or XT, a minimum of 640 kilobytes (KB) of RAM,
and Microsoft CD Extensions 2.1. The Windows version requires
an IBM AT or better, a minimum of two megabytes (MB) of RAM,
and Microsoft Windows 3.0 with Multimedia Extensions 1.0.

Christina Germscheid, spokesperson for the company, told
Newsbytes that the retail price of USA Wars: Desert Storm
with Coalition Command is $49.95.

(Ian Stokell/19921208/Press Contact: Christina Germscheid,
619-929-2500, Compton's NewMedia)


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(SFO)(00025)

 ****Solid Economic Recovery Underway Says SEMI 12/11/92
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- According
to a report published by the Market Statistics Division of
Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI)
Makers, factory equipment used to produce semiconductor chips
and flat panel displays enjoyed a 16.4 percent increase in
shipment activity in the third quarter of 1992, compared to the
second quarter.

The "Executive Summary Report," indicates that "a strong
recovery is already underway for worldwide suppliers to the
semiconductor industry."

According to the report, third quarter shipments resulted in
$2.127 billion in revenue, compared to second quarter shipments
of $1.828 billion. Bookings for the same time period rose 15
percent, with third quarter bookings totaling $1.997 billion and
second quarter bookings totaling $1.737 billion.

SEMI maintains that the signs indicate a "solid recovery are
present," even though third quarter 1992 shipment levels are
still nine percent below third quarter 1991 levels. According to
the company, analysts tracking the equipment and materials
industry recently have forecasted 1993 industry revenue
growth ranging from 11 to 14 percent. If true, that would make
1993 the best year the industry has seen since 1988.

Order activity for production equipment appears to be most
pronounced in the United States and Southeast Asian areas of
the market, says the report. The Japanese market remains
sluggish.

William H. Reed, president of SEMI, said: "We are hearing of a
significant upsurge in order activity from our US members.
Although we are not in the business of making forecasts,
there is just too much activity to ignore. We believe 1993 is
going to be a good year for suppliers to the semiconductor
industry. For our 850 US member companies, there once again
appears to be a strong domestic market for their wares."

The "Buyer's Survey" section of the report states that North
American semiconductor manufacturers "regularly" interviewed
by SEMI's Market Statistics Division claim they will spend 22
percent more on capital equipment over the next 12 months than
they did over the previous 12 months.

Richard D. Greene, manager of SEMI's Market Statistics Division,
said: "It appears a lot of the investment will take place in the
near term. These companies have told us they are going to start
buying right now, and at an average level that's 22 percent
higher than the past 12 months."

SEMI claims to be an international trade association of 1,440
companies participating in the $20 billion flat panel display
and semiconductor equipment and materials market.

(Ian Stokell/19921211/Press Contact: Eric Winkler,
415-940-6908, SEMI)


(NEWS)(IBM)(SFO)(00026)

Toshiba Cuts Notebook Prices 12/11/92
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Just over a month
after last lowering prices from 14 to 25 percent on its notebook
and portable computers, the Computer Systems Division of Toshiba
America Information Systems Inc., (TAIS) has cut prices up to 17
percent on selected Satellite notebook computers and AC-powered
T6400DX and T6400DXC portable computers.

The company has also added a 50 megahertz (MHz) 486DX2 CPU
(central processing unit) on the current models of its T6400
portable series.

The company says the Satellite models affected in the price cuts
are: the T1800 with a 60 megabytes (MB) hard drive, which is
cut 17 percent; the T1850 with a 80MB drive, which is reduced
14 percent; and the T1850 with a 120MB drive, which is cut 10
percent. Toshiba maintains that it offers no suggested list price
for the notebooks, as this is determined by the reseller, depending
upon services or bundles offered.

The T1800 features a 20MHz 386SX CPU with a 60MB hard disk
drive and 2MB of RAM, expandable to 10MB. The T1850 has a
25MHz 386SX CPU with a choice of an 80MB or 120MB hard disk
drive and 4MB of RAM, expandable to 12MB. Both come standard
with a 9.5-inch monochrome LCD (liquid crystal display) screen
with 64 gray scales.

The T6400 models affected in the price reduction are: the
T6400DX with a 200MB drive and a 33MHz 486DX processor,
which is cut six percent; and the T6400DXC with a 200MB drive
and a 33MHz 486DX processor, which is reduced eight percent.

Both the T6400DX and T6400DXC feature an enhanced 50MHz
486DX2 processor with 4MB of RAM as standard, expandable to
36MB, a 200MB hard disk and a modem slot plus a full-length
16-bit ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) slot. The T6400DXC
sports a 10.5-inch TFT (thin film transistor) active matrix
screen displaying 256 colors at 640 by 480. The T6400DX
comes with an ultra-responsive gas plasma screen that has a
16-gray scale display.

At the beginning of November, Newsbytes reported that Toshiba
had lowered prices from 14 to 25 percent. The company also
introduced two new notebook computer models, the T4400 and
the T4500 family. Both the new lines offer a 486 microprocessor,
a 9.5-inch color display screen, a 16 millimeter (MM) PCMCIA
card slot, at least three hours of battery life, and the ability to
dock with a Desktop Station.

Also in November, Newsbytes reported that Toshiba had
announced its first pen-based notebook computer, the Dynapad
T100X. The new pen computer comes with either the Microsoft
Windows for Pen Computing or Go Corporations Penpoint
operating system pre-installed on the hard disk drive.

(Ian Stokell/19921211/Press Contact: Howard Emerson,
714-583-3925, Toshiba America Information Systems)


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(BOS)(00027)

 ****Novell Exec Denies Apple Merger, Talks New Products 12/11/92
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- The executive
in charge of Novell's mergers and acquisitions has publicly refuted
a report published in the San Jose Mercury News that Novell is
holding discussions with Apple Computer about a possible
merger.

"How many of you have heard that Novell and Apple are merging?
Well, that story is absolutely false," said Darrell Miller,
executive vice president for Novell, speaking yesterday in
Cambridge, MA at an executive forum jointly sponsored with Oracle
Corp. "It came as quite a surprise to me, and I'm responsible for
all of Novell's mergers and acquisitions."

Also at the forum, Miller outlined implementation plans for NetWare
4.0 and several NetWare NLMs (NetWare Loadable Modules), and John
Kish, assistant to the president of Oracle, described several beta
applications of the Oracle Server for NetWare, the first Novell-
certified NLM.

The meeting was held to explain to executives of New England-based
companies how Oracle Server, the NetWare version of Oracle 7, will
enable distributed database processing over NetWare 4.0.

Miller told the executives at the forum that he first learned of
the newspaper account of the purported Apple merger through his
wife. "She said to me, `You won't believe what's on the front page
of the San Jose Mercury News.' I haven't seen John Sculley for a
year now, so I don't know how we are supposed to have done all
this," he elaborated.

"But that's not why we're here today," Miller added, moving on to
the main focus of the forum. NetWare uses a layered architecture
consisting of plug-in NLM modules to provide a network operating
system that is independent of network protocol or media, he
continued.

Through a new NetWare Directory Services (NDS) capability to be
included in Version 4.0, the network operating system will gain
independence from file systems such as Unix, OS/2 or Windows NT.
NetWare 4.0 will ship in March, he remarked.

"Some time later will come complete independence from chip type,"
he pledged. Novell has already started working with Hewlett-
Packard on integrating the PA-RISC chip into NetWare, and
integration of other chips is on the way, he noted.

Oracle's Kish then explained that the VMS and Sequent versions of
Oracle 7 are now in production release, and the NetWare version is
in Developer's Release 2. Production shipment of Oracle Server for
NetWare will start in 1993, after code has been finalized, he
stated.

The NetWare version of Oracle 7 will provide distributed database
processing by acting as a "mirrored server," said Kish. Each
NetWare 4,0 system will be able to support up to five Oracle
Servers for NetWare modules, easing database processing by
splitting up the load.

In one implementation so far, a French-based company called sAz has
been using Oracle Server for a PC-based mailing list database,
according to Kish. Downsizing the application from the AS400 has
cut database query response time from 15 seconds from 1 to 2
seconds. At the same time, the application has quickly paid for
itself by eliminating AS400 maintenance costs.

In another implementation, Oracle has gained a contract for
deployment of the Oracle Server for NetWare on every ship in the
US Navy, he said. The new PC-based network is replacing a paper-
based ship inventory system that used to take three months and a
Pentagon staff of 3,000 people for compilation into report format.

Also at the executive forum, Miller described several other
upcoming NLMs for NetWare 4.0, including a fax module from
Cheyenne, a video module from Fluent, and a series of imaging NLMs
from Kodak.

The first imaging module from Kodak, the Media Manager document
manager, will ship upon the release of NetWare 4.0 in March,
according to Miller. Three or four additional modules, to be used
as part of the same imaging database, will ship in June. Novell is
also experimenting with the development of an NLM module for RF
wireless communications, he stated.

Speaking with Newsbytes after the forum, Miller said that the
experimental wireless module involves running Motorola's Altair
protocol over the emerging Point-to-Point standard for wireless
communications.

Novell's executive vice president also told Newsbytes that, in his
view, the report in the San Jose Mercury News was based on
"Inquirer-style journalism."

(Jacqueline Emigh/19921211)


(NEWS)(GOVT)(LAX)(00028)

Autodesk To Pay $5 Million To Shareholders 12/11/92
SAUSALITO, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Autodesk
says it would rather take it on the chin than keep fighting
shareholders who filed a class action suit against the company.
A $5 million charge will be levied against the company's fourth
quarter earnings in conjunction with the settlement.

Stockholders who purchased Autodesk stock between May 6, 1991
and January, 30, 1992 will receive the settlement, which will
be taken as a one-time charge against the company's fourth
quarter, which ends January 31, 1993. The $5 million payment is
subject to final approval by the US District Court in San
Francisco.

Autodesk denies any wrongdoing, but says it would rather
settle than take the drain of litigation.

The company divested other two other ventures, Xanadu and AMIX,
in August. AMIX is an online "shopping mall" for anything that
can be bought electronically, while Xanadu, acquired in 1988,
has been working on a hypermedia database product for several
years.

At the time of the divestiture, Autodesk said expenses incurred
from the spin-off of the two ventures were partly to blame the
company's 35 percent dip in second quarter 1992 earnings
compared to 1991.

Sausalito, California-headquartered Autodesk has made a strong
move into retail products geared toward home and small business
users for design of interior and exterior space. The company
also says the latest release of its flagship architectural
drafting product, AutoCAD 12, is boosting its earnings.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921211/Press Contact: Scott Stewart,
Autodesk, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(BUSINESS)(LAX)(00029)

National Semiconductor 2Q Earns Up 600% 12/11/92
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Business
is good for National Semiconductor, which has reported the best
quarterly earnings since 1985. The company says second quarter
net earnings are up 600 percent to $35.3 million ($0.27 per share)
compared to $5.9 ($0.03 cents per share) in the same quarter a
year earlier.

Worldwide bookings also set a new record in the second quarter,
exceeding the 13-week equivalent run rate record set in the
fourth quarter of fiscal 1992, the company said.

The company says this makes five profitable quarters in a row,
with sales at $491.9 million, up 19 percent from $413.2 million
for the same quarter last year.

The first half of last year the company was in the red, taking
a one-time charge of $149.3 million in the first quarter of its
1992 fiscal year which ended August 25, 1991. Sales for that
period were $824.2 million with a net loss of $162.1 million
($1.61 per share). However, the first half of this year $964.3
million, with net earnings of $57.2 million ($0.44 cents per
share).

Gilbert Amelio, National Semiconductor president and chief
executive officer, said the company expects things to continue
to improve overall, but expects a seasonal slowdown ahead.

The company said mass storage orders set new records, computer
peripheral markets were strong, the battery-powered systems market
and video monitors continued to grow, as did communications
markets, but automotive orders were down.

Geographically, the company said orders in all regions
increased substantially over the second quarter of last year.
By region, the Americas were up overall, European bookings were
up slightly, Japanese orders were firm, but orders in Southeast
Asia were up significantly.

Santa Clara, California-based National Semiconductor also
introduced new products, including its first retail product, an
integrated voice/fax/data personal computer add-in card, the
Tyin2000.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921211/Press Contact: Mary Ann McKay,
National Semiconductor, tel [phone], fax [phone])


(NEWS)(TRENDS)(LAX)(00030)

 ****Chip Orders Rebound 12/11/92
SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1992 DEC 11 (NB) -- Semiconductor
orders are up 28.7 percent over this same time last year,
according to the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). The
organization reported the book-to-bill ratio for October has
been revised upward to 1.11 and the September preliminary ratio
is 1.13.

The SIA says it tracks and reports figures on orders of
semiconductor products from key manufacturers. The book-to-bill
ratio is a key indicator of semiconductor market. A ratio of
1.13 means for every $100 worth of products shipped (billed),
manufacturers received $113 worth of orders (bookings). The
SIA says the figures are computed by dividing three-month average
bookings by three-month average billings.

The November bookings in the US increased 3.9 percent to
$1680.2 million compared to October billings of $1617.5
million. Compared TO November of last year, actual billings are up
28.7 percent.

Earnings reports of increases of over 600 percent from National
Semiconductor, one of the leading manufacturers, confirm the SIA
reports as well.

(Linda Rohrbough/19921211/Press Contact: Angela Newlove,
Semiconductor Industry Association, tel [phone], fax 408-
246-2830)