Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.tech From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: tech Tue, Jun 2 1992 Date: Tue, 2 Jun 92 05:20:35 EDT Message-ID: 06-02 0000 DECISIONLINE: Technology USA TODAY Update June 2, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network DIGITAL CONTINUES TO MAKE CUTS: Digital Equipment Corp. said Monday it has cut 3,700 jobs through a voluntary retirement program and expects to resume layoffs in July to reduce costs. Digital has eliminated more than 23,000 jobs the past couple of years through voluntary departures and layoffs. Digital says its expects to take a restructuring charge up to $1 billion in the fourth quarter. IBM LICENSES INPUT:OUTPUT SYSTEM: IBM Monday announced a licensing agreement with Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. of Japan. Matsushita will use IBM's Personal System:2's basic input-output system in its personal computers. IBM BIOS is a program encoded in read-only memory that facilitates the transfer of data and control instructions between a PC, its software programs, and peripherals. SYSTEMS CENTER MAKES DEAL: Systems Center Inc. of Reston, Va., Monday said it has signed an agreement with Hitachi Ltd. of Tokyo. The firms will adapt Systems Center's network management software so it can be used with Hitachi's mainframe computers. Systems Center develops, markets and supports systems and network software. GROUP TO FOCUS ON EMISSIONS: A technology-sharing consortium of the Big Three U.S. automakers, expected to be announced next week, is likely to focus on new emissions rules in California. The newest joint research effort is expected to be aimed at finding ways the carmakers can meet strict California clean air standards that take effect the next few years. Other states are expected to adopt similar rules. CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY FILES SUIT: Creative Technology Pte Ltd. of Singapore has filed suit against Media Vision Inc. of Fremont, Calif. The lawsuit, in the federal district court in San Francisco, says Media Vision infringed Creative's copyrights software and products related to Creative's line of audio and speech cards. The suit seeks to enjoin Media Vision's continued sale of such products. TANDY, CASIO STRIKE DEAL: Tandy Corp. says it has agreed in principle to work with Casio Computer Co. Ltd. of Tokyo to develop and make a new family of Personal Information Processors. The line will be the firms' entry into the hand-held portable information market. They have also contracted with GeoWorks Corp. to supply the operating system and Palm Computing Inc. to supply applications software. SIERRA, MPR TO TEAM UP: Sierra Semiconductor Corp. of San Jose and MPR Teltech Ltd. of British Columbia, Canada, Monday announced they have created a joint venture called PMC-Sierra Inc. The new company will develop chipsets and modules that provide communication component solutions for the telecommunications and data communications markets. The company will be based near Vancouver, B.C. ACER UNVEILS NOTEBOOK COMPUTER: Acer Group Monday unveiled a notebook computer that features interchangeable memory, facsimile and networking components that meet with Personal Computer Memory Card International Association standards as well as the Exchangeable Card Architecture software standard from Intel. Prices for the AcerAnyWare V386SL start at $2,495. It will be available in July. OCEAN TECHNOLOGY IS SOLD: Whittaker Corp. says it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Ocean Technology, a unit of ALLTEL Corp. The business will be consolidated into the Whittaker Electronic Systems division. The Ocean Technology products include graphic display systems for command, control and communications systems. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. MODULASER WINS AWARD: Modulaser, a three-dimensional computer numerical controlled cutting and welding system produced by Robomatix International, has been selected as one of the 25 best technically innovative new products of the year by Photonics Spectra magazine. Robomatix produces laser processing motion systems to automotive manufacturers and suppliers and the aerospace industry. LOTTERY TO USE ON-LINE SYSTEM: Symbol Technologies Inc. said Monday it will sell customized laser scanners to the Western Canada Lottery Corp. to read and validate bar coded instant lottery tickets. The $1.1 million contract calls for Symbol create an on-line system that will allow more than 3,000 vendors to instantly verify winning tickets with a main computer located in Winnipeg. REGULATION DISCUSSION PLANNED: The Mount Diablo Technology Association will present a panel discussion by leading experts titled, "What's lurking in the legislature? Resources for staying informed." The event will be held June 22 in Emeryville, Calif. Reservations for the meeting are required. RSVPs should be made to Mary Crinnion at 510-746-7770. Cost is $25 for members and $30 for non-members. Technology Editor: Ed Kelleher. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM