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The Wall Street Journal Interactive Edition -- March 16, 1998
Technology Briefs
Covad to Roll Out DSL Service in Five Markets
Covad Communications Co., Santa Clara, Calif., a provider of high-speed
Internet access to customers in Silicon Valley, is expected to announce
Monday that it will roll out its service in five additional markets. The
closely held company said it will offer digital subscriber line, or ''DSL,''
service in Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Washington,
D.C., by next March. DSL technology uses traditional copper wires to
deliver fast access to on-line services.
Yahoo, MCI Set to Launch Rival to America Online
Yahoo! Inc., Santa Clara, Calif., and MCI Communications Corp.,
Washington, will launch their previously announced on-line service
Monday, the latest in a series of attempts to create alternatives to America
Online Inc. on the Web. The service, called Yahoo! Online, combines
MCI's Internet-access service with Web directory and content features
developed by Yahoo. It includes a new software interface, e-mail, and
some exclusive information services. MCI will operate billing and customer
support, while Yahoo will create content and sell advertising. Jeff Mallett,
Yahoo's chief operating officer, said it will keep most of the ad revenue.
MCI will retain the monthly fees, which will be $14.95 for MCI
long-distance customers and $19.95 for others.
Shareholders File Suit Against Sybase
Shareholders filed a lawsuit against Sybase Inc., a database-software
publisher that announced it would restate inflated financial results for the
past several quarters as a result of fraud at its Japanese subsidiary. The
lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, was filed in federal court in San
Jose, Calif., by the San Francisco law firm of Berman, DeValerio, Pease
& Tabacco. It alleges the company knowingly defrauded investors. The
company declined to comment.
Neomagic to Announce Toshiba-Laptop Agreement
Neomagic Corp., Santa Clara, Calif., is expected to announce Monday
that its space-saving combination graphics-memory chip will be used in
Toshiba Corp.'s new Libretto 100CT portable computer. Neomagic's
chips combine graphics and memory chips in a single device, increasing
system performance, cutting chip costs and saving on space. Competitors
such as Intel Corp.'s Chips & Technologies Inc. subsidiary, Trident
Microsystems Inc. and S3 Inc. are trying to match the technology, but
analysts say they have had little luck thus far against Neomagic. On the
Nasdaq Stock Market Friday, Neomagic closed at $18.625, down 25
cents.
Clear Channel Buys 40% of Mexican Radio Firm
Clear Channel Communications Inc., San Antonio, said Friday it
purchased a 40% stake in a Mexican radio broadcasting company for
$57.5 million. Clear Channel said Grupo Acir Communicaciones SA de
CV owns 164 radio stations in 72 cities in Mexico. Clear Channel, a radio
and television broadcasting company, had 1997 revenue of $790.2 million.
Texas Instruments Unveils New Calculator
Texas Instruments Inc., Dallas, introduced a new electronically upgraded
graphing calculator. The electronics and computer chip concern said the
TI-73 with Graph Explorer Software can be upgraded with the latest
software versions and customized with separate software applications. The
company said the TI-73 with Graph Explorer Software will be available in
the U.S. and Canada in the second quarter.
Ultimate Software Files for IPO
Ultimate Software Group Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., filed Friday for an
initial public offering of $48.59 million of common shares. The company
provides personnel management and payroll software. In a filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said that proceeds
from the offering will be used for working capital and general purposes.
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corp. and Volpe Brown Whelan
& Co. will underwrite the offering. |
