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To: David Lawrence who wrote (12312)	2/3/1998 5:03:00 AM
From: Moonray	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 22053

Data General unveils $500 mini-server PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (Reuters) - Data General Corp on Monday unveiled a stripped-down but powerful ''server'' computer that can connect PCs in a house or small office to the Internet with minimal technical fuss. The new mini server, dubbed Network Utility Box, does the same thing that a full-blown, $5,000 network server does -- connect a handful of PCs to the Internet so that users can find news, collaborate on office work with coworkers in far-flung offices and get e-mail. But Data General's Network Utility Box will cost just $500, will be only slightly bigger than a video cassette and will sit in a home's basement, the company said. Plus, it sends the Internet data using a wireless transmitter, so customers would not have to wire the building with cable. Data General unveiled its mini server at the Demo 98 technology conference, where dozens of companies vie to unveil their coolest products in the works. The Network Utility Box drew the biggest applause from the crowd of computer executives. ''This is an infrastructure device,'' said Craig Heim, Data General product marketing director. ''The Internet will be delivered as a utility service, the same way cable service or water service is provided.'' Heim said Data General -- a maker of high-end servers used to run the information systems of big companies -- plans to make the mini server itself and license the technology to consumer electronics or other computer companies. Currently, it takes lots of hardware and software and plenty of technical expertise to set up a network server. The Network Utility Box, in contrast, has the necessary software and hardware in a sleek, sealed box. It connects to the Internet through regular or high-speed phone lines, or through cable television wire. It communicates with the rest of the local network through a wireless transmitter. The receiving computers get their connection through a $20 wireless PC card. Heim said consumer electronic companies eventually will use the technology to make information ''appliances'' -- an alarm clock, for example, that can download traffic information each morning, or a teddy bear that can recite bedtime stories stored throughout the Internet. Even traditional appliances can be connected to the Internet with this device, Heim said. Eventually, there will be washing machines that can automatically send an e-mail to a technician if they break down. Data General was not alone in unveiling mini servers. At least three companies debuted stripped-down servers to run small networks with minimal hassle and cost. Other big draws at Demo 98 included Cobalt Microserver Inc., which makes a $1,000, bread-box-sized server to run small Web sites for small businesses. Sun Microsystems Inc. also demonstrated a prototype mini server that would store and manage the phone messages, faxes and e-mails of a household. o~~~ O

To: David Lawrence who wrote (12312)	2/3/1998 9:10:00 AM
From: Moonray	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 22053

Canada's Newbridge shocks with Q3 shortfall warning 11:15 p.m. Feb 02, 1998 Eastern TORONTO (Reuters) - Newbridge Networks Corp. shocked investors on Monday with news that its third-quarter profit would be much lower than expected and it plans to take an unspecified restructuring charge for its money-losing U.S.-based UB Networks unit. Excluding one-time charges and gains, the computer networking firm said it would earn 7 cents a share, versus forecasts of 26 cents for the quarter ended Feb. 1. In last year's third quarter, Newbridge earned C36 cents a share. The Canadian dollar is currently trading at 68.82 U.S. cents. Newbridge now reports in U.S. dollars. Newbridge, based near Ottawa, said its restructuring charge for UB Networks would include severance payments, costs to close facilities, an inventory writedown, deferred tax assets and a write-off of good will. Newbridge trading was halted in Toronto and New York before the closing bell. Before the halt, the stock traded at a 52-week low of C$37.50 in Toronto and $25.50 on Wall Street. Analyst Rob McLellan of SBC Warburg Dillon Read, who downgraded his rating on the stock to neutral from buy on Jan. 22, said the warning meant Newbridge would post three disappointing quarters in a row. ''The magnitude of the shortfall is going to shock a lot of people,'' he said. Another analyst, who declined to be identified, added: ''The stock's going to drop by 10 (Canadian) dollars tomorrow. It's going to go down to 20 (dollars) or more.'' ''You won't find a single analyst, even the most bearish, who would have foreseen such a drop,'' he said. Newbridge said it would post details and final results for the third quarter on Feb. 24. The company added that quarterly revenues are expected to reach C$360 million ($247 million). That number is 25 percent below previous predictions, the analyst said. Newbridge said the expected shortfall arose from a significant decline in sales of its older technology called time division multiplexer (TDM) systems. In a news release, Newbridge Chief Executive Terence Matthews said: ''The third quarter was a challenging period.'' But now that management settled the UB Networks problem, it can devote its attention to other areas, he said. ''The actions being taken will enable the company to refocus on the enterprise market from our traditional position of strength as a WAN (wide area network) equipment vendor,'' Matthews said. McLellan said Newbridge could transfer some UB marketing rights to alliance partner 3Com Corp. but any fees paid would pale in comparison to the $92 million price Newbridge paid for UB Networks last January. REUTERS o~~~ O