19th January 1999 Archive
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Microsoft to bundle Terminal Server with Windows 2000
And the new prices are a positive initiative, not a collapse. Honest.
Microsoft has confirmed the new Windows NT Terminal Server pricing structures revealed here yesterday (MS Terminal Server policy collapses), and has committed to shipping the next edition as standard with Windows 2000. Terminal Server is to be integrated as of Beta 3 of Windows 2000, which is now due in April. Microsoft seems to …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 06:37
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Windows 2000 ship dates slip some more
And now it can't go any further back without running into 2000 - isn't that exciting, readers?
The ship dates of Windows 2000 Beta 3 and the finished product have both slipped some more, to April and late 99 respectively. As late as last summer Microsoft was indicating that the product would go gold in Q1 of this year, but since then it's slid to second half, and now to the end of the year. The Register did get a …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 07:03
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Europe versus US wireless war looms
The sound of rattling sabres is becoming positively deafening
The prospects of a US versus Europe standards war over third generation (3G) mobile phone systems have grown stronger, after an apparent clash between EU and US officials. Yesterday EU commissioner Martin Bangemann released the text of a letter defending EU policy, which was sent to a number of US officials, including secretary …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 07:34
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A year ago: FTC won't give up on Intel
Arrogant dragon may have cause to repent
It just seems merely one week ago that we received a cock-a-hoop email from Santa Clara telling us (incorrectly) that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had given it a clean bill of health. This was to do with the famous Chips & Technologies acquisition which had been a mouldering in some federal office waiting for the go-ahead …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 08:20
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Matsushita slams DVD+RW gang of three
Claims the only products available are press releases
A senior executive at Matsushita-Panasonic has hit out at the DVD+RW group of three, made up by Philips, Sony and HP, for failing to produce anything but press releases. According to Steve Murakami, manager of storage product marketing at Matsushita: "The +RW proposal was announced more than a year and a half ago. Six months …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 10:53
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Merger makes Excite feel @Home
UPDATED: Portal snapped up by high speed service provider
@Home, the high speed US Internet service provider, is to buy Excite, the world's second largest portal, for $6.7 billion, The Register can confirm. In a joint statement, the companies said their customers would get the most personalised, open Internet services available and at any speed they wanted. Although the deal still …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 11:15
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Pentium III out of the bag
Hardware site reviews the chip ahead of time
A hardware site has blown the gaff on the Pentium III, having managed to obtain a pre-production processor from an Intel partner. Firing Squad has posted a review which reveals details of the processor ahead of its official launch at the end of February. Intel admitted that the review did appear to be of a genuine part, but said …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 11:19
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Apple's FireWire licensing – the debate rages
Is Apple now getting an easy ride on others' investments? Register readers have their say
Our coverage of Apple's latest policy on licensing FireWire (see Apple caught charging crafty FireWire fee), prompted a number of interesting comments from Register readers. In particular, we were interested to receive information on Apple's original licensing scheme. Apparently, Apple initially charged $7500 for a one-off, non- …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 11:40
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Nvidia to IPO on 22 January
3D firm's shares expected to rocket
Nvidia is expected to offer its shares on the stock market on 22 January. The company, which makes high performance 3D processors, has made a number of significant wins with its customers in 1998. Reports said that 3.5 million shares will be offered with the pricing expected to be in the $7 range. Said Roy Taylor, joint managing …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 11:57
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Info'Products staff keep in touch via Web
As legal case hots up, Web site helps former employees unite
Ex-Info’Products staff are banding together thanks to a dedicated Web site as some of their number prepare for possible legal action against their former employer and its new owner, Compel. Started a week ago, the site’s chat page is being used to add the names of employees laid off earlier this month to a growing roll call of …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 12:09
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Linux user wins refund for unwanted Windows 95
I don't want Windows, and Microsoft's licence says I can have my money back, says user
A loophole in Microsoft's end user licence agreement -- and a little perseverance -- has allowed an Australian user to be refunded for not to use Windows on his Toshiba laptop. However, it's clear the PC vendor has to bear the cost -- not Microsoft. Notebook owner Geoffrey Bennett spotted a clause in the End-user Licence …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 12:10
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Hyundai rejects LG contract demands
Seven year contracts for workers ruled out
The Korean press is reporting that Hyundai has dug its heels in, and refuses to accept LG demands on employee rights. Hyundai is taking over LG's semiconductor business. According to the Korean Herald, Hyundai has rejected LG demands that it re-employ workers and give them seven year contracts to protect their jobs. A statement …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 12:26
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Musicians demand EU protect copyright on the Net
European Parliament will address copyright in the Net age tomorrow
Proponents of the MP3 digital music encoding system who argue that artists support the format because it takes the power of distribution out of the hands of the records labels and places it in theirs may have to think again. French composer/performer Jean-Michel Jarre today presented to the European Parliament a petition signed …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 12:42
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Ecommerce sites ignore customer satisfaction
Survey reveals lack of consumer loyalty
E-tailers are being warned not to get carried away by the hype surrounding e-commerce and instead focus on keeping customers happy. New media research firm, Jupiter Communications, is worried that while much of the talk among e-tailers is how to increase their market share, many are simply forgetting to look after their Web …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 12:47
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Transmeta chip to arrive by Q4
...and IBM Micro will flog the mobile Java part
Sources said that the long-awaited Transmeta processor is set to arrive in the fourth quarter of this year. And details have emerged about what type of chip it will be. The sources said there will be x.86 compatibility built into the chip, and it will also function in Java devices. The source said: "It will be a mobile chip sold …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 12:47
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Lotus announces Notes, Domino for Linux
Collaboration software due later this year as commercial release
Lotus is to support Linux and release versions of its Domino and Notes software for the free Unix-based OS later this year. However, it's unlikely the company will also embrace the open source movement of which Linux is the flagship. Speaking at Lotusphere 99, the US Lotus users' conference, CEO Jeff Papows said he expects the …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 13:08
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Serious Fraud Office gives Azlan clean bill of health
Investigation reveals nothing untoward after all
Networking distributor Azlan has been given the all clear by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). The SFO was called in to investigate the company following allegations of financial impropriety when Azlan revised its financial results The company lost £14.1 million on sales up from £196.5 million to £293 million, compared with the £ …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 13:09
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Intel to hire White House lobbyist
FTC case not as trivial as it claims?
A report on Newsbytes claimed that Intel has hired a lobbying team to help it fight its case against the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). According to the report, a spokesman for Intel confirmed it had hired White House Counsel John Quinn and congressman Butler Derrick to help it out. One wag said: "If these guys do any work …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 13:22
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Intel takes $30.5 million chunk of PictureTel
PC products en route
Intel said it is to invest $30.5 million in PictureTel in a push designed to boost its video conferencing technology. The companies said they will jointly develop products to leverage emerging markets including broadband, cable modems, XDSL and the next-generation Internet. Intel will license PictureTel to distribute its ProSare …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 13:23
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Intel, chip-set vendors prepare for Rambus shortage
Alternative technologies line up to ease OEMs' transition to Direct DRAM
Third-party chip-set vendors look set to reject the Intel-backed Rambus Direct DRAM in favour of the next iteration of 133MHz SDRAM. And even Intel itself appears to be preparing alternative technologies to ease the transition to the new memory technology in case supply fails to meet demand. The PC133 SDRAM option is currently …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 13:35
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Onsale flogs new PCs at zero margin
How low can you go?
Onsale is to sell new PCs at zero margin over the Web. The loss-making Internet auctioneer will sell PCs and accessories for the same prices at it pays Tech Data, its wholesaler. The company reckons its can carve out an operating margin from banner ads on its Web site, flogging service contracts and leases and by charging small …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 13:42
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End of the line for fine.com
UK office bites bullet after less than a year
Internet services company fine.com -- which lists Burger King, Intel and Microsoft Corporation among its blue chip clients -- has confirmed it is to close its UK operation less than a year after it was first opened. The company said it was part of a strategic initiative to restructure the organisation and will result in " …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 15:36
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Mr Net Nanny awarded by online angels
Recognition for anti-porn filtering software
The CyberAngels -- the advocates of Web-based do-goody vigilantism -- are to recognise the achievements of Gordon Ross, the man behind the filtering software Net Nanny. Not content with simple recognition, these online good guys believe Ross' contribution to Net life is so important, they're naming him the 'Internet Humanitarian …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 15:53
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Microsoft piracy buster trashes software and reputation
Don't ask...
Pictured here is David Gregory, anti-piracy manager at Microsoft UK. He is celebrating a £20 million haul of illegal software in Reading. Funny thing is, the Oracle HQ is bang next to the MS building. So what disks is the steamroller trashing? What is that furry thing between his legs? Here is the full story A Microsoft public …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 16:33
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AMD to make Compaq Alphas?
The saga continues...
Chip company AMD today declined to either confirm or deny that it will take over manufacture of Compaq's DEC Alpha chips. As reported here earlier, a common motherboard will allow K7 users to upgrade to faster Alphas, as and when they become available. Rana Mainee, European market research director at AMD Europe, said: "We have …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 17:16
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Cash boost for CHS
IBM extends additional credit
IBM today said it will extend its CHS Electronics credit facilities totalling $250 million, according to Reuters. IBM will provide working capital for additional inventory and accounts to several CHS companies. These include the Central European region, the German, Austrian and Swiss distribution companies of CHS and Karma BV …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 17:52
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DoJ quizzes MS ‘expert’ economist
Is Schmalensee just trotting out the Microsoft script?
The first area that the DoJ's David Boies explored in his cross-examination of Dean Richard Schmalensee, as is usual in antitrust cases, was the relevant market. But Schmalensee "didn't see any particular purpose in investigating" whether there was a relevant market. "Market is not relevant or necessary to answer the questions …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 18:20
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So who is this Schmalensee guy anyway?
Graham probes the background to Microsofts economics expert
Dean Richard Schmalensee of the MIT Sloan School of Management freely admits "my 1978 article on the ready-to-eat breakfast cereal industry is probably my best known" so what a pity that it's software this time around for Microsoft's expert economist. In common with many US academics, Schmalensee has a sesquipedalian (OK, foot …
Business 19 Jan 1999, 18:23
