Xerox Delivering New Software for Ethernet Network-Star System

Dow Jones News Service

February 6, 1985

PALO ALTO CALIF -- XEROX CORP. SAID IT IS NOW DELIVERING NEW SOFTWARE BOTH FOR ITS STAR INFORMATION SYSTEM AND FOR THE ETHERNET LOCAL NETWORK ON WHICH THE SYSTEM OPERATES.

XEROX SAID THIS IS ITS FIFTH MAJOR RELEASE OF SOFTWARE DESIGNED TO EXTEND THE SYSTEM'S CAPABILITIES.

THE COMPANY SAID ITS NEWLY ANNOUNCED SOFTWARE ADDS NEW FUNCTIONS TO THE STAR SYSTEM AND LOCAL NETWORK EXTENDS ITS COMPATIBILITY WITH OTHER VENDORS' EQUIPMENT IMPROVES INFORMATION TRANSFER AND ADDS COMMUNICATIONS FEATURES.

XEROX SAID COMPONENTS OF ITS NEW 'OFFICE SYSTEMS 5.0' SOFTWARE RELEASE WILL ENABLE DIRECT CONNECTION OF DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORP. VAX SERIES COMPUTERS TO ETHERNET AS WELL AS JOINT NETWORK CITIZENSHIP BETWEEN THE XEROX STAR INFORMATION SYSTEM IBM PC AND DEC TERMINALS.

THE COMPANY ALSO SAID THE NEW SOFTWARE WOULD ENABLE A STAR SYSTEM USER SIMULTANEOUSLY TO ACCESS UP TO SIX DIFFERENT DOCUMENTS PROGRAMS AND-OR IBM OR DEC HOST COMPUTERS.

FEATURES ADDED BY OTHER SOFTWARE INCLUDED IN THE NEW RELEASE ARE A DOCUMENT INTERCHANGE FORMAT INTERACTIVE TERMINAL SERVICE INCREASED FILE CAPACITY A X.25 COMMUNICATIONS PROTOCOL A SPELLING CHECKER CHINESE LANGUAGE TEXT ENTRY CAPABILITY AND EXPANDED MAIL SERVICE CAPABILITY THE COMPANY SAID.

THE COMPANY ALSO SAID IT IS DELIVERING A NEW MODEL OF ITS XEROX 8010 STAR INFORMATION SYSTEM FEATURING HARDWARE CHANGES THAT INCLUDE A NEWLY DESIGNED DISPLAY MODULE A LOW PROFILE KEYBOARD AND A REVAMPED 'OPTICAL MOUSE' POINTING DEVICE. XEROX SAID THE NEW MODEL IS DESIGNED TO BE MORE CONVENIENT AND COMFORTABLE TO OPERATE AND REPLACES THE PREVIOUS MODEL AT NO INCREASE IN PRICE.

XEROX SAID THE PURCHASE PRICE OF A NETWORK MODEL OR REMOTE STAR WORKSTATION IS $9 995 COMPARED WITH $8 995 FOR A STANDALONE STAR WORKSTATION.