patth@ccnysci.UUCP (Patt Haring) (06/26/89)
Ported to USENET from UNITEX NETWORK via UNITEX BBS: 201-795-0733 We want ** your ** news bulletins: (FAX: 212-787-1726 : Attention: James Waldron, Ph.D.) or ...!uunet!rutgers!rubbs!unitex To subscribe to the UNITEX mailing list, send your subscription request to: unitex-request@rubbs.UUCP SOUTH AFRICA: Sanctions Busting Software Johannesburg, June 21, 1989 (AIA) -- Whether bought from willing international dealers or pirated for sale on the "grey market", leading edge software is driving the South African information technology industry. The reality of sanctions-busting software was displayed at the 11th Annual South African Computer Faire here between June 7 and 10. Local companies made much of their high profile linkages with some of the best-known names in the world of computers. Typical was MBM Computers who promoted their links with Microsoft (makers of MS DOS and MS DOS-based softwares), and Excel Software which is selling the Wordstar line of word- processing softwares made by Multipro. Both software companies are based in the USA. MBM said it was getting round the poor Dollar-Rand exchange rate by cutting its dealer's margin so that costs to the end user would remain low. At the same time Cape Town based HNR computers celebrated its "Official South African dealership" agreement with Word Perfect wordprocessing software company of USA by offering the package to Computer Faire visitors at half price. A HNR spokesperson said the WordPerfect company was considering translating the software into Afrikaans, which would be a first for an international software dealer. Before the HNR deal, WordPerfect had been available in pirated versions on a local "grey" market for software which has grown up as a way round bars to technology transfer, sanctions or otherwise. This is where South Africa's version of "hackers" thrive: a heady mixture of fast-talking street wise cynics and intense mathmatical "brains" colluding to acquire, crack, copy and distribute software. The grey market claims the world renowned spreadsheet software Lotus 1-2-3 as its own. The USA-based company refuses dealings with South Africa because of sanctions. Local hackers have stepped in. New versions of the software have been acquired and distributed to thousands of users, including some the country's largest banks and insurance companies. Now some successful software sanctions busters have formed a Lotus Users Group (LUG) with an expected membership of 1,000. LUG supplies a newsletter, telephone "hotline" support, discounts on pirated Lotus products, training and frequent seminars and meetings. But for every item of pirated technology many more are exchanged willingly and openly. Typical is the acquisition of the new UNIX operating system for microcomputers with the powerful 80386 processing chip as well as larger mini and mainframe computers. The Unix operating system, developed in the USA by Bell Labs and A.T.&T, has become the standard for complicated science and engineering applications. Unix allows simultaneous use of a central processor by networks of processors all performing different functions at the same time. This capability allows computer users to maximise the efficiency and productivity of existing and future computers. In South Africa, companies have been switching to Unix in droves. One survey conducted by the BMI market research company projected that 40 percent of computer system purchases during 1989 and 1990 would be Unix based. Respondents sited the ability to serve more than one processor as well as the threat of sanctions as their reasons for favouring Unix. Cutting edge Unix operating systems are available to local companies who are marketing the software to both government and private sector users in the military and civilian spheres. Leading Unix producer, Santa Cruz Organisation (SCO) of California, has teamed up with the South African subsidiary of the Italian Olivetti corporation to offer the newest Unix based software: Office portfolio. SCO has mandated Olivetti to operate the only Unix training centre for Africa in Johannesburg. Data Processing (DP) workers from all sectors who attend courses will learn how to use the integrated spreadsheet, word-processing and database capabilities of "Office Portfolio". * Origin: AlterNet Better World Communications (1:163/113) -- unitex - via FidoNet node 1:107/520 UUCP: ...!rutgers!rubbs!unitex ARPA: unitex@rubbs.FIDONET.ORG -- Patt Haring | Vote * YES * for creation of rutgers!cmcl2!ccnysci!patth | misc.headlines.unitex patth@ccnysci.BITNET | email votes to: patth@ccnysci.UUCP