Sign in Subscribe
Software industry

Australian Vice-Chancellors Committee Delays User-Pays Internet Regime

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Australian Vice-Chancellors Committee's (AVCC) plans for a user-pays internet regime on AARNET, the Australian Academic Research Network, are still uncertain. The committee met in Darwin last Monday but did not set a deadline for the introduction of traffic charges, suggesting that final decisions may not be made until September. Meanwhile, the AVCC has begun signing agreements for spending $3.4million on upgrading the network, allocated under the Cooperative Research Centre program, after nearly 18 months of waiting.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Australian Vice-Chancellors Committee has delayed the implementation of a user-pays regime for AARNET, with no deadline set despite initial plans to introduce traffic charges on January 1.
  • The committee has begun signing agreements for upgrading the network, using $3.4million allocated under the Cooperative Research Centre program.
  • Research institutions have expressed concern that industry and small business usage of AARNET should be compatible with research purposes.
  • Intel is investing $US150million in a worldwide campaign to promote Pentium chips, including funding up to 100% of advertising for OEM manufacturers who switch to Pentium power.
  • Compaq has dropped prices on some 486SX2-powered PCs, leveraging a fall in Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) processor prices, and will get first access to AMD's upcoming 40/80MHz and 40/120MHz 486DX processors.
  • Apple has cancelled plans to use the 80MHz PowerPC 603 chip in the PowerBook, opting for a PowerPC consortium to develop a faster version or a low-power 601 alternative.
  • Microsoft is delaying the release of Windows NT 3.5 due to user dissatisfaction with the number of bugs, with a second beta version planned for next month and the final release set for the third quarter.
  • IBM is showcasing an OS/2 Warp beta version, featuring improved speed, size, and installation ease, with a 32-bit Presentation Manager and a new Workplace Shell.
  • Lotus is planning improved Notes integration in the next version of SmartSuite, along with other features like icon automation, which was missing from the Warp beta.
  • Borland is not ready to sell its InterBase database business, opting to find a partner for the Unix side and focus on the Intel market.

Statistics:

  • The Australian Vice-Chancellors Committee allocated $3.4million for network upgrades.
  • Intel is investing $US150million in a worldwide campaign to promote Pentium chips.
  • Compaq plans to use AMD's 40/80MHz and 40/120MHz 486DX processors in upcoming PC models.
  • The final release of Windows NT 3.5 is scheduled for the third quarter.
  • IBM is showcasing an OS/2 Warp beta version with improved performance and features.
  • Lotus plans to improve Notes integration in the next version of SmartSuite.

Sources:

  • Computer Age
  • PC Week (US)
  • Mac Week
  • Borland press release
  • IBM press release
  • Lotus press release
  • Intel press release
  • Compaq press release
  • AVCC meeting minutes (unspecified)

Read more