ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 14, 1995 TAG: 9512140049
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
Lotus unveils `Notes' changes
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Lotus Development Corp., responding to competitive pressure caused by new Internet technology, on Wednesday demonstrated major changes to its hallmark Notes program that allow it to both read and create information for the World Wide Web.
Most of the changes will be in a new version of Notes that goes on sale Jan. 1. Lotus also cut prices to the new Notes products.
It will be possible to click onto the Web while reading e-mail sent by a colleague in Notes. In addition, Web pages can be created using Notes.
The steps are designed to keep Lotus a leading seller of messaging and groupware programs, which combine electronic mail and sophisticated databases.
Lotus was bought by IBM five months ago in the software industry's largest takeover.
- Associated Press
Prodigy liability ruling stands
Citing ``a real need for some precedent'' in the laws of cyberspace, a judge has declined to reverse his ruling that Prodigy Services Co. could be held liable for comments posted on its computer bulletin boards by subscribers.
The decision by Justice Stuart L. Ain of the New York state Supreme Court for Nassau County, in Mineola, came as he rejected a motion by Prodigy's lawyers to reargue a $200 million libel lawsuit filed against Prodigy by a Long Island investment bank and its president.
The investment bank, Stratton Oakmont Inc. of Lake Success, and its president, Daniel M. Porush, withdrew their suit in October in return for Prodigy's saying it was sorry that an unidentified subscriber had posted messages accusing Stratton Oakmont of fraud.
Ain's order of last May stated that Prodigy could be held liable because it acted as a publisher of information, not merely as a passive carrier, like a telephone company. Prodigy is owned by Sears, Roebuck & Co. and IBM.
- The New York Times
NBC to start all-news channel
NEW YORK - General Electric Corp.'s NBC unit today is expected to announce a plan to start a 24-hour news channel with Microsoft Corp., said a person familiar with talks between the companies.
The announcement could be held up by negotiations on last-minute details, the person said.
NBC declined to comment. Microsoft, a personal computer software maker, said it had no comment.
Network officials last week confirmed that the network plans to start an all-news television channel, which would begin next year.
One of NBC's biggest problems for the channel will be getting cable system operators to provide access to their already overcrowded cable systems.
- Bloomberg News
Delta Air Lines cuts holiday fares
ATLANTA - Delta Air Lines said Wednesday it was cutting fares by up to 50 percent during the Christmas and New Year's holidays for flights between Atlanta and 61 destinations in the Southeast, East and Midwest.
The fares are good Dec. 24-25 and Dec. 28-Jan. 1. Customers must buy tickets by Dec. 18. Tickets are nonrefundable, but passengers can make changes for a $50 fee.
Sample fares include: Atlanta-Baltimore round trip, $198, compared with the regular 21-day advance purchase price of $401; Atlanta-Houston $198 instead of $396; Atlanta-Milwaukee $158 instead of $312.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Medium: 72 linesby CNB