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MULTIPLE ZONES TO CHANNEL MICROSOFT FOR MCI

Multiple Zones International Inc., Renton, Wash., was selected as the primary reseller of products from Microsoft Corp., Redmond, Wash., to MCI Communications Corp., Washington. Multiple Zones will market and distribute products through a customized MCI catalog and World Wide Web site. The company will distribute the software products over the Web using electronic software distribution and through CD-ROM media.

INGRAM MICRO TEAMS WITH NEWSOFT

Ingram Micro Inc., Santa Ana, Calif., has entered into an international distribution agreement with NewSoft Inc., Fremont, Calif. The pact opens distribution channels in the European market to NewSoft, a manufacturer of image-capturing software products. The first two products to be distributed by Ingram Micro will be NewSoft's Presto! Page Manager Suite and Multimedia Suite. The first is an integrated scanning utility suite for personal document/imaging management and the latter is a tool for image editing and desktop video.

Ingram Micro has also rolled out its Valued Internet Partner program. The promotion offers companies training and tools needed to provide complete Internet solutions to their customers. VIP is a subset of the company's Premier VAR Plus program but companies interested in using Ingram's Internet benefits do not have to be members of that program already. Members receive benefits that include special financing, travel and service, and free technical support. It also includes access to Ingram's Internet help desk, which provides technical support. There is no fee to join the program.

BARRON UNVEILS BARGAIN PCs

Barron America, Houston, unveiled its new lines of Symphony and Explorer personal computers aimed at offering customers PCs at rock-bottom prices. The two lines are manufactured in the United States and sell for around $700 without monitors. Each comes loaded with Windows 95, and the more expensive Explorer ($709) comes with interactive Web server software. The company has focused largely in the past on marketing and selling PCs in the former Soviet Union, the Middle East and South America.

NET NANNY WIDENS DISTRIBUTION

Net Nanny Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia, developer of the Net Nanny Internet and PC control and filtering software, is expanding distribution into new channels and product categories. The company has signed agreements with Net TV, San Rafael, Calif.; Software Review L.C., Overland Park, Kan.; and Broadcast Software Inc., Bend, Ore. The software will be marketed by these companies to customers who want filtering options for family guidance, security and protection, while surfing the Internet.

DIGITAL SLASHES PRICES ON ALPHA LINE

Digital Equipment Corp., Maynard, Mass., reduced prices by as much as 47 percent on its 64-bit AlphaServer systems, 42 percent on AlphaStation workstations and 55 percent on memory options. Pricing reflects intensified competitive positioning for Digital's workstation products and volume manufacturing and lower priced memory for its AlphaServer line.

INTENTIA, IBM JOIN FORCES

Intentia International, Rosemont, Ill., signed a strategic agreement with IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., to integrate IBM's data warehouse solution software as part of Intentia's Movex enterprise resources planning system. The application allows users of Movex to improve the use of information housed in a data warehouse. The product is currently installed at two pilot locations. Intentia is planning to offer the IBM solution as a standard feature by the time of the next release of Movex in 1997.

INTEGRAL VISION PARTNERS WITH IMAGING TECHNOLOGY

Imaging Technology Inc., Bedford, Mass., and Integral Vision, Farmington Hills, Mich., have entered into a joint marketing agreement to support Integral Vision's VisionBlox machine vision software for ITI's image acquisition hardware. The alliance gives machine vision OEMs, systems integrators and volume-end users a powerful and cost-effective solution from independently developed hardware and software sources.

-Matt Hines