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Netrix Appoints New CEO: Netrix Corp., Herndon, Va., has named Lynn Chapman president and CEO of the company. The former CEO, Charles Stein, has taken the role of chairman of the board.

The shift for the communications networking company signifies a move toward what Stein calls the "enterprise network market." Chapman, who joined the company in 1992, was most recently vice president and general manager of the company's enterprise networking business. In that job, Chapman was responsible for sales, engineering and marketing for wide area network products.

To further underscore the company's new focus, Netrix also introduced a new multiservice switching platform that combines asynchronous transfer mode, frame relay, integrated services digital network and time division multiplexing. The Network Exchange 2550 is designed to be a one-shot product for a business's data, voice and image communication.

EDS Moves Into Global Electronic Banking: A global banking division has been formed at Electronic Data Systems Corp., Plano, Texas, as part of its banking and securities group.

Market research firm the Yankee Group, Boston, lauded EDS' move, saying that electronic banking will be one of the most radically changing and important technology segments over the next five years.

"We believe EDS is investing in exactly the right area at exactly the right time," Yankee's analysis said. "The company is ensuring its leading position for seizing substantial market share as the global banking system not only migrates to a paperless state, but becomes the retail channel of choice for consumers."

Phone Home From Anywhere: A new cellular phone service from International Mobile Communications Inc., Bethesda, Md., lets people make and receive calls with the same number in 50 countries.

It is now difficult for travelers to communicate by cell phone because of differing wireless technologies worldwide.

The service, WorldCell, works in such areas as China, Poland, the Czech Republic and parts of Russia. Users rent a pocket phone from IMC before they leave the United States and can receive calls at one number as long as they travel among the 50 countries. The phone rental costs $75 the first week and $50 for each week after. A voice mail service records messages when the phone is not answered.

-Shannon Henry

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