AT&T Co formally announced its direct entry into the UK computer market yesterday with creation of AT&T Istel Computer Systems Ltd to market its Unix systems, workstations and servers. It has retained Intel to offer third party maintenance and starts life with 15 employees, and will sell direct and through the entire gamut of indirect channels. British Olivetti will be free to continue marketing the 3B line and future AT&T products if it so chooses. The MIPS-based 7000s, the 3B2 and the various 80386 systems will be offered here, and a new Intel (80486?)-based server is promised for next month. Over for the launch, computer chief Robert Kavner said that AT&T will sell equity in the Unix Software Operation to other companies this year, and envisages a flotation in two years – and he said he would be happy for IBM and DEC to take stakes with integrity. AT&T also confirmed that the Sun Sparc RISC no longer figured in its plans.
