Newcastle-based business software publisher Sagesoft Ltd is to launch two new networking and relational database products: the MainLan networking system is based on a custom Sage Lancia local area network communications interface adaptor chip designed by SGS-Thomson Semiconductor SA in Italy. The new chip provides a NetBIOS-compatible network on a single 64-pin gate array, and can be mounted directly on to the motherboard of MS-DOS computers to provide built-in networking capability. Operating at 24MHz, it requires the addition of the cable connectors, 8Kb of static RAM and a line transceiver. Sagesoft claims that the chip is unusual in that it can be used both in existing XT-bus machines and with the IBM Micro Channel Architecture used in PS/2 machines. Although, like its original offering, the network still proprietary, NetBIOS compatibility means that the network supports all standard applications – Lancia has been tested with the most popular MS-DOS programs – but it cannot be combined with either ARCnet or Ethernet. Sales of the new custom chip are being negotiated in Europe and America. MainLan succeeds the company’s first networking product, the SageNet, NetBIOS compatible system launched in September 1987 (CI No 773); users will be able to upgrade to the new software. MainLan’s networking functions include file transfer, electronic mail and peripheral sharing; the network runs at 4Mbits-per-second, up from 1Mbps for the original SageNet, which remains available. Claiming advanced orders of UKP1.0m, the company is pledging UKP300,000 of promotional support during MainLan’s first three months of release. The starter pack, with boards for two personal computers, will cost UKP400 with further boards at UKP200 apiece. Sage has also announced replacements for its existing database retrievel system, with the release of Retrieve III and Retrieve IV, costing UKP150 and UKP300 respectively. Features include multi-indexed files, relational file management and a paint-the-screen database set-up. Sage’s new products, available in October, continue to target the low-cost personal computer business market – in which Sage claims to have unit UK sales second only to Lotus Development Corp.
