IBM Current, a personal information management software package for MS-DOS, which runs under Microsoft Windows, was launched last week by IBM UK. Designed to help single users use time and information better, it appears to be a desktop computerised personal organiser aimed at small businesses, sales persons, consultants and business professionals – for example, people who want to organise contact lists and store information relevant to these and update it. Its applications include an address book, diary, notepad, files, planning charts, report generator and letter writer, and a spell-ckecker is also included. These applications can be linked to one another, so, for example when a phone number is altered on a phone list it is automatically updated in the address book. There is a phone log and dialler, and used with a modem it will automatically dial the number and log the call. The import-export feature enables migration of data in ASCII, dBase or DIF formats. Gantt Charts, which can be colour-coded, graphically track dates and phases of projects. There are on-line tutorials and help facilities. This development is part of IBM’s strategy to get into application software in Europe. Current is expected to be sold in France, Germany and Italy. Current cannot be shared over a network, but David Rayner said that IBM believes it is better to evolve a good system for personal users whilst developing OfficeVision services in parallel, and then combine the two. However, he did stress that personal computer files could be transferred to and from other sources. Current requires a minimum of an 80286-based AT or XT personal computer or PS/2 with hard disk and 640Kb of memory. It will be available from IBM authorised dealers from March, selling for UKP324.
