ASCII Corp, the company founded by Microsoft Corp’s former Japanese partner Kay Nishi, is going into the Unix market in a big way in Japan. It has teamed with five other major companies to create a new ASCII Information Systems business that will specialise in software for Unix workstations. Partners in the new venture are Informix Software Inc, the Astec Corp Japanese software company, traders Mitsui & Co and Nissho Iwai Co and a large Japanese accounting firm. Starting with 40 people, the staff will be augmented by technicians with Unix experience from Astec and other staff from ASCII. ASCII has traditionally been strong in personal and home computer software, and in publishing, and its desire to get serious about Unix indicates the growing commercial potential seen in the workstation market in Japan.
