Two floors of computers for Odeon Plaza

Universal Electronics will next month open a computer department store on two floors of the Odeon Plaza in North Point. A Universal spokesman claimed the new operation, to trade as Soft & Hard, would be the biggest computer outlet in the territory. The store will have an express repair centre, kids corner, Internet cafe, book store, and seminar and training room. IBM's China projects IBM has announced the opening of technical training centres at almost two dozen universities in China. The IBM facilities were established as part of a US$25 million donation by the companyto Chinese universities last year. At an official ceremony held on the campus of Beijing University, Chinese Government officials welcomed the outside injection of funds to further develop China's tertiary computer science curriculum. The deal also includes free technical training programmes for university students on IBM's OS/2 Warp operating system. LECCO investment A Hong Kong subsidiary of Japan's Itochu Corp has acquired 20 per cent of local information technology services provider, LECCO Consultants. LECCO, which boasts a staff of more than 120, claims to be a specialist in open systems, database management and client/server systems development. Stephen Wong, managing director of LECCO, said in a statement that he welcomed Itochu's investment in the company and that it would give his company a new corporate strength. LECCO will also market some of Itochu's products locally. Roaming on the Net Asia On-Line has a roaming eye. The IIRS (International Internet Roaming Services) is a new service designed to allow Internet users a local dial-line number accessible around the world. Hong Kong business usually demands travel, which has long presented the problem of connectivity from outside an ISP's (Internet Service Provider) local network. Asia On-Line plans to partner with ISPs outside Hong Kong. Using IIRS, the log-in will be encrypted and sent to the original provider through the host country's provider. Billed at US$4 per hour plus local connection telecommunication fees, the user can conceivably access the Internet from anywhere. 'With IIRS, you will be able to dial into the Internet from a local telephone number no matter where you are,' said Joe Sweeney, managing director of Asia On-Line. 'You will not have to change anything in your software - you can just use your regular 3-mail, Web or newsgroup software.' Lotus Notes deployment CargoNet, the trade-related electronic service provider, has agreed to develop and market electronic commerce tools and infrastructure with IBM software division Lotus. Using Lotus Notes Release 4, and working with Lotus Consulting Group, CargoNet is enhancing its operations platform and will introduce its Phase Two services to the market later this summer. CargoNet has also become a Lotus Notes Business Partner, enabling it to sell Notes-based applications to its customers in trade and transport. 'This is very much a strategic alliance for CargoNet since Lotus Notes technology is now at the heart of our operations,' said Lloyd Sanford, chief executive of CargoNet. 'The service and support element of the relationship is also very important since we are working together to help CargoNet customers participate fully in the electronic trade and transport market,' said Lloyd Sanford, Chief Executive of CargoNet. New office for UB Networks. UB Networks, a major computer company, has relocated its Asia Pacific headquarters to Hong Kong from Melbourne, Australia. The company will initially continue to operate out of the Hong Kong regional office, which will take over all of UB's sales and marketing operations throughout the region. The company has also beefed up its North Asia operations, establishing new sales units in Greater China and Korea. 'This reorganisation puts in place the framework needed to aggressively attack this market,' UB's president and chief operations officer Chris Brennan said. 'We expect the new group to be fully operational by the end of 1996.' Hong Kong will also become the regional headquarters for the company's newly formed Greater China region, which will integrate operations in Hong Kong, Taiwan and the PRC. UB supplies network hardware, software and support products, along with network management solutions. SystemPro was recently named the company's distributor in Hong Kong. ISP opens up Yet another Internet Service Provider (ISP) has entered Hong Kong's crowded market. AAA (Absolutely Affordable Access) Internet plans to slash connection costs for companies with in-house engineers. AAA guarantees LinkAGE Online a certain amount of customer volume in return for use of its links (two T1 lines to the US, and 256 kilobits per second and 64 Kps lines). Director Thomas Kan plans to keep prices down by offering a leased line without value-added services to companies with system operators or LANs (local area networks). 'I don't hire 30 engineers to provide my service,' he said. 'I'm able to pass on the savings to those companies that have the personnel.' Mr Kan plans to offer a basic 64 Kps service for HK$4,000 per month. New education centre Novell, the company best known for NetWare and GroupWise, has appointed SystemPro as a Novell Authorised Education Centre (NAEC) in Hong Kong. NAECs are set up to train participants on NetWare, GroupWise and network application features. SystemPro will combine with Drake Training, Digital, Hong Kong Productivity Council, Infocan Computer Consultants, JOS Education Centre and SiS International to help users develop the skills to use and manage Novell's products and services. 'SystemPro meets our stringent education standards by accumulating strong experience in providing education programmes, products and services to information technology in Hong Kong,' regional director for Novell Asia Peter Wong said. 'By aligning with SystemPro , Novell can ensure customers acquire the technical knowledge needed in the workplace.'