The UK launch of Wayne, Pennsylvania-based Soft Switch Inc’s 400-Link range of products for connecting IBM-based electronic mail systems to X400 networks followed hard on their introduction to the US (CI No 1,280). In all, it is an eight product family: both IBM office automation packages, Profs and DisOSS, are catered for, as are Verimation’s Memo and H&W’s SYSM packages; and each of the four systems is available as the entry level Model-10, based around an Intel 80386SX with 4Mb of memory, and as Model-20, intended for volume production, which uses a 25MHz 803086 and a 322Mb disk – both models also incorporate two Motorola 68000-based input-output processors. Apart from the UK launch of the 400-Link range, which Soft Switch stresses will facilitate future evolution of X400 use by providing interconnection between various Administration Management Domains, such as Dialcom, MCI Mail and Telemail, the company also announced connection agreements between 400-Link and the X400 options of Telemail, MCI Mail, Western Union, TRT and British Telecommunication’s Dialcom. Meanwhile, US business news service McGraw-Hill News has entered into an agreement with Soft Switch to enable electronic mail users to receive its news service via X400 – this is billed as the first business application X400. In an attempt to further promote the X400 electronic mail standard in commercial environments, Soft Switch is offering a six-month pilot programme to potential customers, which will include all hardware and software required, installation and support: the monthly fee payable for the programme – $4,600 in the US – can then be traded off against the total price of the system if bought. McGraw-Hill News has also come in on the six-month pilot scheme marketing strategy by offering customers special news profiles at a discount rate for the period. In the US the complete Model-10 package comes in at $35,000, and Model-20 at $65,000: UK prices will vary according to which X400 capabilty is used, but will show a conversion rate from the US figures of around $1.40 to the pound – in other words, look for Model-10 at about UKP25,000, Model-20 at UKP46,500.
