Seeming undeterred by the stiff competition, Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc unveiled 1992 plans for its LANstep system alongside a new LANstep Starter Kit, and the announcement of a mail gateway with support for Novell Inc’s MHS Message Handling System. The LANstep Starter Kit comprises a two-station network in one box: two Hayes EtherMate 8 network interface boards; 25′ of thin coax cable; two T-pieces; two Ethernet terminators, user guides; and LANstep software with LANstep mail for five users. Available in March, it costs UKP530. LANstep Mail Gateway Version 1.1 enables LANstep mail to exchange mail with any MHS-compliant system. It supports Hayes Enhanced Serial Port and comes complete with a copy of NetWare Message Handling System. Version 1.1 costs UKP280. NetWare Lite certainly seems to have given low-end local network manufacturers pause for thought, and Hayes is no exception. LANstep Version 2.0, available in the second quarter, will offer a number of enhancements including faster installation, multiprotocol capability with links to NetWare, and the ability to run TCP/IP and other networks from the same station through one interface card. Also pre-announced were new security features, standard mode Windows support, additional language support, and an Enhanced Developer Kit with new application program interfaces for LANstep’s multi-tasking and distributed processing capabilities. Later in the year, Hayes plans to exploit EGA/VGA technology by adding a graphical user interface to the LANstep interface. Also, in the third quarter it plans to add LANstep Remote Workstation, and LANstep Mac Connection. In the fourth quarter, Hayes says it will add a LANstep Network Gateway for linking multiple LANsteps. With that lot shipping, Hayes reckons it will give competitors a run for their money.
