UK - CSSA Director Questions Future Of Internet 04/08/96

[NB / LON]

LONDON, ENGLAND, 1996 APR 8 (NB) -- Spring is in the air and Comdex
UK, the first true UK version of the popular US/Asian trade show, will
take place in London from the 23-26 of this month. Rob Wirszycz, the
director general of the Computer Software and Services Association
(CSSA) has assembled what he calls a "power panel" for the show to
discuss what future the Internet holds.

According to Wirszycz, managing directors and company presidents
will be looking to the "crystal ball" panel to tell them what future
benefits the Internet will bring them. Wirszycz claims that the
crystal ball session concept, which has been used successfully at
other Softbank Comdex events around the world, is expected to be a
popular feature of the London show.

"As chairman of the crystal ball (session), I'm determined that no-one
will be allowed to sit on the fence about the big issues," he said.
"That may lead to some red faces in the future, but a willingness to
look ahead five or ten years is exactly what the UK information
technology (IT) industry needs to do at this important time."

He added: "One area I intend to highlight is whether businesses
should ultimately opt for the Internet or large commercial gateways
such as CompuServe for their online communications."

Another area which Wirszycz said he intends to cover in the sessions
is whether recent developments in cellular and wireless systems mean
that computer users will soon be able to do away with cable-based
networks.

Speakers lined up for the Power Panel include: IT industry veteran
Pamela Gray, now president of the Winta Group; Gaston Bastiaens,
president of Quarterdeck; and Steve Lair, vice president of mobile
computing products with Texas Instruments.

(Sylvia Dennis/19960405/Press Contact: Peter Jump, Banner PR,
+44-171-351-4488, Internet e-mail peter...@bannerco.com; Reader
Contact: Softbank Comdex, tel +44-181-741-8899, fax +44-181-741-8833)