ICL’s new personal

Press, 10 August 1982, Page 33

ICL’s new personal

Last week ICL launched in New Zealand its personal computer. This was also an opportunity for ICL to announce the names of its new network of independent distributors, under the name, “ICL Trader Point.” ICL Trader Point outlets will initially sell just the personal computer, but eventually will be able to sell other ICL computer products. The outlet buys com-

puters from ICL at a discount and resells them to third parties. Commission agreements will also be available that cover the payment of a commission for recommending and installing ICL products. Mr Warwick Marriot, ICL’s Trader Point manager for New Zealand, says Trader Point will signifacantly increase ICL’s penetration in the fast-growing

small-systems computer market. ICL will back the agreement with product advertising and a catalogue of available software for the computers. In Christchurch the local company, Systems Software and Instrumentation, will be a Trader Point outlet. Another local company will shortly be appointed by ICL. The equipment will be serviced by ICL or the outlet

may do the first-line servicing.

ICL's new personal computer is sold only by Trader Point outlets. ICL is using the design of a British company. Rair Limited, which has been selling its computer as the Rair Black Box 3/30. There are four models in the ICL personal computer range, starting with the model 10 which has 64K bytes of RAM, twin 500 K byte mini-floppy disc drives, and two serial ports for peripheral connection. This model will sell for less than $ll,OOO.

The largest in the range, the model 32, has 256 K bytes of RAM, five megabytes of hard disc storage, 500 K bytes of mini-floppy disc storage, and eight serial ports. Each model uses an 8085 microprocessor. They operate under CP/M or MP/M and use CIS COBOL from Micro Focus or BASIC from Microsoft. ICL does not intend to write or .stock application software for its personal computer, but will provide the Trader Point outlets with a catalogue which lists software, including overseas software, that runs on the personal computer. The list already includes software from lAL in Auckland. IMS in Melbourne, and Lifeboat Associates in the . United States.