Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!apple!han From: han@Apple.COM (Byron Han, wyl E. coyote ) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer Subject: Communications Toolbox Press Release Keywords: Communications Toolbox Message-ID: <30580@apple.Apple.COM> Date: 12 May 89 22:31:24 GMT Organization: Apple R&D - Networking & Communications Lines: 109 Just thought inquiring minds would like to know... FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Cindy McCaffrey Apple Computer, Inc. (408) 974-1578 APPLE ANNOUNCES MACINTOSH COMMUNICATIONS TOOLBOX TO DEVELOPERS SAN JOSE, Calif.--May 9, 1989--Apple Computer, Inc. announced the Macintosh Communications Toolbox to developers at its 1989 Worldwide Developers' Conference here. The Communications Toolbox is an important new part of the Macintosh System Software, extending the Macintosh Toolbox into the networking and communications environment. The Macintosh Toolbox is a set of common routines, functions and features that all software applications can draw on. The Communications Toolbox revolutionizes the way software developers and users interact with communications software. Compared with other communications environments, the Communications Toolbox offers significant benefits to both end-users and developers. It provides developers with standard programming interfaces to data connection, terminal emulation and file transfer capabilities and provides end-users with consistent user interfaces across all applications. "The Macintosh Communications Toolbox is a vital part of Apple's connectivity strategy because it significantly extends the power and consistency of the Macintosh to the world of communications," said Don Casey, Apple vice president of Networking and Communications. Possible applications that will use the Communications Toolbox include telecommunications or terminal emulation software as well as added communications functionality to almost any application. The Communications Toolbox is made up of four components: the Connection Manager, the File Transfer Manager, the Terminal Manager and the Communications Resource Manager. The Connection Manager provides applications with standard access to different types of data connections, independent of the communications protocols being accessed. Support for particular communications protocols is provided via connection tools. Connection Tools are installed in the System Software much like fonts or desk accessories. Like the Connection Manager, the Terminal Manager and the File Transfer Manager provide applications with standard access to different types of terminal emulators and file transfer protocols. Terminal Tools provide terminal emulation functions to applications, while File Transfer Tools provide file transfer capabilities to applications. The Communications Toolbox has an open architecture. This expanded capability allows third-party developers to create custom tools and enables end-users to enhance existing applications with additional communications functionality. Apple will initially release a set of communications tools that will provide a broad set of communications functionality to developers and end-users: an asynchronous serial connection tool; a Hayes-compatible modem connection tool; Teletype, DEC-VT100 and DEC-VT320 terminal tools; ASCII Text and XMODEM file transfer tools. Apple also announced its plans to incorporate the Digital Equipment Corporation proprietary Local Area Transport (LAT) terminal services technology in the development of a Communications Toolbox connection tool. This technology will provide an efficient means for developers to offer Ethernet-based, multi-session terminal emulation capabilities on the Macintosh. LAT is a communications protocol used in DECnet/OSI local area networks. Developed by Digital originally to connect terminals to host systems via Ethernet, LAT is also used for connecting printers or links to VAX hosts. The Communications Resource Manager and other utilities included with the Communications Toolbox provide important support to developers in creating powerful communications applications. The Communications Resource Manager also enables hardware developers to "register" their cards, such as serial port cards and internal modems, with the Syns of the Macintosh System Software. -30- Apple, the Apple logo, and Macintosh are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. QuickDraw and APDA are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. DEC, DECnet and VAX are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation. 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