OVER 7,000 people are expected to visit this week's Windows World, exhibition at the RDS, Dublin. Combining the Windows Show and Network Show of previous years, the organisers say this will be Ireland's largest every computing show, with over 80 exhibitors, and 50 free briefings and seminars.
Most major hardware, software and networking companies will be represented. Attendance, is aimed at business computer users and advance materials say under 18s and students will not be admitted "by exhibitor request".
The exhibition on Wednesday, and Thursday is being used as a launch pad for a wide range of, new products and services.
. DHL will launch a new service on the World Wide Web (http://www.dhl.ie) which allows customers to track packages in transit. The customer enters an airbill number and is then shown the date and time of delivery and the name of the person who signed for the package. The company is also showing a new "mobile office".
. Kedington Group will have a live demonstration of desktop videoconferencing over ATM, which, it says, allows existing network cabling systems to carry multimedia applications over 25 megabit/second ATM. A second demonstration will feature, AT&T's Wavelan wireless bridge; which can link Ethernet networks over distances of up to three kilometres.
. Data Solutions is launching Citrix Winframe, a new remote access system for Windows network applications. This allows low end PCs, or network computers, to run 16 and 32 bit Windows applications from an application server, with major potential benefits in performance and flexibility. Data Solutions is also showing what it says is the first network computer in Ireland, the Wyse Winterm.
. Priority Data Systems has a new Internet division, dealing with security, firewalls and virus control, which will be introduced" at the show.
Other major vendors at the show will include Microsoft, 3Com, Compaq, Simens Nixdorf and Telecom Eireann. Of the growing number of Internet service providers, Ireland OnLine, Indigo and Club Internet will have stands.
Many of the exhibitors are holding free seminars, covering all aspects of Windows computing and networking and the Windows World organisers are also hosting four special briefings. These cover electronic data interchange, client server technology, business process improvement and IT investment appraisal.