To Protect and to Sell
Time to check in on how the other software baron named Gates is doing. . . .
Early reports from distributors selling the first offering from former LAPD top cop Daryl indicate the product is doing pretty well, although it doesn’t appear that Microsoft’s Bill has anything to worry about.
Sierra On-Line in Northern California two weeks ago began shipping the “Daryl Gates’ Police Quest: Open Season” computer game amid much hoopla.
Pete Janssen, vice president of merchandising and advertising with retail chain Egghead, says “Open Season” appears to be selling well so far, estimating the title ranks around the 80th percentile among software Egghead sells.
Some others in the industry note, however, that the software could have done a better Christmas business if it had been released earlier in the season.
Sierra spokesman Bill Lind said that it will take about a month before it becomes clear how well Gates’ software will eventually do.
But initial shipments indicate that the Gates program will rank as Sierra’s second or third best-selling title, behind “Leisure Suit Larry.”
And ‘Monthly Bill’ Means $$$
Cable television giant Tele-Communications Inc. may be on the cutting edge of the communications revolution, but the way it talks to its customers is pretty basic.
In a pamphlet mailed to customers this month, TCI doesn’t take any chances in making sure that no one is confused by any of the terms it uses.
Some examples:
* “ ‘We’ ‘company,’ ‘us’ or ‘our’ means your local cable company.”
* “ ‘You’ or ‘your’ means the customer.”
* “ ‘Home’ means the residence or dwelling.”
* “ ‘Installed’ means either installed or activated.”
* “ ‘Service’ may include cable TV programming or any other service that we provide to you.”
No Title to This Term
The best-selling “Re-Engineering the Corporation” isn’t the only book out capitalizing on business’ growing obsession with the trendy management term.
This year alone has seen the following books published: “Re-Engineering Your Business,” “Re-Engineering the Networked Enterprise,” “Software Assistance for Business Re-Engineering” and a book on “Process Re-Engineering at Oregon State University.”
Also, “Downsizing: Re-Engineering Business for Open Client-Server Systems,” “Business Process Re-Engineering” and “Tips on Evaluating Software Re-Engineering.”
Briefly . . .
Fifty-three percent of college students polled in a MasterCard survey say they would forgo holiday gifts for a job. . . . A Costa Mesa real estate expert has written an “educational romantic novel” on the business. . . . A Las Vegas chapel offered a $1 special on weddings last week to mark the opening of financier Kirk Kerkorian’s MGM Grand hotel and casino.
