TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Times Mirror Co. to Acquire Software Maker: The parent company of the Los Angeles Times said it will purchase Allen Communication Inc. The price was not disclosed, but the company indicated it was for less than $10 million. Salt Lake City-based Allen makes multimedia and software products, and is best known for its Quest word-processing software designed for DOS operating systems. Times Mirror said its three professional training companies--Learning International, Zenger-Miller and Kaset International--will use Allen software to enhance their products. Times Mirror’s Jeppeson Sanderson, a publisher of flight information and aviation training materials, will also develop training programs using the technology.