Commodore is to launch a desktop IBM compatible machine in spring, 1985. The company describes the machine, thought to be a development of the Bytec Hyperion, as the 'opening gambit' in an offensive on the business computing market.

Commodore declined to discuss hardware specifications or pricing, but said the new machine would be previewed at the Which Computer? show on January 15, and would be launched later, possibly in March.

The company's new marketing manager, David Gerrard, said the newcomer was part of "an evolving, long-term strategy" that should take the company back into its traditional business market.

Gerrard admitted that Commodore's concentration on home computers in the last 18 months had meant a shift away from business users.

The launch arises from two deals that Commodore made earlier this year. The first was a licensing agreement with Bytec-Comterm, maker of the Hyperion/Ajile portable - one of the best IBM-compatible portables. The machine was displayed in Commodore livery at the Hanover Fair in April.

The second deal was an arrangement with chip-maker Intel that allowed Commodore to produce the IBM PC's processor, the 8086.

After Hanover, the portable machine sank without trace and as manufacturers of portables and IBM compats began to fold, speculation mounted that Commodore would have to upgrade the Bytec hardware significantly. It now appears that the speculation has been borne out.

A second business machine was shown at Hanover, a multi-user system based on the Z8000 processor. So far that has been equally conspicuous by its absence.