A Japanese company has begun tests on a new communications device which can send cartoons and weather charts, as well as normal type symbols, to overseas destinations at a speed four times faster than telex machines.

Japan's international telegraph and telephone company, the Kokusai Denshin Denw??? is carrying out the five-day tests between Tokyo and Rome, via the Intelsat satellite over the Indian ocean.

The new machine, the 'Graphtyper' can end and receive any type of letters ranging from Chinese to Arabian, as well as diagrams, drawings, and handwriting.

The operator uses a keyboard for transmitting alphabets, figures and Japanese characters, and an adaptor is used or other markings. A ballpoint pan is used at both sending and receiving points for diagrammatical transmissions.

According to the company, transmission is available anywhere in the world where there are communication circuits, cables or satellites.

The Graphtyper has been under development since 1969, and coasts 24,500 sterling, (11,000 dollars), but the company expects the sot to fall.