Algorithm used in compress/decompress ?

[Vadivelu Elumalai]

Recently I read about many compression techniques used for text
compression. It seems there are two methods to compress text,
dictionary method and statistical method. I want to know the 
algorithm used in the unix text compression utilities 
compress/decompress. This has to be a standard algorithm since
it is possible to decompress the text compressed by another
machine. Is there a GURU who can explain this?
Thanks.
Vadi.

--
Vadivelu Elumalai,                    U.Snail : 813, Wilson Avenue,
B-20, Atanasoff,                                Ames, Iowa - 50010.
Iowa State University,                AT&T    : (515) - 232 - 7220
Ames, IA - 50010                      E-mail  : vadi at judy.cs.iastate.edu