Hi sticklebrick - yeah the native Alias wire files are not supported by very many other programs. Usually whoever sent you the file should be aware of this and would have sent you the file in one of the more commonly used formats like STEP or IGES.

Other than Alias itself, I think it's possible to set up the Polytrans program from Okino to read in .wire files as well:
http://www.okino.com/tutorials/gplugs_tutorial.htm

- Michael