| Page 3 of 3 < |
Bringing the Internet To the Whole World
Advanced Micro Devices Inc.'s Personal Internet Communicator sells for about $200 in the developing world.
(By Julia Ewan -- The Washington Post)
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Some Internet providers will in turn charge consumers slightly more and earn the difference, while others might break even on the machines and attempt to make money by selling subscriptions to their high-speed Internet services.
Using Internet providers as distributors also lets Ruiz control where the machines are distributed. As a chipmaker whose major customers are computer manufacturers, Ruiz does not want the PIC to compete with their products in places such as the United States.
Despite the broad network of partners and suppliers and generally positive reviews for the machines, Ruiz said the uphill climb will be steep to reach the 2015 target.
"It will take a lot more effort than we probably thought," he said, while reaffirming his commitment to the project.
The biggest hurdle, he said, has been navigating competing agendas of different providers and partners. Moreover, he said, governments in places such as Brazil need to help by lowering taxes on the machines to help make them affordable.
"We haven't found a single formula that works" in all regions, he said.
Gartner's Reynolds said that one challenge will be that users may quickly outgrow the machines. "But that may be half the plan," he said.
For one PIC owner, though, the machine offers a long-term opportunity.
"I'm thinking of starting an Internet cafe," said Elvis Richardson, a computer technician on the island of Tortola in the British Virgin islands. "These could be great for that."
