ITAFE Pilot Shows that Customers in High Growth Markets are Ready to Pay for Technology Access
3/30/2006

On January 28, 2006, IT leaders from around the world met in Davos, Switzerland to discuss the positive results that came out of the IT Access for Everyone (ITAFE) pilot project in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In the fourth quarter of 2005, the ITAFE pilot successfully offered a job training and search service program for the Sao Paulo community, called Caça Emprego, in partnership with Fundação Bradesco, resulting in 230 graduates and 20 additional residents trained to help others in their searches. ITAFE reported these details at the IT Governor's meeting during the 2006 WEF Annual Meeting in Davos.

The results speak for themselves:

• People in Brazil are willing to pay for technology that enhances education, improves healthcare or helps them find employment — what we call "life services."
• The technology solution itself is less important to end-users and matters more in terms of the local infrastructure. The value derives from being able to write a resume, email prospective employers and use the Internet to help find jobs not otherwise visible or available.

The ITAFE consortium has proven that people with modest means are willing to pay for connectivity. It has also shown that an ecosystem of companies working together to solve connectivity and technology problems can now influence further action between the government, private and civil sectors. Can we turn this knowledge into a sustainable business model to be scaled and replicated around the world? AMD hopes that through 50x15 and the efforts of its partners, the answer is a resounding 'yes'.