"The Discover the PC initiative is part of Intel's longstanding and comprehensive approach toward sharing the benefits of personal computing with those who have traditionally had neither the access nor the means to use technology," said Intel Corporation President and CEO Paul Otellini. "Intel is proud to be part of the effort to deliver the benefits of computing more broadly to people."
At a news conference in Mexico City, Otellini unveiled the full-featured, high-quality desktop PC that Telmex would make available as part of the Discover the PC initiative. Intel intends to work with governments and local telecommunications companies to initially launch the PC in other parts of the world later in the year.
The new PC has been tailored specifically for use in developing nations, said Intel in a release. It has an easy-to-use interface designed to introduce a new set of people to the world of computing technology for the first time. It has been built as a small form-factor, low-cost and energy-efficient PC that is well suited for dense living conditions. People using the PC will have access to a full range of applications and experiences that allow new ways to learn, work and play. By joining with government agencies and telecommunications partners that would provide Internet access, the computing platform will offer all the features of a PC available today while being sold significantly below typical PC prices. These prices will differ by country based on local PC prices and family incomes.
The PC will be available through Telmex in the early second-half of this year initially to state governments. The goal is to support local digital inclusion efforts by making it readily available to people using a PC for the first time for communication, education and business.
"Telmex has been, is, and will be supporting the initiatives that contribute to reduce the digital divide especially in the education segment by utilizing its technology and human resources as well as its infrastructure," said Jaime Chico Pardo, Telmex CEO.
Otellini also announced an expansion of the Intel Teach to the Future program in Mexico. With nearly 30 percent of Mexico's population younger than 14, investing in education and providing 21st century skills for students are fundamental components to the nation's social and economic advancement, he said.
Since 2001, nearly 130,000 teachers in Mexico have participated in the Intel Teach to the Future program to learn how to use technology to enhance learning. Intel will triple these efforts over the next five years, said Otellini, and will work with the Mexico Ministry of Education, the Latinamerican Institute of Educative Communication (ILCE), the National Pedagogic University (UPN) and other organizations in the country to train an additional 400,000 teachers.
"By expanding the Intel Teach to the Future program, we have the potential to impact nearly half of Mexico's teachers and potentially reach 20 million students by 2010," Otellini said. "The Intel Teach to the Future program is centered on Intel's belief that computers aren't magic, but teachers are. Only by putting the tools and training in place to empower teachers can we truly affect learning and the development of skills."
Intel also will provide 5,000 free PCs to support digital inclusion and education programs in Mexico. Telmex will support the effort by providing Internet access for the PCs. In addition, Intel launched an expanded Spanish-language education Web site, where Mexico's teachers can find resources for developing lessons that use technology to improve their students' critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration skills.
Otellini outlined other key initiatives to increase the availability of high-speed Internet connectivity, citing Intel's participation in WiMAX broadband deployments in Mexico and around the world as examples. WiMAX can wirelessly deliver Internet access over long distances, connecting remote areas without relying on legacy telecom technologies. Governments are beginning to view WiMAX as an efficient way to spread Internet access to regions that would not otherwise have sufficient infrastructure available for many years. Otellini cited Intel's work with the Delegacion Miguel Hidalgo on the America Segura project in Mexico City as an example of how to use wireless technology for the greater good and also make a neighborhood safer for its citizens.
