Technology solutions. (Special Advertising Features).

As 2003 approaches, improvements in technology are expected to remain a bright spot in Latin America's business outlook. Innovative products and enhancements in hardware, software, telecommunications and Internet solutions will continue to boost corporate sales, operational efficiency and overall profitability.

A recent study from U.S. consulting firm IDC indicates that information technology (IT) services spending is expected to pick up in 2003, following a 4 percent regional decline in 2001.

"While a number of companies postponed or canceled major projects, many invested nonetheless in more narrowly focused solutions, particularly those that promised immediate cost savings or efficiency gains," said the IDC report, which forecast a 9 percent compound annual growth rate from 2001 to 2005.

Other studies indicate demand for IT products in most major markets, particularly Mexico, will also been the increase. Telecom firms, manufacturers, financial institutions and government organizations are expected to be the largest purchasers of technology solutions.

Here are several examples of what's new in Latin America's highly dynamic technology sector:

Network Appliance: Meeting evolving storage needs

Network Appliance, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTAP), is at the forefront of enterprise storage solutions, lowering the cost of ownership for companies in Latin America and around the world, "Network Appliance is leading the way to unified storage solutions that understand Unix, Windows or mainframe protocols and applications such as database, CRM, etc," says Andres Hurtado, director for Latin America. "A simple box that can solve all your storage needs will be the way of the future."

A second major trend in the storage industry is the rapid growth of fixed content -- data like hospital X-rays, newspaper articles, oil and gas seismic analyses and checking account statements. "Network Appliance is lowering the cost of making this data more readily available for users in different geographic locations," Hurtado says.

Finally, enterprises need to improve their storage solutions to meet the demands of millions of consumers who want to access information 24/7 from any location in the world, Network Appliance's solutions allow content to be easily stored and delivered to consumers around the world.

Founded in 1992, Network Appliance offers storage systems that are simple and easy to deploy, are easier to manage, offer increased availability and require fewer internal resources -- dramatically lowering the total costs, while enhancing functionality. The company's solutions can be scaled for organizations of any size.

Network Appliance was recently recognized for its outstanding contributions to customers, receiving The Best Complete Storage System award at the 2002 Network Storage Conference for its F880 series storage solution. For more information, visit www.netapp.com.

BenQ offers advanced flat-screen monitor

An advanced flat-screen monitor from BenQ Incorporated offers excellent image quality with space-saving advantages. BenQ's lightweight FP567 liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor can support up to 16.7 million colors and is compatible with every kind of VGA output.

BenD's LCD monitor is only about 40 percent of the depth of a regular cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor with the equivalent screen size. That means it takes less than two-thirds of the desk space needed for a conventional monitor and is ideal for environments where space is at a premium.

BenQ understands that users require different viewing angles for a variety of applications, and the FP567's tilt function is designed for a wide sphere of adjustment possibilities and viewing comfort. An optional wall-mounting kit allows the screen to be adjusted to the most comfortable viewing angle.

Formerly Acer Communications & Multimedia, BenQ is one of the world's top three manufacturers of LCD displays and an industry leader in digital lifestyle devices that encompass the display, storage, imaging, wireless and broadband areas. BenQ has manufacturing plants in Malaysia, Mexico, China and Taiwan. For more information, visit www.benq.com.

Telefonica Data offers 'one-source' solutions

Telefonica Data provides complete communications solutions for multinational corporations doing business in the United States, Latin America and Europe, including network connectivity and secure, reliable, cost-effective data center solutions.

"Now more than ever, multinationals are interested in complete technology solutions to support their strategy for doing business globally," says Pete Pizarro, CEO of Telefonica Data USA, Inc. "With our unique combination of data centers on three continents and a robust global network, we provide a single source for the technology and expertise customers demand as they expand into new markets."

Telefonica has invested more than US$60 billion in Latin America and is developing businesses in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Peru, Puerto Rico and other Latin markets.

Telefonica Data's Miami KeyCenter is the flagship of an interconnected series of seven data centers on three continents. The KeyCenter is connected over Emergia, Telefonica's self-healing 16,000-mile undersea fiber optic ring that offers virtually unlimited bandwidth to Latin America.

Telefonica Data's high-speed network, with over 650 points of presence and more than 100 peering agreements with major global carriers, carries 80 percent of the world's Spanish-language Internet traffic.

"We offer a single source for data solutions that help U.S.-based multinationals expand into Latin America, Europe and the Caribbean, as well as Latin multinationals seeking to expand into the United States," says Pizarro. "We can do this with no capital investment on their part."

Part of Spain's Telefonica Group, Telefonica Data USA, Inc., is headquartered in Miami, with regional offices in New York and Chicago, For more information, visit www.us.telefonica-data.com.

Pioneer offers versatile DVD/CD) drive DVD/CD WRITER

Latin American businesses and consumers appreciate the versatility of Pioneer's advanced DVD/CD recordable/re-recordable drive. The DVR-A04 is a cost-effective solution that supports multiple recording formats, including DVD-R, DVD-RW, CD-R and CD-RW.

"With the new DVR-A04, recording your own DVDs is an exciting capability that is now accessible to even more computer users," says Reynaldo J. Solis, manager of the industrial products division of Pioneer International Miami Inc.

Because the largest application for recordable DVD is video, Pioneer hgas always believed that playback compatibility with most DVD video players and DVD-ROM drives is the key feature driving mainstream adoption of DVD-R as the format of choice for recording and archiving video content, adds Solis.

In addition to supporting DVD-R, the DVR-A04 also writes and reads DVD-RW, a re-recordable format that can also be played on many DVD video players and DVD-ROM drives for use with content that changes frequently, testing of titles before committing to DVD-R, and data storage applications such as system backups.

Pioneer has helped to lead the recordable DVD movement through the introduction of innovative products such as the world's first DVD recordable drive in 1998. Pioneer continues to extend its leadership in Latin America by offering cutting-edge professional technologies such as DVD recorders, flat plasma displays, DJ equipment and massive data storage devices for CD/DVD. Pioneer's slogan, "sound, vision, soul," expresses once again the promise of its brand name "to share sound and visual entertainment that gives joy and also uplifts the soul." For more information, visit www.pioneer-latin.com.

SES AMERICOM expands Latin services

A leading provider of global satellite communications services, SES AMERICOM is expanding its end-to-end solutions to Latin American broadcasters, cable programmers, Internet service providers, educational institutions and enterprise networks

"We can provide virtually any video, voice or data service via satellite," says Erwin Mercado, sales director for Latin America and the Caribbean. SES AMERICOM's services include:

* Point-to-point or point-to-multipoint services for VSAT networks.

* Internet protocol (IP) services that allow Latin ISPs or carriers to connect to the U.S. backbone network.

* Transmission services within the region for Latin American and multinational broadcasters.

* Direct-to-home (DTH) services for Latin broadcasters who want to reach the fast-growing U.S. Hispanic market.

* Termination of voice, data or video traffic for Latin carriers.

With four major earth stations in the United States to service its satellite fleet, SES AMERICOM recently opened new offices in Mexico City, Bogota and Rio de Janeiro to be closer to its Latin customers.

SES AMERICOM is now marketing AMC-12, a new C-band satellite that will be launched in the second half of 2003. "This will be great for the region, as AMC-12 covers Europe and Africa, as well as the Americas," says Mercado. Among the 16 satellites in the AMERICOM fleet, eight are currently authorized for services into Latin America and the Caribbean.

Based in Princeton, New Jersey, SES AMERICOM is a wholly owned subsidiary of SES GLOBAL, SA., with a fleet of 42 spacecraft operated by the world's leading satellite operators. For more information, visit www.ses-americom.com.

SSA GT expands ERP offerings

A premier global provider of software applications that streamline business processes, SSA Global Technologies, Inc. (SSA GT) plans to grow its Latin American customer base significantly in 2003.

"Our product managers are continuously analyzing market needs," says Oscar Garcia-Velasco, regional president, Latin America. "We plan to offer new capabilities to our enterprise customers, additional solutions to medium and smaller businesses, and special pricing for new customers."

SSA GT's core product, BPCS (Business Planning and Control Software) is a flexible enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform that integrates easily with e-commerce, business intelligence, CRM and supply chain solutions. "We have hundreds of customers in Latin America using BPCS," says Garcia-Velasco. "We are continually extending our solutions to offer our customers an even stronger return on their investments."

With offices in Mexico and Brazil, SSA GT has served Latin America since 1991. Although SSA GT is a global technology corporation, its solutions are designed to meet the specific business needs of its customers in regional markets. "ROI is our guide as we add new capabilities, such as web-based technologies, designed to help our users increase their profitability and market share," Garcia-Velasco says.

SSA GT has a major presence in Latin America's pharmaceutical, consumer goods and automotive industries and is growing rapidly in the services sector, including banks and government organizations. SSA GT is investing in Latin America, extending its channels and distribution network.

Headquartered in Chicago, SSA GT serves more than 9,000 market-leading companies in over 90 countries. For additional information, visit www.ssagt.com.

InFocus offers powerful, cost-effective projectors

InFocus Corporation (NASDAQ: INFS), the worldwide leader in digital projection, offers Latin American businesses two powerful digital projectors designed to make set-up and use faster and easier than ever before.

The LP[R]650 is a cost-efficient, easy-to-use meeting room projector that adapts to almost every setting. Designed as a shared resource, the LP650 allows users to present in virtually any light condition and from anywhere in the room. The LP650 can also be connected to up to five sources simultaneously.

InFocus' Projector Manager[TM] software allows presenters to incorporate functions such as picture-in-picture and digital zoom/magnify into their presentations. The LP650 is also compatible with InFocus ProjectorNet[TM] for network functionality.

The InFocus LP[R]70 is the projection industry's premium two-pound projector, offering portability, performance and connectivity for collaborative, successful presentations. Flexible enough to use at any meeting, the LP70's all-in-one design features intelligent electronics that optimize the projected image based on a room's light conditions, wireless remote command from anywhere in the room, and a leveling foot for perfect images on almost any surface.

Both products are based on the company's customer-centric development strategy, which includes an in-depth study of projector usage in meetings, boardrooms and on the road. Based on the findings, InFocus' projector design, cables, help menus and remotes provide greater consistency, significantly improve projector usability and offer the best customer experience.

InFocus is the worldwide leader in digital projection technology and services, including designing, manufacturing and marketing award-winning products for business and home use. For more information, visit www.infocus.com.