Perhaps you've heard of AMD's 50X15 project. The goal is to have half of the world's population on the Internet by the year 2015. Google and Yahoo are joining AMD (a microprocessor manufacturer) in this endeavor. Let us not be naive enough to believe that these companies are doing this out of a desire to help people. To reach this goal would effectively triple the Internet population from around one billion to over three. It's despicable the way this project is being marketed. The Internet opens up new worlds to its users.
I don't see how selling global south countries antiquated technology helps them to catch up. What I see are greedy corporations taking advantage of clever marketing to open up new markets of emerging middle class consumers. These corporations will then sell these nouveau bourgeois products that continue to exploit their country. This will only exacerbate the exploitation of the global south by the forces of globalization.
Dan (not verified) @ Thu, 03/30/2006 - 2:54pm
Joe:
One thing the 50×15 initiative has made clear all along -- you can scan even the earliest quotes from CEO Hector Ruiz -- is that this is a for-profit venture. As someone on the 50×15 team, I can assure you that the goal to connect 50% of the world by 2015 is real and just. Everyone invovled in this project is in it for good cause and is determined to make this happen. Not one of us is counting anticipated proceeds from microprocessor or Internet access device sales, believe me. In fact, I have never worked for a more honest, ethical and well-meaning team of people. And it starts from Hector on down.
What I find surprising is that most people do not understand that the only way the world can hope to bridge the digital divide is if companies like AMD are leading the charge. And the only way a large corporation is going to be able allocate as many resources as AMD has to tackle this important issue is to be able to create a profitable, self-sustaining program. Most people have no idea the amount of effort AMD has put into building this program run by a hard-working team with a common goal. There are many aspects to the 50×15 campaign that have yet to be announced, such as partnerships that will allow cutting-edge (not antiquated) technologies such as Negroponte's $100 Laptop and low-cost PCs already connection millions to the Internet in China and India. What's more, we are set to launch a new arm of the initiative -- the non-profit one --the 50×15 Foundation, which will enable individuals to contribute money and corporations to commit both funds and equipment that enable "learning labs" to be built around the world. A corporate matching program will be part of this initiative, too. I can tell you that even in it's infancy, the learning labs program has deployments underway in India, Brazil.
I understand your cynicism, believe me. But regarding the 50×15 initiative, I can tell you firsthand that such cynicism is unwarranted and stems largely from being misinformed.
To learn more about the program, I encourage you to visit us: http://50×15.com/en-us/
Keep coming back, too. Our second quarter plans for the site include a wealth of content and community features that are sure to shed more light on how the 50×15 program is working.
Yours truly,
Dan