Telmex and Microsoft Join to Create Region's Leading Spanish-Language Internet Portal - Telefonos de Mexico - Company Business and Marketing - Brief Article

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Oct 25, 1999

Telefonos de Mexico (Telmex) and Microsoft Corp. Monday signed a joint venture agreement to create and operate a leading Spanish-language Internet portal in the Americas. The alliance between the worldwide leader in software and Mexico's telecommunications and Internet access leader is intended to create a new company to operate the portal and deliver best-of-breed content and Internet services in Spanish for Latin American consumers and Spanish-speaking users across the continent, including the United States and Canada.

Telmex and Microsoft have agreed to equal participation in this new venture, which combines Microsoft's world-class technologies with Telmex's leading infrastructure, operations and regional knowledge. The new consumer portal will offer Spanish-speaking users core communication services such as the MSN.COM Hotmail Web-based e-mail service, MSN.COM Messenger and MSN.COM Web Communities. Customers can also take advantage of the new MSN.COM Search engine and complete online shopping.

"This joint venture delivers on our vision of offering the most advanced, convenient and accessible Internet service to the inhabitants of the American continent," said Jaime Chico Pardo, CEO of Telefonos de Mexico. "The alliance will utilize the strength of each company: Telmex's high-quality infrastructure and regional expertise, and Microsoft's worldwide leadership in software and Internet services. We are confident that this new portal will become No. 1 in Spanish-language access to the Web and serve as a virtual bridge among diverse nationalities, cultures and people."

"What's most relevant about this alliance is the enormous potential of local content and options Microsoft and Telmex will offer to Spanish-speaking Internet users," said Mauricio Santillan, regional vice president of Microsoft Latin America. "In addition, we acknowledge the existing differences and similarities among consumers in each market and, as such, intend to expand this program to engage the main access and content providers from various countries throughout the continent."

The new venture will have offices in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Central America, Mexico, the United States and Venezuela.

Telmex is the leading telecommunications company in Mexico with more than 10.5 million phone lines and 4.1 million wireless customers, offering telecommunications services through a 33,000 kilometer fiber-optics digital network and telecommunications investments in three countries. Telmex and its subsidiaries offer a wide range of advanced services, including wired and wireless communications, data and video broadcasting, Internet access and integral solutions, as well as advertising and publicity in phone books. Information about Telmex is available at http://www.telmex.com.mx/.> Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

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