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Internet, WiFi Penetration Rising in Argentina

On June 16, 2010, In lifestyle, technology, by InvestBA
Argentina Internet Penetration

LCD sales may taper off post-Mundial, but WiFi growth means more broadband accounts in Argentina.

Sales of LCD TV’s in Argentina are currently up 150% over last year, but many analysts say those numbers will taper off once the World Cup is over. The growth of new Internet subscribers, however, should continue its upward trajectory as more Argentine residents and businesses seek broadband access to online content. According to infobae.com, over 700,000 new residential users signed up for Internet service between March 2009 and March 2010 raising the number of online households to 4.1 million. During the same period, the number of Argentine businesses adding Internet service increased 48% and the number of broadband accounts grew 58%. One number moving in the opposite direction is the number of e-mails sent, as Argentines sent 7.7% fewer correos electrónicos compared to one year ago. This statistic partially reflects the growing preference among Argentines—individuals and businesses alike—for communicating via social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and blogs. ADSL accounts for 62% of Argentine broadband connections, and cable modems represent another 24% of users. As we’ve noted previously, the rapid growth and popularity of WiFi has prompted the rush to broadband in Buenos Aires and other major cities in Argentina. The most recent rankings of global Internet usage show 49% of Argentines have Internet access compared to 50% of Chileans, and 36% of Brazilians. (Full Story in Spanish)

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40′s the new 60? BA Job Seekers Fight Back

On June 15, 2010, In competitiveness, culture, by InvestBA
When 40 is the new 60

Age discrimination in the workplace is a cause for concern among Argentina's unemployed.

For most, turning 40 is a great milestone in one’s career. You’ve got at least fifteen years of solid work experience with multiple employers, you’ve developed a rich network of contacts in your industry, and you’re well positioned to achieve even greater success over the next twenty years. With such a wealth of real world experience and industry savvy, any employer would be lucky to have you. Unfortunately for many workers in Argentina, turning 40 isn’t a jovial rite of passage. In fact, in a society that covets the beauty and virility of youth, it’s something akin to a death sentence for those seeking employment. When he recently started looking for a new job, Buenos Aires computer programmer Roberto Matera met a wall of age discrimination. He was rejected repeatedly for being over 40 by several companies who aren’t shy about their totally archaic “No Hires Over 40″ policy. Undeterred, Matera launched E+40, an employment website for Argentine workers over 40. It turns out Roberto wasn’t alone. In less than a year almost 6,000 job seekers have joined E+40, and more than 70 employers post openings in industries ranging from IT to Finance to Design. What began as a personal protest against corporate ageism has blossomed into a thriving website and social network movement. To date, over 43,000 Argentines have joined the facebook group opposing age discrimination in the workplace. (Full Story)

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Twitterando: BA Biz Discover Social Media

On May 12, 2010, In creative class, franchises, technology, us companies, visionaries, by InvestBA
Starbucks Argentina on Facebook

Companies like Starbucks Argentina are taking the bold first steps in BA business social media.

While Facebook, Twitter and corporate blogs are de riguer social media tools for U.S. brands, the phenomenon is a relatively nascent one in Argentina according to an in-depth article by Florencia Radici for Cronista. It’s hard to pinpoint whether the Web 2.0 reluctance is motivated by fear of losing control of the message or the heavily flawed assumption that what they, Compañía X, have to say is more important than what consumers of  Compañía X have to say and share with fellow users and potential Compañía X converts. Yet major Argentine brands with hundreds of outlets and millions of customers either have no social media exposure or only a handful of followers on sites like Twitter. In fact, Argentina doesn’t even show up in Twitter’s global ranking on Alexa, while other Latin American countries account for a sizable percentage of the microblog’s traffic: Brazil (3.2%), Mexico (1.5%) and Venezuela (0.7%…thanks to El Loco Chávez, the Ashton Kutcher of Caracas.) Fortunately Radici says some BA companies are biting the social bala and engaging with customers via blogs and social networks. Many of these companies like Starbucks Argentina, Officenet Staples and IBM have U.S. ties and managers previously baptized in the waters of social media. Despite a slow start, Radici says BA companies are starting to warm to the idea of online customer engagement, and she points to two recent examples of BA2.0 brilliance include Nike runners twittering in the October 10K and Park Hyatt guests twittering with the concierge. (Full story in Spanish)

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Social Gaming Roll-Up Centers On BA

On April 1, 2010, In creative class, entrepreneurs, foreign investment, technology, us companies, by InvestBA
"Que la fuerza este con vos": The Silicon Valley force is with BA social gaming companies.

"Que la Fuerza Esté con Vos": The Silicon Valley force is increasingly with BA social gaming companies.

Hot on the heels of acquiring Buenos Aires-based MetroGames for $5 million, California-based Playdom has decided to double down on the local talent pool by purchasing another BA game development studio, Three Melons. The San Francisco Chronicle points to the deal as another sign of a “massive roll-up” in the social gaming space involving Playdom and rivals Electronic Arts and Zynga. So why the sudden buying frenzy? “The answer is simple,” says Business Insider’s Nick Saint, “People are making lots of money getting Facebook users addicted to simple games and then selling these users ‘virtual goods’ that make the games slightly easier to play.” Three Melons, self-described maker of Juicy Online Games, launched the popular Bola for Facebook in January, an online soccer game that lets players build their teams from scratch, sign on major sponsors and design their own stadiums. The Playdom acquisition has important implications for future deal-making in Argentina and, according to one Palo Alto-based Argentine CEO, is changing the way BA companies think about the path to venture capital, global recognition and validation. Bling Nation CEO Wences Casares told VentureBeat: “Three Melons serves as another example of how young Argentine companies can bypass the traditional business-political dynamic in Argentina, which remains laden with cronyism and corruption. Twenty and thirty-somethings are discovering they can skip the hassles of selling in Argentina and instead launch global companies from (Silicon Valley).”

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Playdom Bets On BA Social Gaming Company

On March 18, 2010, In arts & entertainment, creative class, foreign investment, technology, us companies, by InvestBA
Mountain View-based Playdom is investing $5 million in BA-based MetroGames.

Game On: Mountain View-based social gamer Playdom is investing $5 million in BA-based MetroGames.com.

When Gamasutra last reported from Buenos Aires, it was on the heels of November’s Argentina Video Game Expo where the gaming industry news source described “the dramatic qualitative game industry growth on full display in Buenos Aires.” Well, apparently someone in Mountain View took  notice. Gamasutra is reporting that California-based social gaming giant Playdom is investing $5 million in BA-based MetroGames. Playdom, the self-described “best kept secret in social gaming,” has been making strategic acquisitions since raising $43 million last November. Here in Argentina, MetroGames has been busy developing more than 30 games for Facebook including Typing Maniac, Archer Piglets and Aquaball. Creator of online games like Mobsters and Sorority Life, “Playdom describes the Argentinian developer as ‘promising’ and expects ‘explosive growth’ from the company,”  Gamasutra reports, “MetroGames intends to use this Series A investment to expand its pipeline of games and to continue work on its Metrogames.com social gaming platform.”  With the announcement, MetroGames CEO Damian Harburger expressed optimism and appreciation, “We are very confident MetroGames will become one of the world leaders in social gaming. We are pleased Playdom has recognized our potential and chosen to invest in us.” Given the combined talent and cost advantages of game development in Argentina, more BA game studios will likely be the beneficiaries of future foreign investment. For more information on other players in the BA gaming arena, send your inquiry to in@investba.com.

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