Paulo Rebêlo Wired News April 2001 If you have a relative living abroad, you probably pay a higher phone bill every month. How about calling for free, and at the time you want? That’s happening in many Latin American countries, especially Brazil. “The most difficult issue (in talking with relatives abroad) is the bill; everyone… Continue reading →

Paulo Rebêlo Wired News April 2001 A few months ago, Brazilians were astonished to read about the electricity crisis in California. They couldn’t quite understand how the richest and most developed nation in the world could face that kind of basic –- almost absurd –- problem. That feeling has changed. A Brazilian power crisis is… Continue reading →

Paulo Rebêlo Wired News February 2001 The government’s desire to democratize the Internet moved into high gear this month when it announced a project for producing a computer that would cost as little as $15 a month. So what’s in a $300 computer? Or better yet, what’s not? Enough to get on the Internet, but… Continue reading →

Paulo Rebêlo Wired News February 2001 Thanks to last year’s boom of Internet service providers that offered free access, Brazil became the South American country with the highest number of users, analysts say. But the free ISP honeymoon, which was responsible for making the Internet accessible to Brazilians, is over. These ISPs have failed to… Continue reading →

Paulo Rebêlo Wired News January 2001 On the surface, Universo Online appears to be just another Internet service provider failing to turn up a profit. Bad news on the bottom line led to a sober business decision. It followed the steps of many other prominent companies and in November scrapped free Internet access offerings in… Continue reading →

Paulo Rebêlo Wired News January 2001 In an attempt to bridge the country’s digital divide, the Brazilian Congress last week approved a bill that would ease the tax burden of technology companies so they could sell their products at a lower cost. Backers of the bill say more people could afford to buy the technology,… Continue reading →

Paulo Rebêlo Wired News January 2001 Considering Brazil has the world’s sixth largest television audience, it wasn’t surprising the Brazilian government mentioned the medium’s 50th anniversary on its homepage. “Remove TV from Brazil and Brazil disappears,” journalist Eugenio Bucci says on Brazil’s official website. But what kind of TV they’re getting has been a sore… Continue reading →

Paulo Rebêlo Wired News January 2001 When the Spanish bank Santander bought the debt-ridden, state-owned Banespa Bank in São Paulo, it was another indicator the Spaniards were re-conquering the New World. Only this time, they’re buying it. In the last few years the Brazilian economy has fattened up with investments –- and renewed interest –-… Continue reading →