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Free Internet for SMEs set(Philippine Daily Inquirer Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES can now have free access to broadband Internet facilities in 10 sites nationwide, according to the Department of Trade and Industry. The DTI said this was in line with the governments program to grow SMEs by harnessing information technology. DTI said the facilities were in SME Centers in Cavite, Batangas, Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete, Davao City, Tacloban City and the BSMED Assistance Center in Makati City. This project, which is under the DTIs e-commerce campaign, is made possible by the partnership between the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development and Globe Telecom subsidiary Innove Communications. The company had equipped the 10 SME Centers with desktop computers and broadband connections to be more effective in delivering services to SMEs, including fast and easy access to information through the Internet. Also, Globe Telecom would assist the DTI in its e-commerce awareness campaign by educating SMEs on the benefits of broadband technology. Further, the SME Centers have a helpdesk for entrepreneurs seeking information on business opportunities and access to the services of government and private institutions. Now that the Internet is being recognized as a powerful tool in promoting SMEs business activities and in acquiring data to increase market access, entrepreneurs are being given this opportunity for exposure to technology that can help them improve their viability and operational efficiency, DTI said. In a related matter, information technology services firm CareersPROtech has started offering a software package that would enable SMEs to be more viable and technologically up to date. Company managing director Raffy David had said NetSuite was the ultimate application to run an SME with because it is on-demand and Internet-based. David explained that NetSuites availability through CareersPROtech addresses the needs of SMEs for a single software application that manages the business processes of an entire organization because it bundles customer relations management, accounting functions and eCommerce features. The suite uses the same integrated functionality and scalability as applications used by large enterprises, but with the ease-of-use and affordability that SMEs need, he said. He said further that the system would enable SMEs to avoid hiring its own IT workers, thus reducing costs. Copyright 2006 Philippine Daily Inquirer. Source : Financial Times Information Limited (Trademark) |