"The AOL Optimized PC is the first PC to offer users the option of personalizing their online experiences by selecting and switching from English to Spanish with a simple click of the mouse. Likewise, the computer comes with everything that the user needs to immediately begin use. Color-coded cables, a color instructional poster, and English and Spanish how-to videos are included in the box for easy installation of the various components."

http://www.hispanicprwire.com/news_in.php?id=3395

Thanks NFFC - that's a really interesting idea. Those of us that run multilingual campaigns - I'm sure - will be intrigued. :)

Makes you think...just imagine a Google PPC campaign where you could switch between languages. And monitoring the performance and return by language would be fascinating....

However, an unlikely prospect......or is it?

Wow! Great tool!

I can not imagine using a computer in which the SE experience can take their specific own language...just with a click!

;)

Looks like Microsoft, is already moving in that direction as I reported it back in SES San Jose Coverage: MSN's approach on Multilingual Search Markets (http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/showthread.php?t=924).

I'm so glad to see AOL going in the same path, with AOL Latino, they already know the value of this market.

Looks like Microsoft, is already moving in that direction as I reported it back in SES San Jose Coverage: MSN's approach on Multilingual Search Markets (http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/showthread.php?t=924).

I'm so glad to see AOL going in the same path, with AOL Latino, they already know the value of this market.
Actually it is much easier for AOL since they have their own portal system in place and all that is required is to click a button and the cached info source is changed and all the images etc. are returned in Spanish (the PC has all of this preinstalled) and then the connections go to the appropriate subdomain.

It works like a geo redirect to an appropriate subdomain or directory but the cached (preinstalled AOL - saves the time it takes to download the AOL account stuff - lengthy for those who have done it) makes it fast - and it works like a preinstalled operating system....

AOL is looking to capture the large share of the emerging market before others think about it... using the MS method...

Great find! This type of app will have enormous potential in the ESL/ESOL community. Those teaching English as a 2nd language as well as those of us teaching online courses in general. I'm sure we'll hear more about this as academic institutions start to order these pcs.

I just hope they don't make the same mistakes as AOLA (a venture between AOL, Banco Itau and Cisnero Group) with their regional portals.

Here in PR they have failed terribly mainly because they didn't understand that latinos here are different from latinos in Mexico or South America or in US.

Depending on where you live or who you ask, not all latinos like salsa, quebradita, musica ranchera, reggaeton, cumbias or merengues. Local Univision PR did the same off-topic mistakes as AOLA with their "one shape fits all latinos" marketing and are still paying the price here. Thanks God, Univision PR is making the proper local adjustments on time.

Latinos we all come in different sizes, shades, forms and with different tastes and ideals, a thing the old Nixon republican administration didn't understand when they labeled all us as "hispanic" merely for census purposes.

As of today there is a big difference and meaning between the terms hispanics and latinos. Indeed, many latinos don't like the "hispanic" term. Glad to see AOL use the latino term, not hispanic, in the new service.

Just my two cents and gripe.


Orion

Has anybody seen any figures on the AOL $299 package?

I wonder what will happen after their initial 12 month contract expires. Will the consumers downgrade their ISP services from AOL $24.00 to their Netscape $9.99.

Geoffrey