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Hardware and Software Development |
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IT Impacts On the Business |
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Legal Environment |
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IT Strengths and weaknesses |
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Transborder Data Flow |
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Government Policies |
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About the Authors |
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Sources and Links |
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Overview Hardware: there is virtually no hardware manufacturing in Venezuela. Some PCs are assembled in Venezuela under no registered brand, these computers are called "clones" and are low cost machines that lack of warranty in most of the cases. However, many well-known hardware resellers have subsidiaries or operations in Venezuela. Software: Companies are still finding the greatest sales opportunities in the telecommunications sector, banking industry and petroleum industry. Venezuela's and Latin America's largest software developer, INTESA, Hardware Manufacturing Venezuelan Information Technology Market (Millions of Dollars) |
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Sources: CAVEDATOS, IDC/IDG |
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There is virtually no local manufacture of IT components with the exception of a growing software industry. The economic recession has resulted in a growing PC assembly industry, however. Cloned parts are imported and then assembled on site, according to individual user specifications. During these times of economic hardship, the usually label-conscious Venezuelan consumers are looking for cost savings and are requesting only those computer components that are most needed. However, it should also be noted that these same buyers are readily looking for increased speed in the computers they purchase. 53 percent of 1998 investment was directed at hardware integrated into PCs, multi-user systems, workstations, servers and printers. The Venezuelan market is a very price sensitive one and as a result saw a related increase in the sale of so-called ocloneo PCs. Market leaders in the PC sector continue to be Compaq, Hewlett Packard and IBM. Notebooks are also becoming an increasingly attractive option with market leaders Compaq, Fujitsu and Toshiba enjoying the greatest market shares (1). |