AmigoLatino Provides Low-Cost Video Link Between Latin America and the United States

<a href=www.hispanicbusiness.com>hispanicbusiness.com, June 11, 2003 SAN FRANCISCO -- Until last week, Osberto and Connie Juarez, natives of Guatemala, had not seen their kids in four years, not since they left their Central American home to work in the United States. Now, they are "virtually" inseparable -- literally. Last week, the whole family was re-united for Blanca Estela's birthday party at the offices of AmigoLatino, a new business aimed at uniting South, Central and North America via low-cost video-conferencing and other services. "Most of our clients cannot afford to travel," says Gabriel Biguria, founder of the San Francisco-based AmigoLatino. "And, even if they could, the current political situation in the world and in their home countries makes it untenable. What we provide them is a real time, real-interaction with their families that they can really afford." According to Biguria, AmigoLatino's initial line of services -- videoconferencing and video-messaging -- are already changing the way Hispanics in the U.S. interact and communicate with their families, friends and communities in Latin America. "Of course videoconferencing solutions have been around for some time now," says Biguria. "However, they have been mainly accessible to executives of large corporations and formal institutions. With AmigoLatino, we are expanding the access of those services to the people that need them the most, the many Hispanic families that have become separated as a result of the migration of one or more family members into the United States." Moreover, with the increasingly tough economic and political conditions faced by many Latin Americans, the number of broken families due to migration of a member into the U.S. is expected to increase according to Biguria. Currently, the Latino / Hispanic population is the largest minority group in the United States. Amigo Latino provides "virtual" link between Latin American families. Launched just last October with a link between their San Francisco offices and a site in Guatemala City, AmigoLatino has since added outlets in Mexico, Guatemala, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Spain, Japan and several U.S. cities. "It really is a powerful tool for uniting families," said Erika Pineda Sharron, Consul General of Guatemala, whose offices are located on the same floor as those of AmigoLatino. "It's such a wonderful service. I heartily endorse it." Hugo Herrera, Consul General of El Salvador voiced similar sentiments. "The implementation of these technological services represents a very important contribution that helps promote the union of families, businesses and community activities between Hispanics in the U.S. and Latin America." Although not affiliated with any consulate, AmigoLatino's location is no accident: San Francisco's historic landmark Flood Building. With eight Spanish-speaking consulates on the premises -- Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Peru, Bolivia, Honduras, Panama -- San Francisco's 870 Market Street is in a very real way a "Latin American crossroads" for the Bay Area. "We knew this was the location for us," says Biguria. "And we try to make our office a little bit of Latin America, a little bit of home for our clients. Our goal is to be a bridge between modern technology and old-fashioned family ties, which is so important in the Latin American culture." Also, Biguria feels that AmigoLatino provides a service appropriate to the current times. "Due to the challenges we are experiencing nowadays, including the war in Iraq, many people have postponed business and family trips to other countries and U.S. cities," he says. "Through our videoconferencing services at very accessible rates and our wide network of US/International offices, we are well positioned to address the needs of small to large organizations and businesses across the world. Amigo Latino's videoconferencing services are scheduled in 30 minute increments and priced at $30-$40 per half hour; $40-$80 for one hour depending on the international location selected. Prices include the use of private meeting rooms between two countries and all international connection fees. AmigoLatino accepts most major credit cards, cash and money order. AmigoLatino is located in downtown San Francisco in the historic landmark Flood Building, 870 Market Street, Suite 662. Access information online in English and Spanish at www.amigolatino.com.