- Nearly 400 Personal Internet Communicators help evacuees in Houston, Austin and San Antonio connect with family, friends and relief agencies-
Austin, Texas - Sept. 7, 2005 - Today AMD (NYSE: AMD) announced it has
deployed nearly 400 Personal Internet Communicators (PICs) to assist
Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. The
durable Internet devices, along with free Internet access provided by
AMD partners, have allowed evacuees to immediately start reconnecting
with family and friends. People are also using the PICs to seek help
from relief agencies, scour Internet resources and solve many other
communications challenges.
"We are deeply saddened by the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina,"
said AMD CEO Hector Ruiz. "AMD is honored to do our part in helping
evacuees begin to put their lives back together. This disaster demands
that technology meets its highest challenge-to be an important tool in
aiding humanity."
AMD employees, families and friends have joined forces with volunteers
from other companies to create a technology infrastructure enabling
Internet access within the Austin Convention Center, Kelly Air Force
Base in San Antonio, George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, and
Reliant Stadium in Houston. The PIC devices will be available to the
thousands of temporary residents, 24 hours a day, for as long as they
are needed.
"The power of connecting to the Internet is clearly evident in the
stories that are unfolding in the shelters," said Dan Shine, director of
AMD's 50x15 Program. "The very moment Internet access was established
people began registering on people-finder databases and reconnecting
with family and friends."
AMD extends our gratitude to the volunteers from other Central Texas
companies and institutions who donated time, expertise and equipment to
help set up Internet connectivity within the shelters.
About 50x15
50x15 is AMD's initiative to enable affordable Internet access and
computing capabilities for 50 percent of the world population by the
year 2015. We rely on the Internet to enhance communication, education,
productivity, business, entertainment and much more. AMD and a growing
network of partners are delivering innovative solutions to empower
consumers to lead better lives.
AMD's first step in bringing new technology to achieve the 50x15 vision
is a new device product category called the Personal Internet
Communicator (PIC). The PIC is a low-cost, consumer-friendly, managed
device that will put technology into the hands of first-time technology
users around the world.
About AMD
AMD (NYSE:AMD) designs and produces innovative microprocessors, Flash
memory devices and low-power processor solutions for the computer,
communications and consumer electronics industries. AMD is dedicated to
delivering standards-based, customer-focused solutions for technology
users, ranging from enterprises and governments to individual consumers.
For more information visit http://www.amd.com