Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services are projected to grow by 56 percent in 2004 following an 18 percent growth in the first half of 2003.

SAS Institute (Philippines) Inc. has introduced SAS Strategic Performance Management and SAS Activity-Based Management – new software solutions to help organizations in gathering, analyzing and reporting accurate financial information for better business performance.

Cosmopoint Institute of Information Technology, one of Malaysia’s large Information Technology and Multi-media organizations, has entered the Philippine IT training and computer education market and plans to franchise its business.

A seven-year-old boy looks out to the sea unmindful of the presence of strangers in the boat to Siasi Island, a 4-hour boat ride from Jolo, the capital town of Sulu. The loud drone of the boat’s engine drowns out all chances of conversation between fellow passengers, mostly women and children. Under the midday sun, the vast expanse of blue waters dotted by lush green islands and the tide’s rhythmic movement lulls everyone into a stupor. “Ring, ring, ring.’’ Everybody shakes up. The boy excitedly rushes to get the phone from his mother’s bag.

Ariba, Inc. would further expand its business in the country through its partner, Transprocure Corp. and grow its relationship with the existing local customers.

Citrix Systems, Inc., the global leader in access infrastructure solutions, has announced that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Philippines is implementing Citrix MetaFrame Presentation Server to provide up to 4,000 government employees and project workers with access to core applications. The DSWD is the lead government agency in the Philippines in charge of social welfare and development.

Having led the way in establishing the true camera phone category during 2004, Sony Ericsson’s new focus for 2005 will be music. Details of the new 2005 entertainment and imaging led strategy will be unveiled at the 3GSM World Congress in Cannes, starting next week. The company is also nominated for an award for one of its 2004 success products.

In 1640, Rene Descartes, famous for his epistemological principle of “cogito, ergo sum” and his invention of analytic geometry, suffered his greatest sorrow when his five-year-old daughter, Francine, died of scarlet fever. He then became obsessed with the idea of creating an automaton of Francine.

Xynet Communication Solutions, Inc., a member of the RL Group of Companies will be launched today in ceremonies to be held in Makati City with Senator Franklin Drilon as guest of honor and speaker.