Singapore - 2 Dec, 2004 - Hot off the heels with the news of recent investment by Green Dot Internet Services comes the next anticipated phase for Hardware Zone. The latest addition to Hardware Zone's flagship print publication, HWM Philippines will launch on the 3rd of December in Manila. This brings the tally to a total of 4 regional franchises in 3 successive years as Hardware Zone maintains focus on regional expansion and building formidable market presence in South East Asia.

HWM Philippines will ensure that readers across Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindano will get its monthly dosage of prime news in the realm of computers, consumer electronics and communication devices. With a distribution reach of 50,000, HWM Philippines promises the same standard of quality that IT users have grown to love and respect and signals the completion of Hardware Zone milestones set for the year of 2004.

"The launch of HWM Philippines is the perfect summation to 2004 and signals a new wave of progress for 2005," said Jereme Wong, Media Director of Hardware Zone Pte Ltd, "We take pride in the knowledge that our 100% generated content from Singapore will make waves in new territories, usher in new audiences to the HWM brand of content and increment targeted access for advertisers into the region."

The Information Technology and Electronic Commerce Council (ITECC) of Philippines takes an active stance of improving ICT adoption, literacy and framework in the country, a process that HWM Philippines seeks to play an important role in achieving. Philippines also has a 94% literacy rate and a strong fluency in the English language. This makes for an effortless transition of feature content brought in from HWM Singapore and supported with localised news and product reviews specific to Philippines.

HWM Philippines will also be closely followed by its online counterpart www.hardwarezone.com® in creating a Philippines PortaLite to bring across ever popular essential services such as localised IT news, IT price guides, classifieds and interactive forums to a new community.

"We take our role as the media representatives of the Asian IT industry very seriously, " said Dr. Jackie Lee, CEO of Hardware Zone Pte Ltd, "Our assurance of editorial quality, marketing reach, vital services, interactivity and creative synergy will be the hallmarks of each of our media franchises."

HWM Philippines launch will be held at the Blue Onion Bar and Restaurant in Manila on December 3rd at 6.00pm.