The Latino American Lifestyle Authority

Babbalu.com Presents Bfriends - misamigosunidos.com -
A FREE Social and Networking Service.
Latino and non-Latinos alike can socialize, network and build relationships in a unique comfortable atmosphere.

Hartford, CT – November 30, 2006 – Babbalu.com, the Latino American Lifestyle Authority introduces, Bfriends/misamigosunidos.com. “We are extremely excited to unveil Bfriends in our community. This social network is like no other, the focus is to provide our users the ability to communicate, whether you are single, married or simply searching for someone to share in a conversation. Our members can schedule events, share pictures and videos, and much more, all in a comfortable online atmosphere”, said Rene Rodriguez, President, Babbalu.com.

“Bfriends on Babbalu.com has an appealing look and feel, a friendly format and a variety of menu items which allow users to stay connected with friends, family and business associates, a service that is consistent with Babbalu’s mission of helping people communicate” said Greg Angelillo product manager for the Bfriends.

Babbalu.com is also making Bfriends available to its clients as an additional vehicle for advertising their products and services. “As with our Bmail, Bfriends will keep users on Babbalu rather than sending them to other web sites, it increases the number of spots for our clients to feature their products and be viewed by millions of users,” said Rodriguez.

Babbalu’s Bfriends – www.misamigosunidos.com is the latest product from the Hartford-based company, which promises to maintain a steady flow of new and exciting products for 2007. To view Bfriends please log onto www.babbalu.com and click Bfriends.

About Babbalu.com

Babbalu.com, the Latino American Lifestyle Authority, is designed to provide users with access to a host of products, services and features. Babbalu.com creates a unique vehicle to reach the Latino American market, as well as the non-Latino crossover population. With innovative services such as Bmail, Bblog, Bfriends, International Calling Cards, up-to-date, Latino relevant bi-lingual news and information on fashion, entertainment and health, Babbalu.com is the perfect forum for a cross-section of Latino Americans. Babbalu.com is a user-friendly and a community-conscious way to track the pulse of the Latino American population.
For more information, please visit us at www.babbalu.com
 

InteliHealth, Aetna’s health-information portal, provides information in four main categories:

• Diseases & Conditions provides comprehensive information on heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other major diseases and conditions.
• Healthy Lifestyle offers a variety of tips -- ranging from nutrition and fitness to complementary and alternative medicine -- on how to achieve a healthful lifestyle.
• Your Health features health information by age, gender and topic, including specific health information for babies, children, men, women, seniors and caregivers.
• Look It Up contains a comprehensive library of medical and dental resources, such as a Drug Resource Center and Medical Dictionary

“Aetna’s national leadership and research on disparities in health care has been in the forefront of a national movement to eliminate disparities in health care, based upon race and ethnic background. We are pleased to be partnering with Babbalu.com to accelerate this effort in the Latino population, said Rick O’Connor, VP of Marketing for Aetna Individual Products.

Babbalu.com and Ethnic Marketing Solutions Empower Latinas
Women’s Conference Brings Together Latinas and Business.

Hartford, CT - October 10, 2006 - Babbalu.com, The Latino American Lifestyle Authority is proud to sponsor the 3rd Annual Latinas and Power Symposium on Friday, October 13, 2006 at the Connecticut Convention Center.

Career strategies, wealth building, entrepreneurship and career mobility are just a few topics of discussion. “The action-packed day is filled with high energy, excitement and pride,” said Marilyn Alverio, owner of Hartford-based Ethnic Marketing Solutions who created the symposium three years ago.

“We are very excited to sponsor this dynamic event, Latinas are building successful relationships, economic and social progress is empowering Latina women in life and in business,” says Mari Rodriguez, Vice President of Babbalu.com.

Leading the pack of prestigious women is motivational speaker and retired US Army Lt. Colonel Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch, Marilda Gandara, President of The Aetna Foundation and Ivon Rodriguez, General Manager of Telemundo.

About Babbalu.com

Babbalu.com, The Latino American Lifestyle Authority is designed to provide users with access to a host of products, services and features. Babbalu.com creates a unique vehicle to reach the Latino American market, as well as the non-Latino population. With innovative services such as Bmail, Bfriends, International Calling Cards, up-to-date bi-lingual news and information on fashion, entertainment and health, Babbalu.com is the perfect forum for a cross-section of Latino Americans. Babbalu.com is a user-friendly and community-conscious method to track the pulse of the Latino American community.

For more information, please visit us at www.babbalu.com

BABBALU.com ADDED TWIST, FREE NFL AND NCAA FOOTBALL PICKS.
Frank Baixauli brings his extensive sports experience to Babbalu.com

Hartford, CT - October 2, 2006 - “Sports Services throughout the country tout their winning picks, I know because I worked with one that was officially documented in Las Vegas”, says Frank Baixauli, author of the beinsidesports blog on babbalu.com. Baixauli cautions users to be very careful of the claims and always remember that “if it is as easy as they state, everybody would be doing it”. Babbalu.com has brought a refreshing change to football connoisseurs. Posted every Friday, Baixauli offers FREE picks against the point spread. Baixauli’s picks will make users a super star with friends and co-workers.

This is a truly unique concept, but then again it is what Babbalu.com is all about. “Take the edge if you can get it and with my star system you’ll already be ahead, its simple and there is no charge”, said Baixauli.

About Babbalu.com

Babbalu.com is a Latino American Web Portal designed to provide users with access to a host of products, services and features. Babbalu.com creates a unique vehicle to reach the Latino American niche market, as well as the non-Latino population. With innovative services like Bmail, International Calling Cards and up-to-date, bi-lingual news and information on fashion, entertainment and health, Babbalu.com is the perfect forum for a cross-section of Latino Americans. Babbalu.com is an affordable, user-friendly and community-conscious way to track the pulse of the Latino American community.

For more information visit us at www.babbalu.com
 

Babbalu.com Teams with Telemundo
Family Fair “La Feria de la Familia”, a Day for the Entire Family

Hartford, CT - September 12, 2006 – Babbalu.com with partner Telemundo Hartford/Springfield invites the New England community to attend La Feria de la Familia, its second Family Fair in Hartford, Connecticut. The event will be held at the Hartford Civic Center Sunday, September 17, 2006 from 12pm to 6pm. The event is free to the public. Telemundo’s Family Fair or “Feria de la Familia,” offers a day filled with fun for the whole family, providing information, education, health, finance, insurance, legal advice and much more. La Feria de la Familia is a business to consumer event offering companies and organizations the opportunity to reach the fastest growing consumer group-The Latino population.

“We are looking forward to this event, Telemundo’s La Feria is informative and fun, it brings our community together such as no other event in New England,” said Babbalu.com Vice President, Mari Rodriguez.

La Feria de la Familia will feature star appearances by Penelope Menchaca from the popular dating show “12” Corazones” and Poncho de Anda from the hit morning program “Cada Día.” The Telemundo “Feria de la Familia” stage will also be host to musical performances by the king of bachata Alex el Bizcochito, the latest salsa craze NG², as well as Huey Dunbar with his Hartford debut of “Amigos.”

Other Telemundo affiliate markets that annually host “La Feria de la Familia” include Boston, Washington DC, Tampa, and Orlando.

About Babbalu.com

Babbalu.com is a Latino American Web Portal designed to provide users with access to a host of products, services and features. Babbalu.com creates a unique vehicle to reach the Latino American niche market, as well as the non-Latino crossover population. With innovative services like Bmail, Bblogs, Bfriends International Calling Cards, up-to-date, bi-lingual news and information on fashion, entertainment and health, Babbalu.com is the perfect forum for a cross-section of Latino Americans. Babbalu.com is a user-friendly and community-conscious way to track the pulse of the Latino American population.

For more information, visit us at www.babbalu.com.

A Web portal for millions, in Hartford
Babbalu’s niche is the Hispanic market, both here and abroad
By Laurie Ledgard, Hartford Business Journal
lledgard@hbjournal.com

March 2006 - You can pretty much tell that René Rodriguez’s Web site, Babbalu.com, is successful by what people are telling him. His tech guys say, “We’re going to need more bandwidth.” And everybody else has an idea: “You should do this, or this,” Rodriguez says. But he’s fine with all that. The Hartford-based portal, geared for the explosive growth seen in the Hispanic market with regional marketing efforts and a growing number of business relationships, is quickly becoming an international sensation.

Launched in late 2004, the site has gone from 15,000 hits a month to two million, with most coming from Canada and Brazil.

Its bright, lively look is fun, and host to plenty of news and information, with a demographic favoring Latinos 18 to 35. The site also contains a variety of consumer services that Rodriguez is able to provide via a constant stream of new partnerships. For example, Babbalu is an authorized Sprint dealer and offers consumers a telephone calling card with low rates to Latin American countries. Locally, Babbalu is the exclusive Hispanic Web portal for WVIT Channel 30. Babbalu also just announced a new partnership with Telemundo stations WDRM in Hartford and WDMR in Springfield, and created new Telemundo pages on the site. “Our partnership with Babbalu.com
provides the local affiliate stations with an online presence through promotions and signature community events,” says Ivon Rodriquez, the station’s general manager.

Babbalu will also have some 400 ad spots airing on Telemundo that will feature the Web site’s services contests and giveaways. Another new deal is in the works with Radio Disney.

The site also has a new e-mail feature called Bmail that is also experiencing explosive growth, Rodriguez says, with 5,000 new e-mail accounts created in two months.  And in 2006, he also expects to offer an even wider tech menu of “B” services: Bmobile,Bblog, Babbalu Bucks, a Babbalu shopping card, a Babbalu debit card, a Babbalu gift card and a Babbalu money transfer card. Rodriguez points toa variety of reasons for the site’s growth. “I think it’s something that’s new and refreshing,” he says.

And Babbalu has growing popularity among non-Latinos, with “tremendous crossover,” Rodriguez says. Site visitors can utilize Babbalu.com in either English or Spanish, and while they have a host of larger competitors to chose from — Yahoo or Google, for example — in Babbalu they find a sense of community, Rodriguez believes. The name of the site comes from a popular old Cuban song that many people may recognize from the old “Lucy” shows of the 1960s, since the song was often sung by her husband at the time, band leader Desi Arnaz. “I thought it would bring a smile to people’s faces,” says Rodriguez, a Cuban American who arrived in the U.S. in 1970. “And Anglos can relate to it as well.”

Rodriguez used to be in real estate. He came up with a business plan for the Web site in 2000, but more than a year later, conditions weren’t terribly favorable for a launch: the tech bubble was bursting.

The time he waited turned out to be a good thing for the business. “We had four or five years to study what not to do,” Rodriguez says. Then, about two and a half years ago, Rodriguez decided the time was right. “We’ve done it on our own,” he says, with help from a single private investor and all of the relationships he has built upon.  “Everybody wants to have a banner on the site.”

It’s a streamlined operation and Rodriguez follows a tight business model, with just four employees working from an office at 15 Lewis St. The site’s technical partner, Omega Communications, is located in Southington. “It’s a wonderful portal,” says Matthew Nemerson of the Connecticut Technology Council.

Nemerson explains that the great thing about a Web-based business like Babbalu is that the barriers to entry are very low; all one needs for success is a good set of servers and the right niche or customer base to work for. “If you can find a customer base, it’s a home run,” he says. “That’s the history it’s winner take all.”

And he adds, “Our hat’s got to be off to René.” Rodriguez isn’t ready to talk IPO yet. “We’re focusing on our organic growth,” he says, with particular attention to markets in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. “I’m having a lot of fun,” Rodriguez says. “I’ve been blessed. Everyone is terrific to work with.”

Babbalu.com and Telemundo – A Powerful Duo! --

Babbalu.com, New England’s exclusive bi-lingual Web Portal announces Telemundo Partnership.

Hartford, CT – February 23, 2006 – Babbalu.com, New England’s exclusive bi-lingual Web Portal serving the rapidly expanding Latino American market, announced its new partnership with Telemundo/WDRM in Hartford and WDMR in Springfield. “Telemundo reaches Latino homes throughout Connecticut and Western Massachusetts giving us the opportunity to enter more homes, said Rene Rodriquez, President of Babbalu.com. He adds, “The quality programming they offer and their long history in this market makes Telemundo the perfect partner for Babbalu.com.

Launched in 1986, Telemundo was the first Spanish language television station to provide programming to the growing Hispanic market in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. General Manager, Ivon Rodriquez said, “Telemundo is already a household name, our partnership with Babbalu.com provides the local affiliate stations with an online presence through which it intends to continue to build on its name brand of quality programming, advertise station promotions and signature community events, like La Feria de la Familia”. As partner, Babbalu.com has created Telemundo pages on its website.

In Addition Babbalu will air approximately 400 advertising spots on Telemundo, featuring its services, contests and giveaways.

About Babbalu.com
Babbalu.com is a bi-lingual, one stop, Web Portal designed to provide members and users with a variety of products, services and features. The Babbalu.com niche is the Latino American market, as well as the non-Latino crossover population. Offering Email, Shopping, International Calling Cards and Mobile Products along with news and information in English and Spanish, Babbalu.com serves as a common forum for Latino Americans with diverse interests and backgrounds. Babbalu.com is affordable, user friendly, innovative and community conscious.
For more information please log onto www.babbalu.com

Babbalu.com to promote Latino Expo in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York --

Hartford, CT – February 17, 2006 – Babbalu.com, New England’s premier bilingual Latino Web Portal, has been selected the internet partner for the Latino Expo shows in four states –Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York.

The Latino Expo is a free festival of Hispanic culture, business and entertainment with a special emphasis on jobs, education, health care and business. It’s a family event, with entertainment, free educational seminars on topics like how to start and finance your own business, first time home buying and using equity to finance college, “It is wonderful to finally have a Web-site that will be ”the go to place” for all the latest information involving the Hispanic communities. We have been waiting for the opportunity to work with a web site that mirrors our goals of connecting Latinos to the latest information and resources” said Debra Gould, President of the Latino Expo.

“We are very excited about this partnership, The Latino Expo events are quality presentations attracting thousand of visitors, it is an opportunity for us to showcase Babbalu.com in a Grass Roots method” said Rene Rodriguez, President of Babbalu.com.

About Babbalu.com: Babbalu.com is a bi-lingual, one stop, Web Portal designed to provide members and users with a variety of products, services and features. The Babbalu.com niche is the Latino American market, as well as the non-Latino crossover population. Offering Email, Shopping, International Calling Cards and Mobile Products along with news and information in English and Spanish, Babbalu.com serves as a common forum for Latino Americans with diverse interests and backgrounds. Babbalu.com is affordable, user friendly, innovative and community conscious. For more information please log onto www.babbalu.com

Babbalu.com Offers Users Email at No Charge --
Popular Latino Site Makes Signing Up for Free Email Easy

CT (PRWEB) December 26, 2005 -- “At Babbalu.com, we’re constantly looking for new ways to make our site accessible and exciting,” says Rene Rodriguez, President of southern New England’s increasingly popular Latino website. “Offering free email advances our goal of keeping the growing Latino population in this country and abroad connected. It’s one way we can thank users for helping make our launch year a resounding success.”

Signing up for free email on Babbalu.com is easy. Simply visit www.babbalu.com, click on the Email/Correo listing at the top, and set up your account. Then, when you’re ready to either check or send email to friends and family, log on, enter your user name and password, and you’re connected with the click of the mouse. The Email format is in English, Spanish, Portuguese and many other languages. It’s simple, and it’s free.

With fresh ideas and new features coming monthly from the staff at Babbalu.com, it’s no wonder the bilingual Latino site is making so many friends and enjoying such rapid growth.

Be our guest. Visit us at Babbalu.com and sign up for your free email today.
“Helping you stay informed and connected is our business,” says Rodriguez,
“and delivering the best possible service to users is our passion.”

Babbalu.com Teams Up with NBC30 --
Growing Latino Site Unveils New Design, Expanded Content

Hartford, CT (PRWEB) December 1, 2005 – “This new partnership between Babbalu.com and NBC30 is a powerful combination ” says Rene Rodriguez, President of southern New England’s Latino website. “As a division of NBC, NBC30 will offer Babbalu.com users expanded coverage of news, sports, fashion and entertainment. And Babbalu.com which has been growing rapidly since its launch last November and delivers content in a bilingual format, brings a huge portion of the northeast’s Latino population to NBC30.”

The partnership gives Babbalu.com the exclusive sponsorship as the Latino portal partner, with a significant presence on the NBC30 website and numerous on air television spots throughout 2006.

Babbalu.com’s redesigned site, offering real time bilingual content in Spanish and English, will keep its trademark bold logo and bright colors, and will remain user friendly. The same features that have made Babbalu.com one of the industry’s fastest growing sites will continue to be offered along with the unveiling of new products, services and strategic alliances. Babbalu.com and its staff are constantly working on new and improved services, and look forward to the venture with NBC30 to further enhance the site.

So go ahead and log onto Babbalu.com to discover for yourself why we chose NBC30 for our market partnership. “We’re proud to join forces with NBC30 to continue serving the region’s exploding Latino community,” says Rodriguez.

Babbalu.com is initially servicing Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York, with offices located in downtown Hartford. For more information, please visit www.babbalu.com

Babbalu.com Partners With Omega Communications, Inc.
Strengthens the Latino Web Portal with Greater Technological Muscle
A Complete Internet Solutions Company, Omega Helps Connect Babbalu.com Users with the Latino Community Worldwide

Hartford, CT (PRWEB) September 9, 2005 -- Babbalu.com, New England’s premier bilingual Latino Web Portal, with support from Omega Communications, Inc., one of Connecticut’s largest, most dependable technology companies, ensures users a smooth, hassle-free web experience. “Our technical partner is a well respected company with offices in Connecticut, New Jersey and Virginia,” says Babbalu President Rene Rodriguez. “We have the ability to power and maintain Babbalu.com with a large company facility, yet Babbalu.com as well as our members receive the care of a small business.” According to Rodriguez, the sites’ fully USA-managed customer service, with caring professionals who are readily accessible, is an inherent bonus.

For Greg Angelillo, Vice President of Business Development at Omega, the partnership with Babbalu.com has been a mutually successful venture. With over a decade of experience in developing successful online portals, Omega’s staff is excited to be part of Babbalu.com’s growth. “Rene understands the complexities involved with the continual development of an online community,” Angelillo explains. “Both his short and long term goals and objectives are well thought out and the technology behind each phase has been carefully designed. We are pleased with the business plan and its progression, and look forward to a long-standing relationship at providing the best online Latino community on the planet!”

Babbalu.com’s unique offering of bilingual Real Time international and local news, fashion and sports continues to provide a bourgeoning Latino population with constantly updated information in both English and Spanish.
To keep your finger on the pulse of all things Latino, visit Babbalu.com and watch for some surprising new features over the next two months.

Babbalu.com is initially servicing Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York, with offices located in downtown Hartford, Connecticut.
Contact information: rener@babbalu.com
 

Bilingual Internet Portal Clicks
August 13, 2005
By PAUL MARKS, Hartford-Courant Staff Writer

Rene Rodriguez, a Cuban immigrant and Hartford businessman, says the region's burgeoning Hispanic population needs a connection to the Internet that reflects its culture and interests.

He has opened such a site - known as a Web "portal" - designed to provide news, entertainment and shopping tailored to the Spanish-speaking population of Connecticut and central Massachusetts.

The site, Babbalu.com, also offers its own brand dial-up Internet connection service. And Rodriguez envisions more, including an online dating service, online sports scores updated constantly, a roadside assistance program and wireless phone and Internet service through a partnership with Sprint Corp.

"What we look to do is be a destination for bilingual individuals - I didn't want to say just for Latinos," Rodriguez said this week at his office just off Bushnell Park. Links to daily news, for instance, are offered in English and Spanish.

The site's name comes from the signature song of the bandleader played by Desi Arnaz in the old "I Love Lucy" television sitcom of the 1950s and '60s. Rodriguez, 43, said the bouncy rhythm of that tune, like the splashy yellow and red colors of the website design, is meant to appeal to Latinos of all ages - but particularly to capture the younger, more computer-savvy generation.

The site has a smattering of ads so far, and eight months after its launch it isn't making money yet. But with Connecticut's Latino population at about 340,000 and growing, Rodriguez is confident it soon will. His business plan anticipates a profit "in the first 12 to 18 months."

He said he and his main financial backer, which he chooses not to make public, have invested "$300,000 to $400,000" in development over the past two years.

For technical expertise, Babbalu.com has teamed with Omega Communications, a Southington company with a decade's experience as an Internet service provider. Greg Angelillo,that company's vice president for business development, said Babbalu.com has its own dedicated servers to ensure the site runs smoothly.

The partnership gives Omega a minority ownership stake in Rodriguez's venture, amounting to a bet that it will pay off. "Everywhere I look," Angelillo said, "there are big organizations trying to tap into the Hispanic market."

The 2000 U.S. Census shows Hispanics - mainly Mexicans, Puerto Ricans and Central American natives - at 12.5 percent of the U.S. population and growing steadily. In Connecticut, the number of Hispanics grew by 59 percent from 1990 through August 2004, according to Census Bureau figures.

Diane Alverio, whose Hartford public relations agency has been hired to promote Babbalu.com, said many businesses are fighting for part of the "burgeoning and highly profitable" Hispanic market. Rodriguez is among the few specifically exploiting the Internet, she said.

Doing so requires more than English messages translated into Spanish, she said. "His site has a real Latino style and flavor to it," she added. "It has to be a cultural translation, the nuances have to be there, and with Rene they are."

Spanglish Format Narrows the Latino/Anglo Gap by Offering Both Languages on Same Page
San Francisco firm partners with Babbalu.com in providing targeted, real time bilingual news, sports and information

Hartford, CT (PRWEB) July 25, 2005-- “We’re really expanding the website to be all inclusive and multi-ethnic,” says Rene Rodriguez, President of Babbalu.com, the bilingual Latino Internet Service Provider that has taken southern New England by storm. “We’re reaching out to more nationalities as well as areas across the country that have concentrated Latino populations.”

Recently partnered with San Francisco’s Moreover Technologies, Babbalu.com is excited to be providing its users with Real Time news, sports and information, updated every ten to fifteen minutes. Immediate access to information sources and links to related subjects are theirs with just the click of a mouse.

Statistics show that while Latino Americans are fiercely proud of their heritage, they also want to be fully integrated into American life. In response, Babbalu.com has adopted a unique Spanglish format to serve their needs. Dual language content will give Latinos, eager to connect the cultures, the information and entertainment they seek in English and Spanish.

Along with the new format, Babbalu.com’s staff is designing pages featuring bi-lingual content aimed at Latino populated regions throughout the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. “Currently we are targeting Miami and New York, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, Babbalu.com also provides local and regional access featuring Connecticut and Massachusetts”, said Rodriguez.

Plans are underway to add regions such as Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Washington D.C., as well as countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

In the near future, look to Babbalu.com for a host of new and intriguing features. A partnership with one of America’s biggest communication companies promises to offer both users and advertisers advantages normally provided by corporate giants. So please, visit www.babbalu.com--the coolest site in town-- and find out what’s generating all the heat.

Contact: Rene Rodriguez (860) 558-4006
Diane Alverio (860) 548-1136

Babbalu.com Infuses Southern New England with Latino Flavor--
Debut of Internet Access and Real Time Bilingual Content Promises Fresh News, Exciting Features

Hartford, CT (PRWEB) April 22, 2005 -- "The overall response to Babbalu.com has been phenomenal" says Rene Rodriguez, President of southern New England's first and only bilingual Latino Internet Service Provider. "Latinos and non-Latinos love the look and feel of the site, and everyone is watching to see what is new, what is next."
If Rodriguez sounds excited, he has reason to be. Launched in November of 2004 to serve a northeast Latino population that has experienced explosive growth of more than 50% over the past decade, Babbalu.com provides user friendly, high speed dial-up Internet access and a business DSL along with a host of features--news, sports, fashion, even local and national events--to a community hungry for the connection.

Offering high speed dial-up Internet service for as low as $11.96 per month, Babbalu.com is making it easy and affordable for Latinos and non-Latinos to gain Internet access and stay informed. "The initial feedback from customers is marvelous," says Rodriquez, "our Internet Access Service has no hidden costs and its features make it as good as or better than the largest competitors in the country."

Within weeks Babbalu.com will be debuting its real time bilingual content, presenting all the latest news and events instantly updated in both English and Spanish, reaching the widest possible audience and bringing real returns to advertisers. And recently Babbalu.com allied with Tiempo, one of Connecticut's leading Spanish language newspapers, so that Babbalu.com users could join online readers to easily access each other's sites.

Feel free to visit Babbalu.com and see for yourself. With new deals in the works and surprises coming monthly, the Babbalu.com staff is committed to making their site the hottest enchilada in the country. It is, as Rodriguez says, "a Latino business in a niche market that is doing nothing but exploding in every conceivable aspect."

Babbalu.com is initially servicing Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York, with offices located in downtown Hartford. For information, please visit babbalu.com

Contact information:
Rene Rodriguez @ (860) 246-0777
Diane Alverio @ (860) 548-1136

Babbalu.com de Hartford/Un portal con diseño y personalidad latina
Por: Andrés Böröndy/Tiempo

En el año 2000, nació la idea de crear un portal latino en el Internet, con características especiales dirigidas al usuario latino en Estados Unidos, René Rodríguez, empezó a cultivar su idea, haciendo contactos técnicos y comerciales para entregar una página electrónica de fácil acceso y rápida.

Después vino la parte esencial de cualquier aventura comercial, el nombre, fácil de reconocer, de corazón latino y alegre, René, un cubano americano, pensó en una palabra de raíces africanas, sembrada para siempre en el diccionario tropical como santo de la religión Yoruba y como ritmo afro-cubano con cantantes como Miguelito Valdés, Rakere, Carmen Flores y traído a Estados Unidos por Desi Arnaz, Babalú, vino a su mente y con un pequeño cambio ortográfico nació Babbalu.com.

Babbalu.com trae al navegador latino y bilingüe, la mejor opción para encontrar todo en una página o portal electrónico, desde comprar electrodomésticos, leer las noticias hasta comprar uniformes de su equipo preferido y estar al tanto de todos los acontecimientos deportivos con el enlace todofutbol.com y elmarcador.com.

En un futuro muy cercano entregará como parte de la suscripción una tarjeta de compras, llamada the "Shopping Card", que al usarla a través del portal Babbalu.com, todos los almacenes y comerciantes afiliados a la tarjeta le harán un reembolso por correo.

También proveerá enlaces amorosos en la red com babbalu amor y una página infantil con Babbalu kids y Babbalitos.

"Queremos entregar al navegador bilingüe y latino, una solaparada en el Internet, donde encuentre todos los servicios que desee, más noticias en español, somos una página bilingüe, pero dirigida a la comunidad hispana del mundo", dijo su dueño y creador René Rodríguez.

"Nuestro futuro es amplísimo, y estamos trabajando en ello, hicimos lo esencial de cualquier vida que fue nacer, ahora, viene nuestro crecimiento con miles de ideas que poco a poco irán cobrando vida como, enlaces y directorios de entretenimiento y restaurantes en todas las grandes ciudades de Estados Unidos y Latinoamérica, la creación de una cuenta bancaria para cualquier persona, a la cual se le entregan 5 tarjetas de retiro bancario y éste las puede enviar a sus familiares en su país de origen y ellos allá pueden hacer los retiros, sin necesidad de pagar, "esto es una gran idea porque las personas que no tiene seguro social y se les hace casi imposible adquirir una cuenta bancaria, por medio de éste servicio adquieren una y la administran a su manera, ahorrándose el cobro de cambiar el cheque y los honorarios de los envíos", dijo el señor Rodríguez.

La oficina principal del portal latino Babbalu.com está en el 15 de la calle Lewis de Hartford, y tiene una sucursal en Southington en el 1 de Center Street, donde opera Omega la empresa encargada de todo el trabajo técnico de la página.

René los invita a visitar Babbalu.com, una página de corazón latino y colores alegres como nuestra manera de ser, "conózcanos y sabemos que nos grabará en sus favoritos, y de allí en adelante sólo estamos a un "click" de usted y usted del mundo de rebajas y diversión que ofrece nuestra página", terminó diciendo su creador y presidente.

A new Website, Babbalu.com, has been launched to reach and serve the Latino Market.

Babbalu.com is southern New England's first, exclusive, bi-lingual, Latino Internet Service Provider (ISP). The site offers its users and advertisers one-stop Internet access, news, education, health, entertainment, shopping and more on the World Wide Web.

Hartford, CT (PRWEB) February 16, 2005 -- "Our market niche is the Latino population, the hottest in the country," says President, Rene Rodriguez. "Babbalu.com has been created to serve the Latino and non-Latino population that wants to become further involved with the Latino culture. Our initial, "soft" launch shows our design and several of our features. This Spring we will unveil the full site with complete content and features. This is a unique time and an opportunity for new advertisers to reach thousands of potential customers on Babbalu.com. These charter members will receive preferred rates.

"According to recent U.S. Census figures, Latinos are the fastest growing sector of the population, with a current United States population of approximately 40 million. By the year 2020, Latinos will account for approximately 20% of the U.S. population and the annual purchasing power is out pacing forecasters and is now $700 Billion.

Here in Connecticut and Massachusetts
1.The Connecticut and Massachusetts, Latino population grew more than 50% in the last ten years. And, it continues to rise, especially in the bi-lingual middle class segment.
2.There are 360,000 Latinos in Connecticut and 501,000 in Massachusetts.

Public Relations' spokesperson, Diane Alverio says, "Babbalu.com is a Web environment that will bring Latinos with diverse interests and backgrounds together in a common forum while respecting their strong national pride. The company is very community-minded and will donate a portion of its profits to non-profit organizations and the Juvenile Diabetes Association."

"Initial interest has been far beyond our expectations," continued Rodriguez. "We already have signed up such top affiliates and advertisers as Ford, Sears, GlaxoSmithKline, eBay, Target, Wal-Mart, Sharper Image, Fredericks of Hollywood and more.

"Omega Communications of Southington, CT is creating a state-of-the art web destination using the most advanced technology available.

Babbalu.com has been initially launched to service Connecticut and Massachusetts. Its offices are located in the heart of downtown Hartford. For information, please go to www.babbalu.com

# # #