CELEBRETIES STAND ON THE STAGE DURING LAUNCHING OF AOL IN ARGENTINA, 2000-08-08 (photo)

From left, former Los Angeles Lakers player Magic Johnson, Mexican actress Salma Hayek, Argentine singer Emanuel Ortega, TV host Ruth Infarinato and Argentine pop singer Bahiano, stand on the stage beside a large mouse during the presentation of the world's top Internet services provider, American Online (AOL), which started business in Argentina, August 8, 2000. This is the third AOL venture in Latin America since the November launch of a Portuguese service in Brazil and the July roll out of a Spanish service in Mexico. Expectations rest on AOL's ability to use technology and alliances to reach the millions of Argentines who have cellphones and cable television but no PC or fixed-line phone, but Internet users are expected to more than triple from a current 1.8 million to over six million in 2002. EM/RCS