Fast-paced growth in mobile phone users in the Middle East will boost demand for 3G services

Dahabra was addressing the "3G World Congress & Exhibition 2004", the 9th annual global wireless business event, held in Hong Kong recently. Dahabra joined a host of experts, operators, content providers and technology leaders involved in the development and application of 3G technology for enhanced mobile phone services.

Participating in a session on developing and delivering compelling value-added infotainment services for consumers and businesses, Dahabra outlined how the Middle East with over 38 million mobile phone subscribers was growing at a rapid pace and showing increasing interest in 3G services.

Dahabra described how Info2cell.com, a wholly owned subsidiary of the leading European mobile content provider Acotel Group, was spear-heading a revolution in the mobile phone services in the Middle East, through connectivity to 14 operators with a potential mobile phone subscriber base of 38 million.

Info2cell.com today delivers soccer match relays to subscribers on their cell phone or PDAs. Depending on the mobile terminal, users can view different grades of definition and colour. Info2cell.com also offers dynamic MMS message like breaking news, greeting cards, movie updates, mshots or cartoons, in English or Arabic, over the GPRS network.

"Mobile phone subscribers currently outnumber fixed line telephone users in the Arab world. When 3G makes its entry in the Middle East, we expect a huge demand because there is a mature market of mobile phone users," added Dahabra. "As a 3G phone is 30 times faster than a GPRS phone, it is something that most mobile users would want to be part of. In addition, 3G allows download and sharing of video footage, playing exciting games, location services and, above all, watch television on mobile phones."

Dahabra said 3G technology would boost interactive services which were recently launched by Info2cell.com on LBC channel, allowing viewers to vote for their favourite candidate for Miss Lebanon title and see their votes translated instantly into data. The company's Interactive Mobile services are also being used in various programmes of Mazzika TV, the Egypt based satellite television channel.

The annual 3G World Congress & Exhibition brings together operators, suppliers, content and application developers, platform providers and regulators from across the globe. It focuses on profitable growth opportunities and expanding revenues through innovative services and applications in consumer and business markets. It also throws light on the very latest in wireless infrastructure, handsets, service platforms, semi conductor innovations, test and measurement equipment, consumer and business software applications.