Batelco launches new-look mobile portal

A portal is designed to serve as a gateway to a network of sites that provide users with a quick, useful and fun way of obtaining and downloading information, getting involved with products and services and making the most of technology. Unlike websites - which are generally the equivalent of an information cul-de-sac - portals are highly interactive and offer a virtually limitless source of information, entertainment and opportunity via links to relevant sites.

The 'aywah' portal also offers Batelco mobile customers the opportunity to download a greater variety of images, ring tones, screensavers, logos, themes, video clips and games to their phones. Customers can download content by accessing the WEB site, sending an SMS with the item code and phone type to a short number or simply by accessing the WAP site from their phones and downloading the item. 'Aywah' also enables customers to receive information text messages on everything from latest breaking news, results of the big match and financial news to entertainment news, weather news, jokes, horoscopes, and prayer times.

"The merging of mobile and internet technologies has never been this advanced," says Hamza Ali, Senior Manager - Mobile Services at Batelco. "Batelco is providing mobile users with an almost limitless list of benefits and added value. 'Aywah' offers fun, entertainment and information - all at the touch of a small button."

To subscribe to the 'aywah' portal, customers should log onto www.aywah.com.bh, select the 'register' option and follow instructions. As an added bonus, Batelco is giving BD3 worth of FREE downloads of 'aywah' content to all customers who subscribe from now through 16th May 2005.

Initially, Batelco will be offering three different 'aywah' mobile portal packages, each comprising a certain number of points and a set number of free SMS messages. Customers can use the points to 'purchase' services from the portal.

The BD1 'Basic' package offers 60 points and 100 free Web2SMS messages; the BD3 'Silver' package comprises 240 points and 300 free Web2SMS messages; and the BD5 'Gold' package offers 450 points plus 500 free Web2SMS messages. Customer 'purchases' can include the downloading of ringtones, screensavers, games, and signing on to news services, prayer time reminders and horoscopes.

"Batelco has combined its significant experience in portal creation with the very latest in technology, and this new generation portal encompasses an impressive amount of information in a high-tech, hip and youth-oriented format," explains Hamza. "The launch of our new 'aywah' portal is part of Batelco's commitment to ensuring that we stay ahead of consumer demand and offer our customers the very best services and products in the market."