Mobile lifestyle gains 'significant ground' in the Middle East

Users throughout the region believe that the arrival in the region of slim and lightweight wireless laptops two years ago has helped them significantly in accessing and using information in their day-to-day lives. A massive 88 percent of respondents identified the increased flexibility provided by notebook PCs in how, where and when to access the internet as a key benefit.

The survey was carried out by Paradigm Research in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and the UAE among more than 300 people from all walks of life.

"The sight of people busily tapping on wireless laptops in places as diverse as coffee shops, hotel lobbies and airports has become commonplace throughout the Middle East," said Samir Al Schamma, Intel's general manager for the GCC. "This study provides support for the view that users throughout the region believe that the 'mobile' dream has become reality for them."

The survey was carried out in spring 2005 to coincide with the second anniversary of the launch of Intel® Centrino™ mobile technology and reveals some interesting similarities, as well as some intriguing differences, among users of wireless technology in each of the three countries surveyed.

It is clear that technology has become very much a part of the fabric of life within the region as 68 percent of respondents said that they use their laptop every day. Just 8 percent said that they used their computer once a week or less. When asked to comment on the benefits of using a laptop respondents gave two clear answers - portability/mobility (78 percent) and convenience/flexibility (71 percent). "The compactness of wireless laptops combined with their long battery life and performance have been key in enabling the mobile revolution," said Samir Al Schamma.

Coffee shops/internet cafes (29 percent) just pip hotels and airports (both 26 percent) as the clear favourite venues for accessing wirelessly. And when it comes to being the top hotspot users the UAE emerges triumphant with 29 percent of respondents using a hotspot every day.
"What's clear from this study is that people throughout the Middle East love the advantages of mobile computing," concludes Al Schamma. "They can be assured that Intel will continue to support them through the development of products and in working with everyone from hotel chains to laptop vendors, to allow them to benefit further from this mobile revolution."