Nokia and eCompany offer joint iZone promotion

iZones are WiFi "hotspots" located throughout the UAE where residents and visitors alike can log on to a high-speed wireless network to access the internet.

Between now and the end of October, consumers who purchase a Nokia 9500 Communicator - which uses smart-rendering technology for fast and effective WiFi Internet browsing on a wide, rich colour screen - will receive a free iZone Prepaid card worth Dhs. 120 for a full 12 hours of wireless iZone access. The card can be used to log on to the Internet at iZones for 60 days from the date of the first log on.

"Nokia Enterprise Solutions is pleased to work with eCompany to promote wireless networking in the UAE as a tremendously useful tool to enhance business productivity and personal recreation," said Joe Devassy, Sales Manager, Nokia Enterprise Solutions Business Unit. "This promotion highlights eCompany's innovative service as well as the powerful mobile functionality of the Nokia 9500, which enables voice and data connectivity while on the go via a variety of built-in technologies, including WiFi."

iZones, which will be located in places such as cafes, airports, convention and exhibition centres, hotels, hospitals, shopping malls and fast food restaurants, will deliver high-speed Internet connections not only to Nokia 9500 Communicators but to all other WiFi-enabled phones, PDAs and laptop computers. Etisalat customers can log in and pay for the service through their existing username/password for Dial Up and Al Shamil services, among others. Those who prefer prepaid cards can use the service through special iZone Prepaid cards or Etisalat prepaid telephone cards which are available widely. In fact, users can subscribe to the iZone service itself, just as they do other Etisalat services.

"By partnering with Nokia, a global leader in mobile communications, we are able to highlight the variety of connectivity options available to our customers, whether through smartphones such as the Nokia 9500, PDA devices and computers," said Abdulla Hashim, Senior Manager, eCompany. "As well, the promotion highlights one of the many convenient payment mechanisms - prepaid cards - that will be available at venues offering iZone and shops that sell Etisalat prepaid telephone cards."

From any iZone or other hotspot, the rich-featured Nokia 9500 Communicator enables users to check email, browse the internet and even download files from their company's server. The device also connects wirelessly via built-in Bluetooth and can link with company data networks via EGPRS (EDGE).