2004
- The news you choose »
- Login to Add to Watchlist
Mideast e-Government fails
Not a single Middle East country has made it into the Top 25 Global e-Government Readiness Rankings, said a UN report. Its e-content study praised the efforts of business websites in the region but found that localised information about culture and education was scanty, and not updated often enough.
e-Government, direct debits
Dubai e-Government is to introduce a direct debit payments facility by the end of next year, and will also accept American Express by Q2, reported Gulf News. This is part of the ongoing development of e-government services in the emirate which is further ahead in this field than many European nations.
Oman raids IT pirates
The authorities in Oman have raided four resellers and seized copies of pirated software from their premises. The raids were conducted by the Ministry of Heritage and Culture in collaboration with the Business Software Alliance. Oman has IPR laws that provide full protection to software developers and is determined to follow up with campaigns, including raids of violators, said officials.
UAE Cabinet speeds e-government
The UAE Cabinet is ordering ministries to speed up implementation of the second phase of the e-government project. A statement said that the e-government team had already met with the Civil Service Bureau about the implementation of e-HRMS to manage human capital.
Website to help Tsunami victims
Flip Media has launched a website for a regional online campaign to support the victims of the tsunami waves disaster and to collect cash donations for them. More than 26,000 are believed dead in the biggest natural disaster for 40 years, and hundreds of thousands are homeless. Visit, http://www.flipcorp.com/help/
Plasma, LCD TV prices tumble
Prices of plasma and LCD televisions have started to fall with the lowest price for a 42-inch PDP now below USD2,000 in the UAE. Local electronics shops are full of flat screen technology which has now crossed from commercial to home use, and offers better reproduction particularly for DVDs.
UAE, telecom equipment opens
The UAE telecom equipment market will be opened up from this weekend with Etisalat no longer monopolising the sale of telephones and other hardware. In a statement Etisalat warned consumers to look for the UAELAB label to be sure equipment was compatible for the local market.
eCompany, STS tie-up
Etisalat's eCompany has announced a tie up with Specialized Technical Services to offer its technology solutions and services portfolio across the Middle East under the eCompany Solution Partners Programme. STS will enable customers to integrate different e-commerce solutions in their business processes using eCompany's products and solutions.
Bahrain, safe mobile use campaign
Bahrain's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has launched a public awareness campaign; Use Your Mobile Wisely reminds people to think of others when using mobiles in theatres, conferences, mosques, libraries, classrooms, hospitals with film clips for TV channels and cinemas, and print ads.
Aveva opens Dubai office
Aveva, the global engineering IT software and services group, has opened a new office in Dubai to expand regional operations. It will provide sales support and marketing activities for the established offices and technical support for regional clients.
DSO signs Korean MoU
The upcoming 700 hectare Dubai Silicon Oasis has signed a memorandum of understanding with an unnamed Korean high-tech firm during a visit to Seoul, officials told Gulf News. The MoU is to facilitate the transfer of technology and cooperation in the field of IT and semiconductors.
2004 a record year for viruses
There were 30 major computer virus outbreaks in the region in 2004, a record year, according to Trend Micro Middle East. A report from TrendLabs pointed out that 28 were medium risk alerts while the Netsky and Sasser worms were in the high risk category.
Ettihad wins KSA licence
Ettihad Etisalat has won its operating licence from the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission for GSM and 3G mobile phones. Shares in the second Saudi mobile phone operator have soared since listing this month. Rival Saudi Telecoms does not offer a 3G service and has not applied for a licence yet.
Tharaya, Asia, Africa expansion
Thuraya Satellite Communications is to target Congo, Angola, Chad and Nigeria for growth next year, and launch Thuraya DSL for high speed data services next March, said officials. They said other priorities would be Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, and possibly India. Thuraya expects handset subscriptions to grow from 220,000 to 320,000 in 2005.
Orascom alleges Iraqi harassment
Orascom has accused the Baghdad Government of blocking the work of Iraqna, its subsidiary operating the largest mobile phone network in Iraq. CEO Naguib Sawiris told the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat that Iraqi security forces have been harassing Iraqna staff to favour a Kuwaiti rival. We have filed a complaint to Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, he said.
It looks like you are using a Mac - check out our 
Web Feeds