2006
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Kuwait, third mobile operator
Kuwait's government has decided to set up a third mobile phone operator in the country, according to the AFP. The cabinet has said that 60% of the new operator will be sold to the public, while 24% will be allocated to state-owned authorities, with the remaining 16% offered to a local or international investor. Kuwait currently has two operators, MTC and Wataniya.
e-Quran, e-curriculum launched
The first e-Quran mobile computer and a Saudi tailored e-curriculum have been launched. The two products have been developed by Intel's Platform Definition Centre and two Arabic software content companies, Semanoor and Dar Al Rasm Al Othmani. The e-curriculum has been incorporated on an ultra mobile wireless device based on Intel's LPIA processors. The e-Quran, including audio recitations in 40 languages, has also been uploaded on to a portable device.
Focus Softnet, Capital deal
Focus Softnet, a software development company based in Dubai, has appointed the Capital Group IT as its partner to promote and distribute its recently launched product, Focus Reach, in Bahrain. Focus Softnet is currently looking to secure further retail channel partners in other Mena region countries.
CERT, supercomputing centre
The UAE's Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training has launched an on demand supercomputing centre. Based on IBM's Blue Gene system, the centre will be used by CERT to enhance research and development capabilities in various sectors. Industries like oil and gas, banking and finance, life sciences and seismology will be able to utilise the 5.7 teraflops of processing power available.
Intel, Saudi IT drive
The Intel Corporation is to support the Saudi Arabian government's efforts to extend the reach of IT in the kingdom's schools, reported Arab News. Intel and the kingdom's Ministry of Education are to collaborate on a venture to train 50,000 Saudi teachers on utilizing technology in the classroom. It is hoped about 1.5m students will benefit from the Intel Teach Essential Programme over the next three years.
MTC targets Paktel bid
Kuwait's MTC is considering bidding for Pakistan's Paktel, a unit of the Luxembourg based Millicom, reported Reuters. Millicom, which operates in emerging markets, revealed last month that tough market conditions had forced it to end its 16 year presence in Pakistan. Paktel is the country's fifth largest mobile operator and has around 1.5m subscribers.
du extends booking scheme
Telco outfit du has extended its number booking campaign on the back of strong demand. Customers can either register their current Etisalat numbers in the new '055' system or select a new mobile number. du claims around 300,000 new numbers have been booked since the service started on November 26.
UAE IT market hits $1.5bn
The UAE's IT market is estimated to have been worth $1.5bn at the end of last year, while Abu Dhabi is currently the biggest IT spender in the country with its total outlay for 2005 valued at $769m or 46.9% of the market share, according to ITQAN, a UAE based IT systems integrator. The country's total IT market value is expected to grow to $2.2bn by the end of 2008.
Etisalat, Cisco managed services
UAE telco Etisalat has signed a strategic alliance with Cisco. It includes four major areas of cooperation, including mobile, managed ICT services, and addressing the needs of the real estate sector. It will enable Etisalat to provide its customers with full life cycle management.
Two win NFWS licenses
MTC-Vodafone Bahrain and Mena Telecom have won licences for Bahrain's National Fixed Wireless Services, after putting up the highest bids out of six contenders, according to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. The telcos bid about $14.6m and $12m respectively. Licenses will be issued by 8 January 2007.
Emirates Computers in Qatar
Emirates Computers is setting up IT operations in Doha with local firm Ebrahim Al Neama Holding, the company said in a statement. CEO Hani Harik says there is a growing demand for the latest in technology and enterprise solutions in Qatar, making it a key market for Emirates Computers.
ME aggressive for WiMAX
Developing regions such as the Middle East and Latin America are more aggressively pursuing WiMAX than other parts of the world, Intel chairman Craig Barrett told journalists in Dubai. Barrett says that limited investment in 3G is allowing them to leapfrog older technologies in favour of 4G. Most of the 200 WiMAX trials worldwide are taking place in developing countries.
Microsoft patches critical flaws
Microsoft's December security updates include patches for critical flaws in Internet Explorer, Windows Media Format and the Visual Studio 2005 development software, according to IDG. The seven security patches address 11 bugs, including two in Windows Media Player. The Internet Explorer patch fixes four bugs.
Satyam at Egypt's Smart City
India's Satyam Computer Services has signed an MoU with the Egyptian government which will see it set up a global development centre in Smart Village, Giza. Satyam says the centre will serve as a major technological development and software support facility for its Middle Eastern customers.
Thuraya missed call service
Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications has introduced a free missed call notification service, called ThurayaMCN. When a call is missed, because phones are switched off or out of range, an alert is transmitted via SMS that displays the caller's telephone number, time, date and frequency of the call.
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