2006
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SFS Amman picks Hypercom
STS, a regional integrated IT solutions provider, has revealed that SFS Amman, an Iraq based financial services company, will install Hypercom's T2100 countertop card payment terminals, and associated networking products, at retail outlets throughout the country. The Optimum T2100 is a high-speed 32-bit EMV 4.0 and VISA PED-certified device with an integrated EMV-compliant smart card reader, built-in printer, large memory and support for multiple languages and currencies.
Batelco Jordan, broadband deal
Batelco Jordan has launched an end of year offer in order to boost its number of broadband subscribers in the kingdom. The telco outfit has launched an installation fee wavering deal whereby customers signing up to a 1MB package get free installation, while those signing up for the 512 Kbps option get a discounted rate. The offer is open until December 31.
Etisalat to charge per second
Etisalat has revealed it intends to begin charging calls by the second, in the wake of rival outfit du declaring the same last month, reported Gulf News. Etisalat currently charges 30 fils for the first 60 seconds of a local call, with 15 fils for each subsequent 30 seconds; its off-peak rate is 12 fils. Osman Sultan, du's CEO, said he expected Etisalat to begin an aggressive promotional campaign.
Batelco, email upgrades
Batelco is to enhance its email service from today, December 3. Business customers who subscribe to Business/Education inet Broadband packages will receive a ten fold increase in their email box size from 20MB to 200MB, while residential customers will gain a five fold increase from 10MB to 50MB. Dial-up business and residential customers will have their email box size doubled from 10MB to 20MB.
Bahrain, nine NFWS bids
Bahrain's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has revealed it has received a total of nine bids for its two national fixed wireless services licences. The Bahrain Telecommunications Company, MTC-Vodafone and Qatar Telecom are among the various consortiums. The evaluation process of technical aspects of the bids by the TRA's bid evaluation team has already commenced.
Beecell, Nahawand deal
Beecell, a Jordanian mobile content provider, has signed a contract with the Jordanian singer Nahawand. The contract will enable Beecell to distribute Nahawand's songs across the region in the form of mobile ring tones, wallpaper, themes and video downloads. The deal is just one of a number that Beecell has signed with well known regional performers.
Mena Telecom, NFWS bid
Mena Telecom, an investment subsidiary of Kuwait Finance House - Bahrain, is to bid for a national fixed wireless service licence. Bahrain's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority is set to issue two NFWS licences. Mena Telecom offers services such as carrier pre-select services, two way satellite services, broadband applications and international calling cards.
Saudi tops DSL market
Saudi Arabia will become the GCC's largest market for DSL equipment this year, according to research carried out by IDC and cited by Gulf News. The GCC digital subscriber line market was worth $31.8m in 2005 and will grow by 88% to nearly $60m this year. IDC believes Saudi will become the top market as it has the population and economic environment to support a large number of broadband users.
Etisalat holiday rates
Etisalat is charging off-peak rates for international phone calls made during the period from 9pm Thursday 30 November until 7am Monday 4 December 2006. This is to mark UAE National Day which falls on 2 December.
Google abandons answers
Google is scrapping Hitwise, its four-year old paid answer service, after it failed to compete with Yahoo's free answer service, according to Forbes.com. Google hired researchers to answer questions, whereas Yahoo relied on volunteer experts. Yahoo Answers accumulated 160m answers in its first eleven months, with a market share 24 times greater than Google Hitwise.
Mobily, EMC data protection
Saudi-based telco Mobily has engaged EMC to put in place business continuity services to help protect its customers' data, EMC said in statement. Mobily will deploy systems from the EMC Symmetrix DMX-3 series at two sites in the kingdom. More than 120 terabytes of data will be managed by the system.
Alcatel wins Dubai airport deal
Alcatel has been awarded a contract with the Dubai's Department of Civil Aviation to put in place IP communications at Dubai airport's new Terminal 3, Khaleej Times reported. Under the terms, Alcatel will initially provide VoIP capacity for 16,000 users. The terminal is due to open in late 2007.
Umniah call block
Jordan telco Umniah has introduced a service that blocks calls from specified phone numbers. Blocked numbers are pre-set by subscribers and can be changed at any time, the company said in a statement. The service is available to both prepaid and postpaid subscribers.
No restriction on mobile tariffs
The UAE's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority says it won't impose tariff restrictions on new entrant Du, Gulf News reported. This will allow the country's two telcos, the other being Etisalat, to compete freely in a mobile phone market which already has a penetration rate of 130%. Du has delayed the launch of its mobile operations due to 'technical difficulties', which are now likely to start sometime in Q1 2007.
Disney launches child's mobile
Disney starts selling a Dhs399 mobile phone for children in the UAE today, Gulf News reported. Developed by Dubai-based Broadlink Research, the phone has Disney ring tones; automatic vibration ring during school hours; call and SMS restrictions; no camera, Bluetooth or internet capabilities; and monthly call monitoring.
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