2007
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Thuraya shows satellite internet box
Satellite communications company Thuraya is launching an Internet Protocol (IP) box next year designed to give those travelling to remote locations access to the internet. The ThurayaIP box will provide access via its satellites, which means users can also make Voice over IP calls should they need to. It supports speeds of up to 384Kb/s with an external antenna, allowing it to be used for live broadcasts. Connection from the box to a laptop is handled by the 802.11b standard.
Etisalat, Virgin form alliance
Etisalat and Virgin Megastore have formed a strategic alliance covering joint retail and promotional activities. 'Reach Entertainment' is the campaign's slogan and throughout the three year tie-up Etisalat will have a presence inside all of Virgin Megastore's outlets across the UAE. The two firms are planning to unveil a number of special joint promotions.
Sony unveils remote monitoring system
Sony has unveiled a software system that links its video conferencing hardware to IP monitoring cameras. It is aimed at businesses that have offices scattered around a region or world along with networked monitoring cameras. The software then allows people on a video conference call to access and control the IP cameras in a remote location. Examples, it said, would be the ability to contact a camera monitoring an unmanned oil rig or road traffic cameras. Available free to customers, the software confusingly has no name.
Xerox personalises network printing
Xerox has launched its user interface EIP software that allows people within companies to personalise print jobs over the network. Companies, departments or individuals can personalise the user interface on its high-end multi-function printers, creating settings unique to them. The software sits on the network to which the printer is attached.
New Ultimate i-mate phones
I-mate releases its first self-developed Ultimate mobile phones this October. The phones, which run the Windows Mobile operating system, come in two designs, one with a physical keyboard, one without. The 6150 will cost Dhs3,199 and the 8150 Dhs3,350.
Intel live with quad core Xeon
Businesses in the Middle East can buy servers running Intel's latest quad core Xeon from today. The company said at Gitex that the Xeon 7300 requires 40 per cent less power than the previous generation, the 7100, and has fours times as much memory capacity.
Voice biometrics fines Dubai litterers
Dubai Municipality is installing a voice enabled recognition system with voice biometrics, so that trusted parties can report problems such as people throwing litter from their cars without needing to speak to anyone. It is partnering with Emerging Technologies to develop the system, which is similar to one also being developed for Dubai Financial Markets for trading. On receiving a call the biometrics can pattern match a voice to verify it is a trusted party, which then allows the car number plate to be reported so that a fine can be issued.
Egypt seeks call centres
Egypt, which has around 40 firms represented at the country's national pavilion at the Gitex show in Dubai, wants to become a major player in the call centre sector, reported Gulf News. A study by consultancy firm AT Kearney put Egypt 12th on the list of countries with customer contact centres. The country is keen to challenge India in the outsourcing sector and currently has six large call centres.
UAE online purchases at $1.2bn
A survey by the Jordan based Arab Advisors Group has found that 51.2% of Internet users in the UAE reported purchasing products and services online, and through their mobile handsets, over the past 12 months. Arab Advisors' report estimates that more than 1.1m consumers made e-commerce transactions totalling nearly $1.2bn over the past 12 months.
du boosts coverage
Telco operator du has extended its mobile network coverage to more areas of the UAE. du's coverage now incorporates new areas all over the country including in Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Khor Fakkan. The fiorm is also acquiring permits to set up base stations and cell sites along main roads and in bust residential and commerical districts.
Etisalat offers eCentrex
Etisalat will shortly launch eCentrex , a new calling service via PCs and desk phones, which will offer an IP based communication solution for companies with multiple offices across the UAE. eCentrex will provide free calls between offices nationwide with the service supporting conference and video calls. Etisalat is offering three packages, comprising different services, on a monthly rental basis, dependent on the number of connections needed by a company.
Zain buys African operator
Kuwait's Zain, formerly the MTC Group, has stated it is close to acquiring a telecom operator in an African country, without revealing any specific details, reported Reuters. CEO Saad Al Barrak said Zain had bought a 'small operation and licence' in a 'big country'. Al Barrak added that the deal would cost less than $1bn and should be tied up by the middle of next month.
Etisalat trials money exchange service
Etisalat is launching a money transfer service aimed at expats that want to send part of their wages home. The service will initially be aimed at those from the Philippines, Pakistan, India and Egypt. Tomorrow at Gitex it will officially announce a deal it has signed with Smart Telecommunications in the Philippines to trial the service. It hopes it will be fully live by the end of the year.
Al Rostamani signs deal with SAP
The Al Rostamani Group in the UAE has signed a deal with software supplier SAP to improve and moderise its IT infrastructure. The company, which has 16 business across the automotive, financial services, real estate and contruction sectors, is installing mySAP ERP software to automate business processes and help with its growth plans.
Sun claims CPU speed record
Sun Microsystems is claiming to have launched the world's fastest processor for business use. The UltraSparc T2 is an eight core, eight thread 64-bit CPU aimed at devices such as servers, routers, switches and other network devices. Announced today at Gitex, Sun claims the processor is also environmentally friendly, needing less than two watts per thread to operate. This means systems running it use less power and will not run as hot, so require less cooling.
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