Zawya.com - Telecoms & IT News

Jordan: Umniah Launches Its New Army Line

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:42:31 GMT

Umniah announced the launch of its new Army Line offer that caters to enlisted and retired members of the Jordanian Armed Forces, Public Security Forces and the Civil Defence Directorate and at a minimal billing rate of JD0.001/min.

CEO of Saudi Telecom Group to Chair Samena Council

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:36:23 GMT

Samena Telecommunications Council, the multi-continent telecommunications consortium has announced Eng. Saud Bin Majed Al Daweesh, CEO of Saudi Telecom Group as its new Chairman, unanimously elected by SAMENA's Board of Directors.

Sage in Partnership Deal with ITE Distribution

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:59:44 GMT

Sage Software, the leading global supplier of ERP, CRM, and HRM solutions to small, medium and large organisations, announced that it has inked a partnership deal with ITE Distribution, a Dubai-based IT distribution company.

Mobily pampers customers with more privileges

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:59:25 GMT

As part of Mobily's commitment to provide the best services and offers to the market, Mobily introduced a new promotion to Filipino customers under its Mabuhay package.

Most GCC firms outsource IT process

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:58:36 GMT

GCC companies are becoming increasingly reliant on outsourcing with over a half (52 percent) of respondents claiming to outsource some aspect of their IT or business processes, a new research launched on Tuesday by Egypt's Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) and YouGov at GITEX, showed.

General Director Of Bahrain TRA Steps Down

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:33:14 GMT

The General Director of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of Bahrain Mr. Alan Horne has decided to step down from his position by the end of this month.

Middle East prepare for 4G

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:10:23 GMT

The average handset has evolved from the humble voice-box, to the total media centre. As a result thousands of start-up companies are profiting out of the Telecom sector's advances, supplying the various add-ons which inevitably accompany any new wave of technology.

Zain selects AiwaGulf

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:14:00 GMT

AiwaGulf, described as the first company in the Middle East specialized in added value services (AVS) to mobile phones, has been selected by Zain, a leading mobile communications company in Kuwait, as one of the best companies for generating added services revenues for Q3 2009.

Etihad Etisalat offers discounts to all new subscribers

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:10:42 GMT

Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) has offered 50 percent discount on national and international voice calls to all its new subscribers.

Windows 7 debut a hit: NPD

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:19:51 GMT

Microsoft's new-generation Windows 7 operating system hit the ground running, with US sales in its opening days blasting past those of its Vista predecessor, according to NPD Group.

Google lets users see stored account data

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:17:04 GMT

Google on Thursday opened a window for users to see what records the Internet giant keeps regarding their activities at YouTube, Gmail, Reader and other accounts.

Nokia to scrap N-Gage platform in revamp

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:57:42 GMT

The second-largest mobile phone vendor Nokia is set to end its support for the N-Gage gaming platform by 2010 in a bid to bring all the games under one umbrella ? the Ovi Store.

Acer aims to become top notebook vendor by 2011

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:05:11 GMT

Acer is gearing up to step into fierce competition in the global notebook market in a bid to become the number one vendor by 2011 and to become the biggest overall in a few more years, the managing director of the Taiwanese firm said.

Microsoft raises cloud computing concerns

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:34:34 GMT

Packaged software powerhouse Microsoft on Thursday released a paper outlining privacy concerns businesses should consider prior to leaping into the computing cloud.

TechnoPark to set up Integrated Water Management Centre of Excellence

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:40:01 GMT

TechnoPark is moving ahead, through its R&D arm, Dubai Institute of Technology (DIT) to focus its research and development activities in water desalination and water re-use issues by establishing a Centre of Excellence for Integrated Water Management.

Vertical market IT spend to drop 6.8%

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:51:21 GMT

Worldwide industry vertical market IT spending is projected to total $2.28 trillion (Dh8.37trn) in 2009, a 6.8 per cent decline from 2008.

PC shipments to Emea fall 9.3% in third quarter

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:50:49 GMT

The Total personal computer shipments for the Europe, Middle East and Africa in the third quarter this year dropped by 9.3 per cent, hit by the global financial crisis, said a top executive of Acer Computer, the world's second largest PC maker.

Vodafone Qatar revenues at QR32.9m in 6 months

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:39:15 GMT

Vodafone Qatar has announced a revenue of QR32.9m for the six months to September 30, of which QR22.2m was earned in the month of September itself.

Arabic domain names on track

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:33:58 GMT

An official from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has said that countries will not have to wait long to utilise a new opportunity allowing them to create domain names in their own languages.

Green initiatives not high on Gulf telecom firms' agenda

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:20:00 GMT

Energy and carbon management, which can reduce operational expenditure by at least 20 per cent, is not at the top of the agenda for Gulf-based telecom operators, analysts said.

Cisco, EMC collaborateon virtual computing

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:33:41 GMT

Cisco and EMC, together with VMware, on Wednesday introduced the Virtual Computing Environment coalition, an unprecedented collaboration of three information technology (IT) industry leaders.

Global telecom companies announce a standards based solution for voice and SMS services over LTE

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:33:30 GMT

AT&T*, Orange, Telefonica, TeliaSonera, Verizon, Vodafone, Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Nokia Siemens Networks, Nokia, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., and Sony Ericsson have defined the preferred way to ensure the smooth introduction and delivery of voice and SMS services on Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks worldwide.

Etisalat's Global Customer Base Reaches 94 Million

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:01:02 GMT

Etisalat announced its international subscriber base has reached 94 million and that the number will soon reach 100 million subscribers soon with operations covering nearly two billion people across its eighteen markets around the world.

CharteredSemi shareholders approve sale to Abu Dhabi firm

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:11:29 GMT

Shareholders of Singapore's Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing have voted in favour of a 3.9 billion US dollar takeover bid by an Abu Dhabi firm, the companies said.

JEA expands capacity building to encompass ever-increasing ICT sector

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:03:21 GMT

Jordan Exporters Association (JEA) has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Information Technology Association to implement the JEA-branded Export Training and Coaching Programme (ECP); targeting the leading, national ICT companies.

First Phase of USO to be Introduced in Oman in 2011

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:53:51 GMT

A large segment of Oman's estimated 3.4 million population still does not have basic telephone facilities despite the rapid strides that the country has made in the telecom sector over the years, including opening the market to private players.

5 Arab countries discuss closer media cooperation

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:40:32 GMT

Riyadh -- Information ministers of Jordan and four other Arab countries have held a meeting in Riyadh to discuss closer cooperation among private and public media outlets to enhance the media's role in serving the Arab society at the individual and...

Smartphones to spur revenues of UAE-based telecom firms

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:56:41 GMT

Value added services (VAS) from smartphones is the next level of revenue growth for UAE-based telecom operators in 2010 as penetration rates globally are expected to touch 27 per cent in 2010.

New software for the visually impaired

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:24:18 GMT

Etisalat launched a new software bundle for visually impaired customers. The software bundle includes Sakhr Software's text-to-voice application, Ibsar, along with Al Shamil broadband or 3G mobile data services.

TRA Sets the Regulated Rate of Return Applicable to the Regulated Telecommunications Services of Batelco and Zain at 9.5%

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:08:33 GMT

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has issued today a Determination which sets the cost of capital for Batelco and Zain regulated telecommunications services at 9.5%.

Nokia Siemens to cut up to 6,000 jobs after huge losses

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:05:40 GMT

Finnish-German telecom equipment maker Nokia Siemens said on Tuesday that it could reduce its 64,000-strong workforce by seven to nine percent, or by 4,500 to 5,800 jobs, in a cost-cutting drive.

Access to UAE Penal Code via iPhone

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:04:02 GMT

The Dubai Public Prosecution has become the first in the region to offer electronic access to the Federal Penal Code on iPhone 3GS.

Ministry of Communications and Technology Launches CMMI Project in Syria

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:45:25 GMT

The Ministry of Communications and Technology, in cooperation with Syrian Computer Society and the Center for Evaluation and the Software Engineering Competence Center in Egypt, launched on Monday the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) project as part of the process of developing the programming industry in Syria.

LG and telecom firms hold talks to unveil new phones

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:43:51 GMT

South Korean electronics manufacturer LG is in talks with regional telecom operators to offer its new range of smartphones based on the new Windows 6.5 operating system for the first time in the region by next month.

Du opens new unit at Dubai Airport Terminal 2

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:00:22 GMT

Millions of residents and visitors passing through Dubai International Airport's bustling Terminal 2 will now enjoy easy access to du's range of products and services at a new shop at the arrivals lounge.

West Bank's second mobile operator launches services

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:12:31 GMT

Wataniya Mobile has launched services and become the second mobile operator in the occupied West Bank amid a feud with Israel over radio frequencies, officials said.

Bahwan Healthcare unveils Nasa-developed AiroCide

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:25:50 GMT

Bahwan Healthcare Centre, a Suhail Bahwan Group venture in Oman, has partnered with Green Air Technology of the UAE to introduce the Nasa-developed AiroCide technology, a unique and patented airborne contamination control device delivering 99.99987 per cent clean air.

CICR: Consumer Sector - Cofidence is trickling back (02-Nov-09)

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 07:47:00 GMT

Consumer confidence has started to return on seasonality, and is expected to be reflected in a positive performance for those consumer industries correlated with the overall business cycle. Despite encompassing a number of different industries, consumer sector companies are all reliant upon, and determined by, customer sentiment. Defensive industries such as the Food & Beverage have managed to remain largely sheltered from global recessionary trends whilst other industries, such as Consumer Durables, Electronics and Clothes ? all highly correlated with the economic business cycle ? have been severely impacted. While many consumer sectors were backed into a tricky economic corner (one characterised by reduced spending habits, a loss of consumer confidence, surplus inventories and lower demand) Oriental Weavers Carpets (OWC) found a way out. As a result, we have upgraded our recommendations for OWC ? the star in our coverage universe ? from Hold to BUY. Our other covered stocks include Eastern Company, Al-Arafa for Investment & Consultancies, Olympic Group (OG) and Raya Holding. We have upgraded EC from underweight to BUY. We maintain our Underweight recommendation for Al-Arafa, a HOLD recommendation for Olympic Group and SELL recommendation for Raya Holding.