AlJazeera launches Mobile Service in UAE

Only days after launching its new mobile service to residents of Qatar, AlJazeera.net, the e-news arm of AlJazeera TV Channel has tied up with Al Majaz Telecommunications to provide the latest news alerts and developments for GSM subscribers in the UAE through AlJazeera Mobile.

AlJazeera Mobile was launched in the UAE at GITEX 2003, the annual IT exhibition held at the Dubai World Trade Center. The UAE is the second country to benefit from this service after its initial launch in Qatar earlier this month.

The service is available through SMS and makes creative use of the latest in speech recognition technology.

Speaking at a press conference held to announce the launch of this new service, Mr. Ali Kamal, Marketing Director of AlJazeera said, "the service will provide subscribers with breaking news and political, business and sports updates, as well as analysis, ensuring they are kept informed at all times about recent developments regionally and globally. We are happy to enter into this strategic partnership with Al Majaz and Etisalat".

Number one in the Middle East in mobile and land phone penetration, the UAE is a major market for AlJazeera Mobile. The service is available for a monthly fee of AED15 through Etisalat, telecommunications giants who provide services to the largest mobile subscriber base in the region. In addition to the monthly subscription services, GSM subscribers can also "PULL" the latest headlines as and when they want for a minimal fee of only AED 2 per alert. More spectacularly, subscribers can have the news read to them from the news services at AlJazeera.net via the Voice Portal service for the same monthly subscription, though the process will differ from post to pre-paid customers.

After Qatar and the UAE, the service will shortly be extended to other countries in the Middle East and North Africa, with a plan to cover mobile service networks worldwide.

"With its mobile service, AlJazeera Channel has moved into the Third Generation Mobile Services", said Mr. Abd Al Aziz Al Mahmood, Chief Editor of AlJazeera.net. Considering the outstanding achievements of AlJazeera and its online service, Mr. Al Mahmood said the SMS based news service would serve the Arab world in catering to its specific interests.

AlJazeera, which launched its Arabic online news platform almost three years ago, recently re-launched its online English language version both of which are enjoying a reported combined average monthly rate of 20 million visitors.

"The news coverage of AlJazeera in the post September 11 attacks and the wars on Afghanistan and more recently Iraq, besides the continuing conflict in Palestine, has re-asserted AlJazeera's position globally as a credible alternative source of news and information pertaining to Middle East issues, monitored by major news organizations, academics and observers alike", Mr Al Mahmood said.

Mr. Mohamed El Obaidly, Chief Executive Officer, of Al Majaz Telecommunications Company, which specializes in telecommunications and information technology solutions, said that the unprecedented strategic cooperation on the AlJazeera Mobile constitutes a crucial point in harnessing the cutting edge of technological developments in the Arab region.

Mr. Obaidly pointed out that Al Majaz is currently engaged is establishing a specialized company based on international standards to provide the most advanced information technology services on mobile telephones. Its joint project with the satellite Channel, AlJazeera Mobile, will initiate its activities following a six month joint-work period.

"It is our pleasure to provide AlJazeera & Al-Majaz group with the latest and most innovative Speech Recognition Applications that will make this service very user friendly for the consumer market" said Mr. Sassine Mazraani, Managing Director, Emerging Technologies.