Author Archives: Staff Writer

eCompany, Etisalat’s e-business unit, announced that its mail anti-virus facility would now be offered at no charge for two years instead of one. The service will remain free for subscribers until December 22, 2005 after which minimal charges may be applied.

Digital lifestyle company BenQ has reported a 20% rise in sales of its range of LCD TVs across the Middle East.

US Robotics claims to have surpassed previous ‘wireless g’ speeds with its new accelerator enhancement, which it claims boosts wireless data transfer rates by 25%.

Throughout the world, and the Middle East is no exception, increasingly complex high-rise buildings are being developed. The emergence of unusual, exotic and ever taller structures has lead to an increasing need for the services of wind engineers who can test the building design in wind tunnels and assist in optimising the building’s shape and wind resistance in the process.

MEGA PROJECTS rely on a diverse range of expertise and products to make them happen.

Epson chose the Institut Lumiere in Lyon, France this month to launch five new multimedia projectors aimed at the education and corporate sectors.

Arab Bank has appointed United Computer and Management Consultancy (UCMC), the Dubai operation of Gulf Business Machines (GBM), to implement a business disaster recovery solution for its core banking operations across the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Yemen.

Maxtor will whisk its distributors and channel partners away from the hustle and bustle of the GITEX exhibition floor this year. The company will use an executive suite at a nearby hotel instead as it sets out to explain its transition into a ‘market-focused company’.

Etisalat has unveiled its one-stop online shop, e-Company, formed from the merging of its key business units — web access, online services and e-solutions. The merging of its Emirates Internet and Multimedia (EIM) and Comtrust units will enable a single point-of-contact for customers.

Saudi electrical material manufacturing and supply company, Hesham El-Sewedy Enterprises (HSE), has announced that it has selected mySAP Business Suite to increase efficiency and automate its business processes.

Solutions Middle East (SME) has partnered with the US-based Applied Voice & Speech Technologies (AVST), a unified communications vendor. The Dubai company will distribute AVST’s products and solutions in the Middle East.

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The long planned Jebel Ali Airport is set to be operational by the end of 2006, according to press reports.

Its offer of US $3.3 billion should land it the much sought after license, but the decision still has to be ratified by the Saudi cabinet.

Opera Software has made its popular browser easier to navigate in a bid to persuade more Microsoft users to abandon Internet Explorer.

Kuwait-based Wataniya Telecom has posted first half net profit of US $71 million on turnover of $359.5 million.

Light changes the way we see things and can have a dramatic impact on a building’s appearance and what it is like to live inside. Construction Week explores the issues that arise for when considering different lighting applications.

Datastream Systems has announced that the Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS) is deploying the Datastream 7i(TM) asset performance management solution across several locations to reduce operating costs and improve equipment availability.

PAV Data Systems has released a PAVExpress, which is its latest low-cost, point-and-play Free Space Optics (FSO) system.

The US$73.4 million ERP vendor Scala Solutions is increasing its focus on the Saudi manufacturing sector. Scala has announced plans to increase its Saudi market share for ERP manufacturing solutions, which is pegged at more than US$30 million this year.

Intermec, the wireless supply chain vendor has announced that it is currently implementing its mobile computing solution for one of the largest bakery groups in the Middle East, the US$60 million Switz Group.

Adoption of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the region continues to demonstrate a healthy upward trend. Madar Research reports that the combined regional ICT index registered 24% cent growth across installed PC base, internet penetration, mobile networks and fixed land lines.

Storage giant EMC’s latest CLARiiON AX100 systems aim to open up the benefits of networked storage to SMBs across the Middle East. EMC’s channel is playing a vital role in promoting the benefits of NAS and SAN to a wider customer base.

Maltrans Shipping in Jordan has successfully converted applications from Cobol to J2EE (Java 2 Enterprise Edition) powered by middleware from IBM. The migration, the first of its kind in the Kingdom, was implemented by the Jordanian UBM (United Business Machines).

The Lebanese DGCA is to overhaul the IT systems at Beirut International Airport through a five-year US $4 million deal with SITA INC.

New general managers have been appointed at no less than three regional properties.

Abu Dhabi-based ADCB increases first half profit by 11% over corresponding period in 2003

Wireless communications kit vendor LaserBit has struck a Middle East distribution deal with Almasa Network Solutions. Hailing from Hungary, LaserBit’s Middle East move is part of a sustained effort to build worldwide channels-to-market.

Arab Bank, has announced it will implement a WAN-based disaster recovery solution based on Mimix technology and IBM servers. It will be implemented by Gulf Business Machines.

Genius Computer Technology is pitching for a greater share of the region’s home entertainment market with the launch of two new surround sound and TV products.

Despite the rapid increase in the number of satellite TV channels in the Arab world and a gross TV advertising spend estimated at close to US $1.2 billion, Booz Allen Hamilton research warns that the industry is moving towards some crucial financial performance challenges.

Video archiving management solutions provider SSL will provide digital storage to Rotana TV as the company moves to a tapeless environment.

There seems to be no stopping property giant Nakheel from conquering Dubai, the Gulf and maybe the entire world. Every project it gets involved in quickly turns into something spectacular. It has emerged as the leading player in the property sector, with projects worth US$15 billion, nearly half the total value of all construction projects in Dubai.

British Airways and Emirates are to terminate their codeshare deal on flights between the UK and the UAE.

Almasa IT Distribution has expanded its hard disk drive (HDD) vendor portfolio after putting pen to paper on a Middle East and North Africa distribution deal with Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (GST).

Bahrain is well placed to become a regional hub for IP traffic following the full liberalisation of the Kingdom’s telecoms sector earlier this month, according to research group, IDC CEMA.

50 inch plasma screens and wireless internet access are some of the treats in store for guests at the forthcoming seven star hotel.

London-quoted document management specialist Dicom Group has signaled its arrival in the Middle East after snapping up Dubai-based distributor Valuevad. Dicom now plans to release products specifically tailored for the Arabic market.

Systimax has carried out lab tests to emphasise the importance of high quality cabling in the smooth running of streaming video.

Satellite services provider SamaCom has signed a transponder deal with Arabsat to launch a new Direct to Home (DTH) platform from Dubai.

Microsoft will double its presence at this year’s Gitex show, with a stand that has twice the floor space of previous years. Over 50 Microsoft partners will be exhibiting their solutions on the stand.

More than half the software bought in the Middle East is pirated, warns industry body the Business Software Alliance (BSA).

Apple has announced a global release date for its new slim line iPod device.

Hard disk drive vendor Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (GST) will invest US$500m to build a ‘mega-manufacturing centre’ in Shenzhen, China.

The infestation of billboards in Dubai is set to get even worse, after DOM International announced plans to erect a series of 100 foot wide signs across the city.

Kuwait’s Al Alamiah Computer Systems has signed a contract to supply Aramco’s head office and branches with video conferencing equipment.

Media solutions vendor MultiSell Technology Middle East is recruiting partners to bring its space age gesture-controlled software to the region.

Only US $366 million of the $18.4 billion US aid package for the redevelopment of Iraq has been spent by the US government as officials blame security issues

The Bahraini building sector continues to boom as two new projects are announced in the education sector.

ZamilAir Conditioners has set aside substantial funds for scientific research at King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals.

Eastern Commercial Complex of Bahrain Financial Harbour will be created with the aim of attracting global and regional insurance-related buisness to the centre