Dubai’s Gitex Exhibition, which will be held this week from 8-12 September in Dubai, will be focused on three distinct sectors within the ICT market – IT business solutions, telecommunications and consumer electronics.
The region’s businesses are expected to flock to the GITEX Business solutions sector to find their network, security and IT solution needs, with many of leading ICT companies launching new products and services. IT company 3i Infotech will release a range of solutions for the Islamic financial sector at GITEX, including a new business execution outsourcing service.
In the telecommunications sector, GULFCOMMS will allow visitors to see the latest developments in mobile, fixed line, IP and Satellite services. US firm AT&T, which recently opened at new regional HQ in Dubai, will be at the event to demonstrate its range of advanced Internet Protocol (IP)-based communication services. The company was one of the big winners at last year’s GITEX announcing deals with among others Qatari telco operator, Qtel.
Phone wars
For the latest gadgets and gizmos coming to the region, Consumer Electronics is the new dedicated sector for visitors to see and buy their IT systems, components and peripherals. But two smartphones have already started stealing the limelight at this year’s event – i-mate’s Ultimate range and Apple’s iPhone.
The Apple iPhone will make its Middle East debut at this year’s GITEX Technology Week when Pro Technology will display the unit at its stand in the Office Technology & Supplies section of the show.
“We will be showcasing the device in hall four along with the rest of our Apple devices and this is something we are very excited about,” said Jamal Maraqa, Pro Technology’s founder and CEO. “The models we will display will be compatible for this region and attendees of the show will be able to try out the piece to get a real feel for it,” he adds.
The iPhone was launched into the US market during the second quarter of this year, and although the device’s official Middle East launch date has yet to be confirmed, Maraqa said the device will be available in the Middle East as early as one month after this year’s show.
“Apple has said the phone will be launched in this market in November or December but I think the device will be available before that date,” he said. Maraqa speculated that the much-anticipated device will retail for approximately 10-15% more than its US price tag of US$500.
Dubai-based handset vendor i-mate is set to launch up to six models within its Ultimate Series, which it regards as the most advanced mobile phone ever to launch in the Middle East, and thirty times more powerful than the iPhone.
“The Ultimate phone range will be vastly superior to anything the Middle East has ever seen,” i-mate CEO Jim Morrison exclusively told Arabian Business in April.
“No other phone device will be able to drive a 42-inch plasma TV, project high definition videos from the phone onto a TV, play and download iTunes – you can’t download iTunes onto another phone.”
The ‘wow’ factor that Morrison is betting on to trump iPhone at this year’s GITEX s the XGA connectivity – basically, the Ultimate can connect to a projector or a television just like a laptop, and display videos, documents, and most importantly, PowerPoint presentations.
3i Infotech will be at exhibiting at stand C7-26, Hall 7 and stand WS-4 & WS-5, Hall 5.
AT&T will be at exhibiting at stand Z-D3, Hall ZA.
Pro Technology will be at exhibiting at stand E3-30, Hall 3 and stand Z-E10, Hall ZA.
i-mate will be at exhibiting at stand B9-1, Hall SR.
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