Under the agreement, Wall Street has been authorized by Etisalat to accept bill payments and recharge or renew the Wasel service during working hours of the exchange house outlets. This gives Etisalat customers an additional channel for bills payment in addition to the other available channels.

Wall Street Exchange has a network of 24 branches across the UAE. These outlets are open from 8.30 a.m. to 11.00 pm.

The agreement was signed by Mr. Sultan Bin Kharsham- Managing Director of Wall Street Exchange Center and Mr. Abdulla Al Ahmed, Senior Vice President/Business at Etisalat.

Commenting on the agreement, Mr. Abdulla Ebrahim Al Ahmed, Senior Vice President, Business Solutions at Etisalat said: “At Etisalat, we always look for new ways to enhance our services, which provide added convenience for our customers. The introduction of a new payment system is something that our customers can immediately benefit from. It saves customers time and enables them to effortlessly pay their bills while going about their daily lives.”

“Wall Street is proud to be selected by Etisalat for offering their services through our UAE network,” said Mr. Sultan Bin Kharsham. “This agreement considerably strengthens our portfolio which already includes services of major service providers. We are confident Etisalat customers will find great convenience and high standards at our branches.”

This service adds to Etisalat’s eleven existing channels of payment, which include payment through Etisalat Business Centres, Online, Public Payment Machines, Auto-pay through a registered credit card, Direct Debit for Emirates NBD customers, Mobile pay, eZeepay, BizDirect, off-line payment through banks, payment through regular mail and a cheque deposit at drop boxes within Etisalat’s Business Centres.

About Wall Street Exchange
Wall Street Exchange has a network of 24 branches in the UAE offering money exchange, remittance services and bill payment services. In addition, the company has 3 branches in the UK and 6 in Hong Kong and tie-ups with 100 partners worldwide.

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Iyad Al Zou’bi,
Senior Manager International Media Relations
Etisalat
Tel 0097126182622

International players in the datacentre and cloud sector will gather in London next week, 8th December for the annual Finance and Investment Forum for DataCentres, now in its fifth year. Sponsors include Digital Realty Trust, Simmons and Simmons and is supported by the European Data Centre Association.

As the only event in the sector to focus on DataCentres as an asset class, and offer high networking values, the first forum researched by BroadGroup, took place at the Cass Business School in London in 2007 and since then it has become recognized as the only annual international meeting point (www.financeinvestmentforum.com) for investors, operators, property specialists, and legal counsel focused on the DataCentre and Cloud sector. An investor dinner also takes place on the evening of 7th December.

The objective of the one-day forum is to bring together stakeholders and players in the sector across the finance and investment community, to assess where the sector is heading and identify key opportunities. Discussion will also cover emerging sector international opportunities, the types of finance available, mergers and acquisitions, fund raising activity and business models.

“The forum presents an outstanding platform for senior level networking,” commented Steve Wallage, managing director of BroadGroup Consulting. “It is especially important this year datacentres consider forward funding, the impact of cloud computing and rapid internationalization of business models.”

This year’s event again includes a series of Investor Pitches where companies seeking finance in the sector will be provided with a unique platform and highly targeted audience.

Speakers at the event include among others Digital Realty Trust, Simmons and Simmons, RBC Capital Markets, J Rothschild Capital Management Ltd, Barclays Capital, Devonshire Investors, CloudSigma, Digital Mines, GVA, Highbridge Properties, GVA, Ariadne Capital, CBRE, Jefferies, Brockton Capital, EBRD, AHV Associates LLP, and BroadGroup Consulting.

The official media partner for the event is Datacentres.com. Media partners include Telegeography, Data Center Knowledge, The Strategy People, Data Center Post, Info Com Teletechwire, BVents, Boogar Lists, Balkans.com

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Francine Low
Event Services Director
BroadGroup
Tel Office: + 44 (0) 2071 995 730

STC will provide telecommunications and smart and integrated IT solutions to meet the requirements of the City and cope with its quest for growth and leadership.

This agreement is a culmination of STC’s efforts in executing various telecommunications infrastructure projects in the various service sectors across the Kingdom especially in the various developmental projects and facilities in the Southern Region mainly in Jizan. Due to the Southern Region’s has a very high potential for development, STC will deploy all its energy to build a smart infrastructure that will include all kinds of integrated networking. STC is also reinforcing its partnership with customers using a cooperative and integrated approach with the private sector based on its accumulated experience and its ability to provide a modern and integrated environment for companies and fakeries in the Kingdom being the main telecommunications and IIT provider in the Kingdom and the Middle East.

Recognizing the value and importance in the development of the national economy, STC places a high emphasis on the sector and has implemented various infrastructure development plans for the Industrial Cities across the Kingdom based on the Company’s LEAD Strategy.

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Musalli Almuammar
Corrporate Communications Manager
Mobile: +966 504829698

Saudi Telecom Company (STC) has ambitious plans to deploy advanced technologies during the next phase taking customers from 2G and 3G to the mobile Broadband networks: HSPA+, 4G LTE with unprecedented speeds where new expansion of the 3G advanced network offers speeds reaching 84 mg/sec while the 4G advanced technology offers speeds starting with 100 mb/sec reaching to more than 1000 mb/sec during the next few years.

STC began deploying this new technology since the beginning of 2010 when the Company announced the successful trials of this technology making it is the solution for mobile telecommunications in the next era. This technology enhances the capacity and effectiveness of the networks with real speeds reaching more than 100 mbps when receiving data. LTE technology allows operators the capacity to provide fixed line services in the mobile networks as well convergence between fixed and mobile services.

STC is the first to launch the 4G LTE in the Middle East and North Africa as the first mobile operator to deploy 4G and the first to launch the 3G advanced 3.5 and the fiber optics services which provide internet speeds that reach 1000 mb/sec providing the Company’s commitment to providing the best and latest services to its customers across the Kingdom.

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Maryam Afandi
Senior Account Executive-Media Communication
Trans-Arabian Creative Communications (TRACCS)
Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tel: +9662 6625757 extension 114

The concept is designed to capitalise on high footfalls at Virgin Megastores and add to the convenience of customers. Future Virgin Megastore locations for du shop in shop concept are planned at The Dubai Mall, Burjuman, Deira City Centre, Mirdiff City Centre, Mercato Mall and Abu Dhabi Mall. The range of du services to be available at these stores includes all mobile-related services (except purchase of bundled handsets) for individuals and businesses.

Addressing the media, Nisreen Shocair, President of Virgin Megastore, MENA, said: “The partnership between Virgin Megastore and du is the meeting of two leading brands and two creative minds. We are both looking for unique and unconventional ways in which we can further service our customers, within the stores and beyond. This venture will deliver new ways for our consumers to interact with our product offerings, by capitalizing on the convergence of entertainment and technology, and the growth in retail mobility.”

On this occasion, Osman Sultan, CEO, du, said: “We are where our customers are, and it is our intention to be as close to our customers as we can. By associating ourselves with a like-minded partner such as Virgin Megastore, a leading retail brand that shares our vision, we are today expanding our retail presence significantly throughout the UAE. The shop in shop concept is an extension of our du Shops wherein our customers will be able to access our services, expertly aided with the help of our trained staff.”

The first du shop in Virgin Megastore, Mall of the Emirates spans an area of 750sq ft and is innovatively designed to reflect du’s new retail theme, including six customer service counters that provide customers with a fast, efficient and friendly experience. Staffed with trained and friendly personnel and with operating hours from 10am-10pm on weekdays and 10am-midnight on weekends, customers are accommodated with greater ease and accessibility to du’s wide range of mobile services.

Today, du Shops are located at 43 operational and convenient locations across the UAE,where du customers can gain access to the telecom’s extensive range of services, convenience for purchasing products, while the online SelfCare portal at du.ae allows customers the quick and convenient option of paying their bills online. In addition, customers can access du products and services at more than 3000 authorised dealers.

With 14 operational stores across the MENA region including the newly opened location in The Dubai Mall, Virgin Megastore’s product selection lines are second to none in the Middle East with exclusive ranges in music, movies, books, games, electronics, multimedia and Red Box (boutique). To find out more about Virgin Megastore’s products and services please visit www.virginmegastore.meand follow them on Twitter: @VirginMegaME and Facebook: facebook.com/virginmena.

About Virgin Megastore:
Virgin Megastore is a global leader in entertainment and lifestyle retail, and the number one entertainment destination in the Middle East. A one-stop shop for all your entertainment needs, Virgin Megastore offers a wide range of products, including CDs, books, games, movies, gifts and the latest in technology, as well as a wide array of services complementing the product range. It is a unique shopping experience that offers innovative and exclusive products and services for all age groups, and caters to the local and expat cultures through events, activities and talent support. Virgin Megastore is a global brand with a local flavor.

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Olya Moskalenko
Virgin Megastore
Tel: +971 50 885 7486

eLife double play and existing e-vision customers may upgrade their subscription to eLife Triple Play to enjoy these new channels, while new customers can call 101 or 800-101 to subscribe.

Rashed Majed Alabbar, Vice President, Home Product Marketing for Etisalat, said: “At Etisalat, we always aim to provide the most engaging, refreshing and relevant content for our eLife customers. These new HD channels, which are available for eLife subscribers, will further enrich our HD line-up, offering a truly unparalleled viewing experience.”

“The majority of these channels from MBC are amongst the top 10 most popular channels on the network, so we are confident this gesture will be well-received by our valued customers,” Al Abbar concluded.

Etisalat offers eLife TV services through its fibre optic network. eLife TV is a leading source of regional entertainment in the UAE offering over 350 TV channels in 21 languages, TV channels ranging from sports to movies, from documentaries to music and kid’s channels in addition to over 40 high definition (HD) channels. The comprehensive entertainment offerings include 15 Premium TV packages from all the major TV providers like OSN, ART, Pehla, Firstnet, TFC, Pinoy, Abu Dhabi Media, Dubai Media Inc, Al Jazeera and many more, in addition to the Choice Basic packages and eLife OnWeb service.

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Iyad Al Zou’bi,
Senior Manager International Media Relations
Etisalat
Tel 0097126182622

All other du customers with a postpaid mobile plan or Pay as you Go® subscription will receive 40% discount on all national calls made on 2 December.

Giving back to the community that has made it the fastest-growing telecommunications company in the UAE, du is proud to offer its customers a value-added way to keep in touch with their loved ones on this special occasion.

“We extend our congratulations to the UAE leadership and the Emirati people on the occasion of the 40th UAE National Day. It is our pleasure to offer our customers a special gift to mark this day, as a tribute to the leadership vision that has driven the UAE to accomplish incredible achievements,” said Farid Faraidooni, Chief Commercial Officer, du. “It is our philosophy to continuously surprise our customers with something new that will add life to their life, and we’re certain these National Day special calling rates will bring a smile to many a face.”

UAE nationals subscribed to du’s Emirati Plan, the first of its kind in the country, will enjoy a 100% discount on both national and international calls made on 2 December..
To find out more about du and the mobile offers available, please visit www.du.ae.

About du
du, the integrated telecom service provider in the UAE, launched mobile telecommunication services in February 2007 across the UAE, in addition to internet and pay TV services that du provides in some of the free zones of Dubai. Call Select, du’s nationwide fixed line services for voice telephony, was launched in July 2007. By the end of 3rd quarter of 2011, over 4,937,900 people in the UAE had chosen to become du mobile customers.

Among du’s many firsts is its historic Number Booking Campaign for both individuals and business, Pay by the Second billing system, Mobile TV, Mobile Payments, first of its kind ‘WoW’ recharge card (which offers customers the choice between ‘more credit’, ‘more time’ and now the ‘more international’ recharge option with additional credit on international calls) and Self Care.

For business customers, du business offers include Closed Business User Group and preferred International Destinations. du Broadcast Services division brings scalable media technology platforms and telecommunication solutions to the broadcast community through its world-class teleport (Samacom) and Master Control Room (MCR) facilities.

du products and services for consumers and business are available through du’s retail network, currently numbering 37 du shops located in strategic locations across the UAE, including the recently opened flagship store located in the heart of Abu Dhabi. In addition, customers can access du products and services at more than 3000 authorised dealers or through the du e-shop, accessible at http://shop.du.ae du shops are a one-stop-shop for mobile service, carrier select and the payment of service bills.

du is 39.5 per cent owned by the UAE Federal Government, 19.75 per cent by Mubadala Development Company, 19.5 per cent by Emirates Communications & Technology Company LLC and the remaining stake by public shareholders. It is listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and trades under the name du.

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Reka Sepsy
Manning, Selvage & Lee
Tel: +971 4 367 6154

Mr. Daniel Ritz is a recognized expert in international telecoms, IT and media. He came to Etisalat from Swisscom enriched with 20 years of professional experience engaged with leading international organizations with full hand experience in driving new business development through multibillion Mergers and Acquisition and Joint Ventures.

Dr. Ritz served as chief strategy officer at SwissCom and led an effort to reorganize group strategy and corporate venturing. During his previous engagements with SwissCom, he was also entrusted with the job of chief executive officer of SwissCom Slovakia, where he initiated and led turnaround of underperforming business.

Commenting on the appointment, Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar, Etisalat’s group chief executive officer said: “The appointment of Daniel Ritz as group chief strategy officer is at the heart of Etisalat strategy to attract the best talent, and will bring further impetus to the realization of the Etisalat Group strategy as it aims to become one of the world’s leading telecommunications companies.

With the wealth experience Ritz has, we are confident that Ritz will be a great value to help lead the company to the next phase ahead. Daniel will help Etisalat to focus on optimizing and value creation from its operations in the existing markets, grow in adjacent opportunities and selectively expanding beyond the 18 countries.” Julfar added.

In his first statement following the appointment, Daniel said: “I’m pleased to be selected by Etisalat group as a chief strategy officer and the entrusted confidence in me by the company to lead the group strategy to the next phase. Ritz added “It is a pretty big responsibility yet I’m glad to the have chance to be part of it and excited as it’s going to be an interesting journey. I look forward to it.”

Dr. Daniel has studied at the University of St. Gallen and graduated with a degree in Information Management and a Doctorate in Business Economics. Amongst his many additional assignments, Dr. Daniel is also a member of Group Executive Board at SwissCom and the Chairman of SwissCom Hospitality Services. He started his career in 1990 with Hochschule as project manager and then moved to the prestigious Boston Consulting Group as a consultant. He spent 12 fruitful years at BCG, becoming a Partner and managing Director. ”

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Ms. Nahid Mudathir Hassan
Group Senior Manager Media Relations
T: +971 2 6182187

“Previously, during an Everest expedition, I used Thuraya products and I found them to be reliable, rugged and ideal for tough trips in enduring conditions. I chose Thuraya XT as my support telecom solution because it is small, light and tough, making it extremely portable. But primarily, my decision was based on quality. I know, from past experience, that Thuraya products work when you need them to, in whatever conditions. As a professional adventurer, I need a product I can rely on, which is what Thuraya is all about,” said Hayes.

“Having filmed on all 7 continents on the planet, in some of the most remote locations, knowing that I have safe and reliable communications is vital. It’s something that I rely on both to keep in touch with the outside world but also to share information about the expeditions I am documenting. The crucial factors for such systems are coverage, robustness, weight, battery life and ease of use. I have used Thuraya sat phones and data solutions across Africa and the Himalayas with perfect results every time,” said Alexis Girardet, Producer/Director, Twofour Broadcast.

Thuraya is a satcom market leader which provides seamless coverage in more than 140 countries in Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia and Australia. The Company is the pioneer of leading edge solutions such as Thuraya XT which is the only satellite handheld to offer full walk and talk capabilities for communications on the move. The phone also has the fastest data service (60 Kbps). It is the smallest rugged satellite handheld with a glare resistant display for outdoor environments.

For reliable high-speed data service, Thuraya IP is the smallest and fastest satellite broadband solution with speeds up to 444 Kbps Standard IP and 384 Streaming IP. Compact, portable and lightweight (A-5 tablet sized and weighing 1.3 kilograms), the solution is a firm favorite with broadcast media agencies because it is easy to pack and use. It is the only satellite broadband solution with asymmetric streaming capabilities, allowing consumers to select upload and download speeds enabling them to pay only for bandwidth they consume. Supported by Thuraya’s unlimited and flexible pricing packages; it is the most cost-effective solution in the market.

Thuraya’s Vice President, Corporate and Marketing Communications said, “Thuraya has always been a keen supporter of challenging projects such as the one Hayes is undertaking. Our robust network enables us to facilitate communications through solutions such as Thuraya XT and Thuraya IP which have been sleekly designed to meet the needs of a diverse pool of consumers. Through our cutting-edge solutions, the whole world will be able to easily follow the Hayes expedition online.”

Thuraya and Xtralink, one of Thuraya’s main service partners are the joint telecom sponsors of the expedition.

Guinness Book of World Records adventurer Adrian Hayes will be re-enacting the expedition of famous explorer Sir. Wilfred Thesiger. Entitled ‘The Footsteps of Thesiger’ and presented by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, the expedition will remain as true to the original as possible with Hayes travelling by camel and escorted by local Bedouins. The only difference will be the addition of a supporting film crew. The accompanying TV documentary has been commissioned by Abu Dhabi Media and is to be produced by Twofour Arabia.

About Thuraya (www.thuraya.com)
Thuraya is a leading international mobile satellite services operator that provides quality, affordable communication solutions in more than 140 countries across Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia and Australia. Thuraya’s portfolio encompasses data, voice and maritime products and services that support dual GSM and satellite mode and advanced applications, to provide people and businesses with constant connectivity when they need it most. Thuraya specifically designs successful satellite communication solutions for vertical sectors such as energy, media, government, NGOs and maritime.

Thuraya’s robust, powerful satellite network enables two-thirds of the globe’s population to communicate clearly and effectively in areas underserved by terrestrial networks.

Thuraya was founded in 1997 by a consortium of leading national telecommunications operators and reputed regional and international investment firms, and is the world’s leading provider of mobile satellite handhelds in its coverage area, with nearly 65% market share.

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Ebrahim K. Ebrahim
Corporate Communications Department
Thuraya Telecommunications Co.
Dubai, UAE
Tel: 971-4-4488-828

The championship kicked off this year in August and will have its grand finale on 6th January 2012 when the UAE’s first 3D gamer will be titled as UAE First 3D Gaming Champion. With competitions being held on a daily, weekly and monthly basis at the Living Rooms, the cafe has seen a huge increase in visitors with over 1,125 gamers attending to compete for the coveted trophy.

“The gaming culture in Dubai has become very competitive, therefore we’ve seen an overwhelming response to our competition and the opportunity to play on our CINEMA 3D SMART technology,” said Mr. H.S. Paik, President of LG Electronics Gulf FZE at the event.

Monthly LG gaming competition winner of Call of Duty, Sami Zaki, who attended the event to collect his prize, said: “I really enjoyed visiting the Living Rooms and playing with the latest LG gaming technology with my friends, it’s been a lot of fun and I am very excited about the final!.”
Gamers were given prizes for monthly wins in four games that were Call of Duty: Black Ops, FIFA ’11, Dance Central and Need For Speed Shift. Prizes included 42” CINEMA 3D Smart TV, exclusive trophy and a certificate.

Moreover, LG announced the launch of its first media club. The club is a platform that opens channels of communication between LG, and the key media opinion leaders. With the first gathering that took place at Living Room, LG invited journalists to compete amongst each other in an LG 3D gaming championship. Two lucky winners won a 42 inch 3D Smart TV each.
Ramveer Rai, Tech blogger, mentions “This was a great experience for me as well as my colleagues. We were gathered under one roof, working and enjoying the LG 3D experience. My fellow journalists and I encourage the launch of the Media Club as it is a great way to mix business and pleasure!”

The competition now in its fourth month has seen participants go head to head testing their skills to the max using LG’s groundbreaking CINEMA 3D SMART TV technology. Contestants are whittled down through a series of knock-out stages and only the best are progressing to the final round next year where four will be crowned UAE 3D gaming champions. The finalists will each get an LG 3D package including a 42″ CINEMA 3D SMART TV, 3D laptop, Optimus 3D mobile phone, 3D monitor, a state-of-the-art gaming console in addition to a trophy and certificate.

Living Rooms Video Games Cafe was chosen as the location for the 3D Gaming Festival because of its relaxing, welcoming ambiance and wide range of the latest games for the most state-of-the-art video game systems.

Registration for the championship is still open to gamers aged 12 and above. To enter the competition, candidates can simply log on to the LG Gulf Fan Club Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lggulffanclub. Participants can take part only once in any game within the same week.

About LG Electronics, Inc.
LG Electronics, Inc. (KSE: 066570.KS) is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, mobile communications and home appliances, employing more than 93,000 people working in over 120 operations around the world. With 2010 global sales of KRW 55.8 trillion (USD 48.2 billion), LG comprises four business units – Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance, and Air Conditioning & Energy Solutions. LG is one of the world’s leading producers of flat panel TVs, mobile devices, air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators. LG has signed a long-term agreement to become both a Global Partner and a Technology Partner of Formula 1™. As part of this top-level association, LG acquires exclusive designations and marketing rights as the official consumer electronics, mobile phone and data processor of this global sporting event. For more information, please visit www.lg.com.

About LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company
The LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company is a top global player in flat panel displays, audio players, video products, monitors, commercial displays and security systems for the consumer and commercial markets. LG’s product areas include LCD and plasma televisions, LED LCD monitors, home theater systems, Blu-ray Disc™ players, audio components, video players and plasma display panels. While focusing on creating feature-rich devices, the company is also pursuing stylish designs and pushing technological boundaries to improve the home entertainment experience. LG HE company is also a leader in providing commercial (or B2B) products such as digital signage, video conference system and IP security cameras.

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Michelle Sequeira
LG Electronics Gulf FZE
Tel:+9714-350 9500

Heritage tents have been set up at Etiaslat’s key locations in Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi for both employees and customers. Commemorating over four decades of the nation’s growth and evolvement, the tents will feature poetry narrations, traditional folk dances, traditional food and live cooking, a historic selection of photos and paintings, children’s competition and more. Special shows include a military show featuring

Al Hasan Al Basri school students in Sharjah on 29 November.
Commenting on festivities for the week, Ali Al Ahmed, Chief Corporate Communications Officer at Etisalat said, “Etisalat’s growth as a leading telecom service provider over the past four decades runs parallel to the UAE’s development and achievements during these years. Therefore, this day is special for the company in many ways. It not only marks the start of the country’s journey as a unified nation, but also signifies Etisalat’s 40 years of building the nation’s infrastructure and telephony.”

“On this glorious day, every Emirati is filled with overwhelming pride and reverence for the country and its wise leadership. We would like to extend our greetings and wishes to the leaders of this nation and to each and every citizen and resident of our country. Our week-long programme is a celebration of this nation’s rich heritage and its modern multicultural outlook. We encourage our customers to partake in these series of events and projects planned across the Emirates, alongside our employees.”

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Iyad Al Zou’bi
Senior Manager International Media Relations
Etisalat
Tel 0097126182622

Ali Faramawy, Corporate VP, Microsoft Corporation and President – Microsoft Middle East & Africa, welcomed regional guests while underscoring the huge potential, energy and momentum that MEA represents both in terms of growth and innovation. He said, “This region has some compelling and unique characteristics with its predominantly young demographic profile and quick adoption of technology, particularly mobile and the internet, which is driving change. IT has become a real enabler to realize the potential of the MEA region and what its people want it to be which points to the power and influence of technology in this process.”

Salwa Smaoui, Regional Director, Advertising & Online MEA, questioned the irony of current digital advertising investment trends, highlighting its meager contribution to just 2% of total advertising spend, given that internet penetration in the region stood at roughly 13% with a potential base of 1 billion people.

Salwa said “Given the region’s potential, we are absolutely committed to our advertising business in the region as we position ourselves to manage and monetize Microsoft’s content and media platforms. Our divison already contributes to 10% of Microsoft’s revenue. Imagine Istanbul is just the first of many such initiatives which are aimed at bringing together advertisers, agencies and partner stakeholders from the region in sharing, collaborating and shaping the future of online within the region”.

Marc Bresseel, Vice President, Global Marketing, Microsoft Advertising who spoke at the event talked about Microsoft’s offerings across MSN, Windows Live, X-Box Live and mobile, as well as shared key consumer and audience trends and insights. His session clarified Microsoft‘s diverse offerings and how they could be used to tell compelling brand stories.

Alexandre Michelin, General Manager for MSN Europe and Executive Producer for MSN EMEA shared insights into MSN’s global strategy and demonstrated how the portal’s “Choose MSN” strategy is moving the portal beyond passive engagement with consumers to become a destination of choice for local brands. Microsoft capabilities are being used to enable and empower audiences with locally relevant content through MSN Arabia. MSN portal now has 500 million users and is adding 50 million a year, while generating 20 billion page views a month and is currently the number-one portal across 26 markets.

Microsoft research at the event also focused on the necessity of leveraging the power of digital as a new element in an advertiser’s approach to support brands. This would work particularly well in emerging markets where there is high consumption and high involvement.

About Microsoft Gulf
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ:’MSFT’) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. Microsoft Gulf opened its Dubai-based headquarters in 1991. Microsoft Gulf today oversees Microsoft activities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the UAE and Yemen. Microsoft Corporation’s address on the World Wide Web is: www.microsoft.com Microsoft Middle East’s Web site is www.microsoft.com/middle east

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Miriam Farshoukh
PR Lead – Microsoft Gulf
Tel: +971508249774

Network video can revolutionise the way retail professionals work with loss prevention, store optimisation, fraud detection, security and customer service. Axis Communications retail customers in the region include Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, Galleries Lafayette, Marina mall – Abu Dhabi, Al Ain Mall and Al Muhairy center, among others.

According to the Global Retail Theft Barometer Survey for 2010, theft reduced by 5.6 per cent suggesting a strong correlation between increased security spending and reduced theft. The survey also reveals that retail theft in Middle East & Africa region was US$ .772 billion in 2010. The Middle East retail sector has been recording unprecedented growth over the past few years making the region one of the fastest growing retail environments in the world with anticipated CAGR of around 10 per cent during 2011-2014. (Source-RNCOS research)
“Retailers in the region are becoming more aware of the security benefits of network video surveillance as well as operational benefits. By taking advantage of a large variety of intelligent applications compatible with network cameras, retailers can benefit from more than just security; including insights into customers’ behavior that help design better shopping experiences.” said Gilles Ortega, Regional Director, Middle East & Africa, Axis Communications. “I think there is a real opportunity for retailers to maximise their investment in their surveillance system so that it can be used as more than just a loss prevention tool.”
In terms of optimized merchandising and operations, Axis solutions provide a shortcut in the time-consuming task of gathering data from multiple systems and sites to give a real boost in store performance.

Understand customer behavior

Strategically placed cameras can be used to record and measure consumer activity and understand buying behavior, so retailers can identify the most popular areas and optimize their store and display layouts accordingly. The addition of built-in people-counting and integration with POS (Point of sale) systems can generate valuable information about customers.
Ensure customer satisfaction

Network cameras can identify empty shelves and alert staff that they need to be restocked. They can also let staff know when a queue is too long, so more cash registers can be opened. Network video thus enables retailers to place staff where they are most needed, and to optimize staff shifts to meet customer demands.

Improve marketing efforts

Network video enables immediate evaluation of marketing and promotion campaigns. Retailers can quickly find out whether their in-store signage, and display windows really attract customers. Their customer and POS (Point of sale) metrics are only a mouse click away, enabling strategic marketing decisions to boost sales. All of this can be done in real-time and remotely, for single or multiple stores.

Network cameras also offer lower costs of ownership over the lifecycle of the system through lower installation costs by using standard IT based cabling. Maintenance is simpler, as network video uses a standard Ethernet network which is widely used and understood by IT specialists and adheres to IT network standards. A network video system is accessed through standard PC-based equipment and software browsers making systems easy to use. Adding additional cameras to an existing network is as easy as adding another desktop to the local IT network.

About Axis

Axis is an IT company offering network video solutions for professional installations. The company is the global market leader in network video, driving the ongoing shift from analogue to digital video surveillance. Axis products and solutions focus on security surveillance and remote monitoring and are based on innovative, open technology platforms.
Axis is a Swedish-based company, operating worldwide with offices in more than 20 countries and cooperating with partners in more than 70 countries. Founded in 1984, Axis is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm Exchange under the ticker AXIS. For more information about Axis, please visit our website at www.axis.com

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Baraa Al Akkad,
Regional Manager,
Axis Communications ME
Tel: 00971 4 609 1876

The LB-1085 commercial LCD monitor has so far been used as a display in cinema lobbies and event venues, and has been highly rated for its outstanding features, including the ability to display crisp, clear images even in brightly lit locations and for its large screen that measures approximately 238.2 (H) x 134.0 (V) centimetres.

The Qatar National Convention Centre is designed to host a wide variety of major events and exhibitions, and numerous visitors are expected from around the world. One 108-inch LCD monitor will be installed in all 57 meeting rooms in the convention centre and will mainly serve as a presentation and video conferencing system in the meeting rooms.

About Qatar National Convention Centre
This international convention centre features both cutting-edge design and state-of-the-art facilities. It houses nine spacious halls with a total of 40,000 m2 of exhibition space, a 2,300-seat lyric-style theatre, three additional tiered auditoriums, a conference hall for 4,000 delegates, banquet space for up to 10,000 in the exhibition halls, and 57 large and small meeting rooms. (Scheduled to officially open by December 2011)

This facility was designed by renowned Japanese architect, Arata Isozaki. The spectacular façade features an iconic design portraying the sidra tree, a beloved symbol of learning and rest in the desert. Traditionally, poets and scholars would gather in the cool shade beneath its branches to share knowledge.

About Sharp Middle East
Sharp Middle East FZE was established in 1998 in Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai, UAE as a wholly owned subsidiary of Sharp Corporation. The office is the regional hub for the Middle East and Africa regions, covering 60+ countries. Sharp’s primary business activities include audio-visual and communication equipment, health and environment equipment, information equipment, and crystalline and thin-film solar cells. For more information please visit www.sharpmea.com

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Anthony Fernandes
Senior Account Executive
ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller
Dubai, UAE
Tel:+971 4 4507600

“We at DAMAMAX are proud to have been selected as the main high-speed Internet service provider for the NITC, and we remain committed to delivering top-of-the-line and high-quality telecom services at competitive prices in order to aid it in delivering top-notch services to its governmental clients. Utilizing the Company’s solid infrastructure that it has set up in compliance with the latest international standards, we are fully dedicated to maintaining the trust that our clients across different sectors have vested in us,” commented Eng. Eyad Abu Khorma, CEO of DAMAMAX. “We value the significant role the NITC plays in supporting governmental organizations across the Kingdom, through providing them with effective Internet services. We look forward to extending our support to the NITC and helping it achieve its goals by providing competitive and highly-efficient Internet solutions,” he added.

Commenting on the partnership with DAMAMAX, H.E Dr. Nabil Fayoumi, Director of the NITC said, “We are pleased that DAMAMAX is among the companies that have been chosen for the new government Internet package for having demonstrated tremendous commitment to providing high quality services during our previous agreement with them. Through this partnership, we strive to achieve maximum benefit in managing and operating governmental organizations’ IT resources, thus fulfilling our vision of contributing to the implementation of IT strategies throughout the Kingdom.”

DAMAMAX is the leading provider of high-quality, advanced and innovative telecom services that cater to the needs of service providers as well as the business sector including; financial institutions, hotels and international organizations, in addition to IT and TV broadcasting entities, amongst others.

About DAMAMAX
Established in Jordan in 2008 as a subsidiary of DAMA Ventures, DAMAMAX is a leading provider of broadband solutions and integrated global communication services through its state-of-the-art fiber optic network. DAMAMAX presents its services with simplicity and ease of access to suit both service providers’ and corporate customers’ needs in accordance with the latest developments in the field. DAMAMAX also offers around-the-clock technical support to raise customers’ efficiency and productivity.

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Farah Abboushi
Media Relations Officer
Bidaya Corporate Communications
Tel +962 6 569 2008/9 Ext. 111