Posted by amnesia
Just thought I'd start a little Arabian forum.
That way people could share their knowledge, particularly in the Middle East.
Posted by mustafabay
Oh, I thought I was going to be able to chat in arabic in here
But no, got to speak English even in Arabia.
Posted by EastCoastStar
then speak arabic!
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check out the site guys. www.editionfws.com
its empty, so i need your help on what to add!
[ This Message was edited by: EastCoastStar on 2005-05-04 14:51 ]
Posted by mustafabay
Bas ana el3araby elwa7eed ely hinah delw2ty.
But I the only arab that is here now. So should I go on or stay with English
Posted by masseur
having spent quite a few school holidays from boarding school in Libya (Bengazi) and also worked in Saudi I learned a few words like counting to 10 but the most common phrase I recall is bukarra inshalla (though I am sure my spelling is awful!)
Posted by amnesia
wala int mub il wa7eed
Fee 3arab.
Ana 5aleeji.
@masseur, LOL! I'd write it as bukra inshalla. But why do you say that?
I mean in what situation?
edit: for those who see numbers and letters and think WTF! It's like the equivalent to Chinese PinYin. And the numbers look similar to arabic letters which are used to help understand the pronounciation.
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Oxygen Inc
[ This Message was edited by: amnesia on 2005-05-04 22:15 ]
Posted by BobaFett
Salaam for all arabian members here!
Posted by amnesia
thanks Boba.
Salam back at ya
Posted by americany13
Ashta ya 3rab!!!
Posted by amnesia
baal, joined on 2003 wa bas 3indik 3 posts?
Posted by mustafabay
@amnesia
Sorry. I understood you to be in Qatar but originally from UK. so its a 5 not '7? I thought A B T TH 7. 7 '7 ......
Posted by masseur
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mostly that was the answer I got when I was asking when something might get done
Posted by amnesia
@ masseur, thought so
! I'd say that if I meant it'll never get done.
@mustafa, nah I'm from Qatar and i'm in the UK now. As for the 5. We use both ways 5 or '7. Guess it's what you learn first.
Posted by amnesia
Bahrain and Dubai are among the two first ME countries/areas to support 3G video calling.
Countries to follow are Qatar, Kuwait and UAE
Saudi has rejected plans but is open to the idea in the future.
GDN (Gulf Daily News)
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[ This Message was edited by: amnesia on 2005-05-14 11:41 ]
Posted by mustafabay
Dubai supports video calls but UAE still to follow? Last time I checked the whole UAE had one company so I would just think they started with covering Dubai first.
Posted by amnesia
yeah that's what I wrote.
Dubai is first.
The rest of the UAE is to follow.
Posted by mustafabay
Anyone know when the PSP is due in the middle east?
Posted by amnesia
it was released in Bahrain at the same time as the Japan release date. Same goes for Qatar.
The prices were high (at import stores)
As you know in the middle east they're trying to get us to use the PAL format
but we all use NTSC-J or NTSC-UC.
Posted by mustafabay
Who needs a japanese import? And I'm not visiting Bahrain or Qatar anytime soon. I don't think the PSP is officially released in Europe either. Or am I wrong?
Posted by amnesia
in Europe it's slated for september i think.
In Qatar, Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait etc... people use Japanese or American consoles because of the release date of titles.
Pal (European) titles usually come out up to 5 months (possibly more) after a Jap or US release.
Posted by fatreg
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now call me stupid here but is Dubai not in the UAE? with Abu Dhabi/Zaby being the capital of the UAE?
Dubai being one of the emirates along with:
Ras-al-khaima
Sharjah
Ajman
UM-Al-Quwain
Fujairah
now correct me if im wrong here but im pretty sure im spot on!
oh and as one person said theres only one operator in the UAE Etisalat. so how why would they restrict 3g use to the UAE largest city and not the capital?
fatreg
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"live fast, die young"
Owner of too many phones to list.
[ This Message was edited by: fatreg on 2005-05-13 20:01 ]
Posted by Mirage20uk
how is every body this is Morad .iam now in Egypt but iam origenally from Yemen so its really nice to be in such a great site or forum that really helps me several times and actually iam really interested to join all of u in this arabic forum so welcome all of you guys.
Posted by ewap8
ma'asalaam!!
Posted by amnesia
@fatreg,
alright i'll just help to clear up a few things.
Here in the Middle East you could say that Dubai is considered it's own country even though it's not.
Etisalat is not the only mobile network however. Thurayeh is another one which I THINK has been around for 5 years or so.
I can give you answers to possibilities as to why the statement "Dubai first the UAE next" was used.
Perhaps it meant Dubai received 3G first, and the rest of the UAE would follow? You have to remember that Dubai is UAE's focus when it comes to technology, they are trying to get it completely covered with wifi signals, but they aren't going to (or haven't announced that for Abu Dhabi)
And for restricting 3G to one area and not the others. common Fatreg
you're in the UK. You see how the control one area's reception of signals by not building enough polls. (or however they control coverage). It could be that they haven't gotten around to building enough to cover other area's of the UAE or didn't believe it was necessary at the time of releasing 3G.
Although stupid me I noticed I said Bahrain and Dubai are among the two first Me COUNTRIES. Guess I said that because Bahrain is a country even though Dubai isn't, fixed that though.
@mirage,
Hala Morad! Inshalla int ib 9i7a. Hope you're doing fine and we'll be seeing you more around this thread.
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[ This Message was edited by: amnesia on 2005-05-14 11:41 ]
Posted by amnesia
Qatar update:
Looks like Faster Broadband has started (doubled at no extra cost)
and 3G is scheduled to arrive by the end of the year.
"Dr. Nasser, CEO of Qtel says:
This is all part of a big push forward by Qtel to upgrade its facilities, particularly with the Asian Games coming up in Doha late next year.
'We are also introducing 3G mobile phones and are in the process of selecting a vendor,' says Dr. Marafih. 'We expect to have 3G in service by the end of the year, and are happy that the earlier problems with 3G handsets have been solved. For the Asian Games, Qtel is a part of the organizing committee and we were keen to have 3G ready for this event.'
Qtel has a monopoly in Qatar at the moment and it expires in 2013
" But Dr. Marafih says he already runs Qtel as if competition was about to appear, so as to be ready when it does, and just in case the government changes its policy. But with 75% GSM penetration, he argues that there would not be much for competition to go for in Qatar."
Good news i guess.
Etisalat have been trying to open here for ages.
It's great to hear that Qatar is developing at a major speed.
"The floating Islands
Education City
New Capital New Doha
Disney Land ME
Asian Games coming
City Center (largest mall in Middle east)
I feel proud now. I used to think it was a dump.
http://www.ameinfo.com/58304.html
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[ This Message was edited by: amnesia on 2005-05-14 11:57 ]
Posted by amnesia
This looked interesting.
Seems as though Bahrain has high-end 3G capabilities.
"BAHRAIN has become the first in the world to have nationwide 3G wireless services, which offer the most advanced video mobile communication, MTC-Vodafone (Bahrain) announced yesterday"
http://www.w2forum.com/item/bahrain_is_making_3g_mobile_history
Couldn't read more since i needed to subscribe.
Posted by fatreg
ok amnesia!
im aware of the UAEs push towards Dubai with the Burj Dubai. world shopping etc.
Sheikh Khalifa has far too much money to waste!!
fatreg
Posted by amnesia
Shaikh Khalifa, thats my name. (without the Shaikh part
)
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[ This Message was edited by: amnesia on 2005-05-14 20:48 ]
Posted by amnesia
Bahrain launches region’s first e-government solution centre
The Bahrain e-government solution centre will be linked to a network of IBM e-government centres worldwide. The centre will have access to the latest technologies and skills and be able to provide countries in the Middle East with the expertise to deliver real value to citizens as they start to roll out e-Government Services. The centre will be staffed by professionals from CIO and GBM who have benefited from extensive training at the IBM e-government centres in the United States and Germany. In addition, the centre will host customer and business partner events, round table discussions, and solution demonstrations.
http://www.menareport.com/en/business/183417
Posted by amnesia
Nokia doing some nice promotion
For the first time in the Middle East and North Africa, Nokia will hold two live pop music performances held in separate locations using the power of 3G mobile technology. This innovative event celebrates the introduction of the Nokia 6680, 1.3 megapixel, imaging smartphone into the region, the latest addition to Nokia’s powerful 3G phone portfolio. All residents and visitors to the UAE are invited to attend the concerts taking place at Virgin Megastore in Deira City Centre, where Lebanese pop sensation Myriam sang and at the Virgin Megastore at the Mercato mall, where Arabic composer and singer Marwan Khoury performed. Entrance is free and performances begin at 5pm.
Source
Posted by amnesia
Yemen update:
"Yemen was to issue on Tuesday a tender for a third operator of the Global System of Mobile telephony (GSM 900), the country's Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology said on Monday.
The minister, Abdul-Malik al-Moalimi, told Saba the third license comes in line with a decision taken by the Cabinet last year with the aim of providing the mobile service along with the current two GSM providers.
He said neither the current GSM operators (Spacetelyemen and Sabafon) nor the Public Telecommunications Corporation or their partners would be allowed to compete for the new license.
"
Source: Al Bawaba
Posted by amnesia
strange that mobile phones are very important in Arabic countries yet there aren't many people out there that participate in forums
Posted by Xajel
Ana hunaaaaa
ãä íÓÊØíÚ ÞÑÇÁÉ ÇáÚÑÈíÉ
Posted by VidER
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Man you are so mixed up!
Dubai is only a city in the UAE.
Etisalat covers all the country.
Thuraya is a company founded and mainly owned by Etisalat.. and it does not offer GSM and regular communication services. Its a global communications provider. Offering mobile phones using satellite coverage. And it works in most parts of the world.
Q-tel is also partly owned by Etisalat. as well as the new (Mobily) company the new mobile services provider in Saudi Arabia.
And 3G covers all the UAE. not only Dubai.
VidER
Posted by amnesia
i think you are the one who is mixed up.
Q-tel is a government owned telecommunications company.
I never denied the fact that Etisalat is not available in the whole country but that the 3G section is not available. I think you need to read what I wrote more carefully.
As for saying it's only a city, I KNOW that, I said it is CONSIDERED. Read my last sentence, I said dubai ISNT a country.
Finally in relation to Thuraya didn't you notice the capitilized THINK ?
*sighs* you have to read the wording carefully.
@Athlon™ eX
6ab3an we can read arabic fonts, (or at least I can)
Ma 3indi keyboard 3arabee, fa aktib Arabish.
edit: did some research on the Q-tel/Etisalat thing you mentioned.
Etisalat just owns shares in Q-tel. If I buy Q-tel shares, it doesn't mean I own it. they specifically have 1%
It says Etisalat owns only 34% of Thuraya as well.
You have to remember that these are stocks.
here is the source
http://www.uae.gov.ae/Government/telecomm.htm
_________________
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[ This Message was edited by: amnesia on 2005-05-22 01:36 ]
Posted by VidER
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Seems that you get offended easily!
Anyway.
I am ((in)) the UAE. and know for a fact that all the seven Emirates were covered by the 3G services from Day one.
Thuraya was founded by Etisalat.. I never said it is owned..
Etisalat is one of the biggest ((Investors)) in Qtel. And it also ((OWNS)) big portions of many of the Telecomunication companies in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Africa.
Cool down. Don't let facts annoy you.
VidER
Posted by amnesia
I do get offended when it seems someone wants to prove me wrong in public.
How can Etisalat be the largest contributer of Q-tel when it only owns 1% of stocks and for example the CEO owns 15%
as for 3G coverage, I wasn't just saying something I randomly thought up.
I literally saw it in the GDN on the day I posted it.
If their facts are wrong, I can't be blamed.
That link I last posted had all the specific details of what Etisalat owns, has shares in and runs.
I think it also shows their goals.
side question:
are you arabic?
_________________
Oxygen Inc
[ This Message was edited by: amnesia on 2005-05-22 13:52 ]
Posted by buudepapier
Can you guys tell me how to write '' death to the exploiters!'' in arabic pleeease? thank you
Posted by *Jojo*
@amnesia - How do you say: "Thank You" in your lingo - (Arabic) mate
Muchos gracias!
Posted by amnesia
lol what a weird request.
to say death to exploiters would be a bit difficult since I can't think of a word except for a definition so I would say
al mowt lil exploiters
For some basics (this is Gulf arabic btw, countries have different accents and words but all understandable to us)
Thanks: Shukran, mashkoor
Thanks alot: shukran jazeelan
You're welcome: awfan, il afoo
Hello: Al salam wo alaikum, or simply salam, or Halaa
replied by: wo alaikum al salam or simply salam
I forgot to post that the K750 has been out in the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar for over a week now.
Specifically 1630 dirhams (UAE Dirhams)
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[ This Message was edited by: amnesia on 2005-05-24 18:33 ]
[ This Message was edited by: amnesia on 2005-05-25 13:43 ]
Posted by buudepapier
thank you! But you said that countries had diferent dialects and accents, how would death to the epxloiters sounds in syrian arabic?
Posted by amnesia
hmm I dont know if there is another word for death in syrian.
I mean, most words are the same just stressed differently.
I'll ask a friend of mine and get back to you.
Posted by *Jojo*
@amnesia - "shulran jazeelan" ! Until my next request mate . . .
Posted by amnesia
crap typo btw
It's shuKran not Shulran, dont want you to be saying the wrong word now
Posted by amnesia
Etisalat in Saudi Arabia
Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) launched its services as the new mobile operator in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday with a spectacular event at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh. Patronised by Minister of Communications and Information Technology (CIT) Mohammed Jamil Mulla, the ceremony was attended by key industry figures, businessmen and members of the media.
Receiving guests were the Mobily Chairman AbdulAziz Al-Saghyir, the CEO of Emirates Telecommunications Corporation Mohammed Omran, the CEO of Etisalat International Obaid bin Mes’har and the Mobily CEO & Managing Director Khalid Al-Kaf.
“The launch of Mobily heralds a new era for the telecommunications sector in Saudi Arabia as customers will now enjoy a much wider range of choice bouquets,” said Al-Kaf. “Mobily services are available at more than 300 points of sale (POS) in 32 cities Kingdom wide. The POS number is expected to reach 1,400 in the near future. The Mobily service is slated to operate in many other cities soon,” added Al-Kaf.
Mobily post-paid SIM cards will be available in five minute based bouquets. The Starter package offers 25 minutes talk time for a fixed monthly fee of only SR40. Additional minutes will be charged at SR0.43 per minute in the Kingdom.
The Standard package provides 100 minutes talk time for a fixed monthly fee of only SR65. Additional minutes will be charged at SR0.37 per minute on Mobily to Mobily calls and Mobily to landline calls and SR0.41 per minute to other local networks.
Consumers receive 250 minutes of talk time as well as four hours free for their friends and families for a fixed monthly fee of SR110 with the Advanced package. Additional minutes will be charged at SR0.37 on Mobily to Mobily calls and Mobily to landline calls and SR0.41 to other local networks
The Executive package offers 500 minutes of talk time for a fixed monthly fee of SR190 with free voice mail activation. Additional minutes will be charged at SR0.33 per minute on Mobily to Mobily calls and Mobily to landline calls and SR0.39 per minute to other local networks.
With the Elite package, customers get 1000 minutes worth of talk time for a monthly fee of SR340. Additional minutes will be charged at SR0.33 per minute on Mobily to Mobily calls and Mobily to landline calls and SR0.39 per minute to other local mobile networks.
All packages offer value-added services such as voice mail, SMS, MMS, Mobily portal, WAP and Internet.
The Pre-paid service will be offered through two bouquets called Anees and Wafeer. Anees offers consumers the initial credit value of SR150 for 120 days with a set- up fee of SR150. Customers will be charged SR0.83 per minute during peak time (9:00am-9:00pm) and SR0.73 during off-peak time (9:00pm-9:00am).
Wafeer brings consumers the initial credit value of SR150 with a set up fee of SR150 for 120 days. They will be charged SR0.79 for the first two minutes. The third minute onwards will be charged at a rate of SR0.69 per minute.
Both Anees and Wafeer provide customers with an option of calling one favorite national number at a 20 per cent discount. Pre-paid recharge vouchers will be available in five denominations.
Mobily is the official brand name of Etihad Etisalat, the new mobile service provider in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Established in accordance with a 2004 royal decree, the ownership of the company is two-fold: A Saudi ownership, comprising public investors holding 20% of the company’s shareholding, while private investors own a 45% stake. The balance of 35% is owned by the Etisalat of UAE.
Posted by amnesia
Egyptian businessman buys Italy's Enel telecom unit
Posted: 26-05-2005 , 12:56 GMT
Enel S.p.A. (Enel) and Weather Investments S.A.R.L. (Weather), a company controlled by Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris, have signed the agreement to sell Wind Telecomunicazioni S.p.A. (Wind) to Weather. The total value of the transaction is €12.138 billion, it was declared Thursday.
The agreement provides for a transfer of 62.75% of Wind to Weather. At the same time, Sawiris will contribute a stake of 50% plus one share in Orascom Telecom Holding (OTH), the telecommunications company listed in London and Cairo, to Weather.
Enel and Weather have also signed a put and call agreement according to which, in the timeframe between 15 January 2006 and June 30 2006, Enel can transfer and Weather can acquire from Enel the remaining stake of Enel in Wind.
Once the transaction is completed, Enel will receive €3,009 million cash and a stake of 26% in Weather (which will control 100% of Wind and 50% plus one share of Orascom), which is valued at €1,960 million. Upon transfer of its 62.75% of Wind to Weather, Enel will be able to deconsolidate approximately, €7 billion in Wind debt.
Paolo Scaroni, CEO of Enel commented: “With the sale of Wind we have completed the disposal of all businesses unrelated to our core activities in electricity and gas, in accordance with the strategy announced three years ago. The exit of the telecommunications business from the Group’s activities will enable Enel to focus its growth on energy in Italy and abroad.”
The Wind consolidated financial statements for 2004 approved by the Shareholders’ Meeting on 24 March 2005 show revenues of €4,714 million, up 7.6% on the €4,383 million posted in 2003, EBITDA of €1,554 million, an increase of 53.8% with respect to the €1,010 million in 2003, and EBIT of €41 million compared with the negative result of €384 million recorded a year earlier.
The agreement will also lay the foundation for closer cooperation between Wind and Orascom, aiming at a substantial increase in revenues and margins. More specifically, the two companies will aim at expanding their market share in telecoms traffic to and from Europe, the Mediterranean basin and all other countries where Orascom has and will have a key role. Moreover, coordination between the two companies will create a critical mass capable of producing considerable savings, especially in purchasing (e.g. handsets) and capital expenditure.
The transaction will take place on the following financial basis.
At first closing, expected by the 2005 summer on the condition that the transaction receives approval from regulatory authorities, Enel will sell to Weather 62.75% of Wind for € 2,986 million. Enel will use part of the proceeds, equal to €305 million, to acquire a 5.3% interest in Weather.
In the first half of 2006, Enel could transfer its remaining stake in Wind (37.25%) for a consideration of €328 million in cash and newly issued Weather shares that will bring its total equity holding in Weather to 26%.
Enel and Sawiris have signed shareholders’ agreements that will govern Weather operations. As part of the arrangements, the parties have agreed on the goal of pursuing a listing for Weather as soon as possible, depending on market conditions, and have undertaken reciprocal lock-up until the company goes public.
Posted by amnesia
according to one of our esato members, the phone has been out for the past 5 days.
I'm talking about the K750 with arabic support
Posted by mustafabay
5 days in which country? UAE?
BTW, I think technically Nagid Sawiris didn't buy Wind but Orascom telecom, which he owns most of, did.
Also it seems half of Egypt's big companies are owned by the Sawiris family.
Posted by amnesia
whoops i meant Bahrain.
As for that article, I got it straight from
http://www.menareport.com/en/business/184112
Posted by amnesia
http://www.menareport.com/en/business,IT_and_Telecom/183950
Omani-Qatari Telecommunications Company increases mobile phone coverage in Oman
Posted: 23-05-2005 , 12:42 GMT
The Omani-Qatari Telecommunications Company Al Nawras on Sunday announced that its services has now covered all the Sultanate of Oman’s regions and governorates through the local mobile agreement signed with the Omani company for Mobile telecommunications (Oman Mobile).
According to ONA, Al Nawras Executive President said the agreement with Oman Mobile enables Al Nawras subscribers to use local mobile in sites which are not currently being covered by Al Nawras Co. until these sites are covered in future. He noted that the coverage include all parts of the Sultanate.
He added that with this agreement Al Nawras coverage will rise from 60% to 84% by the end of this year to reach 99% during the coming five years.