Chinese sources confirm next-gen larger screen iPhone

Production of iPhone larger screens set to begin next month

Apple is expected to launch its next-generation iPhone in the second half of 2012. It is not sure if the device will be named iPhone 5 or something else. The company has reportedly ordered screens from its Asian suppliers that are bigger than the ones used in the older generations iPhones, sources in China revealed.

Production is set to begin next month for the screens. The new size measures at least 4 inches diagonally compared with 3.5 inches on the iPhone 4S, according to the sources. Read more

Global Mobile Awards: Creme de la Creme of Mobile Industry

GSMA Announces Winners of the 17th Annual Global Mobile Awards

The winners of the 17th Annual Global Mobile awards, held at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, were announced on March 1st.

This year’s Global Mobile Awards represent broad victories for Samsung, with its two headlining awards, and the Android operating system in general. Though the iPad 2 won the Best Handheld Tablet award, many of the notable winners at the GMAs were Android-flavored, including SwiftKey, an Android keyboard, for most Innovative Mobile Apps, and Google Maps for Android, for Best Consumer Mobile Service. Read more

Telcos and smartphones: UAE’s education sector in ICT age

45 percent of mobile phones in operation today are smartphones

60 percent of newly purchased mobile phones today are smartphones

Telecoms play important role in supporting and developing the education sector in U.A.E., according to Ali Alahmed, Etisalat’s Chief Corporate Communication Officer.

During his presentation entitled: ‘Learning in the IT age: Etisalat’s efforts to enhance and develop the education sector in the UAE’, Alahmed stated that the ICT sector is witnessing new revolutions and is becoming a part of everyday life in the world. He clarified that 45 percent of mobile phones in operation today are smartphones, while 60 percent of those purchased today are smartphones, and this trend is expected to increase as the global population increases.

Alahmed continued: “Etisalat has provided its customers with the necessary infrastructure through a variety of achievements; namely the most recent launch of the LTE network. The first and widest network in the region is considered a revolution in terms of information sharing and enhancing remote learning through the high speeds it offers, which can reach up to 100 megabytes.” Read more

Tired from iPhone 4S? Here is a solution

iPhone 5? It has been some time since Apple launched the  iPhone 4S. By now, most of the high-tech gadget enthusiasts are used to the highly intelligent device. Others are still saving and reading comprehensive reviews. Whatever the case, worry no more!

Apple is planning to launch iPhone 5 later this year, but most probably before the end of August. As you probably know, iPad 3 is already in production in China, and it is expected to launch in March. So, gear up discovering the iPhone 4S or saving for your new gadget, because the “monster” iPhone 5 will be a trully magical device. Read more

Smartphones open new growth avenues for Arabic Content

• TECOM Investments’ Media Cluster and Flagship Projects Launch Revolutionary Arabic Bookstore Application at IP & TV Forum MENA 2011

Smartphones have opened new growth avenues and set new trends in e-reading narrowing the digital gap between Arabic and English content, according to senior management from TECOM Investments Media Cluster. Read more

Smartphones constitute 43.7% of total cellular handsets in UAE

A new Arab Advisors Group’s survey of cellular users in the UAE reveals insightful details on the smartphones adoption and usage patterns in the UAE. The survey also probed general cellular usage habits, smartphones awareness in addition to tablets availability among cellular users in the UAE. This survey comes on the heals of a similar survey in Jordan. Full results of a similar Saudi survey will be out in October 2011. Read more

64% of IT professionals in the Middle East think that data on mobile devices is not secure

In a survey carried out at Gitex in Dubai, 64% of respondents said they wouldn’t be confident that data stored on a mobile device belonging to their organization would be secure in the event it was lost or stolen. The survey, carried out by global IT security company Sophos, polled 181 IT professionals at the show.

Unsurprisingly, 58% of those polled felt that viruses were still the biggest threat to their corporate network. Of the respondents, 34% rated device theft or loss as the biggest threat, not surprising either given that mobile device security was such a hot topic for Sophos at Gitex this year. Read more

Innovative cashless Mobile Payments launched at Gitex

Etisalat and MasterCard Worldwide have collaborated with industry leaders to announce an innovative cashless mobile payments programme in the UAE. This latest evolution in mobile payments uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to authorize everyday transactions via a smartphone.

Today at Gitex 2011 in Dubai, Etisalat and MasterCard provided a preview of the commercial introduction of an NFC service developed in conjunction with Network International, Oberthur Technologies and Research in Motion (RIM). Read more

UAE Government entities turn to mobile and social media apps

Smartphone usage in the MENA region is increasing, with almost 70% of Smartphone users expected to upgrade their phone in the next 12 months, according to the AppsArabia Mobile Report – MENA. The report has stated that 82% of customers without a Smartphone want one, and 54% of them will have their first smart phone in the coming 12 months. The report also indicates that the GCC has the highest incidence of multiple Smartphone at almost 41% of the population (34% having 2 smartphones and 7% having 3 or more). This has led to a commensurate increase in mobile applications development and use.

Mohammed Johmani, CEO and Founder of O2 interactive (O2i) said in Dubai: “Smartphone and tablet usage in the GCC is on the rise, which means many mosre app are also being created, downloaded, bought and used by millions of users. 7 out of 10 Smartphone users use an app at least once every day and 35% of smart phone users who download apps frequently have bought at least one app in the last 30 days. This makes it very evident that customer engagement and organizational communication will both soon be occurring extensively through apps accessed through Smartphone and tablet devices in the very near future.” Read more

Top Boosters for UAE Retailers

The future of retail without a doubt belongs to the Internet, from online stores to mobile payments, or from  discounts’ websites to classifieds pages of web-based newspapers.

Individuals nowadays live on high speed, juggle many tasks daily and simply have no time to round the shopping malls and the markets, choose and compare styles and prices. UAE major cities are growing up and finding your way through constantly changing infrastructure is a time-consuming challenge.

Online shopping is rapidly becoming very convenient for more and more Internet users in the Emirates, as it can be done from any place and at any time. Consumers can browse through e-commerce websites through their smartphones while riding the metro and buy products with a click. Deliveries are coming right to the doorsteps, and if you are not at home, the building’s concierge, a relative or a housemaid can collect the package, according to your agreement with the shipping company. Read more

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