Strategic ICT Partner
Technology Partners
60 Mins Show dates: 20-24 October 2013, Dubai World Trade Centre
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AT GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK
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Exhibition hours: 11am -6pm
Etisalat and BT collaborate on healthcare ICT services
WHAT’S INSIDE Etisalat has announced a new collaboration with British Telecom (BT), one of the leading global providers of communication services and solutions, to provide healthcare ICT services to clients in both the public and private sectors. The relationship links BT’s extensive experience working with different organisations on large health IT programmes with Etisalat’s local ICT footprint to address the needs of clients in the UAE. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two companies was signed at GITEX Technology Week 2013. Etisalat and BT have worked together previously to establish 4 CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Dubai Taxi Corporation launches Windows 8 app
Dell’s global solution centre to open in Dubai Dell is launching its newest global solution centre in Dubai within a month. The company currently has around 16 solutions around
the world. “The decision to set up a solution 4 CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
MobiWire seeks partners for MobiPrint2 at GITEX 2013
Mobility driving adoption of cloudbased security, says Zscaler
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Dell... centre in Dubai was driven primarily two reasons. Dell is going private and one of the key pillars of our future growth strategy hinges on the Middle East. The growth in this region is unparalleled and needs more focus and attention. Another reason is that though we have solutions centres in countries such as Ireland, France, Germany, Singapire, the customers there want to come here,” said Basil Ayass, Marketing Director, Dell. He added that the solutions centre, which boasts of a data centre, will allow customers to come in with their own code, and test the solutions before they buy it. “It is like a test drive when you buy
“We took a conscious decision not to showcase products. So our booth at GITEX this year is built around solutions for verticals such as oil & gas, banking and finance, and education.”
Basil Ayass, Marketing Director, Dell
a new car. Earlier, we used to take customers in the region to either US or Europe. But, given the visa and cost related issues, we could only do 5-6 trips a year. Now, we are giving this opportunity to all our customers in the region.” Dell’s presence at GITEX Technology Week this year is under the theme “Tansform, Protect, Connect and Inform”, which reflects the company’s solution portfolio. “We took a conscious decision not to showcase products. So our booth at GITEX this year is built around solutions for verticals such as oil & gas, banking and finance, and education,” said Ayass. As part of this global strategy
to focus more on the Middle East region, Dell has ramped up its operations and moved to a new office within Dubai Internet City. “We have consolidated all our different offices and acquisitions which include Quest, Wyse, Sonicwall and Perrot,” Ayass said. Dell has also recently launched a range of Venue tablets, signaling its commitment to the PC business. “It is a critical aspect of our end to end to strategy – from device to the data centre to the cloud. In fact, we had recorded a 50 percent growth in the recently held GITEX Shopper. Even though we are not the price leaders, customers prefer to buy the Dell brand,” he added.
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4 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 the Innovation Centre, a technology-based researchintensive programme based in Abu-Dhabi’s Khalifa University. The new partnership will help improve healthcare information and infrastructure in the UAE and nearby regions. Abdulla Hashim, Senior Vice President, Etisalat said: “The healthcare industry today needs an environment which is connected 24/7 to deliver quality and advanced healthcare services. Etisalat has strived to work towards the needs of the industry towards addressing the requirements of this dynamic sector. The partnership with BT will help us create an appropriate ecosystem for both
public and private sector.” Wael El Kabbany, Vice President, BT Middle East and Africa, added: “We are delighted to have been chosen by Etisalat to help them in their drive to introduce comprehensive and advanced healthcare ICT services in their territories. With our networked communications heritage and strong health experience, BT is well-placed to deliver the end-toend ICT infrastructure requirements for healthcare customers globally. We are pleased to be once again confirming our commitment to our partnership with Etisalat, and to the Middle East region.” Etisalat healthcare services are on display at Za1, Zabeel Hall.
Etisalat starts online pre-orders for the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C
Etisalat has announced that pre-orders on the recently launched iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C has started today on www. etisalat.ae. The handsets will be launched on 3 November, 2013.
The iPhone 5S will be available at AED 2,749 (16GB), AED 3,149 (32GB) and AED 3,549 (64GB). The iPhone 5C will be available at AED 2,349 (16GB) and AED 2,749 (32GB).
MobiWire seeks partners for MobiPrint2 at GITEX 2013 MobiWire, the French white-label company that provides a range of connected products aimed at equipment manufacturers and mobile network operators, is seeking to increase distribution of MobiPrint2 at GITEX 2013. MobiPrint2 can be used for a wide range of connected services such as making payments and topping up mobile-phone credit. “How this works is that each customer receives payment confirmation by SMS and the terminal prints a receipt. This technology means that transactions can take
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place anywhere, at any time, guaranteeing a proof of payment for each transaction,” explained Matthieu Laube, Key Account Manager, MobiWire. MobiPrint2 supports POS management and background synchronisation, in order for retail stores to vary and differentiate their business models, while increasing turnover. According to the company, the range will enable automation of payment processes in countries where complete standard banking systems are lacking. With GITEX 2012 being a
successful launch pad for the company, Laube further added, “We are fully convinced that by being present at GITEX Technology Week 2013, MobiWire will gain the maximum of visibility allowing the enhancement of the brands visibility and recognition and moreover increase the expansion of its business models.” The company is also hoping to add a new launch to its portfolio by GITEX 2014, and plans to expand the range territory wise, especially in Africa, Latin America and APAC, by next year.
Dubai Taxi Corporation launches Windows 8 app In-line with the transformation of Dubai to a ‘Smart City’, Dubai Taxi Corporation of Roads and Transport Authority (red-roof) has pre-launched a mobile phone application running on the Windows 8 platform. The app helps users with hearing disability to communicate with a taxi driver through text in both English and Arabic. Travelers using the application can show directions through sign icons on the app, and the app functionality allows the conversion of text to voice and Windows phone speaks out the text to the driver. The application also has taxi booking, journey tracking, feedback form and fare calculation, which all taxi users can benefit from. Speaking at the launch event held during GITEX Technology
Week 2013, Ahmed Mohammed Al Hammadi, Acing CEO, Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC), said: “DTC is honored to launch a service customized for the hearing impaired where it
will allow them to travel and communicate comfortably with our taxis. “Microsoft has done an excellent job in making the application easy and very friendly to use. Our relationship with Microsoft will not stop here and we look forward to adding more customised services for other special needs services.” Commenting on the application, Samer Abu Ltaif, Regional General Manager, Microsoft Gulf, said : “At Microsoft Gulf, we know that technology plays a unique role in empowering userexperience and simplifying dayto-day activities. We believe that this application will help facilitate the exchange of information for Dubai Taxi Corporation users with hearing disabilities, and through the natural interface of Windows, they will be able to communicate
better with their surroundings. “We know this app is an important step in supporting the plan of transforming Dubai to a Smart City, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dubai Taxi Corporation and the Community Development Authority for the partnership around this initiative.” The application is available for people with hearing disabilities within the portfolio of Dubai Taxi Corporation applications, where the user can request a taxi and choose his part of the list of destinations and then guide the driver acoustically during the journey. It also includes images of popular destinations and landmarks across Dubai, such as malls and hospitals that can be used to guide the taxi drivers to the desired destination.
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Mobility driving adoption of cloud-based security, says Zscaler The rise of accessing the Internet through mobile devices and mobile apps is driving up adoption of cloud-based security solutions, according to cloud Web security company Zscaler. Charles Milton, Service Provider and Systems Integrator Director, EMEA, Zscaler, said Wednesday that, with the rise of mobile broadband and smartphones was forcing businesses to look for alternatives to traditional web security deployments. “The reason we believe that cloud is the right place to deliver that is because there was a time when you knew where your users were and you knew where the applications were. But now the users can be anywhere, and the applications, frankly, can be anywhere,” he said. Zscaler is a purely cloud organisation, and it has been exhibiting at GITEX with Etisalat this week. The two companies formed a partnership this year, whereby Etisalat would deliver Zscaler’s web security solution through its managed service offerings. A relatively new entrant to the Middle Eastern market, Zscaler has been using GITEX to get the product out there, following about a year of finalising its go-to-market strategy. “The last 12 months been
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Charles Milton, Service Provider and Systems Integrator Director, EMEA, Zscaler
about getting approval and making sure we’ve kept up with the government certifications and getting that all right,” Milton said. “In order to do that, we’ve had to work with the local service providers to deliver that within the regulatory framework of the Middle East. The challenge is very different from the rest of the world. “Now, we’re in the stage where we’ve got that in place, certainly in the UAE, and Saudi and Egypt. We’re building out our presence and it’s now about bringing the first customers on board.” Customers are already taking notice – Zscaler recently announced customer wins with the UAE’s prosecution service and the courts authority. Meanwhile, GITEX has also provided the vendor with a number of encouraging leads. “We’ve had some really good conversations here. I often find that these events are about consolidating conversations rather than opening new opportunities, but it’s been very positive,” said Milton.
Highlights
Publisher Dominic De Sousa, COO Nadeem Hood, Commercial Director Rajashree R Kumar, Group Editor Jeevan Thankappan Editors Ben Rossi, Tom Paye, Janees Reghelini, James Dartnell Circulation Manager Rajeesh M, Production Manager James Tharian, Senior Designers Analou Balbero, Glenn Roxas, Digital Services Manager Tristan Troy Magma Web Coordinator Jarris Pedroso Photographers Jay Colina, Abdul Kader
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