Issue 197
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Epson WorkForce Pro RIPS
Security Without Complexity: Kaspersky
Ovanes Mikhaylov MD, ME, Kaspersky Lab
Security attacks, data thefts, digital frauds are some common pain points of today’s common Internet users. Discussing an overall internet security trend, Ovanes Mikhaylov, Managing Director - ME, Kaspersky Lab beautifully explained key insights of Internet security threats and tools that can make it secure. In an interview with VAR Magazine, Ovanes unleashed important facts about Internet security. ...continued on P - 4
October 2015
In Focus - Pg 14
In Focus - Pg 12
Catering the needs of SMBs
Drivers of the Market
Banking upon Strong Partner Relations: TP-LINK Over a period of last few years, the Middle East market has witnessed an emergence of TP-Link as a brand with comprehensively product portfolio of networking products crafted for the SOHO & SMB segment. Denny Liang, Vice President Middle East and Africa (MEA) at TP-LINK explained the key drivers of such growth and also shared some key insights on the market trends. ...continued on P - 4
Denny Liang Vice President, MEA TP-LINK
Editorial
In Focus
Kaspersky
...continued from P - 1
Bid to Become Future Ready The world is surging towards interconnectivity. In the interconnected era business models are increasingly interdependent and there will be a thin line of difference between consumers, employees, corporate users etc. The anytime, anywhere, any device connectivity will become a ‘taken for granted’ virtue of life. In fact, in a hypothetical market estimate, three-in-five businesses believe in dynamic interconnection with employees, partners and customers as an 'very important' aspect of their company’s ability to compete.
Internet access is becoming highly dynamic with multiple devices per user. How this complexity is impacting on ensuring security aspect? At Kaspersky Lab, we believe that complexity is the enemy of security. With many aspects to look after and many different tools, it’s easy to overlook a threat. Having different products to study, different consoles to monitor security of parts of infrastructure – all this put additional stress on IT specialists responsible for security, as they now need to manage security of data storage, virtual machines, personal devices of employees used for work, etc simultaneously. This is true both for home users and businesses. For this reason, in the recent years we have made a number of updates to our solutions. For example, consumers can choose Kaspersky Internet Security multi-device solution to secure all their devices at ones - PC, Mac and Android, they can manage their security at one resource – My Kaspersky portal. Our business solutions, such as Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business or Kaspersky Small Office Security have a single management control. Even if you add functions to Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business such
million. The same report forecasts the region’s biggest market in UAE to show 86% (CAGR = 13%) in 5 years. In United Arab Emirates Kaspersky Lab is number 1 vendor with the share of 28.3% of the country’s market. Enterprise organizations are working on dynamic model of information flow. In such environment, how challenging it becomes to ensure security levels for corporate or business critical data? I would say that every development, including very beneficial ones such as virtualization or BYOD, open questions of security which need to be considered in the early stages of the project, both in terms of deploying relevant security solutions and updating security policies. What are the key opportunities Kaspersky is witnessing in the market? Providing comprehensive security platform Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business remains our main aim, but we are also developing new opportunities, such as providing intelligence services, for example, together with Injazat data systems we deliver cyber Security Education in the UAE.
Things like cloud, Internet everywhere, smart phone penetration, smart homes and Internet of everything are some forces which are acting as catalysts for this phenomenon to happen. From healthcare services to mission critical corporate applications, all kinds of applications
“At Kaspersky Lab, we believe that complexity is the enemy of security. With many aspects to look after and many different tools, it’s easy to overlook a threat. Our business solutions, such as Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business or Kaspersky Small Office Security have a single management control.”
will be delivered through the smart devices. About 4.9 billion connected devices will be in used in 2015 and this figure will reach 25 billion by 2020, a recent study said, leading to an increase of $261 billion in service spending for the Internet of Things (IoT). This estimation in itself talks about everything. Right now, the Middle East ICT market is in the Gitex Fever. Apart from IT companies, Government organizations and agencies from various GCC countries are also participating in this year’s Gitex. ICT organizations across the world are showcasing their cutting edge technology to shape our future. New brands, new products announcemnets are heppening. Smartphones, tablets, smart peripherals and other handhelds are setting their tone for the vibrant Middle East market. All the action around this 35th edition of GItex is indicating one strong message, that the need of this hour to work harder and become future ready.
Faiz Askari Senior Editor
CEO: Vivek Sharma Senior Editor: Faiz Askari Art Director: Faiz Ahmed Business Development Manager: Mallika Rego Sr. Sales Manager: R. Subramanyan Sales Manager: Christopher David Sales Coordinator: Smitha Jithesh Published by:
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6 | October 2015
Encryption or Security for Internet Gateways, for example, they all can be controlled via this Unified Management Console. How the security threats are evolving? What kind of newer threats are entering into the market? The main aim of cybercriminals is most often to earn money, with the least amount of risk to themselves. So we have witnessed the emergence of threats like ransomware with technologies such as cryptolockers that allow attackers to demand a ransom from the victim to provide the decryption key without which their files will be impossible to read. Another growing phenomenon are Banking Trojans that steal user’s financial account details, they are among top malware we see in the region. Targeted attacks are also on the rise and their main aim is usually espionage – we’ve seen IT teams and infrastructure within governments as well as Incident Response Staff Targeted by Cyberattacks in Middle East & North Africa, and these are just several examples of their sophistication. How big is the Information security market? IDC 2015 Endpoint Security Software Tracking for 2014 shows that the Middle East Endpoint market totals $70.39
We also see that small businesses are far from having ideal security, so we have recently updated our solution specially created for businesses of up to 50 employees – Kaspersky Small Office Security, and are working with resellers to make our security solutions easily available to small businesses. What are your key highlights for this year’s GITEX Show? Kaspersky Lab’s continued focus on enhancing enterprise IT security in the region will be highlighted at GITEX Technology Week 2015, where the company will showcase its comprehensive portfolio of Enterprise and SMB security solutions and services. Kaspersky Lab provides organizations of all sizes with true multi-layered protection from known, unknown and advanced threats. Complex enterprise IT security challenges can be addressed through technologies including Data Center Security, Security Intelligence & Assessment Services, Industrial Cyber Security and protection against Targeted Attacks. SMBs can benefit from Endpoint, Mobile and Cloud-based security solutions. The Kaspersky Safe Kids Service will be a key topic for consumer visitors to Kaspersky Lab's booth. A "must have" service, it helps parents create safe ways for their children to explore the digital world.
Smart mission showcase from du at Gitex Leading telecommunications provider du will use its stand at the upcoming Gitex 2015 to showcase that smart is no longer a vision, it is a mission, and it’s happening now. Demonstrations at du’s stand, from October 18 to 22 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, will highlight 'Smart: Happening Now' – how du’s innovative information and communications technology solutions and partnerships are creating a smart environment, said a statement. Over the last two years du has showcased a vision of the smart future. Proceeding with this theme, du is reinforcing its commitment to innovation by bringing a host of products and solutions that are empowering smart life, smart business and smart government, it said. Du is inviting visitors to explore real solutions, which are being deployed to the market. The fastest growing telecommunications provider has been working relentlessly to diversify its offerings, and interactive zones
at its Gitex Technology Week 2015 stand will showcase how the smart reality is happening now. From the latest in-house developments, to pioneering innovations and partnerships, to home experiences like never before – du has it all. Osman Sultan, chief executive officer, du, said, “The future is now, and it’s extremely exciting. This year we are focusing on integrating innovative solutions into daily life so that our stakeholders can actually use it. For the past couple of years we have been talking about our vision, now it’s time for us to put our words into actions.” "Smart is all around us, and it is happening now. We are at an inflection point in the UAE where smart is becoming a reality. We challenged ourselves with bringing together the visions from our industry, entrepreneurs and from our enlightened leadership to build the smart city of today and for tomorrow,” Sultan also added.
In Focus
TP-LINK
...continued from P - 1 How is the market for networking products in EMEA region evolving? For TP-LINK, the last year has been one where we worked tirelessly to build a solid channel base and an ecosystem of partners that would help us to grow our business. We focused on having solid channel partnerships with our distributors and resellers. We also made sure that all our partners across the Middle East and Africa that invested in our brand were getting the best from that investment, effort and commitment. To this end, we increased the range of benefits to all our partners be it distributors, resellers or power retailers. At the same, we introduced new technologies and products like the AC range, 4G MiFi array and the business level access point solutions. Generally, the networking segment in MEA is in a good position. TP Link has created a great image of having in-depth product portfolio? What are the key drivers of your business in this region? With new technologies coming out and the boom the Middle East and Africa is witnessing in some countries with 4G, opportunities in the telco space will increase for partners that are able to embrace solutions selling and not just a push boxes. We have launched our 4G MiFi
automation, manual control and real-time monitoring of home electrical appliances and devices wherever an Internet connection is available are intended for the company with its channel partners to capitalise on the benefits presented in the Internet of Things (IoT) space. The demand for simple, effective and always accessible home automation control is increasing due to the fast-paced lifestyle of today's consumers and a rise in the use of interconnected devices. We are excited about the IoT and our release of the HS110 and HS200 portfolio at MWC will help satisfy the growing demand for home automation control in the Middle East.
SMB is also a thrust area for this industry. What importance does it carry for your company? As one of the fastest growing SMB and SOHO networking brands, TP-LINK places a lot of emphasis on building a solid business in this critical sector. For the SMB products in MEA, we have just upped our focus especially in Dubai because it is viewed as the hub for the region. KSA is another market for the SMB range but it’s not easy to get going although we have already started to cement partnerships. The other of course is Africa and these are the three main areas we are focusing with our SMB business.
Routers are becoming intelligent, so as switching systems for lighting. Do you look at these areas as major opportunity areas for TP Link’s business? The growth the company is witnessing in the router and general networking solutions market in the region can be attributed to several factors although it’s vital to point out the research and development (R&D) that has gone into designing and manufacturing our router products has helped us and our channel partners to experience phenomenal growth in the three years that TP-LINK was established in the region. We have quality and well-designed products offered at a very good and
What are the flagship products from TP Link for a typical SMB customer? Typically we have routers, switches, Access points, range extenders, wireless dual band adapters, mobile WiFi and cloud camera. We are offering our channel partners targeting this segment with solutions that include Pharos series, Archer C3200, 4G LTE Routers, AV1200 Powerline and Access Points AC1200. For the indoor Smart Home/SOHO products we have the Archer C9 Wireless Router, TL-MR3420 3G/4G Wireless N Router, NC200 WiFi Cloud Camera/Range Extender, Archer T4U Wireless AC Dual Band USB Adapter and WPA 4220 WiFi Powerline Extender kit. For the outside Smart Home array, TP-LINK is offering the Archer D9 and D7, Archer C9, Archer C20i, TL-WA860RE WiFi Range Extender, AC750 WiFi Range Extender RE200, M7350 4G LTE- Mobile WiFi Router and the M5360 3G Mobile WiFi Power Bank.
“As one of the fastest growing SMB and SOHO networking brands, TP-LINK places a lot of emphasis on building a solid business in this critical sector. For the SMB products in MEA, we have just upped our focus especially in Dubai because it is viewed as the hub for the region.” products and in the coming months, we will be unveiling several new products including the desktop gateway LTE router and new MiFi routers. All this is being done to ensure that as the Internet penetration rates continue to increase, our partners will be able to supply the latest products in the market. What is the main differentiator for TP Link, which acts as the key attraction for partners and customers? The channel is key for our go to market strategy in MEA. Our approach to partnering is through a two tier model and in each country we have distributors. In some countries, our approach has been to divide distributors to target different channels. For example in the UAE, we have Techmicro catering to the power retail segment while MES and Asbis Middle East serve the traditional wholesale and reseller channels. With the local distribution partner in-country, we are able to build a channel and not supply goods into a country like we are a trader and leave. Because of this approach, TP-LINK has been able to develop local markets and raise brand awareness, which in turn has helped our partners to penetrate new untapped markets and win business from our competition. The Smart Home segment is growing, what expectations you have from this vertical? The Smart Home products that the company is bringing to market are new products that were unveiled earlier this year in Barcelona at the Mobile World Congress (MWC). The HS110 and HS200 cloud-based Smart Home devices that utilise the TP-LINK cloud-based server and mobile application to provide 24/7 on-demand access, scheduled
competitive price in the market. This has contributed to the company’s growth, brand acceptance and the success we have seen since entering the market in 2011. The other reason is our channel partners [distributors and resellers] and with their support, we are able to reach every corner of the market and in all the countries and regions we address in MEA. As a technology brand, how do you look at the aspect of partner profitability and partner engagement with the brand? As one of the fastest growing SMB and SOHO networking brands, TP-LINK today has the broadest product array than any other. Aside from quality products and designs, TP-LINK has worked so hard to create peace of mind for channel partners by placing a lot of emphasis on the overall service experience a channel partners gets when they interact with us at any stage of the sales cycle. This is crucial because through such an approach and philosophy, we are able to help our channel partners to pass on that benefit to their end user clients. This year, the company has moved to take action around uplifting the company’s brand from merely being seen as a Chinese brand to a global brand with extensive depth in the SOHO and SMB space. The opportunity in this region is undeniable but our partners will have to work smarter in terms of the products that are available and the way they deliver solutions and not just focus on price and box pushing. The days of earning very high margins on hardware alone are long gone. Now, the market is about partners who can deliver solutions, services in addition to the products they resell.
How is the customer behaviour changing in the Middle East and Africa Market? For us most of our growth comes from existing customers upgrading to the latest offerings. What that tells us is that our customers are satisfied with our offerings and that’s why they are upgrading with us and not moving to competitor products. We have seen tremendous growth and enquiries from our partners around SMB offerings ever since Dubai won and Expo 2020 and to this effect, we are paying attention to this market segment. What is TP Link’s go-to-market strategy for next one year? The channel remains key for our go to market strategy in MEA. Our approach to partnering is through a two tier model and in each country we have distributors. In some countries, our approach has been to divide distributors to target different channels. Partners in the regional market are not fly by night type resellers as most of them have been doing business longer than 10 years and know the ins and outs of doing business in the Middle East. We firmly believe that partners have the knowledge to assess if TP-LINK is a great brand to invest in or not. That’s why the company has ensured that in terms of performance, products breadth, quality, competitive pricing and services, it bring solutions that meet each segment of the consumer, SOHO and SMB segment. Most partners have been telling us they are willing and want to grow their business together with us in the region. Our partners are seeing the benefits of working with the company and the future looks bright and we believe we are sitting in a bright spot at the moment.
Logicom brings new leadership for UAE & Gulf Region Logicom, a leading regional Distributor of Technology Products, Solutions and Services in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, has announced the appointment of Mounir Sarkis and Peter Irinarchos as Regional Director and General Manager for UAE and Gulf, respectively. Mounir Sarkis will be responsible for the extended region of the GCC, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He has proven his leadership qualities within Logicom first as Sales Manager in the UAE and the Gulf and then as General Manager of Logicom Saudi Arabia. With this new
8 | October 2015
role, Mounir will be leading Logicom's strategies for Sales Revenue and Partner reach in the extended region. Peter Irinarchos will be taking on the leadership role of General Manager for Logicom in the UAE and the Gulf, succeeding Sajith Raj. In his previous role with the Group Strategy and Planning team, Peter was engaged with different parts of the Logicom business, and has helped the Group in many new vendor engagements and business development activities, as well as the extension of the Logicom facility in Jebel Ali.
News
Allied Telesis introduces ‘R&D Day’ to Middle East Allied Telesis announced that it will introduce its global initiative ‘Allied Telesis R&D Day’ to the region and conduct the R&D Day for Middle East on the last day of GITEX Technology Week 2015, October 22nd, 2015 at Hotel Conrad, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE. The Allied Telesis R&D Day is a global initiative aimed at sharing technology and product roadmaps with its key customers and channel partners. The R&D Day is presided over by the technical experts from Allied Telesis R&D Labs based out of New Zealand and USA. It is an excellent platform for customers and partners to share their technology requirements, giving feedback and suggestions so that improvisations to products can be made, thus making Allied Telesis products and services even more lucrative for customers. Graham Walker, senior product manager at Allied Telesis Labs will be conducting the day in Dubai. Walker has 20 years' experience in software research and development, 13 of which have been with Allied Telesis. He is a forward thinking professional who takes every opportunity
Sabbahuddin Khan, Regional Manager at Allied Telesis ME “Courtesy to such initiatives that reinforces our commitment to the market, Allied Telesis has emerged the most preferred name in the business within the region. Powered by state of the art Japanese technology, our products offer technical superiority, user functionality and flexibility, as well as cost effectiveness, which has led us to outgrow our competition on many counts,” said Khan. Senior executives from Allied Telesis will also be present at the event and Walker will present an overview of the technologies and new products to be announced in the coming months. Channel partners and customers will be updated on the latest industry and technology trends worldwide. Among the topics presented during the show will be AlliedWare Plus™, x-Series switches, Software roadmap for AMF and SDN, Network Monitoring and Envigilant™. AlliedWare Plus is a fully featured Layer 3+ OS that delivers the performance and functionality required by the most demanding environments. While, x-Series Layer 3 switches provides an unmatched combination of resilience,
“The Allied Telesis R&D Day is a global initiative aimed at sharing technology and product roadmaps with its key customers and channel partners. The R&D Day is presided over by the technical experts from Allied Telesis R&D Labs based out of New Zealand and USA.” to evangelise new technologies and liaises with customers to understand their requirements. Grahams’ role is to drive the development of the network operating system used on the company's flagship portfolio, whilst ensuring that Allied Telesis innovate the way in which services and applications are delivered and managed – both now and into the future. “We are delighted to have this opportunity to welcome Graham to Dubai in order to interact with our customers and to share information in advance of our upcoming product launches and our direction and strategy on important issues affecting the world of networking” said
intelligent management, and network virtualisation. Built on advanced networking standards, and innovative features, the x-Series switches combine seamlessly to create powerful solutions. “We expect over 50 partners and customers to attend and experience the R&D Day. We see this as an opportunity for our technical team from our Labs to discuss with our customers about their future technical requirements, so that we can incorporate their requirements in our future product developments. We are confident that both partners and customer will cherish this experience,” concluded Khan.
ZyXEL brings Digital Home Products in UAE ZyXEL Communications, a leading provider of secure broadband access, connected home and business networking products, launched it’s Digital Home Product Line. This product line is available to consumers at all major Retail Outlets across UAE. The GiTEX Shopper’s Event also offered all major models and some really good special offers. Keeping up with bandwidth demands of the many laptops, tablets, smartphones and other wireless devices on your home network can be challenging. At ZyXEL, we provide cutting edge networking equipment to always ensure you are getting the Internet speed and coverage you deserve. Our products, built with home users in mind from the ground up by our engineers, are designed to be the perfect fit for your home. From the latest in home connectivity to cloudenabled media storage, ZyXEL offers a wide range of solutions to fill all of your internet needs. Experience total smart home connectivity today with ZyXEL! ZyXEL, a pioneer in IP technology for over 25 years, provides a complete portfolio of multiservice LTE, fiber and DSL broadband gateways, home
connectivity
solutions, smart
devices, enterprise-class
Ethernet
home
switches,
security and Wi-Fi equipment for small to mid-size businesses. ZyXEL offers integrated, interoperable networking solutions based on open standards.
Canon decodes future of consumer imaging & digital services Canon Europe shares its future vision for the rapidly evolving world of consumer imaging. Passionate about developing new ways to help people enjoy and immerse themselves in their memories,Canon will showcase an excitingcollection of conceptsand technologies that will fundamentally change the way we capture, store and share images in the future,at Canon EXPO 2015 in Paris. Alessandro Stanzani, Head of Consumer Imaging Group, Canon Europe, commented, “EXPO is an incredibly exciting time for us. Over the past five years we have leveraged our heritage, knowledge and expertise to push the boundaries of imaging. We’re transforming our consumer business to respond to our customers’ needs, focusing on creating new digital consumer services alongside ourrenowned imaging hardware. “Reflected throughout everything we’re showcasing in Paris is our commitment to enabling powerfulexperiences that make it easier for everyone to get more enjoyment from imaging. Whether reliving photos at home using our next generation Connect Station wireless imaging hub, or being able to see things the human eye simply cannotusing our 4 million ISO camera. The best images represent precious memories, and we want to help people capture and surround themselves with these moments in the best possible quality. At EXPO 2015 we’re showcasing the many
10 | October 2015
exciting ways in which we’re changing how people can and will interact with imaging, today, tomorrow and in the future.”
Support at every stage of the imaging journey Asincreasing importance and emotional linksare placed on photos and videos, with more being shot year-on-year, Canon continues to push the boundaries of imaging technology and pioneer newexperiences and creative possibilities. Through its evolving ecosystem of products and digital consumer services, Canon is committed to supportingpeople through every stage of their imaging journey, andmake it easier for everyone to get thebest from their photos and videos – regardless of what device they’ve used to capture them on. Reaffirming its commitment to enhance and expand its range of digital services and smartphone photo apps, Canon is showcasing its latest solutions designed to tackle the challenges facing consumers in managing their large and ever expanding photo libraries. Following the acquisition of Lifecake in April 2015, Canon will preview the new capabilities and fresh look and feel for its cloud-based image management service,irista. Also at the show is hdbook EZ – a soon to be launched app for
smartphones, tablets& PCsthat intelligently selects the best images from your photo and video libraries, and automatically creates a personalised photobook in a few minutes. Other highlights amongst the range of technology concepts, products, solutions and services include: • 8K Camera:Supporting the production of next-generation, cutting edge 8K entertainment, this concept camera captures everything from stunning nature documentaries set in the Amazon rainforest to nail-biting sports matches at your favourite stadium, all in mindblowing quality. • 120MP Camera:This prototype camera will produce super high-resolution images capable of recreatinga three-dimensional texture, feel and presence, making subjectsappear as if they are physically there,before your eyes – perfect when coupled with 3D printing applications or hologram technology. • 250MP CMOS Sensor:30x sharper than 4K , Canon’s latest ultra-high resolutionsensor has the world’s highest number of pixels for a CMOS sensor - it can even capture the lettering on the side of an airplane in the sky, from an incredible 18km away. • 4 million ISO Camera: Capable of recording Full HD colour video footage in extreme low light environments.
In Focus
ASBIS
Energy & User Friendly Products Drives the Market Sharing an insight on the evolving consumer behavior in the Middle East region Hesham Tantawi, Vice President, Asbis shared an overview about the market. He highlighted trends and the market dynamics.
big wave of technology will surely come from mobility. Which are the key business areas of focus for Asbis? The Middle East and specially UAE still a significant market for Asbis. However, we are active in the entire region. You have also forayed into the Smartphone business. Please share your experience in this diversification? Yes we already entered into the Smartphone business since 2012, we have our own brand Prestigio which combines a unique blend of advanced technologies & modern design. Service quality and reliability are some of the key drivers of our smartphone business. However, firmware upgrades from our side also ensure the fulfillment of growing consumer demand.
How is the consumer behavior changing in the Middle East region? The consumers are getting more aware towards their buying preferences. Consumers of today are searching for higher end technologies and features of products and deliveries of goods easier through online shopping and orders with more choices for their everyday needs. What kind of technologies and technology products are getting stronger in the market? Technologies that are energy efficient, user friendly are getting popular in the market. To name a few examples which are doing great in the market, LED products with low energy consumption by CANYON, Networking products by Ubiquiti & TP-LINK, surveillance products by HIKVISION and server block by Supermicro are some of the top performing products in our knowledge. .How is the retail business evolving in this region specially with regards to technology? The technology retail is exponentially evolving. Retailers are increasing the retail space and outlets. This expansion is happening due to the fact that advances technologies are increasing their footprint day by day. On the other hand, online sales which energized by logistics capabilities that get product to consumers quicker is also growing.
What are the main drivers for Asbis’ market growth? One of a major driver of growth is the LED technology which is expected to grow strongly by the end of 2015 to cover more types of equipment in developed markets. Secondly, Networking and network solutions are our prime focus. The networking space is transforming exponentially. We are witnessing.
Hesham Tantawi Vice President, ASBIS Mobility is a strong trend in this market. How is Asbis focusing towards this trend? As Asbis is manufacture of Prestigio mobility brand we are focusing on adapting our mobility to the requirements of the mobile user, and increase the attention to user experience design. This segment is doing pretty good. The next
According to you, what are the key parameters of great relationship between the OEM/vendor and the distribution partner? Trust – Accuracy - Value of Partnership are three main parameters of our business relations. What expectation you have from the next one year of business in Middle East region? We expect some decrease in market by 2018-2020 but growth will surely come from solutions, networking and PC segment.
Digital signage gains rank in UAE's healthcare sector Digital Signage is gaining prominence in the UAE's healthcare sector, with hospitals and clinics discovering the need for it in their day-to-day operations for reasons such as reducing waiting time, emergency alerts, educating and getting directions, according to experts. The International Expo Consults (IEC) said that waiting time for various establishments around the globe as per reports, has reduced by 35 per cent due to the introduction of digital signage. Around 63 per cent of people admit that digital signage is effective in catching their attention while 84 per cent of the people agree that digital signage plays a huge role in promoting awareness, it said. Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, chairman of IEC, said, “Today, digital signage is not merely a mode for advertising but has also become a part of sharing information and educating the masses. The communication between institutions and visitors would be more effective and efficient through the introduction of this technology to various institutions like hospitals, retail establishments and schools.” Digital signage also promotes efficiency, as this type of technology is cost-effective and saves time, while promoting interaction with its users. “Today, healthcare institutions receive hundreds of patients a day. Waiting time in the hospitals could be made more productive through spreading awareness about certain illnesses and giving health tips,” said Falaknaz. In addition to making the waiting time more productive, digital signage also helps patients find
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their way around the hospital. Dr Haider Al Zubaidy, chief executive officer of Canadian Specialist Hospital, said: “Patients and visitors don’t need to ask their way around the hospital if it is equipped with interactive and informative digital signage with rich content. "It also sorts the problem of waiting in hospitals by informing patients about the approximate waiting time and thereby patients could approach the specialist accordingly.” Dr Al Zubaidy also said that children accompanying adults are often restless and tensed in a medical environment. A digital signage with facts and pictures would definitely divert their attention. Digital signage can help soothe the nerves of anxious patients who come for various treatments by showing them what to expect while undergoing the treatment.
“Additionally, digital signage increases the efficiency of staff by providing them with real-time updates on availability of rooms and beds, equipment usage, emergency alerts and staff location rather than relying on various sources for the information,” added Dr Al Zubaidy. The SGI Dubai 2016, a leading trade event for digital and conventional signage will run from January 10 to 12 will showcase products and services of various traders across the Middle East. The visitors can consult and interact with architects, sign makers, production manufacturers, media agencies, real estate developers, and brand and image consultants. “I believe that the upcoming SGI show provides the ideal platform for the institutions in the healthcare sector to analyse and procure the digital signage as per their requirements,” concluded Falaknaz.
In Focus
News
RICOH
Catering the printing needs of SMBs
Printer business is showing a constant pace worldwide. However, multi functional printers (MFPs) have taken a center stage in this market in last few years. Ahmed Kamal, Commercial Director- Strategy MENA Ricoh Middle East discussed key insights on this trend and he also shared Ricoh focus areas for the Middle East market.
Ahmed Kamal Commercial Director, Strategy MENA, Ricoh ME
“Total cost of Ownership (TCO) is the main factor effecting the printer buying. Customers are now becoming very cautious on the supplies pricing unlike few years back. Secondly, and most importantly, reliable performance is very important priority for every customer type.” What are the market trends you are observing in the Middle East market? In the printers & A4 segment, SMB customers are moving for upper speed segment 30+ PPM which is affecting dramatically the unit share of the lower speed segment 10 to 20 PPM . Vendors are providing different mobile print SWs for the Soho printers. How the Office Printing and document management market is evolving? SMB segment is the future of the printing market in ME and this important segment is moving in a fast track into services based contracts instead of buying boxes. What are the key opportunities existing for the partner community? Ricoh is expanding dramatically in this region with rich IT distribution product portfolio that fullfill the needs of the different market segments ,and hence Ricoh witness in this region daily new partners who wants to engage with Ricoh and build mutual fruitful business capitalising on the attractive channel programs that Ricoh is providing in this region. Please share a glimpse about Ricoh’s partner network in the Middle East region? In the IT distribution segment , Ricoh has now more than
50+ loyal resellers across the MENA region and this number is expected to double in the coming years capitalizing on the different unique channel program provided in this region.
Dafza to unveil smart services at Gitex The Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (Dafza) will showcase its latest smart services and innovative solutions for ensuring an integrated environment at the upcoming Gitex Technology Week in Dubai, UAE. The 35th edition of the major IT exhibition runs from October 18 to 22 at Dubai World Trade Centre. The new smart services to be launched by the Authority during the event include ‘Smart Investor,’ ‘Smart Employee,’ and ‘Smart Operations’ among others. Dafza will review major developments related to ‘smart’ transformation and its own success on transitioning to a ‘smart city’ environment during its participation at Gitex under the theme ‘The Internet Future of Everything.’ Gitex 2015 visitors will have the opportunity to closely explore the benefits of the Freezone’s ‘Smart Investor’ application, which provides access to all smart services for new and existing customers, including application submission, payment via smart devices, and delivery of official documents. Dafza will also showcase its ‘Smart Operations’ applications which is of high importance as it provides direct access to smart services for security and safety, controls smart security gates, operates traffic management and integrated parking systems, and enhances the efficiency of energy consumption in buildings, among many more other functions. ‘Smart Employee’ is a professional app that will also be highlighted at Gitex 2015. It provides human resource management services via smart phones and is supported by a smart intranet portal. The app includes mobile management systems for institutional resources and facilitates the smart management of customer services.
According to you, how consumer buying and consumption behavior is changing in the region? Due to the economic situation in this region, consumers are becoming very price savvy when buying a printer and they are moving from SF printers into all in one functionalities. What are the key parameters for selection of an efficient Multi Functional Printers (MFP) in today’s perspective? Total cost of Ownership (TCO) is the main factor effecting the printer buying. Customers are now becoming very cautious on the supplies pricing unlike few years back. Secondly, and most importantly, reliable performance is very important priority for every customer type. MFPs with reliable performance coupled with a very low supplies price is the key attraction for customers nowadays. What are your key expectations from this year’s Gitex? More brand awareness especially about the entry level Ricoh printers as well as the entry level projectors line which is leading Ricoh revenue growth in this region
Buthaina Bin Fahad Senior Director, Information & Communication Tech Dpt. Dafza
AOC unveils 25” QHD display with IPS panel AOC has introduced new addition to its professional line of monitors, a 25 (63.5 cm) model that sports a QHD resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. According to the company, the Q2577PWQ comes with a high-quality IPS panel for ultra-wide viewing angles both vertically and horizontally. With the combination of colours and resolution, the AOC Q2577PWQ is ideal for photographers, designers and all other professionals who depend on
14 | October 2015
sharp pictures. AOC’s new model Q2577PWQ also comes with a feature that ensures a zero-flickering viewing experience. In order to ensure full comfort, the Q2577PWQ also has a wide range of features that help reduce fatigue and improve the working posture such as height adjustability of 130 mm, pivot, swivel and tilt. Furthermore, the monitor can be fixed on VESA (100×100) compliant wall mounts and racks.
In order to give users a variety of options for connecting different input sources, the AOC Q2577PWQ comes with DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI and VGA, to name but a few examples. The new device is also equipped with energy saving features like the Eco Mode and e-Saver. The monitor also fulfils strict regulations such as EnergyStar 6.0 and TCO 6.0. As with all of its displays, AOC offers a three-year warranty with on-site exchange service.
News
Aptec join hands with Emerson Network Power Aptec, an Ingram Micro company has expanded its product portfolio with a new vendor partner, Emerson Network Power. Aptec is dealing with Emerson Network Power’s single phase uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), racks and power distribution units are part of Aptec group portfolio. Aptec offers Emerson’s small and medium business (SMB) single phase UPS solutions to its customers and partners as the selected distributor in few Gulf countries such as, UAE, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar. Aptec will focus on promoting and distributing Emerson products through its vast reseller network. Martin Meitza, senior business unit manager of Aptec, said, “Adding Emerson into our portfolio allows us to further enhance the ability of our partners to procure full solutions from one place. As we continue to focus on the SMB space, we will launch UPS up to 10kVA and Rack PDU with attractive sales bundles for cross-vendor Converged Data Center, Networking and SMB tailored solutions.” “The channel has never been more important to Emerson Network Power and we have been growing our channel business strongly over the past decade. We already have an established relationship with Ingram Micro across Europe and I am delighted to expand Emerson Network Power’s range within Ingram Micro to the Gulf region. It is an important step in the continued implementation of our channel strategy as we align all our distributors to have access to our full solutions portfolio. We see this as being critical to achieving growth objectives. To support this partnership, Ingram Micro is investing into the Emerson business by appointing a dedicated Emerson Network Power business development manager,” Pierre Havenga, Managing Director, Emerson Network Power, Middle East and Africa, explained.
Focus on small and medium business solutions As a result of this cooperation, Emerson Network Power’s racks, power distribution units and the 0 to 10 kVA range of single phase Liebert® off-line, on-line and line interactive UPS products are available to Aptec partners: • Liebert PSP (650 VA): a complete UPS ensuring
Martin Meitza Senior Business Unit Manager, Aptec
constant power to workstations. The battery provides up to 11 minutes autonomy at normal load: this is plenty of time for automatic shut-off of protected equipment in the event of a power outage. • Liebert PSA (1000 and 1500 VA): a family of compact UPS characterized by performance and features that assure complete and effective protection of electronic devices and computers in small offices. • Liebert PSI: available in 5 power ratings (750, 1000, 1500, 2200 and 3000 VA) – offers flexibility and energy efficiency for the protection of servers, workstations and network equipment in general. • Liebert PSI – XR: available in 4 capacities, this is a compact line interactive UPS system designed especially for IT applications such as network closets and small data centers • Liebert GXT4 (from 700 to 10.000 VA): UPS with 0.9 power factor, available in different power ratings to deliver more power to connected loads while optimizing overall energy efficiency.
LG G4 first to get Android 6.0 Marshmallow LG has announced that the LG G4 will be the first third-party phone on the market with Android 6.0 Marshmallow as it plans to begin its global rollout third week of October 2015. Unfortunately for UK or US owners of LG G4 smartphones, the first country to get the new operating system will be Poland, with other markets in Europe, Asia and the Americas to
16 | October 2015
follow after. And historically, that could result is a bit of a wait as LG has seeded its update to Poland first in the past, only to have the wider rollout around four months later. Last year, for example, LG G3 owners in Poland got the Android 5.0 Lollipop upgrade in November 2014, while UK owners didn't get it until February this year. Still, the company is striving to ensure it reaches its phones before other third-party competitors and that should be applauded. LG will also announce which other smartphones in its line-up will be receiving Android 6.0 Marshmallow in due course. It will also reveal an upgrade schedule, which Pocket-lint will bring to you the moment we have it. LG’s launch might even beat the 22 October release date of Google's own Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P phones, although many owners of previous generation Nexus devices have already had their updates so it's not strictly speaking "the world's first".
Ooredoo, Nokia ink tie-up for mobile broadband Qatar-based top telecom group Ooredoo Group and Nokia have signed a major framework agreement for advanced mobile broadband network strategy across Mena and Southeast Asia. Under the five-year contract, Nokia will provide advanced mobile broadband technologies and professional services to help Ooredoo Group supports superior 2G, 3G, 4G and LTE-A networks to offer advanced voice and data services for its customers across its range of mature and emerging markets. In the renewed agreement, the terms and conditions have been revised to include global best practices in terms of delivery and technology for the benefit of both companies. Ooredoo has taken the lead in network performance across its footprint, offering 4G+ in Qatar and Kuwait, 4G in Oman, Tunisia, and the Maldives, and launching the first commercial 3G in Algeria and 3G services in Myanmar. Frame agreements like the one signed with Nokia are one of the tools the Group uses to reinforce its leadership position. Ahmed Al Derbesti, COO of Ooredoo Group, said: “Working with Nokia, Ooredoo has designed and built a range of leading-edge networks that enable us to enrich our customers’ lives. This renewed framework agreement is significant, as it covers the delivery of all the latest technologies and support services helping us further enhance our network capacity and coverage.” Ashish Chowdhary, executive vice president and chief business officer, Nokia Networks, said: “We value our long-term partnership with Ooredoo, and are committed to helping it provide world-class voice and data services, and meet burgeoning data demand.” “Our hands-on innovation approach enables mobile broadband networks to deliver gigabytes of personalised data per user per day profitably and securely by 2020. With our latest innovations we will support Ooredoo to prepare for the huge data demand, and provide high-speed data services with improved network coverage, in addition to clearer voice call services to ensure the ultimate personal gigabyte experience.” Demonstrating the power of the partnership Ooredoo Qatar, Nokia Networks and China Mobile showcased a record-breaking speed of 4.1 Gbps over TDD-FDD LTE at the ITU Telecom World 2014. Supported by the Global TD-LTE Initiative, the speed was achieved by combining TDD- and FDD-LTE spectrums and aggregating 10 carriers with 200 MHz bandwidth.
News Wacom to show new product family Wacom Co. Ltd., a leader in interactive pen displays and digital drawing tablets, will introduce its award-winning Bamboo Spark device and a new range of the Intuos® product family to the MEA region at the upcoming 35th Gitex Technology Week. Wacom will showcase the latest products it successfully launched at IFA Berlin in Germany on stand B2-5 at the Dubai World Trade Center. Wacom’s innovative Bamboo Spark, the new Intuos range and improved Bamboo style reflect its steady commitment to develop devices that inspire people to explore and express new creative ideas. Wacom will put particular focus on Bamboo Spark, which redefines note-taking in the 21st century by transforming ideas from paper to cloud to life.The cutting-edge smart folio Bamboo Spark enables individuals to save their handwritten notes in the Wacom Cloud for editing at a later time. The files can easily be accessed anywhere using any iOS or android device. Alexander Maliyenko, Director Sales for ME, Wacom, said, “Our participation at Gitex 2015 will give us the opportunity to demonstrate our latest innovative products in the MEA region and a venue to answer all queries from the major event’s participants. With Bamboo Spark Wacom has taken another important step to make digital stationary a reality. It is based on Wacom Ink Layer Language (WILL), which allows for notes to stay editable across various platforms and complements the features of our innovative Bamboo products. Our smart style have been integrated with either Bluetooth or electromagnetic resonance (EMR) and active electrostatic (AES) technologies to support pressure-sensitive writing and sketching.”
Huawei Launched Honor 7 in Middle East, set to capture 10% market share Huawei has officially launched its new flagship Honor 7 smartphone device for the Middle East market in Dubai. As per Huawei’s estimation, Honor 7 is set to become one of the best-selling device for the comoany and will achieve 10 per cent market share in the region, according to the Chinese smartphone manufacturer. The new Honor 7 device will be available from October 18 for Dh1,399. Consumers can pre-register on www.HonorArabia.com for a promo-coupon worth Dh150 to use on their first Honor 7 purchase on Souq.com, the exclusive partner to distribute the brand across the region. "We are very blush on the phone. We are aiming to sell over 15,000 devices in the first week of launch and will continue to grow week-on-week," Ronaldo Mouchawar, CEO and co-founder of Souq.com, said while talking to the media at the launch. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are two big markets because it is a premium phone with top-notch features, Mouchawar said. The brand is young and has good correlation with online users, he added. Chris Sun Baigong, vice-president of Huawei Honor in the Middle East, said, "The Honor 7 clearly demonstrates our capability to offer young tech-savvy consumers in the ME, a smartphone that far exceeds their expectations." The device has already received global praise as a phone with all the high-end specs without the high-end price and has subsequently experienced huge success, selling out in China in just two minutes. Purpose-built for single-handed use, the Honor 7 packs a raft of gamechanging smart functions and multimedia capabilities operated through its unique smart button and gesture-
enabled fingerprint sensor. The Honor 7 boasts a metallic air-brushed body with a 5.2-inch encasing. Its self-learning fingerprint sensor allows for rapid authentication and supports intuitive gesture controls that enables users to do everything from answer calls to take photos. The Honor 7's 20 MP rear-facing camera, powered by a Sony IMX 230 sensor and Honor's PDAF fast-focusing technology is likened to having a professional SLR in the palm. The camera also offers easy to use tricks and features ranging from the Good Food mode,, turning g "foodgasm" g photography hy into a breeze, to a revolutionary ary light-painting capability through which users can construct vibrant artistic images, turning anyy amateur into a professional al photographer in an instant.
October 2015 | 17
News
3M Gulf strengthens GCC presence ture and retail sectors to better serve local markets and customers. “Oman is a promising market in the GCC region, with its economy constantly expanding on the back of rising public and private investment, and a steadily increasing level of non-oil activity,” said Ippocratis Vrohidis, 3M Area Vice President for the Middle East and Africa region. “As a global leader in developing innovative solutions, 3M is firmly poised to effectively contribute towards the growth and development of Oman’s inspiring economic progress which offers a lot of potential opportunities for sustainable long-term growth.” “The decision to open a new office in Oman is in line with our commitment to provide our partners and customers with the best products and solutions derived from years of technological innovation excellence,” said Terrence Zwambila, Managing Director of 3M Gulf. “Oman is a key growth market for our operations in the region and we are confident that we will be able to establish a strong presence and sustain our operations in this market which will be led by Alex Arzoumanian, the newly appointed 3M Country Manager.” Oman, which showed positive economic growth over the past years and has ambitious plans to diversify its economy, offers great opportunities for growth and development in multiple sectors and is a focus market In line with its ongoing plans to expand its presence in the Middle East and Africa region, 3M, a science-based company that inspires creative collaboration, announced the opening of its office in Oman. The new office was officially inaugurated by Ippocratis Vrohidis, 3M Area Vice President for Middle East and Africa; Terrence Zwambila, Managing Director of 3M Gulf; Alex Arzoumanian, 3M Country Manager for Oman in the presence of a number of government officials and industry leaders. The new office, which is located in Shatti Al Qurum area and spread over 170 square meters, will support a comprehensive range of 3M innovative products to
“The decision to open a new office in Oman is in line with our commitment to provide our partners and customers with the best products and solutions derived from years of technological innovation excellence.” customers in Oman. 3M operates across diverse business sectors, such as Consumer, Electronics and Energy, Healthcare, Industrial, Safety and Graphics, and produces over 100,000 products across 46 technology platforms. 3M’s foray into Oman would initially focus on leveraging opportunities in the healthcare, oil and gas, infrastruc-
Securifi to enter Middle East through Gitex Securifi has announced that it is participating in GITEX Technology Week 2015, with aims to expand its operations in the Middle East by signing on new partners across the region. The company will use GITEX as a platform to promote its range of Almond routers – touchscreen wireless routers, meet with customers and scout for new channel partners across the region. “Since our company’s inception in 2012, Securifi has invested heavily in research and development to create a revolutionary new touchscreen wireless router, which is simple to use and features the fastest possible connectivity speeds and delivers the ultimate connected home automation experience to help make people’s lives easier and their world a smarter place. Our innovation – Almond has received great reviews
18 | October 2015
by users and reviewers alike and has seen a rapid increase in market share in the router category. After our global success, we are looking to replicate this in the Middle East as well,” said Rammohan Malasani, Founder and CEO, Securifi. “GITEX Technology Week 2015, being the Middle East region’s largest ICT exhibition, is a perfect platform to announce our Middle East foray. Our aim is to create brand awareness for our products, hold demos for customers and meet with distributors and resellers from the region and onboard strong partners to expand our market reach. Through our participation in GITEX, we plan to make a strong Middle East push for our products. We are confident, we will achieve all of this and more at the event,” said Mohammad Meraj Hoda, President, World Wide Sales & Development, Securifi.
for many multinational and regional companies including global conglomerates such as 3M. Its economy is set to post strong growth this year, despite the decline in oil prices. According to IMF figures, non-oil GDP growth in Oman outpaced the broader economy by a factor of two in 2014, up 6.5% on the year.
Panasonic unveils latest intelligent security surveillance cameras Helping security professionals to maximize their surveillance investment and meet the increasing demand for more effective security, Panasonic Marketing Middle East and Africa (PMMAF) has introduced 4K enabled WV-SFV781L and WV-SPV781L, a new line of high performance security surveillance cameras for vital infrastructure and environments. The new cameras, equipped with 4K Ultra Engine with large diameter lens (F1.6) and a 6x optical zoom, provide a wide angle of view, delivering very detailed 4K images. They enable clear identification of people and objects from the center to the edge, delivering very detailed sharp pictures at 0.0 lux with 4K resolution, capturing clear images in low light or complete darkness with a built-in IR LED. The latest 4K system is set to reduce overall surveillance costs, states Yasuo Yamasaki, Director- System Solutions, Panasonic Marketing Middle East & Africa. “We estimate that the cost of switching to 4K could reduce surveillance costs by as much as 50 %, as one Panasonic 4K camera offers the image quality and coverage of four full HD cameras and further taking into
account a reduction in costs for installation, cabling, network and maintenance.” The network cameras are aimed at intersections, airports, railway stations, car parks, factories, warehouses and port facilities, or those places that require high pixel density surveillance, such as stadiums where a large number of cameras are usually required to provide full coverage. “The 4K camera sensors offer strong low light performance and cover 16 to 100 degree field of view. This is significantly less hardware to manage and maintain,” Yamasaki added. The WV-SFV781L and the WV-SPV781L are weather and impact resistant. The rain wash coating helps reduce maintenance costs and helps avoid the effect of water drops and dust. Virtual PTZ operation allows the user to focus on one smaller area in view whilst still recording the whole area, so every single event is captured in mission critical applications. The 1/1.7 type sensor, in combination with Panasonic’s True 4K F1.6 lens, achieves low light performance at just 0.3 lux in colour or 0.03 lux in black and white mode
In Focus
News
Trigon
Redefining Retail & SMB: Trigon With more than 350 active accounts, an Al Ghurair Group Company – Trigon is known for its strong credibility and expertise in the Middle East market. Based on his experience, Arun Chawla- CEO, Trigon, explained the key highlights of this market and also shared Trigon’s major activities in the region. Please share Trigon’s major initiatives in the industry segments that you address? We have developed more focus on retail business and expanded retail related product line. B2B Business and the SME segment has become major driver for our business and we have expanded product line related to vertical segment- like Healthcare , Hospitality, Financial Sector. We have also placed dedicated manpower for Abu Dhabi operations. The other key developments or initiatives that we have taken at Trigon are as follows: • Expansion of Service Centre • Migrated to SAP as ERP System • KSA Sales Office setup and it’s operational. • Trigon signed distribution agreement with Philips displays as the authorised distributor for its entire range of monitors across GCC countries including UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The new relationship will strengthen Trigon’s product portfolio and cements Trigon’s positon as a dominant display technology company and open up new business avenues like healthcare where Philips has a strong presence. What are the product streams that had added or strengthened in Trigon’s business? We have floated a dedicated division to focus on Digital
Arun Chawla CEO, Trigon
today and sales team from 12 to 15. Most of our Power Retail partners have aggressive expansion / growth plans during 2015 and we will partner with these plans at all levels. Trigon established in 2009 Trigon Bahrain sales office and with a major focus to tap growing potential of retail segment . We have managed to become the most
“Trigon realized that creating and distributing content via digital signage serves as an effective marketing tool, which is expected to spur adoption in the corporate sector and hence a dedicated business unit was set-up.” Signage business segment. The digital signage market is expected to grow by 70% in the Middle East region and the demand from application areas such as retail and healthcare is expected to drive the market over the next five years. Trigon realized that creating and distributing content via digital signage serves as an effective marketing tool, which is expected to spur adoption in the corporate sector and hence a dedicated business unit was set-up. This resulted in a growth of 50% higher revenues during 2014 compared to 2013 from the SI / Corporate segment. The key product streams that are doing well for us are: • Philips Display • Dell Display • Samsung & LG Large format / Digital Signage Retail has been a strong focus for the company. What makes the company one of the leading players in this space? Retail has always been a strong fort and our passion and understanding of the retail business has helped us to remain a very focused retail oriented distributor Combined 20 years plus of Retail Business Experience : Trigon passion and understanding of the retail business backed by our retail oriented product mix has helped us to remain one step ahead of others. Our dedicated focus, commitment and willingness to invest in retail business has been the driving force Investment in Sales Team & Merchandisers for Better Customer Education. Between 2010 to 2013 we have grown in store promoters from 15 to a sales force of 40+
20 | October 2015
preferred retail partners to all major retailers and have grown the business more than 100%. Mention successful outcomes in terms of sales growth from some of the initiatives during promotions including DSF, GITEX etc? Trigon is known for its various innovative marketing programs with conceptualizing and implementing schemes/rebates being its key strengths. Trigon initiated partner training series to inform, educate and train channel partners on the upcoming technologies and products.
EUROSTAR Group enters into Total Smart Security Leading multi-dimensional business house from the Middle East-- EUROSTAR Group has announced its foray into Smart Security Monitoring Solutions in the Middle East. Through strong partnerships with renowned global manufacturers, EUROSTAR Group aims to bring turnkey solutions inSmart Security Monitoring to the region. This move further diversifies EUROSTAR’s strong and well-built business interests in the region. EUROSTAR Group is a multi-national conglomerate with diversified business interests including Trading and Commodities, FMCG, Smart Mobility Devices, Consumer Electronics, Electronic Multimedia and Pay TV, Convergent Technologies/Tendering and LED Lighting where it has achieved remarkable success over the past three decades. Founded by Mr. Raju Jethwani in the early 90s, EUROSTAR Group has established a strong presence in both regional and global markets. The Group has a strong global presence with own retail showrooms, strong presence across the regions’ power retailers, wholesale dealers and electronic stores and business operations in 50 countries worldwide. EUROSTAR’s Infrastructure is spread across the Middle East, with the Group currently expanding its existing business sets up in Africa and the Levant regions. Commenting on the participation at Gitex Technology 2015, Mr. Raju Jethwani, Chairman of EUROSTAR Group said, “The last two decades have been remarkable in our growth where we have explored various business interests and established our strength in each. We are very positive about continuing to scale our business into new verticals. We are certain that our foray into smart security solutions will be as successful as our other business divisions, given our focus on innovation and quality.” “At EUROSTAR, we lay great emphasis on innovation, whether this comes within our existing lines of businesses or its means expansion into new ventures. We nurture new concepts and ventures through innovation, research and development, and strategic market penetration and lifecycle management. The model has worked well for us, given our keen eye to identify market needs and requirements and address them with turnkey solutions,” Raju further said.
You have enhanced your focus in other GCC markets. Please mention markets outside UAE that have shown great result for your business? Trigon emulated the success formula of UAE in Bahrain & Saudi Arabia and as a result the revenue growth in Bahrain was 30% whereas in Saudi Arabia it was 73% compared to 2013-14. Regional expansion plans are in place and the feasibility study is being concluded to identify the areas for expansion. Which are the Key Brands that Trigon is doing business with? We are doing business with brands such as Samsung, Dell, LG, Acer, Lenovo, Xerox, D-Link, Creative, ViewSonic, Netgear, BenQ, Philips, Elo Touch, Ergotron, Transcend , PenPower, Mustek, Plustek, AVM and others.
Raju Jethwani Chairman, EUROSTAR Group
In Focus
News
Mixmax
Computing everywhere Joseph Thomas General Manager, MIXMAX TRADING LLC. shared an overview on retail dynamics of Middle East ICT market. Joseph spoke about new trends and market demands. How is the Middle East IT peripheral market evolving?
will grow over the next three years. The expansion wil be
The UAE computer product market is forecast to grow at
biggest in construction ,biomedical , consumer applica-
around 8.4% until 2018, so the trend is very positive.
tions. Thus reducing significant costs
Hardware sales make up to 52% of total estimated value
2. Web scale IT. More and more companies will start
of sales, with services and software the balance. With
thinking like google, amazon and facebook. As cloud
portable computers , laptops, smart phones making up the
optimized methods become mainstream we will see
dominant share of consumer spending by value last
move towards web-scale IT.
year—and combined with the high penetration of internet
3. Cloud-client architecture- AS mobile computing
in homes and offices , all should lead to better demand
meets cloud computing , centrally coordinated apps that
for IT peripherals market .
can be delivered to any device will grow.
Trends such as design and usability are dominating the
What kind of growth is happening in the gaming market?
mindset of consumers. How do you experience these
And how is the IT retail segment is evolving?
trends in the market? Good design is a basic requirement for product differentia-
The gaming market in the Middle East continues to grow due to more structured retail environment, higher
“Computing everywhere- As smart phone technology advances, smart phones will be used in new contexts and environments. Along with the wearables, smart phones will offer connected screens in the work place and in the public.” tion and competitiveness. Uniform designs are outdated
bandwidth, online payment channels and investor
and people perceive each brands and each segment with
interest in the game development space. Gamers will be
unique designs to be more fashionable and trendy.
more inclined towards online and mobile games,
Usability is again an important point, but with new trends
weaning away from the consoles and pre-installed PC
and uniform usability applications, design has been the
games. The retail segment - since last two years have
best inducer for purchase decisions.
been revamped and modified for gaming area with more
What are the key trends that are influencing today’s consumer? Computing everywhere- As smart phone technology
space given for consoles/ accessories and software. Special zones for user experiences are also created for potential gamers to try on new games, and new accessories etc.
advances, smart phones will be used in new contexts and environments. Along with the wearables, smart phones
What are your business’ key distribution partners?
will offer connected screens in the work place and in the
We are distributors for Verbatim , Vmax, Xtron , Philips
public. User experience will be the key
accessories , Skross etc. Our business Is in distribution
1. 3D printing.- its about to get cheaper and its market
to all retailers.
VIVA Participates in 35th GITEX Technology VIVA, Kuwait's fastest-growing and most developed telecom operator, announced its participation in the 35th
of professionals. This year, GITEX will debut a range of innovative and
GITEX Technology to present its wide latest range of
exciting industry features including Industry Briefings,
products and services. The International GITEX Technology
where more than 1500 delegates and 150 speakers will
week 2015 will take place from 18 - 22 October 2015 in
debate tech trends in cutting-edge, sector-specific
Dubai at the Za'abeel Exhibition Hall in the Dubai
knowledge platforms; Developer Days, a series of
International Convention and Exhibition Centre, and is
dedicated workshops, tech demos, training programs and
considered the leading IT and technology exhibition and
networking activities offered by leading OS platforms
attracts a majority of decision makers in the Middle East.
designed to enhance developers' in-show experience; a
On this occasion, Mr. Abdulrazzaq Bader Al-Essa,
Social Plaza hosting the Influencers' Reception; the
Director of Corporate Communications at VIVA , said: "We
Bloggers Tweetup and Tech Talk Blogger Program which
are honored to take part in GITEX for the fourth year in a
will double attendance from regional bloggers. Expanded
row. It is an exciting experience for the VIVA family to
event features include the official press reception Show
participate in one of the world's most anticipated IT and
Stoppers, online community ConneXions, live streaming of
technology exhibitions. Our participation in the GITEX
social media, trending topics and tech news via the
Technology Week 2015 comes in line with our corporate
Content Hub. Enhanced interactive elements include the
strategy to extend and present our services not only
GSM Exchange Zone, a platform for the mobile product
locally, but on a regional scale."
industry, the C-Level Majlis Lounge for senior executive
Bahrain will be taking part in the exhibition and showcase their latest products and services through team
22 | October 2015
networking, free Smart Sessions for knowledge-sharing, the Retailers and Distributors Lounge and the SME Zone.
OPPO redefines smartphone market in UAE The UAE smartphone landscape has, for a long time now, been dominated by the same brands fighting cut throat over the premium segment while; on the other hand, the mid-range horizon is far from being vibrant. This is exactly where OPPO excels. The global technology brand provides its clients with highly refined smartphones at an unbeatable price. OPPO believes that not only high end customers deserve a quality product. In their eyes quality is a must that has to be delivered to every user. Yes, features vary and get more wowing as you climb up the ladder of its products, but the quality of the materials used in the manufacturing is a standard that the company cannot live without. For instance, beneath the attractive surface of the Mirror 5 there is an innovative internal structure reinforced with a bi-metallic frame with cross beams for exceptional strength and durability. Thanks to its affordable luxury strategy, the global brand is now second in the Chinese market with a share of 9.9% and a front-runner in different South East Asian countries. This shows that in a short time frame OPPO did not only establish a hedonic response towards the brand, but it also delivered high functional value throughout its different product offerings. Expending to every corner of the world, the technology prodigy has set its eyes on developing its presence in the Middle East, especially the UAE. To take over the local market OPPO has recently introduced its flagship mobile devices, the R7 and the R7 Plus. Two smartphones with a performance that precedes them. In fact, online reviews give them skyscraping grades. The independent online publication, Android Authority, gives the R7 and R7 Plus respectively an average rating of 8.2 and 9.0 which, in their standards, are one of the highest ratings a smartphone can get. The battery and the design were especially highlighted during the review. This is mainly due to the prerogative the company is giving to its product design and how it sees the phone not just as a portable computer but as a fashion tool and also to its unique patented VOOC flash charge. The VOOC is an instant charging technology developed by OPPO, which can give the smartphone enough power for two hours of talk after only five minutes of charging, and complete 75% of the charging in just 30 minutes. The technology provides users 4x faster charging speed than conventional charges.
News
Dubai Silicon Oasis set to participate at GITEX Technology Week
Adnan Al Bahar Vice President, Marketing & Corporatet Communication, DSOA’s Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), the regulatory body for Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), the integrated free zone technology park, announced its participation at the GITEX Technology Week 2015, marking its 13th consecutive participation at the industry’s ultimate regional technology event. DSO’s participation in the current edition will highlight the hi-tech park’s commitment to contribute to Dubai’s Smart City vision, as well as supporting start-ups and innovation through its wholly owned Dubai Technology Entrepreneurship Centre; the largest of its kind in the Middle East. DSOA stand will additionally host five of the top SMEs and start-ups headquartered at the high-tech park. During the five-day event that will run from October
18-22 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the DSOA stand at Zabeel Hall (stand no ZB20) will display a grand model of Silicon Park, the first integrated smart city project to be built at DSO at a cost of AED1.2 billion. Spanning an area of 150,000 square meters, Silicon Park is expected to be completed by 2018. Visitors to the 35th edition of GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK will have an opportunity to learn about DSO’s solid value proposition and free-zone benefits such as competitive cost of operations, state-of-art infrastructure, advanced IT network and 100 per cent ownership. Visitors will also have the chance to interact with DSOA-based SMEs and entrepreneurs who will join the DSOA stand to demonstrate innovative products and services, and share their success stories that took shape at the integrated free zone technology park. Commenting on DSOA’s 13th participation, Adnan Al Bahar, Vice President – Marketing & Corporate Communications, said: “GITEX Technology Week offers a great platform for young and aspiring entrepreneurs to interact with local and global technology experts. During this year’s participation we will focus on promoting DSOA’s projects that support Dubai Smart Initiative, such as DSOA’s Smart Silicon Park project, Smart Waste Bins among many others. We will also focus on promoting DTEC that was built to foster entrepreneurial support to young and innovative technology minds”. “We are confident that our participation at GITEX 2015 with the display of our Silicon Park project as the main attraction, will contribute to positioning Dubai as a leading destination for international technology companies and a worthy contender for the title of Smartest City in the World.” A wholly-owned entity of the government of Dubai, DSO operates as a free zone technology park for large enterprises, medium and small companies looking to set up their offices in Dubai.
Acer and WD Bring BYOC to WD’s My Cloud Acer, the world’s fourth largest personal computer company and a private cloud solution provider, and WD (Western Digital), a world leader in storage solutions, announced that WD’s My Cloud NAS is now part of Acer’s BYOC (Build Your Own Cloud) ecosystem. Available immediately, Acer BYOC users can seamlessly access files on their My Cloud NAS from their PC or mobile device anywhere – using Acer’s abFiles app. "We are excited to welcome WD to the BYOC ecosystem," said Maverick Shih, President, BYOC Business Group, Acer. "The availability of abFiles for the My Cloud platform allows our joint customers to enjoy seamless file management across their personal devices, with all of their files always at their fingertips, regardless of whether the file is on their PC or their NAS drive.” “We are delighted to be partnering with Acer to the benefit of our mutual customers,” said Sven Rathjen, VP and GM of Network Content Solutions for WD. “Now our customers can find abFiles on the My Cloud app center to download for free, and incorporate their My Cloud into Acer’s BYOC ecosystem.” Acer abFiles makes it easy to access files stored on a user’s PC or NAS from any of their devices over a wireless or mobile network, making file management on the go easier than ever. After installing the abFiles app on their My Cloud NAS (supported models: My Cloud Mirror, My Cloud Expert Series and My Cloud Business Series), the user will only need to sign-in with their Acer ID through the web administration interface, and the My Cloud will be added to their personal BYOC setup, with files readily accessible from any of their connected devices.
Redington Value to redefine itself as a solutions partner at Gitex 2015 Redington Value, the value-added distribution division of Redington Gulf is all set to transform itself as a solutions partner to its channel partners. The Gitex Technology Week 2015 will see the company positioning itself as an ideal source for complete IT solutions to its partners in the region. The company’s solutions span across technology domains such as networking, voice, servers, storage, software, security and infrastructure. Describing it as a significant move aimed at catering to an industry that is fast changing into a marketplace for all-in-one solutions and an IT segment that is challenged by disruptive technology, Ramkumar Balakrishnan, President, Redington Value Distribution, says that the main focus is on enhancing its ability and offerings in the channel from a solutions and enablement points of view. “We are enhancing our ability to build a pipeline which is incremental in nature by partnering closely with the customers and generating end-user demand in coordination with vendor and our channel partners. We are also focused on building a ‘converged infrastructure’ speciality in value division,” says Balakrishnan. “The expertise we have gained over the years, working with various brands and the skillset available today, can be best utilised for providing solutions to clients dealing with the convergence of new technologies. GITEX provides us
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Ramkumar Balakrishnan President, Redington Value Distribution
the best platform to highlight our complete portfolio,” he adds. The Gitex Technology Week 2015 will also mark the Value division entering into its tenth year of operations. The division has grown into an ideal source for complete IT solutions to its partners in the region. Started in 2006 with offices in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia with just nine employees and eight brands, the value division has witnessed exponential growth over the past decade. It has expanded into being the number one value-added distributor in the region with an active presence in 27 markets with more than 200 employees from 19 countries and representing over 40brands. The company has also taken a lead in creating a gender balance, with almost 20 per cent of its overall workforce comprising female employees - a considerable figure when compared to other major players in the IT industry. During Gitex Technology Week, the company aims to showcase some of the latest introductions in the sphere of hyper-converged solutions and software-defined solutions besides its Redington Value Cloud solution. The two major announcements include Redcloud (Redington’s cloud platform) and an enhanced portfolio of hyper-convergence products including the EMC VSPEX Blue.
What’sNew Epson WorkForce Pro RIPS
HD Ultra-Wide View 802.11 AC Wi-Fi Camera
Overview
Overview
Eliminate traditional printer frustrations and free up your business with the latest WorkForce Pro RIPS business printers. The advanced Replaceable Ink Pack System (RIPS) technology uses super-high-yield ink supply units for printing up to 75,000 pages between ink changes. This eliminates most of the physical waste involved in printing when compared to comparable colour laser printers. But that’s just the start.
DCS-960L is a full function day & night HD H.264 180° Horizontal Panoramic View wireless cube network camera of D-link surveillance product line for consumers. The HD CMOS sensor achieves low noise and high resolution sensor with H.264 high compression rate codec capability for network surveillance application. Given the excellent video quality and small form factor are designed for easy install in any indoor environment.
Key Features • Low intervention reduces time-wasting asting interruptions • Reduces downtime with proven Epson pson PrecisionCore technology • Enables distributed printers that deliver local high quality printing • Reduces waiting time for prints • Adds security and confidentiality With local print collection • Reduces levels of lost, stolen, expired or end of life supplies • Frees up time from simplified consumables stock management • Reduces supplies storage space requirements • Reduces supplies waste
Key Features • HD, the High Definition video is commonly been adopted as mainstream video standard from vast video categories, such as digital TV, computer monitor, gaming, filmmaking, and also video surveillance. • HD 180 degree wide eye • Wireless 11AC IP camera with IR LED capability • Comes with 0lux CMOS sensor • UPNP, DDNS, WPS support (myDlink enabled) • With IR LED Lens(850 nm, for 5 meter distance ), you can customize your surveillance application to enable low light or night vision video streaming
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For more details, log on to www.dlinkmea.com
Dell New XPS 13 Overview
Key Features
The XPS 13 isn’t just the smallest 13-inch laptop on the planet, it also has the world’s first virtually borderless infinityEdge display with optional touch. The virtually borderless infinityEdge display cleverly fits a 13-inch display into the size of an 11-inch laptop. Compared to the Apple® MacBook Air 13, the XPS 13 is 23% smaller with the same size screen. The thin bezel frees up the screen space in this design. The threesided, virtually borderless infinity display ay measures a miniscule 5.2mm border: the he thinnest frame on a notebook.
• 13.3-inch UltraSharp™ QHD+ (3200x1800) infinity touch display, ETE Corning® Gorilla® Glass NBT™ • 13.3-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) infinity display, anti-glare 400-nits, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 72% 400 color gamut, 170° wide viewing angle colo 85° / 85° / 85° / 85° Capacitive touchscreen option – • C 10-finger touch support 10
ESET Multi-Device Security Pack
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Seagate Backup Plus Desktop Drive
Overview
Overview
ESET Multi Device Security splits the protection among 5 or 3 devices, be it a PC, Mac, smartphone or tablet. Replacing a device? Just transfer the license to the new one. No more hassle with keeping track of your licenses. All computer and mobile platforms will sync in a click of ESET Multi device Security Pack, keeping you protected automatically. With new product version releases, you get free upgrade for the duration of the license. This way, you always have the latest protection. This pack protects your online experience on computers or smartphones with the latest antivirus technology, Personal Firewall and Anti-Phishing. Retain remote control over your missing device. Track its position with GPS, view webcam videos or send a message to the finder.
The Backup Plus Desktop Drive from Seagate is the simple, one-click way to protect and share your entire digital life - without getting in the way. Backup Plus Portable Drive is compatible with Lyve, so all of your photos and videos can be easily shared wherever you are. Super intuitive set up. You won't miss a moment.
Key Features • Banking & Payment Protection • Botnet Protection • Exploit Blocker • Advanced Memory Scanner • Vulnerability Shield • Small System Footprint • Gamer Mode • Free Technical Support For more details, log on to www.eset.com/me
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Key Features • Up to 8TB of capacity for just about - well, everything! • Share files between PCs and Macs • Comes with Seagate Dashboard backup software • Comes with 200GB cloud storage with OneDrive for 2 years (Must activate by June 30, 2017. May not be available in all countries.) • Comes with NTFS driver for Mac and 4-foot (1.2m) USB 3.0 cable, plug-and-play
For more details, log on to www.seagate.com
Market Stats
Worldwide Shipments of 3D Printers to Reach More Than 490,000 in 2016: Gartner As per Gartner's latest market forecast worldwide shipments of 3D printers will reach 496,475 units in 2016, up 103 percent from the predicted 244,533 units in 2015. 3D printer shipments are forecast to more than double every year between 2016 and 2019, by which time worldwide shipments are expected to reach more than 5.6 million. "Rapid quality and performance innovations across all 3D printer technologies are driving both enterprise and consumer demand, with unit shipment growth rates for 3D printers increasing significantly," said Pete Basiliere, research vice president at Gartner. "The 3D printer market is continuing its transformation from a niche market to broad-based, global market of enterprises and consumers." Seven technologies constitute the 3D printer market, with material extrusion forecast to lead 2015 shipments at 232,336 units, increasing to 5,527,493 units in 2019 (97.5 percent of the total) largely due to the sales of low cost, entry-level material extrusion printers. Average selling prices (ASPs) vary by technology and market. Each market has different dynamics, including the mix of devices, prices and buyer requirements that drive the average for all 3D printers in a given technology. Directed-energy deposition printers are the most highly priced, followed by powder bed fusion printers. Worldwide shipments by price band are affected by the 3D printer technologies represented within them. Of particular note are the up-to-$1,000 and $1,001-to-$2,500 bands, which are dominated by material
extrusion devices. 3D printers costing less than $1,000 will make up 25.5 percent of the total of these two price bands in 2015, but will grow to 40.7 percent of the $1-to-$2,500 range by 2019. The primary market drivers for consumer 3D printers costing under $2,500 are not household purchases but acquisitions of low-cost devices by schools and universities. The primary enterprise 3D printer market drivers are the finished-piece quality and material advances. "Enterprise 3D printers can not only prototype new products and produce tools and fixtures that are used to make other items, but also print high-quality, short-run finished goods,” said Mr. Basiliere. “This multifaceted ability is driving their growth worldwide."
PC shipments continue to drop Analyst reports from Gartner and IDC revealed that shipments of personal computers continued to drop during the third quarter as a rise in U.S dollar made the devices more expensive in other countries. IDC found that out of 71 million global PC shipments were down by 10 percent year-overyear, and Gartner says shipments declined by 7.7 percent at $73.7 million. Both the firms reported that Lenovo Group Ltd. stayed the top global PC vendor, and HewlettPackard Co. remained the top shipper in the US. Sales of PCs started to decline over the years as more consumers are opting for tablets and smartphones. There was a slight rebound in sales in 2014 as Microsoft phased out Windows XP, reflecting purchases by businesses. “The improved PC experience across user segments should drive longer-term demand for new PC hardware,” said IDC analyst Jay Chou. However the slump is set to change in 2016 as more consumers opt to upgrade their devices. Analysts cite the transition to Microsoft Windows 10 OS for the slump, and customers are waiting for the sixth generation of Intel Core’s family that will boost performance and reduce energy consumption. Both firms said that users preferred to upgrade their PC hardware instead of getting a new PC. IDC researcher Lin Huang said whether this compulsion translates into actual sales remains to be seen.
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