The growth in multi-player gaming, SMS alerts and multi-media content download in the Middle East underlines the need to keep abreast of technology to meet the rising expectations of mobile phone users, said Bashar Dahabra, Founder and CEO of Info2cell.com, the leading Wireless Application Service Provider (WASP) in Middle East and North Africa.
Addressing the Marcus Evans Mobile Forum on the regional mobile data services market in Dubai recently, Dahabra said: “Multi-player gaming, SMS2TV, chat, SMS alerts and multimedia content download have emerged as the breakthrough applications in the region, and their popularity demands that mobile services should be driven by market needs. In addition, mobile operators must take effective measures to address emerging challenges in the industry, such as content licensing, phone compatibility, and high GPRS charges.”
“The huge potential of mobile services market in the Middle East has not been fully realised. It is imperative therefore that operators and service providers embrace latest technologies to create content and innovative applications which will provide end-users with additional features and value added services," Dahabra added.
“The growing popularity of mobile service segments such as news, sports, infotainment, Islamic and multimedia content in the region is a clear indication of the huge untapped opportunities. There is a need for more creative and dynamic content which presents a golden opportunity to the region’s content providers to demonstrate their talent," Dahabra said.
“The effectiveness of mobile services as a robust advertising platform has prompted more and more companies to choose the medium for competitions and promotions. This not only offers an excellent avenue for growth, but also a challenge as it demands consistently reliable service. Content delivery technologies like SMS, MMS, WAP and video are the determinants of success in the mobile services sector. Mobile service providers must seek to leverage the advantages that these technologies provide and raise awareness about the benefits they offer.”
Marcus Evans, the organisers of the Mobile Forum, is one of the world's leading providers and promoters of strategic conferences, professional training, in-company training, business-to-business congresses, corporate hospitality and online information.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
