The MotoWithMe report, released today by Motorola, reveals that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the most highly mobile and connected societies in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, compared to South Africa and six European countries researched in the study.
In a recent survey of 500 residents in the UAE from different genders, nationalities and backgrounds, respondents portrayed themselves as ready to adopt new entertainment and communications services and technologies.
The United Arab Emirates tops the poll when it comes to how attached people are to their technology. Four out of five people said they would find it impossible to manage without a mobile phone and almost 90% said the same about an internet connection (broadband or dial-up), higher than any other country studied.
More than 86% of respondents wanted their mobile phones with them wherever they went, on a par with the mobile-loving Italians, and a further 58% of respondents chose to have the internet with them at all times, again higher than most European countries. Only 28% respondents in the UK chose this option.
A huge 30% of respondents also said they would like to take their digital or satellite television with them wherever they went, more than double the figure of most European countries, indicating they are keener than any other nation to adopt services such as mobile TV.
Of the 500 people surveyed, 63% said having their communications and entertainment services with them at all times would help them keep in touch with their families, the second highest figure of the survey just behind South Africa. As Azaleah, 26, a banker from Sharjah explained: “With the mobile phone I can contact my family from anywhere, everywhere, anytime I like. With the digi-cam I like to capture precious moments of my life.”
“Seamless mobility creates a more natural communication experience, allowing you to stay connected to the people and things you love regardless of the device you are using, the network or location,” said Hassan Tavakoli, Vice President, Motorola Middle East and Africa.
Almost two-thirds of people in the UAE felt that technology has made great leaps forward, but now they would like it to be easier to use.
“Today, we are in the midst of a revolution that will change the way people communicate. Thirty years ago the simple concept of having a telephone with you all the time was unimaginable, but with the introduction of the cellular phone in 1983, Motorola revolutionised personal communications. Motorola’s heritage lies in developing innovative products that connect people to each other and the world around them. The MotoWithMe survey shows that people in the UAE and around the world are receptive to another major wave of innovation, and Motorola is ready to deliver that advance with its seamless mobility technologies,” continued Tavakoli.
Motorola’s vision of seamless mobility will meet this demand by providing easy, uninterrupted access to information, communications and entertainment – when, where and how people want, regardless of device, network or location. Instead of experiencing a disconnect as we move between different devices, environments and networks, seamless mobility will deliver continuous experiences that span the home, vehicle, office and beyond. In addition, seamless mobility means our mobile devices and networks will understand us better. They will learn our preferences, sense the world around us and use that intelligence to make our lives easier.
The survey was conducted by independent research company, the Consumer Analysis Group, in France, Germany, Italy, Russia, South Africa, Spain, United Arab Emirates and the UK. It involved 500 people from across the United Arab Emirates. Each interview was a lengthy telephone conversation, where people were asked about their views on technology, how they would manage without technology and what improvements they would like to see.
Regions were broken down into Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Dubai, Ra's Al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm Al-Qaiwain. Ethnic groups were broken into UAE nationals, Arab Expatriates, Asian Expatriates, and Western Expatriates. The fieldwork was carried out in November 2005.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
