RIYADH, 13 March — The Saudi Press Agency has signed an agreement with the Saudi Telecommunications Company to transmit its news services in Arabic and English using WAP (wireless application protocol) technology.
The agreement was signed by Muhammad Al-Khudair, director general of the news agency, and Saleh Al-Jasir, STC’s marketing manager. Information Minister Dr. Fuad Al-Farsi had earlier approved the project to make use of WAP service by the news agency.
As per the agreement, SPA will have 10 subscriptions for the WAP service and the company will transmit the news using WAP in accordance with the conditions laid out in the agreement.
WAP will enable cell phone subscribers to surf the Internet. To access WAP users must purchase a WAP phone, which looks similar to standard cell phones but has a larger display screen and additional function keys.
The STC launched the WAP service at the beginning of this year. The SPA dispatches using WAP will comprise the most important local and international news bulletins in both Arabic and English.
Headlines will be displayed on mobile phone screens and the news sources will be given at the end of each item.
The official Saudi news agency launched its online service more than a year ago.
