Etisalat Selects Alcatel-Lucent

Alcatel-Lucent has received a contract from the UAE’s Etisalat to upgrade and enhance the operator’s wireless network. The contract is for the latest generation of Alcatel-Lucent’s GSM and EDGE technology, which is based on the industry most advanced hardware architecture. With its compact new design and high performance, this platform will leverage Etisalat’s existing network, enabling the operator to provide higher quality and more widely available mobile communications services to its customers, while reducing operating expenses.

The contract will include Alcatel-Lucent’s 9130 Base Station Controller/Multi-BSC Fast Packet Server (BSC/MFS). This is a new BSS (Base Station Sub-System) controller platform that supports the ever-increasing market-driven volume of voice and data traffic. This state-of-the-art equipment based on the field-proven Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture (ATCA) will enable Etisalat to create a more centralized and optimized GSM/EDGE network architecture, thereby bringing significant cost savings in network deployments and extensions.

“This contract is the result of many years of faithful cooperation with Etisalat, and we are very proud of their continuing confidence towards Alcatel-Lucent,” said Olivier Picard, President of Alcatel-Lucent’s Europe and South activities. “This new contract shows that the flexibility and scalability of our latest line of GSM/EDGE equipment is a key asset for optimizing large network deployments while enabling operators to minimize capital expenditures and reduce operating expenses.”

Mobily, RIM Launch BlackBerry Pearl

Yesterday Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) and Research In Motion (RIM) launched the BlackBerry Pearl smartphone in the Kingdom. The BlackBerry Pearl is available at all Mobily showrooms.

“We are pleased to expand the portfolio of BlackBerry smartphones available from Mobily by offering customers the new BlackBerry Pearl,” said Ahmed Alhosani, Deputy Chief Marketing Officer, Mobily.

“The BlackBerry Pearl incorporates best-in-class technology to deliver premium voice and data features along with convenient multimedia features such as a media player and camera, all from a small and sleek smartphone,” said Charmaine Eggberry, VP and MD, EMEA at Research In Motion.

The retail launch of the new BlackBerry Pearl in the Kingdom is assisted by Emitac Mobile Solutions (EMS), which is a Dubai-based mobile systems integrator and provider of wireless handheld business solutions and a Strategic Channel Partner of RIM in the region.

Dell Unveils 3 Systems Featuring Ubuntu

Dell has made it official (www.dell.com/open), unveiling three consumer systems — the XPS 410n and Dimension E520n desktops and the Inspiron E1505n notebook — with the Ubuntu 7.04 Linux distribution factory installed.

The systems target the Linux enthusiast community and are a direct result of extensive customer feedback. With no software licensing costs associated with Ubuntu, the base price for each system is competitively priced and fully configured. Hardware support is available through normal Dell support channels, along with the Basic software support on a variety of dedicated websites and Linux forums.

Dell is offering the hardware options on each system that have the most mature and stable Linux driver support. For hardware options not offered with this release, Dell is working with the vendors of those devices to improve the maturity and stability of their associated Linux drivers, and expects to have a broader range of hardware support with Linux over time.

In response to customer feedback, Dell created a robust Dell Linux Forum, www.dellcommunity.com. The forum provides an easily accessible resource and collaborative environment that enables customers to interact with other Linux enthusiasts, ask questions, share experiences and learn.

Recommended Configurations and Pricing:

• The Inspiron E1505n: 15.4-inch TrueLife WXGA display, Intel Pentium Dual Core T2080, 512MB shared memory, 80GB hard drive, CDRW/DVD ROM, Intel Media Accelerator 950 Graphics, Intel PRO Wireless 3945, starting at $599.

• The Dimension E520n: 17-inch flat panel display, Intel Core 2 Duo E4300, 1GB shared memory, 250GB hard drive, CDRW/DVD ROM, 256MB nVidia Geforce 7300LE TurboCache, 10/100 Ethernet, starting at $599.

• The XPS 410n: 19-inch flat panel display, Intel Core 2 Duo E4300, 1GB shared memory, 250GB hard drive, DVD+/- RW3, 256MB nVidia Geforce 7300LE TurboCache, 10/100 Ethernet, starting at $849.