MOBILY
Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) has launched its free WiFi service at the holy sites in Makkah to enable pilgrims’ access the Internet. The free service will be available to pilgrims, journalists and the public as part of Mobily’s efforts to provide high quality telecom services. For the second consecutive year, Mobily, through its data arm Bayanat Al-Oula, allows anyone with a laptop, PC and even WiFi-enabled mobile phone to connect to the Internet without charge. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, governor of Makkah and chairman of the Central Haj Committee, was briefed on the service during his inspection tour of the holy sites. Al-Faisal watched a live demo presented by a Mobily team in Mina. Mobily’s CEO Khalid Al-Kaf said: “The free WiFi service covers all the holy sites including Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. All that needs to be done is to search for the Mobily network. After free registration through the mobile number of the user, the connection sets itself up automatically, bringing mobile Internet connectivity into the hands of pilgrims, officials, journalists or any member of the public at the holy sites.
AL-BADDAD
Al-Baddad Global, represented by Zayed Al-Baddad, chairman and CEO, has signed a contract with Ashour Trade Est., represented by Hisham Raweh, to construct a 125,000-square meter camp for pilgrims within a period of 36 days. In the past seven Haj seasons, Al-Baddad Global successfully set up camps of huge areas and different sizes following a systemized strategy based on continuous research, development and using the latest technologies in this field. “Al-Baddad Global is now the number one leader in the Middle East and the Gulf in the field of manufacturing and marketing mobile halls and servicing global markets in Asia, Africa and Europe,” the company said. As the Haj season draws near, the issue of accommodating huge number of pilgrims and the need to equip such camps with unprecedented efforts are in full mobility. Al-Baddad Global, supported by Al-Baddad Industries and Al-Baddad Equipment, has thus set up a fully integrated camp with equipment and facilities that include mobile halls, ranging from pyramid-shaped to golden ones, to domes of different sizes and areas.
PANASONIC
Panasonic has added four new models to its LUMIX range, including the feature-packed DMC-GF1 that is now the most advanced model in the LUMIX G Micro System lineup of new-generation digital interchangeable lens system cameras. Distinguished by an artistic slim body that is both elegant and compact, the new DMC-GF1 debuts as the world’s smallest and lightest system camera with a built-in flash. The new GF1 takes its place as the third model in the revolutionary G series of digital interchangeable lens system cameras. Panasonic claims to have taken the market by storm with the series’ first model — the compact, lightweight DMC-G1. The company broke new ground when it launched the DMC-GH1, which added AVCHD full-HD movie recording. Majd Majbour, executive MD assistant, Alesayi Electronics, said: “This is the camera of the future with new features that enable it to record both vivid still shots and smooth, beautiful motion pictures. Hitesh Ohja, product manager, Panasonic Marketing Middle East, said: “The newest family member DMC-GF1 is sophisticated in form.”
HAWKAMAH
The Hawkamah Institute for Corporate Governance and the Union of Arab Banks (UAB) have announced the winners of the 2009 Bank Corporate Governance Award at a ceremony held on the first day of Hawkamah-OECD’s 4th annual gathering in Dubai recently. The award was presented with the support of MasterCard Worldwide. The first three winners were Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and Ahli United Bank. Hawkamah also awarded National Bank of Oman for their distinguished corporate governance practices for the second consecutive year. The award attracted 30 applications from banks in 11 MENA jurisdictions including UAE, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Morocco, Qatar, Sudan, Syria and Tunisia. An independent jury of international banking and governance experts reviewed all of the applications. Nasser Saidi, executive director, Hawkamah Institute for Corporate Governance, said: “Our region has weathered the international financial crisis well. However, corporate governance holds the key to the region’s economic growth prospects.”
LG
LG Electronics, a major provider of business solutions, exhibited a wide range of advanced new security products at the recent 12th China Public Security Expo (CPSE) held in Shenzhen, China, recently. LG’s Central Management System comprises newly released IP surveillance cameras, an enhanced hybrid DVR, upgraded access control features and a surveillance monitor to enable preventative monitoring and reliable, effective and efficient surveillance. “LG’s Central Management System successfully demonstrates our technology leadership combined with the understanding that the security industry is moving away from passive monitoring toward preemptive management,” said Simon Lee, GM, LG Electronics in Saudi Arabia. “We are confident this solution will help our customers achieve their business goals by providing proactive measures and convenient remote management.” LG’s most up-to-date camera product line offers “high resolution, excellent image quality, built-in functions and a trendy design that fits industry needs and blends into any environment,” he added.