FIFA and Sony Corporation have unveiled insights into what the football fans around the globe can expect from the innovative undertaking to add a third dimension to the football viewing experience. Coinciding with the rapidly growing consumer interest in 3D fuelled by the release of blockbuster movie titles in 3D and the impending launch of 3D TV sets for the home, the first ever FIFA World Cup in 3D will further capture the excitement for millions of football fans around the globe. With a total of seven pairs of Sony's professional HDC cameras on rigs at every match, the action on the pitch will be captured in a stunning 3D quality enabled through its proprietary multi-image processor and 3D Outside Broadcast truck.

Sony's cutting-edge processor, "the only one in the market to date," makes an end-to-end workflow possible in the production process, and automatically adjusts the depth-of-field to ensure an unprecedented and optimal 3D viewing experience around the world. Niclas Ericson, director of FIFA TV, said: "The 3D feed from these 25 matches will be made available for broadcast on 3D channels, which can be enjoyed by consumers on their 3D-compatible TV sets in the comfort of their home, almost as if they were in the football stadium themselves.

Hiroko Saito, DGM, global sponsorships, Sony Corporation, said: "True to our strategy 'From the lens to the living-room', we are actively involved at every stage of the 3D value chain and proudly draw on the strengths of the '3D World created by Sony' that encapsulates our expertise in professional solutions, consumer electronics, movie making and gaming alike.
 

Sobhi Batterjee, president & CEO of Saudi German Hospitals Group (SGH), is honored with the Arab Takreem Award 2010 in the "Outstanding Corporate Leader" category. Makarem Sobhi Batterjee, founder & CEO of Shababco enterprises, & board member of Bait Al-Batterjee Holding Company that owns SGH Group, received the award on behalf of Sobhi at a function held in Lebanon recently.

Arab Takreem Achievements Awards, instituted in 2004 is envisaged to revitalize the Arab consciousness and help to rebuild Arab pride in the region.

The Arab Award was presented to Batterjee for his outstanding contribution to the Arab Society and his corporate leadership in establishing the most recognized Pan Arab brand in the health care, which serves as a model of Arab center of excellence that combines the technical excellence of the West and deeply rooted Arab values.

The jury included Prince El Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan, Boutros Ghali, former secretary general of the UN, Marwan Muasher, SVP for external affairs at the World Bank and Carlos Ghosn, internationally renowned corporate leader and CEO of Renault and Nissan. Makarem said the group was well on its course to have 30 world-class hospitals by 2015 and five medical colleges by 2020 and provide 50,000 jobs. At the same time, the group would pursue its corporate social responsibility initiatives including a social business model for providing quality health care to the economically weaker sections of the community.
 

Eastern Province-based United International Trading Co. Ltd. (UITC), together with China's NARI Group Corporation, held a celebration ceremony attended by delegates of the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) for the successful application of China's first electric power automation system in the Kingdom recently. SEC Eastern Operating Area Executive Director Yousef Al-Ouhali, UITC President and CEO Jaber Ayedh Al-Fahhad, NARI's honorary President Professor Xue Yusheng and VP Yan Huafeng were among those present.

"Today, we are not only celebrating the successful application of China's first electric automation system in Saudi Arabia, but also celebrating establishing concrete steps toward mutually beneficial long-term partnerships to achieve win-win-and-win outcomes for SEC, UITC and NARI," Al-Fahhad said acclaiming the successfully installed 10 units of automatic voltage regulators (AVR) for three SEC gas turbine power plants. Huafeng provided introduction of NARI, the manufacturing, testing and verifying center of the State Grid Corporation of China.

The latter was ranked 15th on the 2009 Global 500, Fortune magazine's annual list of the top 500 companies worldwide, as measured by revenues. NARI is also a top ranking company around the world, providing electric power automation systems such as power grid automation, relay protection, clean energy generation automation and monitoring, among others. "Saudi Electricity Company thanks NARI a lot for its high quality products and professional attitude, and also hope NARI can achieve more success in Saudi Arabia," Al-Ouhali said.
 

Saudi Telecom Company (STC) recently launched its new "Business Control" service designed to enable customers in the Kingdom to control incoming calls and messages to their cell phones. This is done by choosing to activate the option of rejecting calls from specific numbers selected by the customer utilizing the incoming calls feature. STC customers can also create rejection menus so rejected calls can be identified by time and date.

The service covers all incoming local or international voice calls, video calls, text messages and multimedia messages, both inside the Kingdom and outside when roaming. In addition, customers can switch the calls to voice mail or to any pre-selected alternative number. The launch of this innovative service is part of STC's commitment to meeting the market's increasing demand for the latest technologies that enable more effective communication with the world, regardless of time difference and distance.

Focused on a strategic customer-centric approach, STC aims to consistently and continuously provide high quality hi-tech communication solutions and services to enhance the efficiency of the business sector and contribute to the Kingdom's economic growth and development.