i-Mate Facilitates Developer Community
In response to strong developer demand, i-mate has created a unique offering that allows developers to test and debug privileged applications and solutions in real-time directly on the end-user product. The devices allow developers to access privileged functions in the testing environment without the need to sign applications with third party security certificates and also verify their applications and security model using special Microsoft development certificates.
The unlocked developer kits, i-mate JASJAR DD and i-mate K-JAM DD, will be available for purchase on www.clubimate.com from June 2006. Later this year i-mate will also launch the development issue of the smartphone i-mate SP5 — i-mate SP5 DD.
The unlocked devices not only mean that new applications will be developed faster for the consumer, but also that developers will enjoy easier customization in the enterprise space. i-mate partners directly with some developers but these products are also opened to its customers’ development partners to help them develop their own bespoke applications and solutions.
First of Its Kind ME Mentoring Program
Batelco has launched a Mentoring Program, the first of its kind in the Middle East. The program is part of a comprehensive skills development program being introduced by Batelco’s Chief Financial Officer Chris Gabriel. Mentoring is the pairing of people who want to learn and grow, with those people who are willing and proficient at imparting knowledge and skills.
The Mentoring Program is based on an internationally recognized, tried and tested system. However, it has been adapted to suit the company’s specific aims and needs and has been linked with systems and programs which are currently in operation in Batelco’s recently launched Talent Center.
The first phase of the new Mentoring Program has already begun with seven volunteer mentors — all Batelco senior managers with vast local and international experience in the telecommunications business, and 9 mentorees. Each candidate has already undergone individual profiling in Batelco’s Talent Center in order to identify their strong and weak skill areas, prior to being assigned to one of the mentors. Each mentor’s task is to assist their mentoree in reaching his or her full potential by acting as a guide, adviser, coach and counselor at various stages throughout the process. Once established, Batelco is planning to enlist the assistance of senior personnel from other leading Bahraini and Middle Eastern companies to act as mentors to Batelco staff.
“By enlisting the assistance of top players from other leading companies, not necessarily restricted to the telecommunications business, Batelco personnel can benefit from an exchange of knowledge in order to broaden the company’s expertise,” said Batelco Head of Corporate Affairs Ahmed Al-Janahi.
Dell Intends to Offer AMD
Last week, in a quarterly earnings report, Dell stated that it intends to offer AMD Opteron Dual Core processor-based servers. This signals an end to Dell’s exclusive relationship with Intel.
Dell’s expansion of business outside the United States and its sales of servers, storage and enhanced services drove revenue of $14.2 billion in the fiscal first-quarter 2007. Enhanced services revenue grew 28 percent year-over-year in the first quarter. Storage revenues increased 12 percent year-over-year. Shipments of Dell products were led by a 36 percent year-over-year increase in mobility units. Revenue outside the United States grew 12 percent and was 44 percent of Dell’s overall revenue.
Despite the good numbers, Dell sees the need to re-establish its price position, invest in customer sales, service and support, building its product and technology leadership and improve its cost structure and productivity. Dell stated that it plans to reinvigorate its direct business model to provide greater value and service for customers. A part of this will be an increased focus on product leadership. For enterprise customers Dell will launch new ninth generation servers featuring Intel’s Woodcrest microprocessors. Dell will also introduce new AMD Opteron processors in its multiprocessor servers by the end of the year offering a new technology to customers at the high-end of its server line.
On the client side, Dell plans to capitalize on the XPS brand and its acquisition of Alienware to improve its product design and quality for desktops and notebooks. In mobility, Dell will enhance its line this fall with Intel’s new energy-efficient Merom processor. And, Dell will have Intel’s Conroe in its desktops and workstations later this year.
UAE to Liberalize Telecoms Sector by 2015
The UAE Telecommunication Supreme Committee has announced its intention to liberalize the UAE’s telecommunications sector by 2015. The move comes as the UAE, seeks to regularize the telecommunications market in line with World Trade Organization (WTO) recommendations, and chalks out a bilateral free trade agreement with the USA and Australia.
“The UAE has pioneered exceptionally strong models of widespread telecommunications provision, and are committed to speedily progress to future paradigms of service delivery,” said Mohamed Nasser Al-Ghanim, TRA director general. “In this regard, market liberalization will help foster a culture of innovation by introducing competition and maintaining a level playing field for providers to woo customers by providing superior services. We are working closely with several partners with the help of UAE Telecom Supreme Committee to assure a standard set of applicable procedures, policies and directives applicable to the UAE. Our efforts will bear full fruit by 2015, by which time we hope to herald in a fully matured market with a diversity of key players contributing to rapid growth.”
In an April 2006 report, the WTO analyzed the UAE’s economic progress and commended its economical growth of six percent per year over the past decade and nine percent in 2003-2005. The report, while noting positive diversification in the UAE’s economy, also argued that liberalization and a reduction to entry barriers would be a key inducement to further economic growth.
