RIYADH, 23 July 2007 — Almost two months after Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) shocked Internet users with its flat rate unlimited mobile Internet package, the company has announced it is launching a new unlimited package for mobile television on July 29.
The package allows Mobily’s prepaid and postpaid subscribers to watch a bundle of TV channels for as long as they want for a fixed monthly fee of SR50. Among the channels featured are CNN, Al Arabiya, CNBC Arabia, Al-Ekhbariah, SpaceToon, Al-Afasi religious channel, Al-Risala religious channel, and other channels already available through Mobily’s mobile content portal, dubbed “Mobily 3alhawa.”
Users wishing to subscribe to the service do not need any special settings. To subscribe, customers only need to send a text message containing “TV” to 1100, then activation by running through Mobily’s services menu available by dialing *1100#. Mobile television runs in all areas covered by Mobily’s network, regardless of whether there is 3.5G, 3G, and 2.5G coverage. However, broadcast quality in areas where there is 3.5G and 3G coverage is much better.
“This new package comes as an extension of our continuous efforts to provide our customers with real value,” said Ahmed Alhashmi, deputy chief marketing officer. “What we wanted to do was put a TV in the pockets of mobile users,” he added. “Nothing should stand between anyone getting to watch their favorite soccer team playing, of keeping up-to-date with what analysts have to say about the stock market or other important breaking news.”
Children too, Alhashmi added, will find the service entertaining, while parents will not have to worry about how much they will be spending on the service, since the unlimited package means “subscribers can watch for as long as they want, when they want.”
