Reputation attacked online
Saudi businessman Maan Al-Sanea’s name has been in the news so much lately that he has finally received the dubious distinction of having his online identity hi-jacked. An e-mail is circulating which in part reads: “I am privileged to contact you of an interest to invest a huge fund in your country. Any Knowledge of business interest in the following sectors: Banking, Real Estate, Stock speculation, Film Industries, Mining, Oil, Transportation and Tobacco. If you think you have a solid background and idea of making good profit in any of the mentioned business sectors in your country, please write me for possible business co-operation.”
The e-mail goes on to request personal information such as full name and contact details. It is purportedly signed by Al-Sanea at “Saad Group Companies.” The online criminals sending out this e-mail need to improve their English and read more than the word “billionaire” in news stories if they hope to profit from their nefarious activities.
Kingdom rates highly
According to the Arab Advisors Group’s 2009 Cellular Competition Intensity Index, Iraq is the most competitive Arab cellular market. Jordan, which was the most competitive market in the 2007 and 2008 indexes, came in second. Saudi Arabia was third.
The Arab Advisors Group devised the Cellular Competition Intensity Index in order to rate and properly assess the intensity level of competition in the Arab World’s cellular markets. The index takes into account the number of operators, packages and services available in each of the 19 countries covered by their report, with each category assigned a certain weight according to its importance as an indicator of competition.
The 2009 Arab Cellular Competition Intensity Index competitive percentage scores are: Iraq (91), Jordan (82.7), Saudi Arabia (79.2), Palestine (78.6), Egypt (69.8), Morocco (67.7), Algeria (64.6), Sudan (63.3), Mauritania (61.3), Yemen (57.6), Bahrain (55.2), Kuwait (54.4), Tunisia (51.5), UAE (50.2), Oman (44.8), Libya (35.7), Syria (34.2), Lebanon (33.6) and Qatar (31.5).
Free Ramadan Apps
It’s just ten days till Ramadan and Nokia has released upgraded Islamic-related content for PCs and mobile phones. Nokia first released such content in 2006 and it has proved to be more popular each year. The Islamic mobile applications are available as free downloads from http://mea.nokia.com/english/campaigns/ramadan or they also may be downloaded directly from Nokia’s Ovi Store. The applications on offer are:
• Quran: Read, bookmark passages and listen to the Holy Quran using a multi-lingual interface.
• Prayer times: Detailed prayer timings and accurate Qibla directions for 1,000 cities in 200 countries.
• Cards: Preview and send a range of customizable mobile cards for different occasions.
• Zakah calculator: Determine your charitable contributions with updated rates for gold, silver and currency.
• Hadith: Browse through the Honorable Hadith.
• Haj and Umrah: A hand-held guide that offers information on places to visit during the pilgrimage.
• Mozzaker: Enjoy, download and share regular Azkar and selected prayers every day.
SMB IT makeover contest
n Small to medium businesses (SMBs) are invited to participate in a competition being held by Toshiba Computer Systems Division, in association with Microsoft. The Toshiba Office IT Makeover provides an opportunity for SMBs to be selected for a complete IT makeover and win the best technology solutions needed to maximize their business performance.
The SMB makeover is open to all small business owners with operations based in Saudi Arabia with an employee headcount of up to 150. The makeover aims to help owners to assess and apply the right technology solutions that will help streamline their business operations. The selected company will receive a tailored business solution incorporating business laptops, printing solutions and projectors from Toshiba, all networked with Microsoft business software.
To enter, SMB owners should visit the website www.toshibame.com/smb and answer a few simple questions. Qualified judges from Toshiba and Microsoft will evaluate the businesses and select the winner of the makeover package. A team of experts will visit the winner’s office premises to assess current IT infrastructure and present a complete plan for the IT makeover. Contest entries are accepted until Aug. 15.
