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Stay Connected This Ramadan Through Text
Published Aug 16, 2011
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Increased uptake in mobile technology usage in the Middle East looks set to intensify this Ramadan, a time when people traditionally use their phones more for social interaction. With more and more mobile technology being used across the Arab world, communication via SMS is set to feature heavily this year and beyond according to BigTime Arabia, the specialist provider of SMS-based gaming and mobile marketing campaigns for mobile telecoms operators and media groups.
“Text messaging activity increased by at least a third during Ramadan last year,” says Dimitris Papazisis, CEO of BigTime. “Texting is a popular form of communication as well as entertainment, and we are expecting that to continue to grow.”
Increased activity is supported by research into higher uptake levels of mobile technology devices in the Middle East. In Qatar, for example, each household now owns an average of 3.9 mobile devices – individual ownership jumped 6% between 2008 and 2010, bringing the country to the 99% level and almost full saturation – with ownership equal amongst males and females. (Source: Qatar’s ICT Landscape 2011, Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology.)
When the World Economic Forum assessed all nations for its Global Information Technology Report 2010-11 it noted how ‘The Middle East continues to feature prominently in the rankings, with countries in the top 30 [including] the UAE (24th), Qatar (25th), and Bahrain (30th).’ This Readiness Index analyses Information & Communications Technology advances for increased competitiveness and development, and demonstrates how the Gulf in particular is a major emerging market for IT and telecoms.
“As the most efficient, most familiar and easiest to use communication channel in the global market, SMS is being embraced as a technology by people across the Middle East,” adds Papazisis. “Ramadan is an ideal time for people to reconnect as well as for companies to reintegrate with their customers in the spirit of the season. This year we are also expecting to see huge numbers of greetings sent by text at Eid Al Fitr.”
For more information:
Dimitris Papazisis
Email: dpapazisis@bigtimeprojects.com
Tel: +97 150 151 2064
Website: www.bigtimeprojects.com
Posted by
VMD - [Virtual Marketing Department]
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