AppsArabia is set for a big debut on the international music scene, having reached an agreement to develop a mobile phone application for a global superstar.
David Ashford, the general manager of AppsArabia, the investment fund backed by the Abu Dhabi media free zone twofour54, told delegates at its first annual convention the pop star app would be created for Nokia by a developer here in the UAE.
The identity of the star is not yet being revealed, with Mr Ashford even refusing to give away the gender.
"This is very exciting for us. We can't say who it is at this stage but it's big," he said.
Winning a contract to develop an app for a star with a global fan base would be a major coup, as the industry in the UAE is still in its infancy.
Mobile phone apps are becoming increasingly important marketing tools for pop stars. Justin Bieber, who shot to fame after being discovered on the internet, racked up 355,000 downloads of his iPhone app in its launch week this year, and as of October the country music star Taylor Swift had accumulated 600,000 downloads of her app in the US alone. Other big names such as Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga have all embraced apps.
Mr Ashford told AppsArabia's Imagination Convention in Abu Dhabi: "We have just reached an agreement with an anonymous global pop star who has millions of fans around the world. This is to develop a Symbian app for Nokia for its OVI online store. Fans were asked what device they wanted an app for and they chose Nokia."
AppsArabia was established in June to increase the number and quality of Arabic apps entrepreneurs and developers. It hopes to achieve this by putting up the working capital needed to develop new mobile applications, which can cost anywhere from US$15,000 (Dh55,095) up to $1 million, according to industry figures.
The fund's aim is to take the financial risk away from entrepreneurs who dream up ideas, meaning they stand to lose nothing if the concept flops. However, if the app is a success they keep the intellectual property and 70 per cent of the net profit after AppsArabia recoups its development costs. The fund keeps 30 per cent of the net profits.
For AppsArabia, the agreement with the superstar represents its second active project with a major brand, the first being with a global media company to develop an Arabic news app.
Since its launch, AppsArabia has received 45 investment applications and now has five active and four pending projects with entrepreneurs, plus another seven pending projects with brands to be delivered across Nokia, Research In Motion and Apple platforms.
sarmstrong@thenational.ae
TOURNAMENT INFO
Opening fixtures:
Friday, Oct 5
8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Paktia Panthers
Saturday, Oct 6
4pm: Nangarhar Leopards v Kandahar Knights
8pm: Kabul Zwanan v Balkh Legends
Tickets
Tickets can be bought online at https://www.q-tickets.com/apl/eventlist and at the ticket office at the stadium.
TV info
The tournament will be broadcast live in the UAE on OSN Sports.
Company%20profile
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Super 30
Produced: Sajid Nadiadwala and Phantom Productions
Directed: Vikas Bahl
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Pankaj Tripathi, Aditya Srivastav, Mrinal Thakur
Rating: 3.5 /5
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
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Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
AndhaDhun
Director: Sriram Raghavan
Producer: Matchbox Pictures, Viacom18
Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte, Anil Dhawan
Rating: 3.5/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Teri%20Baaton%20Mein%20Aisa%20Uljha%20Jiya
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