Sales reps in a furniture store in Kuwait carry smartphones to help customers check pricing, inventory and ordering information that may be saved online.
SAP, the global business software company behind the programme, is also working with cosmetics shops and grocery store chains elsewhere in the world to test mobile apps that can alert shoppers via their phones about discounts and special offers as they browse the aisles.
Some warehouses are implementing similar sales and productivity apps for workers with iPhones and BlackBerrys, and SAP is pushing these kinds of services into this region.
"We are in talks in the Middle East with companies where we can provide more 'knowledge-workers experiences' on their mobile device," says Klaus Boeckle, the vice president and head of consumer industries for SAP across Europe, Middle East and Africa.
SAP is just one of the many companies set to attend the Mobile World Congress, an annual event that begins tomorrow in Barcelona. The focus of the show will be on the current and future state of mobile phone technology, as the global handset market is set to grow to US$314.4 billion (Dh1.15 trillion) by 2015.
As smartphones become more popular, particularly in the Middle East, they are projected to account for more than three-quarters of the global handset revenue, or $258.9bn, according to a report released last year by the research firm MarketsandMarkets.
"One of the dominant trends that we can see in regions like the Middle East is smartphone users moving from being a minority to a majority of consumers," says Dai Shengwei, the president of Huawei Device in the Middle East, a mobile subsidiary of the global technology company Huawei, which will be also be exhibiting at the Mobile World Congress.
"That transition - matched with faster networks and more developed mobile apps - is going to inspire some huge shifts in the industry," Mr Shengwei says.
Part of the shift is also attributable to the growing amount of digital data downloaded on to phones. Most people in the UAE tend to use their devices to network with friends on social media sites, or access email, videos on YouTube, music and games. A little more than one-fifth of residents in the Emirates access the internet from their mobiles, according to data from the market research firm TNS Mena.
"That number might seem low but it's running up at [about] 20 per cent each year," says Steve Hamilton-Clark, the chief executive of TNS Mena.
"Behavioural trends are changing," he adds. "When you're on the bus, at the airport, waiting for the doctor or an appointment - there's just tons of downtime that can now be filled through mobile technology that couldn't before."
As a captivated audience grows, more device manufacturers and companies with stakes in the mobile space say they are tailoring some of their offerings to markets within this region.
Nokia, another exhibitor at Mobile World Congress, says it is the only company in the UAE and Saudi Arabia that provides direct-billing right through mobiles tied to major carriers such as Etisalat and du for customers who tap into its app store. The number of downloads from the phone manufacturer's mobile shop in the Middle East increased by more than 280 per cent last year, Nokia says.
"Nokia is currently working with many Arabic app developers, contributing to over 1,800 [apps and] Arabic content published in the store," says Vithesh Reddy, Nokia general manager for lower Gulf.
Samsung Electronics, a rival mobile maker, has also been encouraging developers to create more apps for this part of the world.
The company released its Galaxy S II smartphone in the UAE last year and recently reported a 40 per cent year-on-year increase in sales of its mobile communication devices within the Gulf during its last quarter.
Samsung has developed some customised apps for government institutions and policy departments within the Middle East and Africa (MEA). More locally relevant apps for residents in the UAE are also appearing in the Samsung Apps shop.
"You'll find many of these applications related to UAE, regarding culture, restaurants, some social activities - and we keep looking for partners," says Ashraf Fawakherji, the general manager for the telecommunications group at Samsung in the Gulf. "Regionally, when I talk about MEA, most of the top downloads are happening in UAE and Kuwait," he adds.
But while smartphone customers in the region may be finding more Arabic apps and those that are more relevant to the Arab world, many may still have to wait for handsets to prove popular elsewhere before they make their way into the local market.
Nokia's Lumia 900 smartphone, which won an award as the best phone at the Consumer Electronics Show last month, is set to launch in the US next month. Yet it has held back on announcing a release date for this region until the interface on the phone supports Arabic.
"We have not announced a specific date for the arrival of Lumia to the region and we are currently working closely with all stakeholders to ensure that consumers will receive the best user experience when we launch," says Mr Reddy.
nparmar@thenational.ae
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Read more from Mina Al-Oraibi
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
In Praise of Zayed
A thousand grains of Sand whirl in the sky
To mark the journey of one passer-by
If then a Cavalcade disturbs the scene,
Shall such grains sing before they start to fly?
What man of Honour, and to Honour bred
Will fear to go wherever Truth has led?
For though a Thousand urge him to retreat
He'll laugh, until such counsellors have fled.
Stands always One, defiant and alone
Against the Many, when all Hope has flown.
Then comes the Test; and only then the time
Of reckoning what each can call his own.
History will not forget: that one small Seed
Sufficed to tip the Scales in time of need.
More than a debt, the Emirates owe to Zayed
Their very Souls, from outside influence freed.
No praise from Roderic can increase his Fame.
Steadfastness was the Essence of his name.
The changing years grow Gardens in the Sand
And build new Roads to Sand which stays the same.
But Hearts are not rebuilt, nor Seed resown.
What was, remains, essentially Alone.
Until the Golden Messenger, all-wise,
Calls out: "Come now, my Friend!" - and All is known
- Roderic Fenwick Owen
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Results
6.30pm: The Madjani Stakes (PA) Group 3 Dh175,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Aatebat Al Khalediah, Fernando Jara (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer).
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Dubai Avenue, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: My Catch, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Dubai Creek Mile (TB) Listed Dh265,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh190,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Golden Goal, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
The specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 849Nm
Range: 456km
Price: from Dh437,900
On sale: now
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.
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
Read more from Johann Chacko
Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
BIOSAFETY LABS SECURITY LEVELS
Biosafety Level 1
The lowest safety level. These labs work with viruses that are minimal risk to humans.
Hand washing is required on entry and exit and potentially infectious material decontaminated with bleach before thrown away.
Must have a lock. Access limited. Lab does not need to be isolated from other buildings.
Used as teaching spaces.
Study microorganisms such as Staphylococcus which causes food poisoning.
Biosafety Level 2
These labs deal with pathogens that can be harmful to people and the environment such as Hepatitis, HIV and salmonella.
Working in Level 2 requires special training in handling pathogenic agents.
Extra safety and security precautions are taken in addition to those at Level 1
Biosafety Level 3
These labs contain material that can be lethal if inhaled. This includes SARS coronavirus, MERS, and yellow fever.
Significant extra precautions are taken with staff given specific immunisations when dealing with certain diseases.
Infectious material is examined in a biological safety cabinet.
Personnel must wear protective gowns that must be discarded or decontaminated after use.
Strict safety and handling procedures are in place. There must be double entrances to the building and they must contain self-closing doors to reduce risk of pathogen aerosols escaping.
Windows must be sealed. Air from must be filtered before it can be recirculated.
Biosafety Level 4
The highest level for biosafety precautions. Scientist work with highly dangerous diseases that have no vaccine or cure.
All material must be decontaminated.
Personnel must wear a positive pressure suit for protection. On leaving the lab this must pass through decontamination shower before they have a personal shower.
Entry is severely restricted to trained and authorised personnel. All entries are recorded.
Entrance must be via airlocks.
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
The stats
Ship name: MSC Bellissima
Ship class: Meraviglia Class
Delivery date: February 27, 2019
Gross tonnage: 171,598 GT
Passenger capacity: 5,686
Crew members: 1,536
Number of cabins: 2,217
Length: 315.3 metres
Maximum speed: 22.7 knots (42kph)
Results
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,600m; Winner: RB Kings Bay, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: AF Ensito, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash
8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,400m; Winner: AF Sourouh, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
8.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Baaher, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
9pm: Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Mootahady, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel
9.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Dubai Canal, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
10pm: Al Ain Cup – Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Harrab, Bernardo Pinheiro, Majed Al Jahouri
The specs: 2018 Jeep Compass
Price, base: Dh100,000 (estimate)
Engine: 2.4L four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 184bhp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 237Nm at 3,900rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 9.4L / 100km
Bridgerton%20season%20three%20-%20part%20one
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
