BlackBerry maker to launch new service in Middle East

Research in Motion (RIM) has launched new BlackBerry service applications in the Middle East, the group's co-chief executive said on Monday.

A company statement quoted RIM's Co-chief Jim Balsillie as saying the company has reached a strategic four-way tie-up with the Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) Etisalat and du.

The partnership will support TRA’s mandate to encourage, promote, and develop the telecommunications and information technology industry in the UAE and across the region.

The official statement said the tie-up signals a long-term commitment to address the growing market opportunities for smartphones, tablets and services that serve the needs of businesses and citizens in the Middle East.

RIM will bring BlackBerry App World to its customers in the Middle East, the company said in an official release on Monday.

The official on-device application store for BlackBerry smartphones, BlackBerry App World will provide customers an easy way to download purpose-built applications.

The company had recently launched its next-generation web-based development platform BlackBerry WebWorks, which will also help support application development in the region.

The company said large enterprises in the region with -premise email servers can now take advantage of BlackBerry Enterprise Service that provides a secure, centrally managed link between its smartphones and enterprise systems and applications. This, the company said, would be cost-effective for smaller businesses.

Earlier, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, opened on Sunday the 30th edition of Gitex Technology Week, one of the world's top three information and communication technology events, at the Dubai International Convention Centre.

Sheikh Maktoum set on his tour of the exhibition by signing the giant e-memorial plague installed on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Gitex and then cut the traditional red ribbon.

Sheikh Maktoum toured various stands and booths of exhibitors to acquaint himself with the latest technology products on offer.

He was accompanied by Sheikh Hashar bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, Director of Dubai Department of Information; Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qattami, Minister of Education; Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy; Dr Hanif Hassan Ali, Minister of Health; Dr Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water; heads of government departments, leaders of ICT community and a number senior officials.

This year's event hosts 3,500 companies including 675 new exhibitors from more than 65 countries. In all, more than 133,000 visitors from some 135 countries are expected to converge in Dubai for the exhibition which concludes on Thursday, October 21.

The Dubai World Trade Centre, organiser of Gitex, earlier said: "Gitex Technology Week is the definitive ICT event for the whole of Middle East and Africa, inspiring innovation and entrepreneurship. Over the past three decades, the event has helped shape the ICT landscape of the region, partnering with both the public and private sectors in promoting a culture of technology that touches all aspects of modern life and business."

The 30th edition, 93 times larger in space than the first show in 1981, is introducing several new features that will significantly add value to the ICT industry, including the: Gitex Global Leaders Summit, Gitex Cloud Confex featuring an exhibition and a series of in-depth sessions dedicated to Cloud computing, Gitex Business Solutions and Gitex Mobile Applications and Content World.

The Gitex Mobile Apps and Content World is also being introduced in response to overwhelming market demand. Global mobile applications sales and downloads are forecast to reach $15.65 billion by 2013 - and the Middle East and Africa is set to be the fastest growing market.

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