Company Press Release:
Amman, August 20th 2000 — Info2Cell.com, the Middle East's first wireless information provider, today announced, together with Jordanian GSM operator Fastlink, the commercial launch of SMS Information Services to Fastlink subscribers. The launch is the outcome of an agreement that the two companies signed in June this year.
Fastlink, which is driving beyond the boundaries of voice communications to lead the mobile data revolution in the Jordanian market, is today in the process of launching a comprehensive range of data services.
Following the launch of its SMS service, or RASSEL, in June, the company intends to unveil of a host of new data services including Rassel Info, Rassel channel, Rassel Mail and Rassel web. Today’s announcement will complement these services by providing the quality information content needed for Rassel Info and Rassel Channel. And for the more technologically oriented customers who want Internet on the move, the company is preparing to launch the first WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) services in Jordan.
“If I am a Fastlink subscriber using SMS Information Services, I can be notified when the Nasdaq index moves above or below the average I assign, when a stock moves above or below a traded amount that I can choose,” said Bashar Dahabra, chief executive officer of Info2Cell.com.
Alternatively, I can use the same criteria to add more complex requests, for instance to include volumes traded, for the notification. The ability to use these types of criteria, using SMS Information services to deliver the information, extends to many other information services,” added Dahabra.
The combination of Fastlink’s mobile network and Info2Cell.com’s advanced Alert Notification infrastructure now allows Fastlink subscribers to receive a number of advanced information services and alerts to their GSM mobiles by specifying the categories of information they are interested in by using the Internet.
“When we first launched the Short Messaging System, or SMS, our customers were able to only exchange messages. Today, we are taking the technology many steps further offering our clients much greater added value,” said Michael Dagher, chief executive officer of Fastlink. “Fastlink subscribers can now actually pull news and information to their telephones via SMS Information Services.”
Over 200,000 Fastlink GSM subscribers in Jordan can now start to access the rich and dynamic content provided by Info2Cell.com through the company’s website. Subscribers can select their own choice of notifications they wish to receive from more than 250 categories of world news, financial, market, entertainment and other categories of Info2cell.com Information services. Based on their selection, subscribers will be notified of updated information by SMS via the Fastlink mobile network.
“Through combining the mobile service and the advanced Info2Cell.com alert and notification technology, we can deliver up to date news and information pulled from our rich content to suit the subscribers’ choices,” said Dahabra. “We are proud to be the first to introduce the technology to Jordan and will be extending the service to many other countries in the region. Info2Cell.com is investing heavily into its platform and developing innovative solutions to provide people with instant information tailored according to their needs.”
About Info2Cell.com
Info-Cell.com is the pioneer in wireless information services for the Middle East, North Africa and the Indian Subcontinent. The company is the first WAP wireless information provider in the Middle East, having demonstrated its Info2cell.com WAP portal in live action since January 2000. Info2Cell.com is the operator of the leading wireless messaging portal in the region, combining mobile services, e-commerce and strong editorial and transactional content in a single service accessible to GSM mobile users wherever they are. Info2Cell.com’s regional focused content delivers information for people in the region or interested in the region, anytime, anywhere on virtually any device.
Info-Cell.com contact: Bashar Dahabra, CEO, Info2Cell.com
Tel: (9714) 2652 368 Fax: (9714) 2652 364
E-mail: dahabra@info-cell.com
About Fastlink
Jordan Mobile Telephone Services (“JMTS”) (“Fastlink”), founded in 1995, was the first operator to introduce mobile phones into Jordan. Ever since its inception, Fastlink has driven penetration, achieving a strong subscriber growth, with the number of users currently totaling 200,000. Through 250 cell sites, JMTS’s coverage currently stands at 98 percent of the population. Fastlink’s build strategy now rests with expanding services, both voice and data, and increasing capacity to reach 500,000 mobile lines and where necessary as penetration grows.
Media contact: Nabeel Hjazeen, Action PR. 009626 5855232
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
