du personalises the Ramadan experience with unique online organiser

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The web page provides unique features to help people get the most out of their Ramadan experience
Dubai, UAE, 25 August 2010: Reaching out and adding a little peace of mind to the people of the UAE during Ramadan, dudu has created an online section on its website www.dudu.ae/ramadan, to help people plan and organise their activities during the holy month. This web page acts as a personal organiser, which assists users in observing their religious duties and reminds them to stay in touch with family and friends, as well as providing special Ramadan-specific offers, services and general information during this time.

"We recognise the importance of managing time efficiently when observing religious duties over Ramadan, and we are pleased to present a unique personalised online organiser which helps people take care of minute details and let them make the most of this important religious period, conveniently and efficiently. Furthermore, this web page helps people get into the spirit of Ramadan by providing specific themed content and applications, as well as helping people stay connected with loved ones during this special period," commented Hala Badri, EVP Brand and Communications, dudu.

In order to help people get the most out of their prayer time, dudu's Ramadan web page provides unique organisational features, including the 'Emsakiya' tool which displays timings for daily prayers, Suhour and Iftar, for each of the seven Emirates. In addition, the online service offers a personalised Quran Passage Tracker Tool to store and track the last passage read by the user in order to monitor progress. This tool features a unique progress bar which allows users to visualise how close they are to finishing reading the Quran.

Also featured in the section is a tailored Iftar Planner Tool that will display the user's current dated Iftar dinner plans in an easy viewing format and serve as a reminder of the day's plans, as well as a personalised Call List Tool that reminds users to get in touch with their family and friends by adding up to five names and numbers of their loved ones.

dudu

dudu

dudu is also helping people get into the spirit of Ramadan via its existing social media channels, including Twitter Maghreb alerts on @dutweets and dudu's Facebook account, a Quran and Dua'as recitation playlist on dudu's YouTube platform and Dua'as prayers posted as tips near mosques on dudu's Foursquare application.

dudu

dudu

Ramadan web page on www.dudu.ae/ramadan

• Key features
• Emsakiya Tool displaying times for the daily prayer, Suhour and Iftar for each of the 7 Emirates

• Quran Passage tracker Tool to store and track the last passage read by user in order to monitor progress. A progress bar will also be placed to allow users to visualize how close they are to finishing reading the Quran and serve as a motivator

• Iftar Planner Tool that will display the user's current dated Iftar/dinner plans for easy viewing and to serve as a reminder of the day's plan.

• Call List Tool that serves as a 'To-Call' list reminding users to get in touch with their family and friends. Users will be able to add the name and number of their family and friends (up to 5) on a daily basis to serve as a reminder to get in touch number.

• e-greetings Tool that will contain 4 templates for Ramadan/Eid greetings for users to send to their loved ones. Users can select one of the templates and add a personalised message to send an e-greeting to their family and friends.

• Twitter feed Tool that will extract only feeds announcing Ramadan specific content from @dutweets

• Ahmed Bukhatir content Copy announcing the exclusive Ramadan content by Ahmed Bukhatir (Arabic and English doaas, Quran Recitals, Anasheeds and dudu jingle) with links to access the content page on content.dudu.ae.

• dudu CSR initiatives Copy detailing dudu's initiatives in the CSR sphere

• Commercial offer Copy highlighting the new product launch for 'Bonus on Incoming'

dudu's Ramadan activities to date:

• dudu has signed an exclusive partnership with the well-loved UAE-National Al Munshed, Ahmed Bukhatir, to provide dudu mobile customers with a variety of Islamic content. The content, which will be exclusively available to dudu customers during Ramadan, includes downloads from the talented singer's upcoming album, 'Moments with Allah', as well as a variety of ringtones, wallpapers, Arabic and English Dua'as and Quran recitals.

• dudu's latest Homephone 24/7 offering provides Homephone postpaid customers with an even more economical way to use their existing landline, with international calls to 190 destinations from as little as 1 fils per second at any time of the day or week - a saving of 45 per cent on dudu's current Homephone postpaid plan.

• dudu's revolutionary" Bonus on Incoming Offer" will provide customers 0.1 fils of bonus credit for every second of every call received (6 fils/min)from the UAE. All individual dudu Pay as you Go® and Elite Plan customers can avail of the offer by simply calling 135 and choosing option 4 to activate the promotion, for a one-time fee of just AED 5.

-Ends-

About du
dudu, the integrated telecom service provider in the UAE, launched mobile telecommunication services in February 2007 across the UAE, in addition to internet and pay TV services that dudu provides in some of the free zones of Dubai. Call Select, dudu's nationwide fixed line services for voice telephony, was launched in July 2007. By the end of 2008, over 3 million people in the UAE chose to become dudu customers.

Among dudu's many firsts is its historic Number Booking Campaign for both individuals and business, Pay by the Second billing system, Mobile TV, Mobile Payments, first of its kind 'WoW' recharge card (which offers customers the choice between more credit, more time and now 'more international' recharge option with additional credit on international calls) and Self Care.

For business customers, dudu business offers include Closed Business User Group and preferred International Destinations. dudu Broadcast Services division brings scalable media technology platforms and telecommunication solutions to the broadcast community through its world class teleport (Samacom) and Master Control Room (MCR) facilities.

dudu products and services for consumers and business are available through dudu's retail network, currently numbering 33 dudu shops located in strategic locations across the UAE, more than 3000 authorized dealers Or through dudu e-shop, accessible at http://www.dudu.ae/en/where-to-buy/eshop.html. dudu shops are a one stop shop for mobile service, carrier select and the payment of the service bills.

dudu is 39.5 percent owned by the UAE Federal Government, 19.75 percent by Mubadala Development Company, 19.5 percent by Emirates Communications & Technology Company LLC and the remaining stake by public shareholders. It is listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM) and trades under the name dudu.

Awards to date

• dudu presented with an award for Best Middle Eastern Local Currency Deal 2008 by UK's EuroWeek

• dudu won two prestigious awards at UAE Web Awards 2008. dudu e-shop portal won the best strategic online portal award in the e-commerce category and dudu media club website won the bronze award in the media and press category.

• dudu corporate brand launch campaign awarded a Cristal MENA award in 2008

• dudu declared 'Best Brand' at Telecoms World Awards Middle East 2007 for innovative branding and outstanding brand success

• Second place in the New Brand Launch category at the GMR Effectiveness in Marketing Awards 2007

• Silver Award for the best website in the ICT category at the UAE Web Awards 2007

• dudu WoW TV Commercial awarded amongst the best 50 TV commercials in mobile telecom category in the world for 2007

For further information, please contact:
Saugat Chatterjee
Public Relations Manager, Channels Communications
Brand & Communications
du
Mobile: +971 55 9367045
Email: saugat.chatterjee@dudu.ae

Gregory Henderson
Manning, Selvage & Lee
Tel: +971 4 3676 275
Mobile: +971 55 495 6487
Fax: +971 4 367 2615
Email: gregory.henderson@dubai.mslpr.com

© Press Release 2010