22 February 2011
MUSCAT -- BankMuscat and Overseas Business Machines (OBM) here yesterday announced a partnership programme as part of the National PC Initiative launched by the Information Technology Authority (ITA).
The joint initiative is primarily aimed at facilitating digital media as a tool to assist citizens in acquiring e-literacy and thereby improving their daily lives by gaining easier access to the Internet and electronic services offered by the government as part of the e-Governance programme.
To start with, laptops will be provided to first year students enrolled for higher education and teachers. BankMuscat, in association with OBM, will facilitate the sale and financing of laptops to eligible students and teachers at 25 branches of the bank.
Eligible students and teachers can avail Lenovo laptops from select BankMuscat branches across the Sultanate. The government has subsidised the laptop initiative to the extent of RO 150 and beneficiaries need to pay only the balance amount to buy their preferred models.
Mohamad al Bolbol, General Manager, OBM, said, "Five models of Lenovo laptops ranging from RO 200 to RO 500 will be made available soon and eligible students and teachers will get a laptop with a subsidy of RO 150 from the government".
Initially, in the first phase, around 10,000 Lenovo laptops will be distributed. The list of eligible students and teachers who could buy subsidised laptops would be released by the ITA shortly.
OBM is an integrated IT solutions company having tie-ups with IBM and Lenovo. The company focuses on education and technology education, providing solutions that play a role in e-learning.
Technical specifications for laptops to be distributed to students were selected by ITA experts, based on international criteria on what students would need for e-learning. Lenovo laptops meet the criteria defined by ITA and they are protected with security features such as Active Protection System and ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery, which prevent data loss.
Sulaiman al Harthy, Group DGM -- Consumer Banking at BankMuscat, said: "Over the years, BankMuscat has supported all national initiatives and we are pleased to be an integral part of the National PC Initiative which will significantly enhance e-literacy and support the e-Governance programme launched by the government.
The bank remains committed to working closely with government agencies in improving the digital landscape of Oman."
This partnership initiative will be beneficial to society as the programme helps students to stay connected with various government programmes, Al Harthy added.
The PC Initiative is aimed at helping students to benefit from e-education and facilitating the setting up of Oman Digital Society, said Al Bolbol.
Samir Karam, Regional Business Manager, Lenovo Middle East, said: "Lenovo acquired IBM's PC division in 2005. Lenovo's success in the emerging markets is a result of market insight to build up presence and competitiveness."
MUSCAT -- BankMuscat and Overseas Business Machines (OBM) here yesterday announced a partnership programme as part of the National PC Initiative launched by the Information Technology Authority (ITA).
The joint initiative is primarily aimed at facilitating digital media as a tool to assist citizens in acquiring e-literacy and thereby improving their daily lives by gaining easier access to the Internet and electronic services offered by the government as part of the e-Governance programme.
To start with, laptops will be provided to first year students enrolled for higher education and teachers. BankMuscat, in association with OBM, will facilitate the sale and financing of laptops to eligible students and teachers at 25 branches of the bank.
Eligible students and teachers can avail Lenovo laptops from select BankMuscat branches across the Sultanate. The government has subsidised the laptop initiative to the extent of RO 150 and beneficiaries need to pay only the balance amount to buy their preferred models.
Mohamad al Bolbol, General Manager, OBM, said, "Five models of Lenovo laptops ranging from RO 200 to RO 500 will be made available soon and eligible students and teachers will get a laptop with a subsidy of RO 150 from the government".
Initially, in the first phase, around 10,000 Lenovo laptops will be distributed. The list of eligible students and teachers who could buy subsidised laptops would be released by the ITA shortly.
OBM is an integrated IT solutions company having tie-ups with IBM and Lenovo. The company focuses on education and technology education, providing solutions that play a role in e-learning.
Technical specifications for laptops to be distributed to students were selected by ITA experts, based on international criteria on what students would need for e-learning. Lenovo laptops meet the criteria defined by ITA and they are protected with security features such as Active Protection System and ThinkVantage Rescue and Recovery, which prevent data loss.
Sulaiman al Harthy, Group DGM -- Consumer Banking at BankMuscat, said: "Over the years, BankMuscat has supported all national initiatives and we are pleased to be an integral part of the National PC Initiative which will significantly enhance e-literacy and support the e-Governance programme launched by the government.
The bank remains committed to working closely with government agencies in improving the digital landscape of Oman."
This partnership initiative will be beneficial to society as the programme helps students to stay connected with various government programmes, Al Harthy added.
The PC Initiative is aimed at helping students to benefit from e-education and facilitating the setting up of Oman Digital Society, said Al Bolbol.
Samir Karam, Regional Business Manager, Lenovo Middle East, said: "Lenovo acquired IBM's PC division in 2005. Lenovo's success in the emerging markets is a result of market insight to build up presence and competitiveness."
© Oman Daily Observer 2011
