DOHA: Qatar Telecom has offered the general public a sneak peek into its futuristic Third Generation (3G) mobile technology at the Landmark Mall till December 14. Visitors to the mall can experience first hand, live video calls and live telecast of sports events from the 3rd West Asian Games on specially equipped mobile phone handsets.
The live demonstration of 3G mobile technology, which is expected to be commercially launched in the country in mid-2006, is open from 4pm to 10pm daily at the Landmark. Shoppers and visitors can sample live video calls to their friends and families within a select vicinity of the mall. They can also watch live sports events related from various venues of the ongoing 3rd West Asian Games through 3G configured mobile phone handsets. Qtel has also set up a mobile Internet service on such handsets for high-speed broadband surfing using 3G technology.
"Scheduled for a 2006 commercial release, 3G will enhance the mobile experience of customers through applications such as video calls, video messaging and video mailbox including live and recorded streaming, breaking news, sports events and video-based alerts. 3G is a very exciting service for Qatar and hence we wanted our customers to get a sample of the new technology earlier," Sheikh Fahad bin Jassim Al Thani, Executive Director, Wireless Services, Qtel, said. Qtel has partnered with the Al Jazeera Sports Channel to relay matches from the West Asian Games live to the 3G demonstration venue. "This will be a novelty for people who have never before experienced 3G," he added.
The 3G service, Sheikh Fahad said, would help mobile subscribers in Qatar to share results and best sporting moments with their friends and relatives in a highly sophisticated manner. "3G enables people to witness historic moments unfold live on their mobile phone handsets, as they occur elsewhere," he said, adding Qtel, as Prestige Partners for next year's Doha Asian Games, would provide the latest technology.
© The Peninsula 2005
