JEDDAH -- Mobile phones that show the Qibla direction and Azan times round the clock have caught the fancy of phone users across Saudi Arabia.
"We've been getting many inquiries for the Qibla mobile phone and have been selling well," said Muhammad Agil, who has a showroom in the main mobile phone market on Palestine Road Thursday night. "Demand for Qibla phones is nothing surprising, as this is the holy month of Ramadan and people who are on the move like to keep the Qibla direction and prayer times handy," said Agil, who is also a dealer for LG mobile phones.
Mahmoud Subahi, 40, a Saudi involved in general trading, medical facilities and pharmacies, based in Alwajh came all the way to the city to the LG showroom looking for Qibla phones. "I've heard a lot about the usefulness of these phones, especially for people like me traveling all the time," Subahi said. "I'm here to buy two such phones, as they also have the facility of Azan prayer calls."
"This phone has a high utility value for traveling Muslims," said Fahd Al-Amoudi, a 25-year-old Yemeni. "This phone has caught the imagination of young people like me. What I like about this phone is its slick design and big sliding screen." The phone buyer is gifted with prayer beads and a coupon for a draw in which cars will be given away as prizes, said Muhammad Bushra, sales in-charge at the LG showroom. Haythem Tayseer Alkhuderi, sales supervisor, has been demonstrating the features of Qibla phone at the showroom.
"LG has come up with two models in two colors in this category and people have been looking forward to owning them," said S.M. Arshad, deputy general manager of LG Electronics. The versatility of Qibla phones and their features and benefits have been inspiring users to own them, he added.
K.S. Ramkumar
© Arab News 2004
