DOHA: Vodafone Qatar officially launched yesterday its mobile Internet services, which include access to Google, Facebook, mobile e-mail, and Al Jazeera English, among others.
Jan Holzberg, Vodafone Qatar's head of Product Management, said they introduced the mobile Internet services last July 7 "to test if the service functions well and if it is compatible with all units."
Vodafone Qatar is offering a 300MB worth of free mobile Internet space to its customers. The promo, which starts today until the end of September, is the third installment of Vodafone's Ramadan and Eid '09 promotion.
Michael Portz, Chief Marketing Officer of Vodafone Qatar, said the 300MB promotion is available to all existing Vodafone customers.
With the official launch of the service, Vodafone Qatar announced its partnership with Al Jazeera to bring Al Jazeera English News and Sports, and Al Jazeera news in Arabic to Vodafone Qatar customers. Customers can find news and sports from Al Jazeera English by entering http://mobile.vodafone.com.qa into the browser on their mobile phones.
Safdar Mustafa, Al Jazeera's head of Mobile Media Unit, said the service not only allows customers to browse and watch the news, it also allows them to forward a link of a news video or news story they want to share to other mobile units.
"This initiative will drive more traffic to our mobile website http://m.aljazeera.net and also allow Vodafone Qatar to offer customers leading news and sports stories," said Saeed Othman Bawazir, Al Jazeera's Director of Technology, and added they are "very pleased to be working with Vodafone to provide Al Jazeera content through its mobile Internet offering."
Holzberg said the mobile Internet service is available to all Vodafone customers on its current Freedom offer and will soon be made available to customers of Red, Vodafone's prepaid product which will be launched by the end of September.
"Vodafone and Al Jazeera are two globally admired brands and together we will bring the best to both our customers. Vodafone Qatar is bringing the newest and most innovative mobile products to Qatar," said Holzberg.
The launch of the Vodafone Portal will allow Vodafone customers to access Al Jazeera English's latest news and sports headlines and the ability to link to Al Jazeera English's mobile website. This is part of an ongoing Al Jazeera New Media initiative, which includes delivering video and other content over interactive platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and iTunes as well as other popular services.
Vodafone Qatar's other Ramadan and Eid '09 promotions include: the international call promotion which enables customers to call anywhere in the world at the rate of 50 dirhams per minute and its unlimited mobile messaging promotions.
By Joyce C Abaño
© The Peninsula 2009
