24 November 2010, Dubai UAE - Axiom Telecom today announced that it has formed a distribution relationship with Research In Motion (RIM) for the Middle East.
Axiom Telecom, a leading mobile and smartphone retailer, will help support RIM in increasing its channel reach and penetration in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Lebanon.
The partnership offers a streamlined supply chain process focused on increasing the delivery of BlackBerry® smartphones and accessories to Axiom's customers, as well as to third-party retailers and wholesalers. Axiom Telecom supports a broad range of BlackBerry smartphones, including the recently launched BlackBerry® Torch™ 9800.
Faisal Al Bannai, CEO of Axiom Telecom, said: "Blackberry smartphones and accessories are in high demand, not only in Axiom stores but across the region. Our agreement with RIM underscores the fact that we know the pulse of customers' demand while having the ability to provide viable business benefits to our partners. We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship."
Axiom Telecom's distribution network provides multiple points of access to the end customer through three principal routes: a retail channel through a variety of brands and store formats, a micro-distribution channel for independent stores, and a macro-distribution channel serving wholesalers for domestic and international sales. The Axiom group has more than 1,500 employees and covers more than 3,300 points of sale across the Middle East.
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About Axiom Telecom
Axiom Telecom was established in 1997 by Chief Executive Officer, Faisal Al Bannai, and is today the leading multi-brand, multi-channel distributor of mobile telecommunications handsets, accessories and telecom services in the Middle East, with operations in the UAE, KSA, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.
Axiom Telecom's business has two main segments: the sale and service of mobile handsets and accessories across the Middle East and the sale of mobile telecommunications services through key partnerships with telecommunications network operators, including du in the UAE and Mobily in the KSA.
Axiom Telecom's distribution network provides multiple points of access to the end customer through three principal routes: a retail channel through a variety of brands and store formats, a micro-distribution channel for independent stores, and a macro-distribution channel serving wholesalers for domestic and international sales. The Axiom group has more than 1,500 employees and covers more than 3,300 points of sale across the Middle East.
In the first half of 2010, Axiom Telecom distributed approximately 67% (by value) of all mobile handsets sold in the UAE and approximately 16% (by value) of all mobile handsets sold in the KSA. Axiom Telecom sold approximately 4.1 million mobile handsets in the Middle East in 2009 and approximately 2.2 million mobile handsets in the Middle East in the first half of 2010.
To complement growth in its core markets, Axiom Telecom invested in a joint venture in India, with one of the largest retailers in India, and in 2008 took a 40% stake in Allied International Investments Limited, a company engaged in the macro-distribution and after-sales repair and service of various brands of mobile handsets in South Africa.
For the year ended 31 December 2009, Axiom Telecom generated revenues of AED 5 billion, while for the first half of 2010, Axiom Telecom generated revenues of AED 3 billion, a 23% growth year on year.
About Axiom Limited
Axiom Limited was recently established in the Dubai International Financial Centre for the purposes of the IPO and listing on NASDAQ Dubai. Upon completion of the IPO, Axiom Limited will be the holding company of Axiom Telecom, which will be its only asset. Axiom Limited is currently 53% owned by Al Bannai Investment LLC, 40% owned by a subsidiary of TECOM (a member of Dubai Holding) and 7% owned by Al Zarouni Enterprises LLC.
The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited.
© Press Release 2010
