Dubai, October 15, 2002: Estarta Solutions, a leading provider of IT solutions, has entered into an enterprise services agreement with Aramex International, the leading transportation corporation in the Middle East.  Estarta is working closely with Aramex’s team to launch a proprietary global tracking system based on Microsoft .NET technologies, that would allow for real-time tracking of packages for Aramex clients and personnel, through the Internet. Microsoft.NET platform is a set of Microsoft software technologies that seamlessly connects information, people, systems and devices.
 
“At Aramex, the name of the game has always been innovation, and it is not by accident that innovation has been chosen this year to be the slogan of our 20th anniversary. Aramex lives, survives and grows through innovation,” said Fadi Ghandour, President & CEO at Aramex.
 
With this agreement Estarta will deploy a shipment tracking system, a third party data exchange, integrate legacy tracking systems and quality auditing services all in the first phase of the project.  Estarta is leveraging Microsoft’s .NET technologies to seamlessly integrate with Aramex’s entire network of operations and employ a web services model.  The solution will be developed with Visual Studio .NET, Microsoft’s application development tools for developing .NET based applications.
 
“We are confident that Estarta’s wealth of experience and Microsoft’s .NET technology will help us provide a reliable and integrated system that serves our customers better. The new system will add value to our services and give our customers a tremendous online experience,” explained Samer Awajan, Chief Technology Architect, at Aramex.
 
“We are very pleased and excited about our investment and role in supporting Estarta, a venture that is sure to expand Jordanian and regional market opportunities through enabling technology access. With .NET technologies, we are sure Estarta will provide the timely support to organizations in the Middle East and international markets,” said Charbel Fakhoury, General Manager, Microsoft East Mediterranean.
 
“We will continue to encourage technology-driven opportunities that develop from this region. Microsoft’s investment in Estarta is a positive indication of our commitment to playing a leadership role in enabling businesses with innovative solutions. We are keen on developing talent from within the region and to be open to opportunities that will place this region on the international map,” added Fakhoury.
 
Estarta’s Middle East focus is timely as the region is witnessing a leap in technological advancement, as technology becomes more mature and less expensive.  Government and businesses in Jordan and, more broadly, the Middle East, realize the need to become more efficient and have global market reach through eGovernment and eBusiness initiatives.
 
“We aim to be the region’s leading IT solutions provider, transforming organizations and enabling businesses in the Middle East to better compete in the global marketplace,” commented Ennis Rimawi, Chairman and President of Estarta. 
 
 
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About Aramex
ARAMEX International (http//www.Aramex.com) is the leading provider of express package delivery, freight forwarding, logistics and other transportation services primarily to, from and within the Middle East and the Indian Sub-Continent. From a small company with two offices in Amman and New York, ARAMEX has in it’s twenty-year history formed a global network with 134 offices in 34 countries, as well as several hubs located in strategic positions with global coverage. This network is powered by thousands of skilled professionals offering total transportation solutions to a large customer base across the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent. ARAMEX was the first Arab based company from the Middle East to float on the NASDAQ, and returned to a private company at the beginning of 2002.
 About Estarta Solutions
Estarta Solutions is an international IT solutions company with offices in Amman, Boston, and Doha.  Estarta focuses on IT Consulting and Implementation services and products for Businesses, Governments, and Technology Companies in the US, Europe, and the Middle East.  Estarta is a 200-person company, the result of a merger between Zeine Technological Applications and ONEWORLD Jordan. Estarta’s has demonstrated its capabilities by having successfully served clients such as Thomson Financial, Apple, 3Com, Siemens, several wireless operators, and Governments.  For such clients Estarta’s services range from product development outsourcing, to full eBusiness/eGovernment solution definition, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance. Estarta helps its clients succeed through a unique combination of a collaborative, consultative approach; technical capability; and high quality global delivery model.  Estarta has domain expertise in the following areas: eGovernment, eBusiness, Telecommunications, Finance and Banking, and Transportation.  Technology capabilities include Microsoft Technologies, Wireless Technologies, Java Technologies, Embedded Development, and UML. When appropriate, Estarta leverages its patent pending intelligent pattern recognition and parsing engine to rapidly create smart applications such as Cubic, an intelligent wireless SMS platform.  Due to the nature of Estarta’s client base, Estarta uses the most advanced technologies, tools, and quality processes to deliver custom tailored solutions.  Estarta is approaching CMM Level 3 certification.  Estarta’s technical depth is further demonstrated by the fact that Estarta’s code will be in the next version of Windows XP.  Estarta’s address on the World Wide Web is: www.estartasolutions.com
 
About Microsoft Corporation
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software - any time, any place and on any device. Microsoft opened its Dubai-based Middle East office in 1991, headquartered at Dubai Internet City and is responsible for all aspects of the company’s business in the region, covering UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan, Cyprus, Malta, Egypt and Pakistan.Microsoft Corporation's address on the World Wide Web is: www.microsoft.com Microsoft Middle East's Web site is: www.microsoft.com/middleeast. Microsoft,and .NET are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
 
Agency Contact:
Robin Duff/ Prem Ramchandran
ASDA’A Public Relations
Dubai, UAE
Tel: 00-9714-3344550
Fax: 00-9714-3344556
E-mail: info@asdaa.com
 
Microsoft Contact:                                                            Aimee Peters                          
Microsoft Middle East – South Gulf                                 Dubai, United Arab Emirates                                                                                                                                                                                         Tel: 00-9714 – 3917246                                                                                                                                                                                                
Fax: 00-9714 – 3971001                                                    
E-mail: i-aimeep@microsoft.com          
 
Estarta Contact:
Faten Assaf or Ismail Dawwas,
Estarta Solutions, Amman, Jordan
Tel: (962-6) 533 0751
Fax: (962-6) 533 0752
E-mail: fatena@estartasolutions.com or
ismaild@estartasolutions.com


 

© Press Release 2002