Muscat, 29 September 2012 - Nawras has launched two new social media SMS services which allow customers to get closer to friends and family members through their existing Facebook and Twitter accounts. Oman's customer friendly communications provider is the first in the Sultanate to offer Facebook SMS, continuing along its pioneering journey of making telecommunications a rewarding and pleasingly different experience.

The new services allow all Nawras customers, including those without a smartphone, to have easy access to their network of contacts through social media services by sending an SMS to a dedicated number for just 10 Baizas per message.

To use  Twitter, new members or existing members simply need to send 'start' to 90914.To use the Facebook service, members can send 'fb' to 90913 and follow the instructions.  Alternatively by logging into their Facebook account from a computer, customers can configure the mobile phone option so each message sent will then be linked to their account.

Al Muhanna Jaifar Al Said, Nawras Product Manager, said, "These unique, interactive services give Nawras customers more options to get closer through their social networks. We constantly look for new ways to meet customers' ever changing communication needs by deliver caring and excellent services."

Al Muhanna added, "Social media has totally changed the way in which we communicate today and it is becoming increasingly popular in Oman. Nawras aims to continuously be at the forefront of the industry by exploring new communications mediums and evolving with changes in customer usage styles."

Using the new service, customers of Facebook can also provide status updates, add friends and follow status of other friends via SMS sent to 90913. Tweets can be sent by SMS to 90914. Customers can get assistance with the service by sending the keyword 'Social' to 1500.

More information on this and many other exciting services offered by Nawras can be found online by visiting www.nawras.om, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nawras or by following @nawras_oman on Twitter.  Customers are also invited to visit any Nawras store where a Customer Service Champion will be happy to assist.

-Ends-

Nawras:
Omani Qatari Telecommunications Company SAOG was founded and registered in the Sultanate of Oman in December 2004. It launched its service in March 2005 as the challenger mobile operator in Oman operating under the name Nawras. Nawras was awarded the second fixed licence in Oman in 2009, and launched its international gateway in April 2010, its corporate fixed and broadband services in May 2010, and its residential fixed and broadband services in June 2010. Since 2010 Nawras has been an integrated services telecommunications operator and is currently serving around 2 million customers across the Sultanate. Following a successful IPO, Nawras is listed on the Muscat Stock Market (MSM) under the "nwrs" ticker since 1 November 2010.  Nawras is majority owned by the Qtel Group and also has a number of significant Omani shareholders which ensures that the company is strongly integrated into the Omani society. Nawras has won a number of awards including Customer Service Excellence Award in Telecom Sector 2012 from Oman Customer Care Conference, Innovation in HR Strategy 2011 from Asia's Best Employer Brand Awards, Outstanding Leader from TMT Finance Middle East 2011, Best IPO in the Middle East from emeafinance magazine and Strategic Leadership Award from Global HR Excellence Awards 2011.

About Qtel Group:
The Qtel Group is a leading international communications company, with a significant presence in the MENA region and Southeast Asia, and having a consolidated customer base of 83.4 million as of December 2011. It operates a portfolio of brands including Qtel, Indosat, Asiacell, Wataniya, Nawras, Nedjma and Tunisiana. The Qtel Group's principle activities are mobile telephone services, broadband solutions, digital futures and fibre technologies, serving both consumer and business markets. Headquartered in Doha, Qatar, Qtel Group is ambitiously growing its global business on the basis of its insights into the needs of customers in emerging markets. Qtel Group's ultimate parent company is Qatar Telecom (Qtel) Q.S.C., whose shares are listed on the Qatar Exchange and the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.

© Press Release 2012