New Trusted Stores program addresses a current gap in the market and adds real telecom value to consumers and retailers

March 30, 2016; Dubai, UAE

Sky Telecom, the Dubai-based telecom and digital enabler for ICT service providers and the consumer technology industry, has outlined its expansion plans through the MENA region for 2016.

The company, which was launched in Dubai in 2014, is unique in offering the ultimate mix of retail and digital platforms to consumers, providing the most complete and comprehensive digital platform in the region for ICT service providers and the consumer technology industry. Sky Telecom offers a complete setup, both online and offline, and has developed a package of services for consumers, which encompasses e-payments, e-services and e-commerce.

Ahead of GITEX Shopper 2016 (Spring Edition), which takes place at the Dubai World Trade Center from March 30 to April 2, Sky Telecom has announced the introduction of its 'Trusted Stores' program in the UAE. The program will connect consumers with a wide range of unique benefits, including mobile money, social wallet, e-payments, digital marketplace and virtual stores. Through the Trusted Stores program, consumers in the UAE will be able to connect, view, interact and transact with thousands of retail outlets dealing in telecom devices, accessories and services, while benefitting from many offers, rewards and an enhanced customer experience. The Trusted Stores program integrates into the company's existing framework to create a bi-directional transaction between retailers and consumers.

A Trusted Stores Partner is a certified physical store that the company has vetted through a strict quality assurance process, which certifies them to transact through the company's secured marketplace, 'Mysky.ae'. Through this telecoms marketplace, trusted stores can upload their data and provide access to their own online catalogue of products and services onto the digital platform, giving them exposure to thousands of Mysky.ae online users. Trusted stores will have a package of tools to manage customer loyalty, inventory, e-payments and digital marketing in order to ignite their businesses and drive new traffic to the store across all channels.

Trusted stores can be identified by customers through Sky Telecom's Trusted Stores' label, which will be issued by the company after a strict quality control process, with Mysky.ae offering information to consumers on where to locate their nearest trusted store. Phase 1 of the scheme will function through the marketplace connecting the retailers to consumers, and then a further stage will be added, including facilities to pay bills, top up phone credit and a customer rewards scheme.

Trusted Stores will be officially launched during GITEX Shopper, with consumers able to experience Sky Telecom's convenient range of e-services first-hand. In 2014, at GITEX Shopper Autumn, Sky Telecom gained 20,000 daily registered customers and a total of 140,000 registrations in 7 days. Sky Telecom are anticipating an even larger uptake at this year's event, thanks to even better promotions and a wider range of vendors.

The pioneering concept will drive the customer experience based on analytics gathered through the company's marketplace. "Sky Digital Platform is a cloud platform that's a first regionally," says Ali Kassab, CEO of Sky Telecom. "The aim is to bring a lot of flexibility and effortlessness in the way people will interact with retail, travel or services, for example. We have a number of planned initiatives that will positively impact the way people shop or play or manage their lives, and will evolve the consumer

experience. We will be able to adapt according to the circumstances, such as a particular channel or demographic."

The Trusted Store marketplace is part of the 'Sky Digital Platform', an in-house platform, which enables revenue generation, market penetration and increased market share for Sky Telecom partners. The platform's eco-system provides a digital marketplace, omni-channel customer engagement, point-of-sales and retail outlet management, CRM, loyalty management and marketing automation, alongside customer analytics and profiling based on big data. Sky Digital Platform is unique in that is a unified system that manages all chains of customer experience and engagement across all channels, which includes points-of-sale and kiosks as well as online. Based on a revenue-sharing model, where Sky Telecom builds and operates the business case, the system is simple to use, transparent and easily applied.

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About Sky Telecom
Established in 2014, Sky Telecom enables next generation businesses (telecom operators) to increase their market share, reduce customer acquisition cost and improve customer experience. SKY Telecom is a revenue enabler that analyses and understands market gaps and challenges to transform it into business opportunities. The company enables growth by developing new core competencies in business development, marketing and customer experience.

Ali Kassab, CEO, Sky Telecom
Throughout his 18-year career in telecoms, Mr. Ali Kassab has been a tireless innovator and technology enthusiast. His early experiences at Orange, Orascom and Ooreedoo shaped his later business ventures - including international sales, ICT, marketing, and consultancy - in the Middle East.

Mr. Kassab leads the executive leadership team responsible for realizing Sky Telecom's vision to change the ways in which people work, live, play and learn. Under his leadership, Sky Telecom empowers its customers to create and deliver value and innovation within the digital sphere. 

Over his seven years as the CEO of this multinational software company, Mr. Ali Kassab has led the organization in enhancing customer experience, driving the cloud revolution, evolving telecom technology, and transforming retail banking. 

Media Contact:
Ava Karvan
PR Manager, O2
E: ak@o2.ae
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: 0564505570

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© Press Release 2016