Program developed to alert Muslims to the time to prayer through their cell phones
Dubai: UClub, the online community for mobile phone users, has made it possible for Muslims in the emirates to be alerted to the precise times for prayer through their phones with its offering of a unique application.
The Azan application, developed for various types of Nokia mobile telephones, has been designed especially for the Gulf market and is being launched first in the UAE by UClub, said Prajay Gandhi, Mobile Applications Development Manager at Imaginations, the Dubai-based company responsible for the development of the application.
As Arabic and English are the main languages spoken in the region, the application has been created to recognise the user’s language preferences and intelligently generate the display menu in the appropriate language.
“Besides this, as the Azan application is being launched first in the UAE, residents in the country can select from the menu the emirate they are in and the alarm will alert them of the prayer timings along with its name. The application also has an imbedded option for showing Azan timings for the entire day,” Gandhi explained.
UClub was created with the specific intention of delivering quality content to mobile phone users and the Azan application ties in with this, said Arun Nagar, Managing Director, Cellucom Dubai-based distributor of mobile communication devices and accessories and the company responsible for the launch of UClub two months ago.
“The Azan application is available for download, for the time being, through users' mobile telephones. For information on how to download the Azan application through their mobile phones, people can visit the UClub website www.uclubme.com,” said Raouf Shabayek, Business Development Manager, Imaginations, developers of the UClub website. Owners of compatible Nokia mobile phones and WAP/GPRS settings will be able to download it following instructions on the site. The Azan application is available for download at a special introductory price of Dh15.
In an effort to make it easier for UClub members to buy content from the site, Cellucom will be shortly launching scratch cards. Once introduced, the scratch cards each with a unique pin number – will be available through Cellucom store and Val-U-Shop distribution outlets, as well as where possible shops selling Etisalat cards. UClub members who wish to buy content at present can do so through premium SMS service.
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Note to editors
Cellucom is a global enterprise engaged in the distribution of cellular communication devices and accessories from its base at Dubai Airport Free Zone. Its strategic location in the free zone has given a tremendous push to its exports into the emerging markets of Asia, Eastern Europe, South America and Africa. In addition to its wide dealer network, Cellucom has its own retail stores in the UAE and Bahrain, bases in Hong Kong, Singapore, India and East Africa, and will shortly be launching operations in Saudi Arabia.
Through its 'think global, act local' policy the company has fostered regional associations and adopted a global management style. Sourcing directly from the manufacturers of most of the major brands of mobile phones, Cellucom also works closely with many cellular networks providing special packaging with the operator's design and branding conventions. The company achieved regional sales amounting to AED 500 million for the year 2002.
This press release has been issued on behalf of Cellucom by Concept PR.
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© Press Release 2003
