Arab Mobile Communication Studies

Four Saudi ministries have appealed to King Fahd to reverse a ban on camera-equipped mobile phones in the kingdom, a local newspaper reported on Monday, according to Middle East Online.

[Via Textually.org]

Saleh Fareed, Arab News

JEDDAH, 18 December 2004 — Just a day after the ban on mobile camera phones was lifted, there has been an unusually high demand for camera phones and the prices of latest models dropped, according to local mobile phone vendors

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[VIA: arabnews.com]
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=57826&d=20&m=1&y=2005

Haj Goes Better With Mobile Phones Syed Faisal Ali, Arab News —

JEDDAH, 20 January 2005 — Modern technology has changed the way Muslims experience Haj, a rite required of able-bodied faithful who can afford it at least once in a lifetime. It has made the pilgrimage smooth and safer than in the past. Now with a mobile phone in hand, a pilgrim has much less chance of getting lost in the sea of humanity. He keeps in touch with other people of his group.

Dressed in a two-piece seamless white cloth, Egyptian pilgrim Fareed Hummoudi prayed during the Standing on Arafat as Haj climaxed yesterday. With a prayer booklet in one hand and a mobile phone in the other, chanting religious verses and prayers in unison with other pilgrims. He was using his mobile to relay the sermon of the imam of the Nimra mosque to his wife back in Egypt.

It has also changed the way Muslim experience being Muslims, as militants have popularly seized on the Internet as a tool for publicizing their extremist, often violent, version of the religion.

Fareed was thrilled to have had the technology to share his pilgrimage with his wife, who stayed at home.

“I am so happy, it felt like both me and my wife were facing Allah together,” he said, standing in Arafat.

Several others were also carrying mobile phones and some of them camera-equipped phones and immortalizing some unforgettable moments of Haj on it to show them to their family members back home.

Pre-paid SAWA mobile phone chips were available easily for SR110.

Outside the Grand Mosque, pilgrims were clicking digital photos to later e-mail home.

“It is my second Haj. Last time wife was lost during the ritual of stoning the jamarat and then the stampede took place. I ran from one place to another to find her. Alhamdulliah she came back safe and sound. But I cannot explain the tension I went through until she was back. So, this time first thing which I did was to buy a local SAWA card. It is really a great help.”

A South African pilgrim Rashed Sulaiman was intermittently receiving calls on his handset. In fact, he was in touch with his office in Cape Town. “This is my first Haj. Since I am a senior executive in an American software giant, I cannot leave things there in the office at the mercy of others. I am in touch with my office on mobile. It has helped me a lot. I have mixed work with worship.”

This kind of advancement in communication has changed the whole perspective of the pilgrimage, said a girl with a camera phone in hand.

Nilofar Lone from Anantnag in India who was praying with her bead in one hand looked confident with a mobile phone in the other hand. “It is helping me to keep me in touch with my family members who are praying in their camp. I wanted to have a look at Arafat so I came out. I have no fear of getting lost or facing any problem as long as my mobile works. It really keeps you in touch with others and boost self-confidence,” she said.

However, Algerian Amir Shaid was as not happy with mobile-carrying pilgrims. He said, “You should not get too carried away with this stuff, there’s a lot of bad things out there. They are a constant disturbance for those who want to concentrate on prayers.”

Shaid said that though modern communications were “a blessing,” there was a negative aspect which should not be overlooked.






Copyright: Arab News © 2003 All rights reserved. Site designed by: arabix and powered by Eima IT

According to SignOnSanDiego.com, Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper reported on Thursday that Saudi Arabia will overturn a ban on the import and sale of mobile camera phones in the conservative Muslim kingdom

[Via www.textually.org]

short messages systems (SMS) have taken a new turn, both in quantity and quality, with the advent of Ramadan in Saudi Arabia. Messages’ content vary from congratulations and exchange of jokes to urging Saudis to be more open to charitable deeds in Ramadan.

In addition to messages used and circulated by all Saudis, each region of Saudi Arabia does have its own special group of messages...

Messages exchanged among Makkah residents still have certain flavor for all Saudis though.

As for joke-based congratulation messages on the occasion of Ramadan, they have mostly focused on making fun of Satan and his evil followers whose negative effects die away during the holy month.

More on: Islam-Online.net

The research shows that Morocco’s SMS tariffs are the highest being 188% above the regional average as calculated by Arab Advisors. Morocco is followed by Lebanon (89% above the regional average), Syria (67%), Saudi Arabia (15%), Algeria (14%) and Qatar (7%), UAE (-11% i.e. below the regional average), Libya (-14%), Yemen (-18%), Tunisia and Iraq (-27%), Oman (-34%), Bahrain and Egypt (-38%), Jordan (-39%), Kuwait (-42%), Sudan (-45%) and Palestine (-47%).

Khalil Hanware,

JEDDAH, 6 January 2005 — A new brand of mobile phones made in Saudi Arabia by a Saudi company will hit the market later this month.
[Via Arab News ]

Abeer Mishkhas,

Mobile users welcomed the move to overturn the ban on camera phones. (AN photo by Fahd Al-Shedaid)

JEDDAH, 17 December 2004 — Saudi Arabia will overturn a ban on the import and sale of mobile camera phones in the Kingdom, press reports said yesterday

[Via Arab News ]

[VIA: ameinfo]
http://www.ameinfo.com/17122.html
Mobile phone subscription in the Arab world exceeds 24 million
The number of mobile phones in use in the Arab world has increased dramatically since the beginning of the year, reaching 23.7 million subscribers by end November, compared to 23.35 million fixed lines over the same period, according to a survey released today by Madar Research Group.
United Arab Emirates: Tuesday, December 24 - 2002

A 2002 estimated mobile phone growth rate of 52 percent will push mobile phone subscribers across the 24 million mark by year end, and widen the margin between mobile phones and fixed lines by close to one million subscriptions.

Mobile phone subscriptions now outnumber fixed lines in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Morocco, according to the survey published this week in the first issue of Madar Research Journal - a New Economy market research monthly.

"The high growth in the number of mobile phone subscribers is due to network development and expansion projects by mobile carriers in many countries including Egypt, Jordan and Tunisia, in addition to new services such as prepaid mobile cards, the sales of which in Saudi Arabia alone reached 1.6 million since their launch in April 2002," said Abdul Kader Kamli, president and research director of the Dubai Media City-registered Madar Research Group.

"Mobile phone penetration in the Arab world, however, is still low. The 23.7 million mobile phone subscribers constitute only about eight percent of the Arab population, compared with a world average of 17 percent. But the Arab world will catch up with the rest of the world in the coming three years as Arab countries liberalize their telecommunication markets and bring in more players and competitors," said Kamli.

There is much disparity in mobile phone penetration between Arab countries - or regions. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, for instance, displays penetration rates much higher than world average but almost half the North American average, standing at 26 percent. Excluding the GCC, the Arab world has just over five percent mobile penetration, according to the survey which details the performance of each of the 18 Arab countries covered by the report in terms of Internet, mobile phone and fixed telephone line penetrations. The survey also introduces the Madar Research Telecom Use Ranking (TUR) Index, which produces an overall ranking for Arab countries in telecommunications use.

The survey is one of several research reports published this week in the first issue of the subscription-based Madar Research Journal, which map out the development of information and communications technology (ICT) and e-business in the Arab world. Among the highlights of this month's issue is the first benchmarking test carried out on Dubai e-government basic public services, which gauges their progress, offering a comparison between the services as well as with their equivalent in European Union states.

Other research reports explore Egypt's 'e-landscape', the development of e-learning in Jordan and e-banking in Qatar, as well as ICT initiatives in Syria, an investigation into the deployment of supercomputers in the Arab world, and the top 10 ICT deals made in Arab countries during the last quarter of 2002. Topics featured regularly in the journal include eMarket Trends, eStat Watch and Numbers in Quotes.

To help spread a research culture in the region, Madar Research Group has uploaded a complete PDF copy of the journal's zero-issue for free download from its website, www.madarresearch.com.

In recent years, the world has seen an explosion in the growth of information and communication technologies, and particularly mobile communications. 2002 marked a turning point in the history of telecommunications in that the number of mobile subscribers overtook the number of fixed-line subscribers on a global scale, and mobile became the dominant technology for voice communications. Indeed, the mobile phone has moved beyond being a mere technological object to become a key "social object" present in every aspect of our daily lives.

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العربية.نت

اصدرت المحكمة الكبرى بالرياض الحكم على مرتكبي الجريمة التي أثارت غضب المجتمع السعودي عندما اقدم ثلاثة رجال على هتك عرض فتاة خليجية وتصويرها بجوال كاميرا "الباندا"، وترويج الفيلم والصور على نطاق واسع عبر الانترنت والهواتف الجوالة.

وقد قررت المحكمة إيقاع عقوبة السجن لمدة 12 عاماً و الجلد (1200) جلدة على المتهم الرئيس برجس بن فالح (27 عاماً).
كما حكم على السعودي الآخر عبد الرحمن بن هيف (22) عاماً بالسجن لمدة سنتين وجلده (200) جلدة، وحكم على المتهم الثالث، وهو النيجيري يوسف أبكر محمد عبد الله، الذي ظهر في الصورة بالسجن 6 سنوات وجلده 600 جلدة.

و بحسب صحيفة "الوطن" السعودية فإن هذا الحكم ليس قطعياً ونهائياً حيث يمكن للمدعى عليهم الترافع حيال هذه الأحكام عن طريق النقض أمام هيئة التمييز التي يمكنها أن توافق لهم أو عليهم, وإذا لم يقتنعوا بحكم هيئة التمييز فإن بإمكانهم رفع القضية للمقام السامي الذي سيحيلها إلى مجلس القضاء الأعلى، والذي سيصدر حكماً قطعياً لا رجوع عنه.
وأكدت الصحيفة أن مجموع أحكام الجلد لن تتم دفعة واحدة، وإنما سيتم توزيعها على فترات متقطعة، ويتوقع أن تكون في كل يوم جمعة من كل أسبوع حتى تنتهي.

وقد تباينت آراء أمهات سعوديات حول الحكم الصادر بحق برجس وأصدقائه، وبلغت هذه الآراء بحدتها إلى أن العقوبة الصادرة بحق المجرمين ليست بالكافية، مما حدا ببعضهن إلى المطالبة بعقوبة الإعدام، أما الأخريات كانت آراؤهن متوازنة مع حكم الإعدام، مؤكدات على منطقية وعدل هذا الحكم الذي أتى على قدر الجرم المرتكب، فيما حملت أخريات الذنب للفتاة أيضاً، واعتبرن العقوبة أكبر من الجريمة نظراً لأن الشاب المستهتر لن يصل إلى الفتاة المحافظة.

وفي استطلاع لبعض اراء للسيدات أجرته صحيفة الوطن، رأت حنان السليمان، موظفة حكومية وأم لـ(4) فتيات ترى أن العقوبة ليست بالكافية، ولن تكون رادعة لمثل هذا الفعل المشين حيث قالت: "إن جريمته لم تبلغ حد الاعتداء على الشرف فقط، بل تجاوزت ذلك إلى التشهير"، وتضيف السليمان "كنا ننتظر أن يصدر بحق هذه الزمرة حكم الإعدام، وهذا ما تعودناه على الأحكام التي تصدر بقضايا العرض والشرف"، وتتوقع السليمان أن هذا الحكم لن يردع بقية المجرمين والمستهترين، وطالبت أهل الفتاة بالنقض ومحاولة الحصول على ثأر ابنتهم التي ترى أنه ثأر كل الفتيات وليست ابنتهم فقط".

ولا تختلف عنها أم نواف، موظفة في قطاع خاص وأم لفتاة واحدة؛ حيث تخشى أن يتم تخفيف الحكم فيما بعد بسبب حسن السيرة والسلوك داخل السجن، مضيفة بأن حكم الجلد يجب أن يكون علناً أمام العامة؛ ليراه الشبان ويتعظ به المستهترون، والعظة كما تقول أم نواف ليست للشبان وحدهم بل حتى الفتيات المستهترات والأهالي المستهترين الذين لم يراعوا الله في تربية أبنائهم.

وتختلف معهم أم محمد، معلمة وأم لـ3 فتيات، حيث ترى بأن العقوبة منطقية وعادلة لأن الطرف الآخر شارك في الخطأ أيضاً، وإن اختلفت كمية الخطأ من شخص لآخر.
وتؤكد عليها أم عبدالله، وكيلة مدرسة وأم لفتاة قائلة: "الحكم منطقي وعقلاني، ولأني أم لشاب أيضاً، فقد يحكمني نوع من العاطفة نحو الشاب الذي ستنتهي سنوات شبابه في السجن"، وتضيف أم عبدالله: "بيد أن هذا لا يعني أن يُترك بلا عقاب صارم لأنه لم يجرم بجريمة الاغتصاب فقط، ووصفت هذه الجريمة بـ"الوقحة" لأن المجرم استهتر بالعرض لحد الوقاحة".

وبنظرة مختلفة عن سابقاتها تعتبر فاتن العيدان، مديرة مدرسة وأم لـ4 فتيات، أن هذه العقوبة أكبر مما يجب، وأكبر من الجرم لسبب أن الشاب لن يتمكن من فضيحة الفتاة إن كانت هي حافظت على نفسها، وحافظ عليها أهلها، وترى العيدان أن هذه الجرائم لا يمكن أن تطال الفتاة المحافظة إلا في حالات قليلة جداً كالسطو على الفتاة مثلاً، مؤكدة على أن هذا لا يمكن أن يحصل في بلادنا بلاد الأمن، ولا يستطيع الشاب الذي تسول له نفسه هتك الأعراض أن يصل إلى الفتاة بسهولة.

على صعيد أخر أوضح استشاري الطب النفسي د.جمال الطويرقي أن سن المراهقة كان من الأسباب الكبيرة التي أدت إلى ارتكاب هؤلاء الشباب لهذا العمل غير الأخلاقي, حيث إن هذا الفعل يعد ردة فعل انتقامية يتسبب فيها شعور من المراهق بالملكية لهذا الشيء, وهو ما بدا واضحا في تصرف عبدالرحمن الذي اقتاد الفتاة إلى صديقه, مشيرا إلى أن هناك عوامل أخرى تتعلق بالتربية والبيئة التي نشأ فيها هؤلاء الشباب.

وأشار الطويرقي إلى أن الطريقة التي نفذت بها هذه الجريمة تعكس حقيقة شعور المراهق في مثل هذه السن والمتمثل في إحساسه بتملكه لهذه الفتاة؛ وبالتالي فإن تنكرها له بأية طريقة يدفعه للانتقام اللفظي أو الجسدي, والاحتمال الثاني أن يكون لديه مرض أو يحمل شخصية إجرامية من نشأته نتيجة تأثره بمجتمعه أو بأشياء وأفكار أخرى أثرت في حياته؛ وبالتالي تولدت فيه الشخصية الإجرامية نتيجة فقده للوازع الأخلاقي والديني.

أما الباحث التربوي عيسى عوض المطيري، فقد شدد على أن مثل هذه القضية الأخلاقية لا يمكن أن "نعمم فعلها على أفراد المجتمع السعودي فالسلوك الذي قام به (برجس) يحكي واقع عملية إذلال واغتصاب فتاة، وهو سلوك فردي شاذ وغير سوي ومن المؤكد أن يكون فاعله ذا نفسية غير سوية".
وأرجع المطيري سبب هذا الفعل إلى رفقاء السوء والشارع الذين يهدمون كل ما يبنيه المجتمع من فضائل كبيرة، خاصة أن الشارع صاحب ريادة في استقطاب السلوكيات الوافدة على المجتمع السعودي.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY
Section: STU-ADM
Procedure Number: STU-ADM-09-01
Supporting Policy Number: STU-ADM-09
Date Approved: 15 December 2004
Effective Date: 15 December 2004
Date Last Revised: 15 December 2004
Responsible Office: Assistant Provost and Dean of Students
Student Use of Mobile Phones Procedure

Major Procedural Changes in This Release
Locations where students may use mobile phones have been expanded.
Major Procedural Changes in This Release
Locations where students may use mobile phones have been expanded.
Procedure
Mobile phones should be used in a manner that does not interfere with University
activities, employees or their fellow students. No mobile phones with cameras are
permitted on the girls’ campuses or in the girls’ hostels.
Mobile phones without cameras may be used in the following girls’ campus and girls’
hostel areas:
• All of the gates
• Cafeterias
• The Creativity Club
• Student Activities building
• At the Al Ain students rest area (next to building 66)
• Hostels
• The University fountain area (Maqam quad)
• On the buses

All these networking tools help people to use the Internet as a truly social forum. You can't help but think this is what the Net was always ultimately supposed to be.
Read more:
http://www.enn.ie/frontpage/news-9354260.html

Questions and answers are sent and received using SMS text messaging on a cell phone.
Read more:
http://www.ecommercetimes.com/story/J783N3bruF3VP6/Cellphedia-Melds-Facts-with-Mobile-Smart-Mobs.xhtml

From tracking Prince William to public dissent, the mobile phone is a tool for group coordination, finds James Harkin.
Read more:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,984712,00.html

Howard Rheingold, author of Virtual Reality and other works in the early 1990s that prophesied the rise of electronic communities, credits such a display of text messaging with supplying the inspiration for his upcoming book Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution.
Read more:
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,55561,00.html

Aljazeera SMS Mobile Service
Aljazeera news is now accessible anytime anywhere through
SMS.

The SMS service launched by Aljazeera Mobile project will allow subscribers to receive news services, including breaking news, through their mobile phones.

Subscribers may choose to receive Arabic or English SMS messages on the following topics:

Politics
Sports
Economy

It will take only one call to your local service provider to get Aljazeera SMS service.

In the future, Aljazeera Mobile Project will extend its coverage to include:

Multimedia messaging service (MMS)
News via a landline telephone


Click here to subscribe now

Mobilephone subscribers in 18 Arab countries have risen to more than 29.43m, said a study by Dubai-based Madar Research Group. It said landline subscribers stood at over 24.88m by the end of June 2003. The UAE, with a population of 3.7m has 2.65m mobile and 1.11m landline subscribers.