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Al Jazeera International Deploys Apple's Latest Technology
[November 20, 2006]

Al Jazeera International Deploys Apple's Latest Technology


TMCnet Contributing Editor
 
Al Jazeera International, the English counterpart of Middle East TV station Al Jazeera, is reportedly now equipped with the latest technology from Apple.

According to a press release, the leading news broadcaster of the region has selected Apple’s comprehensive range of products and solutions in order to modernize its 24-hr English language news channel Al Jazeera International. The technology will power the entire spectrum of the channel’s requirements - from editing to storage. The TV station is known for its fondness for avant-garde technology.



With its head office in Doha, Quatar, Al Jazeera International is Middle East’s first English language news channel. With a wide network of 30 bureaus, it has scores of correspondents that cover news and happenings from across the globe.

Al Jazeera has also reportedly entered into an arrangement with PRO TECHnology to provide a complete turn-key system for the news channel’s expanding network. PRO TECHnology is the reseller for Arab Business Machine Ltd, which is Apple’s Independent Marketing Company for the Middle East region. PRO TECHnology’s strength lies in client/server and peer-to-peer network solutions for enterprises. Manned with expert engineers and consultants, the company is the best pick for carrying out the Herculean task.


Among the products selected by Al Jazeera are 41 MacBook Pro and Final Cut Studio for journalists, a 70 TB Apple storage solution using 10 Apple Xserve 7 TB XRAID and 14 Apple Xsan Software Licenses, and also 12 PowerMac G5 Quad, 2 PowerMac G5 Dual Core and 19 Apple Cinema HD Display 23 for editing and design.

The latest deal has strengthened Apple’s position in the Middle East market.

“We are excited that we were given this opportunity,” said Ghassan Bendali, Deputy General Manager of Arab Business Machine Limited, in the press release. “Al Jazeera International is definitely a big name in the region today, and is anticipated to become one of the worlds’ biggest broadcasters in coming years. We are absolutely delighted that they have chosen to be powered by Apple technology, and we are confident that they will soon reap rich benefits through the implementation of Apple’s leading range of solutions from the MacBook Pro to the XSan.”

Bendali said the deal is a win-win situation for both the parties. Al Jazeera International’s journalists will also find Apple’s solutions very handy and useful, especially the Final Cut Studio, which is equipped with high-tech editing tools, revolutionary sound design, real-time motion graphics and next generation DVD authoring from the field.

“'The solution will focus on Apple’s high-performance solutions which facilitate the editing of video, film and audio, in addition to the creation of effects and motion graphics, all from inception to completion. Our detailed solution for Al Jazeera will set the benchmark for all major television stations across the region,” added Bendali.

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Divya Narain is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

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