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142% mobile subscription rate in Qatar [Qatar Tribune]
(Qatar Tribune Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) JOSEPH VARGHESE DOHA THE mobile subscription rate in Qatar stands at 142 percent, the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQatar) has said, referring to the fact that many subscribers hold multiple connections.
These figures were revealed during the 'Everything Mobile' forum organised by ictQatar at the Sharq Village and Spa on Saturday.
Speaking at the two-day forum, ictQatar Publications Manager Kholoud al Ali emphasised Qatar's high rate of mobile connectivity and said that the mobile is "truly changing the way we communicate with friends and family, the way we do business, how we learn and how people around the globe access information.
"Mobile devices have become more and more sophisticated, and the content used on them and the policy considerations around them are also getting complex. ictQatar aims to remain at the forefront of innovative technology, understanding its impact on society and preparing the right environment for innovation through technology," she said.
She added that 'Everything Mobile' was geared towards sharing the latest cutting edge technology in cellphone and the exciting impact is bound to have on Qatar.
The interactive forum is studying the phenomena of cellphones in the Arab world from a business, consumer and regulatory perspective. Leaders in mobile technology, social media and digital commerce from all over the world are attending the event, which has attracted nearly 500 participants.
Specific topics which will be discussed on both the days include m-commerce and finance, mobile entertainment and games, mobile software and hardware, mobile public services, location-based services and, mobile applications.
Speaking at the opening of the forum, Kevin Rose, the founder of Digg and cofounder of Milk Inc, discussed the disruptive mobile applications that have emerged in recent times. He said "Most mobile applications are in the entertainment and communication fields.
Within a few years, there will be more applications that can be used for entrepreneurship, education and health, which result in high growth in mobile commerce and education." He also said that conventional methods will have to be changed drastically to cope with modern applications as more and more smartphones and tablets are being used by the younger generation.
A panel discussion that followed discussed the implications of m-Commerce.
Business Milk Inc Vice- President Chris Hutchins gave a number of emerging m-Commerce applications that are being developed and used around the world such as the mobile credit card applications and Starbucks method of payment that can avoid the use of cash during any purchase anywhere.
Other Dan Stuart, Managing Director of LivingSocial Middle East, Rob Jonas, Vice-President and Managing Director of Europe and the Middle East for inMobi, William Hoffman, Head of Telecommunications Industry at World Economic Forum were the other members of the forum which was moderated by Marwan Marouf Mahmoud, Executive Director of ICT Industry Development at ictQATAR.
On Sunday, ictQatar will host a Tweet-up for the local community at the Sharq Village & Spa featuring the Head of Social Innovation and Philanthropy division at Twitter, Claire Diaz Ortiz, who will focus specifically on her work with Twitter and highlight her book Twitter for Good: Change the World One Tweet at a Time.
(c) 2012 Qatar Tribune. All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company
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