Info2cell.com tops 4 mln SMS daily

Info2Cell.com, the leading mobile application service provider in the Middle East, announced that demand for the company’s personalised information services has soared to almost 4 mln daily SMS, as more than 350,000 people subscribe to the service throughout the region. The move comes as increased mobile and internet subscriptions facilitate the demand for value added services such as Alwan directed at improving business and personal life.

According to a recent Madar research the mobile penetration has grown from 87.2% to 131% in the last three years. The Alwan Service offers consumers a choice of affordable downloads from a full catalogue of personalised information packages and multimedia content to their mobile phones via SMS. Meaning ‘colours’ in Arabic, Alwan subscribers can receive updates from more than 250 channels including breaking news, international news, weather, sports, a ladies channel, Time-Out, jokes, horoscopes and business headlines.

According to a 2006 Madar report, mobile phone subscriptions throughout the Middle East grew by 70% over 12 months to reach 87 mln subscribers, while internet subscriptions over the same period increased by more than 55% to total 26 mln users. This rapid increase in ICT penetration has enhanced the scope and popularity of innovative telecommunications services available throughout the region.

“Breaking news is the most highly demanded service as regional instability creates headlines that are relevant and interesting to many people. Services such as Alwan make life easier for millions of people by providing personalised, instant and reliable information and this huge amount of subscribers represents the high levels of public trust in our value added services,” said Bashar Dahabra, Founder and CEO, Info2Cell.com.

“This service is soaring as it’s affordable to buy a download service and customers like the reliability and security of being delivered premium value and time sensitive information to any wireless device,” he added.

To provide immediate information, Info2Cell has formed strategic partnerships with Al Arabiya, BBC, CNN and AME Info, to deliver both English and Arabic content to Alwan subscribers. The company has also partnered with many of the Middle East’s telecoms companies, leveraging access to more than 28 GSM operators and more than 85 mln mobile phone subscribers.

The content provider also offers advanced mobile messaging technology to deliver SMS, MMS, WAP, IVR, video, ring-tones, picture messaging, animations and Java games to mobile devices.

Founded in 1998, Info2cell is the region’s first wireless information provider, using its headquarters in Dubai to spearhead the company’s development into the leading wireless application services provider for the Middle East. In 2003, Info2Cell.com became 100% owned by Italy’s Acotel group, which subsequently invested in new top-of-the-line adaptable wireless platforms to further promote development of the company.