Press Releases

Surfkitchen announces another significant Tier 1 Customer

Saudi Arabia’s biggest mobile operator ALJAWAL Enhances User Access To Expanding Data Services Portfolio Through SurfKit™ Desktop

3GSM World Congress - Barcelona, SPAIN, February 14, 2007 — SurfKitchen and GHRRA Telecom - its local Saudi partner and representative - today announced another significant customer with ALJAWAL, the largest mobile network operator in Saudi Arabia. Chosen to support the launch of ALJAWAL’s On-Device Portal - which provides branded, menu-driven access to information and services - SurfKitchen’s SurfKit™ Desktop delivers a compelling user experience, increasing mobile data revenues and strengthening the brand. With an expanding portfolio of over 150 services being offered to over 13 million users, ALJAWAL wanted to enhance its customers’ user experience by eliminating the need for subscribers to remember SMS codes or embark on lengthy WAP searches. By deploying SurfKitchen’s SurfKit Desktop, ALJAWAL has been able to simplify the user experience, extending the reach and use of its customer portal. SurfKitchen’s experience in the region and support for both English and Arabic languages proved to be a compelling proposition, enabling ALJAWAL to seamlessly deploy its new customer portal to a broad range of handsets including popular feature phones and the latest 3G handsets. “As the first operator to deploy both 3.5G and VAS services in the country, we are always looking at ways to enhance the customer experience,” says Jameel Al Molhem Marketing General Manager at ALJAWAL. “By deploying SurfKit Desktop, we have made it easy for users to discover our vast number of services without having to remember short codes or carry out complex WAP searches.

The ease of discovery inherent in our new menu-driven portal will increase both the uptake and repeat use of our data services.” ALJAWAL’s subscribers will benefit from constant access to up-to-date, relevant information and service details through SurfKit Desktop’s over-the-air portal management. This advanced distribution and management of branded content maximises the customers’ user experience, whilst introducing and promoting further new services. “A project of this size and scope with the largest mobile operator in Saudi Arabia is a natural progression from our technical expertise and proven experience in the region,” said Michel Quazza, CEO of SurfKitchen. “We are confident that we can help ALJAWAL improve user access to its impressive range of services which will in turn boost customer loyalty and increase revenue from data services.”

About ALJAWAL
ALJAWAL was launched in 1996 and considered one of the largest GSM network in the Arab world, it covers most of the urban areas including all highways and most of country roads within the Kingdom. Well qualified Saudi Employees, Engineers and Technicians are managing ALJAWAL to provide high quality Basic and Value Added Services according to the GSM International standards. Last year ALJAWAL announced reaching 11 million customers. Today, with more than 13 million customers ALJAWAL remains the leading Saudi mobile voice and data service provider, with the widest coverage, expanding customers’ horizons while proudly respecting their culture and values.

About GHRRA Telecommunications
Founded in 2004, Ghrra is quickly rising to become a leader among mobile service providers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Ghrra is currently led by founder and CEO Mr. Rashad Al Agaily. Its main emphasis is on mobile messaging system and TV solutions. Ghrra Telecomms is engaged in a wide variety of services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and in the last two years expanded its capabilities to include specialised services in the Telecoms and the IT sector. Our Telecommunications department together with its partners built expertise in turnkey Telecommunications and IT services for Operators, Suppliers, Corporate and Governmental Institutions and the Private Sector in general. Rashad Al Agaily, CEO of GHRRA Telecom, said: “GHRRA Telecom is always searching for the best solutions for Saudi’s customers. It is our first priority to provide the best mobile technology possible. SurfKitchen’s extensive experience in On-Device Portals and its SurfKit Desktop software enables our users to do just that, by enjoying the most advanced, easiest and immediate access to a broad range of mobile data services.”

For further information contact:
Rashad Al Agaily CEO Ghrra Telecommunications PO Box 53467 Riyadh 11524 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia T: +966 1 293 7711 F: +966 1 293 7744

About SurfKitchen
SurfKitchen is uniquely focused on delivering a mobile end-user experience superior to alternative browser based solutions. SurfKitchen’s simple logical menus ensure easy discovery, consumption and repeat usage of mobile data services. Simplifying the end user experience improves subscriber satisfaction, encourages adoption and promotes operator brand identity. SurfKitchen’s platform enables digital content to be sent over-the-air and stored on a wide range of handsets from feature phones to smartphones, ensuring the end-user always has fresh content. SurfKitchen provides service providers with the right applications and comprehensive support to increase data usage, customer loyalty and ultimately reduce churn. SurfKitchen’s solutions have been deployed by major operators throughout the world including Orange Group, Telstra, O2, Maxis, Etisalat, Telenor, Batelco, Telefonica Moviles España and MTC Kuwait. This list of high profile customers, combined with SurfKitchen’s technical expertise and specific regional knowledge, has resulted in SurfKitchen becoming the market leader in On-Device Portal applications delivering a dynamic user experience. For more information, visit: www.surfkitchen.com

About SurfKit™ Desktop
SurfKit Desktop is a powerful end to end infrastructure solution that enables mobile network operators and content providers to create compelling services and rapidly deploy a dynamic, consistent user experience and branded content services across their subscriber community. Users enjoy easier, faster access to and download of, relevant content, information and services as well as always being able to access fresh content on their devices in or out of network coverage.

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