The State of Technology Innovation in the Middle East [Report]

Facebook: Engage don’t intrude (Part 2)

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 19:33

In part 1 of this article we covered user’s mindset while on Facebook, in this second part we will dive into understanding what users are doing on Facebook and how marketers can benefit their brands by engaging with the users.
Understanding what users are doing on Facebook
There are different types of users on Facebook however the [...]

So you think you are an aspiring entrepreneur

Tuesday, March 9, 2010 0:09

While reading Silatech 2nd wave report “Voices of Young Arabs“, a report released late February this year which offers insights on Arab youth perspectives, hopes, fears, and ideas, the report’s key-findings inspired me to extract a list of criteria that if they are found in own-self/-environment he or she will have high potential to be [...]

Are you a start-up in the Middle East? Then please help yourself

Monday, February 15, 2010 21:52

I have been among internet start-ups in the Middle East for around 9 years, yet recently I started hearing this stereotype from people that twitter is their main place for start-up in these days so they start spending so much time on it and building hope around it; and my question always follow by: Is [...]

Startups Guide: Mind your website development process

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 17:00

If you got the idea of creating a website, an application, or even looking to revamp your website in order to start buzzing the media; it’s important for you to understand the road-map for this process and indulge yourself into the development before the web agency or the developer initiate the work [knowing that the [...]

When a digital agency takes the lame lane

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 16:46

A digital agency going offline approach to promote their service is not a new thing or harmful approach yet Rufus Leonard advertisement is definitely wrong and lame approach to promote their digital marketing services.
I never heard of Rufus Leonard before and asking around was the same answer; it seems they have recently set-up in UAE [...]

Silicon Arabia (Part 3): The Talent Equation

Sunday, February 7, 2010 11:35

This article is the third in a multi-part series about entrepreneurship in the MENA region. In my first post, I laid out the five key attributes that I believe to be necessary for a sustainable and flourishing start-up ecosystem: infrastructure, talent, investment capital, mentors, and a culture of adoption.  In my second post, I explained [...]

Google is warming up for Arabia 2.0 event

Thursday, February 4, 2010 20:55

Despite the fact that Google is a bit late to organize such event, it will remain a big news for the industry.  Google is turning its head towards the Middle East and warming up to organize its first Google Day: Arabia 2.0 event.
Google Day aims to bring around 150 government and thought leaders together to [...]

Arabic Web Kicks Off On Google’s Browser

Friday, January 29, 2010 21:03

The primary purpose of a web browser is to bring information resources on world wide web to the users, they can generally display any kind of content that can be part of a web page. If you can’t use it in Arabic to retrieve Arabic content, then simply you can’t get to the Arabic Web. [...]

Apple Launches iPad: Read The Very Detailed Official Press Release

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 22:32

This is the official Apple press release:
Apple today introduced iPad, a revolutionary device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and much more. iPad’s responsive high-resolution Multi-Touch™ display lets users physically interact with applications and content. iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and [...]

Silicon Arabia: Can the MENA Region Become a Viable and Vibrant Hub for Start-Ups? (Part 2)

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 12:24

This article is the second in a multi-part series about entrepreneurship in the MENA region.  In my first post, I laid out the five key attributes that I believe to be necessary for a sustainable and flourishing start-up ecosystem: infrastructure, talent, investment capital, mentors, and a culture of adoption.
You can also follow me on twitter: [...]

MediaWeek ME Monitor (Jan 24): Entrepreneurship, Apple, Flip Media

Monday, January 25, 2010 19:09

Read in Media Week Middle East (Jan 24, 2010) about interactive/digital media:

Who’s got the X Factor? – The year ahead could be a battle between monolithic media and those with a few tricks up their sleeves, according to industry heavyweights. “[In the Middle East] the truth is that the chance for entrepreneurial businesses to surpass [...]

Silicon Arabia: Can the MENA Region Become a Viable and Vibrant Hub for Start-Ups? (Part 1)

Sunday, January 24, 2010 8:39

This article is the first in a multi-part series about entrepreneurship in the MENA region.  In this series, I will posit that there are 4-5 key attributes for a sustainable and flourishing start-up ecosystem.
This is also my first post for InteractiveME – the first of many, ideally.  Feel free to offer any feedback.  I tweet [...]

Yallakora.com TV Plays Now On Mobile

Saturday, January 16, 2010 8:42

Yallakora.com, the leading sports website in Egypt and MENA region announces the launch of Yallakora TV for mobile phones, giving all users the privilege to watch match commentary and sports analysis from their mobile phones.
Yallakora.com is now considered the first website in the region to offer mobile phone compatible video streaming, allowing users to watch [...]

Microsoft Announces Tech.Ed Middle East 2010 Event in Dubai

Saturday, January 16, 2010 0:01

Dubai brand positioning as the largest managed ICT cluster in the region was not effected by the bad-publicity and media bashing. In association with Dubai Internet City, Microsoft will bring their first technology event in the region hosted in city, revealing how large the brand equity is at the ICT level.
Tech.Ed is Microsoft’s premier technical [...]

IBAG Announces The First Inaugural Conference for Arab Internet Business

Wednesday, January 13, 2010 0:05

IBAG, International Business Alliance Group has announced today the launch of the inaugural conference that will be held in Beirut on March 25th and 26th, 2010 about the trends and opportunities in internet business in the Arab World.

ArabNet 2010 is high anticipated to be the first event that brings together internet community to learn from [...]

Meet The Geek: Fouad Masoud Envisions His Internet Start-up As His Future Career

Tuesday, January 12, 2010 20:26

This is an interview with an internet start-up guy living in Dubai. This interview is meant to unleash his digital lifestyle; in addition to few insights about the interactive media industry in Middle East.

Tarek: Fouad Masoud, can you tell us a bit more about yourself?
Fouad: First off thank you Tarek for giving me this opportunity [...]

Communicate Monitor (Jan’10): Flip Media, Eye of Dubai, Qardi.com

Monday, January 11, 2010 20:08

Read in Communicate (Issue: January 2010) about interactive/digital media:
Very Briefs: Flip Media provides Du’s new website; Eye of Dubai wins best UAE internet website; Saudi first website for laon camparisons, Qardi.com, up and running….
Destination unknown – Marketing a destination can demand a different way of thinking. Visit London is the organized charged with marketing the [...]

Taya IT Launches In Beta A New Content Discovery Portal for Arabic Web

Monday, January 11, 2010 18:40

In an optimistic move towards the internet in the Arab World, a firm specialized in enterprise and internet search applications, Taya IT, announced today the launch of a new content discovery portal which serves as an independent gateway to discover and share the best content on the Arabic Web.
Yajeel.com was released in beta featuring a [...]

Masrawy.com Announces Record Annual Growth for 2009

Sunday, December 27, 2009 22:07

Masrawy.com, Egypt’s leading Arabic News, Media and Entertainment portal, announced strong year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth for the period Dec 2009 compared to last year.
Masrawy.com, a LINKonLINE managed web portal, proudly achieved a record annual growth rate that exceeds 100% with an increase in the number of visits to reach 15 million visit per month in 2009.
Since [...]