Middle East embraces SMS technology

By Written by James Glynn (Wednesday, 24th December 2008)

The Middle East has been identified as a place where mobile phones are being used for far more than personal communication.

According to ITProPortal.com, businesses and many other organisations in the region are increasingly using text messages as a means of promoting their goods and services.

This trend was said to be particularly apparent in the United Arab Emirates, especially Dubai, where SMS was also described as a very popular way of entering competitions on the radio.

ITProPortal added that some parts of the region also use text messages as a public information system, with governments issuing reminders regarding certain deadlines via handsets.

Indeed, it said this form of notification has become standard, and in many cases, mandatory.

The website also revealed that consumers in the Middle East are using mobile phones to conduct their financial affairs.

Qatar, for example, was flagged up as a place where banks are legally obliged to offer the facility to manage money via SMS.

ITProPortal stated that while text messaging has become standard in many cases, operators and businesses are not sitting back.

Organisations were said to be increasingly looking for new and innovative ways in which to use the technology, particularly in the face of rising levels of competition.

"The Middle East has gone a significant way beyond person-to-person text messaging," it commented.

The online portal added that businesses, organisations and governments are now "routinely" using SMS as a means of staying in touch with clients, employees and citizens.

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