Dubai Monitor

Amichi girls in dubai dance for charity
DNRD introduces pre-paid e-Gate vouchers for corporate users

Corporate employees able to redeem vouchers for e-Cards at Dubai International Airport

Dubai June 16, 2003 In a bid to increase the usage of the quick electronic access Smart Card
at Dubai International Airport, Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department
(DNRD) has introduced a pre-paid e-Gate voucher for corporate use.

The e-Gate vouchers could be purchased by companies and presented to their
employees who are then able to obtain the e-Card, at the airport registration
office, that offers electronically controlled access to the airport, without
the obligatory manual stamp of passports, unless required.

"Having won the approval of frequent travelers as well as VIPs, we are
dedicated to offering the benefits of e-Gate to as many people as possible,"
said Colonel Saeed bin Belailah, Director of DNRD. "The introduction of
the pre-paid vouchers is aimed at gaining more corporate users. We appreciate
that many companies require its employees to do extensive travelling and
it would be beneficial to offer employees these vouchers so that they can
complete the e-Gate registration formalities, and subsequently ensure that
regular corporate flyers are contented as well as reducing their time in
the immigration queues."

"Dubai International Airport is among the few airports in the world to
offer the e-Gate facility," continued Colonel bin Belailah. "Corporations
can use this facility as a staff incentive, giving them a high-tech access
to the airport, on departure as well as arrival."

Colonel bin Belailah added that DNRD is in the process of creating more
registration centres and value add-ons to e-Gate by incorporating technology
that will provide further options to those unable to fulfill the requirements
for the fingerprint scan.

"Our vision is to further enhance the reputation of Dubai International
Airport as a user-friendly airport that takes heed for the comfort of the
passengers," added Colonel bin Belailah. "It is only by encouraging the
use of e-Gate at all levels that we can expose people to its significant
benefits. This move to attract more corporate users will substantially
increase the number of e-Gate users within the next few months."

e-Gate at Dubai International Airport is a facility that allows pre-registered
nationals and residents in Dubai to complete passport control by using
an e-Card issued by DNRD. The core of the system is the e-Card, which displays
the user's history on the screen and the fingerprint that verifies the
person's identity; dependant on this authentication the user gains access
through the gate. It is a fail-safe and dependable system designed to prevent
frauds and streamline passport control.

Dubai Naturalization & Residency Administration (DNRD) and the Dubai Department
of Civil Aviation has introduced a radical and innovative system of automated
entry and exit gates at Dubai International Airport, to regulate the process
of arrivals and departures. The electronic gates, which are the first of
their kind in the Middle East and relatively new global concept, are expected
to speed up the entire process of registration, in addition to providing
the DNRD with an improved control of the inbound and outbound travelers.
The electronic gates utilize the concept of smart card and finger print
identification to automate the registration process.

The information system that manages the whole process including the electronic gate control, fingerprints and card issue has been completely devised and developed in-house by the
national IT department at the DNRD. The fingerprint identification is a
very significant aspect of the system, which ensures that each person can
only register once on the system. -kerala monitor

AMICHI GIRLS DANCE FOR CHARITY

The AMICHI team at Team Salsa Dubai's 'Dance For Life' dance-a-thon held recently for local charities, Rashid Paedriatic Therapy Centre and MSF.

DUBAI - Amichi, the ladies Spanish fashion brand in Mercato Mall sponsored an AMICHI team to support Team Salsa Dubai's recent 'Dance For Life' dance-a-thon held for local charities, Rashid Paedriatic Therapy Centre and MSF. The charity event featured instructor led classes from 12 dance disciplines including Salsa, Merenge, Fijian, Irish, ballroom, Disco and Contemporary dance among others. The classes attracted over 250 participants who raised close to Dhs 32,000 through the day.

Amichi clothes, which are geared towards women who are confident, free-spirited, independent thinkers, open minded with an international outlook also provided a Dhs 500 voucher as a give-away at the dance a thon to the entrant with the most creative and eye-catching outfit. -kerala monitor

Panasonic launches 4-in-1 palm-size device combining digital video recorder, still camera, audio player and voice recorder

Amal Hijazi, well-known Lebanese singer and Panasonic brand ambassador with the newly launched SV-AV-10.

D-snap SV-AV20 incorporates revolutionary SD technology for high capacity
storage

June 15, 2003

Panasonic, the leading global manufacturer of consumer electronic products,
has recently launched a revolutionary four-in-one palm-size audiovisual
device "D-snap" that acts as a digital video recorder, digital still camera,
digital audio player and digital voice recorder.

The new D-snap SV-AV features a user-friendly interface and improved video
resolution, and incorporates the SD technology that enables high capacity
storage using one versatile format.

"D-snap SV-AV20 is the most advanced among Panasonic's trendy e-wear product
line," said Shiro Kano, Product Manager, Marketing dept., Panasonic Marketing
Middle East FZE. "The distinguishing features of our e-wear products are
their small size, Internet connectivity and user-friendly interface. They
are designed for a generation that requires its portables to be compact,
sleek and fashionable. Each e-wear fits in the palm of the hand and can
be worn around the neck."

"The new version of D-snap has achieved new levels in versatility and performance,
with its amazing ability to snap digital still pictures, shoot digital
moving pictures (MPEG 4), record speeches and even play your favourite
digital music files. It delivers remarkable benefits, including enhanced
video resolution," Kano added. "In short, D-snap AV20 can be an invaluable
companion to people on the move, allow multiple functions in a device that
is as small as a makeup compact."

The SV-AV20 is packed with leading edge technology features. It incorporates
SD technology, a compact, high capacity storage medium developed to allow
recording of multiple media using one versatile format. With its high capacity
to compress a large number of files, SD Memory Card is expected to become
the standard in flash media. With increased storage capacity and a higher
data transfer rate, the new 512MB SD Memory Card accommodate a variety
of communications and entertainment applications, allowing flash memory
users to exchange multiple-source digital data - such as motion pictures,
high-quality photos, voice recordings, music and more - among a growing
number of interoperable SD devices.

The new D-snap facilitates one-touch digital moving pictures (MPEG 4) recording,
without having to scroll through menus. It also offers enhanced picture
quality with an MPEG-4 frame rate for video. With a 512MB SD Memory card
it is possible to continuously record up to 10 hours on economy mode. While
for capturing digital still images with a 640 x 480 resolution, the 512MB
card can save up to 14,080 of JPEG still pictures. A swiveling 2-inch LCD
screen and two record buttons allow users to shoot comfortably in the horizontal
or vertical position. It has a built-in flash for taking digital still
pictures in poor light.

For music lovers, the SV-AV20 offers an exciting range of features and
it is compatible with the MP3 and AAC formats. The formats compress audio
data so that you can enjoy up to 3 hours of continuous music - that's about
2-3 audio CD's. It allows music to be transferred from a PC to an SD memory
card for playback, through a built-in USB interface. The SD Jukebox software
offers a revolutionary way to catalog and save several digital files in
a single database on a PC. The Jukebox software also allows users to set
their images to music for a custom-made music video, using digital still
images.

For business purpose, the SV-AV20 lets you use it as a Voice recording
function. You can record voice on the SD memory card, which is great for
meetings and voice memo, like an IC recorder. With a 512 MB SD card, you
can record voice for up to 35 hours.

The leading edge technology of D-snap AV20 will be shown up very dramatically
in the forthcoming Hollywood movie "Lara Croft and the Cradle of Life:
Tomb Raider 2" in which Lara uses the new D-snap to record her daring escapades.
Panasonic has closely collaborated with Paramount Pictures to showcase
the device as part of the movie's action set in idyllic locales around
the world. The movie is due for release in August, 2003, in the UAE. -kerala monitor

Fujitsu Siemens Computers selects Computer Care for
Top Retailer Award

Retailer recognition programme launched by FSC

Dubai UAE, 14 June 2003, Fujitsu Siemens Computers (FSC), the leading international
IT vendor, has selected Computer Care, Dubai, as the first recipient of
its Top Retailer Award for achieving the highest sales of FSC products
in the UAE for the first quarter of 2003.

Computer Care, a retailer of FSC products since the launch of the Japanese-German
computer company, was recently recognized for its significant contribution
to the company's sales performance, with the Amilio range currently Computer
Care's best selling product.

"As a customer centric retailer, we believe in promoting products that
combine technological edge with good pricing and user-friendly features,"
said Haresh Kanjani, General Manager, Computer Care. "We have built a special
relationship with FSC because of its superior standards of service and
product availability. As a FSC retailer for the past two years, we have
been greatly impressed by the performance of its products, especially the
Amilo range of notebooks, which is the best selling laptop in our outlet.
We are pleased to have been chosen for FSC's first Top Retailer Award."

"FSC places great emphasis on rewarding the top retailers as they are the
key contact between us and the consumer," said Farid Sabbagh, Sales Manager
- Distribution, Gulf region, Fujitsu Siemens Computers. "The Top Retailer
Award programme is designed to recognize the role played by our retailers
in highlighting the strengths and unique features of our products. Such
a program will motivate the retailers to increase their knowledge of FSC
products and thus increase the number of new customers on the strength
of product knowledge."

"Computer Care is the prominent choice for the first-ever Top Retailer
Award of Fujitsu Siemens Computers," added Sabbagh. "They have consistently
displayed dedicated loyalty to FSC brand, supported by a conviction that
our products are among the finest in the industry, backed by top quality
service. "We look forward to even stronger collaboration with them, as
we pursue our goals of becoming the leading IT player in the region, powered
by our assertive marketing strategies and industry-leading products that
have gained an increasing number of loyal customers across the region."

FSC's Amilio range of notebooks offers value added computing with high
cost effectiveness. It is a powerful desktop replacement equipped with
next generation mobile processors, with value additions like the integrated
mobile chipset that turns into a multimedia device offering fast and reliable
3D graphics and high quality DVD playback. -kerala monitor

SGI's graphics solutions are top choice for 88% of oil

and gas companies globally according to a recent survey

Findings confirm SGI's deep penetration into the industry with top graphics
& high-performance computing equipment

 

Dubai - June 16, 2003

Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI), the world's leader in high-performance computing,
visualization and management of complex data, has emerged as the first
choice in graphics and high-performance computing among the majority of
oil and gas companies operating globally, according to a survey of over
80 companies by World Oil, a leading international trade journal covering
oil and gas exploration, drilling and production.

The survey results revealed that 88% of surveyed companies use SGI graphics
solutions and 86% of them deploy SGI's HPC servers and workstations.

"The results of this survey consolidate SGI's superiority in graphics and
computing solutions to the oil and gas industry, including the Middle East,"
said Gilbert Soufan, Territory Manager Middle East, SGI. "Our high-performance
computing, storage and visualization solutions provide invaluable tools
for companies that are keen on a higher return on investment through the
use of such technology, specifically for petroleum exploration and production."

The survey further showed that SGI's InfiniteReality3TM graphics subsystem
was voted as the most popular graphics card, with 55% of companies surveyed
reported to be using it. There was also at least one SGI workstation or
server being used in 86% of all companies surveyed.

SGI's high-performance computing equipment is extensively used in seismic
imaging. The extraordinary 3D and 4D processing and volume-visualization
capabilities of SGI® Reality Center® environments are used to make oil
well planning, drilling and operating a faster and more accurate process.
In addition, the introduction of Visual Area Networking in 2002 meant that
SGI is able to supply this state-of-the-art advanced visualization technology
to larger numbers of people anyplace, anywhere, anytime, and on any device.
As a result, engineers and earth scientists can pool their resources together
to work in real time on their most complex simulations, visualizations
and decision models.

SGI, which has recently widened its focus on the Middle East, had recently
introduced its Altix 3000 family of servers and super-clusters that deliver
industry-leading performance at every level of scalability.

"To further deepen our commitment to the Middle East, we have introduced
the revolutionary Altix range of products in the region, offering companies
an opportunity to invest in cutting edge technology that can dramatically
enhance performance and scalability," added Soufan. "The findings of the
Oil World survey highlight the advantages SGI systems offer companies in
the oil and gas industry."