Etisalat launches Middle East's first kids portal

Jacob John

New package of online education and entertainment

Jacob John

Dubai, January 7, 2002: Emirates Internet & Multimedia (EIM), the Internet business unit of Etisalat, today formally unveiled the latest channel on its web portal, www.albahhar.com. The new offering, which can be accessed at the URL prompt of alefon.albahhar.com, is being positioned as the Middle East's first exclusive online resource for children.
The new channel, subscription to which is free, is targeted at children between the ages 4 to 10, and has been developed from the ground up to be a highly resourceful site for the Internet's youngest users.

Launching the new service at a press conference held in Dubai today, Mr. Mahir El Fadil, Senior Manager, Development & Marketing, EIM said that young children constituted one of the fastest growing user segments of the Internet. "Our studies have shown that children in the UAE are increasingly using the Internet as a resource for education and entertainment. The launch of alefon.albahhar.com today is a reflection of EIM's dedication to making the Internet a family-friendly experience. The new channel, which forms part of the recently launched www.albahhar.com portal, has been carefully crafted to present both children and parents with their own safe environment, where they can access the best that the Internet has to offer, packaged in a fun, informative and educative style."

Created by an international team of educationists and graphic designers at the New Zealand based SunShine Multimedia Ltd., and offered jointly with their local representatives, Central Trading Company, which is part of the Al Rostamani Group, alefon.albahhar.com has been developed as an online early childhood learning resource that offers a wide variety of activities.

These range from learning the English alphabet and basic mathematics to nursery rhymes and stories as well as several writing and drawing activities. In addition it also features a 'Parents Room', which is a help section for parents, to ensure that the whole family can be involved in their children's learning programme. Mr. Ashraf Gameel, EIM's Development Manager for Network Services & Portals said that the launch of the new channel was a ground-breaking initiative that reached new heights of educational development.

"Children as young as four years can now get a head-start with their education from the comfortable atmosphere of their own homes. In addition, Alefon Kids makes learning fun and exciting for children, while at the same time helping them become computer literate."
The new channel currently features 52 children's stories, several writing and drawing activities, a complete animated alphabet, and a nursery rhyme collection. Apart from the wide range of educational games, the new channel is fully animated, complete with voice-overs and sound effects.