Retail outlets to sell landline numbers

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Mohamed Ahmed Al Fahim, Executive Vice-President, Marketing, Etisalat, said that the decision to take this move was due to the overwhelming response they received for their Wasel scheme, which was similar in nature. "Through this move, customers will be able to apply for their landline numbers through selected retail outlets such as stores selling electronic items. We are currently studying the proposal and would be introducing it in the near future," said Al Fahim.

Plans to implement anti-spamming applications for both email subscribers and mobile phone users has been in the pipeline for quite some time now, and Al Fahim said that they might introduce it by the end of 2004.

"Hopefully, by the end of this year, an introductory service for mobile phone users will be available through which customers would have the choice of what kind of advertisements to receive by companies. If the applicant makes it clear that they do not wish to receive any messages, then we will block the specific companies which would significantly reduce the number of unsolicited messages received by Etisalat subscribers," he said.