Dubai-based Ilkone mobile telecommunications on Saturday launched the first Islamic mobile phone, the Ilkone i800, which features Islamic applications, including the complete text of the Holy Quran and its English translation, according to the Emerates news agency (WAM) citing a report in Khaleej Times on Sunday.

Saqer Tellawi, chief executive officer of ilkone, said the current size of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) mobile phone market is five million units a year and set to grow by 40 percent annually.

The increase in number of potential first-time users as well as those who keep abreast of latest phone technology and frequently upgrade their mobile phone models is one of the main reasons for the projected growth, he added.

He also said that the life cycle of a mobile phone in the region has reduced from two years in 1998 to less than nine months last year, making the AGCC one of the fastest growing mobile phone markets with highest phone replacement turnover.

The product of an international consortium comprising partners from the UAE, Egypt, England, Australia and South Korea, the i800 was first introduced in Lebanon, then Jordan, Syria, Sudan, Algeria, Yemen and Brunei.

It will subsequently be introduced in Qatar, Bahrain, Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Bangladesh, Iran, Pakistan and India.



Source : Bernama