TheDesert.com : Press Releases
Gamar Telecom moves into Middle East telecoms market
Middle East telecoms company Gamar Telecom is venturing into the e-commerce market with the launch of TheDesert.com, an e-commerce enabled website which allows users to register their Domain Name online with a credit card.
"Our skill and expertise in leading edge international telecom networks is relevant to the World Wide Web, which relies on international telecommunications networks. It is therefore natural and essential for Gamar Telecom to establish its presence in the Internet market by launching TheDesert.com," Shafique Azam, CEO of TheDesert.com told CommsMEA.
"In the USA and Europe, telecoms companies such as MCI, BT, etc. have all successfully established their international operations," he added. "The aim of our company is to make it simple for anyone in this region to register their company, product, service or family name as a Domain Name. This will enable businesses in the Middle East region to reach a worldwide market of over 350 million Internet users."
This figure is projected to increase to more than 500 million Internet users by year 2003 (IDC research 1999). Recently in America, Business.com was sold in December 1999 for US $7.5 million, Loans.com domain name was sold for $3 million. These Domain Names were registered for a few hundred dollars only three or four years ago. While the American and European Domain Name registration market is well developed, there is still opportunity in the Middle East to register high quality domain names. TheDesert.com is the first and the largest registrar of domain names to cater for this market.
"TheDesert.com has provided a free e-commerce guide and series of low cost Start-up Website design packages so that anyone can get their presence established on the World Wide Web quickly and with low cost of entry. As the first in site targeting this region for domain name registration, website design, website hosting and Domain name resellers, TheDesert.com hopes to facilitate the Middle East region to get at the forefront of the Internet enabled world community," said Azam.
TheDesert.com website provides details on registering domain names and how to decide on what to register if your favoured name has been registered by someone else.
"We recognise this commercial opportunity and have registered over 400 unique domain names, which we have put up for sale on TheDesert.com website in the Domains for Sale section," continued Azam. "Some important names we have registered are: Al-Haj.com, Hijri.com, ArabGSM.com, GulfDVD.com, Arabebanking.com, Saudiebanking.com, ShariaLoans.com, GotoBahrain.com, GotoEmirates.com, SaudiGoldMarket.com etc."
Three Start-up packages (Bronze, Silver, Gold) are offered for small to medium size organisations. "All we need is the basic information on the company and their photographs or logos and we can put up a professionally designed website and manage the whole process for a client.
"We want to provide as much information to this region as possible so that all sections of these communities are able to get involved, learn quickly and thereby benefit from the positive aspects of the Internet explosion. Over the next five to seven years the Internet will dramatically change the way we live, work and play.
"No business can ignore this revolution and expect to compete and survive into the next decade," continued Azam. "Our approach to business is based on a partnership with our clients. We want to learn as much about their business as possible and we want our clients to leverage our expertise and knowledge of the Internet and telecommunications for the benefit of their business."
Gamar Telecom has designed and installed the largest VSAT Satellite Broadcast Network in the Middle East region for Saudi Research and Marketing Newspaper Group.
- CommsMEA
Published 21-Mar-2000
