This is an interesting read. According to the CEO of Info2Cell the regions top VAS company, the third generation of mobile phone specifications and technology (3G) remains a luxury rather than a standard for most countries in the Middle East despite its seven years of existence and the emergence of 3.5G.
In the Middle East, not enough suitable content for 3G services are available, mainly because purchase of high-end, 3G-enabled mobile phones in the region is only at 25 per cent. The current penetration of the 3G mobile is at a minimal one per cent, so the maximum predicted penetration for 3G mobile services is at 25 per cent of total Middle Eastern users. 3G was initially marketed as a video conferencing tool but has gained more popularity in other applications such as music downloading, multiplayer gaming, online chat, positioning services and live business updates.
According to a research report by RNCOS , the total number of 3G subscribers in the Middle East is expected to surpass four million by 2010 end, growing at an annual growth rate of around 60 per cent
Link: 3G services remain a luxury in Middle East
Source : Gulf News
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