| COUNTRY PERSPECTIVES
-
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY |
|
Success story |
|
|
| |
|
Palestinians and Israelis work together on cloud computing to the benefit of EU partners |
'G.ho.st (pronounced “ghost”, an acronym of Global Hosted Operating SysTem) creates a true consumer cloud computing solution using inexpensive scalable Web technologies. One of the most exciting technology trends of recent years is the move of consumer software onto the Web – email, photo albums and even word processors are now available as Web services. The G.ho.st Virtual Computer allows users to access their entire desktop, files and programmes from any internet browser or mobile phone free of charge and with absolutely no installation or administration! Adoption is helped by the increasing trend to use multiple devices such as PCs, netbooks and mobile phones. G.ho.st is leading the next generation of that trend by moving the entire operating system onto the Web.
Behind the service lies some deep technological infrastructure for creating a Web desktop, single sign-on and a virtual Web file system. G.ho.st is going to market direct to the consumer, notably via the channels of schools and internet service providers. Europeans are among the best partners of the new virtual computer and G.ho.st rapidly acquired excellent references in Europe (e.g. LeWeb3 Paris bronze medal, selected to be first presenter at Innovate!Europe conference, etc.).
G.ho.st is like a ‘shopping mall’ – it does not charge any entrance fee but will take advantage of its highly sticky traffic to get a substantial percentage of third-party service revenue including e-commerce, subscriptions and advertising. The G.ho.st team is a unique Palestinian-Israeli collaboration. It aims to bring employment, skills and hope to a troubled area and to increase dialogue between Palestinians and Israelis. G.ho.st has launched a Peace Foundation which is donating IT equipment in underprivileged Palestinian and Israeli communities.'
|
Montasser Abdellatif
Market Communications Manager, G.ho.st
|
Zvi Schreiber
Founder and CEO, G.ho.st
|
To download the booklet "Entrepreneurs’ success stories" Part 1 / To download the booklet "Entrepreneurs’ success stories" Part 2 |
|
| |
|
Watanyia Telecom believes in the power of communication |
In spite of a rather troubled business environment, foreign companies still bet on a brighter Palestinian future. The example of Wataniya Telecom’s involvement in setting up a second national mobile operator is there to prove it. In September 2006, the Kuwaiti telecom holding made a successful USD 356.7 million offer as an upfront licence payment to install and operate new 2G/3G mobile telecommunications system and services. Together with its local partner, the Palestinian Investment Fund (PIF), it had since then been negotiating with the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology in Palestine (MTIT) to finalise the detailed terms of the license. A final agreement was signed on March 15, 2007.
The partners established a new local company called Wataniya Palestine Mobile Telecommunications Company, whose leadership will be logically let to Wataniya. Under the shareholder agreement, Wataniya International, which has meanwhile changed hands in March 2007 to become a subsidiary of Qatar Telecom, will eventually own 40% of its capital. The PIF will hold 30%, while the remaining 30% will be offered to the Palestinian public through an IPO. The commercial launching is expected in the coming months.
Faisal Al Ayyar, Chairman of Wataniya International, believes that his company can be “a significant contributor to the building of a strong and independent Palestinian economy, fuelling Palestinian economic growth through direct foreign investment, contributing to the advancement of the information and communication technology sector in Palestine, investing in the build-up and retention of human capital and by delivering direct and indirect employment opportunities”.
|
|
|
|
|
