ATTN: Business Editor / Internet Editor	FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, June 13th, 2001
MAKTOOB.COM DIVERSIFIES TO EMPOWERING BUSINESSES Top Web Service Encourages Local Companies To Build Their Own Virtual Communities     Dubai: Maktoob.com, the leading Arabic online community in the world, has announced that it will be sharing its vast expertise in the Internet industry to encourage businesses in the Middle East to develop their own online web communities and help them to reach out to new international markets. “Building their own online communities offers companies an unprecedented opportunity to facilitate their online marketing, sales and support effectiveness,” explained Marwan Ibrahim, Sales Manager of Maktoob.com. “Online communication can cost-effectively enhance customer acquisition, retention, gain valuable business insights and ultimately build and strengthen brand loyalty,” he added. Maktoob.com (www.maktoob.com) put its years of research in designing the online communities, which include basic interactive Web-based Community Tools such as Email facility, complete Virus protection, Instant Messaging, Discussion Boards, Chat Rooms and Electronic Cards System. These Community Tools are the basic tools to make any website come to life and facilitate communication between visitors. At the same time, all incoming and outgoing email messages are guaranteed optimum protection against viruses with notification should viruses be detected. Besides, an interactive Arabic / English discussion board allows voice messages and pictures to be posted online while site visitors can participate in interactive chat rooms. Maktoob.com has taken this endeavour a step further by announcing that it will support its clients with complete e-consultations, including marketing and promotion of their services among its own huge Internet community, while monitoring online response. All tools are designed in-house by Maktoob.com and hence can be customised according to client requirements.   “Maktoob.com has shown that even small business initiatives can succeed if carried out with the right determination and endeavour,” explained Ahmed Nassef, Vice-President, Sales and Marketing. “We are now pleased to diversify our approach and target not only consumers but also business entities. At the same time, the introduction of such ground-breaking solutions reinforces our commitment to contribute to the positive growth of businesses in the region.” Nassef added that the advantages of using Maktoob.com’s Arabic / English communication tools are manifold. “Websites can obtain any number of email accounts at their own domain names, with the option of choosing the amount of mailbox memory space for each email account,” he pointed out. “Displaying e-mail and other community tools on the sites will drive them traffic and form a solid base for building their own e-communities.” Maktoob.com’s wide-ranging community-building solutions have been successfully implemented by iHilal.com, a regulated, online distributor of Islamic financial products and services. “As a company that depends on a reliable communication system for its day-to-day operations, it is crucial that we employ the most sophisticated technology that is efficient and affordable,” explained Pervez Said, Head of Global Marketing at iHilal.com. “The Maktoob.com tools allow our staff to maintain their communications network, wherever they might be!” Ibrahim pointed out that media organisations around the world were also increasingly discovering the benefits of building their own online communities, with leading pan-Arab publication Asharq Al Awsat among the first to incorporate Maktoob.com’s solutions in its Internet edition. “As the Internet penetration increases in this region, media houses are increasingly finding it imperative to develop their own online communities besides circulating printed versions,” he said. “While providing them vital feedback from their markets, this system also allows their dedicated readership to stay in touch with the periodical from where ever they are in the world.” Maktoob.com’s impressive list of clients also includes ARAMEX (pan-Arab), Bayt.com (UAE), Al Waseet (Middle East), Fastlink (Jordan), Arab Finance (Egypt), Dwalej.com (Saudi Arabia) and Future Generation Foundation (Egypt).   Maktoob.com’s wide-ranging solutions have been successfully implemented in the operations of the Connecticut-based Africast.com, the leading portal concentrating on the African continent and serving a huge market of more than 30 million African expatriates living outside of Africa as well as consumers and businesses on the African continent. Commenting on his company’s vision, John Sarpong, CEO, Africast.com, explained: “As a leading portal focussed on Global Africa, we strive for excellence and demand the same in all our partnering relationships. Because a large number of our target market is from the North African Maghreb region and Arabic-speaking, we needed a good Arabic email solution. We are pleased that Maktoob understood our needs and delivered the robust platform we needed.” Maktoob.com has become a landmark development for the Arab world, emphasising the region’s growing importance as a key international IT player. Since its launch two years ago, Maktoob.com has played a crucial role in uniting Arabs worldwide by providing sophisticated and reliable web-based communications and community tools, including the Arab world’s first free bilingual Web-based email service. Maktoob.com is the first Arabic / English web-based email solutions provider and leading virtual community for Arabs around the world. Launched in October 1998, Maktoob.com gained instant success among Arabs around the world. It currently boasts of a membership base of more than 1.2 million registered users worldwide. Besides the free email service, the company offers a range of interactive web-based facilities including Voice Mail, WAP, a comprehensive business directory, Arabic music, chat, online auction, electronic greeting cards and information services.   For more details, please contact, Edward D’Mello Headline Public Relations Tel: 009714 – 3475006; Fax: 009714 – 3475013 e-mail: edward@headlinepr.com
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