The Qtel Group developed a new application for the recently held 12th Arab Games, which enabled fans to get instant information on schedules, venues, news, tickets and event categories on their smartphones.

Qtel said it received a very positive response from its customers to its first ever event-specific mobile app developed with the QU Wireless Innovations Center (QUWIC).

The specially designed mobile app was widely available across smartphones and feature phones including iPhone, Blackberry and Android platforms, ensuring fans, athletes, officials and spectators were kept fully up to date on all the activity.

The app was created to help those with a keen interest in the Arab Games keep fully informed on the various activities no matter where they were.  The free mobile app, downloaded by people in the USA, Germany, UK and France, as well as those in the Middle East region, connected fans to the sporting event in Qatar.

All the companies within the Qtel Group in the region acted as associate sponsors, with support and information provided for athletes and visitors by Qtel (Qatar), Nawras (Oman), Wataniya (Kuwait), Asiacell (Iraq), Nedjma (Algeria), Tunisiana (Tunisia), Bravo (Saudi Arabia), Wataniya Palestine (Palestine), and wi-tribe (Jordan).

Mobile apps are an increasingly popular way for customers to access information whilst on the move.

According to Ovum, the IT and telecoms industry research specialists, the world’s smartphone users would have downloaded a total of 18 billion mobile apps during 2011, up 144 per cent from 7.4 billion in 2010. The firm also forecasts that the number of downloads will grow to 45 billion in 2016.

The Qtel Group was the Diamond Sponsor of the regional, multi-sport event held in Doha between 9 and 23 December, the first time the event has been staged in a GCC country.

The creation of the mobile app was part of a wider support campaign that included events, a fan zone and a media campaign. – TradeArabia News Service