SoftAtHome, a software provider of home operating platforms that help service providers deliver convergent applications to the Digital Home announced today that it is opening a new office in Dubai to support the current deployment of its technology with Etisalat and address the needs of other operators in the region.

SoftAtHome provides a software platform that enables Operators and 3rd party developers to create innovative and convergent applications for the Digital Home by combining services such as voice, video, content sharing, security, broadband access, connectivity or management, and deploy them across different devices in the home including TV Set Top Boxes (STB), Home Gateways (HGW) and Connected TVs. With a new platform, SoftAtHome is fostering a new business model where Operators can leverage the open approach of the SoftAtHome solution to work with 3^rd party application developers and bring innovation to the Digital Home

In 2010, Etisalat has selected SoftAtHome to deploy their multiplay offering across the UAE, including IPTV, Video on Demand, Personal Video Recording, Internet TV, OTT services, digital content sharing, application store and broadband access. The solution will be deployed across the UAE first, followed by other countries in the Middle East and where Etisalat as a presence.  Etisalat.  In order to consolidate its strategic choice, Etisalat has also taken a stake in SoftAtHome to become shareholder of the company.

Today, in order to support Etisalat in the deployment of their multiplay services and to accompany them in the deployment across other subsidiaries, SoftAtHome is opening its first subsidiary outside of Europe in Dubai. SoftAtHome also selected Dubai as a strategic place to address the needs of other operators in the Gulf region as Dubai provides a complete infrastructure and easy access to countries in the Middle East.

Michel Degland, CEO of SoftAtHome says “We are very pleased to open our subsidiary in Dubai and to deploy our solutions across the UAE. It represents a key milestone in the development of our company and in our commitment to be successful in the Gulf region”.

About SoftAtHome

SoftAtHome is a software company backed by Orange, Etisalat and Sagemcom to deliver total convergence through an operating platform for the digital home environment. It fosters a new ecosystem made up of service providers, 3rd party application developers, integrators and hardware vendors to accelerate the advent of the digital home. The company is headquartered in France with development and sales teams in France and Belgium.

For more information, visit us at www.softathome.com

“The new partnership with HCT will provide our Emirati staff with excellent English training opportunities, furthering their professional development,” said Fahad Al-Hassawi, EVP, Human Resources, du. “As a UAE national company, over 20% of our employees are Emiratis, and we understand the importance of encouraging the development of home-grown talent. We are delighted to partner with HCT, to make this training possible as part of our long-term Emiratisation efforts.”

“We are very pleased to offer du’s Emirati staff a sophisticated English-language training programme to support the company’s – and the country’s – professional development goals for UAE nationals,” said Dr Bob Richards, Senior Director of the HCT,. “At HCT, we are committed to providing top-tier higher-learning opportunities across the UAE, and it is encouraging to see companies like du take a leadership role in providing advanced training options for their employees, thereby reaffirming education’s role in fostering national growth and prosperity.”

The initial English course will provide 63 hours of training spread over 14 weeks. It will be offered in both morning and afternoon time-slots to ensure operational continuity for du.

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“Given the tragic events of recent days, it’s vital that people have the option of staying in contact with loved ones easily and affordably – and with this special calling offer, we hope to help in a modest way,” said Farid Faraidooni, EVP Commercial, du. “From du’s family of employees to our family of customers, we extend our heartfelt sympathies to all those affected by the recent natural disasters.”

Other special calling offers and benefits currently provided by du, including the ‘WoW’ recharge offer that gives Pay as you Go and Visitor Mobile Line customers up to a 60% bonus on ‘more international’ recharges and up to a 30% bonus on ‘more credit’ recharges, will continue to apply. Likewise, all Elite Plan benefits and bonuses will remain applicable.

du’s recent initiatives

du’s recent initiatives include the ‘Off-Peak IDD’ promotion, offering du customers rates as low as 1.67 fils per second when they make international calls to several popular destinations on Fridays, nights and afternoons. du is also continuing its WoW recharge offer, giving Pay as you Go® customers up to a 60% bonus on ‘more international’ recharges and up to a 30% bonus on ‘more credit’ recharges. This promotion also provides customers with 30 days’ validity on every ‘more credit’ and ‘more international’ recharge and a 5% bonus on ‘more time’ recharges with unlimited validity. In addition, du is currently promoting its exciting ‘SMS Gold Challenge’ trivia contest which gives mobile users the chance to win up to nine kilograms of gold. Many instant, daily and weekly winners have already taken home glittering prizes in this exciting, interactive contest. For further information, visit www.du.ae.

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Musahama, accessible online at www.musahama.ae, contains a wealth of information about all non-governmental organizations in the UAE and their activities. It facilitates voluntary work in the UAE by presenting all available opportunities on one user-friendly platform.

Hala Badri, EVP Brand and Communications, du, said: “Through the workshop series, we are familiarising UAE-based NGOs with the many features of the Musahama site, one of our recent CSR initiatives, and building on the encouraging response we have received to date. By collaborating closely with various NGOs, du can help them derive the maximum benefits from the Musahama website.”

His Excellency Abdullah Rashid Al Suwaidi, Director General, UAE Ministry of Social Affairs, noted: “Six months after its launch, Musahama has already succeeded in helping NGOs collaborate with one another and respond to emerging community needs with greater speed and efficiency. It has also encouraged volunteering in the UAE by giving the general public easy access to information and upcoming opportunities. du is setting an excellent example in its efforts to support Musahama, demonstrating the positive impact that corporate social responsibility initiatives can make on the UAE as a whole. Together with du, we are confident that the new workshop series will enable NGOs to make full use of Musahama’s innovative platform and yield valuable feedback to enhance the website going forward.”

du’s CSR programme focuses on developing and implementing initiatives that benefit the local community. In the case of Musahama, du partnered with the UAE Ministry of Social Affairs to create a seamless interface for UAE NGOs to interact with each other and with the public.