Etisalat partners with Nokia for Ovi downloads

Etisalat and Nokia customers will now be able to purchase apps and content from the Nokia Ovi store and have the purchases directly billed to their Etisalat mobile account.
The service will either be charged as part of a customer’s monthly bill for post-paid accounts or will be deducted directly from pre-paid Wasel accounts.
“At Etisalat, we are committed to offer our customers practical mobile services that will improve their overall mobile experience. The direct billing service for the Nokia Ovi store will make it easier for customers to get mobile content they need while having the simple and secure option of billing it directly to either their Wasel prepaid and/or postpaid account,” said Matthew Willsher, Etisalat CMO.
The Nokia Ovi online store features mobile games, applications, videos, images and personalised content, which can be downloaded to a user’s Nokia devices and Nokia smartphones.
According to Nokia, consumers download over five million apps a day worldwide, and over three million apps per week in the Middle East region from the Ovi store.
“Our partnership with Nokia is in line with our strategy to invest in leading technologies with significant players and leaders in the industry. As the Middle East’s largest telecom operator, partnering with Nokia, given their industry expertise and their global know-how, helps reinforce our position as a customer centric leader in the global market place,” said Willsher.Both free and paid for content is available in the Ovi store, and popular games such as Angry Birds and Need for Speed are available for download for gaming fanatics.
The site also features social networking and instant messaging applications including Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp.
The store also features a variety of locally relevant applications including apps for Al Jazeera, Sport360, Channel 4 Radio Network, Gulf News and a host of local Arabic language and Islamic applications.
“Mobile applications have become a necessity for today’s mobile users who need to be connected and receive emails, chat messages and social media updates on their mobile devices. Now with Nokia Ovi store direct billing through Etisalat it is now easier than ever to stay connected with your loved ones and be entertained on the go.  By breaking down the barriers to purchase mobile apps, Nokia Ovi store can play an increasingly important role in peoples’ lives” said Tom Farrell, general manager, Nokia, Lower Gulf.
Etisalat customers will continue to be able to pay for their apps and services via credit card if they prefer.
Mobile account billing is now available in the UAE, with Saudi Arabia and Egypt expected to be operational later in 2011.