“Etisalat Zantel” and “EMS” to launch the first of its kind Apps Store in Africa

“ Etisalat” has partnered with Smartphone company “EMS” to develop a new Mobile Application Store for Blackberry customers. Launching initially in Tanzania where Etisalat operates under the name of Zantel, the move is a first for Sub Saharan Africa.
The Zantel Blackberry App Store will give customers access to a wide range of content including entertainment, games, Instant Messaging, social networking, news, weather and working tools such as word/ calendar.
Mr. Essa Al Haddad, Group Chief Marketing Officer said “Zantel was well known in the Tanzanian for providing innovative products and services.“Innovation is of prime importance when we select and develop strategic partnerships”.
“We will be encouraging young Tanzanian developers to design mobile applications that are exciting and engaging for our African customers.“By sharing with them the latest in software development tools will can help grow local talent and provide new commercial opportunities for them.”Al- Haddad added.
Zantel Chief Commercial Officer, My Norman Moyo said “the Tanzanian and wider African market had a growing demand for BlackBerry applications.
It’s never been easier to develop applications for BlackBerry smartphones, and we look forward to seeing the rich catalogue of personal and business apps continue to grow”.
Mr. Babar Khan, EMS CEO reinforced the partnership’s potential to innovate and grow the Sub Saharan African market, and at the same time provide customers far greater choice and personal customization.
Khan stated “This will be a rich content experience for BlackBerry users. The portal will enable them browse for the apps and ringtones of their choice and download Tanzania-specific content such as the latest relevant news from trusted African publishers”.
To access the service customers need to click on the link: www.zantel.com/zantelapps  directly from their Blackberry device. The Zantel Blackberry Application Store will then automatically install on the smartphone.
For more information, please visit www.zantel.com.
About Etisalat
Strong commitment to excellence and innovation has seen Etisalat become one of the world’s fastest-growing telecom groups, rapidly expanding across Asia and Africa.  Its UAE operations, strategically located at the crossroads of East and West, enables Etisalat to be the major hub in the Middle East for Internet, voice, broadcast, roaming and corporate data services.
Etisalat has been recognised as ‘Best Operator’ 10 times since 2006 and ‘Best Wholesale Provider’ four times in the last three years. Servicing over 135 million customers in 18 countries Etisalat continues to reach out to new customers and markets.
About Zantel
Zantel is the official brand name for Zanzibar Telecom Limited, the fourth mobile service provider in Tanzania. Now covering all of Tanzania, Zantel seeks to positively enhance the lives of all its customers through improved communications. By providing value, high quality and smooth services, Zantel seeks to present customers with service they can rely on whether to conduct business efficiently or simply stay in touch with friends and family.
Zantel offers fixed/wireless services, international traffic and carrier service, data communications service and the Internet, CDMA, IP telephony and VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) as well as Value-Added Network Service (VANS).
Zantel was the first private telecom company in Tanzania to own an international gateway that enabled Zantel to reduce the rates for international calls by 60{e1f18614b95d3cd6e4b3128e1cd15d99b042a60a5a19c19b7a8e07e7495efa10} that paved way for cheaper international calls in the country. It offers the most affordable and competitive international rates in the country to all the popular international destinations in the world and is partnering with more mobile companies to ensure customers roam with Zantel anywhere in the world. Today, Zantel’s network covers all cities, major towns, highways and rural areas in Tanzania.
About EMS
EMS is a Dubai-based smartphone company, working as strategic channel partner of RIM (Research In Motion) that focuses on the delivery, implementation and support of BlackBerry® solutions. Delivered by an experienced team of telecom professionals, EMS provides the mobile operator with sales, marketing, distribution, solution implementation and technical support services, and application portal for the BlackBerry® platform. EMS is committed to add value to mobile phone operators via services and solutions to help drive data revenue and retain customers, making them more competitive and profitable. EMS is the region’s first Mobility Solutions Provider whose services are delivered through partnerships the company has with over 73 mobile operators in the Middle East, Africa, CIS, South East Asia and Eastern Europe. EMS operates the largest distribution setup in the region which has over 85 partners spread across 50 countries, distributing BlackBerry handsets and accessories.