Launch of Islamic mobile phone

The Islamic world is starting next stir in the established branding order. Earlier, we had the establishment of Mecca Cola - which was very much a protest against the dominance of Western brands, especially Coca-Cola. The company went so far to enter the Israeli market as well, indicating the business-like mindset of the owner. It now operates in 52 countries across Europe and the Middle East.

Now, Dubai based Ikone Mobile Telecommunications Company developed an mobile phone with features specifically tailored at the Islamic market. The new phone features Islamic applications, including the complete text of the Holy Quran and its English translation.

The new mobile phone, to be retailed at Dh1,300, offers automatic precise prayer timing anywhere in the world with actual Azan (call to prayer), establishes Qibla direction from anywhere worldwide, provides Hijri calendar converter and automatic alarm for Sohour Imsak and Iftar during the Holy month of Ramada. The company's CEO, Mr. Saqer Tellawi, estimated the current size of the mobile phone market in the Arabian Gulf States at five million units a year. The CEO estimated the growth rate of this market at set 40% annually

This follows South Korea's LG Electronics that in September 2003 unveiled a new mobile phone that includes an electronic compass to show the direction of Mecca in Saudi Arabia in the hope to expand its market share among the world's 1.1 billion Muslims.