The UAE's biggest telecoms operator, etisalat by e&, has launched a new messaging platform called GoChat Messenger, an all-in-one app that provides solutions in areas such as communications and finance.
The service, which is available on both Apple's iOS and Google's Android, allows users in the UAE to make free voice and video calls to anywhere in the world, as well as remit money, pay bills, play games, read the latest news and run polls, the Abu Dhabi-based company said in a statement on Thursday.
It also offers access to home services such as cleaning, personal grooming and PCR testing — which would rival Dubai-based Careem — plus integration with Smiles, e&'s customer loyalty rewards programme, it added.
“At etisalat by e&, there have been continuous efforts to ramp up efforts to ideate and create innovative propositions that drive smart connectivity, maximise value creation and enhance customer experience,” the statement said.
“GoChat Messenger is the latest addition to the suite of products and services that will benefit customers in the face of the ever-growing need for amplified connectivity in a post-pandemic era.”
Voice and video calling — which run on voice over internet protocol (VoIP) technology — on mobile devices were popular even before the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
The health crisis, however, caused a spike in VoIP use, as people were confined to their homes and office workers, students and businesses conducted more activities online.
The global VoIP market is projected to grow to $102.5 billion by 2026 from an estimated $85.2bn in 2021, at a compound annual rate of almost 4 per cent, data from Research and Markets showed.
The use of VoIP also has the potential to provide significant savings. Users can save up to 90 per cent on international calls and 40 per cent on local calls, while companies can save on operational costs, a study from data provider FinancesOnline showed.
Currently, services such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business and Google Meet are popular platforms for video calls, though they mainly to cater to businesses and their essential tasks.
Etisalat will continue to offer other alternative internet calling platforms, including Botim, C'Me and HiU, in the UAE, its website said.
GoChat's launch is in line with the group’s positioning as a global technology and investment conglomerate and follows its rebranding in February, it said.
“This illustrates the company’s continuous efforts to provide creative offerings that best support its customers’ requirements,” it added.
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
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Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
