Engineer Khalid Omar Al Kaf (right), Managing Director and CEO of Mobily, shakes hands with Google executive after the signing of partnership agreement. Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) and Google launched their strategic partnership, the first partnership of-its-kind in the Middle East, allowing the merger of “Google” brand with “Mobily Connect” products, as well as the launch of a value added package named “Connect Google,” which allows unlimited use of Google sites “YouTube, Google Plus, Maps, Blogs” and all other Google services. Engineer Khalid Omar Al Kaf, Managing Director and CEO of Mobily, said at a press conference Tuesday held at Hayat Park Jeddah that the launch of Connect Google package “allows access to all Google products and services such as Internet search, e-mail, social networking, Google Plus which allows communication via network between individuals, as well as sharing of films and videos on YouTube.” He said Mobily and Google share a number of values “that lead them toward the leadership and passion for innovation, in a fierce race to get the new technologies, and as Mobily provides the latest technologies and most innovative products and services in the telecommunications sector, we were very keen to merge Mobily Connect products with Google brand, and that was how the idea of (Connect Google Package) was developed.” He further said subscription in Connect Google package is very easy. Clients can subscribe through SMS or online through the company's website and activate the package. Mobily said in a statement that Connect Google package can be added to either one of 1 GB or 5 GB of Connect Mobile packages, or can be added to either 2 GB or 5 GB of Connect USB packages, thus allowing the subscribers to benefit from Google services and watch unlimited YouTube programs. Mohammed Jawdat, Google managing director SEEMEA & head of Emerging Markets Council, said “the Saudi communication market is very attractive. It is considered as the third largest market for using YouTube in the world. Our target is to provide good technology to make every user in the Kingdom reaching it easily,” adding that “we will provide more services to our users in the coming years.” __
