Etisalat to launch own brand mobile phone

United Arab Emirates-based telecoms company Etisalat has announced it will launch an own-branded mobile phone in its domestic market before the end of October, reports Emirates Business 24/7. Last year the telco revealed it was negotiating contracts with international vendors, including ZTE and Huawei, with the aim of introducing its own range of devices to customers in the Middle East as well as Africa and Asia. The handsets are expected to cost less than AED300 (USD81.69) each and will be equipped with broadband connectivity, services from Etisalat’s internet portal Weyak, and several user interface customisations. ‘Our priority is to satisfy our customers in terms of the trust they need from Etisalat. The UAE market is open and there are millions of handsets. But when you introduce a handset branded Etisalat the customer will feel confident in its after sales and the price. This is why our first offering is in a low-price bracket,’ said Omar Al Muzakki, Etisalat’s vice-president of product marketing.