Two Egyptian firms, Link Egypt and Internet Egypt, have recently finalized a new commercial deal with US-based iDNS Net (Internationalized Domain Name System) - and the fruit of the deal should simplify things for Arab Internet surfers not fluent in languages other than Arabic.
The American firm developed a technology that will enable companies and individuals to register Internet sites in Arabic instead of, or in addition to English, Al-Hayat daily reported.
Following the announcement of the deal, iDNS Net Executive Manager stated that, "For the first time in the Arab World, Arabic speakers will be able to use the Internet and search sites in it in Arabic." He added that for a long period, the Internet was in the "sole possession" of English speakers. In particular, the innovation will ‘open the Internet door' to millions of Eastern-world surfers, who will now be able to access material in more suited languages. Further, individuals and corporations are now able to send e-mail in their native scripts.
Experts have for some time contended that the current DNS Latin character based Internet is biased toward English speakers, with an essential need to create a multilingual capable DNS, as the Internet expands globally.
iDNS Net specializes in finding solution to the multi-language issue Internet issue. Its founders believe that the "Non-Roman character based Internet content will be given a boost" with the application of its
technology. To date, the company enables registration of DNS in 55 different languages. The Internet solutions provider stresses that although it is not against English on the Internet, it deems that other users from across the world should have the chance to easily explore and read material on the world wide web in their native tongues. - Albawaba.com
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
