“RAHEEB” - which means “Awesome” in Arabic- is the name chosen for a new mobile search technology targeting users in Saudi Arabia. The service, which is called “DALEEL RAHEEB”, aims at indexing mobile content available to users via their Mobile Operator and third party content providers. The service enables users to browse WAP based directory-style indexes of content services along with detailed information such as pricing and instructions on how to obtain. RAHEEB is also equipped with a powerful search engine and a couple of interesting applications that includes a mobile favorites list, and the ability to forward search results via SMS. The service is targeting mobile users by serving as a guide to mobile based content and simplifying the process of locating and purchasing mobile content and applications, “Unlike traditional search services RAHEEB is very much tailored for the mobile environment providing such details as service pricing and step by step instructions on how users can benefit from such services” Said Mr. Abduljabbar Al-Abduljabbar the President of Arabian Advanced Systems (Naseej) the developers of the new technology.
The WAP site of the service is impressive with a colorful layout and easy-to-navigate subject categories that starts by indexing Islamic services and works its way through news, sports, stocks, and a number of other subject based classifications including a listing of free-to-browse WAP sites and popular Arabic websites; “we want to eliminate the complexity of mobile content by explaining what the service is, how much does it cost, who provides it, and how to get it – or get rid of it” Added Mr. Abduljabbar. Furthermore the service is handset agnostic, meaning it can be accessed by most handsets available in the market via the service WAP portal http://wap.raheeb.com.
RAHEEB is starting with a BETA release hoping to gain more insight on usage patterns and receive feedback from early adopters of the service. The Company says it will launch an array of customization tools in subsequent releases including a feature that provides targeted opt-in advertising where users can choose to receive relevant and interest-oriented promotions.
The company behind this new service is Naseej, a renowned Arabic Internet solutions company with extensive experience in web portals, and that is now moving into the mobile domain; “Naseej has a history of being first to launch cutting edge services in the region; we were the first to launch an Arabic commercial Internet portal 10 years ago, and the first ISP in Saudi, and now the first to provide a mobile search and discovery service in the region” Mr. Abduljabbar added.
The WAP based service is the first of its kind in a region with a growing number of content providers tapping the lucrative mobile space and targeting mobile users with a plethora of mobile based services and applications. The surge in supply of such services is driven by growing demand for mobile content and applications by end users, which in turn is creating a challenge for the industry in trying to reach end users in an efficient and cost effective manner. On this point Mr. Abduljabbar commented by saying “The sheer number of content and service providers tapping the mobile channel is immense; it would be near impossible for users to remember each and every premium short code or service URL, this is where RAHEEB plays a vital role as a single point of access for users searching for mobile content and for content providers searching for the right vehicle to reach users; for the latter group RAHEEB will prove to be much more effective than running expensive newspaper campaigns with very temporary and limited effect at best”. The service also works well for Operators who can maximize the footprint on their mobile data portfolio by having such services just a few clicks away from users rather than wait for users to be exposed to print or other types of traditional advertising.
Currently RAHEEB covers mobile content which can be accessed via Saudi Telecom’s mobile unit “ALJAWAL”, the region’s largest mobile Operator with over 14 million subscribers, and the focus point of most major content providers. Though the company has plans in the near term to expand with other Operators and countries in the region.
Finally when asked whether RAHEEB will end up competing with some of the more internationally recognized search services Mr. Abduljabbar replied by saying” RAHEEB is very unique in the level of details and depths in covering mobile content; the information it provides is not only local and relevant to the level of the country, but also to a specific Operator, while other search services are more broad in their coverage and much less specific in the details they offer; so in that sense we will always be ahead”.
