September 24, 2005
Islamic Mobile Phone hits European Market
This week, mulsim prayer phone Ilkone, (meaning Arabic for universe), went on sale in the Netherlands for its European debut, according to Oranian Quran News Agency.
"It will be followed by launches in France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Belgium and Bosnia in coming months. No launch date was mentioned for the US.
The Ilkone i800 generates five automated reminders a day at prayer time, points Muslims in the direction of Mecca and contains a complete, authorized version of the Islamic holy book, the Quran, in Arabic and English.
Made by the Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based startup Samcom, Ilkone's entry into the European market follows a successful introduction in the Middle East and Asia, where it is available in 23 countries.
Advertised as "the first and only Islamic phone that gives you access to your beliefs wherever you are," it retails in Dutch telecommunications outlets for Euro 289 (US$356), excluding a mobile phone subscription."
Related:
-- ‘Made in Saudi Arabia' mobile phones - A new breed of mobile phones will come out of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the end of January, the Islamic Saudi Mobile Phone.
-- «Islamic» cell phone - Ilkone Mobile Telecommunications based in Dubai has announced the launch of a new mobile phone for the Islamic community, with built in electronic device & special software to give automatic direction to Mecca, complete English translation for the Holy Quran meaning, complete azan voice for prayer calls and Hijri and Gregorian calendar displays.
-- Compass Mobile Phone for Muslims - LG Electronics (LGE) has developped a GPRS mobile phone equipped with a compass and programmed to indicate direction
-- digital muezzin - Muslim Faithful have used a short messaging service for years as a digital muezzin, texting them to prayer five times a day from the cellular towers instead of minarets.
-- Saudia Arabia and Camera phones - Links to articles related to Saudi Arabia's ban on camera phones (recently overturned).
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