[Wikimedia-l] Wikimedia Foundation and Saudi Telecom (STC) partner to provide access to Wikipedia free of mobile data charges in the Middle East

[rupert THURNER]

that sounds great! is this offer available to all STC clients, or only
restricted to certain plans?

On Sun, Oct 14, 2012 at 8:01 PM, Mohamed Ibrahim
<mido.architect at gmail.com>wrote:

> Wonderful news!
> Big thanks goes for all the people who made this happen.
>
> On 14 October 2012 20:32, Jay Walsh <jwalsh at wikimedia.org> wrote:
>
> > Hi folks - sharing a news release that WMF issued this morning along with
> > STC.
> >
> > (This press release is also posted on the WMF wiki at
> >
> >
> https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Press_releases/WMF_and_STC_partner_on_WP_Zero_in_the_Middle_East
> > )
> >
> > '''The Wikimedia Foundation and Saudi Telecom (STC) partner to provide
> > access to Wikipedia free of mobile data charges in the Middle East'''
> >
> > ''Service available immediately to STC customers in Saudi Arabia''
> >
> > San Francisco, California and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- October 14, 2012
> > -- Saudi Telecom Company (STC) and the Wikimedia Foundation announced
> > a new partnership today to offer Wikipedia free of data charges on
> > mobile devices to STC customers in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait.
> > By making Wikipedia available to its 25 million mobile customers, STC
> > and the Wikimedia Foundation commit to increasing access to the free
> > and open knowledge available on Wikipedia. Wikipedia Zero enables
> > customers to browse the website for free and with high flexibility on
> > all mobile phones.
> >
> > This partnership is part of the Wikimedia Foundation's mobile
> > strategy, which focuses on reaching billions of people around the
> > world whose primary opportunity to access the Internet is via a mobile
> > device. This initiative is particularly important, given that the
> > Foundation has made Arabic language countries a special priority in
> > its strategic planning.
> >
> > “We are thrilled that STC has joined us in removing a major barrier to
> > accessing Wikipedia on mobile phones. Improving access to the
> > Wikimedia projects in the Arabic speaking world is a strategic
> > priority for the Foundation, and this partnership is a step forward in
> > our mission to enable everyone on the planet to access free
> > knowledge,” said Kul Takanao Wadhwa, Head of Mobile, Wikimedia
> > Foundation. “With Wikipedia Zero, the Wikimedia Foundation is able to
> > provide free Wikipedia access to almost 230 million mobile users
> > around the world. We’re very excited that STC is joining us in this
> > mission.”
> >
> > In collaboration with “Intigral”, a company specialized in providing
> > digital media solutions to telecom operators, STC subscribers can now
> > access the free service in both Arabic and English by pointing their
> > mobile browser to m.wikipedia.org.  A lightweight, text-only version
> > optimized for slower connections is also available at
> > zero.wikipedia.org. The move comes as STC continues to consolidate its
> > leadership in various fields, especially in social awareness and the
> > fostering of a knowledge-sharing culture. Wikipedia Zero will also be
> > available through the mobile browser, and features high browsing
> > speeds despite being a free service.
> >
> > Eng. Ibrahim Al Omar, Vice President for Personal Services, said “One
> > of the principles that STC adheres to is the commitment to spreading
> > social awareness and the fostering of a knowledge-sharing culture that
> > accomplishes the aspirations of all segments of our customer-base.” He
> > then added, “Wikipedia Zero is considered an additional cornerstone
> > that supports the continuous efforts of STC in the field of social
> > awareness.”
> >
> > The launch of Wikipedia Zero comes in line with STC’s strategy to
> > prioritize customer needs, and is an affirmation of the company’s
> > commitment to fulfilling customer expectations while meeting their
> > demands, and to continuously develop its services to satisfy their
> > aspirations and give them a variety of unrestricted options and
> > alternatives.
> >
> > For more information, please refer to the partnership Q&A at:
> > https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Mobile_partnerships#STC
> >
> > '''About Saudi Telecom'''
> > www.stc.com.sa
> >
> > Saudi Telecom Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides
> > telecommunications services to individuals and businesses primarily in
> > the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Its GSM segment primarily offers mobile,
> > prepaid cards, international roaming, and messaging services. The
> > company’s Landline segment principally provides fixed line, card
> > telephones, interconnect, and international call services. Its DATA
> > segment primarily offers leased data transmission circuits, DSL, and
> > Internet services. The company also engages in the operation of
> > communications projects; transmission and processing of information;
> > wholesale and retail trade of recharge card services,
> > telecommunication equipment and devices, and computer services; sale
> > and re-sale of various landlines and mobiles telecommunication
> > services; and maintenance and operation of commercial centers. In
> > addition, it provides mobile services, international
> > telecommunications, broad band, and other related services in Bahrain;
> > and operates third generation mobile network in Indonesia. The company
> > was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
> >
> > '''About Wikimedia Foundation'''
> > http://wikimediafoundation.org
> > http://blog.wikimedia.org
> >
> > The Wikimedia Foundation is the non-profit organization that operates
> > Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. According to comScore Media Metrix,
> > Wikipedia and the other projects operated by the Wikimedia Foundation
> > receive more than 456 million unique visitors per month, making them
> > the fifth-most popular web property world-wide (comScore, August
> > 2012). Available in 285 languages, Wikipedia contains more than 22
> > million articles contributed by a global volunteer community of
> > roughly 100,000 people. Based in San Francisco, California, the
> > Wikimedia Foundation is an audited, 501(c)(3) charity that is funded
> > primarily through donations and grants.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Jay Walsh
> > Head of Communications
> > WikimediaFoundation.org
> > blog.wikimedia.org
> > +1 (415) 839 6885 x 6609, @jansonw
> >
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>
>
>
> --
> Mido
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