IT market Microsoft Corporation, the biggest software company in the world and provider of MSN, the worldwide Internet destination with over 230 million users, has signed an agreement with LINKdotNET to form MSN Arabia (arabia.msn.com). LINKdotNET is an Orascom Telecom company, which is the largest private Internet service provider (ISP) in the Arab World and a leading regional Internet developer.

MSN Arabia will be in Arabic and English to cater to all users in the region. There are already 1.8 million Hotmail subscribers registered there and this number is expected to increase significantly with the launch of the site, a statement said. The public launch of the new portal is planned for September 2001. The regional MSN operation will be based in Cairo and Dubai Internet City. MSN Arabia will be jointly managed by LINKdotNET and Microsoft.

The agreement was signed by Naguib Sawiris, chairman of LINKdotNET and Orascom Telecom, the holding company of LINKdotNET, and Emre Berkin, Microsoft's vice president for Europe, Middle East and Africa, at a meeting attended by Egypt's Communications and Information Technology Minister Dr Ahmed Nazif.

"LINKdotNET is partnering with Microsoft to create MSN Arabia and bring to users in the Arab world the best Internet user experience in the world. With local content and services provided by our content partners in the region, MSN Arabia will provide opportunities for local companies to develop their web expertise and skills, provide more and better jobs and generate more revenue from the Internet." said Sawiris.

"Via this agreement, Microsoft Corp. has once more proved its commitment to the Arab market, providing technology transfer of portal platform, content and development technologies. These technologies, combined with LINKdotNET's long proven Arabisation expertise form the foundation for the development of MSN Arabia," said Berkin. "MSN Arabia will launch with an established user base, rich content and brilliant new services."

Ali Faramawy, general manager, Microsoft Egypt, said: "We believe that LINKdotNET is a great partner that can deliver the localised content, Arabisation and services alongside our international content partners, to the standard and quality that has made MSN a global leader.

"Microsoft's Corp's choice of an Egyptian company underscores the incredible potential of Egyptian entrepreneurs as well as Egypt's investment-friendly climate in the IT sector fostered by the government and the Ministry of Telecommunication and Information Technology."

Khaled Bichara, president and chief executive officer of LINKdotNET, said MSN Arabia had come at the right time with the tremendous growth of Internet usage in the region and the need for a more professional approach to the web. He said MSN Arabia would offer users in the region a unique experience which was before only available in the US and Europe.

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