Maktoob.com's partnership with BBC part of growth strategy CAIRO: Maktoob.com, the largest Arab online community headquartered in Jordan, has recently announced that it has partnered with the BBC, as part of the Web site's newly launched news service. The alliance between the international broadcasting giant and Maktoob is one of the recent spates of acquisitions and alliances the online service provider has inked with international partners as part of their growth strategy. This specific partnership signifies a shift in Arab habits when it comes to getting the news. Today, more and more Arabs are turning to the Internet to get the latest news, a trend that Maktoob.com and BBC are capitalizing on. Maktoob.com is pleased to partner with BBC, which will help us in enriching our newly launched news section with the latest breaking news, says Ahmed Nassef, GM of Maktoob.com in a company statement. "This alliance, which combines the strengths of the BBC s global network and Maktoob.com s huge regional presence, will result in a first-rate news service for our readers. Maktoob, like many Arab Web sites, has had to face the obstacle of censorship that continues to plague Arab nations, especially those like Saudi Arabia and Syria, which has made it hard for Web sites to succeed in the region. However, as the founder of Maktoob states, the Internet is still a powerful tool the world over. "Some sites (in the region) are blocked, some political, some pornographic, some gambling. You can't push for change too fast. But at the same time, the Internet is a medium that's almost impossible to control. It's much more free than newspapers, states Samih Toukan, founder of Maktoob.com to the South China Morning Post. "You can put a newspaper writer in jail for a few days, as happens. But with the Internet, the day after someone closes you down, you could set up another site, literally overnight, in the British Virgin Islands, and put whatever information you want on it. Always these governments resist technology, but then they realize they can't beat it, so they give up. Founded in 2000 as the world s first Arabic/English e-mail service, Maktoob.com, part of Maktoob group, which comprises a network of online media companies and Web sites, has grown into a full-service web portal network that offers its 4 million registered users (up from 4,000 users when the Web site was first launched) with e-mail, discussion forums, e-cards, mobile downloads and news. "We started Maktoob as an experiment, says Toukan, to the South China Morning Post. "We felt that if the Internet was to be used in the Arab world, the Arabic language should be a key. People either don't speak English or simply would like to use their native language. After the success of its e-mail service, Maktoob started incorporating and introducing a range of related products and services relevant to their users, including a number of firsts: the world's first Arabic online auction site (www.souq.com) and the first Arabic language blogs. The site also provides users with a prepaid shopping card for online purchases (www.cashu.com); a literature and art site (www.adabwafan.com) similar to the famous amazon.com; an online matchmaking site (www.bentelhalal.com); a business and marketing site (www.strategiy.com); and two Arab sports sites (www.arabsport.com and www.sport4ever.com). In sum, the Web site has managed to encompass the best of what's out on the European and American virtual market. Recently, the company received the Directories and Info Services award from the Pan Arab Web Awards held in Amman, Jordan, for having become a source for communication tools and the latest news and information. Senior officials from Maktoob.com were quoted as saying that this alliance is in step with the Web site s growth strategy and commitment to providing the highest quality Arabic content and services to its users. The recent spate of acquisitions and alliances demonstrate how the world s largest online Arab portal has no intention of slowing down its drive to increase its regional presence. "The BBC is happy to be associated with Maktoob.com, as this partnership with one of the region s top web portals will give us added exposure and reach in the Arab world, says Mohamed Yehia, editor of BBCArabic.com, in an official company statement.
