The Apple iPhone has been causing waves long enough in North America and the most users have found a workaround, hack or just a usuable alternative to get a hold of this magnificient device and start using it...even in the Middle East! Dubai is already flooded with a plethora of "distributors" - each who claims a working hack, spew of add-ons and the best deal you'd get in your life :) (Read the post and comments here for a preview of the frenzy!). How about buying and using an iPhone in Bahrain however? Though the official launch of the iPhone in most countries worldwide is still a few months away (mainly due to bundling and distribution issues with the local Telecom providers) the iPhone is already being sold and brought into the country and used with the hacks now easily available online. And while the phone has its drawbacks for advanced users, the beauty of the interface and the feel make it worth all the trouble! How has YOUR experience been with the Apple iPhone? Did you buy in Bahrain? What issues did you face with local distributors and making it work with Batelco / MTC Vodafone? [Read More!]

BATELCO (The National Telecommunications Company of Bahrain) has launched a new, first-time video mail service in the Kingdom of Bahrain. This is part of their 3.5G portfolio that promises the fastest broadband services to mobile users in the country:

Batelco’s 3.5G ‘portfolio’ includes mobile broadband, video calling and a new mobile portal with a wide range of exciting content targeting all segments in Bahrain. To use the exciting new services, customers need to subscribe to Batelco’s O services and register for video mail. Each customer will be assigned a video mailbox. The cost for registration is only BD1 and video mail forwarding is free of charge.